Thursday, 15 October 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 15, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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GRADE FROM EUROPE
The European Commission released Progress Report for Turkey. Accordingly, Turkey was criticised about human rights and reforms. The importance of Turkey's role in the region was emphasized, and the steps Turkey took in the region were praised.
TAX FINE TO DOGAN POLITICAL, WE'RE CONCERNED
EU Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the tax fine, which was given to Dogan Media Group, had the aim of political sanction. Rehn said that they examined the case, and they had serious concerns about it.
FLOOD DRAGS 70 VEHICLES
Torrential rains caused flood disaster in Kumluca town of the southern
province of Antalya. In town of Olimpos, a favorite place for tourists, river
overflew, and 70 motor vehicles were dragged into the sea. Antalya Governor Alaaddin Yuksel said that basements of 50 houses were inundated, and schools were closed for two days in Beykonak district.
MILLIYET
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PEACE WINS
An important bend was taken in the historical process which started when Turkish President Abdullah Gul went to Yerevan to watch the first soccer game between Turkish and Armenian national teams. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who came to Turkish northwestern province of Bursa to watch the second soccer game after the signing of protocols between Turkey and Armenia, showed determination for peace together with Gul to the whole world.
WASHINGTON: KARAYILAN, A DRUG SMUGGLER
U.S. Department of Treasury declared the leading names of PKK terrorist organization --Murat Karayilan, Ali Riza Altun and Zubeyir Aydar-- as drug smugglers. The assets of these three people were decided to be frozen in the United States.
SENTENCE IN ABSENTIA FOR CEM UZAN
Upon demand of TMSF (Turkey's Savings Deposit Insurance Fund), a warrant of arrest in default was released for Turkish businessman and politician Cem Uzan who escaped abroad, and demanded political asylum from France.
SABAH
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MODERATE REPORT FROM EU
The European Commission's progress report about Turkey which assesses political and economic developments that have taken place in Turkey in the last one year said that Turkey played a key role in dialogue among civilizations, energy security in Europe as well as regional security. Ergenekon case, Turkey-Armenia rapprochement and democratic move were mentioned in the report. In regard to the Ergenekon case, EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said it was an opportunity to end anti-democratic practices in Turkey.
WE MAKE HISTORY
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian paid an important visit to Turkey after Turkey and Armenia signed protocols aiming at normalizing relations in Zurich on October 10. Before a World Cup qualifying match between the soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia in the northwestern province of Bursa on Wednesday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Armenian counterpart Sargsian had a meeting. Gul said, "we are not writing history, we are making history."
VATAN
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PEOPLE AGAINST ISRAEL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained to Dubai's Al Arabiya TV why this year Israel was excluded from Anatolian Eagle military exercise which has been performed annually in Turkish central Anatolian province of Konya since 2001: "We listened to the voice of the public." Noting that international part of the exercise was postponed, Erdogan said, "we took our public's conscience into consideration. I should have been the voice of my people's conscience. My people did not want Israel to participate. Thus, we made consultations with the authorities, and decided to perform the exercise without participation of Israel."
U.S. DECLARES HIM "SPECIAL DRUG SMUGGLER"
U.S. Department of Treasury declared Murat Karayilan (top name of PKK terrorist organization in Qandil Mountain), PKK's safe Ali Riza Altun and Kongra-Gel's former leader Zubeyir Aydar, as "drug smugglers". All assets of these people in the United States will be frozen.
CUMHURIYET
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OLLI REHN: "WE ARE FOLLOWING STEPS OF ATATURK"
In regard to the European Commission's progress report's referring to the law on crimes against Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said he respected Ataturk, who was the founder of Turkey which has entered the EU accession process, thus they were following Ataturk's steps in the accession process.
SWINE FLU RECESSES SCHOOL IN ANKARA
Bilkent University Preparatory School (BUPS) in Ankara was closed for one week, as some students and parents were diagnosed with swine flu. Health Ministry said that ten people were diagnosed with swine flu. A crisis desk was set up.
RADIKAL
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MESSAGES FROM BARZANI
Massoud Barzani, head of regional administration in the north of Iraq, gave important messages in fight against (terrorist organization) PKK in an interview with journalist Cengiz Candar. Barzani said that PKK must lay down arms. He also said that military operations were not solution in fight against PKK. Barzani said they would do what they could in regard to the democratic move of the Turkish government.
FRIENDSHIP WINS
President Abdullah Gul and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian watched together a World Cup qualifying match between the national soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia at Ataturk Stadium in northwestern province of Bursa. Before the match, Gul and Sargsian had a meeting. President Gul said that they were not writing history, but making history.
TURKIYE
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EU: PARTIES SHOULD COMPROMISE FOR NEW CIVIL CONSTITUTION
EU Progress Report was announced. The EU Commission repeated its support to studies on civil constitution, and stated that a draft should be taken into agenda, and political parties should reach a compromise on it. Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis said that the EU confirmed that Turkey recorded positive developments.
SWINE FLU RECESS IN SCHOOL IN ANKARA
When swine flu was detected in private Bilkent Laboratuvar elementary school in Ankara, the education in the school was suspended as a precaution. Five people were tested positive for swine flu. Tests of four people are underway.
BOTH WE AND FRIENDSHIP WIN
Turkey defeated Armenia 2-0 with goals scored by Halil Altintop and Servet Cetin in a 2010 World Cup qualifying group game in Turkish northwestern province of Bursa. The historical game became the beginning of a new period for the two countries.
ZAMAN
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"OUR PEOPLE DID NOT WANT ISRAEL, WE POSTPONED"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that what happened in Palestine caused military exercise crisis between Turkey and Israel. Erdogan said, "we listened to the voice of our people."
THIS CASE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRACY
The EU Commission released Progress Report for Turkey. Regarding Ergenekon case, the report said that the case would increase the confidence in democracy and in supremacy of law. EU sources stressed that the new documents and military ammunition were also reflected to the report, and said that Turkey should rapidly be purified from deep organizations.
YENI SAFAK
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"WE ARE MAKING HISTORY"
President Abdullah Gul said that the visit by Armenian President Serzh
Sargsian to Turkey immediately after the two countries signed protocols in Zurich on October 10 was a very important development. "We are not writing history, but we are making it," Gul said. Sargsian came to Bursa from Moscow to watch a World Cup qualifying match between Turkish and Armenian national soccer teams.
TEN PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH SWINE FLU
Health Ministry said that ten people were diagnosed with swine flue in a
primary school in the capital of Ankara. Executives of the ministry said that the number of people infected with swine flu rose to ten in the Bilkent University Preparatory School (BUPS) Elementary School. Earlier, the ministry said five people, including two parents and three students, were diagnosed with swine flu.
