GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON NOV 27

HURRIYET

-- MIT QUAKE IN ERGENEKON

Several news were published in a newspaper claiming that fake rabbi Tuncay Guney, who paved the way for the launching of "Operation Ergenekon" with his statements, was a spy of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). Releasing a statement upon such news, MIT confirmed the published document, however, said that Guney was not its "employee". MIT said Guney was not a registered news source for the organization.

 

-- KOC DOES NOT STOP INVESTMENTS, REACHES 80 BLN YTL

Mustafa Koc, chairman of Koc Holding, said that his company achieved 26 percent growth in 2008 and carried with its investments in accordance with a program. The holding's CEO, Bulent Bulgurlu, said that the company's combined revenues would reach 80 billion YTL by the end of 2008 and such growth would place the holding in the 186th place in the world and 49th in Europe.

 

MILLIYET

-- NUMBER OF VOTERS RISE 6 MLN IN A YEAR

Muammer Aydin, chairman of the Higher Board of Elections, said that 48.26 million people would vote in the local elections on March 29. The number of eligible voters was 42.53 million in the general elections held on July 22, 2007. Aydin explained the difference as the renewal of the electoral roll with the address-based census; however, such a large quantity of new voters raised questions.

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-- SWOBODA: WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED FREEDOM OF PRESS WITH PRIME MINISTER

European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs head Hannes Swoboda said that he and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan did not talk about the freedom of press at their meeting on Tuesday. Swoboda said media reports claiming that he brought up the issue were delusive. The Prime Minister's office also made a similar statement.

 

SABAH

-- KOC: THIS CRISIS IS AN OPPOTUNITY FOR WHOEVER MANAGES IT WELL

Koc Group's Chairman Mustafa Koc said all crises were also an opportunity and things would start getting better in 2009. "Manage the transition process well, and make use of the opportunities," said Koc.

 

-- INTERESTING RESPONSE FROM NATIONAL INTELIGENCE ORGANIZATION

National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) undersecretariat denied that Tuncay Guney was a registered source of intelligence and recalled that controversial counter terror center was abolished in 1997. "The document that was the subject of recent news belongs to our organization. Guney was a person we followed at the time because of his suspicious actions. In this respect Tuncay Guney is not a registered source of intelligence. Counter Terror Center, whose foundation and operation were controversial, was taken out of our organization chart in 1997," said a press release issued by MIT.

 

VATAN

-- SIX MILLION MORE VOTERS

Higher Elections Board chairman Muammer Aydin said that the number of voters increased by 6 million since the referendum held on July 21, 2007. Aydin said there had been such an extraordinary rise due to the new register of voters. "Previously, voters did not have their names written in the register. We have recently created a new register with the data we got from the Population and Citizenship Affairs Department. The number of voters increased from 42.6 million to 48.2 million," Aydin said.

 

-- WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TEMPLE?

The priest of the Hindu temple that Premier Tayyip Erdogan visited during his recent visit to India shared the details of such a visit with the Indian press. In an interview with the daily "Times of India", priest Srinivas said that Erdogan's wife arrived at the temple first and fed bananas to the monkeys. Srinivas said Premier Erdogan, who took his shoes off while entering the temple, proved that he already knew about Hindu traditions.

 

 CUMHURIYET

-- EU MAKES WARNINGS ON REFORMS

EP's Turkey Rapporteur Ria Oomen Ruijten said it was unacceptable for Turkey to act slowly over reforms. Ruijten, who underlined that the active role Turkey played in foreign policy could not be used as an excuse, said otherwise Turkey would watch its EU membership dream be destroyed.

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-- UNWILLING INSPECTION

Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Masak), opened an investigation on the private wealth of six people, including Radio Television Supreme Council Chairman Zahid Akman who is fingered as the real perpetrator of the "Deniz Feneri" fraud case. Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu said Turkish prosecutors ought to be sent to Germany regarding this issue. "I believe that the evidence is deliberately being befogged," said Kilicdaroglu.

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RADIKAL

-- CONSUMERS ANXIOUS OVER CRISIS

Consumers are also taking precautions against the economic crisis just as the companies. Sales are down in electronics, food and beverage, and textiles. Yet, tea and dried nuts sales are on the rise.

 

-- FENERBAHCE PIN HOPES ON DERBY

Fenerbahce fans are sad after their team was eliminated from the Champions League with a 1-2 defeat by Porto. The canaries have now turned their eyes on the derby against Besiktas at their home ground on Saturday.

 

YENI SAFAK

-- OPENING OF PRAYER ROOM IN PARTY HQs

After launching local elections campaign with the slogan "chador is not a political symbol", main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal gave the first signal for a prayer room in party headquarters. "Nobody is going to feel aggrieved," Baykal said in response to a reporter who asked if the CHP would make an arrangement at the party building for chador clad members to pray.

 

-- FIRST NATIONAL SNIPER RIFLE

Turkey's Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corp. (MKE) showcased its new weapon at a defense industries exhibition in Karachi city in Pakistan. The 7.65 mm rifle has a range of 1,200 meters. The Turkish gendarmerie forces have started to use the sniper rifle.