Wednesday, 14 October 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 14, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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OUR MOST CHALLENGING MATCH
Turkish and Armenian national teams will play their most challenging match against each other though they could not make it to the 2010 World Cup finals. This challenge is not about winning the game, it is about settlement of peace and consolidation of friendship and fraternal ties.
Thousands of spectators at the Ataturk Stadium in the western province of Bursa will strengthen the steps taken for peace, friendship and fraternity
between the two countries.
"IT IS NOT SUICIDE, IT IS MURDER"
Behcet Oktay, head of the special forces of Turkish police, was said to have committed suicide in an autopsy report but his sister said, "my brother did not commit suicide, he was murdered."
Oktay was found dead in a car in Ankara on February 25.
"We were told to remain silent since the day he was laid to rest," Sule
Oktay said.
"They blackmailed us as doctors found cocaine in his blood after the
autopsy. If he were an addict, why had not they done anything? If he were not, why had they soiled his good name?" she said.
DAVUTOGLU CROSSES BORDER ON FOOT
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who penned a historic accord with Armenia, inked another deal with Syria to end visa requirements.
Davutoglu and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem crossed the border from Syria to Turkey on foot.
Davutoglu also called on Israel to show common sense in the region.
MILLIYET
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UZAN'S FAREWELL PARTY
Cem Uzan, who sought for asylum from France, invited his friends to his villa for a party on August 9 and offered them the most expensive wines. "You can not go anywhere before those bottles end," he told them.
However, the guests did not know that it was a farewell party. Most of those people did not see Cem Uzan after the party.
UNOBJECTIONABLE FAN
Almost a state of emergency was announced for the match between Turkey and Armenia. Only 3,000 tickets have been allocated to fans. Police officers, military personnel and cadets will fill the stands.
A procedure which has not been seen before will be applied for
Turkey-Armenia soccer match which President Abdullah Gul and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian will watch.
Only 3,000 tickets have been allocated to the fans at the 18,000-seat
stadium.
SABAH
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WAY TO DISTRAIN OF PERSONAL ASSETS OPENED
The precautionary distrain stage which began when the securities posted by the Dogan Group for the tax penalty of 4.8 billion TL was rejected by the tax offices, is entering a new phase. If the group fails to post a guarantee, or the order suspension of execution, the process off precautionary distrain may begin.
ERDOGAN THANKS BAYKAL
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Deniz Baykal's approval of his request for an appointment was a positive step. Erdogan who commented on Baykal's answer in a group meeting of his party in the parliament said ,"I thank him. We will talk about his answer and get back with him as soon as possible," said Erdogan.
VATAN
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THERE IS GREETINGS FROM MONSIEUR UZAN
Cem Uzan, who was ranting in the election campaigns saying, "I will
sacrifice both my life and property for this nation", now slanders his country in France.
Uzan, who fled to France as he was afraid of being prisoned, roistered with his nationalist statements at his Young Party's election campaign during 2002 elections.
The same Uzan this time complained to France about Turkey and said, "I am face to face with a political lynching campaign since 2003. Files are opened even to my young children. I am in very big trouble."
Uzan waits for the approval of his application seeking for asylum. France gave permission for three-months residence for now, and examines his request for asylum.
ERDOGAN SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID
Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal, said his meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan was not something that would be carried out hiddenly and secretly.
Baykal said, "he should not be afraid that people will learn about his
views."
FEMALE COMMANDER OF PKK COMES FOR TREATMENT, GETS CAUGHT
Cihan Asi, having the code name "Berivan", was brought to Van province for treatment after getting ill on Kandil mountain and was arrested.
Cihan Asi, who joined the organization 10 years ago and became team
commander and became closer with Murat Karayilan, got sick on Kandil mountain.
Asi was brought to Turkey secretly as she could not be treated in north of Iraq. Asi was hospitalized under a fake name but was caught and arrested. Name of this female terrorist was included in the indictment of Daglica raid.
CUMHURIYET
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BAYKAL SAYS GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO OPEN BORDERS IS GIVEN LONG AGO
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said the government had already promised to open the borders with Armenia. "They say they have signed the protocol but there is also need for the parliament's approval'. If you have given your consent to the protocols sincerely, they will also give consent. You have the majority in the parliament," said Baykal. He pointed out that Armenian invasion of Karabakh was not even mentioned in the protocols, saying that the
parliament would not be an instrument for wrongdoing.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they were looking at the future. He said if Armenia solved its problems with Azerbaijan, it would be easier for Turkish parliament to approve the protocols. "The parliament will consider the developments regarding Azarbaijan-Armenia problem for approval of the protocols. We believe that we can establish a friendship with Armenia by looking at the future and not the past," said Erdogan.
JOINT EXERCISE WITH SYRIA
At a time when the international section of the Anatolian Eagle Military
Exercise had been cancelled leaving out Israel, Turkey signed a wide ranging military agreement with Syria. The agreement foresees joint military exercises, establishment of a hot line between the commanders of the two countries and exchange of officers.
Syrian Defense Minister Ali Habib announced the provisions of the agreement.
Answering a question from reporters on whether Turkey feared any possible reaction from the Jewish lobby for rapprochement with Arab states, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey acted on principles of its foreign policy, and it did not fear anyone.
RADIKAL
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THANK YOU MR. BAYKAL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), for the appointment he made to meet to discuss government's democratic move.
LOVE FOR SYRIA
Turkey and Syria, who were on the brink of war in 1990s, inked an agreement to end visa restrictions. Turkey-Syria High Level Strategic Cooperation Council had two meetings in Aleppo in the Syrian side and in Gaziantep in Turkey.
UZAN'S SITUATION NOT CLEAR
Although his lawyer said France granted asylum for Turkish businessman and politician Cem Uzan, France officials said France had not yet responded to Uzan's application. Uzan's whereabouts is not known either.
TURKIYE
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WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY
Syria and Turkey were on the brink of war in 1998 as Syria was keeping terrorist head Abdullah Ocalan, however the two countries took giant steps in relations over the past eight years. Last sign of these steps was the deal that ended visa requirements for neighbors.
Both countries gave messages of fraternity. Syria said, "Turkey's security is our own security," while Turkey said, "Syria is our door opening to the Middle East."
After the deal, trade volume between the two countries will rise to 5
billion USD and mutual investments and cooperation will boost.
"WE MUST JOIN FORCES AS MUSLIM COUNTRIES"
Omer Cihad Vardan, chairman of the Turkish Independent Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), said that Muslim countries should take action for economic integration.
Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan, who attended a business meeting in Cairo organized by MUSIAD, offered member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to form a joint economic zone.
ZAMAN
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FROM EDGE OF WAR TO BOUNDLESS FRIENDSHIP
Turkey established a friendship bridge with another neighbour three days after it signed historic protocols with Armenia.
Turkey and Syria that had been on the edge of war around 10 years ago, became an example to the world with the peace they have achieved.
Foreign ministers of the two countries signed visa exemption agreement and later crossed the border on foot accompanied by crowded delegations.
HERON LIES UNDER CRISIS WITH ISRAEL
It was revealed that Anatolian Eagle Military Exercise was cancelled as
Israel did not deliver unmanned air vehicle Herons to Turkey in time. The
incident was interpreted as the continuation of "one minute" crisis.
YENI SAFAK
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PRECAUTIONARY DISTRAIN TO DOGAN'S ACCOUNTS
The tax department which rejected the guarantees posted for the 4.8 billion TL tax penalty of the Dogan Group, gave start to the distrain process.
The Tax Department sent an order to banks and land registry authority to block all shares and assets belonging to Dogan group.
GESTURE AFTER GESTURE FROM PAPANDREOU
Greek Premier George Papandreou who visited Turkey first thing after coming into office, now responded to Turkey which cancelled the annual Toros military exercise in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Greece announced the cancellation of the Nikiforos exercise in the Greek Cypriot side.
