Turkey-press scan on Dec. 6

ZAMAN

-----

BARCELONA TO FLY WITH TURKISH AIRLINES

One of the world's best three soccer teams, Spanish Barcelona will begin flying with the Turkish Airlines (THY) for its away games in the European Champions' League. THY is Turkey's national air carrier.

YAPI KREDİ CHOSEN AS BANK OF YEAR IN TURKEY

The Banker Magazine has chosen Yapi Kredi as the Bank of the Year in 2009 in Turkey. Yapi Kredi was chosen as the Bank of the Year according to an increase in its profitability, strong capital, successful fiscal management and implementation of risk policies, technology, development of human resources and customer satisfaction. The Banker Magazine presented the Bank of the Year award to Yapi Kredi's Director General Faik Acikalin in a ceremony held in London.

YENİ ŞAFAK

----------

I CAN FIND JOB FOR 3 MLN PEOPLE

Yildirim Aktürk, who was the undersecretary of State Planning Organization during Turgut Özal's term-in-office, said that chronic unemployment problem could be solved with three huge projects. Aktürk said, "three million people can be employed with agricultural industry in Southeastern Anatolia Project, Spain model in real estate, and Indian model in informatics."

TWO MARINERS ARRESTED

Two mariners gave testimony to prosecutor within the scope of an investigation about assassination preparations against two admirals in Naval Forces. A colonel and a lieutenant were arrested.

TÜRKİYE

-------

RELEASED TEN HOURS LATER

Land Forces former commander Aytaç Yalman, Naval Forces former commander Özden Örnek, and Air Forces former commander İbrahim Fırtına answered questions of public prosecutors regarding coup plans for ten hours. They were then released.

YAPI KREDİ BANK OF THE YEAR

The Banker, one of the most influential and prestigious magazines of banking sector, selected Turkish Yapi Kredi as the bank of the year.

OUR DECISION IN DEMOCRATIC MOVE NOT CHANGED

Interior Minister Besir Atalay said, "there will always be people who want to sabotage the democratic move. There is no change in our will and determination."

HÜRRİYET

--------

GIANT PLANE WAR

Turkish Airlines (THY) took action to purchase planes which have high passenger capacity. THY is examining the proposals from Boeing for 747-8 Intercontinental and from Airbus for A380. The decision will be announced in June, 2010.

MUSLIMS ARE A PART OF SWITZERLAND

Switzerland's Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said that the decision which emerged in the referendum did not mean the rejection of Muslim society, Islamic religion or culture in Switzerland. She noted that Muslims were an inseparable part of Swiss society.

MİLLİYET

--------

WE DID NOT PLAN A COUP

Former commander of Land Forces Gen. Aytaç Yalman, former commander of Air Forces Gen. İbrahim Fırtına and former commander of Naval Forces Admiral Özden Örnek answered questions of Ergenekon prosecutors for 10 hours on Saturday in Istanbul. The three generals rejected allegations that they were involved in the planning of a coup in Turkey. Prosecutors released the three generals after questioning them.

3 NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN ERZİNCAN

The Chief Prosecutor's Office in eastern province of Erzincan took into custody three National Intelligence officials on Saturday. The three officials were taken into custody for their possible engagement in implementing the "Action Plan against Fundamentalism" in Erzincan.

SABAH

-----

10-HOUR INTERROGATION

For the first time in the history of Republic, three former commanders of forces were interrogated with the claims of "planning a coup" and "setting up an armed organization". Land Forces former commander Aytaç Yalman, Naval Forces former commander Özden Örnek, and Air Forces former commander İbrahim Fırtına, who gave testimony to five prosecutors, were released.

THEY SABOTAGE DEMOCRATIC MOVE

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that terrorist groups were trying to sabotage the democratic move. He added, "my citizens of Kurdish origin should give the necessary response to them."

VATAN

-----

DEMOCRATIC MOVE TO CONTINUE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who spoke at a ceremony in Istanbul said that democratic move process would continue. He said, "we will strengthen and carry national integrity, unity and brotherhood process to the future. We will do this, not anybody else. We will complete the process for our people regardless of its cost."

TWO CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ERGENEKON

A colonel and a lieutenant were arrested within the scope of an assassination plan against admirals in Istanbul. Also in the eastern province of Erzincan, three personnel of National Intelligence Agency (MIT) including a regional director were detained within the scope of Ergenekon investigation.

RADİKAL

-------

IRAN TO BE THE TOPIC WITH OBAMA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will travel to the United States today (Sunday). The most critical topic that Erdoğan and U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss is expected to be Iran and not Afghanistan.

DEMOCRATIC MOVE PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED, ERDOĞAN

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday that the democratic move process in Turkey would be completed. "We do not sit at the table with illegal organizations. The head of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, is in a jail which is at EU standards," Erdoğan stressed.