Wednesday, 11 November 2009
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on November 11, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
--------
FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIVE MOVE
The government submitted the first legal arrangement under the democratic move package, entitled "the bill on amendment to Anti-Terror Law and some other laws." 115 children, who are on trial with prison terms up to 30 years for hurling stones at police in demonstrations in the southeastern Anatolia, and some other people who can face the same thing in the future will serve their punishment by working at schools, libraries and social services departments instead of being kept in prison.
Provisions raising punishment in terror crimes will not apply to children
below 18. Punishment of children will be reduced by half. All children will be tried in juvenile criminal courts, instead of criminal courts.
The provision preventing re-trial of head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan will be annulled. 208 files, on which the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled for re-trial will be taken up by courts. However, a new provision will be added to the bill to keep Ocalan outside the scope of this process.
NOVEMBER 10 ROW AT PARLIAMENT
The opposition reacted to the pre-discussion of the democratic move at the parliament on November 10, the day when Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, died. The opposition regarded it as "challenge to Ataturk and revenge from the Republic."
ATATURK'S MAUSOLEUM OVERFULL
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey who passed away 71 years ago, was commemorated. After the state ceremony on Tuesday morning in which pillars of the state participated, 259,371 people from throughout Turkey visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, with Ataturk's pictures in their hands and collars, and Turkish flags in their hands.
MILLIYET
--------
BANNER CRISIS
Talks on the "Democratic Move" project of the government in the
Parliamentary General Assembly witnessed tension. The tension further escalated after the proposal of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to postpone the preliminary talks to Wednesday was rejected.
Those who took to the floor on behalf of the opposition used very strict
expressions against Justice & Development (AK) Party as the session took place on November 10, the day when Ataturk passed away 71 years ago. The actual crisis erupted when Interior Minister Besir Atalay was delivering a speech.
When Atalay said AK Party represented every region of the country and that the others were regional parties, CHP MPs unfurled banners.
Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin reacted by saying, "this is not an area for demonstration".
260,000 VISITORS TO ATATURK
Tens of thousands of people rushed to Anitkabir on the 71th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Modern Turkish Republic.
260,000 people visited Anitkabir carrying photographs of Ataturk, Turkish flags and with headbands writing, "Our (Founding) Father, We Follow Your Footsteps" on it.
Anitkabir was decorated with 40,000 branches of flowers and 1500 plants.
SABAH
-----
ATALAY: DEMOCRATIC MOVE HAS TWO TANGIBLE GOALS
Interior Minister Besir Atalay said, "we always considered the democratic move a national issue." Atalay delivered a speech in the parliament over the government's initiative to widen democratic rights and freedoms. He said that the democratic move had two tangible goals that were to end terrorism or minimize it and upgrade standards of democracy.
DETENTE BETWEEN TURKEY AND FRANCE
Pierre Lellouche, the French secretary of state for European Affairs, said that Turkey and France reached a "tacit" agreement to ease problems regarding Turkey's EU accession. Lellouche said that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Turkish President Abdullah Gul had agreements on some issues within the scope of Turkey's EU adhesion during talks in Paris last month. Lellouche said that modern and democratic Turkey was to the interest of EU.
VATAN
-----
SECOND INTERROGATION FOUR MONTHS LATER
A surprising statement was made on Tuesday regarding the "genuine signature" investigation that has brought the military and civilian judiciary face-to-face with each other. Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz said, "we have wanted Colonel Dursun Cicek to be brought by force, but he did not come." Then, Cicek's lawyer said, "we have just learned that we have been called to testify on November 10. We will go and testify on Wednesday."
PROTEST WITH BANNERS CAUSES TENSION AT PARLIAMENT
Lawmakers of the Republican People's Party (CHP) staged protests with
"Ataturk banners" at the parliament. Lawmakers of the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who were opposing to a parliament debate on the democratic move of the government on November 10--the day when Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away 71 years ago, argued with spokespeople of the ruling party.
Interior Minister Besir Atalay gave the message that every one had to wait for two more days for a detailed information about the democratic move, whereas his speech was interrupted with protests. CHP deputies opened banners which read, "Atam (Our Founding Father Ataturk), we will never let you be forgotten."
"DISBARRING JUDGES IS A CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH"
Deniz Baykal, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), backed Sincan judge Osman Kacmaz and Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu, chairman of the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), who are wanted to be disbarred. Baykal said, "the government has made great progress in intimidating the judiciary. This is a planned act, not a coincidence. Behind this move lies the decision of the Constitutional Court which said the government was the focal point of anti-secular acts."
CUMHURIYET
----------
FIGHT ON INITIATIVE
Preliminary debates on the democratic move were held in the parliament on November 10. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies said that debates should not be held on the day when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away 71 years ago and protested the government.
CHP chairman Deniz Baykal said that what the government offered under the move was not clear yet.
MANY PEOPLE VISIT ANITKABIR
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was commemorated with a state ceremony at the Anitkabir, his mausoleum. After the ceremony, many people carrying Turkish flags visited the Anitkabir. Ceremonies were also held in other provinces. Many people were in tears during the ceremony at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul where Ataturk passed away 71 years ago.
RADIKAL
-------
KUCUK GIVES ORDER, TEKIN GIVES BOMBS AND ALPASLAN HURLS THEM
Osman Yildirim, one of the imprisoned defendants and at the same time the witness of the Ergenekon case gave his testimony during yesterday's hearing of the case.
He said, "Veli Kucuk gave information about the job before the meeting at Atasehir, and at the meeting in Atasehir, Muzaffer Tekin gave me two bombs and one bomb to Alpaslan Arslan. I brought Arslan to Veli Kucuk's office in Besiktas district after every act. He was always with Muzaffer Tekin."
COLONEL CICEK AT PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TODAY
Lawyer of Colonel Dursun Cicek, who has signature on the "Action Plan on Fight Against Fundamentalism", said Colonel Cicek would depose today.
It was stated that the call for testimony had reached Cicek on Friday.
MESSAGES FOR MOVE ON NOVEMBER 10
Thousands of people rushed to Anitkabir on the day when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, passed away 71 years ago.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan relayed messages for move and said, "national unity and fraternity process well suit to principles and ideals of Ataturk."
Democratic Society Party (DTP) made November 10 move. Mayors from DTP attended the memorial services in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
TURKIYE
-------
WE RUSH TO ATATURK
Many people visited the Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, on November 10, the day he passed away 71 years ago. The state officials and thousands of people coming from several provinces of the country commemorated Ataturk with a great respect. Daily life and traffic stopped at 9:05 a.m. when Ataturk passed away 71 years ago for two minutes as sirens wailing and people observing two minutes of silence out of respect to Ataturk. Flags across the country were flown at half-staff.
ATALAY: FETTERS WILL BE BROKEN
Interior Minister Besir Atalay said that fetters of Turkey would be broken thanks to the democratic move of the government. Atalay said the move did not aim at dividing the country, but it was a national unity project. The parliament accepted a motion to hold a general debate on the government's "democratic move" on November 12.
ZAMAN
-----
COLONEL CICEK TO TESTIFY 19 DAYS LATER
Colonel Dursun Cicek, who is expected to testify since the day the original of an action plan was revealed, will come to the court house at last. After prosecutors decided that Cicek should be brought to the court house by "force", Cicek's lawyers said their client would testify on Wednesday.
GVT EXPLAINS "DEMOCRATIC MOVE" AT PARLIAMENT, CHP UNFURLS PLACARDS
The preliminary debate on the "national unity project" of the government at the parliament began in a tense atmosphere. The main discussion was on holding the debate on the day when Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, died 71 years ago. The proposals of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to postpone the preliminary debate were rejected. Speaking at the beginning of the session, Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin said Ataturk could not be remembered and understood in a single day. The
placards unfurled by the CHP lawmakers were the most striking image of the debate. Sahin intervened in the placards which read "Atam (Ataturk), we follow your footsteps". Sahin said, "the parliament is not a demonstration area. Take those placards down", and suspended the session. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan thought this move was against parliament by-laws and called on the parliament speaker to take action against it.
YENI SAFAK
----------
FIRST STEP IN MOVE
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) terrorized the talks on the move in the parliament. Deniz Bolukbasi, a lawmaker from MHP, continuously made comments while Suat Kilic from Justice & Development (AK) Party was speaking. When Kilic said MHP also had a secret session in 2001, tension escalated.
IT BECOMES WORLD STAR IN 5 MONTHS
World Expedition Awards were given in London. Mardan Palace, opened five months ago in Antalya, won "The Most Luxurious Hotel of the World" award.
Mardan Palace constructed by Azeri descent Russian businessman Telman Ismailov cost 1.2 billion USD.
Belek Adam & Eve Hotel in Antalya won "The Best Design Hotel of the World" award also this year. Rixos Premium in Antalya won "the Best Hotel" and "The Best Coast Resort" awards.
Kmer Resort in Antalya won "The Best Resort Hotel".
