Monday, 12 October 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 12, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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WHAT WOULD HE SAY?
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was planning to say in his speech at the end of the signing ceremony in Swiss city of for Turkey-Armenia relations that, "we, as Turkey and Armenia, are here today to take a step towards a new horizon.
We all know that it is not easy to achieve peace. Only those who have vision and courage can take such steps under difficult circumstances. Just as Turkey and Armenia have taken that step here. There is a difference of opinion about a bitter part of the joint history of our peoples. This difference of perception should not echo in our next generations as the feelings of prejudice and revenge. This is the day of peace. This is the day of courage. This is the day of reason. I truly believe that everyone in this very room definitely shares this vision of peace."
PROMINENT FILM DIRECTOR REFIG PASSES AWAY
Prominent film director Halit Refig died at the age of 75. He had been
receiving cancer treatment for a while. Refig won the "Best Film Award" with his movie "Gurbet Kuslari" during the first Golden Orange Film Festival in 1964. His demise led to a deep sorrow among participants of this year's festival in Antalya.
MILLIYET
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"ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN TURKEY IN 2010"
Researcher Adil Gur who makes interesting predictions for the future of
Turkey said he guessed that the general elections would be held in Turkey in 2010. In regard to a referendum on the democratic move of the government, Gur said such a referendum would be a suicide. "I think that citizens will not vote at such a referendum with objective criteria," he said.
DIRECTOR HALIT REFIG PASSES AWAY
Prominent film director Halit Refig died at the age of 75. He had been at
Istanbul's Memorial Hospital since August 28 for cancer treatment. He has made about 60 movies including feature films, documentaries and TV series. His films represented Turkey in various festival and shows abroad. He won many awards including three "Best Director" titles in the Golden Orange Film Festival in the years of 1964, 1989 and 1990. A funeral will be held for Refig at Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul on Tuesday.
SABAH
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CLINTON SOLVES CRISIS
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton solved crisis with the protocol that was signed between Turkey and Armenia. Clinton made phone conversations with foreign ministers of the two countries for long hours. Foreign news agencies which closely followed the developments regarding signing of the protocol between the two countries said that Hillary Clinton exerted a great effort for solving the crisis. Reuters said that Clinton's role in the Turkey-Armenia dispute illustrated her negotiating muscle.
PRIME MINISTER RESOLUTE ON DEMOCRATIC MOVE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that they were resolute on the democratic move. "Turkey cannot ignore these problems," he said. Turkey has been suffering from terrorism problem for a long time, Erdogan said. In regard State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc's statements on referendum, Erdogan said each matter can not be put to referendum.
VATAN
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POWERFUL SUPPORT TO ERGENEKON
The EU described the Ergenekon case as "an opportunity for the Turkish democracy" in its 2009 Progress Report on the contrary of its critical attitude last year. In the draft report which will be made public on October 14, the Ergenekon case was defined as Turkey's most comprehensive investigation into a structure aiming to drag democratic institutions into a state of instability.
"KEVIN COSTNER MOVE" SCOURGES SOZEN
Seven out of eleven members of the central executive board of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party kept their positions in the new board. Edibe Sozen was excluded from the board after her statement that prominent actor Kevin Costner extended support to the government's democratic move was disproved.
Meanwhile, Kursad Tuzmen became the new deputy chairman of the political party for foreign relations.
CUMHURIYET
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COSTNER SCANDAL ENDS SOZEN
The prime minister made revision in the central executive board of his
Justice & Development (AK) Party by taking into consideration the government's recent democratic move. Edibe Sozen who claimed that prominent actor Kevin Costner extended support to the government's democratic move was excluded from the board.
CINEMA LOSES ITS CONSCIOUS
Prominent film director Halit Refig died at the age of 75. He had been at
Istanbul's Memorial Hospital since August 28 for cancer treatment. He will be laid to rest in Istanbul on Tuesday.
RADIKAL
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"THEY END HOSTILITY"
Representatives from the European Union, the United States, Russia and France congratulated Turkey and Armenia after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian signed the protocols.
World media showed a great interest in the signing of protocols between Turkey and Armenia after tough bargaining. Some of foreign papers said that Turkey and Armenia signed protocols which ended hostility. Newspapers also highlighted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's efforts during signing of protocols.
HALIT REFIG PASSES AWAY
Halit Refig, one of prominent names of Turkish cinema, died at the age of 75. Refig had been under treatment for cancer at Memorial Hospital since August 28. He has made about 60 movies including feature films, documentaries and TV series. His films represented Turkey in various festival and shows abroad.
TURKIYE
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"WE WILL CONTINUE MAKING GROUNDBREAKING THINGS IN TURKEY"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that in the last seven years they succeeded in reaching targets which had been earlier defined as impossible. "We succeeded in solving chronic problems by making groundbreaking moves in policies, economy and social life," he said.
BRITISH SECRETARY SAYS PRIVILEGED MEMBERSHIP IS AN INSULT TO TURKEY
Britain reacted to "privileged membership proposal" of France and Germany who opposed to Turkey's full membership to the EU. British Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw said that Turkey would change the future of Europe. He stressed that privileged membership was an insult to Turkey.
ZAMAN
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WE SHOULD FOCUS ON FRIENDSHIP, NOT HOSTILITY
Countries welcomed Turkey's and Armenia's signing of protocols in Zurich. This important development boosted hopes for stability and peace in the region. Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said that end of problems between Turkey and Armenia, and between Armenia and Azerbaijan would lead to cooperation in the region. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they paved the way for cooperation between Turkey and Armenia.
TURKEY DISCUSSES WHO WILL BECOME COACH OF NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM
Turkey is discussing who will become the new coach of Turkey's National Soccer Team. Fatih Terim announced his resignation as the coach of national soccer team after his squad lost an away game out to Belgium, 2-0, failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
YENI SAFAK
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HERE IS TEXT OF THAT SPEECH
Here is the text of the speech that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was going to deliver at the end of the signing ceremony in Zurich:
"We are here today to take a step towards a new horizon. This difficult way is worth of taking. This journey can be completed with our partners here and with all peoples of the Caucasus region. These signatures are the first step toward de facto normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations. Normalization process depends on the parties' maintaining their courage and political will. Turkey is ready to create a vision of future with its neighbor Armenia.
These documents constitute a very important ground for the next generations to live together and work together for a joint and prosperous future. There is a difference of opinion about a bitter part of the joint history of our peoples. This difference of perception should not echo in our next generations as the feelings of prejudice and revenge.
We believe that a scientific research can enlighten the truths about bitter parts of our history. This is the only way for great and honorable peoples to meet with each other on the basis of historical truths and reach a fair memory by leaving aside conflicts of memory.
This is the day of peace. This is the day of courage. This is the day of
reason. I truly believe that everyone in this very room definitely shares this vision of peace."
