Turkish Press Review

ISTANBUL (AA) - Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Thursday’s dailies mainly covered the first cabinet meeting of Turkey’s new government.

“Historic day at Bestepe [Presidential Palace],” was VATAN’s headline, reporting that for the first time in Turkey’s 70-year-old multi-party system, not a prime minister but a president headed the cabinet meeting.

Featuring a photograph of the cabinet chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the daily reported that terrorism was the main issue discussed.

According to VATAN, the meeting took around five hours.

HABER TURK reported that the slogan for the new government was: “More friends, fewer enemies”.

According to the daily, the new government is planning to normalize strained relations with Russia, Israel and Egypt.

“Terror and constitution were on the agenda,” was MILLIYET’s headline.

“Strong message for shifting presidency,” was SABAH’s headline, while HURRIYET wrote “Erdogan leader, we are the team,” quoting new prime minister, Binali Yildirim.

Turkish newspapers also covered the surrender of 25 PKK terrorists to security forces in the southeastern province of Mardin, next to the Syrian border.

“End of the road,” was HURRIYET’s headline, featuring a large picture showing people walking to the security forces while holding their hands in the air. The picture was taken from footage released by the Turkish Armed Forces on Wednesday.

HABER TURK ran a story about one of the PKK terrorists, identified only as ‘Zehra K.’ The newspaper wrote that Zehra’s letters to her family were founded earlier in May during an operation in the Nusaybin district of Mardin.

According to the daily, she expressed her regret for joining the PKK, which is also listed as a terrorist group by the EU and the U.S.

Featuring a picture of Zehra and her father holding each other, the newspaper quoted her as saying: “My mistake was to be fooled by the PKK”.

“And [she] surrendered,” was VATAN’s headline, while MILLIYET wrote: “Zehra met with her family.”

The PKK resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 480 members of the security forces, including troops, police officers and village guards have been martyred and over 4,900 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.

In sports news, Turkish dailies previewed a high-profile football derby for the Turkish Cup final between two strong Istanbul sides, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

“Everything for the cup,” was HABER TURK’s headline, reporting that Fenerbahce wants to lift the cup after losing the race for this year’s Turkish Super Lig title against city rivals Besiktas.

“Winner will be consoled,” was VATAN’s headline, while AKSAM wrote: “Last cup, last home”.

In economic news, DUNYA reported on a new fund by the Turkish government for revenue-generating projects.

The newspaper wrote that the new government was planning to create a ‘Special Substructure Fund’ to support economic growth by assisting investments for revenue-generating projects.