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Soccer Blog, July 2005

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Mrs. Laura Bush
White House

Subject: US Government owes an apology


Dear Mrs. Bush:

As a proud American citizen who believes in the ideals of justice inherent in foundation of the United States, I've expressed my outrage to the judge and the U.S. Immigration Service regarding the false evidence and judgment given in LtCol. Ozturk's immigration case. It appears, however, that they don't care.

It would seem to me that the moment they saw that the evidence and charges against LtCol. Ozturk were false, they would have taken immediate steps to correct their actions. Instead, they give the impression that they are willing to just wash their hands of the issue.

When all of this is over and the truth comes out that the charges, evidence, and findings against him are false, LtCol. Ozturk should receive an apology from the U.S. Immigration Service and the United States governmental officials who saw my letters and took no action.

The United States is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Doesn't the U.S. take pride in the fact that it belongs to NATO and that NATO is comprised of firm allies?

The action taken against LtCol. Ozturk by my country with complete knowledge that he is a Turkish NATO officer indicates that my country is not that interested in being a good ally of Turkey. In fact, I think the United States Government would also owe the government of Turkey an apology for treating one of its officers in such an unseemly manner.

Sincerely,



CHARLES M. BRAZIL, GS-11

KEESLER AFB, MS
BASE MULTIMEDIA MANAGER
81 CS/SCPV
DSN 597-4636

April 2, 2005, Bloomington

The Book: "America Hates Me But I Still Love Her!" by Umut Ozturk is published.

To order the book please click the following link:

"America Hates Me But I Still Love Her!"

 

Wife of PM, the only lady in turban, in Pakistani protocol

During the visit of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to Malaysia and Pakistan, the only turbaned woman in the presidency and prime ministry protocols was his wife, Emine Erdogan.

Mrs. Erdogan was welcomed by the wives of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed and Pakistani President Pervez Musherref, whose heads were open. During the visits, Emine Erdogan wore jackets at the knee level and trousers, similar to the Pakistani style of clothing.

Erdogan: Why are there no women on the streets?

After Pakistani National Assembly Speaker Cavduri Emir Hussein told him that there was 33% quota for women in the assembly, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that, "We do not apply quotas for women in Turkey, because we think that it is discrimination. If politics is a competition, everybody should compete equally."

Erdogan asked Hussein why there were no women on the streets and Hussein answered saying that; They are clever. They do not go out in such a hot weather.


6th Harmonization Package passed from the Justice Commission
The 6th Harmonization Package was adopted at the Parliamentary Justice Commission with no significant change in its essence. The package removes the 8th article of the Anti-Terror Law and allows broadcast in mother's tongue. The package also allows community foundations to own immovables and foreign observers to watch elections.

The package allows families to name their children in different languages, provided that these names are not contrary to ethical rules. It will be possible to add sanctuaries to public improvement plans according to the requirements of the people.

However, the phrase, which allowed opening sanctuaries in apartments, was excluded from the package. The broadcast ban in election periods was decreased at final 24 hours before elections, in the framework of the enlargement of freedoms of thought and expression.

Promise for EU on the Table A
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sat on the same table with EU leaders Simitis, Berlusconi and Chirac in the dinner organized by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos for the leaders that participated in the Salonika Summit.

The newspaper quotes Chirac as telling Erdogan that; We were worried about the 6th harmonization package, but you stroke us with admiration by passing the package from Parliament. We have no more doubt about your EU membership.

Erdogan said that, It's now turn for the 7th package. We will also pass it from Parliament. We are determined about EU membership. 80% of the Turkish people are in favor of EU because they have the consciousness that Turkey deserved to take place in this modern and civilized society.
June 23, 2003

www.hurriyet.com.tr

'Parliament Will Take President's Views into Consideration'

TURKEY, July 03, 2003 - Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek said yesterday to that "the views of Mr. President are extremely important to us. The parliament will take them into consideration," adding that in the process of restructuring legal regulations with regards to the adaptation phase to the European Union, institutions and various posts need to synchronize.

Attending a ceremony held at the ministry yesterday, Cicek said, in regards to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoing the 8th article of the Anti-Terror Law, that there was nothing new to a law being vetoed and returned to the parliament for discussion. Cicek stated that Sezer was exercising the authority provided to him by the Constitution in expressing his reservations about the law, which was adopted by the parliament unanimously.

Underlining that the decision is to be reached by the parliament, Cicek continued: "The number of drafts approved by the parliament unanimously is very few. The sixth adaptation package is the one that we as both government and as opposition took under very careful consideration. Mr. President appraised the worth of that as such. We try to re- evaluate his reservations and re-examine everything one more time what will benefit our country."

www.zaman.com

PM Will Not Take His Wife To August 30 Reception
The General Staff, that did not invite Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last year to the August 30 reception despite the fact that he was the chairman of Justice and Development Party (AKP), invited him this time together with his wife.

However, Erdogan will reportedly not take his wife, who wears Islamic head gear (Turban) to the reception, to avoid causing tension.

The reception of the Army this year, revealed the "secret turban agreement" at the summit of the state. Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok invited Prime Minister Erdogan and his friends in the Cabinet with their spouses, to the reception. The names of the hosts were written as "Mr. And Mrs. Hilmi Ozkok" on the invitation letters, which implied that those receiving the invitation were expected to attend with their spouses. The invitation was sent to the Prime Minister, ministers, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and the Parliament Deputy Speakers. Other deputies were not invited.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Erdogan reportedly decided not to take his wife, who wears turban, to the reception to avoid causing tension at the summit of the state. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will also attend the reception alone. Erdogan reportedly asked from the ministers to follow suit.

This will be the first August 30 reception for Erdogan. He was not invited to the reception last year despite the fact that he was the chairman of AKP, however Deniz Baykal, Chairman of Republican People's Party (CHP), was invited.

www.hurriyet.com.tr
August 30, 2003

'U.S. Stalls Troop Deployment Process'  Istanbul, TURKEY, October 16, 2003 - America stalls the Turkish deployment process by dragging out discussions. This is the view of Turkish officials, who say: "The U.S. had not expected us to act so swiftly. They are unprepared. The motion, in itself, is not enough. The U.S. needs to convince us about sending troops to Iraq and also needs to accept our conditions." U.S. President George W. Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said yesterday journalists at the White House that the deployment issue was a sensitive matter and that the U.S. Administration was in contact with the Turkish government as well as the Iraqis. Rice added that the U.S. was waiting to see the results, and that this waiting period had created concern. A week has passed since the Turkish government got authority from parliament to send troops and still technical discussions between U.S. and Turkey have not begun. With comments that incidents such as the attack on the Turkish embassy in Baghdad would increase as long as the process dragged on, it was said that the U.S. was still grappling with issues about the necessity of Turkish troops, and groups in Iraq that opposed Turkish military presence. Rice told the U.S. Administration is pleased with the decision by the Turkish parliament and said: "Our meetings regarding the settlement of Turkish troops in Iraq continue. We are going to see how this develops." Rice, who said that responsibility for Iraq's reconstruction was passed on to her, from Ronald Rumsfeld, also emphasized that this did not undermine the authority of the Pentagon. Rice said that since she is the National Security Adviser, she only coordinates politics and added the one who is going to continue restructuring efforts after the war is the U.S. Secretary of Defense, as it was before the war. 66 Percent of People in Istanbul Shop Alone  Yozgat, TURKEY, October 17, 2003 - Research by the YIMPAS supermarket chain in Istanbul revealed that household chores are done by none other than the lady of the house. While most people in Istanbul prefer to shop alone, people in Gaziantep, in Southeastern Anatolia, shop with their significant other. A survey of 300 participants between the age of 19 and 59 in Istanbul, Ankara, and Gaziantep, showed that people shop for groceries every 12 days, spending an average of 40 minutes each time. They do not make a shopping lists. The average monthly shopping budget is TL 191-million. Discounts attract shoppers most. People mostly buy houshold cleaning supplies and dairy products. And 76 percent of the shopping is done by women. 66 percent of shoppers in Istanbul shop alone, 31 percent do it with their spouses and 14 percent prefer going with their children. In Gaziantep, 65 percent do it with their spouses, 32 percent with their children and 25 percent do it alone. In Ankara, 55 percent with their spouses, 39 percent alone and 12 percent with the kids. www.zaman.com   Turkish Troop Deployment no Longer an Option  Istanbul, TURKEY, November 07, 2003 - A report in Britain's The Guardian newpaper yesterday stated that Ankara now understands that troop deployment in Iraq will not happen this year, while it is still possible in theory. After British Foreign Minister Jack Straw's statement, "there is no early prospect of Turkish troops going into Iraq", Ankara's option of troop deployment is quickly dissipating. The paper wrote that Turkey was 'amazed' at the breakdown in the issue and Washington's inept diplomatic handling of the issue. Kurdish leaders in Iraq have strongly opposed the deployment plan, especially in the light of reports that U.S. troops might assist Turkish soldiers already in northern Iraq in the fight against the outlawed terrorist organization Kurdish Workers Party - Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (PKK-KADEK). It was also stated that the U.S. appointed administrator Paul Bremer reportedly warned Washington about the probable effects of Turkish troop deployment on the Kurds. www.zaman.com Foreign News Services / Istanbul / TURKEY Loizidou 'Person of the Year' in Greece; 'Incident of the Year' Greek Cyprus E.U. Membership Athens, GREECE, December 29, 2003 - Titina Loizidou was named 'person of the year' by radio Flash 96 and website www.flash.gr in Greece. The 'incident of the year' was Cyprus's accession to the European Union (EU). 21,000 people voted over 10 days in the Greek radio station's poll. More than 6,000 votes were cast for Loizidou who won compensation from Turkey to the tune of 1,2 million Euros at the European Court of Human Rights. Bishop of Athens Baspiskoposu Hristodulos, with statements against Turkey and his disagreements with Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos came in second with 4.250 votes and Bartholomeos was third with 1.779 votes. Turkey Suicide Attack to the Mason Lodge     ISTANBUL, Turkey - Two suicide attackers stormed a Masonic lodge Tuesday opening fire with automatic weapons and setting off explosions that killed one person and wounded five, officials said. (Local Time: 10:30 PM. March 9, 2004) Police said the attackers strapped between eight and 10 homemade pipe bombs to their vests. Guler said explosives on one attacker detonated before the assailant entered the restaurant where about 40 people were dining. Police cordoned off the area as ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene in the residential Kartal district. At least one person was reported to be in critical condition, doctors said. Yakup Yildirim, who rushed the scene to help the injured, said survivors told him that one of the attackers chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) before he detonated the bomb  which could indicate the attack was the responsibility of radical Islamic militants. "Everyone was panicking, everyone was asking where their friends were," Yildirim said. The injured attacker, who lost an arm and appeared to suffer severe abdominal injuries, could be seen angrily chanting slogans as he was taken to a hospital. He identified himself as Abdullah Islam, but Guler said police was still investigating whether it was his real name. Another witness, Turabi Guneser, told the private news channel NTV that he heard a series of gun shots before the blasts. "I was near the window and I heard two shots, which were followed by automatic gunfire," Guneser said. "Two blasts followed seconds later and smoke covered the air." Four suicide attacks against two synagogues, the British Consulate and a British bank killed 62 people in Istanbul last year. Prosecutors have indicted 69 people suspected of belonging to a local al-Qaida cell in the case. Underground leftist and Kurdish groups also are active in Istanbul. The Masons (www.freemasonry.org), a secretive society that traces its roots to medieval craft associations, are active in this predominantly Muslim but strictly secular country. (www.mason.org.tr) There are an estimated 5 million to 6 million Masons worldwide, pledged to the principles of brotherliness, charity and mutual aid. Membership is by invitation. Sakip Sabanci Died Sakip Sabanci, a colorful member of the Turkish business world, died in the American hospital in Istanbul, at 05.55 Saturday. (April 10, 2004) Two days before being hospitalized on March 30, he had celebrated his 71st birthday.   Sabanci who underwent two heart surgeries , had a kidney operation in U.S. last year.         Sabanci who was born in the Akcayaka village of Kayseri in 1933 started his career at the age of 15, as a cashier in the Bossa Flour factory and became farm manager, Bossa Textile factory manager and was named the Director of the Board of the Sabanci Holding in 1966.     Besides this position, Sabanci was the Board Director of the Omer sabanci Foundation; Sabanci University Museum; Honorary President of the Sabanci University; Istanbul Industry Chamber's Assembly Member. For 25 years he led the Adana and Kocaeli Industry Chambers. In 1986 he was the President of the Board of TUSIAD and the High Consultative Board of TUSIAD between 1987-1990.  Sabanci has 13 books , including "This is my Life" and "Turkey: Changing and Developing" which were published in English and Japan. Sabanci donated the revenue of these books to the Darulaceze (The home for the poor and needy) and the Spastic Children Foundation.  He was the recipients of eleven Honorary Doctorates from Turkish Universities as well as the Washington Southeast University.  He also received the Belgian Royal Prize, Japanese Gold and Silver Holy  Treasure Prize, French Legion d'honneur and the Supreme Service Medal of Turkey. He also received the Turkey Promotion Award and the Businessman of the Year award. Sabanci collected over long years, the cultural heritage of Turks and the paintings in his collection were displayed in the Metropolitan Museum Los angeles County Museum, Louvre Museum, Guggenheim Museum in Berlin and the  Frankfurt Museums  Angewandte Kunst. He then donated his collections and his kiosk to the Sabanci University to be turned later on to the Sakip Sabanci Museum. Sakip Sabanci knew English and had three children. More about Mr. Sabanci: www.sabanci.com.tr

Consumers Pay  Billion to Phone Companies Without Even Speaking

Istanbul, TURKEY, June 07, 2003 - 50 million telephone subscribers in Turkey are coughing up billion (TL 3,5 quadrillion) more than they should, every year, due to the current phone billing system. According to tariffs, based on the unit system, users are paying 35 percent more than the actual call duration to phone companies Turk Telecom, Turkcell, Telsim, Aria and Aycell. 25 million mobile phone users, 19 million land-line subscribers and 3,5 million Internet users are affected by the system.

Consumer associations are pushing for a switch to the "second system" used in developed countries.

According to the unit system, even if a local call ends in the 61st second, a subscriber pays two minutes worth of units (TL 140,000). Since units are bought for cash, as soon as a call is made, the user is billed for one minute. Thus, there is no price difference between a one-second call and 55-second call with the present system. The same applies to both mobile phones and Internet.

The telecommunication board issued a warning, demanding that Telecom switch to the "second system". However, Turk Telecom has not made a solid attempt to address the matter. Although admitting that the "second system" was a more flexible pricing system, Turk Telecom said that the present telecommunication infrastructure was technically lacking and that switching to the new system could only be achieved through changing most of the eleven centrals and upgrading the system with more hardware and software.

The telecommunication board stated that efforts to switch to the second system would continue.

Meanwhile, Turkcell noted that its short unit interval service made its billing system fair, by comparison. Commenting on the fact that some GSM networks had begun to use the second system, Turkcell stated: "In Germany and England, if a subscriber wants to use the second system, he has to pay a fixed price of more than 10 Euros. In this way, a network can set its pricing in seconds after the first minute." While Turkcell indicated that it did not consider changing its tariff, in practice, Aria was tight-lipped.

Turhan Bozkurt / Istanbul / TURKEY

www.zaman.com

Red Carpet Staff
The personnel of the Kahramanmaras Airport, that has been closed for 1.5 years for there was no passenger, welcomed the Prime Minister by laying red carpets on the ground.

The personnel of the airport, composed of 45 employees, has been receiving their salaries regularly even though they did nothing because there has been no passenger or plane using the airport for the last 1.5 years.

July 30, 2003
Hurriyet


Golden Girl Sureyya Ayhan: I Am Olympics Envoy

Sureyya Ayhan will run in the semi-finals of the World Championship today in France.

Winning a comfortable victory in the first round of the 1500-meter competition, Ayhan, from whom Turkey expects a gold medal, said that "My objective is the golden medal. I am hiding my finals tactic. My only objective now is the world and olympics championship."

At a press conference, she said "I will certainly run in the Olympics. That is the best promotion of Turkish athletism."

Sureyya Ayhan (No. 780 at far right) leads Europe's best athletes

August 29, 2003


Sureyya Could Not Defeat Russian Team
The pride of the Turkish athleticism, Sureyya Ayhan, missed the golden medal in the 1500- meters race in the World Athleticism Championship and became the second-ranking athlete of the world. Ayhan led the other athletes until last seconds of the race, but Russian athlete Tatiana Tomashova left her behind and get the golden medal.


Golden Girl Sureyya: Unluckiness of the Century
Sureyya Ayhan, the Golden Girl of Turkey became second-place winner of the World Athletism Championship, when both Turkey and the world expected from her to win a gold medal.

The reason of her falling to the second rank, was the edema she had, which prevented her from having medication and the resulting period she had, on the day she ran.

Still, the silver medal, Sureyya got at the championship on Thursday, is the first Turkey ever got.

Sports critics, like Hincal Uluc and Cuneyt Koryurek advised Sureyya to get trained as a sprinter rather than a runner and exercise several times. However Koryurek says, "Sureyya will run with much more ambition from now on. Because she is very young and has the determination to succeed."

Sureyya, a poor girl, from a peasant family, was harshly criticized by the press when she first emerged as a star, because of the affair she had with her trained Yucel Kop. However, with Kop's support and the sponsorship of Vestel and Nike, Sureyya is set to bring the first gold medal of Turkey.

Besides, she has already vowed to win at the 2004 World Olympics in Greece and she is a hero in Turkey.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

ANKARA, Turkey - Former European 1,500-meter champion Sureyya Ayhan had her two-year doping ban reinstated Wednesday, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Ayhan was originally suspended for two years for breaking drug-testing rules before the Athens Olympics, but Turkish authorities later reduced the ban to one year.

The IAAF said last month it would ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport to restore the original ban.

On Wednesday, the Youth and Sports General Directorate's Penalties Board made the ruling, which bans Ayhan from competition until October 2006.

Yucel Kop, Ayhan's husband and coach, admitted that he obstructed testing officials, including stopping a male official from entering a room during a urine test.

 

Under Wear Show at Neighbour

Editor's Note:

This one is my favorite
photograph from
the under wear show:
June 18, 2003, Ukraine



www.milliyet.com.tr

Istanbul, TURKEY, June 21, 2003 - In an explosive start to the Confederations Cup, the Turkish National Football Team defeated the US with a 2-1 scoreline on Thursday night in France, garnering heaps of praise from the French media.

While the CNN was commenting, 'Turkey rallies', the USA Today on Friday carried Turkey's success with the headline, 'Turkey tops U.S. in Confederations Cup opener'. Stating that the US team had failed to sustain up its good first-half performance, the Washington Post reported that Turkey won on experience. The French sports newspaper L'Equipe commented that Turkey had returned to their winning ways with a newly-formed team.

Sports Services / Istanbul / TURKEY
www.zaman.com

Upstairs Museum, Downstairs Ruin at St. Hagia Sophia

Istanbul, TURKEY, November 12, 2003 - It has come to light that the carpets of the St. Hagia Sophia Museum, from the times when it was open to the public as a mosque, have been rotting in closed storage for 69 years.

In 1934, with Cabinet Council's decision to turn it into a museum, the 300-year old carpets were rolled up and placed in depots, where they decomposed due to moisture and humidity. Last week, when the locks were broken and entry was gained into the depot, the scene laid bare revealed the worst case of negligence in the history of the museum. Fish-moths roamed the meters of carpet.

With special permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Zaman took pictures of depot 31 for the first time. The sight was heart-breaking. An array of historical pieces, mainly carpets, had been left to rot in dirt, rust, and dust. The carpets disintegrated when touched.

Wooden thrones of three priest, three meters high, from Byzantine times and St. Hagia Sophia's wooden replicas and icons were ruined by mold. Icons of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, between two and three meters high, with wood etchings, had lost their historical characteristics. A priceless frame with the name of the Prophet Mohammed written in calligraphics on gilded leather, lay in pieces. Not the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, museum management nor museum experts were aware of the apalling state of the priceless works in St. Hagia Sophia's depots.

None of the 23 museum directors since 1934, had thought of entering the depot number 31. Last week, when the current museum director entered the depot, he took the pictures of the depot and submitted them to the Ministry. While waiting for investigation procedures to commence, the director was suddenly appointed to the Turk-Islam Artifacts Museum at the beginning of this week.

Zaman.com  Link: http://www.zaman.com/default.php?kn=5033  

Saturday, 21 June 2003
Turkey were defeated 1-0 by Cameroon in the FIFA Confederations Cup Group B game at the Stade de France in Paris.

Maximum points
The result meant that Cameroon secured a place in the semi-finals with a maximum six points from their two matches so far, while Turkey's hopes rest on their final game against Brazil on Monday. The European side have three points from two games, having defeated the United States 2-1 on Thursday.

Penalty drama
The game had seemed to be heading for a goalless draw at the neither side were able to find a way through their opponents' defence in a finely-balanced match. However, a minute into injury time at the end of the match, Cameroon midfield player Modeste Mbami produced a fine solo run into the Turkey penalty area, only to be fouled, and Geremi converted the resulting spot-kick to give the African side the win.

Eto'o goes close again
Cameroon started the match the stronger and RCD Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o, who scored the winning goal in Cameroon's opening victory against Brazil, came close to his second goal of the tournament in the 12th minute, heading a cross from Bill Tchato narrowly wide.

Turkey chances
Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber was called upon to make a number of fine saves to keep the game goalless, but Turkey created chances of their own, with striker Tuncay Sanli, who scored the winning goal against the USA on Thursday, shot wide from close range in the 21st minute, and the same player forced Cameroon goalkeeper Idris Kameni into two fine saves shortly after half-time.

Sanli denied
Sanli's 65th-minute shot did beat Kameni but was cleared off the line by defender Lucien Mettomo and it seemed the game would end goalless until Geremi's late intervention.

www.euro2004.com

Turkey lined up a Confederations Cup semi-final with holders France after knocking world champions Brazil out of the tournament in a thrilling 2-2 draw on Monday.

Brazil, who needed a win to go through, took a fully-deserved first half lead through Adriano, but were rocked by Gokdeniz Karadeniz's equaliser in the 53rd minute and poleaxed by an 81st minute strike by substitute Okan Yilmaz.

Brazil substitute Alex fired in an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time but it was not enough to deny Turkey their revenge, having been beaten by Brazil at both the group stage and the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

Both sides finished with four points and the same goal difference but Senol Gunes's team went through on goals scored -- four to Brazil's three.

Group B winners Cameroon, who drew 0-0 with the United States in Monday's other match, will play Colombia in the other semi-final, with both games being played on Thursday.

www.eurosport.com
June 23, 2003

World's Former Third-Ranking Team, New Third World Team

The soccer match between the national teams of Turkey and Lithuania resulted in tie. Since Turkey had lost the first match it played with Lithuania, this tie prevented Turkey from competing in the European Championship, which will take place in Portugal. Turkey attained the third rank in the previous World Soccer Championship, while the Lithuanian team was the 56th. Senol Gunes, the technical director of the team is called on to resign.  November 20, 2003

It is free of charge!
NO! NO! Not water melons!
The bath...
The cold water bath is free...

Ankara accepted to pay about a 1-million-dollar compensation to Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou, who brought a suit against Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on grounds that her house and land in Northern Cyprus were seized by the country.

In the meeting of Permanent Delegations Committee of the Council of Europe on Thursday, Turkey announced that the necessary operations for the compensation ruling of ECHR on Loizidou would be concluded until October. Greek and Greek Cypriot sides were shocked with the decision. This decision of Turkey showed the determination of Turkey to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria.

ECHR ruled in 1998 that Turkey would pay a 700-thousand-dollar compensation to the Greek Cypriot woman, but in 5 years the amount of compensation has reached at 900 thousand dollars with the addition of interests.

According to lobbies, Turkey and ECHR came to an informal agreement for further complaints of Greek Cypriots about their previous homes and land and with this agreement in principle these complaints will be forwarded to a special judiciary organ to be founded in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, from now on.

www.hurriyet.com.tr

Istanbul, TURKEY, June 20, 2003 - International Ready Clothing Federation (IRCF) and Turkey Clothing Industrialists Association (TCIA) Leader Umut Oran reported on the preparations for the nineteenth IRCF Congress to be held in Istanbul between June 24 and 25, and that close to 400 domestic and foreign attendees have registered for the congress.

Oran pointed out that upper level administrators and owners of the prominent firms such as Hugo Boss, Liz Claiborne, Marzotto would be in attendance. Holding a press meeting on IRCF Congress, Oran, pointing out that Hugo Boss Administration Council Member Dr. Werner Lackas had come to the congress with good news, said: "In 1996 after IRCF Congress was held again in Turkey, Hugo Boss made a decision for investment in Izmir and today in that station one thousand 500 people are employed. Hugo Boss will declare new investmen decisions in the congress. We believe that among other investors there will be (some) who will invest in Turkey." Oran said that foreign guests coming to Turkey would visit some manufacturing stations in Istanbul. Oran following the information about the nineteenth IRCF Congress stated that the congress would bring together world-wide famous designers and ready clothing sector's elite administrators. Oran emphasized that Turkey has accomplished a great deal in world ready clothing sector and the quotas for the year of 2005 quotas would affect the whole world in terms of ready clothing sector. The main theme of the congress is "To Design the Future: Success' Matrix." .The congress will take a start featuring a performance by the dance group "Anatolian Fire".

Idriz Cokal / Istanbul / TURKEY
www.zaman.com

Turkish Film 'Away' Wins Grand Prix Runner Up and Best Actor Awards at Cannes Film Festival

Cannes, FRANCE, May 27, 2003 - The film "Uzak" (Away) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, one of the most successful directors of Turkish cinema, won awards for "Grand Prix Runner Up" and "Best Actor" at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.

News of the success prompted great jubilation in Turkey, while at the same time garnering increased respect from international art circles. The status of Turkish cinema was significantly elevated by the achievements.

During the awards ceremony at the 56th Cannes Film Festival, Nuri Bilge Ceylan receieved the Grand Prix Runner Up award, which is the award just below the Golden Palm award. Mehmet Emin Toprak, who died last year, received the award for "Best Actor". Muzaffer Ozdemir was the casting director of the film.

A Reuters' evaluation of the film stated that the Cannes Festival meant the "protection of the traditional attitude of the intellectual cinema world." In its evaluation of the film, the news bulletin said that in spite of the awards given to North American movies, Cannes kept its reputation of having an attitude respecting the world's intellectual cinema by giving two awards to the Turkish film Uzak." The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera announced that the film would be released at Italian cinema this fall, saying, "Apparently, rewarding Uzak may have been difficult in relation to box office sales, but it is very right from a political perspective. It is a story which tells the story of loneliness and of the marginality in present-day Istanbul."

Mehmet Emin Toprak, who played one of the two lonely and estranged cousins with Muzaffer Ozdemir in Uzak (Away), died in a traffic accident on December second of last year, shortly after hearing the news that the film had been selected to go to Cannes. Toprak also acted in the films "Town" and "Distress of May" by director Ceylan. Toprak had shared the award of "Best Assistant Actor" with Oktay Kaynarca in the 39th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director of "Away", speaking to journalists at the award ceremony said, "Toprak had learned from me during the Ankara Film Festival that our film had been selected to go to Cannes. He was so happy with the news that, being newly married, he had decided to go to Cannes for the honeymoon."

aa / Cannes / FRANCE

Ankara, TURKEY, June 20, 2003 - The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Council approved the European Union (EU) Sixth Adaptation Package yesterday. The package is geared towards raising democratization standards in Turkey.

Owing to an objection from the Republican People's Party's (CHP), the fifth article in the package, which calls for Turkish elections to be observed by foreign parties, was excluded from the package. The approval of the sixth adaptation package will see Turkey in a more secure position in the EU process and the Thessaloniki Summit this weekend. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will be in attendance. The summit will host leaders of EU member states, the European Commission and all candidate and observer countries. The convention will be addressed by the President of the European Convention, President Giscard D'Estaing and the final document containing the outcome of the Convention's work will be discussed. This document will serve as a basis for forthcoming discussions at the Intergovernmental Conference.

The package had been approved by parliament despite the CHP's objection that only a short time had passed following the Justice Commission's approval of the package. CHP had given full support to the package, in spite of objections about two articles in the package. Their objections to a regulation allowing Kurdish broadcasts on radio and television stations and that equal punishments be meted out for killing an illegitimate child and killing an adult, were overruled.

Omer Sahin / Ankara / TURKEY
www.zaman.com

Sezer Approves Seventh EU Adaptation Package
Ankara, TURKEY, August 07, 2003 - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday signed the Seventh Adaptation Package, prepared to fulfill European Union (EU) membership criteria. The Package broadens the scope of freedom of thought, expression, and association, limits the authority of the National Security Council (MGK), and seeks to eliminate torture.

The Seventh Package was subject to much discussion because of the MGK limitations.The duty of the Council, which will now meet every other month, has been re-defined as reaching advisory decisions regarding the designation, determination and implementations of the state security policies within the prescribed frameworks, determining a method for providing the necessary coordination, and reporting these advisory decisions to the Cabinet Council".

A civilian will be appointed to the Councils Secretariat-General, whose composition will be suggested by the Prime Minister and approved by the President. The government will consult with the Chief of General Staff before appointing the military member. The General Staff is reportedly uneasy with these changes, and also objected to the Government Accounting Bureau now being allowed to audit military expenses.

Murat Aydin / Ankara / TURKEY

THEY ARE OUR MEMEDS NOW!

"You the mothers/ who sent their sons from faraway countries/ Wipe away your tears./ Your sons are now lying in our bosom/ and are in peace./ After having lost their lives on this land they have/ become our sons as well."

Let us erect a peace monument in Trabzon!
CHP Trabzon City Director Cafer Hazaroglu called on for the erection of a Peace Monument in Trabzon for the memory of 62 Spanish soldiers that lost their lives in the airplane crash.

Hazaroglu said that this was very important to show the importance placed by Turkey on the world peace and tourist promotion of the region.

The tears of the Spanish queen
Spanish people had a very dramatic time during the arrival of the bodies of Spanish soldiers that were killed in the crash, to Madrid. Spanish Queen Sophia also cried together with her people. Turkish Ambassador to Madrid Volkan Vural was also present in the ceremony. Spanish media thanked Turkey for many times for her assistance after the crash.

Generals, from left to right, Jose Beltrem and Vicente Navarro of Spain and Rauf Altinok of Turkey salute as Turkish soldiers carry the coffin of a Spainish soldier to a military plane bound for Spain, at the Trabzon airport on Wednesday, May, 28, 2003. A Ukrainian plane carrying 62 Spanish peacekeepers returning from Afghanistan (news - web sites) and 12 crew members crashed as it tried to land for refueling near Turkey's Black Sea city of Trabzon early Monday, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici )

Woman that shook Spain

Negligence, that came up to scandalous levels after the air accident in Trabzon last year, killing Spanish soldiers returning from Afghanistan, was revealed by the good job done by Turkish prosecutors, Forensic Medicine officials, and a Turkish lawyer

U.S. Forces Foil Alleged Turk Plot to Kill Kurd Governor

Saturday, July 05, 2003

ISTANBUL, Turkey - U.S. forces raided a Turkish special forces office in northern Iraq and detained 11 soldiers, Turkish officials said Saturday. A Turkish newspaper said the arrests aimed to stop a plot by Turks to kill the Kurdish governor of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk (search).

The detentions further strained ties between the longtime allies, who fell out over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded the soldiers' release.

A government official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said some 100 U.S. soldiers detained three Turkish officers and eight noncommissioned officers in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah Friday afternoon. They were taken to Kirkuk.

The U.S. forces were acting on intelligence reports that some Turks in Kirkuk were planning to assassinate the Kurdish governor of Kirkuk, the newspaper Hurriyet (search) said.

"This is an ugly incident," Erdogan said. "It should not have happened."

"For an allied country to behave in such a way toward its ally cannot be explained," he added.

After the arrests, Turkey closed the Habur border gate, the sole crossing point for aid and goods between Turkey and Iraq.

Erdogan said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was in contact with Secretary of State Colin Powell. The State Department confirmed that Gul and Powell spoke but gave no details and would not comment on the detentions.

"We are assured (by U.S. officials) that the soldiers are safe. But we want them to be released as soon as possible," Erdogan said.

Sgt. Patrick Compton, a military spokesman in Baghdad, said he had no information on the incident. A U.S. Embassy official said Turkish officials had raised the issue late Friday, but said the embassy had no "concrete" information.

Turkey has long maintained a military presence in parts of northern Iraq in a campaign to suppress Turkish Kurd rebel operating in the region. At the onset of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Turkey threatened to send in troops, fearing Iraqi Kurds would establish an independent state in northern Iraq, which could fuel the separatist movement among Turkey's Kurds.

It has sent military observers to Kirkuk.

Kurdish rebels fought a 15-year war against Turkish troops for autonomy in Turkey's southeast, which has killed some 37,000 people. The rebels declared a unilateral cease-fire in 1999 after the capture of their leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The military rejected the cease-fire and sporadic fighting continues.

The incident comes as Turkey and the United States have been trying to repair relations strained over the Turkish parliament's refusal in March to allow thousands of U.S. combat troops in the country for an Iraq war.

It was the second time that U.S. forces detained Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.

In April, the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade caught a dozen Turkish soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes and trailing an aid convoy. U.S. forces suspected that the Turkish team was sent in to inflame local ethnic Turks, who already have tense relations with the city's Kurds and Arabs.

Erdogan said the latest seizures occurred Friday afternoon but did not give details, except to say the detentions came after "an issue over the municipality in Kirkuk."

"The fact that a 50-year-old ally has reverted to such an action has saddened us deeply. That such an action was carried out against an ally is a serious situation," Hurriyet quoted Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the deputy chief of staff as saying.

Turkish military officials would not comment.

Istanbul, TURKEY, June 25, 2003 - Six out of the 28 artifacts, valued at TL 70 billion, stolen from the World Art Center in Istanbul's Etiler, were found yesterday in the Fatih flea market.

It was revealed that thieves sold the six artifacts at a cost of $ 5,000 to TL 160 million to traders in the flea market. Bilal Bark, director of the art center, was responsible for the discovery of the artifacts.

28 artifacts belonging to Mirzazade Buyukaga, including paintings, valuable vases, cups, brass frames, had been stolen on June 8th by unidentified people. Following the theft, Bark printed out 5,000 flyers with pictures of the missing artifacts. Bark made a considerable effort to pass out the flyers, visiting everywhere the missing artifacts could be in the process of being re-sold.

While handing out brochures in the Horhor district of Fatih, Bark checked to see whether the stolen artifacts were in the shops of the district. The first day brought no answers. The second day though he saw porcelein which had previously been on display at the art center in a window of a shop in Horhor. Bark immediately informed the police, after which Fatih police officers seized the artifacts.

The shop owner had bought six artifacts from another shop owner in addition to up to TL 160 million in purchases from the thieves. According the police, the artifacts were sold first to an antiquarian and then, to the flea market in Fatih. The police raided the house of suspect, who they had determined lived in Gaziosmanpasa. The suspect, Yasar, managed to escape from the house in the operation. In a statement afterwards, art center director Bark noted that, "If the had made the raid directly following my claims in the evening, not only would the thief have been captured, but the lost 22 artifacts would also have been seized."

The six items recovered in the raid were: three cups and their dishes dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, a pencil box, a sugar-bowl and a vase.

Ibrahim Dogan / Istanbul / TURKEY
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Missing Turkish Ceramic Wall Panel Found in Louvre After 100 Years
Paris, FRANCE, July 14, 2003 - Ancient Turkish ceramic tiles - the cini* - of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II are being exhibited in the world's biggest museum, the Louvre, in Paris.

The cinis were removed and replaced with fake ones during the restoration of the Tomb of the Sultan Selim II at the turn of the twentieth century and taken out the country. Lost for 100 years, the cinis are among the masterpieces of the Turkish ceramic tile art. The stolen encaustic tiles are said to be among the masterpieces of Turkish tile artwork. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism had no information about the tile's whereabouts.

The wall panel at the entrance of the Sultan Selim II Tomb is made up of about 60 tiles. It is said that under the pretext of restoration, the panel had been replaced with fake tiles and had been sold to the Louvre Museum in France, in 1895, by collector Albert Sorlin Dorigny.

Experts describe the robbery as one of the most professional in history and stated that the tiles are among the most rare and precious examples of Turkish tile artwork. Below the panel exhibited in the Museum, it is written, Sultan Selim II tomb's tiles, found in the treasury of the Hagia Sophia. It is being exhibited in the Art of Islam section of the museum, under the inventory number 3919/2-265.

The Ministry of Culture, until now, has done nothing to recover these symbols of Turkey's cultural legacy.

Editorial Note: The Cini: Piece of earthenware decorated with opaque colored glazes and motives that are characteristics of the Turkish art.

Abdullah Kilic / Paris / FRANCE

60 Cuneiform Tablets Found at Kultepe (Kanesh) In Kayseri
Kayseri, TURKEY, August 21, 2003 - 60 cuneiform tablets were found at a site in Kultepe (Kanesh) in Kayseri. The site is considered to be one of Turkey's most important historical sites, once used by Assyrian merchants.

Prof. Dr. Tahsin Ozguc, in charge of the Kultepe (Kanesh) excavation, said: "These tablets are the results of one week work. Although we have begun working late, we found 60 cuneiform tablets that belong to Assyrian trade colonies."

"This year we have found earthenware pots, potters, tools from different times, and also well- preserved clay tablets in our excavations. These tablets were made just before the foundation of Hittite Empire around 1730-1800 B.C. I think these tablets will help our understanding and shed light on this period of history."

Ozguc explained that excavations have reached the floor of the first layer. Ozguc added that if they have the opportunity, they would dig to the second layer, which is considered to be the richest period of the Assyrian colony.

Prof. Dr. Tahsin Ozguc has been excavating continuously at the Kultepe site for 55 years. Berlin, Munich, and Gent Universities have awarded Tahsin Ozguc honorary doctorates, and he is a member of the British, Munich, and Turkish Academy of Sciences.

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Antiques of Uzans Were Sent To Topkapi
146 pieces of antique furniture and paintings were handed to the Topkapi Palace Museum.

The paintings, which were discovered in the house in Ulus, Istanbul, that belonged to Uzans, are said to form the biggest collection of Turkey. However, since the collection was not revealed until present, nothing can be said on the monetary value of it. Kemal and Hakan Uzan reportedly used to collect paintings.

According to the owners of auction and art galleries, who sold paintings to the Uzan family, Uzans did not know much about paintings, they collected them only as an investment instrument.

www.hurriyetim.com.tr
August 29, 2003

France qualified for the Confederations Cup final on Thursday evening with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Turkey at the Stade de France. France appeared to have the match under control leading 3-1 at the break, courtesy of goals to their Arsenal trio Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Silvain Wiltord but it was a last minute penalty miss by Turkey that ensured the hosts qualification.

Foe passes away
Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died on Thursday after his country's Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia. Foe, who spent last season on loan at English premier league Manchester City from French club Olympique Lyon, was carried off on a stretcher after collapsing 15 minutes from the end of the match, won 1-0 by Cameroon.

June 26, 2003
www.eurosport.com

Small consolation
A late strike by Okan Yilmaz gave Turkey a 2-1 win over Colombia on Saturday and third place in a Confederations Cup tournament overshadowed by the death of Marc-Vivien Foe.

Only In Turkey
June 28, 2003


English Airline Wants Bursa Airport For International Flights
Bursa, TURKEY, August 08, 2003 - English Airline, Wiggins, has requested that Bursa's Yenisehir Airport handle international cargo flights between the Middle East and Europe. Wiggins' Deputy CEO Alastair Robertson, Brazil and Middle East Coordinator Sam Orwin and Turkey Coordinator Emrah Gultekin have applied to the Ministry of Transport for legal rights to the airport in recent weeks and have also visited Yenisehir to do inspections of the airport. Talks between the ministry and the airline continue.

Justice and Development Party (AKP) Bursa Province Leader Hayretting Cakmak, Yenisehir Municipality Mayor Bulent Hamdi Cingil, Yenisehir State Airfields Administration Manager Suleyman Yuceer and AKP administrators also participated in the inspections.

Robertson said that the airline considered long-term plans for Bursa and aimed to utilize the airport in the most efficient way and as soon as possible.

Cakmak indicated that while the airline wanted completely administrative control of the airport, the ministry only considered renting the cargo section as the existing administration was not adequate.

However, pointing out that administration was not a problem, Cakmak said that if common ground was reached on certain points, the necessary regulations could be made. He conveyed that Wiggins planned to make Yenisehir Airport a cargo center between the Middle East and Europe. And, that in case the airport was completely taken over, Turkey would be the first to know.

Nurullah Gunes / Bursa / TURKEY


Babacan: The Law Vetoed by Sezer Will Pass in Parliament as is
TURKEY, August 16, 2003 - Commenting on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's veto rejection of the sale of deforested lands ammendment yesterday, Minister of State Ali Babacan said, "What we will do is, without changing anything, try to pass it in parliament, through a vote."

Appearing on the 'Eko Dinamik' program on TRT 2 television morning hours, Babacan said his concerns about the ammendment were not explained well enough. "Here, action is the essence of the matter. These are fields that once were forests but over time have lost value and became deforested. On those fields, buildings and cities were built. There is action but no infrastructure for the action. With this law our most important goal is to prepare legal grounds for this action, while providing income for the state."

Asked what the expected proceeds from the sale were, Babacan said, "It [the income] is roughly calculated as US billion if we consider all the fields. [Not in the first year] This will be the income over the years."

aa / / TURKEY

Besiktas Crushes Chelsea
London, ENGLAND, October 02, 2003 - One of Turkey's two representatives in the Europeans Champion's League Besiktas, the black eagles, defeated the English Premier's Chelsea by 2-0, with goals from Sergen goal.

Despite being one man down, when Ilhan Mansiz was sent off in the 51st minute, Besiktas went on to win convincingly.

Besiktas moves to second place in group G, behind Lazio.

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