Turkey-press scan on Feb. 10

ZAMAN

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PRESIDENT GÜL HOLDS TALKS WITH INDIAN AUTHORITIES

President Abdullah Gul who is paying a formal visit to India had talks with Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Turkish and Indian parties confirmed their determination to boost economic relations. Gul said Turkey was eager to enhance ties with India. "There is a great potential between the two countries. We will make good use of this potential," he said.

GERMAN AMBASSADOR ON ERGENEKON CASE

German Ambassador to Turkey Eckart Cuntz said there were some news stories in Turkish media which claimed that there was a link between Germany and Ergenekon, and these news stories were totally wrong. Cuntz said that there were "unique" relations between Turkey and Germany.

YENİ ŞAFAK

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BAYKAL'S DIRTY LIE

Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal claimed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan "not to bring her wife" prior to his visit France. Baykal's allegation was denied by two sources.

CHP later corrected Baykal's statement and said "such a request came from former French President Jacques Chirac". Turkish prime ministry and the French embassy in Ankara immediately released harsh statements denying Baykal's remarks. Prime ministry described such remarks as "flippant slander" and called on Baykal to apologize.

WE NEED TO LEAVE THIS ATMOSPHERE RAPIDLY

Turkish President Abdullah Gul commented on the political tension in Ankara during his visit to India. "We need to get out of this atmosphere rapidly," Gul said.

Upon a question on how "the manner problem" would be overcome, Gul said he had several thoughts in his mind, however, he needed to bring them to a certain maturity first.

TÜRKİYE

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HAND-IN-HAND FOR PEACE IN BALKANS

Giant step for peace in Balkans! Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia met for the fifth time. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia decided to end the problems which have been continuing for years. Bosnia appointed an ambassador to Serbia. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said, "we respect integrity of Bosnia." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "Balkans will be an area of stability." Davutoglu, Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj and Serbian minister Jeremic had their photo taken hand-in-hand in the meeting in Ankara.

TRAPPED BY FLOOD WATERS

People, who were living in a building complex, were trapped by flood waters for 50 hours in the western province of Mugla. Two people died due to flood in the southern province of Antalya. Soldiers in a guard post, which sank into flood waters, scarcely saved their lives.

HÜRRİYET

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TORTURE AT GATE

Visa torture in entrance to Germany is continuing. Turkish pop singer Faruk K., who was not allowed to enter Germany although he had visa, got very angry and said, "they do not accept even their own visa." Germany is not obeying European Court of Justice's decision of visa exemption for Turkish artists, sportsmen, businessmen and patients. Faruk K., who went to Germany for a concert, was kept waited for four hours at Cologne Airport.

RESCUE SCANDAL

Two friends, Mustafa Dolapci (51) and Ali Riza Turktas (30), managed to climb to a tree by getting out of their car which was dragged by flood waters in Serik town of the southern province of Antalya. They called for help. A police car came and announced "hang on". Civil defense teams, which came 300 meters near the two, said they could not help because they were trained for earthquake, and they could not use boat. The two men called one of their relatives --living in Alanya town which was nearly 100 km away from Antalya-- on the cell phone. Their relative came from Alanya with a rafting boat, approached the tree. Turktas was rescued after seven hours, while Dolapci fell into the water and got lost.

MİLLİYET

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PRESIDENT GÜL SAYS POLITICAL POLEMICS HARM TURKEY

Turkish President Abdullah Gul who is paying a formal visit to India to boost economic and political relations had a chat with Turkish journalists. When he was reminded of political tension in Turkey, Gul said, "we should not give credit to polemics. For example you (journalists) should not write news stories about such polemics. Everyone should do something on the matter."

PROSECUTOR FROM ERZURUM CANNOT ENTER 3RD ARMY

Erzurum Public Prosecutor Osman Sanal who has been conducting Ergenekon probe in eastern Erzincan province detained two noncommissioned officers and another person. Sanal who wanted to search office of one of noncommissioned officers in the 3rd Army HQ was not allowed to enter the HQ on the ground that he did not get permission from the General Staff.

SABAH

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MANY COUNTRIES TO SINK, TURKEY TO RISE

Jim Rogers, one of the investors who lead the global market, made comments on 2010 in an interview with Sabah daily. Rogers said many countries and companies would go bankrupt in 2010, however, Turkey's future was bright. He said more crises were expected in the foreign exchange market this year, but based on the current conjuncture, Turkey would have a better future than many countries. Rogers also said that holding talks with the International Monetary Fund was nothing but loss of time.

I COULD HAVE BILATERAL TALKS WITH LEADERS

Turkish President Abdullah Gul sent messages from New Delhi and said that he might hold bilateral talks with the political party leaders in Turkey. "If the current situation is not overcome, we will go into a vicious circle. It would be a pity," Gul said.

VATAN

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GÜL CALLS FOR TRANQUILITY

Speaking to Turkish reporters during his visit to New Delhi, Turkish President Abdullah Gul asked the media not to give credit to the polemics among the political party leaders in Turkey.

Gul also made a proposal and said, "Try not to write news stories about them. For a week, just write about the good things they tell about each other. Let's see what will happen. This atmosphere should vanish rapidly. We need to leave this behind and Turkey needs to get over this situation," he said.

SARGSIAN SENDS MESSAGE WHILE FLYING THROUGH TURKISH AIRSPACE

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian sent a message to Turkish President Abdullah Gul while flying to Britain over Turkey.

"I am sending my good wishes to you and to friend Turkish nation while flying through Turkish airspace. Today is the time to move forward for Turkey and Armenia," Sargsian said in his message.

RADİKAL

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DISASTER IN ANTALYA

Floods caused by torrential rains are continuing. Two people climbed to a tree to escape from flooding waters in the southern province of Antalya. One of their relatives reached them after seven hours as civil defense teams could not do anything. However, one of the two people fell into the water and got lost.

APPOINTMENT TO TÜRK-İŞ

Search of solution continues for workers of Tobacco and Liquor Administration (Tekel). Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he would give an appointment only to Turkish Confederation of Labor (Türk-İş). Mustafa Kumlu, chairman of Türk-İş, can have an appointment from prime minister after his meeting with Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin.