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Saturday, March 31, 2007

Islam in Europe: Netherlands: Turkey demands

"Netherlands: Turkey demands

Netherlands must protect the rights of Turks living in the Netherlands, and those who have worked here for years. The Turkish ambassador Selahattin Alpar delivered that message to The Hague and to Balkenende's cabinet from the Turkish government. There are 370,000 Turks living in the Netherlands. "

More:Islam in Europe: Netherlands: Turkey demands

Scandal: US denies Turkish skiers visas, sees them as ‘threat’

"Scandal: US denies Turkish skiers visas, sees them as ‘threat’
Three Turkish athletes were denied US visas to participate in a Ski Trainers Alpine Discipline Synchronized Competition to be held between March 30 and April 13.

US officials say there are many names on the US terrorist watch list that matched Ahmet Demir, the name of one of the athletes. The two other athletes, Cengiz Dilik and Recep Dilik, indicated they were students on their visa application, but US officials were skeptical that 35 year-old men were college students. Although the Dilik brothers tried to explain they were attending college for a second degree, the US officials still denied them visas."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

‘Media view of Turkish-EU relations is misleading’

"‘Media view of Turkish-EU relations is misleading’
German Ambassador in Ankara Eckart Kuntz said that the recent problems in Turkish-German relations are due to misunderstandings and misinformation.

German Ambassador Eckart Kuntz
Speaking at a press conference, Ambassador Kuntz claimed that Turkey's EU membership negotiations are on track, and yet the media representation of the level of relations does not present the actual truth. Recalling that a new chapter in negotiations had been recently opened, Ambassador Kuntz reiterated his hopes that three more chapters will be opened before the German presidency of the EU ends in June."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Turkey stresses new resolution needed for stability in Kosovo

"Turkey stresses new resolution needed for stability in Kosovo
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Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Bilman said on Friday that his country believed a new resolution to be adopted by UN Security Council on Kosovo issue, was the only way that could provide stability in Kosovo and the region.

Bilman said that Kosovo issue 'has entered a new phase' with UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari's latest report and proposal that submitted to the UN Security Council on March 26."

More:People's Daily Online -- Turkey stresses new resolution needed for stability in Kosovo

German anti-racism initiative creates concern in Ankara

"German anti-racism initiative creates concern in Ankara

A new German initiative sets a legal framework to make denial of an alleged Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks a crime, following up on similar measures elsewhere."

More:M.A.Birand » German anti-racism initiative creates concern in Ankara

Greek Cypriots to unveil trade measures for Turkish Cypriots

"Greek Cypriots to unveil trade measures for Turkish Cypriots
The Greek Cypriot administration has finalized a set of measures to facilitate trade opportunities for the Turkish Cypriots and is due to present them to the European Union's German term presidency today (Saturday), reports in the Greek Cypriot media said.

George Lillikas
The measures will be announced on Monday after a meeting between Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Turkish Parliament to Recognize Azeri People’s Genocide

"Turkish Parliament to Recognize Azeri People’s Genocide

Azerbaijan, Baku / Т corr S. Ilhamghizi / Muzaffar Gulyurd, the Deputy from the ruling party of Turkey, said that that the Parliament of Turkey will officially recognize the genocide of the Azeri people and the tragic events in Khojali in near future."

More:"Trend" news agency

The Daily Star - Politics - EU snub 'has nothing to do' with Gul skipping talks

"EU snub 'has nothing to do' with Gul skipping talks
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Saturday, March 31, 2007

ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has declined an invitation to attend an EU meeting Saturday, but officials denied that his decision was linked to disappointment over the bloc's failure to invite Turkey to its 50th anniversary celebrations in Berlin last week. A Turkish diplomat said Friday that 'naturally there is certain resentment' in Ankara that Turkey, a long-standing membership hopeful, was not invited to the celebrations. 'We would have expected an invitation, given our decades-old relationship with the European Union,' the diplomat told AFP. 'But this has nothing to do with Mr. Gul's decision' not to attend Saturday's lunch of foreign ministers of EU member nations and candidate countries in the German city of Bremen on Saturday, she said. "

More:The Daily Star - Politics - EU snub 'has nothing to do' with Gul skipping talks

Napoleon in Alexandria and Turkey’s EU dream - Saturday 31 March 2007

" Napoleon in Alexandria and Turkey’s EU dream
Ibrahim Kalin
Saturday 31 March 2007 - 07:21
Afficher la version imprimable de cet article. Envoyer à un ami
The picture was clear and symbolic: on the EU’s 50th birthday German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented as a gift to French President Jacques Chirac a cup with a depiction of Napoleon’s invasion of Alexandria in 1798.

Never mind that Turkey, as a candidate country, has not been invited to the party. Never mind either the fact that the current EU president, Merkel, has nothing to hide in her opposition to EU’s membership. But presenting the Napoleonic invasion of Alexandria as the symbol of a possible German-French cooperation against the entrance of a Muslim country to the EU is beyond any rationality. But there are reasons for such an act of exclusion."

More:[ Turquie Européenne ] - Napoleon in Alexandria and Turkey’s EU dream - Saturday 31 March 2007

UNESCO’s International Rumi Year celebrates the great poet/thinker

"UNESCO’s International Rumi Year celebrates the great poet/thinker
30.03.2007

By Ozge Esirgen / Istanbul

Having accepted the proposal of the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey in March 2006, 2007 was declared as the 'International Rumi Year' by UNESCO. The recognition is intended for the commemoration of Rumi's 800th birthday and has given rise to many activities regarding the mystic’s appreciation in many countries as well as in Turkey. Upon the designation by UNESCO, the three countries that Rumi had lived in during his lifetime: Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan will be holding special programmes commemorating the man and his philosophy."

More:UNESCO’s International Rumi Year celebrates the great poet/thinker

Turkish Business: Jamaica and Turkey agree to exchange trade missions

"Jamaica and Turkey agree to exchange trade missions

The Governments of Jamaica and Turkey have agreed to exchange trade missions in an effort to boost business opportunities."

More:Turkish Business: Jamaica and Turkey agree to exchange trade missions

Turkish Cypriot represents Cyprus in international Rugby match

"Turkish Cypriot represents Cyprus in international Rugby match
30.03.2007

All-Cyprus squad thrashes Greece 39 – 3 in one sided romp to lift the Independence Cup

By Alan Brackley

A Turkish Cypriot player from the Famagusta area of Northern Cyprus represented Cyprus in an all-island squad in a Rugby Union tussle against the Greek national side for the Independence Cup at the Kiniris Sports Ground in the Geroskipou area of Paphos on Saturday 24 March."

More:Turkish Cypriot represents Cyprus in international Rugby match

Coping with the World: Back to people

"Back to people

The chorus of the Stalinist song from the 70s on the richest families of Finland sung with great passion out of tune by Kristiina Halkola popped into my mind today while listening to the debate about corporate social responsibility here at Sabanci University in Istanbul. The second day of the Network Effect paid a great amount of attention to the role of a few rich Turkish business families and their contributions to the society. "

More:Coping with the World: Back to people

Turkish Weekly Opinion - Cyprus and the EU: what matters is perception

"Cyprus and the EU: what matters is perception
Hans A.H.C. de Wit

Saturday , 31 March 2007

The first time I heard about the Cyprus issue and the divided island, was when I was 16 years old, just back from a nice holiday in Italy. I remember hearing that the Turks invaded Cyprus: the Turks did it again. At least that was the news in the Netherlands. There was no internet, no international television channels like CNN, BBC World which are now broadcasting worldwide: we were dependent on printed media. No real-time coverage."

More:Turkish Weekly Opinion - Cyprus and the EU: what matters is perception

Riendeau of Turkey Sweeps Skeleton Development Racesat Conclusion of FIBT Lake Placid Sliding School

"LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (March 28, 2007) –Demet Erki Riendeau of Turkey swept the women's skeleton races Wednesday at the conclusion of the FIBT Lake Placid Slding School. The races were a conclusion to a 10-day program for developing skeleton and bobsleigh athletes."

Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobaganning

Turkish Ambassador Says Armenian Anxiety concerning Reconstruction of Akhtamar Church Illogical

"Turkish Ambassador Says Armenian Anxiety concerning Reconstruction of Akhtamar Church Illogical

Azerbaijan, Baku/ Trend , corr. S. Ilhamgizi/ Hussein Avni Karslioglu has said today that Armenian anxiety concerning the reconstruction of Akhtamar Church situated nearby the Van Lake yields to no logic.

He expressed an opinion concerning the statements of the Armenian mass media that the restoration of Akhtamar Church was allegedly an attempt to wipe all steps of Armenians from there, The Turkish Ambassador said that Turkey had always respectfully and carefully treated the past and its ancient history, and preserved it as it was. “ Turkey does care about which nations built ancient monuments situated on its territory, and whom they belong to. There are monuments in Turkey built by Georgians, Armenians, Arabs, Greeks, and representatives of other nations. But all of them are the subject of our history. Contrary to different claims made by Armenians, the Turks are proud of their ancient history. The monuments belong to non-Muslims, churches, synagogues have always reconstructed at the expense of the Turkish State,” said the Ambassador.

The Turkish diplomat added that representatives of the Armenian nation destroyed tens of ancient monuments on the territory of Azerbaijan in 1918, as well as during the Karabakh War battles in early 1990s. "

"Trend" news agency

Friday, March 30, 2007

The Turkish-Italian connection

"The Turkish-Italian connection

“My god, I am the only ambassador who does not speak Turkish,” complained Belgian Ambassador Marc van Rysselberghe. We were at the reception hall of the Italian Embassy listening to Ambassador Carlo Marsili’s speech in Turkish. Married to a Turkish woman, Ambassador Marsili is “emotionally connected” to the Turkish people. During his recent visit to Today’s Zaman’s office I saw Mr. Marsili wearing cufflinks with motifs of the Ottoman tuğra (the Sultan’s signature). On Thursday evening I realized that the motifs were not only on the external garment but in the deepest parts of his heart."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Turkish brands on the streets of Shanghai - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

"Turkish brands on the streets of Shanghai
Saturday, March 31, 2007

Turkish companies such as Novaplast and Goldaş have true success stories in China. Others could do the same with good marketing, courage and vision"

More:Turkish brands on the streets of Shanghai - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

What shall become of Turkish-American relations? - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

"What shall become of Turkish-American relations?
Saturday, March 31, 2007

Are Turkish-US relations, which have survived 177 consecutive years without interruption, and have been put through the wringer once before with the Armenian diaspora, and twice by the Greek lobby, going to reach a breaking point a second time because of the Armenian Diaspora? I don’t think so"

More:What shall become of Turkish-American relations? - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

Portugal against extra conditions before Turkey’s EU membership - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

"Portugal against extra conditions before Turkey’s EU membership
Saturday, March 31, 2007

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country will assume the term presidency of the European Union after Germany, yesterday spoke out against any attempts to bring additional criteria for Turkish membership in the 27-nation bloc. "

More:Portugal against extra conditions before Turkey’s EU membership - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

50 reasons to love Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

"50 reasons to love Turkey
Saturday, March 31, 2007

We are going through a tough time. In an environment where we are fed up with economic hardship and political uncertainty, let's remember why we love Turkey so much. These 50 reasons will not be enough for you, we know that. But we also know that there are thousands of more reasons to love (to fall in love with) this country… However, please forgive us to limit the number at 50, because we don't have enough space to include them all. 1 The Bosporus Its breeze, ferry boats, sea gulls, bridges and waterfront mansions… There is even a song written for the Bosporus only."

More:50 reasons to love Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 31, 2007

Italian co. wins Turkish heli contract

"Italian co. wins Turkish heli contract

By SELCAN HACAOGLU
BW Exclusives

ANKARA, Turkey

Italy's Agusta Aerospace on Friday won a major Turkish tender worth $2.7 billion to co-produce attack helicopters as Turkey sought to diversify resources from its usual supplier -- the United States.

For the first time since they began cooperating in arms sales, no U.S. companies bid for the contract because of strict Turkish regulations. The rules stipulate Turkey be given full access to the aircraft's specific software codes -- which the U.S. considers a security risk -- and a guarantee from the provider's government that there would be no political obstacles to the sale."

More:Italian co. wins Turkish heli contract

Gates Protects Iran, Attacks Turkey by Scott Sullivan

"Gates Protects Iran, Attacks Turkey
March 30, 2007 12:00 PM EST

The problem is that the US, under the Republicans, has been reduced to the status of a province of Iran. The CIA has taken over all branches of US intelligence, and has one of its own as Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, who is intensely pro-Iran. For Secretary Gates, and his Undersecretary for Policy, Eric Edelman, Turkey is the enemy. Gates and Edelman support the PKK against Turkey, and they support Iran against Turkey. They wants the Kurds to breakup the Tukish state, using Iraqi Kurdistan as the launching pad.
"

More:Gates Protects Iran, Attacks Turkey by Scott Sullivan

Ericsson, Turkcell Ink Contract To Enhance Network Capacity In Turkey

"Ericsson, Turkcell Ink Contract To Enhance Network Capacity In Turkey - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Ericsson on Friday revealed a contract with Turkcell, to enhance network capacity in Turkey, pursuant to which the company will further expand Turkcell's voice and data traffic capacity, and help increase the diversity of services it offers to customers. The company further noted that the contract would represent a continuation of the long-standing partnership with Turkcell, who currently has over 12 thousand base stations, and provides network coverage to 97.2% of the Turkish population."

Daytrading, Eminis, Forex trading, Swing Trading BREAKING NEWS - 523238

In Turkey, a Judge's Murder Puts Religion in Spotlight - WSJ.com

"BLOOD AND FAITH
In Turkey, a Judge's Murder
Puts Religion in Spotlight
A Teacher's Headscarf
Led to Protest, Violence;
Muslim vs. Public Life
By PHILIP SHISHKIN
March 30, 2007; Page A1

ANKARA, Turkey -- One morning last spring, a young lawyer parked his Opel car on a busy commercial street next to Turkey's top administrative court, threw a Glock handgun into his bag and went inside.

Reaching the fifth floor of the drab courthouse, Alparslan Arslan followed a tea server toward a chamber where five judges were meeting. The 28-year-old Mr. Arslan paused to look at their faces.

A few months earlier, these judges had ruled that a kindergarten teacher was rightfully denied a promotion because she wore a Muslim headscarf near the school. A covered instructor set a bad example for impressionable young students in a secular state and undermined the foundations of the Turkish Republic, the verdict said. The ruling upset many religiously conservative Turks. But it pushed Mr. Arslan over the edge."

More (Subscription rqd):In Turkey, a Judge's Murder Puts Religion in Spotlight - WSJ.com

CHP protests lack of sanction for anti-Ataturk cyber crimes

"CHP protests lack of sanction for anti-Ataturk cyber crimes

The New Anatolian / Ankara
30 March 2007

Main opposition deputies walked out of a parliamentary commission yesterday over its failure to include certain offenses, such as crimes against Ataturk, in a new anti-cyber crime bill.

Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies quit the Justice Commission after it also left attacking Turkey's fundamental principles and the unitary state out of the measure."

More:The New Anatolian

Güler Sabancı: Turkey needs foreign capital like Sama Dubai

"Güler Sabancı: Turkey needs foreign capital like Sama Dubai

EkoTürk News Agency / İstanbul
30 March 2007

'Turkey needs foreign capital like Sama Dubai,' said Güler Sabancı, chairperson of executive board of Sabancı Holding.
Sabancı, who attended the inauguration of the 9th Adana International Sabancı Theatre Festival, told the A.A correspondent that they welcomed Sama Dubai's winning the public auction for Istanbul Electricity, Tunnel & Trolley Authority's (IETT) bus terminal plot in Levent district of Istanbul, underlining that it was an important development for Turkish economy. "

More:The New Anatolian

INDIA: Pria Kataria stylish Turkish delight dazzles at LFW - LFW Spring Summer 2007 - Textile News

"INDIA: Pria Kataria stylish Turkish delight dazzles at LFW

MUMBAI: The stylish designer, Pria Katari Puri glittered collection of bridal wear which had all the style, beauty and elegance which a girl dreams of for her wedding trousseau.

The prints reflected the beauty of the old Topkai Sarayi Palace and the Turkish motifs from the Art Deco period. The fashionable journey went through fabrics that were rich and fluid – silk, chiffon, satin, tulle as well as lush velvet and lasered lace in metallic tones."

More:INDIA: Pria Kataria stylish Turkish delight dazzles at LFW - LFW Spring Summer 2007 - Textile News

Cook: Turkish-U.S. Tensions ‘Great Underreported Story of Iraq War’ - Council on Foreign Relations

"Cook: Turkish-U.S. Tensions ‘Great Underreported Story of Iraq War’

Interviewee:
Steven A. Cook, Douglas Dillon Fellow
Interviewer:
Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor

March 29, 2007

Steven A. Cook Steven A. Cook, a CFR expert on Turkey, says “the great underreported story” of the Iraq war is the serious deterioration in U.S.-Turkish relations. The relations have “already blown up,” says Cook. He says the problem is Turkey’s fear of a resurgent PKK terrorist group in neighboring north Iraq, and the failure of either the United States or the Kurdish autonomous government to do anything to thwart it."

More:Cook: Turkish-U.S. Tensions ‘Great Underreported Story of Iraq War’ - Council on Foreign Relations

The Gaza Strip of Istanbul: Gazi District - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

"The Gaza Strip of Istanbul: Gazi District
Friday, March 30, 2007

People living in the district of Gazi believe 1995 was a ‘Susurluk’ year of the neighborhood, referring to the political and social turmoil stemmed from a car accident in the town of Susurluk in Western part of Turkey. The dwellers in Gazi think they are confined and left alone as the state of ‘being on alert’ still continues here. If a person is living in the Gazi district, there is no job in İstanbul for the one. The four-year-old Sıla pushing her finger on the nose of her doll, says to her mother,” Look mother, I am throwing a tear bomb!” A different kind jurisprudence rules the neighborhood! This is the ‘Gazi Strip’ of İstanbul, in an analogy to the Gaza Strip in Israel.
"

More:The Gaza Strip of Istanbul: Gazi District - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

The importance of America's relationship with Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

"The importance of America's relationship with Turkey
Friday, March 30, 2007

Our two nations should oppose measures and rhetoric that needlessly and destructively antagonize each other. That includes symbolic resolutions by the United States Congress, as well as the type of anti-American and extremist rhetoric that sometimes finds a home in Turkey's political discourse. As for the PKK, we know more needs to be done"

More:The importance of America's relationship with Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

Turkey, Iraq and the PKK - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

"Turkey, Iraq and the PKK

TODAY'S COLUMNIST
By Richard Miniter
March 30, 2007

ANKARA, TURKEY.
When Iraq's vice president came to Turkey's capital on Tuesday to plead with the Turks not to invade northern Iraq to kill Kurdish terrorists, he spoke to the press in code.
The PKK is a Kurdish terrorist group that has killed some 30,000 Turks (including more than 50 diplomats) since 1990. The PKK wants to carve a Kurdish state out of the dry reaches of eastern Turkey. "

More:Turkey, Iraq and the PKK - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks - New York Times

"Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks
Umit Bektas/Reuters

By SEBNEM ARSU and BRIAN KNOWLTON
Published: March 30, 2007

ISTANBUL, March 29 — A planned vote in Congress that would classify the widespread killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government early in the 20th century as genocide is threatening to make bilateral relations unusually tense."

More:Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks - New York Times

INFOR customer Turkcell honoured with Gartner CRM excellence award 2007 - 30 Mar 2007

"Infor CRM Epiphany helps leading European mobile operator to increase customer satisfaction, retention and inbound query resolution.

Infor has announced that Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile phone operator and Europe’s second largest GSM operator, has won the Gartner CRM Excellence Award 2007 for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The award marks the eighth time an Infor customer has been recognised by IT analyst firm Gartner for excellence in CRM.

Turkcell was singled out for its successful deployment of Infor CRM Epiphany which has dramatically improved interaction with Turkcell’s 31.8 million customers. Infor CRM Epiphany is a comprehensive, market-leading solution for integrated marketing, sales, service and analytics, focused on meeting the business-specific needs of customers."

More:INFOR customer Turkcell honoured with Gartner CRM excellence award 2007 - 30 Mar 2007

Welcome to Banking Technology

"Turkey's Akbank combats ID fraud
30 March 2007

Akbank, a privately owned Turkish bank, has completed implementation of Fair Isaac’s Falcon ID solution to provide its customers with effective protection against identity fraud. Akbank will become the first European lender to deploy Falcon ID, initially using the solution to protect its credit card portfolios."

More:Welcome to Banking Technology

Governing AKP Expected to Dominate in Turkey: Angus Reid Global Monitor

"Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Governing AKP Expected to Dominate in Turkey
March 30, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Turkish adults would back the country’s most powerful political party in the next parliamentary election, according to a poll by ANAR. 35 per cent of respondents would vote for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in this year’s legislative ballot."

More:Governing AKP Expected to Dominate in Turkey: Angus Reid Global Monitor

Iraq's VP warns against Turkish incursion into Iraq

"Iraq's VP warns against Turkish incursion into Iraq

The New Anatolian with AP / Ankara
28 March 2007

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on Tuesday warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants but also promised to prevent cross-border attacks by the terrorists.

"We want both countries to respect each other's borders and expect the sides to be against such a thing," al-Hashemi said upon his arrival in Ankara for a one-day visit. He was responding to a question about a possible Turkish incursion into his country to hunt down terrorists of the PKK."

More:The New Anatolian

Turkey still waiting Iran’s answer to request to visit British hostages

"Turkey still waiting Iran’s answer to request to visit British hostages
There have been suggestions that the sole female hostage may be released soon.

ANKARA - Turkey is still awaiting a response from Tehran to a request for Turkish officials to see 15 British service personnel being held hostage by Iran."

More:Turkey still waiting Iran’s answer to request to visit British hostages

Turkey targets 2013 for EU legal compliance

"Turkey targets 2013 for EU legal compliance
30.03.2007 - 09:34 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Turkey resumed EU accession talks on Thursday (29 March) with the German presidency aiming to open three more negotiating chapters with Ankara by late June.

The enterprise and industry chapter became the second out of 35 areas covered by EU legislation that the candidate country has opened as part of its membership talks, kicked off in October 2005."

More:EUobserver.com

Turkish House to be demolished - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

"Turkish House to be demolished
Friday, March 30, 2007

The Turkish House in New York, where Turkey's Permanent Representative to the U.N. and the Consulate General are located, will be demolished and replaced by a modern building reminiscent of Turkey, said Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) of Turkey Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu at a luncheon hosted there by the Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce."

More:Turkish House to be demolished - Turkish Daily News Mar 30, 2007

Turkish punk song evokes popular frustration, but angers the state - International Herald Tribune

"Turkish punk song evokes popular frustration, but angers the state

ISTANBUL, Turkey: Last year, a Turkish teenager made a home video of himself lip-synching a punk rock song that blasted Turkey's tough system of university enrollment, and slapped the recording on YouTube.

To some, it was a harmless act of adolescent rebellion. For the state, it was a threat in a country with strict limits on expression."

More:Turkish punk song evokes popular frustration, but angers the state - International Herald Tribune

Turkish foreign minister snubs informal EU meeting in Bremen

"Turkish foreign minister snubs informal EU meeting in Bremen

( Cihan ) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has decided not to participate in an informal meeting of the European Union that will start in Bremen, Germany on Friday.

'Mr. Minister will not be able to participate in the luncheon as his working schedule doesn't allow him to do so,' said a statement from Turkish Foreign Ministry."

More:"Trend" news agency

Germany and its Muslims | Soft on suffering | Economist.com

"Soft on suffering

Mar 29th 2007 | FRANKFURT
From The Economist print edition
The adverse consequences of judicial appeasement
AP

INDIGNATION greeted the news of a (female) judge's decision to deny a Moroccan woman a quick divorce on the ground that the Koran allows husbands to beat their wives. The judge, who was removed from the case, seemed to imply that the woman, who got married in Morocco, should take beatings as part of the deal. The tale has aroused fears that the German judicial system may go too far to accommodate immigrants."

More:Germany and its Muslims | Soft on suffering | Economist.com

Turkish politics | Erdogan's dilemma | Economist.com

"Erdogan's dilemma

Mar 29th 2007 | ANKARA
From The Economist print edition
Elections for a new Turkish president in May are already causing ructions

PRESIDENTIAL elections in Turkey have never been smooth affairs. Meddlesome generals have always wanted a say. In 1961 a respected academic was forced to withdraw by two gun-toting generals. But these days the army doesn't wave guns around, and in its eagerness to join the European Union, Turkey has become decidedly more democratic (though the election is indirect, via a parliamentary vote)."

More:Turkish politics | Erdogan's dilemma | Economist.com

Turkish student to speak on Anzac Day - Regional News - Feilding Herald

"Turkish student to speak on Anzac Day
By JO MYERS - Feilding Herald | Thursday, 29 March 2007

Anzac Day celebrations in Feilding will have a very special significance this year.

The guest speaker at this year's dawn service at the cenotaph will be a 17-year-old Turkish student who has only been in New Zealand for eight months."

More:Turkish student to speak on Anzac Day - Regional News - Feilding Herald

Turkish gambit

"Turkish gambit

It is entirely possible that some readers will show their displeasure at the fact that I have posted a picture of Eugene of Savoy at the start of a piece about Turkey, he being the general who defeated the Ottomans once or twice. This statue celebrates the Battle of Zenta of 1697 and stands above the Danube, in front of Buda castle. As he looks out, Prince Eugene commands a very fine view (though not as fine as the views in Yorkshire)."

More:EU Referendum

Islam in Europe: Belgium: Apologizing for anti-homophobia book saying Ataturk was homosexual

"Belgium: Apologizing for anti-homophobia book saying Ataturk was homosexual

Ataturk is in good company, according to this book.

Marie Arena, the education minister for Belgium's French-speaking community in the Walloon region, made a request yesterday for a meeting with Turkey's ambassador to Belgium in an apparent effort to explain the publishing of a book in which the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is listed among the important homosexual and bisexual personalities of history."

More:Islam in Europe: Belgium: Apologizing for anti-homophobia book saying Ataturk was homosexual

Ohio auto parts maker sheds $70M tubing business to Turkish company

"Ohio auto parts maker sheds $70M tubing business to Turkish company

TOLEDO, Ohio – Dana Corp. agreed to sell its fluid-products hose and tubing business for $70 million to a Turkish company as it sheds operations while under bankruptcy protection.

The operations to be sold are located in Archbold, Ohio; Paris, Tenn.; Rochester Hills, Mich.; Vitry, France; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Dolny Kubin, Slovakia; Barcelona, Spain; and Birmingham, U.K.

"

More:SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business -- Ohio auto parts maker sheds $70M tubing business to Turkish company

Stockpickr! US companies thriving in Turkey Portfolio

"US companies thriving in Turkey

Citigroup recently sent a team to Turkey to gain insight into the Turkish economy, retail landscape, and competitive landscape. Their findings can be summarized as Turkey appearing considerably ahead than other emerging markests such as China and India from a development perspective.The growth in retail can be attributed to the increased purchasing power of the consumer and the increasing percentage of the population that reside in urban centers.Finally, the people demonstrated a strong sense of nationalism and perhaps becoming accepted into the EU is becoming less of a priority. Nonetheless, at this time talks remain on track, with the accession process expected to be completed sometime between 2013 and 2019."

Stockpickr! US companies thriving in Turkey Portfolio

Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks - New York Times

"Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks

By SEBNEM ARSU and BRIAN KNOWLTON
Published: March 30, 2007

ISTANBUL, March 29 — A planned vote in Congress that would classify the widespread killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government early in the 20th century as genocide is threatening to make bilateral relations unusually tense."

More:Planned House Vote on Armenian Massacre Angers Turks - New York Times

Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology - Independent Online Edition > Europe

"Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology
By Ian Herbert in Van, Anatolia, Turkey
Published: 30 March 2007

Across a blue salt lake on an island surrounded by snow-capped mountains in eastern Turkey, Armenian Christians were invited yesterday to witness how the Turkish nation has restored one of their most holy sites."

More:Turkish restoration of Armenian church leaves no room for apology - Independent Online Edition > Europe

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Al-Ahram Weekly | Opinion | An eastern triangle

"An eastern triangle
While some charge that Egypt has conceded its regional role, indicators point to the opposite conclusion, writes Anouar Abdel-Malek

........Sonar Cagaptay, senior fellow and director of the Turkish research programme at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, has been monitoring the change in US-Turkish relations. He says that the popularity of the US in Turkey has declined from 52 per cent in 2002 to between seven and 12 per cent today. The change, he adds, is a result of the policies of Prime Minister Erdogan's Justice and Development Party. The party has not only made Turkey a less secular society, but has also changed Turkish foreign policies accordingly. For example, the popularity of Iran in Turkey is now at 43 per cent. Not only that; the Turks are less enthusiastic about EU membership than they were. Support for EU membership in Turkey has dropped from 80-90 per cent to 30-40 per cent. The US war on Iraq, the increasing likelihood of an independent Kurdish state, and the revival of Islamic pride are among the reasons for this change of attitude."

More:Al-Ahram Weekly | Opinion | An eastern triangle

PKK Survives EU Arrests

"PKK Survives EU Arrests

By James Brandon
In early February 2006, French and Belgian police arrested more than a dozen senior members of the PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party), a militant group fighting for greater political, social and civil rights for Turkey's Kurdish minority. Initially, the arrests seemed a success for Turkey and the United States who have lobbied the European Union to take concrete action against the group, which they declare is a terrorist organization. Within days, however, the European authorities began releasing many of the captured PKK members. The episode underlines the difficulties faced by Turkey in both persuading the Europeans that fighting the PKK is also in their interests and that Ankara's commitment to human rights, freedom of expression and democracy is genuine."

More:PKK Survives EU Arrests

Turkey chides Senate panel over Dink resolution - washingtonpost.com

"Turkey chides Senate panel over Dink resolution

Reuters
Thursday, March 29, 2007; 11:23 AM

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey chided a Senate panel on Thursday for backing a resolution condemning the murder in January of prominent Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink, saying the bill was politically motivated."

mORE:Turkey chides Senate panel over Dink resolution - washingtonpost.com

Turkey targets disabled tourists, despite barriers

"Turkey targets disabled tourists, despite barriers
Tourism is already a vital part of the Turkish economy, and now Turkey wants to increase its share in revenue from disabled tourists, opening Turkish tourism to a global market worth 80 billion euros.

While the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is asking tourist sites to better organize their facilities to accommodate disabled visitors, a booklet titled 'Barrier Free İstanbul for All' has been prepared in English and Turkish with the assistance of the Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB)."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Landmines still killing people, livestock in southeast region

"Landmines still killing people, livestock in southeast region

Thomas Grove

TUNCELI, TURKEY

29-Mar-07

SNOW turns red at the edge of Tunceli's mountain roads as it soaks up the bronze-rich soil. Passing that red line is a matter of life or death here, where violence has endured for 23 years.

Intense conflicts in the 90s and now sporadic violence between the military and Kurdish guerrillas have turned much of Turkey's rural southeast into a minefield."

More:The Brunei Times

Turkey and EU need each other - Turkish Daily News Mar 29, 2007

"Turkey and EU need each other
Thursday, March 29, 2007

The EU needs Turkey as much as Turkey needs the EU. The EU needs Turkey as a global actor and Turkey needs the EU as a vision, said Aydın Dumanoğlu, co-chairman of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission. During a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in London after meeting with NGOs, Dumanoğlu said that Turks living in Europe were playing an important role in Turkey's EU bid."

More:Turkey and EU need each other - Turkish Daily News Mar 29, 2007

Turkey gets EU backing

"Turkey gets EU backing

BRUSSELS: European Union governments approved plans yesterday to partially restart entry negotiations with Turkey, agreeing to open talks with Ankara this week on industry and business enterprise policy."

More:Gulf Daily News

JTW News - The PKK as an American Problem

"The PKK as an American Problem

Thursday , 29 March 2007

The Iraq Study Group Report and the PKK: Dealing with an American Problem

By Soner Cagaptay
(Director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute)

The recently released Iraq Study Group (ISG) report successfully lists Turkey’s major concerns about instability in Iraq. The report states that Turkish anxiety over “operations of [the] Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), . . . a terrorist group based in northern Iraq . . . that has killed thousands of Turks,” are so serious that Turkey might “go after the PKK themselves.” PKK terror is definitely Turkey’s most serious concern. Yet, surprisingly, the report, which suggests that efforts to stabilize Iraq will move ahead only if all of Iraq’s neighbors contribute to the process, does not offer a single policy suggestion on how to address the PKK issue in order to bring Turkey on board. "

More:JTW News - The PKK as an American Problem

Turkish fugitive can stand trial in Belgium

"Turkish fugitive can stand trial in Belgium
29 Mar 2007 12:31:49 GMT

BRUSSELS, March 29 (Reuters) - A Belgian court ruled on Thursday that a fugitive Turkish militant can be tried in Belgium for crimes she is accused of committing in Turkey, if she is caught, lawyers said.

Ankara has been seeking the extradition of Fehriye Erdal to stand trial in Turkey for her alleged part in the murder of prominent businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996."

More:Reuters AlertNet - Turkish fugitive can stand trial in Belgium

People's Daily Online -- Turkey's national team set for Baseball Open in southern Turkey

"Turkey's national team set for Baseball Open in southern Turkey
font size ZoomIn ZoomOut

Turkish national youth team is expected to take the field at the First Ataturk Antalya Baseball Open 2007 that will be held in Belek town of Antalya province in southern Turkey on Friday and Saturday, local Today's Zaman daily reported on Thursday.

Three youth teams (Turkey, Germany and Bulgaria) as well as two senior teams (Russia and Holland) will be competing against each other at this event, said the newspaper."

More:People's Daily Online -- Turkey's national team set for Baseball Open in southern Turkey

Ambassador Huseyn Avni Karslioglu: Visa regime between Turkey and Azerbaijan will be eliminated

"Ambassador Huseyn Avni Karslioglu: Visa regime between Turkey and Azerbaijan will be eliminated

“Visa regime between Turkey and Azerbaijan is going to be eliminated, Turkish ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary Husein Avni Karslioglu told the APA.
"

More:APA

TURKEY: RE-OPENING OF HISTORIC ARMENIAN CHURCH HAILED AS GOODWILL GESTURE

"TURKEY: RE-OPENING OF HISTORIC ARMENIAN CHURCH HAILED AS GOODWILL GESTURE

Van, eastern Turkey, 29 March (AKI) - The restored 1,000 year old Amenian Akdamar Church re-opened in eastern Turkey on Thursday as a museum, a move billed as an official goodwill gesture to improve ties with the country's neighbour and with it own ethnic community. 'I congratulate this project on its completion as a whole,' said the spiritual leader of Turkey's Armenian community, Patriach Mesrob II, quoted by daily Hurriyet. "

More:TURKEY: RE-OPENING OF HISTORIC ARMENIAN CHURCH HAILED AS GOODWILL GESTURE

Workers educated but ‘not qualified’ in Turkey

"Workers educated but ‘not qualified’ in Turkey
Ulf Groth, general manager of a subsidiary of Germany-based Metro Group, said during a visit to Adana for Metro Group’s social responsibility projects early this week that although many university graduates applied to their stores, they had trouble finding qualified workers."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Use of Unemployment Insurance Fund lags well behind EU

"Use of Unemployment Insurance Fund lags well behind EU
While the Turkish business world pushes for “incentive payment support” to be paid to employers out of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, in European countries such funds are used almost entirely for supporting the unemployed. "

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Editorial: Turkey and the EU

"Editorial: Turkey and the EU
29 March 2007

CYNICS might say that the seriousness behind the EU’s restarting accession talks with Turkey, stalled since last June, may be gauged by its timing. Brussels announced the restart with just under a month to go before the French presidential election. This almost guarantees the issue of Turkish membership being brought into the campaign, with all three contenders likely to vie with each other to deplore it."

More:Editorial: Turkey and the EU

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Turkish FM calls for joint committee with Armenia

"Turkish FM calls for joint committee with Armenia
The complex political history and dynamics of that tumultuous period are yet to be fully grasped, wrote Gul.

ANKARA - Turkey is keen to set up a joint committee with Armenia to investigate the circumstances surrounding the so-called Armenian genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in comments published Wednesday."

More:Turkish FM calls for joint committee with Armenia

Scotiabank opening up shop in Turkey

"Scotiabank opening up shop in Turkey
Duncan Mavin, Financial Post
Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2007

TORONTO -- Bank of Nova Scotia, which has mostly focused its overseas expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean, said Wednesday it is opening up shop in the Middle East."

More:Scotiabank opening up shop in Turkey

German, Turkish Football Federations Co-operate In Talent Scouting - Sports News - Playfuls.com - Fun & Entertainment

"German, Turkish Football Federations Co-operate In Talent Scouting

The German and Turkish football federations on Wednesday agreed to co-operate in the area of talent-scouting, the German body DFB said.

The German DFB said in a press release that both federations will form a working group. The agreement was reached at a meeting in Frankfurt headed by the two football supremos, Theo Zwanziger of Germany and Haluk Ulusoy of Turkey.
"

More:German, Turkish Football Federations Co-operate In Talent Scouting - Sports News - Playfuls.com - Fun & Entertainment

FIA reduces record fine for Turkish GP prize-ceremony - International Herald Tribune

"FIA reduces record fine for Turkish GP prize-ceremony

ANKARA, Turkey: Formula One's governing body has halved the record $5 million (€3.75 million) fine imposed after last season's Turkish GP prize-giving ceremony, the Turkish Motorsports Federation said Wednesday."

More:FIA reduces record fine for Turkish GP prize-ceremony - International Herald Tribune

Senate panel condemns murder of Turkish-Armenian - washingtonpost.com

"Senate panel condemns murder of Turkish-Armenian

Reuters
Wednesday, March 28, 2007; 6:08 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel condemned on Wednesday the murder earlier this year of a prominent Turkish-Armenian editor, Hrant Dink, who had urged Turks to acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians on Turkish soil in 1915."

More:Senate panel condemns murder of Turkish-Armenian - washingtonpost.com

Turkey is Typing….the Weekly Favorites

"Turkey is Typing….the Weekly Favorites

So rather than stay with one particular topic or theme in this weekly, I thought that I would just give you the insights into my top Turkish blog posts of this week. Let’s begin with my favorite short post of the week from Ignore Me if You Can:

I’m going to start writing a book. Obviously, it will be boring. Obviously, no one will ever read it but; I’m going to start writing a book. I’m very excited."

More:Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Turkey is Typing….the Weekly Favorites

Hürriyet - Mehmet Y. Yilmaz:The path Turkey will take has been clear now for 84 years

"Mehmet Y. Yilmaz:The path Turkey will take has been clear now for 84 years

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message yesterday to the EU through a speech he gave before AKP party members in Ankara. 'Make up your minds. Don't tire yourselves and us out. If you have some negative thoughts about Turkey, make your decisions, and we can go on our way.' I interpret these words from Erdogan as meaning basically 'Make up your minds, and if you're not going to take Turkey as a member, but do't make us jump through hoops for nothing! Let us know so we can draw up another plan for ourselves.' "

More:Hürriyet - Mehmet Y. Yilmaz:The path Turkey will take has been clear now for 84 years

Turkish delight to fuel growth

"Turkish delight to fuel growth
DEWSBURY-based engineering firm the Richard Alan Group will be the only company allowed to distribute Turkish-made gearboxes in the UK and Ireland."

More:News - Dewsbury Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More

EUX.TV - UN welcomes partial removal of dividing wall on Cyprus

"UN welcomes partial removal of dividing wall on Cyprus

New York (dpa) - The UN Security Council on Tuesday welcomed the Greek Cypriot government's removal of a wall in the old city of Nicosia to allow pedestrian crossings between it and the Turkish Cypriot area across the buffer zone dividing the city. "

More:EUX.TV - UN welcomes partial removal of dividing wall on Cyprus

Turkey back at EU's negotiating table

"Turkey back at EU's negotiating table
28.03.2007 - 09:43 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
The EU has agreed to open a new chapter of Turkey's negotiating package - only the second since Ankara started talks in October 2005 – amid Turkish irritation at the recent European summit in Berlin."

More:EUobserver.com

A woman in the bosses' club

"A woman in the bosses' club
By Fazile Zahir

FETHIYE, Turkey - The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSAID) is the country's most influential voluntary association, with 566 members. Its pronouncements on the economy and politics are invariably lapped up by the daily newspapers, but then that's no surprise, as some of the members own the press. "

More:Asia Times Online :: Middle East News - A woman in the bosses' club

US government still pushing for Armenian bill to be dropped: Wilson

"US government still pushing for Armenian bill to be dropped: Wilson
Washington’s ambassador to Turkey said that Turkish-Armenian relations should move on.

WASHINGTON - Senior US officials had taken a number of measures to defuse a looming crisis over a draft bill tabled before the House of Representatives calling for formal recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, Washington’s ambassador to Turkey said late Tuesday."

More:US government still pushing for Armenian bill to be dropped: Wilson

Sezer pardoned 260 convicts over 7 years

"Sezer pardoned 260 convicts over 7 years
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has approved resolutions which pardoned 260 out of 270 convicts referred to him between when he took office on May 16, 2000 and March 23, 2007.

The majority of the convicts were those who had entered Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome -- a physical and mental disorder caused by severe malnutrition-- following long-term hunger strikes at prisons. Former Presidents Kenan Evren and Süleyman Demirel had pardoned 27 convicts and 100 convicts respectively. Turgut Özal, another former president, pardoned 21 convicts during his four-year term in office."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Politicizing the Armenian tragedy - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

"Politicizing the Armenian tragedy

TODAY'S EDITORIAL
By Abdullah Gul
March 28, 2007

Today, as the United States and its allies confront critical challenges around the world, there is perhaps no nation more at the forefront of our collective efforts than Turkey. Our strategic partnership spans a wide range of global challenges, from helping secure Iraq and Afghanistan to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, promoting energy security and fighting terrorism in our region and beyond. "

More:Politicizing the Armenian tragedy - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

BBC Learning English | Campaign for more women MPs in Turkey

"Campaign for more women MPs in Turkey

Turkish women demonstrating on the International Women's Day

A series of posters have appeared in cities across Turkey featuring well-known women wearing false moustaches. It's part of a new campaign aimed at increasing the number of women elected to parliament."

More:BBC Learning English | Campaign for more women MPs in Turkey

Social debate strengthens faith, Dutch News, The Netherlands, Holland, Expatica

"Social debate strengthens faith

27 March 2007

AMSTERDAM – Many young Muslims value their faith as important to their identity. They tend to place more importance on it now than they used to. This is a result of their social environment (parents, relatives, friends), but it also seems as if the constant discussion in society about Islam encourages young Muslims to become more committed to their faith."

More:Social debate strengthens faith, Dutch News, The Netherlands, Holland, Expatica

Report: Turkey Might See Captive Britons

"Report: Turkey Might See Captive Britons

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish diplomats may be allowed to meet with the 15 British sailors and marines who were seized by Iran, a Turkish television station quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying Wednesday."

More:Report: Turkey Might See Captive Britons

Bush: Turkish-U.S. ties promote world peace

"Bush: Turkish-U.S. ties promote world peace

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a message to the 26th Annual Conference on Turkish-U.S. Relations, sponsored by the Turkish-U.S. Business Council (TAIK) and the American-Turkish Council (ATC), U.S. President George W. Bush declared that good relations between the two countries help to promote global welfare and the cause of peace, reports Sabah newspaper. He also stated that he appreciates the contributions that Turkish Americans make to the U.S. “Turkey and the US have a relationship which reflects common interests, and carries forward the cause of peace. The two countries can develop trade opportunities by increasing international cooperation,” Bush said."

Armenian News - PanARMENIAN.Net | Armenian News Agency - Bush: Turkish-U.S. ties promote world peace

Turkey To Take Step Forward In EU Bid

"Turkey To Take Step Forward In EU Bid
Turkey's slowed EU accession bid will take a step forward on Friday when EU states and Ankara open talks on a second policy area."

More:Javno - World

Fully Committed - Turkey - Global Business - Foreign Start-Up

"Fully Committed

By: Stephanie Clifford
PAGE 1 of 5

Let others proceed gingerly. Bülent Çelebi has set up an American-style company in Turkey, where he enjoys advantages his competition can only dream of. "

More:Fully Committed - Turkey - Global Business - Foreign Start-Up

IOC bids for Turkish chemicals maker

"IOC bids for Turkish chemicals maker

Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI, March 27: Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has bid for acquiring Turkey’s state-run chemicals maker Petkim Petrokimya Holdings AS and has also proposed to construct a $6-billion refinery on the Mediterranean sea. "

More:The Statesman

ACE Israel to launch DIY chain in Turkey

"ACE Israel to launch DIY chain in Turkey
“The Turkish DIY market is its infancy and the potential is crazy.”
Ilanit Hayut 27 Mar 07 18:28
Sources inform ''Globes'' that DIY retailer ACE Marketing Chains Consumer Products Ltd. has obtained permission from ACE Ltd. (NYSE: ACE) to operate in Turkey. The company will launch a chain of ACE and Auto Depot stores in the country."

More:Globes [online] - ACE Israel to launch DIY chain in Turkey

EU helps Turkey's child workers back to school - washingtonpost.com

"EU helps Turkey's child workers back to school

By Zerin Elci
Reuters
Tuesday, March 27, 2007; 7:39 PM

CANKIRI, Turkey (Reuters) - Twelve-year-old Suna Kacar was until recently one of nearly 2 million Turkish child laborers who mostly work in the streets selling cheap goods or shining shoes to add a trickle to their family's income."

More:EU helps Turkey's child workers back to school - washingtonpost.com

VOA News - Kurdish Nationalists in Iraq, Turkey Seek Land of Their Own

"Kurdish Nationalists in Iraq, Turkey Seek Land of Their Own
By Simon Marks
Diyarbakir, Turkey
27 March 2007

As violent instability convulses much of Iraq, the country's neighbors are keeping a watchful eye. In recent weeks, Turkey has warned Kurds in northern Iraq not to make any moves to declare themselves independent from Baghdad. Turkey has a large Kurdish population of its own, and the government in Ankara is worried by the violence in Iraq, fearing that it threatens the country's territorial integrity. Correspondent Simon Marks traveled to the Turkish border with Iraq, and sends this report."

More:VOA News - Kurdish Nationalists in Iraq, Turkey Seek Land of Their Own

Perinçek: Trial was not a fair one

"Perinçek: Trial was not a fair one
The leader of Turkey’s Workers’ Party (İP) Doğu Perinçek, who has become the first person in history tried and sentenced for expressing the opinion that there was no “Armenian genocide,” said Switzerland, where his court trial took place, had been chosen by other powers acting behind the scenes and argued that his trial in Lausanne was not a fair one."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Turkey - Call for action against suspected masterminds of journalist's murder

"Turkey - Call for action against suspected masterminds of journalist's murder

MONTREAL, March 27 /CNW Telbec/ - Reporters Without Borders today
appealed to the government to act against those who ordered the 19 January
killing of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink as five people, some of them
extreme rightists, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder.
'We are alarmed at the possible political implications of the case, whose
outcome is very important for Turkey's future,' the worldwide press freedom
organisation said. 'Those who carried out the murder must not be the only ones
to be punished. Many things point to them being supported by various prominent
groups and figures. The authorities must put a stop to these machinations,' it
said."

More:CNW Group

AHN | Defense Secretary Says America Needs Turkey As Congress Mulls Armenian Genocide Bill | March 28, 2007

"Defense Secretary Says America Needs Turkey As Congress Mulls Armenian Genocide Bill

March 27, 2007 6:35 p.m. EST

Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - At a time when the United States is engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says America's relationship with Turkey is 'under valued and under appreciated.'

Turkey, which borders Iraq and holds a substantial portion of ethnic Kurds, 'is vitally important to security challenges facing the U.S.' according to Secretary Gates, who spoke at a Washington, D.C. dinner hosted by the American-Turkish Council (ATC)."

More:AHN | Defense Secretary Says America Needs Turkey As Congress Mulls Armenian Genocide Bill | March 28, 2007

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Is Turkey turning its face towards the East?

"Is Turkey turning its face towards the East?

The relation between Turkey and Europe is not a “Self and Other” dichotomy. Humanity has already reached the ethical state of seeing the “other” as a constitutive element of the “self.” Leave aside the internally consistent claims that without Turkey Europe cannot be a global player; without Turkey Europe is not Europe; and without Europe Turkey is not Turkey."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Is Turkey’s Shot At The E.U. Shrinking?

"Is Turkey’s Shot At The E.U. Shrinking?
Published: 3/27/2007

BY SAMI KOHEN

MILLIYET- After looking at the EU’s 50th anniversary ceremonies last weekend and the accompanying Berlin Declaration, we can answer this question in the affirmative."

More:Is Turkey’s Shot At The E.U. Shrinking?

EX Files: Turkish Delight

"Turkish Delight

By Vivienne DuBourdieu

When you begin to regroup yourself after a period in exile, take a bold step. Travel far away from your immediate past to experience the warmth of the sun, and the genuine friendliness of the Turkish people in a setting that resonates with energy."

More:EX Files: Turkish Delight

US-Turk conference opens under shadow of Armenian bills - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

"US-Turk conference opens under shadow of Armenian bills
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

ÜMİT ENGİNSOY
WASHINGTON - Turkish Daily News

As Turkish and U.S. government and military officials and businessmen kicked off an annual two-day conference on U.S.-Turkish ties with the mood overshadowed by a pending "Armenian genocide," Congress further upped the ante with announcement that a separate resolution may soon be voted condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in January."

More:US-Turk conference opens under shadow of Armenian bills - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

Drunks, loud music banned at Gallipoli. 27/03/2007. ABC News Online

"Drunks, loud music banned at Gallipoli

Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson says there will be no alcohol and no inappropriate music at this year's Anzac commemoration at Gallipoli.

Mr Billson was joined today by the Turkish ambassador and his New Zealand counterpart Rick Barker, who broke down as he spoke of his country's loss during the Gallipoli campaign."

More:Drunks, loud music banned at Gallipoli. 27/03/2007. ABC News Online

Not a 'low cost, no cost show' - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

"Not a 'low cost, no cost show'
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Nuri M. Çolakoğlu*
WASHINGTON – Turkish Daily News

A visitor in this city trying to take the pulse of U.S.-Turkish relations gets the feeling that the world's lone superpower is like a soldier who has stepped on a mine (in Iraq) and cannot move. Whatever the next step is, it will come with the certain knowledge of a horrible fate - particularly because he knows, the once loyal sapper (Turkey) may not be there to help. "

More:Not a 'low cost, no cost show' - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

The two Easterners of Europe: Germany and Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

"The two Easterners of Europe: Germany and Turkey
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Cengiz Aktar

The 50th anniversary celebrations of the Rome Treaties known as the European Economic Community (EEC) and the Euratom Treaties are significant for the EU-Turkey relations as well as the future of the European Union. "

More:The two Easterners of Europe: Germany and Turkey - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

Turkish artists protest against plans to demolish the AKM

"Turkish artists protest against plans to demolish the AKM
There are plans to knock down AKM in the central Taksim district of Istanbul and build a congregation centre.

ISTANBUL - A group of artists on Monday demonstrated against government plans to demolish the Ataturk Cultural Centre (AKM) and the Mushin Ertugrul theatre hall in down town Istanbul."

More:Turkish artists protest against plans to demolish the AKM

Alarm bells ringing for İzmir tourism - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

"Alarm bells ringing for İzmir tourism
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The İzmir tourism sector is lagging, having lost YTL 100 million in tourism investments going from YTL 171.3 million in 2005 to YTL 71.3 in 2006."

More:Alarm bells ringing for İzmir tourism - Turkish Daily News Mar 27, 2007

The new Queen Elizabeth Elite Suite Hotel in Turkey



"The new Queen Elizabeth Elite Suite Hotel in Turkey

The Queen Elizabeth Suite HotelQueen Elizabeth Elite Suite Hotel & Spa will be opened in April 2007. It is located in Göynük/Antalya, where the legendary Taurus Mountains and the sparkling turquoise Mediterranean meet in southern Turkey, and has mostly suite rooms built within an original architectural transatlantic design. It classes itself as a 5*++ de luxe hotel… make of that what you will."

More:A Luxury Travel Blog » The new Queen Elizabeth Elite Suite Hotel in Turkey

Turkish Business: EU Missing Opportunity to use Turkey as Reliable Energy Corridor

"EU Missing Opportunity to use Turkey as Reliable Energy Corridor

By John C.k. Daly

Monday, March 26, 2007

Amid great fanfare, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev assembled in Athens on March 15 to initial an agreement on a $1.25 billion, 173-mile-long pipeline running from Bulgaria’s Black Sea Burgas port to Greece’s Adriatic port of Alexandropolis (Southeast European Times, March 19)."

More:Turkish Business: EU Missing Opportunity to use Turkey as Reliable Energy Corridor

United Press International - Intl. Intelligence - Britain presses for closer Turkish ties

"Britain presses for closer Turkish ties

ANKARA, Turkey, March 27 (UPI) -- British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett Tuesday kicked off a three-day visit to Turkey.

During her first official stay in the country in her current position, Beckett will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan as well as Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and chief European Union negotiator Ali Babacan, among others."

More:United Press International - Intl. Intelligence - Britain presses for closer Turkish ties

People's Daily Online -- Britain pledges support for Turkey's EU membership bid

"Britain pledges support for Turkey's EU membership bid
font size ZoomIn ZoomOut

Visiting British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Tuesday that her country would continue to support Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid.

'Close consultations between Turkey and Britain will continue and that Turkey's accession to the EU will benefit both Turkey and the EU,' Beckett, who arrived in Ankara on Monday for a working visit, told a news conference after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul."

More:People's Daily Online -- Britain pledges support for Turkey's EU membership bid

Turks annoyed by beer mug gift to Chirac | Oddly Enough | Reuters

"Turks annoyed by beer mug gift to Chirac
Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:49PM BST

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister has criticised Jacques Chirac's leaving present from the EU -- a beer mug depicting an 18th century Ottoman defeat by the French.

'The EU should concern itself more with the future than with the past. If it has a future vision, it should concern itself with the future,' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told a news conference on Tuesday."

More:Turks annoyed by beer mug gift to Chirac | Oddly Enough | Reuters

Becket says legal difficulties in direct flights to Turkish occupied areas

"Becket says legal difficulties in direct flights to Turkish occupied areas

27/03/2007

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Tuesday that ''legally there are great difficulties'' in commencing direct flights to the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
Speaking in Ankara during a joint press conference with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul, Beckett said Britain never said there would be direct flights to the occupied areas but would request legal advice on the issue."

More:Financial Mirror

Turkey and the PKK threat - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

"Turkey and the PKK threat

TODAY'S COLUMNIST
By Tulin Daloglu
March 27, 2007

Next month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may travel to Turkey for an international conference primarily aimed at helping Iraq's security situation. There is no better place for such a meeting than Turkey, the only country that has been accused of invading Iraq as frequently as the Iranian and Syrian incursions over the last four years. "

More:Turkey and the PKK threat - Editorials/Op-Ed - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Iraqi VP warns against Turkish incursion

"Iraqi VP warns against Turkish incursion
2007/3

By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago

ANKARA, Turkey - Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on Tuesday warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight separatist Kurdish guerrillas and promised to prevent cross-border attacks by the rebels.

Al-Hashimi reiterated promises by Iraq to prevent attacks by the rebels. 'Iraq will never allow its soil be used as a base for attacks against other countries, especially against its brother and friend, Turkey,' he said."

More:Meadow_Free_Press

SABAH Newspaper English Edition - National - General Saygun reacts against Leyla Zana

"General Saygun reacts against Leyla Zana

General staff vice president General Ergin Saygun has reacted against Leyla Zana's explanations of 'Barzani, Talabani and Öcalan being the leaders of the Kurdish population' and said: 'These statements are inviting Iraqi Kurds to interfere in Turkey.'"

More:SABAH Newspaper English Edition - National - General Saygun reacts against Leyla Zana

People's Daily Online -- Bodies of seven illegal immigrants found in eastern Turkey

"Bodies of seven illegal immigrants found in eastern Turkey

Turkish gendarmery forces found bodies of seven illegal immigrants who froze to death in the eastern province of Van, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday."

More:People's Daily Online -- Bodies of seven illegal immigrants found in eastern Turkey

Turkish Business: Hong Kong Aims at Increasing Trade Volume With Turkey

"Hong Kong Aims at Increasing Trade Volume With Turkey

With 500 million euros in trade last year, Turkey's relationship with Hong Kong is growing by about 14 percent a year. In order to develop more areas in the trade and finance sectors, Duncan Warren Pescod, Hong Kong's Special Representative for Economic and Trade Affairs to Europe in Brussels, was in Turkey last week."

More:Turkish Business: Hong Kong Aims at Increasing Trade Volume With Turkey

SABAH Newspaper English Edition - National - Erdoğan: "We are not coming to be a burden"

"Erdoğan: 'We are not coming to be a burden'

AKP (Justice and Development) leader and PM Erdoğan has commented on the EU membership of Turkey and said: 'Turkey will not be a burden for the EU; it will remove weight from Europe's shoulders.'

During an AKP group meeting, PM Erdoğan made a speech and communicated his thoughts about Turkey's EU journey. "

More:SABAH Newspaper English Edition - National - Erdoğan: "We are not coming to be a burden"

Turkish prime minister calls on EU to clarify confusion over Turkey - International Herald Tribune

"Turkish prime minister calls on EU to clarify confusion over Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey: Turkey on Tuesday called on the European Union to clarify the confusion over its bid for membership, after criticizing Germany for not inviting the predominantly Muslim country to a summit marking the 50th anniversary of the bloc's founding."

More:Turkish prime minister calls on EU to clarify confusion over Turkey - International Herald Tribune

Monday, March 26, 2007

Turkish scientists break world record with ‘borrowed' computing resources

"Turkish scientists break world record with ‘borrowed' computing resources
Turkish scientists, working under difficult situations compared to their foreign colleagues, have managed to achieve international success in the field of high-speed high-power computing.

Bilkent University Computational Electromagnetics Research Center (BiLCEM) has solved the largest integral-equation problem in history, breaking a world record. Project leader Professor Levent Gürel and his team managed to solve a problem with 33 million unknowns with a parallel computing platform that they prepared the hardware and software for. This system makes very high-level modeling possible."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Ankara to extend condolence to Armenia via Georgia

"Ankara to extend condolence to Armenia via Georgia
In the wake of the sudden death of Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Ankara is readying a letter of condolence that it will send to Yerevan, with which it has no diplomatic relations, via the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. "

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Direct foreign capital in Turkey exceeds USD6 bln in January

"Direct foreign capital in Turkey exceeds USD6 bln in January

EkoTürk News Agency / Istanbul
26 March 2007

'Direct foreign capital which flowed in Turkey exceeded 6 billion USD as of the end of January, 2007,' said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who spoke in the inauguration ceremony of the new headquarters of Independent Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) in Istanbul on Saturday.
'This figure will be more than 10 billion USD by the end of March,' he added.
Erdogan said that uncertainties in Turkey were eliminated, and there is a confidence and stability milieu in the country. He added that inflation rate dropped to single digits."

More:The New Anatolian

Turks Veto Erdogan's Presidential Bid: Angus Reid Global Monitor

"Turks Veto Erdogan's Presidential Bid
March 26, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few Turkish adults believe their current prime minister should become head of state, according to a poll by Sonar published in Cumhuriyet. 72 per cent of respondents oppose Recep Tayyip Erdogan becoming president."

More:Turks Veto Erdogan's Presidential Bid: Angus Reid Global Monitor

Iraqi Dinars | Iraqi News and Iraqi Money

"Turkish companies are invited to invest in Iraq

March 25, 2007

Assudani confirmed that Turkey has all the ingredients of commercial development and Turkish goods are well-trusted, and this calls for discussing all the details of the trade process between officials from the two countries."

More:Iraqi Dinars | Iraqi News and Iraqi Money

'Isolation of Turkish Cypriots is unacceptable'

"'Isolation of Turkish Cypriots is unacceptable'

The New Anatolian / Moscow
26 March 2007

Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, Sergey Mironov, said on late Saturday that he would not accept any approaches such as embargo or isolation in the 21st century, referring to the embargo imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
"

More:The New Anatolian

Customs hunchback of Turkey

"Customs hunchback of Turkey

EkoTürk News Agency / Ankara
26 March 2007

Turkey had a foreign trade deficit of 279,8 billion USD since January 1st 1996, the date when the 'Customs Union' agreement came into effect.
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) examined data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat, Turkish Customs, Turkish Statistical Institute and the official website of the EU 'http://ec.europa.eu' and assessed effects of the 'Customs Union' on Turkey which resulted in the 'Customs Hunchback' report.
According to the report, Turkey has a foreign trade deficit of 279,8 billion USD since January 1st 1996, the date when the 'Customs Union' agreement came into effect. This amount constitutes alone the 70,1 percent of Turkey's total foreign trade deficit since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
In the last 11 years since the 'Customs Union' came into effect, the amount of Turkey's Foreign Trade deficit with the EU member countries reached 99,8 billion dollars."

More:The New Anatolian

Government to demilitirize 100 different zones - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

"Government to demilitirize 100 different zones
Monday, March 26, 2007

Preparing to host the Universiade Winter Games in 2011 in Erzurum, Turkey now is aiming to win a competition to hold the World Winter Olympic Games in 2018. Besides intense international campaigns to promote Turkey's Palandöken Mountains, a famous ski resort in Erzurum, the government decided to demilitarize the region to help Turkey's chances to host the world winter games."

More:Government to demilitirize 100 different zones - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

Lectures examine Ottoman influence in 21st century - University

"Lectures examine Ottoman influence in 21st century
Empire's history, policy actively inform today's multicultural world

By Josh Haney

Though rumors of the Turkish population being lecherous and violent barbarians were widely accepted through most of the 19th and 20th centuries, the lectures given at the Joe C. Thompson Conference Center this weekend depicted a considerate population that made noticeable efforts to reach out to people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Professors and researchers from around the world convened at the center this past weekend for a symposium examining the historical diversity and tolerance of the Ottoman Empire."

More:Lectures examine Ottoman influence in 21st century - University

Foucaud takes the plunge into Turkey - 26 March 2007

"Foucaud takes the plunge into Turkey

Eurotunnel's French adviser Foucaud Tchekhoff Pochet & Associés has launched its first overseas office in Turkey to take advantage of increased client activity in the region.

The Paris boutique has set up a reciprocal arrangement with Istanbul-based Postacioglu Law Office."

More:Foucaud takes the plunge into Turkey - 26 March 2007

Diplomats to face traffic fines in Turkey

"Diplomats to face traffic fines in Turkey
The Turkish Interior Ministry has issued new directives regarding immunity from traffic regulations enjoyed by justice system members, deputies and foreign diplomats who already have diplomatic immunity. The first stages of the lifting of immunity from traffic regulations began with the bearers of diplomatic immunity. "

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

EU MISSING OPPORTUNITY TO USE TURKEY AS RELIABLE ENERGY CORRIDOR - Eurasia Daily Monitor

"EU MISSING OPPORTUNITY TO USE TURKEY AS RELIABLE ENERGY CORRIDOR

By John C.k. Daly

Monday, March 26, 2007

Amid great fanfare, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev assembled in Athens on March 15 to initial an agreement on a $1.25 billion, 173-mile-long pipeline running from Bulgaria’s Black Sea Burgas port to Greece’s Adriatic port of Alexandropolis (Southeast European Times, March 19)."

More:EU MISSING OPPORTUNITY TO USE TURKEY AS RELIABLE ENERGY CORRIDOR - Eurasia Daily Monitor

Turks in Europe through the eyes of a consul general - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

"Turks in Europe through the eyes of a consul general
Monday, March 26, 2007

Turkish bureaucrat Gürsel Demirok, whose family was killed by Armenian soldiers disguised in French uniforms, wrote a book about his memories in line with an investigation on both European and Ottoman government archives"

More:Turks in Europe through the eyes of a consul general - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

Armenian bill risks US army in Iraq: - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

"Armenian bill risks US army in Iraq:
Monday, March 26, 2007

Speaking at a defense budget meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee, U.S. Transportation Command head Gen. Norton Schwartz warned that the Armenian genocide bill may inflict great damage on the U.S. army in Iraq by leading to the restricted use of the Incirlik airbase for cargo flights, reported the Anatolia news agency over the weekend."

More:Armenian bill risks US army in Iraq: - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

VOA News - Turkish Prosecutors Investigate Erdogan Reference to Kurdish Leader

"Turkish Prosecutors Investigate Erdogan Reference to Kurdish Leader
By VOA News
26 March 2007

Turkish prosecutors are investigating whether Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once referred to jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as esteemed.

Turkey's main opposition party says Mr. Erdogan referred to Ocalan as 'Sayin' or esteemed during a 2000 interview. Prosecutors are examining recordings of the comments."

More:VOA News - Turkish Prosecutors Investigate Erdogan Reference to Kurdish Leader

Marini: Turkey's EU bid strategically important

"Marini: Turkey's EU bid strategically important
Turkey's eventual full entry to the European Union has a strategic importance, according to Franco Marini, president of the Italian Senate.

'Relations with Turkey should be carried forward. Certainly, definite conditions may be put forward; however, Turkey's entry into the EU has strategic importance as regards relations with the rest of the Muslim world,' Marini was quoted over the weekend as telling reporters on board a plane on his way to Algeria for an official visit."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Cappadocia to be explored by international artists - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

"Cappadocia to be explored by international artists
Monday, March 26, 2007

International artists will gather next month in the Cappadocia region for art. The International Uçhisar Cappadocia Art Camp, which is marking its fourth year, will unite 20 artists from all over the world in Nevşehir's Uçhisar district."

More:Cappadocia to be explored by international artists - Turkish Daily News Mar 26, 2007

French Élection 2007: Royal says yes to Turkey

"Royal says yes to Turkey

Socialist candidate Segolene Royal has clarified her position on Turkish membership in the EU in her new book, saying that:

'I'm favorable to it in principle but not now because Europe is broken down, and before enlarging it, it has to be re-launched. The reasons why I am not favorable for the moment are not due to Turkey, but Europe: It needs a pause and a time of stabilization of its borders. Because today, the majority of its inhabitants no longer know where it starts and where it ends, what purpose it serves and where it's heading.'"

More:French Élection 2007: Royal says yes to Turkey

NETeller Ends Online Gaming Services to Canadian & Turkish Markets

"NETeller Ends Online Gaming Services to Canadian & Turkish Markets
26 March 2007

ImageNETeller Plc, the British online money transfer business, today announced that it was withdrawing its payment services to online gaming sites for Canadian and Turkish customers.

The move is in response to recent regulatory developments surrounding online gaming in Canada and Turkey, which have significantly increased the risk to the Groups ongoing business in those markets."

More:GamingIntelligenceGroup.com - NETeller Ends Online Gaming Services to Canadian & Turkish Markets

European Union 'has become a fat midget' : Mail & Guardian Online

"European Union 'has become a fat midget'
Simon Tisdall
26 March 2007 12:01
Turkey was not invited to Europe's big birthday bash on Sunday despite being an official candidate for European Union membership. Ankara expressed disappointment at a 'missed opportunity'. Media reaction to the perceived snub was sharper."

More:European Union 'has become a fat midget' : Mail & Guardian Online

Russia's parliamentary delegation visiting Turkey

"Russia's parliamentary delegation visiting Turkey

26.03.2007, 14.05

ANKARA, March 26 (Itar-Tass) - A Russian parliamentary delegation led by Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov began an official visit to Turkey on Monday by laying a wreath at a memorial to the founder and first president of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk."

More:ITAR-TASS

JTW News - Ankara Concerned Over EU Plans for Genocide Legislation

"Ankara Concerned Over EU Plans for Genocide Legislation

Monday , 26 March 2007

to introduce punishment for denial of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity has raised concerns in Ankara, which fears it could be used to silence debate about Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. "

More:JTW News - Ankara Concerned Over EU Plans for Genocide Legislation

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Turkey loses one of last two Independence War veterans

"Turkey loses one of last two Independence War veterans
One of Turkey's two remaining veterans from the War of Independence lost his life at a Konya hospital on Sunday. Veysel Turan, 107, who had been under the 24-hour supervision of doctors for the past year due to poor health, was taken to the Konya Meram Education and Research Hospital on Saturday after his condition worsened in the morning."

More:TODAY'S ZAMAN

Turkish police detain right-wing politician in ethnic Armenian journalist's killing

"Turkish police detain right-wing politician in ethnic Armenian journalist's killing

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Turkish police late Sunday detained a right-wing politician for interrogation in connection with the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist, a news channel reported.

The police detained Yasar Cihan, head of the local branch of the conservative and nationalist Great Unity party in the Black Sea port city of Trabzon, private NTV television reported. "

More:Turkish police detain right-wing politician in ethnic Armenian journalist's killing

Gateway Pundit: Much Anticipated Turkish Film on Honor Killings Released

"Much Anticipated Turkish Film on Honor Killings Released

Turkish independent English Daily The New Anatolian reviews the much anticipated film release of 'Mutluluk' ('Bliss'). The film is based on a popular Turkish novel on the barbaric custom of honor killings."

More:Gateway Pundit: Much Anticipated Turkish Film on Honor Killings Released

The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper.

"Turks conquer Athens as big names struggle

LONDON: Turkey stunned arch-rivals and European champions Greece 4-1 in Athens to take a huge step towards qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland."

More:The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper.

Winston-Salem Journal | Worlds Together: Istanbul is a gorgeous, captivating city...even with its big traffic jams

"Worlds Together: Istanbul is a gorgeous, captivating city...even with its big traffic jams

By Karen L. Parker
JOURNAL REPORTER

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Be careful in Istanbul. It can catch you off-guard and steal your heart.

It captured mine from the deck of a cruise ship, and later in the course of a 10-hour shore excursion. I was totally infatuated."

More:Winston-Salem Journal | Worlds Together: Istanbul is a gorgeous, captivating city...even with its big traffic jams

Turks restore church loved by Armenians | www.azstarnet.com ®

"Turks restore church loved by Armenians
A monument to their culture 1,000 years ago
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.25.2007

AKDAMAR ISLAND, Turkey — An ancient Armenian church, perched on a rocky island in a vast lake, has become a modern symbol of the divisions and fitful efforts at reconciliation between Turks and Armenians whose history of bloodshed drives their troubled relationship."

More:Turks restore church loved by Armenians | www.azstarnet.com ®

Ban Ki-Moon highlights UN concerns over unpunished violations

"Human rights in spotlight
By Jean Christou

Ban Ki-Moon highlights UN concerns over unpunished violations

UN SECRETARY-general Ban Ki-Moon is concerned over the human rights situation on the island, citing a number of incidents involving Turkish Cypriots that show the Cyprus government in a bad light. "

More:..:: ABHABER.COM

Unspoiled paradise? Not for long

"Unspoiled paradise? Not for long
By Simon Bahceli

A RECENT article in the Financial Times somewhat harshly describing “much of north Cyprus” as “remarkably ugly” provided a sharp contrast to official advertisements promoting it as “a corner of earth touched by heaven”. The paper’s comment sparked indignation among those in the tourism industry keen to maintain the image of a gloriously isolated north Cyprus, and vindication among those who have for years warned of environmental decline in a region populated by a people typically Mediterranean in their disregard for things natural."

More:cyprus-mail.com

European Union celebrates 50th birthday amid uncertainty over constitution, expansion

"European Union celebrates 50th birthday amid uncertainty over constitution, expansion

The Associated Press / Berlin
24 March 2007

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The European Union marks its 50th birthday this weekend in Berlin with fireworks and the uplifting strains of Beethoven - a celebration of the union's accomplishments of peace and prosperity launched in Rome in 1957.

But the celebrations cannot conceal angst about the 27-member bloc's uncertainty over whether to have a common constitution or admit new countries such as mostly Muslim Turkey. "

More:The New Anatolian

Turkish Business: Iran to export Samand cars to Turkey

"Iran to export Samand cars to Turkey

Tehran, March 24, IRNA - Managing Director of Iran Khodro Industrial
Group Manouchehr Manteqi said in Tehran on Saturday that by taking
needed standards from Turkish Ministry of Industries, his company would
shortly start export of Samad cars to Turkey."

More:Turkish Business: Iran to export Samand cars to Turkey

Reuters Summit-Kuwait's NBK in talks to buy Turkish bank | Mergers & Acquisitions | Reuters.co.uk

"Reuters Summit-Kuwait's NBK in talks to buy Turkish bank
Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:52 AM BST14

DUBAI, March 25 (Reuters) - National Bank of Kuwait (NBKK.KW: Quote, Profile , Research), the third-biggest Gulf Arab lender by market value, is in talks to acquire a 'medium-sized' bank in Turkey as part of its overseas expansion, a senior bank official."

More:Reuters Summit-Kuwait's NBK in talks to buy Turkish bank | Mergers & Acquisitions | Reuters.co.uk

After Lifetime in Germany, Turks Still Alone and Torn - New York Times

"After Lifetime in Germany, Turks Still Alone and Torn

DUISBURG, Germany, March 20 — The last cups of Turkish black tea had been drained, the platters of olives and goat cheese cleared, but the snowy-haired Turks lingered at the table.

Martin Specht for The New York Times

“Of course I always think about going back,” said Yusuf Mermer, 69, who left Ankara in 1969 for the Ruhr, where he operated a forklift. He now lives in a nursing home here. “I have nieces and nephews in Turkey, but I would just be a burden on them.” "

More:After Lifetime in Germany, Turks Still Alone and Torn - New York Times

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Turkey humiliate Greece in Athens - CNN.com

"Turkey humiliate Greece in Athens
POSTED: 2249 GMT (0649 HKT), March 24, 2007

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- Turkey thrashed European champions Greece 4-1 in their Euro 2008 qualifier to move three points clear at the top of Group C on Saturday.

Turkey went in level at halftime before three goals in the second period wrapped up the points and gave them the edge over their Greek rivals in the table with 12 points from four games."

More:Turkey humiliate Greece in Athens - CNN.com

Turkey Fixes Armenian Church As Gesture - washingtonpost.com

"Turkey Fixes Armenian Church As Gesture

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 24, 2007; 3:35 PM

AKDAMAR ISLAND, Turkey -- An ancient Armenian church, perched on a rocky island in a vast lake, has become a modern symbol of the divisions and fitful efforts at reconciliation between Turks and Armenians whose history of bloodshed drives their troubled relationship."

More:Turkey Fixes Armenian Church As Gesture - washingtonpost.com

Flowers galore and spring just around the corner - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

"Flowers galore and spring just around the corner
Saturday, March 24, 2007

Turks love flowers but it wasn’t until as recently as 20 years ago that the idea of having plants in the house and on the outside of the windowsill began to be fashionable As far as anyone knows, the Turks were introduced to gardens in the cities of Central Asia and then Persia since it seems highly unlikely that the nomadic tribes would have had time to plant anything
"

More:Flowers galore and spring just around the corner - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

Turkish Business: Turkey, new rising star for shopping malls

"Turkey, new rising star for shopping malls

Cevahir Mall, Istanbul

While property developers, bankers, insurance firms and economists all welcomed the passage of Turkey’s mortgage law and the impact it will have on the residential real estate market, shopping mall development is experiencing an impressive -- though less documented -- expansion in Turkey."

More:Turkish Business: Turkey, new rising star for shopping malls

JTW News - Turkish Islam and Turkey's EU Membership

"Turkish Islam and Turkey's EU Membership
Print
Saturday , 24 March 2007

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Unquestionably, one of the greatest impacts of Turkey’s EU membership will be on relations between the Islamic world and the EU. Over the last 15 years, in a unique fashion, Turkey has remarkably improved its relations with almost all Moslem countries; from Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Malaysia, and Albania. In addition to this, Turkey has augmented its prestige due to its policies towards the Iraq War."

More:JTW News - Turkish Islam and Turkey's EU Membership

Istanbul ranks 105th expensive city in office occupancy costs - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

"Istanbul ranks 105th expensive city in office occupancy costs
Saturday, March 24, 2007

Istanbul, where the recent sale of the Istanbul Transportation Authority (İETT) land to Sama Dubai for YTL 1.150 billion this week has boosted the price of a square meter of land to $18,000, has become the world's most expensive 105th city in terms of office costs."

More:Istanbul ranks 105th expensive city in office occupancy costs - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

Turkey says EU customs union should be re-assessed - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

"Turkey says EU customs union should be re-assessed
Saturday, March 24, 2007

HATİCE AYDOĞDU and GARETH JONES
ANKARA - Reuters

A senior minister urged a review of Turkey's customs union with the European Union, but analysts said his words posed no threat to a trade regime that benefits Ankara and linked his call to elections."

More:Turkey says EU customs union should be re-assessed - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

UK: Annual Turkish Fashion Fabric Exhibition to take place on 03-04 April - Textile - Business News - Textile News

"UK: Annual Turkish Fashion Fabric Exhibition to take place on 03-04 April

LONDON: The annual Turkish Fashion Fabric Exhibition will take place during 03- 04 April 2007 between the hours of 9am to 6pm, at Olympia two in Kensington W14, nearest tube station of Earls Court in London.

It is the most significant events in the Turkish fashion industry. This event Brought to us fortunate Londoners by the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters Association (ITKIB). "

More:UK: Annual Turkish Fashion Fabric Exhibition to take place on 03-04 April - Textile - Business News - Textile News

Turkey's impressive FDI draws international investment interest - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007

"Turkey's impressive FDI draws international investment interest
Saturday, March 24, 2007

ELİF ÖZMENEK
NEW YORK - Turkish Daily News

Commenting on the 2001 economic crisis in Turkey, Chairman of Turkish-U.S. Business Council Ferit Şahenk said: “Turkey offers a 72 million large consumer market. On the one side there is aging Europe and on the other there is changing Middle East and there is no need to say much on the opportunities Turkey offers in such an international context.” "

More:Turkey's impressive FDI draws international investment interest - Turkish Daily News Mar 24, 2007