Today in Turkish Press

ANKARA (A.A) - 17.05.2011 - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 16, 2011. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
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TURKS SOLVED THE MYSTERY OF BRAIN
Prof. Murat Gunel of Yale University and scientists from Turkey discovered a new gene differentiating human beings from other species and preparing basis for intelligence by giving shape to the brain. 
The gene named "Laminin-gamma 3" will play a crucial role in prevention of brain diseases and finding treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's which negatively effect the brain in old-ages.

THEY SEARCHED FOR BODIES OF PKK MEMBERS ON MOUNTAIN
Bodies of 12 PKK terrorists killed in two separate clashes on May 12 and 14 escalated tension in the Southeast. 1,000 people from Peace & Democracy Party (BDP) walked to Bilican Hill to take 7 funerals that were left in the Iraqi side. A group of 300 people passed the border on Monday morning and took three bodies from the Iraqi side. Military took the three bodies who were brought on shoulders for autopsy. 

MILLIYET
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TWO GOOD NEWS IN ECONOMY
Turkey's unemployment rate dropped 2.9 points year-on-year and 0.4 percent month-on-month to 11.5 percent in February 2011. The number of the unemployed also decreased by 600,000 compared to February 2010 and by 80,000 in comparison with January 2011. Moreover, Turkey's budget ran a surplus of 1.1 billion Turkish liras (TL) in April 2011. This happened for the first time in 23 years. In April 2010, budget deficit was 4.5 billion TL. 

THAT PHOTO HURT ME
Turkish Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay, who runs as candidate from the Aegean province of Izmir in the upcoming general elections, commented on the demolition of the "Humanity Monument" in eastern province of Kars. "I felt very sorry when I saw those images. I wish it had not been like that, but there was nothing left for me to do. Political tension brought the process to this point," Gunay said.

SABAH
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COUP COMPENSATION FROM ECHR 
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) made a symbolic decision for victims of September 12. Osman Erden, who was a primary school teacher in southeastern province of Kahramanmaras during 1980 coup had been dismissed from profession in 1982 on charges that he was "objectionable". 
Erden opposed this decision and struggled against the decision for years. He managed to return to his job in 1989. 
Erden many times applied to the ministry to get his salaries and personal rights for the 7 years. He filed a case when he was rejected every time he applied. When Erden could not get his right from the state, he applied to ECHR. ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay 20,000 Euro compensation on charges that it acted against "fair trial" principle.

20,000 TURKS MORE WILL BE DOLLAR MILLIONAIRE IN FOUR YEARS
Assets of rich people in Turkey will increase to 357.7 billion USD in 2014. 
Number of rich people in Turkey will increase faster than Europe in the next four years. Number of dollar millionaires will increase 20,000 and reach to 45,000 between 2010 and 2014.

VATAN
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CLEANING IN OSYM
12 civil servants were dismissed in Student Selection & Placement Center (OSYM) following coding scandal in Passage to Higher Education Examination (YGS) and cheating at Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS).
The 12 civil servants were sent back to Higher Education Board (YOK) saying there was no more need for personnel.

TENSION FOR 12 FUNERALS
Killing of 12 PKK members when they were trying to infiltrate to Turkey from north of Iraq escalated tension in the Southeast. Many shopkeepers did not open their shops in Sirnak, Batman and Diyarbakir. 
When demonstrators, opened 12 black cloth banners in Taksim, Istanbul, and threw bottles, police countered with gas bombs. 
When it was revealed that bodies of three terrorists were in Iraq, 300 people including children and MPs of Peace & Democracy Party (BDP) passed the border and searched for bodies on the mountains.

CUMHURIYET
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TENSION IN EAST
Turkey's west focuses on general elections, but on the other hand, the funeral of 12 PKK terrorists caused tension in the country's southeast. As the tension that has arisen after the killing of 12 terrorists in rural region of southeastern Sirnak province continues, a group of people including Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir and independent deputy candidates Gultan Kisanak and Hasip Kaplan went to the site of the clash. The group's attempt to take the bodies of 3 terrorists was not permitted by authorities. Shop owners closed their stores and schools were boycotted all across the region.

COLD MEETING
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Kilicdaroglu, who have been delivering harsh statements about each other during their election campaigns, got together at the general assembly of the the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). Kilicdaroglu did not stand up until Erdogan came near him during the meeting. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan said he would not comment on the upcoming elections and criticized CHP. Kilicdaroglu's speech was often interrupted by applause. TOBB's head Rifat Hisarciklioglu addressed politicians in his remarks. "Nobody can insist that his/her opinion is the right one," he said.

RADIKAL
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DEATH KNOWS NO LIMITS
Hundreds of people crossed the border to take the bodies of the PKK members killed in the north of Iraq. Considering the incidents that have taken place in the region for the last 27 years, such a thing happened for the first time. As the election date gets closer, tension has escalated in Turkey's southeast. People who crossed the border ignored security forces' warning fire. A couple of bodies were brought back from the other side of the border. Military forces seized the bodies for autopsy.

ADVERTISEMENT ANALYSIS OF THREE PARTIES
Radikal daily, together with advertising agencies and experts, analyzed political parties' publicity campaigns for the upcoming elections. Justice and Development (AK) Party focuses on accomplishments, while Republican People's Party (CHP) highlights promises and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) brings forward principles during their campaigns.

TURKIYE
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STABILITY SHOULD CONTINUE
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said June 12 elections should be considered as an opportunity for the new constitution and continuation of stability.
Hisarciklioglu said Turkey healed the wounds of 2001 crisis and recovered, noting that, "economy broke records one after the other recently. We should turn June 12 to opportunity for the environment of stability and reform gain momentum. We should overcome our deficiencies."

TWO GOOD NEWS FROM ECONOMY
Turkey's budget made a first after 23 years. Budget had 1.1 billion USD surplus in April.
Another good news came from employment. Drop in unemployment continued also in February. Turkey's statistics authority, TurkStat, said Turkey's jobless rate decreased by 2.9 points to 11.5 percent in February 2011 compared to the same month of 2010.

ZAMAN
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NATION TIRED OF TERRORISM
Prior to elections, the terrorist organization turns every development into a demonstration. The terrorist organization, which declared a 3-day mourning after 12 terrorists were killed in southeastern Sirnak province, carries out a "terrorizing shutter campaign" in the region. Shopkeepers cannot open their stores and they don't know what to do. Public transportation has stopped and garbage is not collected in the region. Citizens experience the biggest difficulty in such an atmosphere. Their reaction is the same: "They cannot shut down the nation's will".

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED DECREASES BY 600,000 IN A YEAR
The decline in Turkey's unemployment rate continues parallel to the revival in economy. According to the data released by Turkey's statistics authority TurkStat, unemployment rate dropped by 2.9 points to 11.5 percent in February 2011. The rate was 14.4 percent last February. The number of the unemployed also decreased by 600,000 and reached 2.9 million compared to last year.

YENI SAFAK
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BDP-CHP SHUTTER ALLIANCE
Republican People's Party (CHP) abided by decision of the PKK and BDP to mourn and close down the shutters for the terrorists that were killed. 
CHP closed down its election office in southeastern province of Diyarbakir and made "shutter alliance" with BDP.

SURPRISE VISIT
General James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, came to Ankara. Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner and Cartwright talked about cooperation in fight against terrorism.