TURKIYE

IDENTITY CARDS NOT TO BE USED ANY MORE

Taxes, health and insurance services will be carried out by "Citizenship Cards" instead of identity card, starting as of 2008.

e-Government implementations will be accelerated next year. Works will start for electronic citizenship card which includes main identity information. Services like tax, population, health and social security will be facilitated thanks to this card.


THERE WILL BE 30 STUDENTS IN CLASSES

5-year targets in national education became clear. Every year, 155 thousand children will get preschool education. There will be only 30 students in classes.


ZAMAN

EFFORTS OF TURKEY BOOST HOPES FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The most serious initiative, that was launched after 7 year intervals to resolve Palestinian-Israeli conflict, will start in Annanpolis city of the United States.

Ankara became a stage for a very busy diplomacy traffic before and after the summit in the United States.

FM Ali Babacan will represent Turkey at the meeting. "We expect tangible results," Babacan said.


TURKEY IS IN SAME GROUP WITH SPAIN

Draw for 2010 World Cup qualifying which will take place in South Africa was made. Turkey took place in the 5th group where there are Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Estonia.


YENI SAFAK

SYRIA INVITED TO USA THANKS TO INITIATIVES OF TURKEY

Representatives from nearly 50 countries came together for the Middle East conference in U.S. city of Annapolis. Syria was invited to the conference thanks to the initiatives of Turkey. Representatives from Saudi Arabia will also participate in the conference due to demand from Turkish government. Turkish FM Ali Babacan will represent Turkey in the conference in the United States.

VATAN

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BEGINS ACTUALLY NOW

During Justice & Development (AK) Party's consultation and assessment meeting in Ankara's Kizilcahamam town, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said, "fight that has been conducted so far was against terrorists. Fight against terrorism has begun recently." New methods would be formed to secure unity in this country, Cicek said. "A package comprised of several measures for development of the economy in the southeastern region will be implemented soon," he said.


HEAVY FOG PARALYZES ANKARA

Only one plane could land at Esenboga Airport in Turkish capital of Ankara within 16 hours on Sunday due to heavy fog. Two ministers had to cancel their programs. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan waited for five and a half hours at the airport to fly to the United States.


CUMHURIYET

NORTH OF IRAQ CONVINCED

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who spoke at the Justice & Development (AK) Party consultation and assessment meeting in Ankara's Kizilcahamam town, said the administration in north of Iraq was convinced to be on Turkey's side in fight against terrorism. "They act together with Turkey in fight against terrorism from now on," Babacan noted.

Some MPs from the southeastern provinces relayed the message that an operation to north of Iraq would be an adventure. "Don't talk abstractly. Bring concrete proposals," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the MPs.


RADIKAL

BABACAN: "ADMINISTRATION IN NORTH OF IRAQ SUPPORTS US"

A possible cross-border operation topped the agenda of the Justice & Development (AK) Party's consultation and assessment meeting in Kizilcahamam town in Ankara. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said, "we approved the motion to use it. The administration in the north of Iraq supports Turkey in fight against terrorism."


WARM WEATHER TO LEAVE COUNTRY

There will be rainy weather in the western part of Turkey as of Monday. Temperatures will drop 8-10 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Heavy rain will start in Western Marmara and Northern Aegean regions on Monday evening.

HURRIYET

BLIND TURKISH WOMEN MARATHON RACER IN NEW YORK

Story of Nihal Erkan (26), a blind woman who migrated to the United States in 2005, became a news in New York Times.

The newspaper said, "the blind woman came to join New York marathon and stayed in the city", and noted that Nihal Erkan attended the marathon in 2005 together with a voluntary guide and walked for 9 hours. Erkan later married to Hakan Durantas, another blind man and stayed in New York.

Erkan, who is a graduate of Psychology, wants to work in an orphan's aid society in New York.


ERDOGAN: CIVILIAN CONSTITUTION WILL BE MADE PUBLIC ON DECEMBER 15

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 1982 Constitution was not enough and will be renewed with the contribution of all institutions. Erdogan said, "who will make the constitution but a party that got 65 percent of the votes of the nation." Erdogan also noted that, "we will be open to the contribution of all constitutions."

Justice & Development (AK) Party MPs were told that the constitution would be made public on December 15th.


MILLIYET

DIPLOMAT PAMIR ON TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION

Umit Pamir, who retired two months ago and who was one of the most important diplomats of Turkey, told Milliyet daily there is not a senior statesman in the EU currently and it causes some problems. According to Pamir, Turkey should not give up its civilization project. "A view that Turkey should do what the EU wants is wrong. We don't have to accept matters which will not serve for our interests," Pamir stated.


PM ERDOGAN EMPHASIZES 65 PERCENT

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said works on the new constitution would be made public on December 15th during Justice & Development (AK) Party's consultation and assessment meeting in Ankara's Kizilcahamam town. "Some told us that you should not prepare the new constitution. We won 65 percent of votes of the people during the parliamentary elections and we deserve to prepare it," he said.


SABAH

VIRGIN MARY AND MEVLA TOUR OF CHARLES

Prince of Wales Charles and his wife Duchess of Cornwall Camilla arrived in Turkey on a four-day tour upon an invitation from Konya Municipality. Charles and his wife Camilla will visit Mevlana first and later leave for Virgin Mary's House in Efes.


GUL: EXPO 2015 IS THE PROJECT OF TURKEY

President Abdullah Gul, speaking to reporters prior to his departure for France, stated that, "the target of my visit is to publicize Izmir's candidacy to EXPO 2015 in the best way.

Gul said, "if a decision is made to hold EXPO 2015 in Izmir, there will be a very great activity in Izmir and all the region."

In May 2006, Turkey submitted an official letter to BIE regarding Izmir's candidacy to host EXPO 2015 under the theme "New Routes to a Better World/Health for All."

AA