Friday, 16 October 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 16, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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"SARI GELIN" (BLONDE BRIDE) CHAT DURING DINNER
Fatih Cekirge, a columnist of the Hurriyet daily, is writing about the
tete-a-tete chat between Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsian. During the meeting, Gul told Sargsian that the "Sari Gelin" (Blonde Bride) folk song was anonymous in Turkey, and asked if it was so in Armenia. Sargian said, "it is also anonymous in our country, but its meaning in our country is different."
Sargsian was impressed with the highway he saw when he came to downtown Bursa from the airport, defined it enormous and asked if Turkey was constructing them.
Another issue Sargsian was wondering about was the meaning of the name of Turkish national football player Halil Altintop. When Altintop scored the first goal, he asked, "what does Altintop mean?"
SEPARATION WITH ISRAEL
After the Anatolian Falcon military exercise crisis, another crisis with a
"TV series" has occurred. The TV series named "Ayrilik" (Separation) broadcast on state-run TRT channel caused tension with Israel as it narrates the incidents that occurred during the Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
The Israeli media burst anger while Ceylan Ozen, the temporary charge d'affaires of Turkey to Israel, was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said it was a serious
provocation and it was done by state support. Lieberman said it would not be appropriate if a TV series showing Israeli soldiers as barbarians was broadcast even in enemy states.
ERDOGAN: WE ARE A STRONG COUNTRY, WE WILL DECIDE ON OUR OWN
When leaving for Iraq with nine ministers, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly responded to Israel, who reacted to postponement of the international section of the Anatolian Falcon military exercise in the last minute. Erdogan said, "we would like everyone to know that Turkey is a strong country and makes its own decision on its own. Turkey will not make decisions with some others' recommendation or order."
MILLIYET
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500,000 DOSES OF VACCINE ON WAY
The number of people, who were tested swine flu positive in a school in
Ankara, increased to 16. Citizens are concerned. First batch of vaccines coming from Italy will be applied within ten days in Turkey. After the news about epidemic in Bilkent Laboratory & International School, swine flu has become the top agenda of citizens. The number of cases in this school increased to 16 including 13 students. The good news is that the first batch of vaccines including 500,000 doses, which was ordered by Turkey, was loaded onto a plane in Italy.
BIG LOVE WITH IRAQ
A total of 48 memorandums of understanding were signed during the visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq. Two more border gates with Iraq will be opened. Erdogan who was accompanied by nine ministers said, "let's increase our trade volume from 5 billion USD to 20 billion USD."
I'M VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT KURDISH MOVE
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (speaking to Milliyet) said that he was
hopeful about Kurdish move in Turkey. Talabani said that this time a serious step was really taken for solution. Noting that PKK did not have any choice but to lay down arms and leave the mountains, Talabani indirectly stressed that Ankara should do something including an amnesty.
SABAH
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HUGE COOPERATION WITH IRAQ
A total of 48 agreements on many areas from transportation to energy were signed in Baghdad where Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accompanying nine ministers visited. Iraqi Premier Nouri Al Maliki chaired the meeting during which officials decided to open two new border gates between Turkey and Iraq.
"AYRILIK" CRISIS WITH ISRAEL
A TV series, "Ayrilik" (Separation) which was broadcast by state-run TRT channel of Turkey, caused a diplomatic crisis with Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed that the TV series encouraged hatred against Israel. TRT administration said, "it is a TV series about love. We will not stop broadcasting it."
VATAN
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CRISIS GETTING BIGGER WITH ISRAEL
A TV series called "Ayrilik (Separation)" broadcast on TRT channel on the day of the tension of military exercise with Israel, shook Tel Aviv. The TV series showing Israeli soldiers killing Gazan children caused diplomatic crisis.
The TV series broadcast on TRT on Tuesdays hit Israel like a bomb. Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman defined the series broadcast on the state-run TV channel as "provocation." However, producer Selcuk Cobanoglu said, "if an Israeli executive says 'Israelis did not kill any children', I will apologize to all and cancel the series." A TRT executive said, "the series is not against our broadcasting principles, it will continue."
"I CONDEMN WHOEVER CONDEMNS MOTION"
A 48-page memorandum of understanding was signed during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Iraq trip with nine ministers, which is defined as "friendship trip." Erdogan addressed the Kurdish administration that reacts to the motion allowing a cross-border operation which has been recently passed from the Turkish parliament. Erdogan said, "terrorists come from Iraq and raid on our villages. Show understanding, and sympathize us. I condemn the people who say, 'I condemn the adoption of the motion'. These lands have become the training field of terrorists, we will clear them off."
CUMHURIYET
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IS LIQUIDATION PROCESS BEGINNING?
Professor Tayyar Ari, a lecturer at the International Relations Department of the Uludag University, argued that Washington decided to declare the top members of the terrorist organization PKK as drug traffickers in return for preservation of the structure in north of Iraq. Ari defined the decision as "the beginning of the liquidation process of the PKK."
CABINET TRIP TO IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Baghdad with a delegation
comprised of nine ministers and several businessmen. Erdogan met his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki and the two ministers agreed to eliminate the terrorist organization.
RADIKAL
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UNEMPLOYMENT NOT STOP
The trend of decline in unemployment continued in July too. The number of unemployed people dropped to 3,267,000 when compared to June. The rate is 12.8 percent. There were 2,425,000 unemployed people in July 2008.
GOOD NEWS FROM REHN
EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said that the end of 2009 was not the deadline for Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot administration.
ERDOGAN IN IRAQ
During Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iraq, 48 memorandums of understanding were signed which will make Turkey and Iraq closer to each other in many fields like education, health, transportation and security. The agreements also include many topics such as railway line from Istanbul to Basra, routes of oil pipelines, and fight against PKK terrorist organization.
TURKIYE
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TV SERIES CRISIS AFTER MILITARY EXERCISE CRISIS WITH ISRAEL
Israel, which was excluded from "Anatolian Falcon" military exercise,
reacted to a TV series, "Ayrilik" (Separation) which is broadcast in state-run TRT channel in Turkey. Israeli press said regarding the TV series, which is telling about Gaza, that Israel was shown as blood-thirsty.
SCREENING ON SCHOOLS & HOUSES IN ANKARA
Ankara Governor's Office initiated virus screening even in the houses which are close to the school where 16 people were tested swine flu positive. National Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu said, "we are ready for the worst scenario. If necessary, we recess the schools, and teach lesson from television."
ZAMAN
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FRIENDSHIP MOVE TO IRAQ AFTER SYRIA
Turkey, which targets "zero problem, maximum cooperation" with its
neighbors, is launching significant initiatives in foreign policy. After
protocols were signed to normalize relations with Armenia and visa procedure was lifted mutually with Syria, Ankara has launched an initiative in Iraq. A total of 48 memorandums of understanding on commerce, energy, transportation, public works, housing, water resources, environment, agriculture, health and education were signed during a meeting co-chaired by Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Premier Nouri Al Maliki in Baghdad.
BIG SUPPORT FROM ART WORLD TO DEMOCRATIC MOVE
Nearly 300 people including poets, musicians, authors, painters and actors get united on democracy basis. The movement, which is called "Art Initiative for Peace", decided to support solution proposals for Turkey's problems especially the Kurdish issue. They will call for dialogue during their activities like concerts and shows.
YENI SAFAK
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FRANCE DOES NOT EXTRADITE UZAN
After a court decided to arrest Cem Uzan, chairman of the Young Party,
French Ambassador to Turkey Bernard Emie said France had not granted the right to asylum to Uzan yet, and his request was being examined. Emie said it was not possible to extradite Uzan to Turkey before the process ended. Emie said he did not know where Uzan was. France has given a three-month residence permit to Cem Uzan. Emie said that the process related with asylum request took at least six months and Uzan's residence permit might be extended for another three months.
WINDS OF SEPARATION
Israel, that could not overcome "one minute" shock, faced a crisis as it was excluded from the Anatolian Falcon exercise. It was claimed that the Gaza violence, shown by TV series "Ayrilik", 'caused trauma' on the Israelis.
48 SIGNATURES ON HISTORIC DAY
Turkey, which demolished borders with Syria, also turned a historic corner with Iraq. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Iraq with nine ministers, signed a giant cooperation package comprised of 48 articles from health to tourism, from fight against terrorism to transportation.
The package signed by Premier Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Nuri
al-Maliki envisages increasing the number of border crossings to three,
constructing Istanbul-Baghdad railway, and shipping Iraqi natural gas to the world.
