"'Turkey isn't Iran'
Silvio Ovadia, president of Istanbul's Jewish community, says he is not concerned about the recent general election and the growing strength of the ruling Islamic party. Jewish citizens believe elections will obligate prime minister to take more moderate stance"
More:'Turkey isn't Iran' - Israel News, Ynetnews
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
They made it to Parliament but tough job awaits DTP’s women
"They made it to Parliament but tough job awaits DTP’s women
Fifteen of the newly elected deputies from eastern and southeastern Anatolia are women, and most of them are from the Democratic Society Party (DTP).
In a region connected in many minds to honor killings, suicides and feudal pressures, women will be represented in Parliament in increasing numbers. How successful these new deputies will be in improving conditions for fellow females in the region is debatable. Intellectuals, the Turkish women’s movement and the deputies themselves admit they have a tough job ahead, but they remain hopeful."
More:TODAY'S ZAMAN
Fifteen of the newly elected deputies from eastern and southeastern Anatolia are women, and most of them are from the Democratic Society Party (DTP).
In a region connected in many minds to honor killings, suicides and feudal pressures, women will be represented in Parliament in increasing numbers. How successful these new deputies will be in improving conditions for fellow females in the region is debatable. Intellectuals, the Turkish women’s movement and the deputies themselves admit they have a tough job ahead, but they remain hopeful."
More:TODAY'S ZAMAN
Minority legislation and its implementation in Turkey - Turquie Européenne - Wednesday 25 July 2007 - Actualités de la Turquie et traductions de la pr
"Minority legislation and its implementation in Turkey
Baskın Oran
Wednesday 25 July 2007 - 08:00
The minorities policy in Turkey is much more restrictive than the official view on the minority concept and rights.
The basic elements of this policy are verbally expressed in Art. 3/1 of the Constitution: “The Turkish State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is Turkish.” This paragraph which, according to Art. 4 of the Constitution, “shall not be amended, nor shall its amendment be proposed” should be studied closely."
More:Minority legislation and its implementation in Turkey - Turquie Européenne - Wednesday 25 July 2007 - Actualités de la Turquie et traductions de la presse turque
Baskın Oran
Wednesday 25 July 2007 - 08:00
The minorities policy in Turkey is much more restrictive than the official view on the minority concept and rights.
The basic elements of this policy are verbally expressed in Art. 3/1 of the Constitution: “The Turkish State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is Turkish.” This paragraph which, according to Art. 4 of the Constitution, “shall not be amended, nor shall its amendment be proposed” should be studied closely."
More:Minority legislation and its implementation in Turkey - Turquie Européenne - Wednesday 25 July 2007 - Actualités de la Turquie et traductions de la presse turque
American Thinker: Turkey Betrayed Again
"Turkey Betrayed Again
By James Lewis
Turkey is one great theater in the war between modernity and Islamist reaction. In Istanbul one can see radical imams stalking through the Grand Bazaar with fanatical expressions on their faces. Many more women and girls are wearing long coats and scarves in the summer heat, the Turkish version of the burqah. Early Turkish election results now show a forty percent vote for the Islamist AKP, five percent more than last time."
More:American Thinker: Turkey Betrayed Again
By James Lewis
Turkey is one great theater in the war between modernity and Islamist reaction. In Istanbul one can see radical imams stalking through the Grand Bazaar with fanatical expressions on their faces. Many more women and girls are wearing long coats and scarves in the summer heat, the Turkish version of the burqah. Early Turkish election results now show a forty percent vote for the Islamist AKP, five percent more than last time."
More:American Thinker: Turkey Betrayed Again
Turkish Cypriots ‘satisfied’, Cyprus problem not important
"Turkish Cypriots ‘satisfied’, Cyprus problem not important
25/07/2007
There is a decrease in the Turkish Cypriots’ level of satisfaction with life to 70% in this edition of the Eurobarometer compared to the previous study (75%), even though Turkish Cypriots tended to have portrayed a higher level of satisfaction with their lives than the EU average, presently higher (80%).
There is also a decrease in Turkish Cypriots’ feeling of optimism regarding the future.
About half said they do not expect their personal employment levels and the household’s financial situation to change in the next 12 months (46% and 44%, respectively)"
More:Financial Mirror
25/07/2007
There is a decrease in the Turkish Cypriots’ level of satisfaction with life to 70% in this edition of the Eurobarometer compared to the previous study (75%), even though Turkish Cypriots tended to have portrayed a higher level of satisfaction with their lives than the EU average, presently higher (80%).
There is also a decrease in Turkish Cypriots’ feeling of optimism regarding the future.
About half said they do not expect their personal employment levels and the household’s financial situation to change in the next 12 months (46% and 44%, respectively)"
More:Financial Mirror
US calls for consensus in Turkish presidential election - Turkish Daily News Jul 25, 2007
"US calls for consensus in Turkish presidential election
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ümit ENGİNSOY
WASHINGTON - Turkish Daily News
The United States Monday urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, winner of the weekend's national polls, to seek reconciliation and consensus with other major parties to avoid dangerous tensions in a critically important presidential election in Parliament soon."
More:US calls for consensus in Turkish presidential election - Turkish Daily News Jul 25, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ümit ENGİNSOY
WASHINGTON - Turkish Daily News
The United States Monday urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, winner of the weekend's national polls, to seek reconciliation and consensus with other major parties to avoid dangerous tensions in a critically important presidential election in Parliament soon."
More:US calls for consensus in Turkish presidential election - Turkish Daily News Jul 25, 2007
Turkey's ruling party to shift focus to EU bid
"Turkey's ruling party to shift focus to EU bid
AFP, ANKARA
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007, Page 6
Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party pledged deep reforms aimed at EU membership for its second term after weekend elections gave it a firmer grip on power.
It was a moment of vindication for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called the snap election after the secularist opposition blocked his party from electing one of its own as president."
More:Taipei Times - archives
AFP, ANKARA
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007, Page 6
Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party pledged deep reforms aimed at EU membership for its second term after weekend elections gave it a firmer grip on power.
It was a moment of vindication for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called the snap election after the secularist opposition blocked his party from electing one of its own as president."
More:Taipei Times - archives
The Turkey Verdict
"The Turkey Verdict
Although the Turkish ruling party's success has been touted as proof that Islam and democracy can coexist, the new government is likely to face persistent tension over the role of Islam in society, says Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal."
More:Middle East Online
Although the Turkish ruling party's success has been touted as proof that Islam and democracy can coexist, the new government is likely to face persistent tension over the role of Islam in society, says Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal."
More:Middle East Online
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Daily Star - Opinion Articles - A lesson for the West and for Arab Islamists, too
"A lesson for the West and for Arab Islamists, too
By Rami G. Khouri
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The sweeping victory of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkish parliamentary elections last Sunday was historic for Turkey, but it also holds important lessons for other interested parties: the United States, the European Union and other Western governments, and Islamist political parties throughout the Arab world."
More:The Daily Star - Opinion Articles - A lesson for the West and for Arab Islamists, too
By Rami G. Khouri
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The sweeping victory of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkish parliamentary elections last Sunday was historic for Turkey, but it also holds important lessons for other interested parties: the United States, the European Union and other Western governments, and Islamist political parties throughout the Arab world."
More:The Daily Star - Opinion Articles - A lesson for the West and for Arab Islamists, too
‘Turkey must avoid EU setbacks’
"‘Turkey must avoid EU setbacks’
BRUSSELS: Turkey faces a potential “triple whammy” of blows to its European Union membership bid later this year unless re-elected Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan moves quickly to enact human rights reforms, EU diplomats say.
Ankara’s accession talks, launched in October 2005, have already been slowed to a trickle by the suspension of part of the negotiations over its refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from EU member Cyprus. Now the Turks face a negative European Commission progress report, renewed pressure from Cyprus, and French demands for the EU to discuss setting final borders, with Turkey on the outside."
More:‘Turkey must avoid EU setbacks’
BRUSSELS: Turkey faces a potential “triple whammy” of blows to its European Union membership bid later this year unless re-elected Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan moves quickly to enact human rights reforms, EU diplomats say.
Ankara’s accession talks, launched in October 2005, have already been slowed to a trickle by the suspension of part of the negotiations over its refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from EU member Cyprus. Now the Turks face a negative European Commission progress report, renewed pressure from Cyprus, and French demands for the EU to discuss setting final borders, with Turkey on the outside."
More:‘Turkey must avoid EU setbacks’
German Citizenship Numbers Spike | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 24.07.2007
"...Turks made up the greatest number of new Germans in 2006, as in previous years, with around 33,500 changing their nationality. Around 12,600 former Serbian and Montenegrin nationals were in second place, 6,940 Poles in third, and 4,690 people from Russia in fourth. They were followed by around 4,550 Ukrainians, 4,310 Israelis, 3,690 Iraqis and 3,550 Moroccans."
More:German Citizenship Numbers Spike | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 24.07.2007
More:German Citizenship Numbers Spike | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 24.07.2007
Eroding power of Turkey’s military is no bad thing
"Eroding power of Turkey’s military is no bad thing
PRIME MINISTER, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) may have failed to win the number of seats required to choose Turkey’s new president, but this should take nothing away from its resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The AKP took 46.7 per cent of the vote, a very high share for Turkish elections – 13 percentage points more than it had received in 2002 – but will have fewer seats in the new National Assembly because two opposition parties won more than the 10 per cent needed to be guaranteed seats."
More:www.cyprus-mail.com
PRIME MINISTER, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) may have failed to win the number of seats required to choose Turkey’s new president, but this should take nothing away from its resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The AKP took 46.7 per cent of the vote, a very high share for Turkish elections – 13 percentage points more than it had received in 2002 – but will have fewer seats in the new National Assembly because two opposition parties won more than the 10 per cent needed to be guaranteed seats."
More:www.cyprus-mail.com
Turkey aiming for golf tourism increase
"Turkey aiming for golf tourism increase
Turkey is preparing itself for a rise in golf tourism, an industry expert has declared.
According to Ugur Budak, general director of Antalya Golf Club, this year the European country is aiming to exceed the 232,000 rounds played by golf tourists in 2005, as the sector looks to attract annual revenue of €500 million (£335 million) by 2010."
More:Turkey aiming for golf tourism increase
Turkey is preparing itself for a rise in golf tourism, an industry expert has declared.
According to Ugur Budak, general director of Antalya Golf Club, this year the European country is aiming to exceed the 232,000 rounds played by golf tourists in 2005, as the sector looks to attract annual revenue of €500 million (£335 million) by 2010."
More:Turkey aiming for golf tourism increase
American Chronicle: The Frontal Battle against Islamism starts now in Turkey
"The Frontal Battle against Islamism starts now in Turkey
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
As the election results are being commented in various ways, the great majority of the Turks are about to draw the conclusion that the results were finally good for several reasons. Despite false appearances and regardless of numerous ridiculous and hypocritical comments made by European observers and analysts, the results bring Turkey farther from Europe, and this is what the majority of Turkey’s secular democrats wanted, either they voted for the three main opposition parties (CHP, MHP, DP) or they cast their vote in favour of Erdogan’s AKP."
More:American Chronicle: The Frontal Battle against Islamism starts now in Turkey
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
As the election results are being commented in various ways, the great majority of the Turks are about to draw the conclusion that the results were finally good for several reasons. Despite false appearances and regardless of numerous ridiculous and hypocritical comments made by European observers and analysts, the results bring Turkey farther from Europe, and this is what the majority of Turkey’s secular democrats wanted, either they voted for the three main opposition parties (CHP, MHP, DP) or they cast their vote in favour of Erdogan’s AKP."
More:American Chronicle: The Frontal Battle against Islamism starts now in Turkey
Large archeology museum for Sivas
"Large archeology museum for Sivas
The New Anatolian / Ankara
24 July 2007
The largest archeology museum of Central Anatolia will be erected in Sivas.
With the opening of the museum 5,730 coins and 2,357 artifacts kept in the depots of Ataturk Congress and Ethnographic museum, will be brought to light."
More:The New Anatolian
The New Anatolian / Ankara
24 July 2007
The largest archeology museum of Central Anatolia will be erected in Sivas.
With the opening of the museum 5,730 coins and 2,357 artifacts kept in the depots of Ataturk Congress and Ethnographic museum, will be brought to light."
More:The New Anatolian
The CHP's Role in Pushing Turkey toward a Cross-Border Operation
"The CHP's Role in Pushing Turkey toward a Cross-Border Operation
By Mustafa Kibaroglu
The attacks by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that have resumed since the summer of 2004 have left behind an unprecedented number of casualties. In the face of the deteriorating situation in its struggle against the PKK, the Turkish military has, on a number of occasions, iterated its request to undertake a cross-border operation. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, however, has resisted these repeated calls (Terrorism Monitor, July 6). The debate over whether or not a military operation is necessary or if such an operation could resolve Turkey's terrorism predicament has been widened both in scope and content with the involvement of actors other than the AKP and the military. Political parties, interest groups, NGOs and intellectuals have all expressed their opinions for or against such an operation. Among this crowd of opinion makers, the Republican People's Party (CHP) has come to the fore with explicit and sustained support for a cross-border operation."
More:The CHP's Role in Pushing Turkey toward a Cross-Border Operation
By Mustafa Kibaroglu
The attacks by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that have resumed since the summer of 2004 have left behind an unprecedented number of casualties. In the face of the deteriorating situation in its struggle against the PKK, the Turkish military has, on a number of occasions, iterated its request to undertake a cross-border operation. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, however, has resisted these repeated calls (Terrorism Monitor, July 6). The debate over whether or not a military operation is necessary or if such an operation could resolve Turkey's terrorism predicament has been widened both in scope and content with the involvement of actors other than the AKP and the military. Political parties, interest groups, NGOs and intellectuals have all expressed their opinions for or against such an operation. Among this crowd of opinion makers, the Republican People's Party (CHP) has come to the fore with explicit and sustained support for a cross-border operation."
More:The CHP's Role in Pushing Turkey toward a Cross-Border Operation
Turkey may take serious turn towards Islamism - Pravda.Ru
"Turkey may take serious turn towards Islamism
Front page / World / Asia
24.07.2007
The results of the recent parliamentary elections in Turkey most likely display a serious change in the country located on the borderline between Europe and Asia. It seems that Turkey as a secular and pro-Western country does not exist anymore. Instead the world will have to deal with the country that realizes its international significance. It has become a nation that has absolutely no shame about non-Western constituents of its history and culture."
More:Turkey may take serious turn towards Islamism - Pravda.Ru
Front page / World / Asia
24.07.2007
The results of the recent parliamentary elections in Turkey most likely display a serious change in the country located on the borderline between Europe and Asia. It seems that Turkey as a secular and pro-Western country does not exist anymore. Instead the world will have to deal with the country that realizes its international significance. It has become a nation that has absolutely no shame about non-Western constituents of its history and culture."
More:Turkey may take serious turn towards Islamism - Pravda.Ru
Record number of women elected to Turkish parliament - Women - Middle East Times
"Record number of women elected to Turkish parliament
July 24, 2007
ANKARA -- A record number of women, about double the current 24, won seats in Turkey's parliament in general elections, but they still face an uphill struggle to have a say in politics, activists said Tuesday.
With the electoral authorities yet to announce the official results, estimates of the number of women who made it into the 550-member house varied from 45 to 50."
More:Record number of women elected to Turkish parliament - Women - Middle East Times
July 24, 2007
ANKARA -- A record number of women, about double the current 24, won seats in Turkey's parliament in general elections, but they still face an uphill struggle to have a say in politics, activists said Tuesday.
With the electoral authorities yet to announce the official results, estimates of the number of women who made it into the 550-member house varied from 45 to 50."
More:Record number of women elected to Turkish parliament - Women - Middle East Times
Ertugrul Ozkok:We are today as we were yesterday: A family of 70 million - Hürriyet
"Ertugrul Ozkok:We are today as we were yesterday: A family of 70 million
I am trying to put myself in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's place, imagining what he must be feeling right now. For days it was being written that 'the presidential election process was directed very badly.' In fact, some of those same writings indicated that the political price would be very high for the bad direction of the elections. Former president Suleyman Demirel used to say this: 'Nothing can hold the place of a victory.' When we look at the election results, we see a very real and clear 'political victory' in the open. And where there is victory, it means there were successful roads leading towards that victory. This is no doubt what Erdogan was thinking yesterday evening."
More:Ertugrul Ozkok:We are today as we were yesterday: A family of 70 million - Hürriyet
I am trying to put myself in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's place, imagining what he must be feeling right now. For days it was being written that 'the presidential election process was directed very badly.' In fact, some of those same writings indicated that the political price would be very high for the bad direction of the elections. Former president Suleyman Demirel used to say this: 'Nothing can hold the place of a victory.' When we look at the election results, we see a very real and clear 'political victory' in the open. And where there is victory, it means there were successful roads leading towards that victory. This is no doubt what Erdogan was thinking yesterday evening."
More:Ertugrul Ozkok:We are today as we were yesterday: A family of 70 million - Hürriyet
Anatolia is a far cry from Iran from Guardian Unlimited: News blog
"Anatolia is a far cry from Iran
By Mark Tran / World news 03:41pm
Writing for the US site Instapundit, Claire Berlinski dismisses fears from rightwing bloggers, such as Michele Malkin, that Turkey is lurching towards radical Islam.
Reporting from the headquarter of the victorious AKP, she writes - with pictures - to prove her point:
'I felt completely welcome and comfortable even though I was wearing the shortest skirt in my wardrobe. I don't at all dismiss concerns about the AKP, and I think my credentials as someone who takes the rise of Islamic extremism seriously are well established, but what I saw tonight was utterly benign.'"
More:Anatolia is a far cry from Iran from Guardian Unlimited: News blog
By Mark Tran / World news 03:41pm
Writing for the US site Instapundit, Claire Berlinski dismisses fears from rightwing bloggers, such as Michele Malkin, that Turkey is lurching towards radical Islam.
Reporting from the headquarter of the victorious AKP, she writes - with pictures - to prove her point:
'I felt completely welcome and comfortable even though I was wearing the shortest skirt in my wardrobe. I don't at all dismiss concerns about the AKP, and I think my credentials as someone who takes the rise of Islamic extremism seriously are well established, but what I saw tonight was utterly benign.'"
More:Anatolia is a far cry from Iran from Guardian Unlimited: News blog
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