Tuesday, 27 October 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 27, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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ALL WITH FLU TO BE CONSIDERED PATIENTS WITH SWINE FLU
The concern over swine flu seems to be spreading faster than the swine flu disease itself. The National Education Ministry has closed all elementary and high schools on October 30. National Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu said that all schools will be disinfected on Friday. Health Minister Recep Akdag has advised all citizens to refrain from kissing each other for at least five months.
MILITARY PROSECUTOR BEGINS INVESTIGATION AT 13.30 HOURS
The Military Prosecutor's Office at the Turkish General Staff began an
investigation at 13.30 hours on Monday after certain news stories in Turkish media talked about an original document on the "Fight against Fundamentalism". The news stories argued that the signature on the relevant document was real.
MILLIYET
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1,095 CASES IN TURKEY
Health Ministry stated that 1,095 swine flu cases have been reported in
Turkey since May 15, 2009. The ministry said that five patients were under
treatment at hospitals, and one of them was in serious condition.
DON'T SHAKE HANDS, DON'T KISS EACH OTHER
Health Minister Recep Akdag said that students would be vaccinated against swine flu as of the end of November. He wanted people not to shake hands, hug or kiss for five months. Meanwhile, National Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu said that all schools across Turkey were closed on October 30. State-run TRT 3 channel will start broadcast lessons live between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. due to swine flu recess in schools.
SABAH
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PROSECUTOR AFTER COL. CICEK AND FIVE PRIVATES
After receiving a letter containing the original copy of the "action plan
for fighting reactionaries", the prosecutor office summoned Col. Dursun Cicek to testify.
If Col. Cicek does not come to testify, the prosecutor's office may take a decision for bringing him by force. Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz also summoned the five privates who allegedly have witnessed the termination of the trails of the document.
The military prosecutor came to Istanbul and met with Chief Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin. It is alleged that the military prosecutor had asked the
prosecutor's office not to be insistent about the five privates. The Military
Prosecutor's Office asked for the forensic report on the said document.
HOMECOMING PROCESS TO CONTINUE IN NOVEMBER
Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc said the return of PKK terrorists would continue in November.
"Suspension of the democratization initiative or its starting all over is
out of the question. This is just a break," said Arinc. Arinc said the process
had to and would continue noting that Democratic Society Party ought to take lessons.
VATAN
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VACCINATION TO BEGIN TOMORROW
Tests will be completed today on 500,000 doses of imported vaccines against swine flu. Firstly health personnel and prospective hadjis will be vaccinated as of tomorrow. It has not been decided yet whether the second batch of vaccines (which will be imported next month) will be applied in schools or on children between 6 months and 9 years old. Also, Health Ministry ordered a swine flu vaccine --which caused debates in public as it contains "adjuvan" substance but also increases the immunity-- for the pregnant women. One million doses of "adjuvan-free" swine flu vaccines will be brought to Turkey in December.
According to recent information, there are 1,095 swine flu cases in Turkey.
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that swine flu had been detected in 48 students in 22 schools in Istanbul so far. National Education Ministry closed all primary and high schools across Turkey on October 30. The buildings and courtyards of education institutions will be disinfected against swine flu.
DON'T KISS, SHAKE HANDS FOR 5 MONTHS
Health Minister Recep Akdag warned people not to kiss and shake hands for at least five months against swine flu. Meanwhile, experts warned that swine flu was a respiratory infection, and people should air the rooms. The disease remains infectious for 24 hours on plastic surfaces, and 15 minutes on fabrics. People should use bleach in house cleaning, and alcohol for hand cleaning.
CUMHURIYET
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DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ LEG OF KURDISH INITIATIVE
Turkey will visit the regional administration in the north of Iraq on the
level of ministers for the first time. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and State Minister Zafer Caglayan are expected to meet with leader of the regional administration, Masoud Barzani, and other officials. The most important topic of the meeting will be the Kurdish initiative.
TURKISH PRESIDENT IN SERBIA
Abdullah Gul, the first Turkish president to ever visit Serbia, started
holding official meetings in Belgrade. Gul who arrived Monday in Belgrade on a three-day official visit together with a delegation of 115 businessmen met with Serbian President Boris Tadic.
RADIKAL
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ISRAEL MAD OVER ERDOGAN'S WORDS
In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
threatened Gaza with nuclear weapons. Erdogan's words caused anger in Israel. In the interview, Erdogan referred to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad as a friend of his.
ARINC: MORE PKK MEMBERS WILL ARRIVE IN TURKEY IN NOVEMBER
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said more members of the terrorist organization PKK would arrive in Turkey in November. The "Democratic Move" process will not go back, Arinc stressed.
TURKIYE
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PAKISTANI STATE MEDAL FOR ERDOGAN
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari received Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the last day of his visit to Pakistan. Zardari decorated Erdogan with the Pakistan's state medal of merit. Erdogan said, "Pakistani people are not alone. Turkey is supporting them."
COME WITH GOOD MANNER, AND GO TO YOUR HOMES
President Abdullah Gul said, "the welcome ceremony (for PKK members) at Habur border gate was for provocation. If the people on the mountains lay down their arms and come to Turkey with a good manner, they can rejoin their families."
AKDAG: DON'T KISS FOR FIVE MONTHS
Health Minister Recep Akdag warned against swine flu: postpone hand shaking, kissing and hugging. Noting that every type of measures was taken against swine flu, Akdag said that there was no need to get panicked.
ZAMAN
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SCHOOL BELL TO RING ON TRT 3 ON TUESDAY
School bell will ring on Turkey's state run TRT 3 channel on Tuesday
morning. Health Ministry, National Education Ministry and TRT have initiated a joint project whereby thousands of students in Ankara will receive education on TRT 3 during this week. Schools in Ankara were closed after cases of swine flu were detected among Ankara students. TRT 3's educational programs will be broadcast between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Turkish Ministry of National Education has closed all schools in Turkey on October 30 in order to disinfect schools.
THY CONTINUES TO GROW IN RUSSIAN MARKET
Turkey's national air carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) continues to grow in
the Russian market. THY carries over three million Russians to Turkey every year.
The airlines increased its 2009 capacity in Russia by 40 percent. THY flies to both Ataturk International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul from Moscow.
YENI SAFAK
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SHOCKING REJECTION TO DOGAN
Dogan Group's application for the stay of execution of the 4.8 billion TL
tax penalty was rejected.
"We have indirectly learnt that our application was rejected. We will use
our right to appeal the decision," said Dogan Group in a statement. Dogan is allegedly exerting efforts to carry the case to the Council of State.
AL-HARAM AL-SHARIF WARNING
Turkey expressed deep concern over the incidents in the Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Israel to consider the concerns of the Muslim world and avoid provocative actions.
