These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 20th, 2008.

- 20 / 05 / 2008 08:29

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

"A THIRD WAY SHOULD BE SOUGHT"

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan has indicated that a third option should be sought regarding the closure case against the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party. 
    
"TURKEY CAN ACT AS AN OLDER BROTHER IN ITS REGION"

Ahmed Mucahid Oren, CEO of the Ihlas Holding, said during the World Economic Forum meetings in Egypt, "Turkey can act as an older brother in its region in all areas from peace to trade." 
    
BABACAN: "WE WANT ACTION INSTEAD OF PROMISES"

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that international cooperation was essential in the fight against the PKK terrorist organization. Babacan warned the regional administration in north of Iraq saying, "the most important thing is that they should take tangible measures against the PKK."

WORLD ADMIRES 15-YEAR-OLD HANDE

15-year-old violinist Hande Kuden has achieved worldwide success in classical music. She is considered one of stars of the classical music in future. 
    
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

AUSTRIAN CONSTRUCTION DEPOT TO OPEN 10 BRANCHES IN TURKEY

After construction depot giants Bauhaus, Praktiker, Tekzen and Koctas opened stores throughout Turkey, Austrian Baumax decided to enter the Turkish market. Baumax will open 10 branches in Turkey in the next two years. Baumax's branches will be opened in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Izmit, Bursa and Eskisehir. The company's total investments in Turkey will be worth 120 million euros. 
    
BOSSES' CLUB WANTS "PREVENTIVE AGREEMENT" WITH IMF

A delegation of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), headed by Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, held talks with American officials responsible for relations with Europe and Turkey in U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney's office. The TUSIAD delegation proposed that Turkey should make a "preventive agreement" with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). An agreement between Turkey and the IMF ended in May. 
    
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)

U.S. WATCHING TURKEY CLOSELY, SAYS OFFICIAL FROM TURKISH EMPLOYERS' UNION

A senior figure from TUSIAD said that the U.S. was watching political developments in Turkey very closely. "U.S. support for Turkey's EU membership is still strong and Washington is closely watching recent political developments in Turkey," Abdullah Akyuz, TUSIAD's representative in Washington said. A group of TUSIAD members, including the chairwoman, Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, held meetings over the weekend with a number of high-level U.S. officials. 
    
TURKEY CELEBRATES MAY 19TH

May 19th, Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth & Sports Day, was celebrated throughout Turkey, on Monday. The ceremonies held on the occasion of May 19th began with a state ceremony at Anitkabir, mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. President Abdullah Gul, as well as state and military officials attended the ceremony.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)

AHH... WE BREATH AT LAST

Smoking ban went into effect in Turkey on Monday in closed areas. The first day went through with no problems. Turks shopping in malls and riding in public transportation were able to breath without being affected by cigarettes. Newspapers across the globe commented that, with the new smoking ban, Turkey's international image will improve significantly. 
    
DOCTORS WARN ERDOGAN

Doctors have warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he should have some rest. Erdogan did not attend the May 19th celebrations commemorating Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day on Monday. Erdogan spent Monday at his home complaining of an eye inflammation. Justice and Development (AK) Party's group meeting at the Turkish parliament on Tuesday has been cancelled due to Erdogan's condition. 
    
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ONE MORE SOLDIER KILLED

A Turkish troop was killed in clashes with members of the PKK terrorist organization in the southeastern province of Mardin. 
    
DOCTORS BACK SMOKING BAN

Doctors have supported the nationwide smoking ban. They said that the ban would have a positive impact on nicotine-addicts who were trying to quit smoking. "The smoking ban is a quite positive development. Nicotine addicts will either quit smoking or reduce their nicotine consumption. As a result, the effects of second-hand smoke will reduce to minimum," they said. 
    
RADIKAL (LEFT)

GOVERNMENT FAILING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AT SHIPYARDS

The Turkish government has failed to take necessary measures to prevent accidents at shipyards in Istanbul's Tuzla region, where 21 workers have been killed since last July at 14 shipyards. Turkish parliament formed an investigative committee and ordered the shipyards to take necessary measures. Labor minister threatened to shut down the shipyards which would fail to ensure workers' safety. Yet the government has been unable to force the shipyard owners to take necessary measures to prevent the killings. 
    
EXTENSIVE SMOKING BAN IN FORCE IN TURKEY

Turkey welcomed an extensive smoking ban which entered into force as of Monday, which prohibits smoking in indoors in places open to public. The first day of the ban was promising as smokers received the ban with respect in stadiums and ferries.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKEY'S CHIEF HISTORIAN OFFERS DIASPORA 20 MLN USD TO OPEN UP ARMENIAN ARCHIVES IN U.S.

Head of Turkey's state-funded historical society said he had offered to give 20 million USD aid to the Armenian diaspora in Boston, U.S. for the classification and the opening of the Armenian archives, which he said had included "very important" documents regarding the incidents of 1915. "I have openly talked about my proposal to journalists and members of the U.S. House of Representatives who came to visit me," Yusuf Halacoglu said. "I have also presented my proposal to two Armenian historians, Ara Sarfian and Hilmar Kaiser. But I could have no word back," he said.

U.S. HISTORIAN DESCRIBES ATATURK GREATEST LEADER OF 20TH CENTURY

Prof. Arnold Ludwig, a historian and psychiatrist, named Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, as the greatest leader of the 20th century according to his search. Ataturk ranked the first among a group of other political leaders on a scale that measured a number attributes such as "ability to build a nation, enlarging territory, military achievement, statesmanship." China's communist leader Mao Zedong ranked the second and former U.S. President F. D. Roosevelt made the third on the scale. 
    
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

POLICEMEN VIOLATE SMOKING BAN FIRST

It was the first day of the nationwide smoking ban on May 19th which was also celebrated as the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth & Sports Day. People, especially policemen, smoked their cigarettes in stadiums where the ceremonies took place, and violated the ban. Students unfurled banners to call on people to quit smoking. Some people who lit up in no-smoking areas were given a fine of 62 new Turkish liras (about 50 USD). 
    
EU'S SELF-CRITICISM: WE SHOULD BE MORE SENSITIVE ABOUT SECULARISM

In an interview with the Milliyet daily, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-President Joost Lagendijk said he thought Turkey's concerns about secularism were totally right. He said that since none of 27 EU-member countries lived through a similar problem, they could not understand the arguments over secularism in Turkey. Lagendijk said that the EU should be more sensitive about secularism. 
    
SABAH (LIBERAL)

ATATURK GREATEST LEADER OF 20TH CENTURY

American historian and psychiatrist Professor Arnold Ludwig classified Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as the greatest leader of the 20th century. Ludwig's classification was based on 11 criteria. Communist China's founder Mao Zedong was ranked as the second greatest leader of the 20th century according to Professor Ludwig. 
    
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR TO PROVIDE JOBS TO 250,000 PEOPLE

Turkish automotive sector will provide jobs to 250,000 people in the next five years. The automotive sector will offer employment opportunities in diverse areas ranging from automobile manufacturing to sales and marketing.