Sunday, 5 July 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on July 5, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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TURKS DESIGN AND BUILD THE MOST MODERN STADIUM
Kazakhstan's most modern stadium, designed and constructed by Turkish companies, has been opened by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the capital city of Astana. Turkish and international football figures, such as Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim, former Galatasaray players Hakan Sukur and Hasan Sas, Milan's Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze and Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, attended the opening of the stadium that has a capacity to host 30,000 spectators.
ANKARA-SOFIA COOPERATION AGAINST EXTREME RIGHT
In a bid to stop the rise of extreme rightist ATAKA, Bulgarian government wants Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin to cast votes in country's elections.
Turkish government is helping Sofia about the matter.
HEDO TO MAKE 53 MLN USD IN 5 YEARS
Turkish basketball player Hidayet Turkoglu had a brilliant season last year with Orlando Magic and now he moves to Toronto Raptors. Hedo agreed with Raptors on a five-year contract for 53 million USD. Hedo has become the most expensive Turkish athlete ever.
MILLIYET
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"POLITICS WILL INVOLVE IN BARRACKS" OBJECTION
The General Staff conveyed its legal view on the legal amendment regarding trial of military personnel before civilian courts to the President. Here are the three main objections of the General Staff:
1- It is against the constitution. The amendment is contrary to the article 145 of the constitution regulating the functioning of the military judiciary. The jurists of the General Staff says, "this article of the constitution clearly states that the military courts are obliged to deal with all of the crimes committed by military personnel in military zones."
2- Chain of command will be affected. This new arrangement will harm the immunity of the military zones, and have a negative impact on the chain of command of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). It will also pave the way for involvement of politics in the barracks.
3- Judicial conflict will occur. If the arrangement is put into force, there
will be a serious authority conflict between the military and civilian judiciary.
FROM ERDOGAN TO BAYKAL: TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF SOLDIERS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of making politics over soldiers, police and judiciary. Erdogan called on Baykal to "take his hands off soldiers" and said, "make civilian politics, and behave like a civilian."
"IMMUNITY SHOULD CHANGE" MESSAGE
CHP chairman Deniz Baykal, who visited eastern provinces of Kars and
Ardahan, said that parliamentary immunity was one of the obstacles before fight against corruption. Baykal said, "parliamentarians will have immunity however, there is no freedom to steal. In Turkey, stealing and corruption is free, but expressing views is a crime."
SABAH
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DEEP SOLIDARITY
Following controversies over the document, top of the state has come to an agreement on "intelligence sharing".
Undersecretary of the Prime Minister's Office Efkan Ala and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz have set up a consultation and information mechanism. The most important pillar of this mechanism is the intelligence sharing between intelligence units.
5-MLN-USD NEW HIGHWAY
A new highway, which will go through the third bridge to be constructed over the Istanbul Strait, will link Adapazari in the east and Tekirdag in the west.
The 350-kilometer highway is expected to cost around 5 billion USD.
VATAN
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60 MLN USD FOR HEDO
Turkish basketball player Hidayet Turkoglu, who was thought to play for Portland Trail Blazers in NBA next season, turned his face to Toronto Raptors in the last minute. The U.S. media wrote that Turkoglu agreed with Toronto Raptors for five years for 60 million USD. It has been learned that Hedo's wife Banu convinced Hedo to play for Toronto Raptors. Banu told Hedo that Portland was in the west coast of the United States and travelling to Turkey took six hours more from Portland, than the east coast of the United States. Banu also told Hidayet that many Turks were living in Toronto, and convinced the Turkish basketball player.
MESSAGE OF UNITY FROM TWO PATRIARCHS
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul on Saturday. The two patriarchs gave message of unity. There is an "ecumenism row" between Moscow and Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate for 500 years. Moscow does not acknowledge Bartholomew as the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox people in the world. Patriarch Kirill, who was elected six months ago, made his first visit to Istanbul. This caused interpretations that "the Russian acknowledged the priority of Fener."
CUMHURIYET
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SECRET WITNESS SYSTEM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS
Omer Suha Aldan, a retired state security court (DGM) prosecutor, criticized the "secret witness" system that is high on the agenda with the Ergenekon investigation. Aldan proposed the system in the United States in order to get rid of the problems that may occur in the future. "Accordingly, the suspect attends the hearing without hiding his/her identity, face or voice and responds to questions. Then, authorities decide whether or not there is need for protection and take the witness under protection."
RUSSIAN PATRIARCH KIRILL IN ISTANBUL
Patriarch Kirill, who was chosen the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in February, met Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul despite the power struggle between them. Speaking in the welcoming ceremony, Patriarch Bartholomew said, "your presence here means you have brought the message of unity, solidarity and fraternity." Kirill said he hoped his visit would be a new beginning.
RADIKAL
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MILITARY'S VIEWS SUBMITTED TO PRESIDENT
Turkish General Staff and Defense Ministry submitted to President their
objections on the legal amendment that would allow trial of military personnel by civilian courts. Here are military's views drafted upon President Abdullah Gul's request:
1-It is against the constitution.
2-The law violates immunity of military zones.
3-Span of duty of military and civilian judiciaries would overlap.
CRITICISM OVER NEW ARRANGEMENT ON "CASUAL LABORER": IT'S SLAVERY
Labor unions and experts reacted against the new arrangement on "casual laborers" which was made against rising unemployment after the economic crisis.
Turkish Employment Organization has almost completed outlines of the "job contract", which covers employees' rights such as duration of the job,
compensations and holidays. The contract would be signed by the casual laborer, employer and the Special Employment Office.
However, labor unions and experts said the new arrangement would not increase employment. They said it would disfranchise and guarantees would remain only on the paper.
TURKIYE
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FRANCE REAPS WHAT IT SOWED
France now reaps what it sowed after giving full support to the terrorist
organization PKK. When French police launched operation against PKK members after complaints, the terrorist organization started to escalate street terrorism. Some 20 terrorist gathered in Paris and occupied the headquarters of daily Liberation newspaper. They took hostage people working at the building. In Bordeaux, terrorists burned cars and broke windows of several stores on the streets.
"WE WILL NOT BE DECEIVED"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said those who wanted tension in Turkey were expecting in vain.
"Those who hope tension and conflict will be disappointed," Erdogan told a party meeting.
"There are intentional efforts to destroy the harmony dialogue and
coordination among our institutions. We have never been and we will never be involved in such games," he said.
ZAMAN
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JUDICIAL REFORM TO BE A BIG GAIN FOR DEMOCRACY
Turkey is undergoing a historic milestone in its democratization process.
The civilian step taken by the parliament is awaiting ratification of the
president. According to some circles, pressure on President Abdullah Gul to
"veto" the concerned legal arrangement is causing reactions of some other
circles. Different segments of the society, particularly jurists, think the
two-article reform will bring Turkey closer to the European Union (EU).
300,000 VOTES FROM TURKEY TO BULGARIAN ELECTIONS
Turkey's neighbor Bulgaria is holding general elections on Sunday. 300,000 Bulgarian Turks who had to escape from toppled leader Zhivkov will vote in the ballot boxes placed in Turkey in order to protect their rights.
YENI SAFAK
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TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF SOLDIERS, MAKE CIVILIAN POLITICS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on media and politicians to
behave responsibly about defending democracy. Erdogan called on Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), to "behave like a civilian and make civilian politics."
FEAST OF RAMADAN BECOMES HOLIDAY IN NEW YORK
Turks living in the United States gained a great success, and ensured that schools would be closed during the Feast of Ramadan and Feast of Sacrifice. New York City Council decided to close schools during the two feasts so that Muslims can celebrate them.
GLITTERING ISTANBUL
The Bosphorus Bridge, the pearl of Istanbul, was enlightened with a new system. The Philips company, which has also lighted up the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Egypt, the Acropolis, the London Big Ben Tower, re-enlightened the Bosphorus Bridge. The project cost some 3 million Euros. There are 1,760 light sources on cables, 166 on main cables, 860 on towers and 478 on barriers.
