Turkey-press scan on Dec. 4

ZAMAN

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TURKISH FM CRITICIZES SWISS BAN ON MINARETS

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu questioned Thursday a ban on the construction of minarets near mosques in Switzerland, saying that the ban resembled to sectarian conflicts and religious bigotry of the 16th century Europe. "This happens in one of the most elite societies of Europe. Who could say that mosques in Europe are safe now? Just fifteen years ago hundreds of mosques were leveled in Bosnia," Davutoglu told reporters on his way to Brussels from Athens.

GALATASARAY SECURE LEAD IN UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP

Galatasaray soccer team of Turkey defeated Panathinaikos of Greece 1-0 in a Group F match in UEFA Europa League at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday, sealing their top position in the group. The Turkish Lions managed to remain undefeated in Group F.

YENİ ŞAFAK

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WE WILL NOT MAKE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

President Abdullah Gül said Turkey did not want to be a combatant country in Afghanistan.

Gül, who returned from Jordan, commented on the request of the United States for further troops from Turkey. "Turkey's activities in Afghanistan will increase but we will decide on how to do it," he said.

JUSTICE DIFFICULT WITH THIS SCALE

Population in prisons has risen to 120 thousand. Around 40,000 are in prisons even if they are not sentenced. The deadlocked justice needs fresh power as well as allocation and reform.

Turkish justice system, that has difficulty in handling millions of files and became an issue of criticism as decisions are given late, gives alarm.

TÜRKİYE

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WE HAVE BEEN BACK TO SITUATION PRIOR TO CRISIS

Turkey's credit rating has been upgraded two grades, boosting the Stock Exchange indices. Following the criticisms that Turkey had not been given the points it deserved, international credit rating agency, Fitch, took the first step. Turkey's credit rating has risen for the first time by two grades in last 19 years. Fitch, in its analysis said, "Turkish banks are stronger than those in Europe".

ARMS NOT ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM

Justice & Development (AK) Party Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik, in an interview with private news channel, TGRT, said, "Fight against terrorism has economic, social, psychological, sociologist and political dimensions."

EITHER UNITY OR SEPARATION IN CYPRUS

Ankara's timetable for Cyprus has become definite. The talks will yield result in January. There will be referendum at the end of February. Either a federation on basis of equal rights will be established in April, or every party will go on its way. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will explain this package to U.S. President Barack Obama and EU executives. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat will travel to Britain on Friday to discuss decision on accelerated meetings.

HÜRRİYET

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FITCH UPGRADES TURKEY'S RATINGS

International credit ratings agency Fitch said it had upgraded Turkey's rating two grades to "BB " as the country had long been complaining that it could not get proper rating it deserved. Also, Fitch upgraded Turkey's long-term national currency issuer default rating to "BB " from BB, and its country ceiling rating to "BBB-" from BB. Turkey just needs one more grade up to qualify for a level the agency advise "investable country." Turkey's main stock exchange market was up 3.71 percent to reach at 50 thousand points.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HEAD DENIES ÖCALAN MOVED TO SMALLER PRISON ROOM

Head of parliament's human rights committee rejected allegations that Abdullah Öcalan, head of the terrorist PKK organization, was moved to a smaller size room at a newly built correctional facility on the Imrali Island. "The standards of the prison on Imrali are above the standards set by the United Nations or the the Council of Europe. Öcalan's old room was 11.98 square meters and his new room is 11.81 square meters," Zafer Uskul said.

TURKISH PRESIDENT LOOKS UNWILLING ON SENDING COMBATANT TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN

President Abdullah Gül said Turkey did not want to engage in combat in Afghanistan as allies had asked for further troop contribution for the war-battered country. "We will boost our presence in Afghanistan but we will decide how to do that. We don't want to be in a combatant status there. We would better do more work in the country to serve peace," Gül said on his way back home from Jordan.

MİLLİYET

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FOR A PLACE AS SMALL AS A STAMP

The debates which started following transfer of Abdullah Öcalan to a new Type F prison cell constructed on Imrali island reached an interesting point. The tension which escalated after the statements of Democratic Society Party (DTP) that Öcalan was transferred from a 12-square-meter room to a 6-square-meter room caused clashes with sticks and stones. It was revealed on Thursday that Öcalan's new room is 11.81 square meters and previous room is 11.98 square meters.

Speaking to daily Milliyet, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said, "the difference between the two rooms is only 17 square centimetre. It is the reason for all the complaints."

Ergin said it was a Type F prison room in international standards.

CLEAR REPLY FROM Gül TO USA: NO

In reply to the request of the United States for additional troops for engagement zone in Afghanistan, President Abdullah Gül said, "Turkey does not want to be a combatant party. Turkey will increase its activities in Afghanistan but we will decide on how to do it."

Washington is trying to convince Ankara. U.S. President Barack Obama's adviser to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke talked to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels on Thursday. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to meet Davutoglu in Brussels today.

SABAH

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"CAGE PLAN" INVESTIGATION FOR THREE ADMIRALS

Vice-Admiral Kadir Sagdic, Rear Admiral Mehmet Ilgar and retired Vice Admiral Feyyaz Ogutcu will depose on Saturday.

Prosecutors of Ergenekon, investigating "Cage Plan" that targeted attack on minorities and a museum, asked three commanders, whose names were mentioned in the plan, to give testimony.

The three commanders will answer the questions in Istanbul on Saturday.

GM FOOD BRAKE FROM COUNCIL OF STATE

Council of State by a majority of vote stopped execution of some articles of the reGülation on Genetically Modified (GM) Food.

PHARMACIES ARE CLOSED TODAY

Pharmacists who defend that they suffer a great loss as the Social Security Agency made discount on medicine prices will pull down shutters today.

VATAN

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RE-TRIAL FOR ÖCALAN?

Two major opposition parties in Turkey said that a proposed amendment to the law on fight against terrorism might lead to re-trial of Abdullah Öcalan, head of the terrorist PKK organization. In separate statements, the Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party said the amendment would give Öcalan right to demand re-trial. Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin rejected those views, saying the European Court of Human Rights' ruling on Öcalan left no room for his re-trial.

TURKEY'S HIGHEST COURT TO DEBATE CLOSURE CASE AGAINST DTP

Turkey's Constitutional Court is set to begin next Tuesday debating a case filed to shut down the Democratic Society Party (DTP). The court's rapporteur working on the case had asked in their advisory reviews to ban the DTP on charges of "becoming a fÖcal point for actions against the independence and the unity of the state." Also, party's leader Ahmet Turk and 221 party members face five-year ban from politics.

RADİKAL

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TURKEY IS INDISPENSABLE

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, speaking to daily RADIKAL, said, "our policy will not be damaged in case Turkey does not dispatch new troops. However, Turkey's cooperation is indispensable." Holbrooke said Turkey was the most influential country in Afghanistan behind the United States. Holbrooke said Turkey had the capability to achieve things in Afghanistan which no other country could make. He said, "we do not make demands to Turkey. We only talk on which matters we can do together."

COURT REMEMBERS DTP IN MIDDLE OF MOVE

Constitutional Court will begin debating a closure case against the Democratic Society Party (DTP) on December 8. On November 2007, the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court, and demanded closure of the political party since it has become a fÖcal point of separatist actions.

ALSO LIONS OVER TOP

Following Fenerbahce soccer team, also Galatasaray soccer team guaranteed being the winners of their group in Europa League ahead of the last group games. Galatasaray, who had defeated Panathinaikos of Greece 3-1 in an away game, have once again beaten the Greek team 1-0 at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul.