Turkey-press scan on September 3

ZAMAN

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CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE WILL BRING PROSPERITY TO TURKEY

Support of the European Union (EU) to the constitutional amendment which will be put to referendum on September 12 continues.

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten made a statement and said constitutional amendments would bring prosperity to Turkey.

Oomen-Ruijten said casting a vote is one of the fundamental conditions of democracy and criticized boycott decision of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) without giving its name.

Oomen-Ruijten said the Constitutional amendment was the first step towards Turkey's democratization and modernization and that everyone had to cast a vote at the upcoming referendum in Turkey.

EMBRACES THE FLOOD VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN

Emine Erdoğan, spouse of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is in Pakistan to deliver three million TL money and medicine assistance worth of one million TL collected in Turkey. Erdoğan could not keep her tears against the heart-wrenching situation of the flood victims.

Emine Erdoğan, speaking at a ceremony held to distribute the keys of the houses constructed by Red Crescent in Pirsabak town, said everybody in Turkey felt the sorrows of Pakistan in their hearts.

TÜRKİYE

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EMİNE ERDOĞAN IN PAKISTAN

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's spouse Emine Erdoğan who is visiting flood-hit Pakistan to deliver aids, said that everyone in Turkey felt pain of Pakistani people. Erdoğan said, "we always remembered that Pakistani women sent their bracelets to Turkey during the War of Independence. We are sisters and brothers. Turkey and Pakistan will always support each other."

BABACAN: "TAX AND PREMIUM DEBTS CAN BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS"

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said that they made a new decision regarding tax and premium debts. Babacan said that tax and premium debts could be paid in installments.

YENİ ŞAFAK

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PAID TEACHER PERIOD TO START

National Education Ministry, which postponed teacher appointments following the allegations in Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS) will start to implement "paid school teaching" to meet teacher shortage.

National Directorates in provinces started studies within this scope.

HE COMES TO ASK FOR PERMISSION

Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), will pay a visit to Turkey today. Admiral Mullen will talk to Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner and ask for permission for transit passage of the heavy armament in Iraq.

HÜRRİYET

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"THAT STATEMENT CANNOT BE ACCEPTED"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Hürriyet that she did not agree with statement of Central Bank executive Thilo Sarrazin who said Turks, Arabs and Muslims made Germany stupid. Merkel said that many citizens of Turkish origin were living in Germany and most of them integrated into the country well. Merkel said Sarrazin's statements insulting Turks and Arabs could not be accepted.

US ADMIRAL MULLEN TO VISIT TURKEY FOR TRANSIT PASS

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), will pay a visit to Turkey. Admiral Mullen will meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner in General Staff HQ on Friday. Mullen is expected to discuss transit pass from Turkey to send some heavy armaments in Iraq to the United States.

MİLLİYET

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HEAVY DEMAND

Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), will pay a visit to Turkey with a demand to get permission to pass the heavy armament from Turkey which would be withdrawn from Iraq and with a demand to deploy missile shield against Iran.

The United States, which has withdrawn its combatting forces from Iraq, wants to pass its tanks, armoured vehicles, long-range cannons, and mobile radar systems from Turkey.

Mullen, who will pay a visit to Ankara today, will meet with Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner, and ask for approval for loading of the equipment, which would enter from north of Iraq through highway, to US ships at Mersin and Iskenderun ports.

I HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAKING SENTENCE

Emine Erdoğan, spouse of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who paid a visit to flood-stricken Pakistan, distributed the keys of 120 Mevlana houses constructed by Turkish Red Crescent with a campaign launched by daily Hurriyet.

Emine Erdoğan said, "we did not forget that Pakistani girls sent their bracelets to Turkey when we were in battle in 1920s. I have difficulty in making a sentence against the scene I see here."

SABAH

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"IF NO VOTES MORE THAN YES, DEMOCRACY WILL GO THROUGH A SERIOUS TRAUMA"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that if the constitutional amendment package is disapproved in the referendum on September 12, democracy would go through a serious trauma. Appearing on a television channel, Erdoğan said disapproval of the package would also make a negative effect on economy.

TUS IN DANGER

Doctors will also be affected by cheating scandal in Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS). Prosecutor's office seized archives of OSYM (Student Selection & Placement Center). Medical Specialization Examination (TUS) which is scheduled to take place on September 18 and 19 might be delayed.

VATAN

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SUPPORT FROM EU TO "YES"

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten made a written statement on September 12 referendum and gave an open support to "yes" campaign.

Oomen-Ruijten said she was deeply saddened after certain Turkish political parties made a call on supporters to boycott the referendum, and noted that the Constitutional amendment was the first step towards Turkey's more democratization and modernization and that everyone had to cast a vote at the upcoming referendum in Turkey.

THREE DEMANDS FROM US COMMANDER

Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), will pay a visit to Ankara today. Admiral Mullen will relay three demands of the United States from Turkey at a meeting with Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner.

Mullen will ask for return of heavy armament belonging to US forces (tanks, heavy armoured vehicles, long-range cannons, mobile radars and air defense systems) to the United States via Turkey. He will also ask deployment of early warning system and missile batteries to Turkey and extension of Turkey's Kabul Regional Command in Afghanistan for another year.

RADİKAL

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CITY EYES ERDOĞAN'S VISIT

An important statement was made on Thursday in Diyarbakır which waits for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today. Not only the representatives of mass organizations, which rejected "boycott" call of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) around ten days ago, and said they would vote "yes" in the referendum on September 12, but also the executives of BDP and Democratic Society Congress also attended this statement.

The statement was reflecting the political pulse prevailing Diyarbakır.

TURKEY WILL TAKE ON FRANCE

Turkey, which hosts the FIBA 2010 World Basketball Championship, defeated China 87-40, which is one of the weak teams of its group. Turkish basketball players won five of the matches in its group and ended its group as leader.

Turkey will take on France in the second tour. The match will take place on Sunday.