Saturday, 18 July 2009These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on July 18, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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TOP COURT GIVES NO GREENLIGHT FOR PROBE INTO MEMBER IN ERGENEKON INVESTIGATION
Turkey's highest court said on Friday there was no need to launch an
investigation into one of the court's members over his alleged involvement with suspects in the Ergenekon probe. The Constitutional Court voted 10-1 against the probe into court member Osman Paksut for allegedly meeting with Ergenekon suspects and leaking out information from the top court.
TERRORIST HEAD EXPECTED TO REVEAL "SOLUTION PLAN"
Eyes are set on the sole inmate of the Imrali island prison, Abdullah
Ocalan, head of the terrorist PKK organization, who is expected to announce on August 15 "a solution plan." There have been signals that he might make a number of statements that could come as a surprise for everyone. Ocalan is reported to have been working on a text which can make a contribution to Kurdish issue. The text is considered as "a road map" rather than a full-fledged plan. The text has yet to be finished but it would include a series of suggestions that can support solution efforts in Ankara. The PKK head has reportedly told his lawyers to make meetings in order to have the public opinion ready for his statement. His lawyers are reportedly willing to meet also with representatives of Turkey's largest business association. The main issue is whether Ocalan will call the PKK to lay down arms. According to his close circle, he will make some suggestions on this issue as well.
MILLIYET
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WE ARE EUROPE'S 3RD STRICTEST COUNTRY IN SMOKING BAN
This is the last day for addicts to smoke comfortably. The new ban of EU
Commission, which will outlaw smoking in all enclosed public places, business
places and mass transportation, will start as of tomorrow. However, despite the decision of the EU Commission, there is not a standard implementation in EU countries. Turkey will become the third country --after Ireland and Britain-- to "fully" apply the ban.
DELIGHTFUL DRAW
Our soccer teams paired with good rivals in the draw for the Champions
League third qualifying round and UEFA Europa League third qualifying round: RSC Anderlecht (Belgium) v Sivasspor, Fenerbahce v Honved FC (Hungary), and Galatasaray will play against the winner of Wanderers (Malta) v M.Netanya (Israel).
SABAH
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PREMIER LASHES OUT ON OPPOSITION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has severely criticized the main
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for appealing to the Constitutional
Court for the annulment of a law allowing civilian courts to try military
personnel. "This is the 33rd time that the CHP goes to the Constitutional Court.
There has been no political party like CHP in the history of the Republic. I am
guessing the Constitutional Court is already tired of the CHP's appeals," Erdogan said.
THIRD INDICTMENT READY IN ERGENEKON PROBE
Prosecutors are set to submit next Monday a third indictment in the
Ergenekon probe to a criminal court in Istanbul. The 1,500-page indictment
includes suspects such as labor union leader Kemal Ozbek, Rector of Baskent
University Prof. Mehmet Haberal, Prof. Erol Manisali and Prof. Yalcin Kucuk.
VATAN
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3RD INDICTMENT WRITTEN IN ERGENEKON INQUIRY
Prosecutors, who have been pursuing Ergenekon inquiry, completed to write the third indictment about 50 suspects. Assistant chief prosecutor Turan
Colakkadi said, "signed and written text will be presented to me on Monday." The third indictment also includes Sivas massacre as well as unsolved murders.
SMOKING BAN TO BEGIN TONIGHT
Smoking will be banned in all enclosed public places across Turkey as of
midnight today. Smokers and business places (which allow smoking) will face
penalties of 69 Turkish lira-5,600 Turkish lira. People who throw cigarette ends in streets will be punished to pay 25 Turkish lira. On the other hand, penalties in Europe are terrible. People who violate smoking ban are sent to prison in Ireland. Penalty in France is 660 USD, and 3,000 USD in Italy.
CUMHURIYET
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IZMIR UNDER SMOKE
150 hectares of forest burned in the fire which broke out and spread quickly in Bornova district of the western province of Izmir yesterday afternoon. Black smoke covered Bornova due to fire which came close to Ciceklikoy and Evka-3 districts. Several citizens living in Evka-3 got panicked and left their homes due to intense smoke. Fire was hardly taken under control in the evening.
FAIRWELL TO SOLDIERS
A ceremony was held in Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara for Commander Colonel Faruk Sungur of Turkish Force in Afghanistan who died in a traffic accident in Afghanistan. Sungur's relatives, President Abdullah Gul, several ministers, commanders of forces, ambassadors of several countries, military attaches and citizens attended the ceremony. Meanwhile, sergeant Mevlut Baydur, who also died in the accident with Sungur, was laid to rest in the central Anatolian province of Konya.
RADIKAL
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EXPANDED SMOKING BAN SET TO GO AS OF SUNDAY
An expanded smoking ban in Turkey to include restaurants, cafes,
coffeehouses and bars will be in effect as of Sunday, June 19, 2009. The new ban will outlaw smoking in all enclosed public places, as well as taxis, trains and outdoor stadiums. The first phase of the law went into effect in May 2008 and made it illegal to smoke on public transportation and in workplaces and malls.
Restaurants, bars and cafes were given an extra year to bring themselves into compliance with the law. Turkey will be the seventh country in the European continent which bans smoking in all enclosed public places.
NEW HEAD FOR BROADCASTING AUTHORITY
Prof. Davut Dursun was elected as the new chairman of Turkey's broadcasting authority to replace Zahid Akman. Dursun was elected by seven to two in a vote on Friday by a nine-strong board of representatives from Justice and Development (AK) Party, Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Dursun's closest rival was CHP's candidate Hulya Alp.
TURKIYE
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MONEY ENDS, WAR STARTS IN PKK
Money crisis started in PKK terrorist organization which could not find new
members after operations of Turkey, Iran, Syria and European countries. 200
people escaped from PKK in the last one year.
RIVALS SUIT US
Sivasspor soccer team of Turkey will take on Anderlecht of Belgium in
qualifying round of Champions League. Fenerbahce which will compete for Europe league paired with Hungarian Honved team. If Galatasaray defeats Tobol, it will play against the winner of S. Wanderers-M.Netanya game.
ZAMAN
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7 PERCENT OF ADDICTS QUIT SMOKING BEFORE BAN STARTS
Seven percent of addicts achieved to quit smoking before the wide ban
starts. The survey of Health Ministry gave interesting results. On the contrary
to people who criticise the ban, Turkish people support the ban. According to the survey, 92 percent supports the ban, while 7 percent quit smoking as of May 19, 2008 --the date first phase of the ban started.
JERUSALEM GESTURE FROM PRESIDENT GUL TO PALESTINIAN LEADER
Turkey stated that it was necessary to found a Palestinian state --which has the capital city of East Jerusalem-- to settle permanent peace in the Middle East. The new building of Palestinian Embassy in Ankara was inaugurated by Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday.
Gul said, "I hope we will open Turkish embassy in East Jerusalem." When Gul asked Abbas about the claims that "Palestinian administration supports Greek Cypriot theses", Abbas said that "it was not even on the agenda. These are all slander."
YENI SAFAK
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TURKISH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PALESTINIAN STATE WITH EAST JERUSALEM AS CAPITAL
Turkish President Abdullah Gul underlined necessity of existence of two
independent states beside each other, and establishment of a Palestinian State, the capital of which would be East Jerusalem, to ensure genuine peace in the Middle East. "Settlements, plot expropriation, efforts to change the status of East Jerusalem and evacuation policies are making the peace process more difficult," Gul said. "To this end, Turkey supports Mr. Abbas' and his friends' endeavors," Gul told a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in Ankara.
IZMIR ESCAPES FOREST FIRE DISASTER
Fire fighters, fire planes and helicopters have taken under control just in
time a forest fire in the western province of Izmir before the blaze reached to
settlements. Nine planes and 12 helicopters accompanied hundreds of forest
workers to put out the fire which consumed 200 hectares of red pine forest.
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Saturday, 18 July 2009
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