Turkey-press scan on June 14

ZAMAN

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6,000 NEW MILLIONAIRES IN TURKEY

According to the figures of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board, the number of millionaires in Turkey rose from 23,000 to 29,000 in the past one year. Millionaires' deposits in banks reached 213.4 billion Turkish lira.

ERGENEKON WORKS WITH PKK IN DRUG SMUGGLING

İstanbul deputy police chief Mehmet Likoglu said organizations like Ergenekon conducted illicit drug smuggling together with terrorist organization PKK. "PKK is an organized structure and it conducts illicit drug trafficking between countries. So such organizations have to work with PKK to smuggle illicit drugs."

YENİ ŞAFAK

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WHY NOW?

"Why did the terrorist organization intensify its acts right after the constitutional amendment package was adopted by the parliament and while it is about to be brought to the vote of the nation?," asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pointing out to the significance of the timing.

"Who stood against us? Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Peace & Democracy Party (BDP), the terrorist organization and Imrali... Justice and Development (AK) Party is the one who stood against them. Everybody should ask 'Why now?'," Erdoğan said.

TURKS STUCK BETWEEN TWO FIRES

The number of the dead in the Kyrygz civil war has risen to 113. Some Turkish citizens, who were trapped between clashes, had to take shelter in the villages of Meskhetian Turks. Nearly 75,000 Uzbeks started to migrate as Turkish citizens in Kyrgyzstan are still waiting anxiously.

TÜRKİYE

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"TURKEY IS A WORLD STATE"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at a rally in northern province of Trabzon, "we are interested in Jerusalem because Sultan Abdulhamid II of the Ottoman Empire was a part of Jerusalem's history. We have ancestors there."

BY A WHISKER

A Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel was about to hit shore at İstanbul Strait after a mechanical failure locked down her rudder. People began running in panic when they saw the vessel coming towards them. Captain of the vessel managed to stop it at the last moment.

HÜRRİYET

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MANY THINGS CHANGE SINCE LAWRENCE

According to a survey carried out by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation in seven Arab countries, 75 percent of people in those countries think positively about Turkey. Palestine, Syria and Jordan are the countries that have a great sympathy for Turkey. Palestinian, Syrian and Jordanian peoples consider Turkey a successful synthesis of Islam and democracy. Pro-democratic Arab intellectuals think that Turkey is an exemplary country.

REINFORCEMENT AGAINST PKK

Number of assault helicopters will be increased after PKK terrorist organization has recently intensified its attacks in southeastern Turkey. First, officials thought of hiring helicopters from Italy. Later, it was planned to purchase nine A-129 INT helicopters.

MİLLİYET

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"OPERATION WITHOUT UNIFORM IS ALSO A MUST"

Muammer Güler who became the Public Security Undersecretary said that psychological operation was not staged with uniforms. The unit that will be chaired by former İstanbul governor Güler is considered a key factor for Kurdish initiative of the government. "Intelligence Assessment Center" that will be formed under the undersecretariat will gather intelligence from Police Department, Gendarme General Command, National Intelligence Organization, Foreign Ministry and Coast Guard Department.

30.7 BLN USD OF PRIVATIZATION IN 7.5 YEARS

39.6 billion U.S. dollars of privatization has been made in Turkey in the last 24 years. 77.6 percent of them have taken place during the ruling of Justice and Development (AK) Party. Since November 2002, privatization amounted to 30.7 billion U.S. dollars.

SABAH

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TURKEY DOES NOT GO AGAINST EU

In an interview with daily Sabah, EU Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fuele said that steps taken by Turkey were not in contradiction with the country's EU process.

Commenting on Turkey's vote concerning Iran at the UN and the latest "axis shift" discussions, Fuele said Turkey was a country of great importance and its regional significance raised the desire to work together with it.

Noting Israel's raid against aid ships should be condemned, Fuele also commented on the constitutional amendment package. "I consider this initiative important for the continuation of the reforms needed for Turkey's EU process," Fuele said.

WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACK ON GAZA

Speaking at a provincial consultative assembly meeting of Justice and Development (AK) Party in the Black Sea province of Rize, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey had always helped the ones in need throughout history. "Turkey can never turn its back on Gaza. We just want peace," he said.

VATAN

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SALARIES GO TO PKK

In an indictment about the PKK's secret urban wing KCK, it was claimed that mayors from the outlawed Democratic Society Party (DTP) gave their first two salaries to the terrorist organization and sent financial aid to the PKK every month.

TBB'S NEW PRESIDENT

Vedat Cosar, chairman of the Ankara Bar, was elected the president of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. Cosar received 178 votes. İstanbul Bar Chairman Muammer Aydin got 149 votes and Tekirdag Bar Chairman Gunes Gurseler received 56 votes in the general congress.

RADİKAL

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BAĞIŞ ON AXIS SHIFT CLAIMS

State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis said Turkey had a great will for its EU accession process. In his article for Radikal, Bagis said that some claimed that Turkey's axis changed and it got away from the West. Bagis said such claims were similar to mentality of 'Cold War'. Axis shift discussions in Turkey are not innocent and they are made for West-East disintegration, he said.

QUARESMA IN BEŞİKTAŞ

Turkish soccer club Beşiktaş have completed the 7.3 million Euro signing of Inter Milan winger Ricardo Quaresma. Ouaresma signed a three-year contract with Beşiktaş. The Portugal international will move to Beşiktaş after two years with the Serie A champions in which he found playing time very limited.