These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 21st, 2008.

- 21 / 05 / 2008 08:05

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

OLIVE BRANCH TO ARMENIA

Ankara, which offered to establish dialogue with the newly elected Armenian administration, is waiting for Yerevan's reply. Turkey has extended its hand to Armenia in an effort to put an end to a dispute of 234 years between the two countries. President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan congratulated Serzh Sargsyan upon his election as the president of Armenia and offered to "improve the relations" between the countries. 
    
ZIDANE MEETS TURKISH CHILDREN AT A MATCH

The northwestern province of Kırklareli hosted a world-wide known football star Zinedine Zidane. Zidane, who visited the Danone Tikvesli factory in the city together with Turkish Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker, played football with villager children. 
    
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKEY'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM BOOSTS MORALE IN FIRST MATCH: 1-0

Turkish national soccer team defeated Slovakia 1-0 in its first friendly match played ahead of the Euro 2008. The match took place in Germany, and Hakan Balta scored the only goal of the game. Turkey will play two more friendlies with Uruguay and Finland on May 25th and 29th, respectively. 
    
"THERE WILL NOT BE ANY CLOSURES IN AUSTRIA"

Austria also objected to the closure case against the Justice & Development (AK) Party. Austria, which is known for its objections to Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership, said the closure case caused bewilderment in Europe. Only five percent of Austrian people are supporting Turkey's EU membership bid. Paying a formal visit to Turkey, Austrian President Heinz Fischer said, "there is an elected government and prime minister, such a thing cannot occur in Austria." When asked to compare the AK Party with the racist Haider party in his country, Fischer said, "they are totally different, there is no parallelism." Fischer said there was not any case filed against Haider or any legal process against the party. 
    
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)

FIRST COMMENT FROM KILIC

Chief Judge Hasim Kilic of the Constitutional Court made remarks about the dissolution case (filed against the ruling AK Party) for the first time. Kilic said when this process ended, Turkish democracy and secularism would have a stronger structure. 
    
BRITAIN APPROVES WORK PERMIT APPLICATION MADE UNDER ANKARA AGREEMENT

Britain's Consulate General in Istanbul approved a residence and work permit application from Turkey made under the Ankara Agreement. The application made by London-based Kuddus Solicitors for Turkish citizen Gurbuz Sanatci was approved by the Britain's Consulate General in Istanbul.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FEAR OF DICTATORSHIP

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli said, "Justice & Development (AK) Party attempts to put under control constitutional and democratic rights through a dictatorship feeded by fears". Referring to claims that Osman Paksut, deputy chief judge of the Constitutional Court, has been tapped, Bahceli said AK Party had been trying to stir fear of dictatorship. Speaking at a group meeting of the MHP in the parliament, Bahceli said the closure case filed against AK Party weakened the management of the government that was already mishandled. 
    
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 30 COUNTRIES IN GAZIANTEP

800 companies from 30 countries will attend the 3rd International Iraq Fair in the southeastern province of Gaziantep. The fair will be open between May 22nd and 25th. The fair will be a meeting point for numerous businessmen from Europe, Africa, Far East and Middle East. 
    
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

367 CAN BE BASIS FOR A THIRD WAY

Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, who caused discussions with his words stating that the Constitutional Court could ease the situation in Turkey by finding a third way in the closure case, said "the decision on the 'quorum of 367 deputies' could be the basis of a formula to be developed". Toptan also said constitutional court could create great precedents that would establish its country's future. 
    
NATIONAL TEAM WINS AT FIRST REHEARSAL

Turkey's national football team, which is getting prepared for Euro 2008, played an enterprising football against Slovakia in a friendly match in Germany. Turkey defeated Slovakia 1-0. 
    
SABAH (LIBERAL)

CREDIT CARD INTERESTS LIMITED

Authorities have pushed the button to limit the interest rates on credit card debts. The rate is actually 78 percent. Ahmet Iyimaya, chairman of the Parliamentary Justice Committee, said that they would try to bring the rate closer to consumer loan rate. The consumer loan rate is actually 24 percent. The new arrangement will also prevent paying credit card debts with another credit card. The credit card limits will not be over four-folds of that person's income. If a person exceeds the credit card limit, s/he cannot get a new credit card or consumer loan. 
    
TURKEY IS A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, WE ENSURED GROWTH HERE

Danone World's President Franck Riboud said that Turkey was an important market for the company. Riboud attended the inauguration of a dairy facility in Luleburgaz on the occasion of celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Danone Tikvesli. "We have ensured growth here, and Turkey can be seen as our neighboring country now," he also said.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)

SHE SHAKES BOSPHORUS

Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue amazed 10,000 fans at Istanbul's Kurucesme Arena. Getting a full mark for her costumes and dance, Kylie said after her first song that what a beautiful view that was. Thus, she voiced her admiration of Istanbul and Bosphorus. During her concert, she asked in Turkish if everybody was having fun, and the audience shouted, "yes". 
    
"DEMOCRACY AND SECULARISM WILL BE STRENGTHENED"

On the closure case against the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party, Constitutional Court chief judge Hasim Kilic said Turkey's democracy, secularism and judiciary would come out of the process stronger whatever the decision was. "Believe me, what I am saying is not only a wish," he also said. 
    
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

INTERESTING WORDS FROM KILIC

Replying to a question on "when the headscarf case would be put on the court's agenda", chief judge Hasim Kilic of Constitutional Court said he would first learn about the thoughts of his friends, then he would include the issue in the agenda. Kilic's words were interpreted as the meeting on the issue might be postponed. 
    
YOUNG PIANIST'S BIG SUCCESS

Ceren Su Sahin, a student at Bilkent University's primary school, was ranked the first at the "3rd Mozart International Piano Competition" in Italy. Sahin previously got the "Special Jury Award" at last year's "Vienna Young Pianists" competition. 
    
RADIKAL (LEFT)

SECOND DAY IN SMOKING BAN

The second day of the extensive smoking ban in enclosed areas areas such as taxis, ferries and shopping malls ended with not much complaints. The Health Ministry warned that smoking was also banned at balconies of business places. If workers take smoking break frequently, this can be considered a labor loss. 
    
CENSURE MOTION REJECTED

Turkey's parliament rejected a censure motion against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in regard to sale of ATV-Sabah to Calik Group. The motion was submitted last week by Republican People's Party (CHP) to the Parliament Speaker's Office against Premier Erdogan on grounds of his alleged interference in the tender for sale of ATV-Sabah and abusing his authority on behalf of a group.