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Israeli Prime Minister Olmert responds with a business-as-usual approach to corruption allegations
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Turkish and Iranian tunes fuse in ‘The Companion’
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page04 Jet fighters hit 16 PKK targets in northern Iraq
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TURKISH PEOPLE ONE SIZE LARGER THAN FOUR YEARS AGO AS OBESITY CASES INCREASE
Turks join heavyweight division AYÞE KARABAT, ANKARA
Beþir Atalay
The average weight of the population in the past four years climbed by three kilograms, roughly one dress size, a study conducted by the Turkish Association of Hypertension and Kidney Disease has shown. The results of the study, titled "Hypertension Incidence in Turkey," were disclosed yesterday at a conference on hypertension and kidney disease held in Antalya. According to the study, the average body mass index (BMI) of the nation increased by one unit in four years, with the average Turkish person gaining three kilograms in that period. The BMI is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height, mainly
used only as a population measure and rarely used as a measure of diagnosis for individuals. The association interviewed 5,000 individuals above 22 years of age across 26 provinces of Turkey in 2003 and four years later in 2007. On average, the weight of the participants rose by three kilograms, while the average blood pressure rate increased by 21.3 percent during the same period. Turkey Association of Hypertension and Kidney Disease Secretary-General Mustafa Arýcý said the findings were alarming. "One unit change in the average BMI of society actually means that millions who were of normal weight are now slightly overweight, and those who were slightly overweight are now overweight and those who were overweight have become victims of
obesity. Those who were already obese have become seriously obese. This is what the results mean," he noted. Emphasizing that the study results showed that women were more overweight than men in all age groups, Arýcý said the weight increase in the fouryear period was also higher in women than in men. He also indicated that the obesity rate in Turkey is now 50 percent, with the primary factor behind the higher rate being overeating and low levels of physical activity. Arýcý said 85 percent of respondents said they never exercise, while 10 percent reported they sometimes exercise and only 5 percent were regular exercisers. However, half of those who said they exercised regularly did so less than three hours per week. CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
TODAY’S ZAMAN
Government slams CHP, asks for bipartisan bugging commission
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The ruling and opposition parties continue to exchange blame over the alleged bugging of Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) Secretary-General Önder Sav's private office without permission. CHP leader Deniz Baykal on Wednesday accused the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of eavesdropping on a May 23 conversation between Sav and former former Bolu Governor Mehmet Ali Serindað,, a claim that was denied by AK Party officials. Interior Minister Beþir Atalay dismissed allegations that the governing AK Party engaged in eavesdropping, saying, "The main opposition party acted in haste and prematurely without knowing all the facts and without waiting for the results of an inquiry." He added that they will fully investigate the claims. "I refuse to accept the allegations that the government is somehow involved in wiretapping by using the police force," Atalay said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Court rules absentee voting by mail unconstitutional ERCAN YAVUZ / ALÝ ASLAN KILIÇ, ANKARA The Constitutional Court yesterday canceled a legal provision that would have allowed Turkish citizens living in foreign countries to vote in elections by mail. The appeal had been filed by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on April 8. The CHP argued that a provision of a law passed by Parliament on March 14 violated the Constitution. The CHP claimed that the voting by mail is a risky method that is open to manipulation. Though the Constitutional Court ruled that the provision in question was unconstitutional, the government is planning to re-enact it. The Constitution was amended in 1995 to allow Turkish citizens in foreign countries to cast their votes, but they remained unable to use this right because a relevant law was not drafted to accompany the amendment. The new law from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was enacted despite fierce opposition by the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Teachers working around the world came to Turkey for the 6th Turkish Language Olympics. (From left to right) Sevgi Yüksel (Romania), Yagut Bahþeliyeva (the US), Sinan Güven (Mozambique), Asým Þimþek (Ukraine) and Muhammed Azad Boztaþ (Tanzania).
Global educatýon turns Turkýsh teachers ýnto world cýtýzens ÝBRAHÝM ASALIOÐLU, ANKARA Selfless Turkish teachers never hesitate to go wherever they are needed, and are always quick to win the hearts of people when they arrive, an accomplishment largely due to their determination to acquaint themselves with the culture and language of their new home. The majority of them being polyglots, these
teachers themselves become a cultural mosaic during the years they spend abroad among so many different peoples, a process that in turn benefits their own country. Their stories become Turkey's stories and they are its windows onto the world -- windows that will never close again. Muhammed Azad Boztaþ is one of these teachers. He went to Tanzania five years ago, when people in Turkey wrongly associated Tanzania with the
Tasmanian devil. When he graduated from the teachers school of the Celal Bayar University he was told he was needed in Tanzania as a Turkish teacher, and he did not hesitate for a second before setting off. His wife was expectant and their baby due in two months, by which time he would be in Tanzania. He could not come to Turkey even once a year because the high cost of tickets and the length of the flight (a full 24 hours). CONTINUED ON PAGE 06
Featuring news and articles from
World food prices to stay high over the next decade Food prices will remain high over the next decade even if they fall from current records, meaning millions more risk further hardship or hunger, the OECD and the UN's FAO food agency said in a report published on Thursday. Beyond stating the immediate need for humanitarian aid, the international bodies suggested wider deployment of genetically modified crops and a rethink of biofuel programs that guzzle grain which could otherwise feed people and livestock. The report, released ahead of a world food summit in Rome next week, said food commodity prices were likely to recede from the peaks hit recently, but that they would remain higher in the decade ahead than the one gone by. Beef prices would probably stay around 20 percent higher than in the last 10 years, while wheat, corn and skimmed milk powder would likely command 40-60 percent more in the 10 years ahead, in nominal terms, it said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Turkey expects record hazelnut crop in 2008 Early estimates pin Turkish hazelnut production for 2008 at a record high of over 800,000 tons of the crop, thanks to increasing demand and improved climate conditions, Sebahattin Arslantürk, president of the National Hazelnut Council, said yesterday. The council is working to determine precise projections for the current season. When complete, the estimate will serve as the basis for hazelnut prices in the upcoming season for producers, tradesmen and the chocolate manufacturers that buy hazelnuts in bulk. Speaking to the state-run Anatolia news agency yesterday, Arslantürk said the record-high production might actually cause problems for Turkey, the world's largest hazelnut producer. CONTINUED ON PAGE 07
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F OOD FOR THOUGHT
Sam Teng, Malaysian citizen
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There is a radical transformation going on in Turkey. Such radical changes cause some pain, too; they cannot take place quietly. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
sabah:
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Seize opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind. Bulgarian Proverb
The mother of all evils A poster representing Beþiktaþ soccer fan group Çarþý, which announced on Tuesday that it is to disband. Çarþý was known for its passionate support of the team as well as its politically charged and leftleaning banners and chants.
"Help me with mom's body parts," read Sabah's front page yesterday. The headline story covered the brutal murder of a 46-year-old woman -- apparently by her 17-year-old son. The woman, Asiye F., was a single mother who raised three kids on her own. The suspect's elder sisters were at university in Ankara, leaving M.F. living with his mother. The teenager was taken into custody after he asked two of his friends to help him get rid of the body, which he had allegedly cut into pieces and placed in large garbage bags: his friends turned him in, Sabah reported.
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W ORDS OF WISDOM
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press roundup M. BURAK BÜRKÜK
Allegations made by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) that the telephone of its secretary-general had been wiretapped by the state’s secret service and the content of conversations disclosed to the daily Vakit have been the subject of much discussion in Turkey. A number of writers have suggested approaching the issue from a different angle. Star’s Mehmet Altan notes that Interior Minister Beþir Atalay took the CHP’s allegations very seriously, as he ordered the Ankara Governor’s Office to file a criminal complaint and called on public prosecutors to act as well. “As Ankara debates who listened in on whom and where and how, I’m listening too… to the world,” Altan writes, and summarizes news stories that appeared the previous day before in Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspapers as well as another daily, Asia Times. All the stories involve details about US pressure on Iran to be open about its nuclear program. The Asia Times reported that the US was planning to attack Iran in August, based on a trusted source, Altan remarks. He adds that the consequences of such an attack would certainly be much heavier than the wiretapping/bugging discussion in Ankara. He then speculates, “And perhaps those consequences are already there and the ‘closure case’ [against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)] is also a preliminary preparation for a possible US attack on Iran,” and suggests those in the capital listen to the rest of the world for more insightful and broader commentary. Sabah’s Ergun Babahan writes that it was only natural for the CHP to bring up the bugging or wiretapping allegations. He also says that if true, it is a most worrisome case and something that light should be shed on. However, he criticizes the CHP for reacting to acts outside the law only when those acts are committed against it. “There is serious evidence in the assassination of [journalist] Hrant Dink that the police and the gendarmerie knew about the killers’ plot, but they covered it up,” he says, noting that the same sensitivity and reaction shown to the bugging scandal were absent then. Recalling that similar ambiguities exist about the integrity of the police force and the investigation of the Malatya case -- in which three Christian were murdered -- he says he had no recollection of the CHP filing a motion in Parliament seeking a probe into those events. “If the CHP wants to be convincing in its fight against illegality, it should show the same determination in the Hrant Dink murder, the Malatya case and the Ergenekon organization,” Babahan urges.
PRESS REVIEW
Q UOTE OF THE DAY
I am utterly shocked and angered by the disgusting remarks from Sharon Stone that the earthquake in Sichuan was "karma."
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Rethýnkýng the CHP’s buggýng allegatýons
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taraf:
The Republican People's Party (CHP) leader's allegation that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) listened in on CHP Secretary-General Önder Sav's private office conversations without legal permission was the focus of the top story in Taraf yesterday. The claim was strictly denied by AK Party officials. The daily reported that the CHP was preparing to submit a question motion in Parliament to start a probe into the allegations. Interior Minister Beþir Atalay called on prosecutors to petition the courts to start an investigation.
FEHMÝ KORU, YENÝ ÞAFAK Some say the May, 27 (1960) coup was good for Turkey. In reality, a crime has been committed, and despite the fact that laws exist clarifying how this crime should be punished, others are being encouraged to stop pursuing the guilty. I wonder if the reason for this is that those who are involved in politics in Turkey have not, all these many years later, been willing to consider forcing those who damaged democracy in Turkey in the past to now account for their actions. No doubt this is the reason. It is now an absolute necessity that we start to turn this situation around.
What actually happened in the DTP? MAHMUT ÖVÜR, SABAH We are entering an interesting period as concerns Turkey's most critical problem, the Kurdish issue. Thus the upcoming the Democratic Society Party (DTP)party congress is being viewed as a possible turning point. The fact that it is already being stated that Emine Ayna will be running against Ahmet Türk for general leader of the DTP at the party congress is a sign of what a tough struggle awaits the party.
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ÝSTANBUL ANKARA ÝZMÝR ANTALYA ADANA ERZURUM EDÝRNE TRABZON KAYSERÝ
Grain harvest losses on Konya Plain nearing 50 percent AA
In most of the Konya plain, crops have started to burn and dry as planted areas saw little rainfall. left agricultural land to be irrigated by rainfall." Stating they have suffered from the lack of spring rainfall, Kara added, "Crops were unable to grow. The Beyþehir and Seydiþehir provinces and parts of the Akþehir and Kadýnhaný provinces were unaffected by this problem, yet many provinces face serious loss. Agricultural in-
stitutions measuring rainfall show a clear picture: Unless there is enough rainfall, the losses will multiply. Due to last year's drought, the soil is already dry, causing this year's drought to be more severe." Kara also said the loss of fertility may approach 50 percent this year, with barley being particularly hard hit. Konya Today's Zaman with wires
KONYA ÇANAKKALE DÝYARBAKIR SAMSUN BURSA GAZÝANTEP ESKÝÞEHÝR MALATYA KOCAELÝ
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Wýretappýng and slanderýng
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Central Anatolia's Konya Plain, referred to as Turkey's "bread basket" by agricultural experts, is facing the adverse effects of drought; aridness in the province has caused a 30-40 percent loss in the grain harvest -- particularly in barley -- and reports say the figure may rise to 50 percent. In most of the plain, crops have started to dry out as cultivated areas have seen little rainfall. Serious loss is expected in almost all of the province's Cihanbeyli, Kulu, Karapýnar and Yunak districts and partly in the Kadýnhaný, Sarayönü, Ilgýn and Akþehir districts. Estimates expect up to a 30 percent loss in irrigated farming regions and up to a 90 percent loss in dry farming regions, with farmers saying this year's drought damage is more serious than that of last year. Konya Commerce Exchange (KTB) head Mehmet Kara said they faced incidents of floods in Konya's city center but only light rainfall in areas with cultivated land. Noting that 85 percent of areas suitable for cultivation are not irrigated, Kara said, "Farmers await rainfall in these circumstances. When it does not rain, they cannot obtain what they expect from their land. Farmers' high electricity bills and a decrease in available groundwater have
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Politician: What is the political atmosphere like in Bolu? Governor: Your job is not that easy. However, it wouldn't be right to give up just because it is difficult. Politician: Do you have the determined and careful human resources required to facilitate the political formation that will win the public over in the town? Governor: Yes, we do, albeit small. It is necessary to know that we don't have many people. Politician: How do you view Bolu, in particular from the political perspective? What can be done? Governor: Bolu's base is the Republican People's Party [CHP]. We can see that the CHP's votes are growing -- particularly in local elections. If a large group is established in Bolu, things could change for the better for the CHP to such an extent that the CHP may well win the elections. This dialogue is from a conversation that took place between Önder Sav, the CHP secretary-general, and Mehmet Ali Serindað, the former governor of Bolu, who has been relieved of duty through a recently enacted bylaw on governors. I should first of all note that this type of relationship and conversation should never take place between a political party official and the highest-ranking bureaucrat who represents the state in his province. It's impossible for us to approve of either this dialogue or relationship. An understanding of public administration based on impartiality and a democratic culture never allow for such a relationship or dialogue. Being a high-ranking CHP official, Sav's conversation with a governor who is still in office as if this governor was a party official from the province and the governor sincerely adopting this role reveals the level of the symbiotic relationship known to exist between the CHP and the bureaucracy. If we remember that this party's past is riddled with fascist practices such as appointing governors from among those who were also the heads of party organizations in the provinces, the gravity of the situation increases. Without a doubt, these conversations cater to the suspicions and the claims that the CHP has ties to the bureaucracy, the judiciary and the military. It is a prevalent opinion that the CHP, which has repeatedly failed to win the right to represent people democratically by losing one election after another, has the power to mobilize all the military, civil and bureaucratic elements in line with its own political agenda. This is a valid enough reason for the public to anticipate a statement from the CHP regarding its deep reach into the state, particularly after the exposure of the above conversation, because this type of relationship evokes memories of the CHP despotism which is still fresh in our social memory, while strengthening the doubts that all the recent undemocratic bureaucratic and judicial interventions into the democratically elected political power have been made through the coordination of the CHP. On the other hand, however unacceptable the
BÜLENT KENEÞ b.kenes@todayszaman.com
content of this dialogue between CHP SecretaryGeneral Sav and former Bolu Governor Serindað may be, the coverage given to this dialogue in newspapers -- in whatever fashion it may be -- is unacceptable in terms of our democratic culture and individual rights. All illegitimate acts, such as illegal wiretapping, which violates the privacy of people and institutions, deserve -- as much as the CHP's illegitimate pretension to be the political power not based on public support -- to be condemned in the harshest way possible. However, I should not fail to note that the CHP's statement that Sav's office was wiretapped is but an unproven claim, because nothing so far has been found during efforts to uncover the source. This being the case, the CHP's attempt to stir up winds of political terrorism and to transform the situation into a regime crisis based solely on its own claims is completely incomprehensible. What is currently in our hands is nothing but the conversation, which proves the constantly mentioned deep and organic bonds between the CHP and bureaucrats. And the authenticity of this conversation was proven by a speech delivered by CHP leader Deniz Baykal during a press conference held on Wednesday. Much as we can't approve of the way it was obtained, we can comfortably state that this conversation has made it into the annals of history. With the exception of this concrete proof, the statements of the CHP, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the government do not go beyond being claims. Who is right or wrong will be determined at the end of the investigation launched by the chief prosecutor's office. Conversely, the claim of the Vakit newspaper, which has become a party to the incident by publishing the Sav-Serindað dialogue, is not based on wiretapping. They say that they directly listened to the dialogue through a mobile phone conversation which Sav forgot to end. Executives at Vakit noted that they can prove their claim using Türk Telekom records upon a request by the chief prosecutor's office. It's of utmost importance to state at this point that if it is found out in the investigation that the statements of Vakit executives are true, there will be no choice left for Baykal, who has left nothing negative unsaid and has slandered the government, the police and a certain segment of society, but to apologize and resign in a dignified way. We will see whether Baykal and his close staff will resign with dignity or continue doing politics at the cost of trampling it.
Shark rumor threatens to take bite out of Russian tourist figures As the summer tourism season begins in Turkey, a story circulated in the Russian media claims Turkey is shutting down its beaches due to a large number of sharks in the Mediterranean waters off its southern coastline. The tale's source is misinformation reported by the Turkey correspondent for Russia's Radio Freedom. According to the false report, sharks recently appeared near Turkish beaches for the first time in 30 years, prompting authorities to issue swim bans for most of the southern and Aegean coast. The most-read articles on many Russian Web sites bore headlines like, "Turkey in panic, Aegean coasts under shark attack!" More than 100 major Russian-language news sites circulated the story. The true story that the shark attack reports seem to have been based on -- however loosely -- was a decision to declare a small bay in the Gökova region off-limits for swimming to protect beach sharks in the area. The sharks do not pose a threat to humans. The damage has already been done, though, according to Turkey's tourism agencies. Russia sends more tourists to Turkey's southern coasts,
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particularly to Antalya, than any other country. A similar tall tale, aired on Russia's ORT television channel about a month ago, decreased business for two Turkish construction companies -- GAMA and Enka, two companies highly respected domestically and internationally -- alleging they aided the separatist movement in Chechnya in 1994. The allegations had negative effects for all Turkish companies operating in Russia. Enka encountered major problems in obtaining visas for its workers from Turkey after the story circulated in Russian media. "Even shopkeepers began questioning our employees around the areas they live after the news story," said Firuz Hatunoðlu of GAMA. "We have 4,500 employees here. We operate in many regions of Russia. This slander has badly hurt [our business]." Ýsmail Koçak, head of the Koçak construction company, said that in Russia it was possible and easy for a business to "order" a news story to hurt the competition. However he said it was difficult to put an end to such stories, because "we don't know their source." Faruk Akkan Moscow, Cihan
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Embassy denies Sarkozy opposes Turkey because it’s Muslim The French Embassy in Ankara has denied news reports suggesting that President Nicolas Sarkozy's vocal opposition to Turkey's accession to the European Union was linked to religion. The embassy said in a statement that remarks attributed to Sarkozy were "completely baseless" and explained that the French leader insisted that Europe should have borders. The Turkish daily Milliyet, citing remarks from Sarkozy published on Wednesday in the Polish newspaper Dziennik, said the French leader had finally revealed the main reason for his opposition to Turkey's membership in the EU by saying that he did not consider a Muslim country as European.
On Wednesday the Reuters news agency had also said Sarkozy made clear in his remarks in the Polish newspaper that he "did not see a country that is predominantly Muslim but was founded as a secular state as European." The agency filed a corrected version of the report on Thursday to clarify that Sarkozy's opposition was not linked to religion. The embassy said Sarkozy had been asked where Europe's borders end and what countries can and cannot join the 27-nation bloc in the future. Sarkozy had said in response that his position on Turkey's membership is known very well and that this stance has not changed. He said Europe must have borders and should not expand indefi-
nitely and referred to the work of a "wise men's council" on where these borders must end. "For me it is crucial that the EU doesn't become an entity without unity, will and social support," he said. Yesterday the French parliament debated a constitutional reform proposal that calls for referendums on the accession of countries whose population exceeds 5 percent of the EU's population. Turkey and Ukraine are the only candidates to fit this definition. Turkey says it categorically rejects any form of association with the EU other than full membership and it has urged the EU in clear terms not to water down its membership commitments. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan warned this week that other-
wise the reform enthusiasm in Turkey would wane. Ankara also hesitates to join the "Mediterranean Union" proposed by Sarkozy because of its concerns over whether the planned union could emerge as an alternative to Turkey's EU membership. French weekly L'Express said in its latest issue that Turkey's refusal to confirm whether it will join the union is worrying Paris because the absence of such a key Mediterranean country would undermine the project. Babacan said this week that Turkey has not yet decided whether to join the Mediterranean Union, due to be launched at a summit on July 13 in Paris. Ankara has also not confirmed yet whether Turkish officials will attend the summit. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman
NATIONAL
European Socialists propose union for the Black Sea The Socialist group in the European Parliament yesterday unveiled proposals to create a "Union for the Black Sea" and called for a strong role for Turkey and Russia in the proposed organization. Leading Socialist parliamentarians Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda introduced the idea of a "Union for the Black Sea" into a parliament report seen as a crucial for the development for the union's strategy towards its Eastern neighbors. "The launch of the Mediterranean proposal by the commission needs to be mirrored by an initiative for the East," said Wiersma, according to a statement from the Socialist group in the European Parliament." The Black Sea Basin is as important for the European Union as the Mediterranean."
AK Party deputies mulling visit to northern Iraq ERCAN YAVUZ ANKARA
Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) are weighing a visit to northern Iraq at the invitation of Kurdish deputies who recently met with party officials in Ankara, according to AK Party officials. The Iraqi Kurdish delegation, headed by the regional Kurdish parliament's Parliamentary Relations Committee Chairman Arez Abdullah, met with AK Party Deputy Chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Fýrat and other officials during their visit to Ankara last week. Economic and political ties between Turkey and Iraq's Kurdish-run north were discussed at the talks and the Kurdish delegation also invited the AK Party deputies to visit the Kurdish parliament in Arbil. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani recently suggested that the delegation had talks with President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, but officials deny such meetings, saying the Kurdish delegation only met AK Party representatives. Fýrat, speaking to Today's Zaman, said the AK Party would decide whether to accept the invitation after assessing the issue at the party's Central Executive Board (MYK). In a sign that the invitation could be accepted, he said Turkey was preparing for closer ties with northern Iraq after the National Security Council (MGK), bringing together top political leaders and military commanders, gave the green light to dialogue with all Iraqi groups after a meeting earlier this year. The MGK decision was followed by a landmark visit by Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, to Ankara in March and the first high-level direct talks between Ankara and the Kurdish administration in May. Despite the visible progress in ties, Ankara insists further dialogue depends on concrete steps by the Iraqi Kurds against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which uses mountain bases in northern Iraq for attacks on Turkey and refuses to formally recognize the Kurdish government running the region. Some deputies within AK Party are eager to accept the invitation. Most of them are from southeastern Anatolia, whose population is predominantly Kurdish. Erdoðan is expected to visit Baghdad soon, although officials are tight-lipped on when the visit will take place due to security concerns. Officials rule out prospects that Erdoðan's itinerary could include a visit to Arbil, but the improving political atmosphere could pave the way for a visit by the prime minister of the Kurdish administration, Nechirvan Barzani, to Ankara in the near future. Barzani, who had talks with top US administration officials including President George W. Bush last week in Washington, said during his trip that the Iraqi Kurds were serious about not allowing the PKK to use their territory for attacks
Jet fýghters hýt 16 PKK targets ýn N. Iraq Military planes yesterday hit 16 targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq in the latest cross-border strike against the terrorist group, the General Staff has announced. In a statement the General Staff said the operation was launched at 11 a.m. yesterday in the Hakurk region near the Turkish border and that it had been completed successfully. "The targets were identified as always after a scrupulous and detailed analysis and the necessary sensitivity was shown to avoid negatively impacting the civilian population and the local elements," it said. Efforts to assess the damage to the PKK targets were under way, noted the statement. The attack follows several similar operations that have been conducted since
December of last year. The military has regularly attacked the PKK targets in northern Iraq, and the United States is backing the operations by providing airspace clearance and intelligence about PKK movements in mountainous northern Iraq. In February, it launched a major ground offensive across the border, killing hundreds of PKK members and destroying a significant number of PKK camps near the border. In Stockholm, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh called the Turkish raid "a minor issue." Speaking on the sidelines of a UN conference on Iraq, he said, "I think they are dealing with minor problems on the border." Neighboring Iran is also fighting an offshoot of the PKK, called the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK). Iranian official
news agency IRNA reported yesterday that eight security personnel were killed in clashes with PJAK terrorists. The IRNA said six Revolutionary Guardsmen and two border security officials died in clashes in western Azerbaijan province near the Iran-Iraq border. It did not say when the clashes broke out or whether there were any PJAK casualties. Local Iraqi officials said the Iranian army launched an operation against the PKK and its Iranian offshoot PJAK and that there was heavy bombardment of the Kandil Mountain region by Iranian jet fighters. Iranian officials say they do not see any difference between the PKK and PJAK. The two countries, however, have declined to say whether there has been any coordination between their counterterrorism activities. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman
Slovakian foreign minister objects to ‘Armenian genocide’ bill in Parliament
Babacan, Steinmeier to take first step for Turkish-German university
shadow on good relations between Turkey and Slovakia's foreign minister has said a parliaSlovakia," he was quoted as saying by the Anatolia mentary resolution passed by the country's news agency. Kubis' remarks appear to pit him parliament in 2004 to recognize Armenian claims of against Justice Minister Stefan Harabin, who was genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire quoted as saying this week on Armenian news sites did not reflect his government's stance and vowed to that the bill criminalizing denial of the alleged genolobby cabinet ministers to oppose a bill making decide will go into effect early next nial of the alleged genocide a crime. year. The bill extends punishment Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan for denial of the Holocaust to other Kubis, spoke at a joint press confer"genocide" cases, including the alence with his Turkish counterpart, leged Armenian genocide, and seeks Ali Babacan, in Bratislava late on up to five years in jail for Slovak citiWednesday. "I will discuss this matzens who deny the Armenian ter with the Slovakian justice minisclaims. "The Armenian genocide is ter and members of the government. the most outrageous crime against I believe history must be left to histohumanity," Harabin was quoted as rians. We know the sensitivity of the saying by PanARMENIAN.net on Turkish public on this matter and Jan Kubis Wednesday. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman will not permit this topic to place a
Turkish and German authorities are to sign structure and operational expenses will be proan agreement to establish a Turkish-German vided by the Turkish side. Germany will be reuniversity in Ýstanbul during a visit to Berlin today sponsible for sending German academics, proby Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. Babacan and his viding the equipment necessary to help the esGerman counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, tablishment of a German language teaching cenjoined by German Minister for Education and ter at the university, financial assistance to help Research Annette Schavan, will pay salaries of the local personnel, sign the agreement, according to a scholarships and post-vocational statement from the German training. Babacan and Steinmeier Embassy in Ankara. The statement, are also expected to discuss released yesterday, described the Turkey's bid to join the European planned university as a "milestone Union, particularly Turkish comin academic cooperation between plaints over French attempts to Turkey and Germany." The univerundermine the EU's membership sity is initially planned to comprise commitment to Ankara, and a four faculties -- law, sciences, culclosure case against the ruling ture and social sciences, and engiJustice and Development Party Ali Babacan neering. The land, building, infra(AK Party). Ýstanbul Today's Zaman
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"The EU needs a firmer strategy for the development of its relations with the countries to the East," said Swoboda. "So far our policy has been too modest. The legitimate expectations of our eastern neighbors, but especially the many challenges in the region, call for something different from the Neighborhood Policy," he added, according to the statement. Last week Sweden and Poland presented a proposal for an eastern partnership. Although Swoboda and Wiersma said they welcomed the idea, they stressed that their proposal was different and that cooperation in the region should go beyond strengthening relations with the European Union. "The goal should be to find common solutions for the problems facing the region, for instance, environmental and migration issues, but also security matters," said Swoboda. "That is only possible if we involve Turkey and Russia, too." The European parliamentarians underlined that there should be a strong role for Turkey. "Turkey could play a pivotal role in both unions and make a big contribution to the European Union's efforts and aims in the region," said Swoboda and Wiersma. They stressed that this was independent from the country's EU membership bid. "If Turkey plays an active and constructive role together with the EU and the other states around both seas, that would show how important the country is for the European Union. It would greatly help Turkey's accession process," said Swoboda. The proposal also says that Russia should be involved as much as possible." Some of the problems in the region can be solved only if we can sit around the same table with Russia," said Wiersma. The idea has been endorsed by the report's author, German Christian Democrat MP Elmar Brok. A paper outlining the idea will be presented to the press next week. Brussels Today's Zaman
United Nations ‘encouraged' by Cyprus progress There has been appreciable progress in recent weeks toward easing the deadlock over the divided east Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the United Nations said on Thursday. Leaders of Cyprus's estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are poised to launch reunification talks, which diplomats hope will end a long-running stalemate harming Turkey's hopes of joining the European Union. "We are encouraged by the initiative and commitment the two leaders have shown," said Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the head of the UN mission on the island. Teams of experts from both sides have been meeting on a regular basis since mid-April to prepare for negotiations between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. They have not yet set a date for the launch of talks, with initial expectations of an end-June start dissipating on Greek Cypriot concerns that the preparatory process is not moving as fast as it should. "Our own view is that since March 21 there has been appreciable movement forward ... narrowing some of the gaps," said Zerihoun, who recently took over the Cyprus mission after serving as the UN Secretary-General's deputy special representative in Sudan. Christofias and Talat agreed to a preparatory process before peace talks at a meeting on March 21. "I think that a month here and a month there should not be an issue," Zerihoun said when asked how realistic it was to expect talks to start in the summer. Nicosia Reuters
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HÜSEYÝN GÜLERCE
Turkish justice set for reform after closure ruling PAUL DE BENDERN ÝSTANBUL
h.gulerce@todayszaman.com
Who ýs wýretappýng the CHP? The wiretapping of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters is a very grave situation despite the ruthlessness, rashness and inconsiderateness of CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s statement about it. The duty of taking the very first action is incumbent on the government and the judiciary. It is a clear that the CHP doesn’t pursue the illegal activities in the state surrounding Ergenekontype criminal formations. It is also clear that Mr. Baykal sends his salutations to Ergenekon suspects from under Parliament’s roof and supports them, that he disregards the Þemdinli case. It is obvious that he is not concerned with the fact that the Hrant Dink murder had been known beforehand, with the connection between the hand grenades thrown at the Cumhuriyet newspaper and the Council of State murder, with the coup attempts named Ayýþýðý and Sarýkýz or with anything illegal and any contraventions of law committed against the state. So be it. Let the CHP play the democrat only in regard to what concerns itself. However, now the real democrats -- those real democrats who are not democratic only toward themselves -- should stand up to this inhuman practice and should insist that the perpetrators be exposed and brought to justice. The rule of law is a necessity for everybody. One of the obstacles hampering our democratization process is infringements upon people’s private lives. Perpetrating the worst type of backbiting by prying into people’s mistakes, faults, and embarrassing imperfections and then revealing them to millions of people through the media can never be condoned or tolerated. Nobody can say, “Oh, they asked for it!” Yes, it is also true that the CHP is trying to pursue political interests in this situation. Accusing “the deep state in the AK Party” and turning a blind eye to the real deep state is enough to show the aim of the CHP is “eating grapes while beating the tar out of the winegrower.” Actually, who was the CHP wiretapped by? One of the most striking answers to this question has been given by Professor Mahir Kaynak, a former intelligence chief of the National Intelligence Organization (MÝT): “This is a plot devised against the AK Party. Let’s presume they did wiretap the CHP; they would have hidden that. They would never say, ‘O people, know that we have been wiretapping the CHP!’ This is nonsensical. Operations are being carried out in the country. The real problem is that the society and the elites buy into such stuff.”
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There is another aspect of the matter. Some people who always await such opportunities just jump at them and start asking questions such as, “Have the police formed a special wiretapping unit? And are the members of this unit affiliated with a certain religious congregation?” in their publications to send a message to certain segments of society, confuse people and establish targets. Particularly while the glorious wind of the Turkish Language Olympics is moving, exciting and encouraging the entire nation, they are trying to cast a blight on the people of the heart committed to the cause of serving humanity. They perpetrate this same thing remorselessly and heinously every time an important incident hits the headlines across the country. The Þemdinli prosecutor writes an indictment, and here they are, saying, “This prosecutor grew up in the ‘enlightenment houses’ of the Gülen movement.” Certain Web sites carry out the most despicable denigration campaigns against the top-ranking officer of our armed forces and some newspapers, in a most contemptible and dishonorable manner, run news articles claiming, “These sites are controlled by such and such congregation.” Today, we all know from the chief of general staff’s statements who these despicable denigration campaigns are operated by. The security forces have been risking their lives, tirelessly carrying out operations against the Ergenekon criminal network, and the same newspapers label them as “the units of the congregation within the police.” And now there is this wiretapping incident. The same newspapers and TV stations have started spreading misinformation again by making publications or broadcasts that begin with, “The congregation members in the police.” The slanders in these media organs have been refuted by courts thousands of times over. The slanderers have been fined and sentenced. If those who make these claims are honest people and really support the supremacy of the truth, why are they not questioning the fact that the necessary legal steps are not being taken? This is my first question. Right, this country has many other intelligence agencies in addition to the intelligence bureau of the police department; it has MÝT, JÝTEM and there is also military intelligence. Why on earth is the state not taking any legal action against these accusations against innocent people? This is my second question. Casting a shadow on innocent people is as immoral and merciless an act as the immoral and illegal act of wiretapping. Extrajudicial execution is a nauseating media practice.
The survival of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan now lies with the courts, but getting embroiled in the case is likely to lead to a reduced role in politics for the judiciary in the future. The Constitutional Court agreed in March to take up a case brought by the Supreme Court of Appeals chief prosecutor, who seeks the closure of the AK Party and the banning of 71 members for allegedly breaking the strict rules of the secular state. Some opposition parties and mainstream Turkish intellectuals -- while not necessarily supporting the AK Party -- have criticized the powers the court wields to be able to shut down a democratically elected party on Islamist charges. The case has unnerved financial markets and Erdoðan has warned Turkey will lose some $12 billion in foreign investment as a result this year. The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, has criticized the case, saying that the kind of charges raised by the prosecutor should be debated in parliament and decided through the ballot box, not in the courtroom. “If the court delivers a guilty verdict a
new party that is expected to be formed out of the closed AK Party will likely push for reforms that limit the powers of the courts,” said William Hale, author of books on Turkish politics and teacher at Ýstanbul’s Sabancý University. “Before this case it would have been difficult to do such reforms but given the shift in domestic attitudes, Turkey’s EU process and damage to Turkey’s international image, people will now support major judicial reforms,” said Ýbrahim Kalýn, director of the Foundation for Political Economic and Social Research (SETA) think tank in Ankara. Judges form an important professional layer in an establishment that sees itself as the guarantor of Turkey’s secularism. But the government has long complained that the judiciary is out of touch with modern Turkey and says many of its judges need to change their mindset.
Defenders of secularism Turkey is no stranger to banning parties. The courts have banned two dozen parties for Islamist or Kurdish separatist activities over the past decades. As recently as 2001 a predecessor to the Islamistrooted AK Party was outlawed. The AK Party says the charges are
Top court may hear headscarf amendment case next week The Constitutional Court may discuss a challenge to a constitutional amendment that allows women to wear the Muslim headscarf on university campuses next Thursday, the CNN Türk Web site reported yesterday. A rapporteur for the court was reported as saying last week that the challenge to the amendment should be rejected. His report, which has been presented to the Constitutional Court, is not binding, but has to be given to judges before the case can proceed. A move by the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) to lift the headscarf ban at universities has been seen as the catalyst for a closure case launched against it by a state prosecutor. The indictment against the party is
packed with references to the headscarf. The AK Party rejects the charges of anti-secular activities and says the case is politically motivated. The AK Party defends the right to wear the headscarf at universities as a matter of religious and personal freedom and says some two-thirds of Turkish women cover their heads. The court challenge to the headscarf amendment was filed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). When the Constitutional Court takes up the case, it may reject the CHP’s challenge, annul the amendment or reject the CHP’s appeal but issue a ruling saying that the university headscarf ban will remain in place despite the amendment, according to CNN Türk. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
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groundless and politically motivated, but senior party members have told Reuters their party still expects to be outlawed and at least Erdoðan banned from belonging to a political grouping for the next five years. Though predominantly Muslim, Turkey was founded as a secular state in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and a powerful elite of military, judicial and academic officials see themselves as the custodians of secularism. Secularists see Atatürk’s principles of secularism, nationalism and a centralized state as fundamental to ensuring Turkey does not slip towards becoming an Islamic republic. They defend the actions of the courts. The Supreme Court of Appeals and the Council of State criticism of the government over the closure case in recent days has raised further doubts about their impartiality, analysts said. “These judges are part of a state class. They look backwards and don’t see what modernity is,” said Þerif Mardin, a renowned Turkish historian. It is difficult to predict how the court will rule on the closure case. But eight of the 11 judges who will examine the case were appointed by former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, a staunch secularist foe of the AK Party. Analysts said the government was
largely to blame for the current crisis by failing aggressively to modernize the judicial system and focusing instead on lifting a controversial ban on female students wearing the Muslim headscarf at university. The headscarf amendment sparked the current court case. Secularists see the garment as a symbol of political Islam and say the reform was proof of a hidden government agenda. While the secularist elite may win the battle to shut down the AK Party and ban Erdoðan from belonging to a political party for the next five years, loopholes in election laws means members of the party will be able to form a new movement and Erdoðan may even return to power as an independent deputy. “One view is these people [judges] are sincere but fanatical when it comes to secularism and are convinced that the AK Party wants to set up an Islamic state. The other view is that this is a class war -- a state class against everyone else or centre versus peripheral,” said Hale. Analysts say secularists would ultimately not be able to stop a more religious-minded Turkish segment of society from gaining influence in Turkey through elected office or through industry. “In the long term it’s a losing battle for the old guard,” Kalýn said. Reuters
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Global educatýon turns Turkýsh teachers ýnto world cýtýzens contýnued from page 1
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He speaks Turkish, English, Arabic and Swahili, spoken throughout much of eastern Africa. Boztaþ notes that Turkey is the only white nation without negative associations among Tanzanian Africans, thanks to the Turkish schools in the country. While they call all other white people “mzungu,” they call Turks “mturuki” to distinguish them. He says he has come to learn that many of the stereotypes of Africa that abound in Turkey are far from correct, and that its people are very warm and hospitable -- just like Turks. Boztaþ now has the necessary language skills and courage to travel through almost the entire African continent.
Barely escaping death Another of these altruistic teachers is Sinan Güven, from the eastern Turkish province of Erzincan. After finishing high school, he went to Abkhazia study and stayed there for five years. He studied in the faculty of education there to become an English teacher. After graduation, he spent some time in South Africa and then headed for Mozambique. He had a tough time adapting to the hot climate of Mozambique after the freezing winters of Abkhazia but has been a teacher in the Turkish school there for three years. Quite aside from health problems, he also faced a more serious threat in the course of his work in Mozambique. While driving to collect a friend who had gone to fetch water he was stopped by thieves who took all of his valuables and then took him to a deserted spot. As he prayed, while they prepared to slit is throat, a police car happened to be passing and the gang fled. Although baring mental and physical scars from the incident, he has no intention of leaving his post. Having learned about Africa through Mozambique and about Russia through Abkhazia, Güven has literally become a world citizen. “While teaching Turkish to world citizens I also get to learn their different cultures and languages. This is a great benefit for both me and my country,” he says.
Nine years in Romania Sevgi Yüksel, from the central Anatolian town of Yozgat, has been teaching Turkish in Romania for nine years. While working as an assistant teacher in the Turkish schools in Mongolia, she studied international relations and trained to become an English teacher. During her stay she met her future husband, Ali Yüksel, an IT teacher, and they married there. They worked in Yakutsk for a year before moving to Romania almost a decade ago. Sevgi Yüksel speaks
Teachers working around the world came to Turkey for the 6th Turkish Language Olympics. Among the teachers working in Turkish schools in various countries are teachers from nations other than Turkey. (From left to right) Asým Þimþek (Ukraine), Sevgi Yüksel (Romania), Yagut Bahþeliyeva (the US), Muhammed Azad Boztaþ (Tanzania), Sinan Güven (Mozambique). Turkish, English, Romanian and Mongolian. Going to different countries was at first a very difficult task for an unmarried girl, as she was then, but that she got used to it. Now the mother of two girls, she is proud of her girls and their close interest in their surroundings and considers it a great advantage to be exposed to other cultures and languages.
A Ukrainian Turk Asým Þimþek is a young man from the Anatolian province of Sivas. After his graduation from the faculty of education at Selçuk University in Konya, he went to Ukraine, where he has now been for 11 years. “I have now become a Ukrainian,” he explains. So far, he has taught Turkish to hundreds of Ukrainians at his school, Odessa Black Sea High School. He points out that Ukrainians don’t look favorably upon Turks because of certain historical issues, but that they have started getting to know the real Turkey through the Turkish schools. Þimþek
emphasizes that Turkish teachers inspire members of different cultures to know and love each other wherever they go. “We are learning about Ukraine and they are learning our culture. My two daughters are growing up learning about both of the cultures,” he notes, adding that he is not thinking about moving back to Turkey, but is leaving the door open for the chance to teach Turkish in other countries.
Albanian teaching to Americans Albanian Fatma Shyti’s story is an interesting one. She graduated as a student of Turkish studies from Mehmet Akif College in Albania. While studying, she worked as an assistant teacher in Turgut Özal College and taught Turkish at Mehmet Akif for two years. Shyti went to the United States two years ago and now teaches Turkish at the Horizon Science Academy. She speaks Albanian, Turkish, English and Italian and is very happy to teach Turkish to American kids. Underscoring that being
Albanian student wins first prize in Turkish poetry reading contest They were welcomed by residents of Bursa with enthusiasm and keen interest. Before the finals, the guest students sang Turkish songs, delighting the audience. The contestants’ extraordinary performance made it difficult for the jury members to choose the winners. Twelve students qualified for the poetry reading competition finals, and those students who had not qualified for the finals in the song competition held in Ankara were given an opportunity to sing their songs prior
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Competing students on a city tour, waving their respective home countries’ flags.
to the poetry contest. The jury consisted of Professor Nurullah Genç, journalist and writer Ali Çolak, Akif Oktay, Can Bahadýr Yüce, Ahmet Gedik, Ali Ural, Ýhsan Deniz, Ömer Erdem and Mehmet Doðan. Bursa Deputy Governor Ali Rýza Çalýþýr, Bursa Police Chief Tahsin Demir, several bureaucrats and about 5,000 people watched the event.
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The final poetry reading competition for the 6th International Turkish Olympics was held yesterday in Bursa. Adeila Selimaj from Albania took first place, followed by Anisa Fitria Dewi from Indonesia and Walaa Tarýk Mohamed from Sudan. The venue was the Kültürpark Open-air Theater, and as hundreds of people had flocked to watch the event, many had to sit on the grass in a nearby park to view the proceedings on a large screen TV set up for this purpose. There was also another large screen TV set up in the city center that allowed hundreds of Bursa residents to watch the event as it took place. Seventy-four students from 23 countries had competed to make it to the finals of the poetry reading contest, which was hosted by the Blue Globe Solidarity Association. The contestants, from countries as diverse as Indonesia, Albania, Senegal, Azerbaijan and Sweden, were accompanied by their Turkish teachers.
During the program, Yunus Özcan, a Turkish teacher who was crippled in a traffic accident in northern Iraq in 2006, was given a special award. Sema Güneþ, from Germany, staged a stand-up comedy show during the program, and the results of the contest were announced by Professor Genç. Bursa Foundations Director Mürsel Sarý presented the medals to the champions of the contest amidst enthusiastic applause from the audience. The sponsoring firms were also given prizes, and the students gave presents to their teachers who helped them in preparing for the contest. The gold and silver medals were presented by Bursa Deputy Governor Çalýþýr and Bursa Chief of Police Demir. During the program, the students who completed their education in Bursa with scholarships from the Blue Globe Solidarity Association were also given awards. “Our association, established with a view to extending the hospitality and charity of the Turkish nation to everyone, irrespective of linguistic, religious or racial differences, takes pride in hosting the new stars of Turkish language. It is our goal to ensure that these students are raised to be messengers of peace, who give their hearts to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s motto, ‘Peace at home, peace in the world,’” Sedat Iþýk, the head of the association, said. Fatih Karakýlýç, Adem Elitok Bursa
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in touch with children means finding out about their worlds, Shyti says, “We teach them our own culture, and in turn we learn about theirs.”
Choosing teaching over diplomacy The story of Azeri Yagut Bahþeliyeva is a little different from that of other Turkish teachers. Yagut finished her studies in international relations in Baku, and received a job offer from the Foreign Ministry, but she chose to become a teacher rather than a diplomat. Also, although she gained admission to two British universities, she chose to go the United States to work as a Turkish teacher rather than pursue post-graduate studies. While yearning to become like Tansu Çiller, Turkey’s first and only female prime minister, she found herself teaching at the Dove Science Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She speaks Russian, English, Turkish, French and Italian and plays the piano very well. Bahþeliyeva also teaches Turkish to the other teachers in the school.
Albanian Fatma Shyti, a graduate of a Turkish college in Albania, teaches Turkish in the US.
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ATO lends full support to government GAP plan
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southeastern success with the resolution of the irrigation problem, Ýþ Bank General Manager Ersin Özince said: “We have spent our entire lives wishing for completion of the GAP project. It is pretty important in a time of drought. Agriculture is one of the five biggest sectors in Turkey. It is important for Turkey to run effective competition with the rest of the world.” Ziraat Bank General Manager Çaðlar announced they would increase the amount of agricultural loans from YTL 709 million to YTL 1 billion, a figure that has increased 32 times since 2002. Stressing that they are paying close attention to interest-free irrigation loans, Çaðlar said a large area had been irrigated thanks to loans his bank has issued. Çaðlar noted that interest-free irrigation loans nationwide total YTL 1 billion, while YTL 230 million of this is allocated for the Southeast. The bank has granted YTL 9.3 billion in agricultural loans between 2003 and 2007. With the acceleration of irrigation, land prices in the Southeast are expected to skyrocket. Estimates predict land values will at least triple following the allocation of a large amount of irrigation resources, shooting up from YTL 3 to YTL 9. Þanlýurfa Real Estate Chamber SecretaryGeneral Ömer Faruk Karýnca said vibrancy in the Southeast after the implementation of the GAP package would attract interest to the region. Karýnca maintains that the price of the land will significantly increase. Noting that there has been no price increase during the preliminary work on the GAP package because of liquidity shortage, Karýnca said: “Interest in the region will grow when investors see that the government is serious. Above all, the price of the land will increase dramatically.” Karýnca noted that land prices in Halfeti had already reached YTL 10 per square meter. Stressing that in the past, land prices decreased due to irresponsible irrigation, Karýnca said prices would increase accordingly following the introduction of modern irrigation methods.
Two workers are digging the earth in a vast farm in Þanlýurfa’s Harran plane. Farmers in the region have been continuously complaining about the lack of irrigation.
Unable to obtain bank loan, farmer leases field Failing to successfully obtain a bank loan for his agricultural land, one Þanlýurfa farmer has responded to bank requirements of additional guarantees for loans by renting out his land instead of cultivating it. Yakup Yazar initially applied to Ziraat Bank for a YTL 20,000 loan for his land but gave up because of the bank’s request for a mortgage to secure the loan. The farmer’s interest was sparked when he saw a television commercial wherein Deniz Bank General Maanger Hakan Ateþ noted that they would grant bank loans to farmers without guarantors. Yazar applied to his local Deniz Bank branch for a loan, but felt he
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Banks bear a large responsibility in the proper implementation of the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) action plan, which envisages the allocation of YTL 14.5 billion in additional funds to Turkey’s impoverished Southeast to create 4 million jobs, as announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan early this week. Ensuring productivity and efficiency in agriculture will depend on generous bank loans -- outside the YTL 10.7 billion earmarked for irrigation in the government’s GAP project -- to the farmers currently suffering from the effects of regional drought. Banks must ease conditions for the extending of loans, including the requirement for farmers to secure an external guarantor. Otherwise, the GAP action package may wind up a major disappointment. Public banks have taken the first steps in bringing the GAP plan into effect in the region. Halkbank has dropped the external guarantor condition and announced it will open two branches in Diyarbakýr by the end of the year. Ziraat Bank plans to increase the total sum of agricultural loans granted nationwide from YTL 709 million to YTL 1 billion by the end of 2008; the bank will also provide small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises (KOBÝ) loans for the agricultural sector’s particular needs. Stressing that his bank would continue to seek external guarantors when granting loans, Ziraat Bank General Director Can Akýn Çaðlar said his institution welcomed every customer in possession of a sound guarantee. Asserting that the people in the region would become richer along with the irrigation of the land, Çaðlar further said: “First of all, we will provide irrigation loans. Then, we will provide funds for agricultural equipment and cold storage.” Noting that Ziraat offers services in 43 offices in the region, Çaðlar also said they would open additional branches as needed. Noting that no obstacle would remain to
MEHMET DENER
Banks ready to grant special loans for GAP ERCAN BAYSAL ANKARA
Hotels look to UEA, Russia as Turkish expat visitor numbers drop NECÝP ÇAKIR ANTALYA
After a substantial decrease in the number of Turkish expat customers as global financial fluctuation continues, hotels catering for Muslim guests in particular have sought to attract customers from places such as the United Arab Emirates and Russia. Þah Inn Paradise General Manager Ruhat Ülgen noted that the share of the Turkish families living abroad in their total customer base has decreased from 50 percent to 20 percent. In an attempt to make up for this loss, the hotel, in the Kumluca district of Antalya, has promoted itself in Arab countries, especially in the United Arab Emirates, where the mortgage crisis has not had a significant impact. Hotel staff also attended a tourism fair in the UK this year and obtained a number of reservations, especially from Muslim Britons. Russia has also become an important market for hotels that cater to Muslims, Ülgen said. The hotel has also received a substantial number of reservations from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Syria this year. The hotel's share of foreign customers increased from 10 percent last year to 20 percent this year. Speaking on the overall outlook of the sector
at a press conference held in Antalya, Ülgen recalled that the number of hotels that cater to the Muslim population increased from six to 27 in recent years, while the bed capacity of these hotels has reached 10,000. Another reason for the interest of these hotels in getting more foreign customers is their aim to expand the tourism season throughout the entire year. The declining number of domestic customers, which substantially decreases during the school year, can be offset by foreign tourists and thereby augment the revenue of these hotels. "We did not have a model before us when launching this business. Conservative families had no idea about where to spend their vacations. Now conservative customers are requesting things like a spa in their hotel; they want Thai massages. Our male customers in particular make frequent requests for such services," noted Ülgen. Kamer Holding, which owns and operates Þah Inn hotels, is preparing to launch a hotel with thermal spa facilities in Afyon in an effort to diversify its tourism investments. The holding also plans to operate hotels in Konya, Kayseri, Malatya and Ankara. It entered the hotel sector with the Þah Inn Suites in Alanya in 1999.
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would not be issued one because of red tape and bureaucratic obstacles referred to by the bank workers. The same bank required a large mortgage. Yazar, noting that he has a vast field in his village, says he would not seek bank loans if he had real estate in the city. Given his situation, the farmer decided to lease his land at $110 per hectare. Yazar, whose goal was YTL 100,000 in turnover for his harvest, was sorely disappointed. Yazar said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan’s remarks have raised his hopes, adding that he would like to work his own land next year after receiving a loan. Murat Gezer Þanlýurfa
Thanks to the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Action Plan, announced on Tuesday in Diyarbakýr, the Turkish economy will be reinvigorated, terrorism will be uprooted and funds allocated to counterterrorism efforts will be reinvested in the country's economy, the chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) has said. Speaking in Gaziantep yesterday to the Anatolia news agency, Sinan Aygün said the GAP Action Plan aims to ensure ongoing investments in the region are completed and that new investments are made. "Of course, we support all investments in Turkey," he said. Noting that GAP has social aspects as well, Aygün pointed out that the region is crippled by unemployment, poverty and misery, which give the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) organization the leverage to trick young people. He argued that provided the plan is implemented with determination, it will put an end to economic and social problems in the region and will undermine terrorism. "If we could ask 2,500 terrorists, now in the mountains, what their previous jobs and incomes were, all of them would say that they were unemployed and had no income. Have you ever heard of someone from Ankara or Sivas joining the terrorists? The Southeast is a neglected, underdeveloped region where educational levels are relatively low and where young people are being deceived. It is heartrending to say this, but people are forced to join the terrorists in the mountains," he said. Aygün further stated that he disagreed with arguments that the government has resumed populist practices. He noted that the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSÝAD) has objections to government efforts to introduce reductions in outstanding social security premiums and taxes and said these objections must be respected. "The reductions in unpaid social security premiums are needed. Small business owners are going through difficult times and are incapable of paying their debts. You cannot collect these debts through legal action. Unemployment is already at high levels, and if you resort to legal action, this will exacerbate the unemployment problem. For this reason, the government's approach to social security premium debt reductions and tax amnesty and related issues will give temporary relief to the economy," he said. Ankara Today's Zaman with wires
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Paulson to tell Mideast officials of burden on consumers from oil prices urging "all countries to open up their oil markets to investment that boosts yields, exploration and production." He said that message would not be aimed at any specific country but to all oil producing nations because a significant number of them are "walled off to private investment." Paulson will not make any specific request for nations to boost their production during the current period of soaring oil prices, McCormick said. On a trip to the Middle East earlier this month, President George W. Bush said that a modest oil production increase by Saudi Arabia "doesn't solve our problem" because the United States must take its own actions in the energy area. Paulson's first stop will be in Saudi Arabia for talks on Saturday with government officials and private sector investors. He
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will tell officials of Saudi Arabia and other Middle East oil producing nations that soaring oil prices are putting a "significant burden" on the global economy, a senior Treasury official said Wednesday. David McCormick, Treasury's undersecretary for international affairs, said that Paulson in an upcoming trip will be promoting increased foreign investment in oil production as a way of boosting supplies. "The key message that he will highlight is that record high oil prices are putting a significant burden on the global economy. They are also putting a significant burden on families and consumers, not just in the US, but around the world," McCormick said in a briefing to preview Paulson's weekend trip. McCormick said Paulson would be
will also visit Qatar and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He will deliver a major speech on the importance of open investment policies on Monday in Abu Dhabi. While in Abu Dhabi, Paulson will have a series of meetings with officials from large government investment funds, known as sovereign wealth funds. McCormick said that Paulson would stress that the United States is committed to maintaining open investment policies in this country and would stress the benefits other nations will receive from removing investment barriers in their nations. Sovereign wealth funds, in many cases bulging with revenues earned through the sale of oil, have raised concerns among members of Congress regarding their intentions in making investments in the US and Europe.
The administration has sought to walk a fine line on the issue, reflecting the United States' dependence on foreign investment to finance its huge trade deficits. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is estimated to have holdings of as much as $900 billion, making it the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world. This fund, which was set up more than 30 years ago to invest the Persian Gulf emirates oil wealth, late last year invested $7.5 billion in Citigroup Inc., giving it a 4.9 percent stake in America's biggest bank. In 2006, a public furor over foreign investment blocked an effort by Dubaiowned DP World to manage six of the largest ports in the United States. The outcry triggered congressional passage of a law tightening security reviews of foreign investments. Washington AP
Yahoo CEO Yang says hýs company ýs not ‘under sýege’ AP PHOTO
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang defended his handling of the failed Microsoft talks, saying he was committed to building value for long-term shareholders. resume his bid, a gambit that might get a boost from Icahn's efforts. "(Icahn) wants to make a few hundred million dollars for himself," Murdoch said. "From Microsoft's point of view, it's a bit of helpful noise." Murdoch denied any plans for News Corp., owner of the MySpace social networking site, to bulk up on the Internet with a big acquisition. "We're staying where we are," he said. Yang let out a single harsh snort at the first mention of Icahn's name during his appearance but did not comment on his efforts. Instead, Yang defended his handling of the failed Microsoft talks, saying he was committed to building value for long-term shareholders even at the expense of short-term gains. He blamed Microsoft for deep-sixing the deal and indicated that regulatory and other concerns
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Turkey expects record hazelnut crop in 2008 contýnued from page 1 "Not just Turkey, but also the other hazelnut-producing countries expect large yields this year. The total world production might possibly amount to 1.4 million tons. Considering the fact that annual total consumption worldwide will be at most 850,000 tons this year, the question arises of what is going to happen to the excess," he said. The Soil Products Office (TMO) depots are still full from last year's harvest and they have almost no empty space. Last year, the global hazelnut yield was 737,000 tons; 550,000 tons of which was grown in Turkey alone. A season's hazelnut yield is estimated via periodic inspections by a group of experts including members from provincial agriculture administrations, chambers of commerce and industry, commodity exchanges, the Hazelnut Growers Union (Fiskobirlik) and the local agricultural chambers of hazelnut-growing cities. The exact estimates regarding the 2008 crop will be announced by the first week of June. The total area of land for hazelnut production has increased by 191 percent since 1964, when the state began paying subsidies. Turkish farmers grew hazelnut on 220,000 hectares of land 44 years ago and now grow them on an area totaling over 641,000 hectares. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
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Draft bill lifting taxes to boost maritime sector A draft bill prepared by Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ýstanbul deputy Mehmet Domaç will exempt yachts, cutters and motorboats from vehicle and motor vehicle taxes. The bill aims to persuade Turkish private vessel owners who currently register their boats with foreign countries to return to running their vessels under the Turkish flag. The regulation also aims to increase demand for maritime businesses by helping them lower costs, which have risen with increasing fuel costs. The bill has already been presented to a parliamentary commission and the government has given its full support to the proposals laid out in it. The draft bill also calls for the formation of registry offices within port administrations across the country. All vessels owned by Turkish citizens, from small fishing boats to large freighters, will be obliged to register with one of these offices to be allowed to moor within Turkish borders. For a small fee, the offices will give them an annual license to dock in the country. The goal of this part of the bill is to get a better record of Turkey's sea vessel stock. Turkey has more than 8,300 kilometers of coastline on three major seas. Ercan Yavuz Ankara
FINANCE
Government mulls stance on credit card bill Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Coordination of the Economy Nazým Ekren has said the government will determine its position on a bill to regulate the credit card market by introducing interest rate limits after receiving more details on the package. Ahmet Ýyimaya, an Ankara deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), submitted a proposal last week suggesting that banks be prohibited from applying interest rates for credit card debts in default that exceed twice the amount of its interest rate for deposits. In other words, if a bank promises to pay depositors 1 percent per month, it cannot ask its credit card customers to pay more than 2 percent of their total debt per month as interest on overdue payments. Ekren said he would speak with Ýyimaya soon after returning to Ankara to go over the details and that following this meeting, the government's decision would be made. Ekren made his remarks to a group of reporters after delivering a speech at the Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) 51st general assembly meeting in Ýstanbul yesterday. He said all developed countries and major global markets were now subject to supply shocks from the energy and food industries. Therefore, he said, the government has geared up for investments in the country -- primarily in the southeastern Anatolian region -- to increase the agricultural production as a measure to help quell the local effects of the global supply shocks. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
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ship, but declined to provide any specifics. Yahoo also has been exploring a possible partnership that would allow Internet search leader Google Inc. to sell some of the ads that appear alongside the results users see when they run searches on Yahoo's Web site. A two-week trial completed last month indicated Googol's technology would help to boost Yahoo's profits and perhaps its stock price. But any alliance between Yahoo and Google would face antitrust obstacles because the two companies combined control more than 80 percent of the US search market. If Microsoft were to negotiate a similar partnership with Yahoo, instead of trying to buy its rival outright, it might not face the same antitrust problems because Google would still control more than half the market. Carlsbad AP
played a role. He has said the deal fell apart over price disagreements. "We did not walk away from the proposal -- Microsoft did," Yang said. "We were willing to do the deal on the right terms." Microsoft and Yahoo have acknowledged they have renewed talks about a possible transaction with since Icahn mounted his challenge, although both companies say the discussions so far haven't included another attempt by Microsoft to buy Yahoo in its entirety. Yang said he was still waiting for a clearer proposal from Microsoft but was vague about the shape any possible partnership could take. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Tuesday in his own talk at the conference that the two companies were in "ongoing discussions" about developing a partner-
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Yahoo Inc. CEO Jerry Yang rejected the image of his company as "under siege," telling conference goers that executives are rallying to streamline Yahoo's offerings and make it more relevant to consumers and to advertisers. Yahoo faces the threat of mutiny from shareholders unhappy with the way its board handled a takeover offer from Microsoft Corp. that was ultimately withdrawn this month. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal's "D: All Things Digital" conference Wednesday, Yang stood by his handling of the deal and painted a bright future for the Internet pioneer he co-founded. "The perception of us being a company under siege is just not accurate," said Yang, who deflected repeated questions about what lies ahead for the company, where he returned as CEO last year. Yang and Yahoo President Susan Decker said the company was reorganizing around four pillars: home page, search, mail and mobile services. "The essence of Yahoo is being defined today," Yang said. "We have to be incredibly relevant to the consumer. We want you to start your day at Yahoo." Later, he pleaded for time to turn around the slumping company. "I know people want to see results," he said. "But I think we're starting to show Yahoo can be on this path to being a different entity." Yang faces a looming showdown with activist investor Carl Icahn for control of Yahoo's board. Icahn, hoping to channel shareholder discontent, has nominated a slate of candidates to replace the current board of directors -- a process known as a proxy fight -- in an effort to arrange the marriage between Microsoft and Yahoo. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant withdrew its $47.5 billion bid earlier this month. Yang has said he and other board members wanted $37 per share, or about $52 billion. News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch said Wednesday night that he was "mystified" Microsoft failed to consummate the acquisition. "I cannot understand the whole thing," he told the same audience.Microsoft is "not used to big deals," said Murdoch. "They backed off." Microsoft offered a price that a vast majority of Yahoo shareholders wanted to accept but Yang managed to spike the deal, Murdoch said. If he were in Microsoft's shoes, Murdoch said he would
A 30-May ome of US in Personal inc nce Indeks of Brita de Con. Confi ent rate and con. ym ro Unemplo Eu of ex e ind Confidenc ent rate and CPI of Unemploym dence Japan i. Con. Confi n Michiga Ün trade statistics of gn 17:00 Forei 2008 (TÜÝK ril Turkey - Ap
BUSINESS
High 130,90 903,20 3,68
Low 128,50 878,60 3,59
P/E: Share price divided by earnings per share is a measure of the price paid for a share relative to the income or profit earned by the firm per share. EV/EBITDA: Enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, tax and amortization; “t” stands for trailer and means the data over the last four quarters. (*) Yesterday's closing (**) Updated at 6 p.m. by GMT+2 Disclaimer: The information in this report has been prepared by BMD, Bizim Securities from sources believed to be reliable. All the information, interpretations and recommendations covered herein relating to investment actions are not within the scope of investment consultancy. Therefore investment decisions based only on the information covered herein may not bring expected results.
ENERGY
Chevron profits shadowed by human rights breaches Despite higher profits on record oil prices, the board of directors at Chevron Corp, the No. 2 US petroleum producer, was lambasted at the company's annual meeting on Wednesday. Shareholders and activists urged company officials to take responsibility for the environmental and human costs of oil production. They harangued the board on a range of human rights abuses in such countries as Ecuador, Nigeria and Myanmar. "You are here comfortably, while other people are dying ... Imagine if you were one of them," said Naw Musi, a Myanmar refugee affiliated with Earth Rights International, a human rights group. San Ramon Reuters
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SHOPPING
TODAYS ZAMAN 09
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
Summertime picnics in your ideal Habitat
Wind back the years with Guinot In a world first for professional skin care, Age Logic Cellulaire includes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in its formula. ATP is a basic molecule that stores energy; combined with oxynergin it increases the amount of oxygen consumed by the skin, awakening inactive cells and giving them renewed energy and strength. Your skin will become noticeably softer, firmer and more radiant. Age Logic Cellulaire is the first skin cream to use this "cell life complex." Customers will see their skin cells rejuvenate to an incredible degree. Wrinkles will also be visibly reduced. Apply every evening to clean skin. Price: YTL 230
The lively colors and designs in Habitat's new 2008 spring-summer collection will bring variety and energy to dinner tables, picnic spreads and seaside trips. A bright shower of shades makes Habitat's line of cups, glasses, decorated trays, pitchers, easy-to-use bowls and more stand out from the crowd. The tough but chic melamine tableware sets will be perfect for outings while comfortable loungers and bright hammocks promise you a comfortable time in the great outdoors. Candles for moonlit summer nights are another mustbuy item from Habitat this summer, as ever bringing innovation and creativity to your home style.
Network 2008 springsummer collection With its futuristic feel, the Network 2008 spring-summer collection brings fashion lovers striking shades of coffee, ecru, khaki and beige in its new line of clothing. You will everything from jacket-shorts combos to business shirts, business dresses, bermudas, cotton pants, silky dresses, and much more in this collection. Look for denim summer jackets and trench coats, as well as light, airy dresses in dark blue, white and powder pink. In the collection for men, Network presents classic looks with modern nuances, pulling claret tones front and center with its casual jackets for gents. Try combinations that bring together grey and anthracite shades with green tones, or dark blue and coffee blended together in blazers, jackets and suits.
No-stress summer sun for little ones Nivea Sun brings parents high-factor sun protection creams made especially for children. Now you can relax as your kids play comfortably in and out of the water with the help of Sun Spray and Sun Milk for Children from Nivea Sun, each available at SPF 50+ to ensure maximum protection for young and vulnerable skin. The balanced UVA/UVB filter system in these sun products also reduces the risk of sun allergy, and waterproof and long-lasting there's no need for reapplication after swimming: perfect for kids who refuse to come out of the water! Gently colored light green, Sun Spray for Children allows parents to make sure they have given their kids total protection. For those who prefer a lotion to a spray, Nivea Sun also offers Sun Milk 50+, with a non-oily and non-sticky formula. Both products are easy to apply and quickly absorbed.
Father's Day treats for darling dads at Kiðýlý Take advantage of Kiðýlý's "Know the Value of Your Money" campaign to make your father feel special; spoil him rotten with affordable chic. Prices in the campaign, which began in May, include suits from YTL 149, safaristyle jackets and coats at YTL 69, pants from YTL 39, shirts at YTL 29 and T-shirts for just YTL 19. Comfortable and stylish options in summer clothing abound at Kiðýlý this season. Pay particular attention to their 100 percent natural fiber ranges, well-cut suits, plaid and herringbone patterned jackets and much more. Father's Day is just three weeks away: make sure you're ready!
CM Y K
29.05.2008
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10 TODAY’S ZAMAN
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PRAISE AP
End of dynasty as Nepalese king loses his crown
PHOTO
Sarkozy hails Syrian President Bashar Assad French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Damascus' efforts to help end the 18-month Lebanon crisis during a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar alAssad on Thursday, Syrian state media reported. The call signaled a thaw in relations between Syria and France, which last year rebuked Damascus over what it said was its failure to help resolve the conflict. In December Sarkozy ordered his government to halt diplomatic contacts with Syria. A deal mediated by Qatar this month ended the standoff between Lebanon's ruling coalition and an opposition alliance led by Hezbullah -- a group backed by both Damascus and Tehran. Sarkozy, whose foreign minister failed last year to mediate an end to the crisis, "praised the intensive efforts made by (Assad) to make the Doha agreement succeed," Syrian news agency SANA reported. There was no immediate word from Paris on the phone call. France, Lebanon's former colonial power, backed the ruling coalition through the crisis, along with the United States and Arab countries including Saudi Arabia. The Lebanon conflict turned violent this month, killing 81 people and triggering the Qatari-led mediation bid. Damascus Reuters
JEREMY PAGE KATMANDU
ENVIRONMENT
Climate fund predicted to total $5.5 billion
PUTSCH
Thai military commander denies coup rumors Thailand's top commander denied reports on Thursday that the military may be plotting another coup amid rising political tensions in the southeast Asian nation. Recent street protests against the government have fuelled speculation that the army may again intervene in politics after ousting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless 2006 putsch. Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit told Reuters that comments he made earlier on Thursday had been misinterpreted by some media. "I simply said anyone plotting a coup would not tell you in advance. From what I can see, there is no one thinking about that. It is not appropriate. I believe there will not be any coup," he said. Bangkok's rumor mill has been churning since Sunday's protest by about 5,000 opponents of the pro-Thaksin coalition government elected in December last year. About two dozen people were wounded in clashes between anti-Thaksin protesters and his supporters at the rally, which organisers said was a bid to stop the government from amending the 2007 army-designed constitution to benefit Thaksin, who is facing corruption charges. Bangkok Reuters
Indonesian women raise kitchen utensils during a recent protest against fuel price hikes in the capital, Jakarta.
He began the day as King Gyanendra of Nepal, revered as the reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and enthroned as head of the world's only remaining Hindu monarchy, dating back 240 years. He ended it as a commoner - albeit a wealthy one -- after a new elected assembly, dominated by former Maoist rebels, used its first meeting on Wednesday to abolish the monarchy. After a day of intense political drama, marked by bombings, backroom negotiations and jubilant street demonstrations, the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of replacing King Gyanendra with a president. Political leaders agreed to give him just 15 days to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace in Katmandu or be evicted by force. "We have a big responsibility now," Girija Prasad Koirala, the elderly Prime Minister of Nepal, said in a short address when the assembly session started. "We have come a long way, crossing lots of obstacles and hurdles to enter a new era. Our dream has come true, I think the nation's dream has come true," he said. Nepalis hope the assembly's decision will end a decade-long civil war that killed more than 13,000 people and devastated the country's tiny, tourism-dependent economy. The Maoists, who ended their insurgency in 2006 and won a surprise victory in the April election, have long been determined to replace King Gyanendra with a strong, executive president. Other parties have been worried that the Maoists will turn Nepal into a dictatorship and a small group of royalists insisted that Nepal should remain a monarchy. Earlier in the day the tensions spilled on to the streets as political leaders debated who, and in what capacity, should replace King Gyanendra. Three small bombs exploded in Kathmandu, the capital, injuring at least one person, in what police suspect were the latest in a string of attacks by hard-line monarchists. © The Times, London AP
Major industrialized countries are expected to create a multibillion-dollar fund later this year to help developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions, World Bank President Robert Zoellick was quoted as saying. In an interview with Japan's Asahi newspaper published on Thursday, Zoellick said the fund would likely be finalised at the Group of Eight summit to be held on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on July 7-9 "(The fund) will be an important contribution because the climate change issue is one where we need to support UN negotiations (on a framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol)," Zoellick said. Quoting unspecified sources, Asahi said more than 10 countries were expected to set aside about $5.5 billion for the fund. Environment ministers from the G8 rich nations agreed earlier this week that ensuring funds to help developing countries adapt to climate change and cut greenhouse gas emissions was vital. Tokyo and Washington called on other donor countries to join a fund they want to set up. Apart from the United States, Britain and Japan, Zoellick was quoted as saying that he would expect Australia, Canada and some European countries to take part in the scheme. "I can't say today exact sums or exact countries, but the signs are getting positive," Zoellick was quoted as saying. Tokyo Reuters
WORLD
PHOTO
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World food prýces to stay hýgh over the next decade contýnued from page 1 "In many low-income countries, food expenditures average over 50 percent of income and the higher prices contained in this outlook (report) will push more people into undernourishment," the report said. Millions of people's purchasing power across the globe would be hit, said the report, co-produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN food agency in Rome, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. The cost of many food commodities has doubled over the last couple of years, sparking widespread protests and even riots in some of the worst affected spots, such as Haiti. Many factors, including drought in big commodity-producing regions such as
Australia, explained some of the acceleration in prices, as did growing demand from fast-developing countries such as China and India, the report said. But it singled out the big drive to produce biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels, a push the U.S. government is sponsoring heavily. "Biofuel demand is the largest source of new demand in decades and a strong factor underpinning the upward shift in agricultural commodity prices," said the report, adding it was time to consider alternatives. The benefits at environmental and economic level as well as in terms of energy security were "at best modest and sometimes even negative", the report said. While it was hard to always identify exactly how much retail food prices were affect-
ed by food commodity prices, the direct impact was clearer in poorer countries where there is less of the value-added, packaged and processed food that is consumed more in wealthy regions, the report said. The proportion of total funds that households use to pay for food varies hugely, from more than 60 percent in Bangladesh, to 40 or 50 percent in many other developing countries, and just 10 percent in the United States or Germany, or 27 percent in China, the report said. It also highlighted the impact of financial investors in the commodities futures markets, saying this added upwards pressure on prices in the short term but that the jury was still out as to the long-term impact, beyond generating greater volatility. Paris Reuters
A demonstrator urging the king to leave the palace climbs atop a statue of King Birendra, the brother of the present King Gyanendra.
CRIME REPORT
Balkans one of the safest regions in Europe The Balkans, once known as a hotbed of crime and violence amid wars in Yugoslavia and the transition from communism, has become one of the safest areas in Europe, a UN report said Thursday. However, organized crime and its links to politicians and business continues to pose serious challenges in several Balkan nations, said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which compiled the report. "Some of you will be surprised ... by the key findings of this report," Costa told reporters at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium. "In general if you look at conventional crime ... the levels of these crimes across the region are by far lower than they used to be, particularly at the beginning of the 1990s." The survey, entitled "Crime and Its Impact on the Balkans," covered nine countries: Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro and Serbia. Belgrade AP
Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama expects to clinch nomination next week
Pakistani army moves to douse rumor of Musharraf resignation
McCain begins after Tuesday's votes. "Yes," Sen. Barack Obama said on Wednesday he responded. Asked if he will be the winner he expected to become the Democratic of the Democratic nomination at that point, US presidential nominee after next week and he said, "I believe so." The Illinois senator, 46, he is considering an overseas trip that may inpredicted he would be in a "pretty strong poclude Iraq. After a hard-fought primary seasition" to clinch the nomination son against rival Democrat after a Saturday meeting by Hillary Clinton, Obama said party officials and Tuesday's the general election race will votes. On Saturday, Democratic begin in earnest next week afofficials will work on a comproter the last two nominating mise over disputed nominating contests are held in South contests in Michigan and Dakota and Montana. Talking Florida. Obama said a resoluto reporters on his plane from tion on how to seat those deleDenver to Chicago, Obama gates would be important to was asked if the race for the "put the Michigan/Florida issue November general election Barack Obama behind us." Chicago Reuters against Republican John
newspaper on Thursday focused on a lateThe Pakistani army and President Pervez night meeting between the army chief, General Musharraf's spokesman moved to dampAshfaq Kayani, and Musharraf. The military isen speculation on Thursday that the beleasued a statement saying Kayani "regretted that guered president was about to quit. Rumors a section of press is trying to unnecessarily senthat US ally Musharraf was close to resigning sationalize routine functional were one of the reasons for falls matters." A spokesman for of more than 4 percent on the Musharraf rebutted the newspaKarachi stock market on both per article's assertion that Wednesday and Thursday. Ever Musharraf had agreed to leave since a February general election his official residence in robbed him of parliamentary Rawalpindi. "Neither has there support, speculation has been any discussion of the presabounded that the unpopular ident moving out of the president, who came to power President's Lodge, nor is there as a general in a 1999 coup, any plan for him to do so," said would be driven from office. A Pervez Musharraf Rashid Qureshi. Islamabad Reuters front page story in the News
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Myanmar’s junta lashed out at offers of foreign aid on Thursday, criticizing donors’ demands for access to the Irrawaddy delta and saying Cyclone Nargis’ 2.4 million victims could stand by themselves. “The people from Irrawaddy can survive on self-reliance without chocolate bars donated by foreign countries,” the Kyemon newspaper said in a Burmese-language editorial. As with all media in the former Burma, it is tightly controlled by the army and is believed to reflect the thinking of the top generals, who until now have shown signs of growing, albeit grudging, acceptance of outside cyclone assistance. The editorial also accused the international community of being stingy, noting that the United Nations’ flash appeal was still a long way short of its $201 million target nearly four weeks after the disaster, which left 134,000 dead or missing. The level of aid stands in stark contrast to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when governments around the world promised $2 billion within the first week. “Myanmar needs about $11 billion. The pledging amounted to over $150 million, less than the $201 million mentioned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as emergency aid, it said, adding a thinly veiled swipe at arch-enemy the United States. “There is one big nation that even extended economic sanctions on Myanmar although it had already been known that Myanmar was in for a very powerful storm,” it said. Yangon Reuters
REBELLION
Mutinous Guinean troops demand military chiefs Guinean soldiers raised new demands on Thursday for the sacking of army, navy and air force chiefs, refusing to abandon a violent four-day-old mutiny despite a government offer to pay them years of wage arrears. Since Monday, junior soldiers in several towns across the world's top bauxite exporter have fired guns in the air, attacked senior officers, and looted shops and rice stores to press demands ranging from cash to leadership changes. Several people have been killed and dozens hurt by stray bullets raining down on crowded slums. New Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare granted most of the soldiers' demands late on Tuesday, including for the sacking of the defense minister, but the concessions appeared to have only emboldened the rebels. "They are demanding that the heads of all military services quit," said one, a junior officer at Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo in the capital Conakry, where the protests began on Monday. He said soldiers wanted the heads of the army, navy and air force to go. Analysts say Souare's capitulation to most of the soldiers' demands, including paying them 5 million Guinean francs ($1,140) each, risks encouraging further unrest. Conakry Reuters
TRIP
Putin visits France in new role as PM Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signaled he still has clout in shaping Russia's foreign relations during a visit to France that included a meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy. The meeting later on Thursday was a departure from usual protocol for prime ministerial visits, underlining Putin's importance even though his protege, Dmitry Medvedev, replaced him as president earlier this month. France holds the EU presidency for six months from July 1. Putin, who will also meet French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, is expected to seek the help of Paris in improving strained relations with the 27-nation bloc and diversifying trade. A delegation of business executives is accompanying Putin as part of efforts to attract European investment and technology that could help diversify the Russian economy away from its dominant energy sector. As prime minister, Putin is in charge of Russia's $1.3 trillion economy. But many political analysts say the believe Putin and not Medvedev is, at least for now, taking the lead in politics and foreign policy. Medvedev's first official trip to the West as president will be to Germany in June. Asked why Putin's agenda in France went beyond his economy brief, a Russian government source said: "The prime minister is a member of the country's Security Council which has a role in formulating foreign policy." Paris Reuters
Chemicals, rain add to China’s quake lake fears Five thousand tons of dangerous chemicals and heavy rain are adding to the mix of threats from one of China’s “quake lakes” in danger of bursting their banks, a newspaper said on Thursday. Illustrating the sense of urgency, the Finance Ministry said it was funneling an extra 1 billion yuan ($144.2 million) into relief work on an estimated 35 quake lakes in addition to 400 million yuan already allotted to work on smaller, damaged dams. About 5,000 tons of chemicals, including sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, were trapped downstream from the Tangjiashan lake and had to be moved to safe ground, the Beijing News said, citing local environmental authorities. China has evacuated more than 150,000 people living below the swollen
Tangjiashan lake, formed by the devastating May 12 earthquake, amid fears it could burst and trigger massive flooding. The official death toll from the 7.9 magnitude quake is already more than 68,500 and is certain to rise further, with nearly 20,000 listed as missing. Aftershocks on Tuesday toppled 420,000 houses, many already uninhabitable. The chemicals, adding pollution to the threat of flooding, were stranded in different work sites downstream from the lake, the newspaper said. The Tangjiashan lake was created when landslides blocked the Jianjiang River above the town and county of Beichuan in mountainous Sichuan province, near the quake epicenter. It has been raining at the site from early Thursday, hampering efforts by more
than 600 soldiers to open a giant sluice to discharge floodwaters, Xinhua news agency said. Helicopters shipping in equipment were unable to take off. Some 1,000 People’s Liberation Army soldiers were making their way by foot to the lake, carrying more than 10 tons of diesel for bulldozers already there. Alexander Densmore, a seismologist at Durham University in Britain, said any break in a quake lake would likely be sudden. “These landslide dams pose a really significant risk in these mountain regions, and in these narrow valleys it doesn’t take much material to create a complete blockage,” he said by phone. Once a breach occurred, there could be an accelerating process leading to a sudden rush of water downstream. Dujiangyan Reuters
REUTERS
Myanmar lashes out at ‘chocolate bar’ foreign aid
PHOTO
REBUFF
Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army set up a makeshift bridge for refugees to evacuate Pingwu county of Mianyang, Sichuan province.
AP
WORLD
Iraqi PM Maliki asks for debt cancellation Baghdad is pushing for an end to the billions of dollars it pays in compensation for Saddam’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. At present it is required to set aside 5 percent of its oil revenues, which Iraq says will amount to $3.5 billion this year Iraq on Thursday renewed a call to foreign creditors to cancel about $60 billion in debts and asked that compensation payments imposed after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait be scrapped. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made the call at an international conference convened in Stockholm to assess progress in a five-year plan to rebuild Iraq. “Iraq is not a poor country. It possesses tremendous human and material resources, but the debts of Iraq ... which we inherited from the dictator hamper the reconstruction process,” Maliki told the conference. “We are looking forward to the brother countries writing off its (Iraq’s) debts, which are a burden on the Iraqi government,” he said, a pointed reference to Gulf states Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which are Iraq’s biggest Arab creditors. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were not present at Thursday’s conference, with junior officials representing both countries. A member of the Iraqi delegation said they were disappointed by the foreign ministers’ absence. About $66.5 billion of Iraq’s $120.2 billion foreign debt has been forgiven, according to US State Department estimates. More than half of the outstanding debt is owed to Gulf Arab states, mainly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Arab League chief Amr Moussa backed Maliki’s call for debt relief saying: “I call upon everybody, including the Arab countries, to accelerate this issue.” Iraq is pushing for an end to the billions of dollars it pays in compensation for Saddam’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. At present it is required to set aside 5 percent of its oil revenues, which Iraq says will amount to $3.5 billion this year. Maliki made a similar debt relief call at a conference of Iraq’s neighbors in
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Kuwait in April, with Iraqi officials noting at the time that while many of Iraq’s major creditors had cancelled its debts, its Arab neighbors had not followed suit. The Stockholm conference is the first annual review of the International Compact with Iraq agreed in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh last year, which committed Iraq to implement reforms in exchange for greater international support. Opening the conference, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the Iraqi government for making “notable progress” in meeting economic, political and security benchmarks set at
Scott Mcclellan
last year’s conference in Egypt. “If we had to use one word to describe the situation in Iraq today I would choose ... hope,” he said. “There is new hope that the people and government of Iraq are overcoming daunting challenges and working together to rebuild their country.” While security has improved in Iraq, with US officials saying violence is at a four-year low, political progress has been much slower since the US-led invasion in 2003, with national reconciliation mired in sectarian tensions between Iraq’s Shiite and Sunni sects. The main Sunni Arab political bloc, which quit the government in August, said on Wednesday it suspended talks to rejoin Maliki’s USte-led administration after a disagreement over a cabinet post. Maliki told the conference his government was pushing ahead with plans to hold provincial elections in October, despite the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, saying last week that November was a more likely date. Washington sees the elections as critical to bringing minority Sunni Arabs into the political process and easing sectarian tensions that pushed the country to civil war in 2006. Sweden said on Monday that 97 delegations including 500 to 600 political leaders would attend the one-day conference in Stockholm, including Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and representatives from Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria. In a 75-page progress report to the conference, oil-rich Iraq stressed it was not looking for money from the international community but for technical help to get its economy back on its feet after decades of wars and sanctions. “The high-level meeting in Stockholm is not a pledging conference ... Instead, Iraq looks for partnership, technical assistance and economic exchange,” it said. Stockholm Reuters
VERDICT
Russia told to pay damages to victims of Chechen wars The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ordered Russia to pay more than 350,000 euros (US$550,000) to victims of Russian armed raids in Chechnya. Moscow has three months to appeal the fine, awarded to plaintiffs in five separate cases involving a dozen people who disappeared during the raids in 2002-2003. The court ruled the Russian forces are responsible for the disappearance and presumed death of the victims. Dozens of similar complaints are still pending before the Strasbourg court, which has so far ruled against Russia in all of the Chechen disappearance cases that have been closed. Moscow has denied that its security forces are guilty of atrocities in the southern Muslim republic of Chechnya, where two wars were fought to re-establish Russian control following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. But survivors and relatives of Chechen victims have recently sought -- and won -- reparations from the Strasbourg-based human rights court. Strasbourg AP
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19:41
Former Bush spokesman says he didn’t object to start of Iraq War
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Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt (front, second from left) delivers the opening address at a meeting with Iraqi donors in Stockholm on Thursday.
CM Y K
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan defended his bombshell book about the Bush administration on Thursday, saying he didn't object to the selling of the war in Iraq at the time because he, like other Americans, gave the president the benefit of the doubt. "My beliefs were different then. I believed the president when he talked about he grave and gathering danger from Iraq," McClellan, who was deputy press secretary during the lead-up to the war, told NBC's "Today" show. McClellan said he has come to believe the war was a mistake but still doesn't think the president lied to oversell the threat from Iraq. "He came to convince himself of that," McClellan said of President George W. Bush. McClellan said he isn't accusing administration officials of "deliberate or conscious" lies to the American people, but instead of becoming so wrapped up in trying to shape the story to their advantage that they ignored facts that didn't fit the views they were promoting. McClellan said he expected the angry response from White House insiders that his book has generated. As the book -- "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" -- vaulted to No. 1 on Amazon.com's best-seller list Wednesday, Republican critics dismissed him as a turncoat, a sellout and a disgruntled former employee. McClellan said he wrote the book in hopes of changing the "permanent campaign culture" of Washington _ which he said he and Bush had hoped to change from the White House but instead "got caught up in." "I'm disappointed that things didn't turn out the way we all hoped they would turn out," McClellan said. "We all had high hopes coming in." McClellan's allegations about pro-war propaganda drew a quick rebuke from former White House counselor Dan Bartlett. "I would not personally participate in a process in which we are misleading the American people, and that's the part that I think is hurting so many of his former colleagues," Bartlett said, also on speaking on "Today." "To think that he is making such a striking allegation against his former colleagues, to me, is beyond the pale." Speaking earlier on Thursday to reporters in Sweden, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rejected McClellan's allegations that the Bush administration misled the American public into going to war with Iraq. Rice would not comment specifically on charges in the book, but said Bush was honest and forthright about the reasons for the war. She also said she remained convinced that toppling Saddam Hussein was right and necessary. "The president was very clear about the reasons for going to war," she told reporters at a news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm where she is attending an international conference on Iraq. Washington AP
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12 TODAY’S ZAMAN
F R I D AY, M AY 3 0 , 2 0 0 8
EXPAT ZONE
What’s ýn a questýon? When Pinocchio lied everyone knew, but real life isn’t always so clear. Physical demeanor alone is not enough to tell whether someone is lying or not. You yourself have probably lied in one form or another in your life. After all, lying can range from the vague lies of politeness (“Fine, thank you” and “You look wonderful,” for instance) to more serious ones. I find the popular show “Law and Order” an entertaining informal approach to human nature. I am always intrigued by how the interrogators always find a way to trip up the suspect being held by asking unexpected questions and catching the suspect off guard. Author Somerset Maugham is famous for his unique talent for exposing and exploring the bitter realities of human relationships in tales of love, infidelity, passion and prejudice. Maugham’s stories are usually set in exotic places. You may think it must be awfully hard in another culture to know when someone is lying to you when even in your own culture you are not always sure whether or not someone is telling the truth. When it comes to telling the truth or lying, many Westerners see only two options: Something is either true or false. The French, though, are an exception to this. The French see three options: true, somewhat true and
CULTURAL CORNER
CHARLOTTE McPHERSON false, and they expect the second to be the most common. Turks are similar to the French in this regard because they believe it is better to go this route than disappoint or hurt you; it is better to not tell all or to not tell you at all! I have always had problems explaining this to my American guests who get into difficult situations because of this phenomenon. Whether the Turk (or the Frenchman) has tried to be misleading or not makes very little difference. What matters is correcting the damage done as a result. It’s all in the question and how you answer it. The only way I have found to help people (whether you are doing business or in a personal relationship) with this difficult issue is to help them understand how to ask questions. Particularly in the US, where asking a single question will elicit ample in-
formation from a salesperson or office clerk, in places like Turkey or France, a question is understood in a narrow way. Perhaps they assume that you know everything else there is to know about the topic. The solution is simply to continue to ask questions very politely until you get enough of the big picture. Don’t expect all the information to be volunteered. A very common form of lying is giving too much information. In Turkey, many have said it is easy to tell when your employee or boyfriend, etc., is not being honest -- they usually want to tell you a rather confusing and long story to cover their tracks. J.J. Newberry, who served as a federal agent for 30 years and as a police officer for five, suggests the following tips to determine if someone is lying to you. Inconsistencies: Look for statements that just don’t fit. Ask the unexpected: Catch the person off guard with a question and watch their response. Gauge against a baseline: Dishonesty changes one’s behavior. If a person’s behavior differs from how they normally act, it could mean something is up. Look for insincere emotions: Faked emotions indicate that something has gone afoul.
Pay attention to gut reactions: A gut reaction or a woman’s intuition could be picking up on the deviations of true emotions and warnings. Watch for microexpressions: This is a very brief expression, usually about a 25th of a second, that is always a concealed emotion and revealed in a subconscious flash of anger. Look for contradictions: Anything that a person does with their voice or their gesture that doesn’t fit the words they are saying can indicate a lie. A sense of unease: When someone is avoiding eye contact, and that’s against how they normally act, it can mean they’re not being honest. When you suspect someone is lying, you have to either know the person well enough to understand why he or she might lie or be a people expert. You’ll be miserable if you think you can’t trust anybody. It’s best to try to take people at their word, but accept you’ll be taken in by some. Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
THERESA DAY ANTALYA
Kate Clow is probably best known as the person who, in 1999, pioneered Turkey’s first long-distance footpath, “The Lycian Way.” The book is a guide to a 500-kilometer waymarked trek around the southern coast of Turkey -- between Fethiye and Antalya -- for both independent and group trekkers and nature-lovers. The route itself is waymarked to French Grande Randonne standards. After “The Lycian Way,” in 2004 came the “St. Paul Trail,” a guidebook to the route taken by St. Paul on his first proselytizing journey from Perge to Antioch in Pisidia. That was followed this year by a trekking guide to the Kaçkar Mountains in the Black Sea region. Walking, however, has never been one of Kate’s hobbies but more a means to an end. “The Lycian Way” was initially inspired by her love of old roads. “In 1989 I discovered the decaying network of Greek, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman roads and paths which traverse the Turkish countryside,” she explained, “So I moved to Turkey, worked in Ýstanbul, learned the language and in 1993 ended up in Antalya. Here, with the aid of a few naval maps and the stories of villagers to guide me, I started exploring old roads. The locals thought I was totally mad! By 1997, I had linked them up into a long-distance route. Then in 1998 I won a national environmental competition and Garanti Bank agreed to sponsor the waymarking of the Lycian Way.”
A short walk ýn Turkey’s mountaýns wýth Kate Clow
Lampposts and the law Kate makes writing a trekking guidebook sound straightforward, but when you dig a bit deeper it turns out it’s been quite an adventure. Of the four years it took her to put “The Lycian Way” together, the first two were spent experimenting with different routes, piecing parts of old roads together like a puzzle. When it was almost finished, she won the Garanti Bank competition and thus gained access to military maps of the area. She then embarked on the mammoth task of revising the trek from start to finish. She also had to deal with bureaucracy: Before she could waymark and signpost the route she needed permission to do so. There was an unforeseen obstacle, however; unlike in the UK or mainland Europe, footpaths don’t have a legal status in Turkey. A trekking route was a totally new concept so she was bounced back and forth between the forestry and culture and tourism ministries. Two years later her odyssey around corridors in Ankara finally came to an end when the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Conservation Commission gave her the go-ahead. That, however, didn’t prevent her from getting arrested when waymarking the St. Paul Trail. She only had permission to waymark on Forestry Ministry land, so, when painting marks on a lamppost in Eðirdir, she was arrested. The local police then scoured the countryside and discovered other waymarks. Fortunately by the time the three cases against her got to court it was no longer illegal to put paint on lampposts. Asked if there’s anything she’d like to change in Turkey, her reply was: “The Turkish Constitution. Firstly, reasonable-scale walking maps should be made freely available to the public and secondly, footpaths and old roads should be protected under the Constitution.”
Outside world discovers Turkey’s villages Kate is well aware of the impact her books and the subsequent publicity can have. What started out as a quest to preserve old roads is now a desire to ensure that revenues from trekking tourism reach the locals. For her, sustainable tourism means encouraging villagers along the routes to offer transport, accommodation and meals to trekkers in a coordinated way. “While researching for the books I spent time in forgotten backwaters where many people had never met a foreigner; they called me ‘gavur’ [literally a non-Muslim but applied to foreigners by many],” she explained. “Such communities are dying out because of migration and emigration. The Kaçkar region, with its yaylas and high mountain peaks is a perfect example,” she continued, “Many of the villages there are virtually empty during the winter, with people returning from Ýstanbul or Germany to spend the summer on the family yayla. There’s walking tourism in the region but there are no maps or books readily available. Writing a guide to the region was a logical step, both to encourage more walkers and develop other types of ecotourism there.
There’s a great deal of unexploited potential there, as there is in many mountainous areas of Turkey.” But have there been tangible results for locals along the Lycian Way and the St. Paul Trail? Kate gave two examples: In economic terms, since the publication of “The Lycian Way,” more than 20 new pensions/village houses have opened to provide accommodation for trekkers. On a personal level, the book has changed the lives of local women: In one village the mukhtar (local headman) used to shut his four daughters in the kitchen when trekkers turned up (especially if they were foreign men in shorts) but Kate heard recently that he’s now enrolled one daughter in higher education and sent another to tourism school.
Kate, the EU and TEMA Her trekking guide to the Kaçkar is part of a wider attempt to reverse depopulation; now that it’s been published she’s joined the Kaçkar Mountains Sustainable Forestry and Conservation Project, a joint European Union and Turkish Foundation for Reforestation, Protection of Natural Habitats and Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA) project in the region. The EU is investing some 1.5 million euros, of which about 350,000 will be spent on ecotourism. Kate is responsible for improving ecotourism opportunities in the region and enabling local people to benefit from tourism. Her portfolio ranges from marketing to repairing old roads and she has combined many activities in a tourism strategy. While heading the two-year project she’s going to address areas such as lengthening the tourism season; introducing different types of nature friendly tourism; creating alternative trailheads, complete with accommodation in village houses; opening old passes to give alternate routes across the range; marketing to an older, richer market; and many other activities. The main threat to the area is the potential construction of the Yusufeli dam, a major construction project over 200 meters high, which will flood 17 villages as well as the market town of Yusufeli, the gateway to the region. She believes, however, that although it has been hyped for many years, the dam may never happen. She realizes that the project isn’t going to be plain
sailing. Asked what the most challenging area is likely to be, Kate replied she expects it to be coordinating with the local bodies involved, such as local government, the National Parks Department and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project in the nearby Çoruh valley. On a positive note, she’s looking forward to working with Suade Arançlý, ex-head of the National Parks’ GEF 2 Project who has just joined TEMA as assistant director. Another challenge is to provide alternative activities to replace jeep tourism. “Since I’ve been in Turkey I’ve become more aware of the country’s ongoing problems related to global warming,” she explained, “This has increased my interest in ecotourism and made me realize just how much damage jeep tourism does to the environment.” To raise international awareness of the Kaçkar, the Culture and Tourism Ministry is sponsoring a program of day walks for foreign journalists. This will be followed by a conference organized by the Turkish Nature Association in Ayder, where for the first time the ministry will consider the image of ecotourism in Turkey and how to develop and promote it. “It’s taken over a year of discussions and negotiations to bring this conference into being, but it may prove to be the start of a series which will inspire Turkey to ‘green’ its tourism image,” she explained.
Kate Clow, author of travel guides ‘The Lycian Way,’ ‘St. Paul Trail’ and ‘The Kaçkar,’ arrived in Turkey some 20 years ago on the run from Thatcherism and in search of paved Greek and Roman roads
So much to do, so little time Among the many projects Kate would like to undertake, she’s particularly enthusiastic about putting together two new trekking routes. “I’m looking forward to the day when I can write a walking guide to the Cilo-Sat mountain range in Hakkari,” she explained, “because, above all, the locals have recently hardly used the mountains and so the wildlife and fauna there are undisturbed.” You can order Kate’s trekking guides - “The Lycian Way,” “St. Paul Trail” and “The Kaçkar” -- or contact her through www.trekkinginturkey.com
NOTE: Today's Zaman intends to provide a lively forum for expatriates living in Turkey. We encourage you to contact us at voice@todayszaman.com and share your experiences, questions and problems in all walks of life for publication in Today's Zaman.
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‘The Companion’
CULTURE&ARTS
TODAY’S ZAMAN 13
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Maggio della Musica travels to Ankara
fuses Turkish, Iranian tunes to create a whole new genre DÝLEK GÜRAY ÝSTANBUL
Although Turks can travel to neighboring Iran without a visa, cultural communication between the countries is rather weak, as if the peoples of the two nations were far away from one another. This has started to change recently and new bridges are being built between them, particularly through music. One recent example of these new developments is a joint effort by Ulaþ Özdemir, known in Turkey for his academic studies of Alevi-Bektaþi and Anatolian music, and the world-famous Iranian tambur player Ali Akbar Moradi. The duo has named the album, which contains live recordings from a Netherlands concert in 2006, "The Companion." Released and distributed worldwide by Hermes Records, the album recently hit the shelves of music stores in Turkey. Özdemir is an instrumentalist who works with the Ýstanbul-based record company Kalan Music, which in the last 10 years has carved itself a niche with its vast collection of ethnic and religious music from Ottoman marches to canto, and from Assyrian hymns to Mevlevi rites and Sephardic tunes. Özdemir says that Kalan Music
is usually working on 20 to 25 albums at any one time and he has a packed schedule. An album containing folksongs from the province of Kahramanmaraþ, compiled by Özdemir and his father, is awaiting release. Özdemir has also composed a number of themes for TV series. He performs with the Hasbihal Ensemble, which plays Alevi-Bektaþi music and is always busy composing more music for documentaries and movies. Getting the chance to collaborate with Moradi in this album was very important for Özdemir, as he says he grew up listening to Moradi's songs. "The Companion" contains a wide range of musical elements, rather than being a mere fusion of Turkish and Iranian motifs, says Özdemir. For instance, the songs include elements from Khorasan folksongs, Kurdish tunes and songs that belong to the creed of Ahl-e Haqq (whose followers believe that there are always seven incarnations of God on earth). Moradi's tambur and Özdemir's baðlama accompany each other on the album, which Özdemir says, "takes music to very different heights than its original form." "I play Alevi folk songs to him, and he plays Ahl-e Haqq maqams to me. Then we play together something from Khorasan and the music
The Turkish capital will this weekend be home to a small-scale version of a Naples tradition, hosting four special concerts and a photography exhibition by Italian artists in three days. The event, called Maggio della Musica, a special series of classical music concerts held each May in Naples' historical locations such as the Villa Pignatelli Museum, the Palace of Capo Di Monte and the Fortress of Sant'Elmo, this year travels to Ankara in a joint effort by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Ankara. Pianist Sandro de Palma, who is also the artistic director of the Maggio della Musica festival, performed the event's opening recital yesterday at the Bilkent University Concert Hall. The festival will today feature a performance by the Giuliana Soscia and Pino Jodice Italian Tango Quartet. The ensemble, with Soscia on accordion, Jodice on piano, Francesco Angiuli on contrabass and Francesco De Rubeis on drums, will be on stage at 8 p.m. at the Opera House. Tomorrow's concert at the Opera House will feature chamber music played by the Savinio Quartet. The quartet, with Alberto Maria Ruta and Rossella Bertucci on violin, Francesco Solmbrino on viola and Lorenza Ceriani on cello, will take the stage at 8 p.m. The Maggio della Musica Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Paolo Ponziano, will be closing the event with a concert on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Opera House. An exhibition of photographs by Angelo Antolino, depicting scenes from various editions of the Maggio della Musica in Naples will be on show throughout the event at the Opera House. Ankara Today's Zaman
is carried to very different heights," Özdemir says. Far from any concerns for appealing to popular culture, the album is rife with ethnic elements and also carries traces from Mevlana Rumi. Özdemir completed his master's thesis at Yýldýz Technical University about the Ahl-e Haqq creed. He has been studying its followers for years and his studies included the musical culture of this creed. "I'm an adherent of the Alevi-Bektaþi faith. Since we use a similar language with Moradi in terms of religious terminology, the expressions we use and our viewpoints are close to each other. … Ahl-e Haqq and the Alevi-Bektaþi culture bear many similarities and the saz is as important to them as it is to us," he stresses. Özdemir notes that when they performed the songs together, they gave rise to a whole new genre. "I first started exchanging e-mails with Moradi about his music, and then we met and started giving concerts together. And now we have released an album. We are not only appreciated by the Turkish and Iranian peoples, but also by a larger audience worldwide."
Norway plans to build new Munch Museum National and city officials announced plans Wednesday to move a popular museum dedicated to Norwegian painter Edvard Munch to a new building next to the national Opera House by 2014. The city-owned Munch Museum is currently outside downtown Oslo, making it more difficult for visitors to reach, they said. The plan also calls for moving the national library and the city's Stenersen art museum to the same area, called Bjoervika. "Norway's best-known artist internationally deserves a building and a location that matches his standing as an artist," said City Council leader Erling Lae in announcing the plan. The current Munch Museum, which opened in 1963, underwent a massive security upgrade after two of Munch's works, versions of "The Scream" and "Madonna," were stolen in August 2004. The damaged paintings were recovered just over two years after the theft, and went back on display at the museum last week after restoration. Oslo AP
PHOTO
TURGUT ENGÝN
Potter prequel, Lessing story to be auctioned
FESTIVAL
CONCERT
Çýplak Ayaklar presents latest dance show tonight
Ýstanbul European Choir's annual concerts next week
Ýstanbul's Çýplak Ayaklar modern dance company presents its latest production, "Engin-Ar," tonight in two performances at the Aziz Nesin Theater as part of the ongoing Ýstanbul International Theater Festival. The show is the outcome of Çýplak Ayaklar's collaboration with C Dance C, a French group that combines hip-hop with modern dance in its performances. The 50-minute show will be staged at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Ticket price: YTL 10.
The Ýstanbul European Choir, a multinational polyphonic ensemble that consists of around 100 amateur and professional singers, will this year be giving its annual Spring Concerts on June 6 and 7 at Ýstanbul's St. Esprit Cathedral in Harbiye and the Church of Assumption in Moda. The choir, under the baton of conductor Gökçen Koray, will be performing Puccini's "Messa di Gloria" in the admission-free concerts that start at 8:30 p.m.
CONCERT
New Model Army joins Binboamania Fest lineup The British cult rock band New Model Army, known worldwide for its politically charged lyrics, and Turkish alternative rockers Mor ve Ötesi will be taking to the stage at this summer's Binboamania Fest in Ýstanbul, joining a lineup to be headlined by the Scottish folk-rock band Travis. The festival, scheduled for June 27 at Parkorman in Maslak, will open its doors at 4 p.m. Tickets, priced at YTL 67.50, can be purchased at www.biletix.com.
Adam Sandler to get MTV Generation Award
MUSICAL
Speech Bubbles Theater brings ‘Joseph' to Ýstanbul The Ýstanbul-based Speech Bubbles Theater will this week present its production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in four performances starting tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the Haldun Dormen Theater. The musical's upcoming performances will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., and on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets at Green House Bookstore in Kadýköy and Grapes in Etiler.
CM Y K
An 800-word Harry Potter prequel is one of 13 card-sized works due to be sold at a charity auction in the British capital. Waterstone's Booksellers Ltd. says the cream-colored A5 papers -- each slightly bigger than a postcard -- were distributed to 13 authors and illustrators, including the boy wizard's creator J.K. Rowling, Nobel Prize-winner Doris Lessing, Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood and playwright Tom Stoppard. Rowling used both sides of her card to handwrite a prequel to her seven-book Harry Potter saga, while Lessing penned a story about the power of reading. Stoppard wrote a short mystery, while Atwood was due to fill out her card remotely using a robotic arm controlled by computer linkup. The cards will go for sale at the "What's Your Story?" auction at Waterstone's flagship store in central London on June 10. The proceeds will go to English PEN, the writers' association, and British charity Dyslexia Action. London AP
Adam Sandler became a box-office superstar by interpreting his favorite character: the repressed man-child. He soared to fame portraying short-tempered Peter Pans in the "Happy Gilmore," "Billy Madison" and "Big Daddy" films, branding himself the poster boy for guys who don't want to grow up. Now the 41-year-old actor-comedian will be rewarded for his antics with the Generation Award at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, to be presented June 1 in California. He will receive the award for his "amazing contribution to Hollywood" and years of entertaining the network's young viewers, MTV announced Wednesday. The Generation Award is MTV Movie Awards' highest honor. "A 30-something water boy, a brokenhearted '80s wedding singer and a rejected hockey player-turned-pro golfer ... now that's an impressive resume," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music, Logo and Films Group, in a statement. Toffler was referring to Sandler's roles in "The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer" and "Happy Gilmore." New York AP
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Bug Unusual things are happening in Turkey. At a time when the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) closure case is being reviewed at the Constitutional Court, one of the 11 members of the court met with Turan Çömez. Who is Çömez? He is a former AK Party member who left the party on unfriendly terms and has been making offensive remarks and statements directed at the leader of his former party. Is it proper that Constitutional Court member Osman Paksüt appeared in the same place as this person? It is at least politically incorrect. Çömez held another meeting with Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal following the meeting with Paksüt. His political traffic is busy. Something serious took place amid these interesting developments. Paksüt and his wife asserted that they were being chased and that they were wiretapped; subsequently, they called the Ankara police chief to the scene. The allegation is fairly serious. However, some time later, the Paksüt family preferred to remain silent on the matter. Why? It has become apparent that there was no incident of chasing or wiretapping. Another police officer who was at the scene of the alleged incident asked whether Paksüt’s wife would use a parking spot; otherwise he intended to do so. The police do not even recognize the Paksüt family. Interior Minister Beþir Atalay, who initiated a thorough investigation into the incident, underlines that everything was under control in regard to the matter and that there remained no single question unanswered. In a press conference, he said everything is clear on the matter. Who cares? While the police were in charge of making an investigation into another incident, Paksüt’s wife made an inference based on the condition of a rear tire on her car, assuming that the car had been planted with a wiretapping device. In this way, she made a historical mistake. The incident has been adequately explained, and some circles are still busy with the fabrication rather than the true details of the case. Let us move on to the case of Önder Sav. This gentleman made offensive remarks to a CHP member who stated his eagerness to perform the hajj at a party meeting in Elmadað. A Cihan news agency reporter was also at the meeting. The audience, viewers and even the party management was aware of his presence at the venue. Recently, some papers reported this as “secret recording.” Nothing could be said on this matter. The renowned Hürriyet daily and Vatan, which was recently sued by the chief of general staff for false reports, presumed that the news report prepared by Cihan was a secret record. The Turkish people expect an apology from Sav. He has failed to make an apology; furthermore, CHP leader Baykal is also hesitant to take steps on this matter. Is it that difficult to apologize to the Muslims because you made offensive remarks in regards to the hajj and Islam? While Sav carefully avoided media attention following the incident, the CHP cried, “The party has been wiretapped.” Here is another bugging scandal. What was the case? A governor met with the CHP secretary-general at the party’s headquarters, where he put forward his opinions on how the CHP could win in the city where he served as a former governor. A transcript of the meeting was subsequently published by the Vakit daily. So? The party must have been wiretapped for the transcript to be published verbatim. If the allegation is true, the situation is grave. Let us deal with illegal wiretapping, and ask “Are you taking this country to fascism?” We have to ask this question. But what if the essence of the issue is not related to wiretapping? What if the CHP and Sav seek to escape from massive criticism by relying on such actions and plan to put the ruling party in a difficult position? The person who made the speech is known; the speaking venue is known; the reporter who narrated the speech and the whole incident is known. While this is the case, some have accused individuals who had nothing to do with the case. This is not happening for the first time. Some rely on the famous legend of the religious community following every controversial incident to clear their part in the case. Where is the evidence? The owner of the allegation has to prove their assertion. Is it fair to accuse a party of wiretapping and then force it to prove that it did no such thing? What kind of logic can make this kind of inference? It is dishonest to wiretap people in illegal ways. But it is also dishonest to launch black propaganda against uninvolved circles, alleging that they should be held responsible for the wiretapping. This country suffers from fear of bugging; but this bug has taken captive not only some rooms but also some hearts that rely on prejudices and defamation.
ORHAN NALIN
e.dumanli@todayszaman.com
International competition is an important concept in the field of economics; this provides legitimacy for the commodities in the present time where global competition plays the greatest role in the determination of the scope of globalization and the content of the economy
aw and economics ESER KARAKAÞ*
A new field of study called "law and economics" is emerging in Western universities; this field has no relation to the laws of economics. The primary goal of this nascent field is to make an analysis of legal arrangements, texts and judicial verdicts from an economic perspective, to carry out research on the economic foundations of relevant legal outputs and to foresee the outcomes of this process. This field further examines the legal texts and judgments based on references to the terminology and tools of economics and generates interesting outcomes and notions that may surprise those unfamiliar with the subject. I myself have developed an interest in this particular subject and have been teaching a course on "law and economics" at the Galatasaray and Bahçeþehir universities for a couple of years. Our students with a legal background find this course and its terminology a little surprising and unusual, but a number of them have expressed interest in the subject matter. As a person who teaches this course with great interest, I inevitably partially rely on this perspective when making observations on daily matters. But, frankly speaking, I am unable to assess how my evaluations based on this approach are met. Turkey has for some days been discussing a declaration issued by the Supreme Court of Appeals that criticizes the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which is cur-
rently facing a closure case; actually, there are a number of elements and points in the declaration -- or memo -- that need to be discussed and elaborated on further. Conversely, I believe it is necessary to develop a comprehensive approach to this recent declaration and make a thorough analysis of the judicial decisions by not only the Supreme Court of Appeals but also other judicial institutions, including the Council of State and the Constitutional Court, for a better understanding of what is actually happening. The higher judicial institutions generate legal decisions and we, the economists, are prone to call what is generated a "commodity." For this reason, I refer to verdicts as "legal commodities." Needless to say, I am not degrading the verdicts through this notion and commodity reference, but I feel like I should provide a disclaimer just in case. Likewise, because economists tend to describe the products of the education and health sectors as commodities, notions like the higher education product or the health commodity may meet with resistance and reaction despite the technical accuracy in terms of economics literature. Skeptics oppose references to subjects like education and health as commodities, but we are now used to such criticism. In the same way, we may describe legal verdicts of judicial institutions as commodities and apply to them the basic concepts of economics. International competition is an important concept in the field of economics; this provides legitimacy for the commodities in the present
However, a venue exists where the international legitimacy of legal commodities may be tested: the European Court of Human Rights. Legal commodities generated inside the country are tested by the European court, which relies on the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), ratified by Turkey and taking precedence to national laws under Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution. Unfortunately, test results have not been very positive because the European court mostly finds domestic legal decisions contrary to the ECHR. In other words, the European court does not grant a clearance certificate for goods and commodities generated by Turkish legal institutions. Some may find this comparison and my analysis of it, based on a commodity approach, unpleasant, but this approach and methodology have become dominant in the world. My inference from this is that industrial products manufactured by domestic industrial plants are of higher quality than commodities generated by Turkish legal institutions. It seems that the legal goods are produced in our country based on the mentality of the era where the law on the preservation of the Turkish currency's value was in effect. To this end, there is a 30-year gap between the manufacturing industry and the legal goods in terms of universal acceptability and validity. It will be interesting to take a look at the decisions of legal institutions in Turkey from this perspective. *Eser Karakaþ is a professor of economics and head of Bahçeþehir University's European Union division.
dagistancetinkaya@todayszaman.com.tr
Owner on Behalf of Feza Gazetecilik A.Þ
ALÝ AKBULUT Chief Executive Officer
EKREM DUMANLI Editor-in-Chief
BÜLENT KENEÞ
Ankara Representative Diplomatic News Editor Business News Editor Culture & Arts Editor Features Editor Chief Copy Editor General Manager Chief Marketing Officer Deputy Chief Marketing Officer Brand Marketing Responsible Manager and Representative of the Owner
time where global competition plays the greatest role in the determination of the scope of globalization and the content of the economy. Years ago, in 1980, Professor Asaf Savaþ Akat, in his criticism of excessive economic protectionism in our country, underlined that the legitimacy of the commercial good generated inside the country would be questioned so long as there is a gendarmerie (high customs levies) in Edirne. The grounds for Akat's criticism has significantly changed since then; Jan. 24, 1980 decisions made by Turgut Özal -- devaluating the Turkish lira by 33 percent, downsizing the public sector and opening Turkey up to foreign trade -- were taken and implemented; the Turkish currency has gained convertibility; and a customs union was established with the EU. As a consequence, Turkey has become a country that exports goods amounting to $130 billion every year; more importantly, only 10 percent of this amount is based on agricultural products. In other words, Turkey is a country that mostly sells industrial items to the European countries. A recent study shows that one out of four fridges in England has been imported from Turkey. Despite grave problems and shortcomings in the national economy, Turkey has proven to have the ability and potential to pass the test of global competition and economic legitimacy. We are able to produce commodities without employing a gendarmerie unit in Edirne. Some may find the application of the methodology used in the field of tradable goods like fridges unusual simply because a legal commodity is not a tradable one.
Daðýstan Çetinkaya
Thýnk tank cafe´ Established on January 16, 2007 NO: 0478 Friday, May 30, 2008
Executive Editor Managing Editors
OPINION
ILLUSTRATION
EKREM DUMANLI
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
ABDULLAH BOZKURT OKAN UDO BASSEY FATMA DEMÝRELLÝ EMRAH ÜLKER KERÝM BALCI YONCA POYRAZ DOÐAN ÝBRAHÝM TÜRKMEN YASEMÝN GÜRKAN PINAR VURUCU HELEN P. BETTS FARUK KARDIÇ YAKUP ÞÝMÞEK BEYTULLAH DEMÝR HAYDAR DURUSOY ALÝ ODABAÞI
Public Relations Contact Information: Publication Type: Periodical, Daily Headquarters: Today’s Zaman, 34194 Yenibosna, ISTANBUL. Phone Number: +90 212 454 1 444 Fax: 0212 454 14 97, Web Address: http://www.todayszaman.com, Printed at: Feza Gazetecilik A.Þ. Tesisleri. Advertisement Phone: +90 212 454 82 47, Fax: +90 212 454 86 33. Today's Zaman abides by the rules of press ethics.
CM Y K
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COLUMNS
TODAY’S ZAMAN 15
F R I D AY, M AY 3 0 , 2 0 0 8
Islam and modernýty During his Middle East visit in December 2006, Tony Blair made the following remark in Dubai, "There is an ongoing struggle between the believers and non-believers in democracy and modernity in the world." According to Blair, the invasion of Iraq and the subsequent military operations have sought to force those resisting change and modernity to undergo a process of change and transformation. In other words, the Western world has a mission to change the Islamic world, relying on coercive measures. It is better to understand the basic argument in these remarks, which make references to upcoming nightmares that will mostly affect the spirit of the modern world and the entire humanity in the near future: "Modernization" along with the accompanying notion of "change" has been presented to the Islamic world as a major goal to achieve since Napoleon's arrival in Egypt in 1798. Almost the entire set of policies that the states pursue concerns "change." The other name of change is "modernity" or "modernization." "Change" is both the symbol and political ideology for participation in modern life and the adaptation to modernity. Those who fail to accept the change
ÝBRAHÝM KALIN
ALÝ BULAÇ a.bulac@todayszaman.com
are ready to be excluded from the modern world; they also become subject to removal from the socio-political system and eligible for punishment based on coercive measures, as recalled by Blair. While this is the case, the minds of intellectuals and ordinary people are unclear in regards to the matter. In other words, with the exception of some symbols and a priori assumptions on forms, no one knows what "change" actually means. Independently of what is associated with modernity, change is actually a cosmic, ontological, humane/social phenomenon. There is nothing in the universe that does not go through a process of transformation. Not only the symptoms but also the essences are in constant movement. An Arab poet famously re-
marked, "Change is the only thing that never changes." It is important to talk about movement even of the essences because Greek philosophers and Peripatetic philosophers used to think that only the symptoms were in movement. Renowned thinker Molla Sadra proved that change is actually observable in the essence (theory on the movement of the essence), invalidating arguments proposed by Aristotle and Ibn Sina (Avicenna). But of course change is not a mere movement. Change represents both a movement phenomenon and ethical tendency. In other words, it happens in accordance with certain rules, goals and meanings. If everything is changed in the universe, this means that nothing has an inherent ability or power to exist or to move. That is to say, everything is perishable, temporal and limited. Only God is absolute and eternal. The ethical dimension of change is vertical, which refers to maturity, or horizontal, which refers to backwardness and collapse. In review of social change, we may not ignore these two ethical dimensions. "Yes, we have to change." A process of change naturally affects us; but just in what direction and how should we change? This question is as important as the change itself.
No Comment
COLORADO SPRING, AP
i.kalin@todayszaman.com
ETYEN MAHÇUPYAN e.mahcupyan@todayszaman.com
A pleasant coup story
A new global power structure rýsýng? Everybody is asking if America is in decline. The new big question from the journal Foreign Affairs is whether the American era is over. Fareed Zakaria, the editor of Newsweek, answers with a book, his new release "The Post-American World," in which he proposes a number of ideas and strategies for the US power to survive the "rise of the rest." Is America really in decline? And is it really because of the rise of the rest? If so, what is this "rest" doing to make a comeback? The tectonic changes in the international power system are creating major acts of disordering and shuffling in the global political structure. The end of the Cold War was coupled with a need to redefine the international order at a time when the effects of globalization began to be felt around the world. The first Gulf War was the first major military intervention after the Cold War and sought to increase and seal the presence of US power in the Middle East. While the "new world order" of the 1990s failed to project any order, the Sept. 11 attacks gave US policymakers another chance to reassert American power beyond the traditional borders of the Cold War era. Maintaining power, however, is as much based on renewing it as it is on the acceptance of it by others. Sustaining power is proportionate to the capacity and willingness of other nations to tolerate a highly concentrated center of power. The US military and economic power had been tolerated during the Cold War as a balance to the communist bloc. Today, the US is a hegemonic power, which points to an exclusive concentration of power with no room for balancing. The 2002 US National Security Strategy states that "our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United States." But the US cannot justify its power differential even to its closest allies. While the US is the only hegemonic power, it is challenged on a daily basis by the other superpower of the post-Cold War era: "world public opinion." (Patrick Tyler, The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2003). This explains to a large extent the diminishing effectiveness of US hard and soft power. While the US is the only superpower and acts as a hegemonic power, the increasingly higher cost of the exercise of its power is rather unprecedented. American hard power continues to fail in military interventions and invasions. American soft power is losing ground because of the legitimacy crisis of American power. Given "the rise of the rest" and the increasing attempts to counterbalance US hegemonic power, however, the use of even smart power, a new concept developed by Joseph Nye, is open to question. Yet, none of this suggests that US power will be replaced by another superpower such as Russia and China or that it will be seriously challenged by some regional alliance in the foreseeable future. The decline in the belief of the uniqueness of American power goes hand in hand with a search for a new distribution of power, a new axis of global order and a new set of values to support and sustain such a system. Fukuyama's prediction that man's search for the best system has come to an end with the global spread and command of liberal, democratic capitalism ("The End of History" thesis) has been proven wrong by the dynamics of globalization on the one hand and the new realities of rising regions on the other. Those who advocate that "the world is flat" already argue against the sustainability and feasibility of any single super or hegemonic power. But this is an oversimplified analysis of how power and wealth are distributed globally. The widening gap between the rich and the poor suggests abundant evidence for the unevenness of the world. Paul Collier's "The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It" makes a convincing case for the skewed (not the flat) state of the world in which we live. If America is in decline, what is on the rise?
What we have been offered through the last two centuries is a project of transformation. In other words, no demand for change is innocent or free of value and judgment. At the outset, this project was constructed by Europe's traditional modernity. Currently, it is promoted and led by the global modernity under the leadership of the US and used to justify the military operations in the Middle East. Minds suffer from ambivalence and ambiguity in regards to globalization. All are prone to describe this controversial notion based on their particular interests and priorities. No matter how it is defined, globalization may not be separated from modernity. Globalization may be viewed as the global version of traditional modernity. It is still the sum of processes named, defined and imposed by the West. Globalization creates beneficiaries and victims. On what side are we and why are we here? Could globalization -- the global version of enlightenment philosophy and modernity -- have been different? This is a question that deserves attention. We may respond to this question affirmatively at least on the theoretical level, but we have to pay attention to the reasons it did not happen differently.
Human rýghts, human wrongs NICOLE POPE n.pope@todayszaman.com
Amnesty International has just released its annual report on the state of human rights around the world. Some countries will, inevitably, complain that they are being unfairly accused, but there is plenty of blame to go around and few nations escape being targeted. Aside from flashpoints like Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar, which require immediate action, major countries like the US, China and Russia come in for serious criticism. Turkey's record remains patchy: although torture features less prominently, freedom of expression and the right to fair trial remain under a dark cloud. Aside from listing abuses around the world, the organization also reflects on recent developments ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. World leaders are condemned for "failing to deliver on promises of justice and equality" contained in the remarkable document that was penned six decades ago. In today's fractured global environment, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights seems nothing short of a miracle. It shines a light on a brief moment in time when leaders, humbled by the widespread self-inflicted destruction of World War II, set aside their differences to produce a legal and conceptual framework for human rights, human dignity and equality. What has gone wrong since then? Can the world get back on track or will the past few decades, when the universality of human rights was seen not as a utopian dream but a goal to work towards, be a mere blip of hope in world history? Why is the Amnesty International report a yearly litany of abuses,
wrongful imprisonments and executions? Perhaps the drafters of the declaration did not fully measure the political and economic costs of fulfilling their pledge. As Amnesty International points out, there has in fact been progress in the past 60 years and notions of freedom have been absorbed into the constitutions and laws of dozens of countries. Most governments now accept, albeit reluctantly, that their human rights record will come under scrutiny. But reading the report, it is hard not to feel that after a period of improvement, the trend is reversing. Western democracies -- the US, in particular -- are criticized for failing to fulfill their leadership role in matters of human rights. Sept. 11 proved a turning point, and the current US administration, "with breathtaking legal obfuscation," continues to "weaken the absolute prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment," while holding prisoners in Guantanamo and Bagram without charges. The EU for its part is criticized for failing to hold member states accountable for their complicity in the illegal "renditions" of prisoners, while demanding high human rights standards from candidate countries. Blaming leaders of democratic countries, of course, amounts to criticizing the voters, the media and the civil society organizations that should hold them to account. In short, we are all guilty of not taking human rights seriously enough. A culture of materialism and short-term consumerism has dulled the sense of outrage we should all feel about widespread violence, discrimination and inequality. As oil and food costs continue to rise, new challenges to the world economy will inevitably further upset global balances. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is therefore more relevant than ever, reminding us that human rights, whether economic, social, civil, political or cultural, form "the basis for our collective security as well as our common humanity."
CM Y K
There can be little doubt that in no other country in the world do people see their justice system directly lead coup attempts, join in debates as a political actor and express its clear support for the forced closure of political parties and the blocking of legal reforms. In nations where a political culture still hasn't matured, this sort of business generally falls on the military, with backing from the civil bureaucracy. In fact, this used to be the situation in Turkey also. The real struggle to prevent the 2007 elections from taking place -- and thus from allowing a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) administration which would then lead to an AK Party president in Çankaya -- came from the Turkish military, with the Constitutional Court then issuing their now-famous 367 decision as a result of what was speculated to be a mechanism of solidarity with certain Turkish military officials. This was a legal decision anathema to rules and regulations. But what happened then was that the military published a memorandum on April 27 on its Web site. This memo was strongly criticized by various groups of society that the armed forces, who don't exactly have a clean past when it comes to support for coups, saw great damage to their sense of legitimacy within Turkish society. Thus the people of the nation began to see criticism of the Turkish military's interventions into the political arena of the country as completely natural and normal. In this way, we entered into a period during which the Turkish military began to withdraw behind a cover. What this situation did, though, was bring forth the justice system, the natural partner of the military, to a more front-and-center position as an actor in all of this. At first glance, this might seem like a completely intelligent choice for those who defend the idea of a coup, since it is a "democratic strength" to work in harmony with the principle of an independent justice system. Unlike the military, which is subject to some civilian political control, the justice system is not subject to any sort of control and is instead an establishment which enjoys the position of speaking in the name of the "law" regarding politics. For this reason, then, it is absolutely not surprising at all that those who aim to see the AK Party closed down and the EU accession process stopped would turn themselves over to the sure hands of the justice system. And thus, only a short while later, the case aimed at forcing the AK Party to shut down was filed. In the meantime, just as was expected, the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called for the annulment of amendments to the Constitution made in the name of lifting a ban on wearing headscarves at universities. The anticipated development now is that the Constitutional Court will -- on the basis of finding the amendments to the Constitution anathema to secularity -annul these changes and then order the closure of the AK Party on the basis that it defends these changes and is thus a focal point of anti-secular activities. Though criticism coming from democrats has seen no end in all of this, it appeared at one point that the coup process had entered onto a "flawless" path. But just as this thought was gaining ground, the tables were suddenly turned with the issuance of a Constitutional Court report on the proposed constitutional amendments. This is because this report made it clear that based on legal principles the proposed changes to the Constitution could not be annulled. Within the same week the atmosphere became even tenser when the head of the Constitutional Court issued a message saying that whatever decision is rendered in the end has to "strengthen democracy." Something had to happen fast if the coup plans were to be saved from destruction -- and that something was the political meaning invested in announcements issued by the Supreme Court of Appeals Board of Chairmen, the Council of State heads and finally the Interuniversity Board (ÜAK), all one after the other. The introspective, positivist and modernist stream of thought in Turkey called "nationalism," just as the world enters into a period when fascism once again blinks its eyes, was sitting clearly in the palms of the bureaucratic elite. The announcement issued by the Supreme Court of Appeals Board of Chairmen says attempts by Parliament to bring about changes to the Constitution should be blocked and that the ban on headscarves at Turkish universities should continue, no matter what the cost. Additionally, the announcement also implies what verdict should be handed down by the Constitutional Court in the matter of the closure cases in front of it. It appears that our justice system clearly has no "independence" problem. Instead, the justice system can intervene in politics and the law the moment it wishes to and in the way it wishes to as absolutely nothing will happen to it. As for the basis of this courage, it comes from articles in the current Constitution which are not affected by the proposed amendments. The justice system sees itself as the appointed protector of these articles and since regardless of how much the Constitution is altered, these articles will remain exactly the same, the justice system continues to see itself as having some sort of last word when it comes to politics in Turkey. This despite the fact that at the very basis of this stance is the expression of an anti-democratic, fanatical attitude which completely ignores societal demands and preferences for change and which sees the existence of the republic as keeping the society from straying out of line from the official ideology. It thus appears that the bureaucratic elite in this country, just as much as they do not wish to lose power, are also filled with the desire for a totalitarian regime and aim to legitimize this through official ideology. Only in this kind of republic could such a subjective and politicized justice system exist. If there is in fact to be some sort of "coup," it is no doubt quite clear that it should be one in the form of a reform which undertakes to completely restructure the Turkish bureaucracy.
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FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
LEISURE
tv guýde
Gregorian Calendar: 30 May 2008 C.E. Hijri Calendar: 25 Jumada al-Awwal 1429 A.H. Hebrew Calendar: 25 Iyyar 5768 calendar@todayszaman.com Today is Statehood Day in the Republic of Croatia. This day marks the May 30, 1990, constitution of the first post-communist multi-party parliament. Croatia observes two separate statehood days, with today being the smaller of the pair. There was some controversy over which date would be more suitable to recognize Croatia’s statehood, but in the end June 26 prevailed as the more official date and May 30 is marked as a minor holiday rather than a national one.
movýe guýde
Today is Canary Islands Day in the North Atlantic archipelago. May 30 celebrates what the Canary Islands are today: at the top of European standards for safety, health, infrastructure, hotel services and road conditions. The archipelago is situated close to Africa, a figurative bridge between Europe, Africa and America. Today is the Harvest Festival in Malaysia. This is a festival celebrated by the Kadazan of Sabah each May with thanks given to the rice gods. Agricultural shows, exhibitions, cultur-
E2
al programs, buffalo races and other traditional games are held. There is much merrymaking and feasting, with rice wine flowing freely throughout the festivities. During the festival, Sabah natives don traditional costume and enjoy a carnival atmosphere that stretches from daybreak until dusk. Tapai, or homemade rice wine, is served as the specialty for the day. In certain provinces the festivals may start on June 1 or 2, with certain differences in the content. Today is Mother’s Day in Nicaragua. By Kerim Balcý
‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
Cnbc-e
‘Bourne’ fýlms výewed as art at Museum of Modern Art
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One of the Museum of Modern Art’s latest film acquisitions isn’t an art-house experiment by Andy Warhol or Michelangelo Antonioni. It’s the spy-action blockbuster “The Bourne Identity” and its sequels. This week the museum is screening the films and hosting a panel discussion with “Bourne” director/producer Doug Liman and a noted neuroscientist to talk about memory, identity and the mysterious workings of the brain. For the uninitiated: The films center on amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, who possesses superb espionage skills but no memory of his past, which includes the ultrasecret CIA unit that trained him and now wants to kill him to cover up an operation gone wrong. Based on the late Robert Ludlum’s series of bestselling novels, the “Bourne” movies -- packed with dizzying chases, gripping fights and more scenic European locales than the Michelin guides -- took in more than $525 million at US box offices alone. The last installment, “The Bourne Ultimatum,” won Academy Awards this year for film editing, sound editing and sound mixing. The “Bourne” movies aren’t the first smash-hit spy capers among MoMa’s more than 22,000 films, which include all of James Bond’s adventures. But the “Bourne” acquisition does raise interesting questions about what makes a movie art. “You say the word ‘action movie,’ and everyone’s standards go down,” Liman said Tuesday. “And it was my goal with ‘The Bourne Identity’ to create a movie wherein the drama would hold up even if you took the action out.” Liman, who directed “Identity” and served as executive producer of sequels “Supremacy” and “Ultimatum,” called the films’ inclusion in the museum’s renowned collection “a huge, huge honor.” Cinemaphiles have praised not only the movies’ technical skill and heart-pounding pace, but their relatively realistic feel and character development as Bourne strives to find out who he is and why killers stalk him wherever he goes. “What the ‘Bourne’ films managed to do was to move people’s expectations into a whole new area in terms of what the spy genre could deliver,” said MoMA chief film curator Rajendra Roy. Roy presides over one of the nation’s biggest motion picture archives, housed in a specially built reposito-
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11:00 13:30 16:15 19:00 21:45 Fri/Sat: 23:30 24:30 Caddebostan AFM: 10:30 13:10 15:45 18:20 21:00 Fri/Sat: 23:30 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 12:30 14:45 17:15 19:45 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ÝZMÝR: Cinebonus Konak Pier: 10:45 13:30 16:15 19:00 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:30
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Actor Matt Damon in a scene from "The Bourne Ultimatum," the latest addition to the Museum of Modern Art's film collection. ry in Hamlin, Pennsylvania. The holdings are as diverse as 1895’s “Feeding the Baby (Repas de BeBe)” -- one of the earliest motion pictures ever shown in a theater -and the 2006 barnyard charmer “Charlotte’s Web.” The “Bourne” trilogy was a clear fit for the 73-year-old collection, which has long included what curators see as significant commercial movies, as well as experimental and historical works, Roy said. “We would never ignore the fact that we are also engaged with a very popular medium,” he said. Nor should they, says Andrew G. Sarris, a noted cinema critic and Columbia University film history and theory professor. There’s a point to placing the “Bourne” pictures and other popular, well-executed mainstream movies alongside film festival favorites, he said: It “proves that, occasionally, the system still works.”
Friday’s panel at MoMA is part of World Science Festival, a five-day gathering of researchers, artists and writers meeting throughout the city. Besides Liman, it will feature University of Wisconsin-Madison psychiatrist Dr. Giulio Tononi. That discussion is likely to focus in part on the nature of Bourne’s deep amnesia. While Liman said he focused on “character truth,” not scientific veracity, Tononi said the condition depicted is real, if very rare. Like the multilingual Bourne, who easily fends off assassins with his extraordinary physical skills, some patients do retain abilities they can’t remember acquiring, the scientist said. Tononi also said Bourne’s anguish over not remembering his past rings true. On or off the screen, he said, “we have this incredible, compelling need to create a narrative about who we are.” New York AP
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HOW TO PLAY? : The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow. In a 9 by 9 square Sudoku game: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9
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contýnued from page 1 He also called for a bipartisan parliamentary commission to investigate the allegations with the participation of all political parties, adding: "We are advocating transparency, freedom and human rights and we have nothing to do with questionable practices and conspiracy theories." In a heated discussion between Atalay and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies at the parliamentary Budget and Planning Commission proceedings yesterday, CHP deputy Akif Hamzaçebi repeated the allegations and accused the AK Party of violating individual privacy as well as of leaking a transcript of a phone conversation to the press. Another CHP deputy, Yýlmaz Ateþ, said: "It is the government's responsibility to take measures against illegal wiretapping. It seems the government has been rendered ineffective when it comes to some gang organizations." Commenting on the allegations, Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Cemil Çiçek said, "Let's find out who broke the law using legal, executive and parliamentary investigative powers." Çiçek also questioned the motives behind the CHP's allegations and suggested that the CHP is trying to cover other scandals stemming from insults to religion by its members. Çiçek stressed that his government made wiretapping a crime with a new penal code adopted by Parliament in 2006. He warned that "whoever carried out the wiretapping and in whatever capacity is guilty of the crime." According to the new penal code, wiretapping is only allowed once permission is secured from a court. By law, only security services, the gendarmerie and the National Intelligence Organization (MÝT) are allowed to wiretap. Interior Minister Atalay called wiretapping unethical, saying, "Legal requirements for such an ac-
Interior Minister Beþir Atalay and CHP parliamentary group deputy leader Kemal Anadol discuss recent claims of eavesdropping during a session in Parliament yesterday. tion are clearly defined by law." He said the Interior Ministry has already launched an official investigation into the matter and will get the bottom of it. Cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, he suggested waiting for the investigation to be completed. "Should any violation of the law be determined, we will all punish those who commit illegal acts," he added. Responding to Atalay's call, the Chief Prosecutor's Office in Ankara also started its own investigation. The Interior Ministry assigned two inspectors yesterday to follow up on the leads in the wiretapping investigation. They will also question former Bolu Governor Serindað, whose conversation with Sav was published in the Vakit newspaper on May 26. According to law the governor needs permission from the Interior Ministry to pay a visit to a political party. Speaker of Parliament Köksal Toptan said allegations are being investigated and noted: "In an open Turkish regime, nothing is secret. Everything
should be disclosed. Otherwise our security and police forces will be under a cloud of suspicion." Speaking to the Cihan news agency in Romania, Toptan cautioned against a rush to judgment and asked for patience on the matter. In the meantime, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) joined in the discussion and its leader, Devlet Bahçeli, called for the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate the allegations -- in addition to a censure motion by CHP leader Deniz Baykal the other day. Baykal claims the recording occurred with the prime minister's knowledge. Bahçeli, on the other hand, described the allegations as grave, stressing, "It has reached a level that threatens Turkey's parliamentary democratic system." Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazýcýoðlu criticized the CHP's handling of the case and said allegations cast a doubt on the security forces, presenting the police as potential criminals. He also noted that paranoia has been spread among the citizens.
Concerned about wiretapping, the CHP will start outfitting its offices with anti-eavesdropping technology, party officials said yesterday. CHP General Auditor Mustafa Özyürek revealed that his party had allocated funds to finance such equipment and that they will first be installed in offices of the party's top management. With the development of new technology, security experts argue, electronic spy gadgets allowing eavesdropping are readily available on the market and at a low cost compared to two decades ago. The Vakit newspaper, which published the transcript, is not revealing its source, citing reasons of confidentiality. Serdar Erseven, the paper's Ankara representative, said if there is a court case against Vakit, they will reveal who gave them the recordings but that it was not the governing AK Party. "We received no such information from the AK Party," he said. He lamented the fact that the investigation is focusing on who leaked the information rather that on the content of the information. CHP deputy Sav has recently been a center of criticism for his provocative remarks against freedom of religion in another meeting. When an 80-year-old man informed Sav about his plan to go on the Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj), he said, "Don't give your money to Arabs." He also said, "If you go there, Mohammed will not allow you to return [meaning he would die there]." While refusing to offer an apology, Sav said, "I didn't know I was being recorded." However, the reporter who taped Sav said he had openly recorded the conversation with Sav's full knowledge. Government spokesman Çiçek compared Sav's remarks with caricatures published in Denmark insulting Prophet Mohammed and said, "Sav made an insulting remark against a large majority of people in Turkey, and the public is waiting for an apology from him." Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
Erdoðan: NGOs should be more active in Europe PHOTO
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said yesterday he expects NGOs to contribute more to Turkey's aim to join the EU by engaging in more activities in Europe. Opening the 19th European Foundation Centre (EFC) Annual General Assembly and Conference at Ýstanbul's Swissôtel, Erdoðan said the government had realized important reforms including economic achievements in the last five-and-a-half years but that it would fall behind if it did not involve civil society organizations in the process. "You have to consider both economy and democracy at the same time. You cannot choose one over another. You have to give both of them priority," he said. "If we left out the NGOs, which are the primary elements in democracies, Turkey would not have been able to achieve the success it has in both domestic and foreign policy areas." With the theme "Fostering Creativity," the EFC gathered more than 650 representatives of philanthropic foundations and corporate donors from Europe and the rest of the world, as well as representatives of European Union institutions and multinational organizations for the three-day meeting, running from May 28 to May 31. They are being hosted by the Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TÜSEV). The event focuses on how foundations can foster creativity in their work, looking at how they can support experimentation and contribute to developing cultures of creativity
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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan says he expects NGOs to contribute more to Turkey's aim to join the EU by engaging in more activities in Europe. in the societies where they operate. Erdoðan pointed out that the EFC's conference location, Ýstanbul, has been called the civilization center for foundations. He stated that Turkey has inherited a centuries-old history of Ottoman philanthropy and that Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the Ottoman conqueror of Ýstanbul, made a royal philanthropic decree shortly after coming to power. "Ýstanbul is the concrete and living example of the world's foundation culture. Today coincides with the conquest of Ýstanbul 555 years ago. In a royal decree Fatih appointed officials to take care of the poor, sick, elderly and orphans of the city," the prime minister said.
Erdoðan noted that Turkey has been trying to encourage foundations to take a more active role to honor this philanthropic tradition. He also referred to the new Law on Foundations that was passed on Feb. 20, following the adoption of the law on progressive associations in 2004. These laws have been well received by EU observers as important milestones on the road to a more facilitative environment for civil society and philanthropy in Turkey. The Law on Foundations introduces a single set of regulations for the different types of foundations spanning the Ottoman and republican eras. The provisions in the law
cover foundations established during the Ottoman era, minority foundations set up by non-Muslim communities during the Ottoman era and foundations established according to civil code provisions after the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Established in 1993 with the pioneering leadership of several foundations and individuals, TÜSEV today has more than 100 supporting foundations and has been contributing to improving civil society laws, generating research in the sector and encouraging dialogue and cooperation among private, public and non-profit actors. Turkey's Sabancý Foundation, Vehbi Koç Foundation and Aydin Dogan Foundation are all members of TÜSEV. Filiz Bikmen, the president's consultant at TÜSEV, said the Turkish foundations participating in the EFC conference will look for ways to increase cooperation with other foundations. The total assets of the 135 tax-exempt foundations in Turkey are estimated to be $105 billion compared to $70 trillion in Europe. In Ýstanbul at the EFC conference, representatives from the Ford Foundation, the Volkswagen Stiftung, the United Nations Foundation and many others are taking an introspective look at the foundation community as well as foundations' impact and role so they can discuss creative approaches to tackling existing problems and initiate debates on new methods and collaborations. President Abdullah Gül will give the closing address for the conference on May 31.
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert unmoved by demand he step aside Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded with a business-as-usual approach on Thursday to a demand by his defense minister to step aside over corruption allegations. After making clear through aides on Wednesday he was staying on, Olmert made no reference, at a welcoming ceremony for Denmark's prime minister on Thursday, to Labor Party leader Ehud Barak's call. "I intend to discuss with the visiting prime minister ... the international effort to stop Iran's nuclear (program), the regional peace process, the war against terror and the strengthening of radical Islam in the Middle East and worldwide," Olmert said, listing his usual diplomatic talking points.
Olmert plans a three-day visit to Washington next week for talks with President George W. Bush and to deliver a speech to the annual policy conference of a pro-Israel lobbying group. Barak threatened on Wednesday to pursue an early election -- political turmoil that could derail Israeli-Palestinian peace talks -- after a US businessman told an Israeli court how he had handed Olmert envelopes with thousands of dollars in cash. Amid the political uncertainty, AttorneyGeneral Menachem Mazuz convened prosecutors and police officers on Thursday to discuss the way forward in the investigation against Olmert. Mazuz issued a statement after the meeting saying the investigation would be speeded up
"in order to complete it as soon as possible." He gave no precise timeframe for a decision on whether to indict the prime minister. Olmert has ridden out similar storms in the past. He has pledged to resign if charged and denied any wrongdoing in accepting what he has described as above-board election campaign contributions. Barak, a former prime minister whose party is Olmert's main coalition partner, was hazy on what steps he might take, and when. He stopped short of making a move that would immediately bring down the government and trigger a snap election. Polls suggest the right-wing Likud under Benjamin
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Netanyahu would defeat Labor if a ballot, not due until 2010, were held now. A cartoon in Israel's most popular newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, illustrated what some commentators saw as Barak's failure to take stronger action. It showed Barak wearing bunny ears and holding a carrot, an allusion to Hebrew slang in which "rabbit" means "coward." The American Jewish businessman at the centre of the case, Morris Talansky, is due back in Israel in July, when he will be cross-examined by Olmert's lawyers. Chief prosecutor Moshe Lador said after Talansky testified on Tuesday that it was too early to tell if charges would be brought against Olmert. Jerusalem Reuters
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Government slams CHP, asks for bipartisan commission
Turks one size larger than four years ago, study finds contýnued from page 1 Arýcý stated that half of those with hypertension are overweight. "Three hypertension patients out of four are overweight or obese," he said, adding that the rate of obesity is 20 percent for those who are not hypertensive. Dietician Nurdan Aydýn from Ankara's A Clinic in a phone interview with Today's Zaman noted that the weight increase was observed both in higher income and lower income brackets. "In the higher income group we observed a lack of physical activity. People spend hours in front of the TV and walk around shopping malls on weekends. They make the wrong food choices and don't eat a healthy number of meals per day. They prefer sitting in restaurants with childcare services or at a friend's house for hours instead of taking a walk in the park," she stated. She said Turkish people increasingly eat fewer vegetables, something which she said was related to a more hectic lifestyle. "Fruit, people still eat. But cooking a meal with vegetables takes up much more time in comparison to washing fruit and eating it." Aydýn noted that those in lower income groups depend too much on carbohydrates for nutrition and also have low levels of activity. She said large amounts of salt consumption, a bad habit among much of the nation, also contributed to the weight gain. Lifestyle changes are one of the major reasons behind rising obesity rates, nutrition expert Gülcan Emirza from Fatih University confirmed. "We eat a lot of processed foods, which are more practical in this age when we are racing through the day. We tend to eat fast food products, which are high in calories but low in nutrition, with our kids. More people drive; we don't exercise. We try fad diets in an attempt to take short cuts, but we gain back all the weight because we fail to change our lifestyles," Emirza said.
Doctors recommend increasing activity levels Arýcý said it would be possible to bring down the obesity rate of Turkey within the next 25-30 years. He noted that it was only about a simple math equation of input and output. "If you don't consume more than you burn, you will have eaten enough to survive," he said. He stated that if local administrations provided more safe places for people to walk or run, this would help to increase the nation's activity levels. Arýcý also underlined that the hazards of weight gain should be taught in schools as part of the curriculum and explained to adults through public ad campaigns. "We need more hours of PE classes in schools. We as a society need to drive less and spend less time in front of the computer and TV." Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
Court rules absentee voting by mail unconstitutional contýnued from page 1 Speaking to Today's Zaman, AK Party Karaman deputy Mevlüt Akgün criticized the court's decision. He maintained that voting by mail is an alternative method that would decrease the workload of the Supreme Election Board (YSK) and that it could be allowed when other means are not available. "Which method will be used in which country would be determined according to the talks with the respective country. Regardless, voting by post should be made a legal option," he said. About 6.5 million Turkish citizens are living abroad, with the majority of expatriates living in the EU, home to 5.2 million Turks. Professor Faruk Þen, the director of the Center for Turkish Studies (TAM), based in Germany, argues that the 2.2 million Turkish citizens living in Germany could have a significant impact on general elections. In the past, Turkish expatriates were required to travel Turkish border crossings to cast their votes in the Turkish elections. But, as shown by participation rates, this method was not popular. AK Party Ýstanbul deputy Canan Kalsýn told Today's Zaman that living abroad should not require one to forfeit his right to vote. "I cannot understand why the right to vote has been blocked. Parliament will come up with a political solution," he said. State Minister Mustafa Said Yazýcýoðlu told the Anatolia news agency: "We will discuss whether any other alternative to voting by mail can be developed. If needed, a new arrangement can be made. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our citizens living in foreign countries can cast their vote."
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Conventionality is not morality.” Charlotte Bronte
OSMAN TURHAN
READING
ILLUSTRATIONS
elementary
It was like a fairy tale when the beautiful young girl got married to the Prince and became the Princess of Wales. Unlike a fairy tale, the happiness came to an end, but Diana is still The People's Princess. Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, in Norfolk, England. Her father's name is Earl Spencer. She had two older sisters and a younger brother. Her parents got divorced when she was just a young girl. As a child, Diana studied at a boarding school in Kent. She finished her education in Switzerland. After that, she returned to England and she worked as a nanny in London. Diana married Prince Charles in July, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. People all around the world witnessed her wedding on television. Charles and Diana had two sons, William and Harry. Diana was a very popular woman. The British people loved her because she was kind and beautiful. They called her "The People's Princess" because she cared so much about sick and poor people all over the world. She once said, "I see myself as a princess for the world, not the Princess of Wales." Reporters were always around her. She was their favorite person. But Diana's life wasn't as happy as it seemed on television or in newspapers. She and Charles had problems with their marriage. They finally got divorced in August, 1996. Diana continued to travel around the world and help those in need, but her life was cut short. She died in an unfortunate car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. She was only thirty-six years old.
A fairy-tale princess
PART 1: Decide whether the vocabulary below are nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Write your answer into the blanks.
Activity: 1. Where could you buy a saucepan? a. a butcher
b. a florist
c. a hardware store
2. Where could you pay for a holiday? a. a bakery
b. a travel-agency c. a shoe shop
3. Where could you buy some steak? a. a butcher
b. a record shop
c. a florist
5. Where could you buy a puppy? a. a toy shop
b. a pet shop
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PART 2: Answer the comprehension questions about the reading text.
c. a chemist
4. Where could you buy a newspaper? a. a sweet shop b. a news stand
1. get married 2. happiness 3. get divorced 4. nanny 5. young 6. boarding 7. wedding 8. unfortunate 9. accident 10. finally
c. a sweet shop
1. When was Diana born? 2. Where was Diana born? 3. When and where did she get married to Prince Charles? 4. How many children did they have? 5. Why was Princess Diana popular? 6. Did she have a happy marriage? 7. When did Prince Charles and Princess Diana get divorced? 8. When did Princess Diana die? 9. How did Princess Diana die? 10. How old was she when she died? *Graphics: An illustration or a photo of Princess Diana.
advanced READING
Ten most hated things at the office If you are like me, and your call to work is in a building with many offices, then it is almost inconceivable to go an entire day without something or someone irritating you. The construction workers outside. The faulty air conditioning. Slamming doors. Sometimes I wish I could wear earmuffs during the day to drown out the galling noise. I decided to walk around the office, and ask my co-workers just what types of things bother them. The answers were so numerous that I continued my survey in several adjacent buildings to try and formulate a top ten list. This is what I came up with (in order): #1- Bad manners and lack of courtesy. Since smoking no longer fits into this equation, then this complaint covers things such as leaving the coffee pot empty and burping loudly. #2- Shirking office duties. This was a big problem with most people. People feel they are hired to do their job, and shouldn't be doing other people's duties as well. #3- People who say they will do a job, and then do it three months later. Procrastination seems to be a major dilemma in many workplaces. #4- Talking too loudly on the phone. In some offices, people don't really need telephones. They talk loudly enough for the person to hear them
three blocks away without any phone! #5- People who sigh constantly. I have no idea what "constantly" means here, but I guess if you moan more than twice a minute, then you have a problem. #6- Eating other people's food. One person told me that there was a man in her office who never brought any lunch. He just mooched off others. #7- Bad personal hygiene. Don't you just love working with people who smell like ashtrays, or worse yet, drench themselves with cologne or perfume to hide the smell? Or the man who always forgets to shave? Or put on deodorant? #8- People not cleaning up after using the restroom. Sinks need not be covered in mascara, lipstick and eyeliner. #9- People who love to talk about their weekend plans. So what if they are going to Las Vegas, and you are staying at home with a sick kid. Hearing it once is enough. #10- Singing along to the radio. Most of the music on the radio these days is nauseating. Why make it worse by adding another voice to it? People need to follow rules if they are going to work in harmony. You will notice that there are no annoying things here that bosses do. I would need the entire page to list them.
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Skyrocketing oil prices The price of gasoline seems to be increasing by the minute. The oil moguls claim they are not to blame for the escalating prices. The OPEC countries say the volatile dollar is the reason. Whatever or whomever is to blame, everyone is looking for a way to save money on transportation costs, whether it be by buying a more efficient car or carpooling. These are surefire ways to get more money for your dollar. There are other methods which will not help you get more for your money, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This is what they say:
- Filling your tank early in the morning won't help. Some people think that a gallon of cold gas lasts longer than a gallon of warm gas. This
Activity: PHRASAL VERBS 1. In my new job I'm stuck in my office. I wish I could ______ about a bit more. a. lay b. get c. cast d. have 2. We don't have any firm plans when we get to California. Our intention is to ______ about for a few days. a. drift b. cast c. see d. hear 3. Don't ______ around. We've got to get this finished quickly. a. hear b. mess c. get d. have 4. Changes need to be made but I have absolutely no idea how to ______ about making them. a. lay b. lounge c. set d. get 5. The project is delayed and they are trying to ______ a solution. a. lay around for b. mope against c. come up with d. lounge next to
is not true as it is almost always the same temperature when it comes out of the pump. - Changing your air filter will not help. Maintaining your car is important, but a clogged air filter doesn't improve the car's mileage per gallon. - Buying premium gasoline doesn't help. It is recommended for large cars to use premium gasoline, but the vehicle isn't going to suffer with regular gas. - Putting more air in your tires is useless. This will do little to improve your mileage, and will only increase the risk of accident or tire burnout. The chance of a crash isn't worth the little bit of gas you will save. - Turning off the air conditioning will only improve your mileage per
gallon slightly. Air conditioners are much more efficient than they used to be. If it isn't unbearably hot or humid, roll the windows up and turn the car's fan on. - Don't use gasoline additives. Don't you think oil and car companies are doing everything possible to beat the competition? If Exon could add something to its fuel to make cars go further on a gallon, don't you think they would have? If there were an additive that would make gas burn slower, the gas stations would be stocking their shelves with it. People should pay more attention to their driving habits and what kinds of cars they are driving. These are the things that actually make a difference in saving gasoline.
PART 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct letters. 1. mogul
a. slave
b. powerful person
c. driver
d. manufacturer
2. escalating
a. shocking
b. stimulating
c. shrinking
d. rising
3. volatile
a. unstable
b. normal
c. decreasing
d. crazy
4. surefire
a. hot
b. beneficial
c. advantageous
d. certain
5. clogged
a. full
PART 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct letters. 1. inconceivable _____ a. lying b. impossible 2. faulty _____ a. full of mistakes b. imperfect 3. to drown out _____ a. to die in the sea b. to uncover 4. adjacent _____ a. in front of b. under 5. to shirk _____ a. to avoid b. to steal 6. procrastination _____ a. cancellation b. postponement 7. to mooch off _____ a. to borrow with no intention of paying back c. to give with no interest 8. to drench _____ a. to dampen b. to dry 9. nauseating _____ a. funny b. enjoyable 10. in harmony _____ a. loudly b. peacefully
a. belligerent
b. consistent
a. deprive
b. construe
c. old
d. obstructed
b. intolerable
c. heavy
d. rude
a. erratic
7. competition a. friend
b. enemy
c. teammate
d. rival
4. Latent is an antonym for ……………..
8. to stock
b. to clean
c. to supply
d. to destroy
MEANING: to treat someone badly who has helped you in some way, often someone who has provided you with money. EXAMPLE: Leaving the company after they've spent three years training you up - it's a bit like biting the hand that feeds you.
Useful Abbreviations pick out meaning: choose; select. example: "Billy's grandmother especially liked her birthday card because Billy had picked it out himself." do in meaning: cause to become very tired. example: "Those three games of tennis yesterday afternoon really did me in. I slept for ten hours after I got home." Slang: Go meaning: to try example: Let me have a go at solving the problem. Confusing Words In English Faint vs Feint Faint is a verb that means to lose consciousness. For example: some people are afraid of mice and faint at the sight of them. Feint is a noun or a verb that has to do with deception, especially in an attack. A feint is an attack aimed at one place or point as a distraction from the intended spot of attack. For example: The boxer feinted with a jab at his opponent's jaw before he landed a hit square into the opponent's stomach.
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c. opposite
d. next to
c. to stab
d. to attempt
c. delay
d. departure
b. to borrow for a day d. to lend a lot of money to c. to cover
d. to soak
c. sickening
d. loud
c. angrily
d. quickly
c. chivalrous
d. fearful
c. soak
d. verify
c. hostile
d. deformed
c. dormant
d. active
c. detect
d. forbid
3. Methodical is an antonym for ……………..
a. slow
Idiom of the Day Bite the hand that feeds you
d. innocent d. to blame
2. Saturate is a synonym for ….……………
b. deliberate b. tardy
5. Proscribe is a synonym for…………….. a. measure
Specialized Vocabulary POP QUIZ Fill in the correct slang, idiom, phrasal verb or confusing word. Part 1 1. Car drivers are ___________ after another rise in petrol prices. 2. ___________ math and English, I prefer to study math. 3. I study best when I am ________ people who are serious about school. 4. She failed the exam but she will get ___________. 5. Even though I was not hungry, I ate my ________ lunch, which included a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, a bag of pretzels, and a candy bar. 6. I could not ___________ together the details of his story well enough to make any sense of it. 7. When Fred saw the needle the nurse was using to give him a shot, he ______. 8. The government has refused to ____despite the protests and demonstrations. 9. She can't make it on Saturday? Oh, well, another good idea ____________! 10. Peter really ___________ out with his orange hair. Part 2 Fill in the blanks with the correct specialized vocabulary 1. The Queen is famous at home and ___________. 2. Look at that cute little ___________frolicking in the field. 3. The ___________ between Iraq and Turkey is very dangerous. 4. You must always take a ___________when walking in the country. 5. The astrological sign of Aries is the ___________.
c. guilty c. to get rid of
1. Intrepid is an antonym for ………….
b. funny
VOCABULARY
d. unwanted
Activity:
6. unbearably a. tolerable
a. to hold
c. possible
b. recommend
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER KEY:
ELEMENTARY: (Part 1) 1. Introducing himself to a girl 2. Sitting down next to her and making conversation 3. More confident 4. Because the girls are crazy for him 5. Smile (Activity) 1.a 2.a 3.b 4.b 5.b INTERMEDIATE: (Part 1) 1.d 2.a 3.b 4.c 5.b 6.b 7.c 8.a 9.c 10.d (Activity) 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. c ADVANCED: (Part 1) 1.c 2.a 3.c 4.a 5.a 6.c 7.d 8.c 9.b (Activity) 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. a
In cooperation with English Time
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SPORTS
Zinedine Zidane pulls out of Australia trip Three-time World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane has pulled out of a planned trip to Australia for personal reasons, local media reported on Thursday. The former France playmaker was due to play in an exhibition match in Sydney on Sunday alongside other members of the 1998 World Cup-winning team against a side made up of former-Australian internationals. Sydney, Reuters
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
Ülker publicizes ad, sponsorship projects
AP
Amelie Mauresmo's slender hopes of winning her home grand slam were shredded in the second round by a 19-year-old upstart, Carla Suarez Navarro, who had never played at a grand slam and is ranked 132 in the world PHOTOS
Amelie Mauresmo
David Nalbandian
SOCCER
Celtics’ Garnett (5) is fouled by Pistons’ Prince.
Trabzon reaches deal with Selçuk and Burak
Celtics edge Pistons to take 3-2 series lead
Trabzonspor has announced that it reached a preliminary agreement with Vestel Manisaspor on the acquisition of Selçuk Ýnan and Burak Yýlmaz. It was noted that Trabzonspor executives Hayrettin Hacýsalihoðlu and Saner Ayar met with Vestel Manisaspor Chairman Kenan Yaralý in Istanbul to discuss the matter. The parties reportedly agreed in principle at the meeting. Reports further indicate that Trabzonspor will sign a three-year contract with Burak and Selçuk and that players will be bartered to Vestel in return for the transfer of these two players to Trabzonspor. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
SOCCER
FIFA decides to lift suspension of Iraq The international suspension of the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) was provisionally lifted by FIFA on Thursday, allowing Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Australia to go ahead. FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced the decision to applause from a congress audience at the Sydney Opera House including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Iraq's match against the Socceroos in Brisbane and the 'home' game against Australia in Dubai on June 7 will take place as scheduled. “This is great news,” Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement. “We're truly delighted that the Iraqi government, the Iraq FA and FIFA have sorted out the issues between them and the Socceroos and Iraq can get on the field to play this important World Cup qualifying match on Sunday.” Sydney Reuters
Reputations counted for little at the French Open on Thursday when Amelie Mauresmo, James Blake and David Nalbandian were toppled by opponents ranked outside the world's top 75. Mauresmo's slender hopes of winning her home grand slam were shredded in the second round by a 19year-old upstart ranked 132 in the world. Before arriving at Roland Garros, Carla Suarez Navarro had never played at a grand slam. That did not stop the Spanish qualifier from shoving 22nd seed Mauresmo towards the exit with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Seventh seed Blake, one of five American men to reach the second round, had been hoping to join compatriot Wayne Odesnik in the last 32 but was bounced out by an opponent who hails from a family of basketball players. Latvian teenager Ernests Gulbis, ranked 80th in the world, ensured Blake's nightmare in Paris continued with a 7-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 hum-
SUMO
Spoon fury earns Toyozakura salary cut
Telekom hosts Fener in game three today Türk Telekom hosts defending Fenerbahçe Ülker at Ankara’s Atatürk Sports Arena in game three of their Beko men’s Turkish Basketball League (TBL) playoff final series this evening. Fenerbahçe leads the series 2-0 having won the first two games in the playoff finals. Telekom must win today to keep its slim hopes of survival alive. A Fener victory this evening would mean the Ýstanbul side needs only win to retain the crown it won last year. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
bling on Court One. The American has never passed the third round in six attempts. Unlike Mauresmo and Blake, sixth seed Nalbandian had enjoyed a good track record at the claycourt grand slam after reaching the semi-finals in 2004 and 2006, but he surrendered a two-set lead to go down 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 to French wildcard Jeremy Chardy.
Injury scare Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic survived the carnage to stride into the third round. Williams was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Tunisian qualifier Selima Sfar while Jankovic overcame a wrist injury scare to see off New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 6-2, 7-6. For a woman who had never before experienced the imposing surroundings of the Philippe Chatrier Court, Suarez Navarro remained undaunted and turned into public enemy number one as she handed Mauresmo her earliest defeat at her
home grand slam for seven years. The 19-yearold ended Mauresmo's ordeal after 72 minutes of clinical one-sided action, the Frenchwoman punching a backhand long on match point. Ex-champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario was among the Spaniard's entourage which applauded her moment of triumph as a crestfallen Mauresmo was left to digest her 14th flop in Paris. “Frankly, I don't know what to say right now, because there was nothing much on my side,” said a demoralized Mauresmo, who has never progressed beyond the last eight here. Third seed Jelena Jankovic overcame an injury scare before booking a place in the third round at the expense of New Zealand's Marina Erakovic. The Serbian, a semi-finalist last year, received medical attention to an injured right wrist after the fifth game of the second set, but recovered her composure to win 6-2, 7-6 in an hour and 51 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Paris Reuters
REUTERS
England beats US for Capello’s 1st shutout PHOTO
BASKETBALL
PHOTO
Mauresmo, Blake and Nalbandýan ousted
Ülker, Turkey’s well-known food and beverage producer, has announced its sponsorship projects for the national soccer squad at the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. Speaking at a press conference held at Ýstanbul’s Ritz Carlton Hotel to brief the sports representatives of the press, Ülker Corporate Communications Director Zühal Þeker said it was pretty important for Ülker, which makes a total investment of $38 million every year to Turkish sports, to support the national soccer squad. Noting that Ülker’s sponsorship for the national squad had started in June 2007 and will last through 2012, Þeker further said, “Ülker is committed to showing it is the biggest supporter of the national team.” At the meeting, the invitees were asked to view an advertisement prepared for the national team. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
A veteran sumo wrestler who attacked a junior grappler with a cooking instrument has been ordered to take a salary cut for his violent outburst. Toyozakura, whose ladle-wielding assault left the victim bleeding and needing eight stitches, will take a 30 percent pay cut for three months, Japanese sumo officials said on Thursday. The same punishment was meted out to gym chief Magaki for beating a junior wrestler with a bamboo sword in the latest in a series of incidents of bullying to tarnish sumo's image. Sumo dates back some 2,000 years and retains many Shinto religious overtones but the roly-poly sport has been plagued by scandal in recent months. Tokyo Reuters
REUTERS
SOCCER
John Terry (R) of England celebrates after scoring.
Goals by John Terry and Steven Gerrard eased England to a 2-0 victory over the United States on Wednesday to give coach Fabio Capello his first shutout. Terry converted David Beckham's free kick with a powerful eight-meter header inside the near post in the 38th minute at Wembley -- a week after the Chelsea captain cried after missing what would have been a Champions League title-winning shootout penalty against Manchester United. “I am very happy for him and very happy for the England team,” Capello said. “He's a leader, he is a normal leader for Chelsea, a normal leader when he plays captain for the national team. It was important for him to score a goal.” Gerrard made it 2-0 from
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Gareth Barry's pass in the 59th but the game was watched by only 71,233 fans, the smallest England crowd since the stadium was rebuilt and reopened a year ago. Capello was hired in January after England failed to qualify for next month's European Championship and his record is now two wins and one loss to France in March. “It's very important to win, psychologically it's important,” Capello said. “We created a lot of chances to score more goals.” United States coach Bob Bradley, whose team also faces Spain and Argentina in two more friendlies, is using these games as tough warmups for 2010 World Cup qualifying games against Barbados next month. Wembley AP
The Boston Celtics escaped with a 106-102 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday to climb within one victory of their first NBA championship appearance since 1986. Kevin Garnett had a game-high 33 points and seven rebounds and team mate Ray Allen ended his shooting slump with 29 points to give the Celtics a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. “If he (Allen) plays like that, it's tough to beat us,” Boston's Paul Pierce, who had 16 points, told reporters after the Celtics improved to 10-1 at home in the playoffs. They can win the Eastern title with victory in Detroit today. Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 26 points and six assists. Richard Hamilton scored 25 points and Rasheed Wallace added 18 points. Rodney Stuckey rallied the Pistons to within a point with 8.2 seconds to play on a pair of free throws but Allen and Garnett each hit a pair of penalty shots to help seal the victory. Boston coach Doc Rivers said he knew Allen was ready for a breakout game. “He just hadn't played well in a while,” Rivers said. “It didn't bother me. It didn't stop me from running things for him still.” Kendrick Perkins also played a big role for Boston, recording playoff career highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds. He had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the first half. Pistons forward Antonio McDyess fouled out after scoring just four points. Rivers said the plan was to make McDyess work more on the defensive end. “We wanted to attack him on the (offensive) end and make him defend a bit, which we thought would get him in foul trouble.” The winners of this series will meet the Western Conference champions in the NBA finals. The Los Angeles Lakers lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 in that series. Boston Reuters
Rebuffed by Ladrup, Sammer Lions keep on searching Upon rejected by Ladrup and Sammer, Galatasaray, the champion of the last season, routes the search for coach to Italy. It is stated that Chairman Adnan Polat headed to Italy in search for cooperation with the chairmen of Milan and Inter, two leading squads of Italian soccer, to both foreign soccer players and coaches. Failing in transferring Laudrup and Sammer, the last champion has contacted with ex-head coach of the German FC Schalke 04, Mikro Slomna; however, suspended the talks with him taking the problems he experienced with Lincoln, striker of the Galatasaray Lions, into consideration. It is also rumored that the Lions start to get interested in Rumanian Hagi, the exsoccer player and ex-coach of the team. Forced to resign from his post after Turkey Cup victory in 2004-2005 season by the administration led by Chairman Özhan Canaydýn, the Rumanian is expected to come together/gather with the new administration of Galatasaray. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
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Douglas takes slide ride at playground dedication Kirk Douglas and his wife have dedicated their 400th school playground -- completing a decade-long effort to give Los Angeles kids a place to frolic. The 91-year-old actor took a ride down a slide during the unveiling on Wednesday at a Los Angeles elementary school. LA, AP WWW.TODAYSZAMAN.COM FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008
Dýor ýssues Sharon Stone apology over quake gaffe
French fashion house Christian Dior said on Thursday it has dropped Sharon Stone from its Chinese advertisements and released a statement from the actress apologizing for saying the earthquake that struck China may have been the result of bad "karma" over its treatment of Tibet. The 50-year-old actress said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week. Stone models
for Christian Dior SA, and the company's Shanghai office issued the statement. The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai who gave only her surname, Guo, said Stone would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China. "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement. "I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping
affected Chinese people." Stone said she had worked in international charities for the past 20 years and wants to help Chinese people. During her visit to China last year for the Shanghai Movie Festival she said she felt "deeply the Chinese people's wisdom and hospitality." Stone's comments caused considerable anger in the Chinese media. The official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary on Thursday she was the "public enemy of all mankind." Beijing AP
Baby put up for sale on Craigslist? A couple has been arrested in what Canadian police said was an apparent offer to sell a sevenday-old baby girl on Craigslist for C$10,000 ($10,100). A woman who saw the offer on the popular website alerted police who tracked down the 23-year-old mother and 26-year-old father using a cell phone number that was listed in the advertisement. Vancouver police said the couple told investigators the offer was a hoax, but were arrested for public mischief with other criminal charges possible as the investigation continues. "There are so many questions here," Constable Tim Fanning told reporters. Police said the advertisement described the baby as "very cute" and "unexpected" and that its parents, who could not afford to care for it, wanted to give it a good home. The child was put in the care of social workers. Vancouver, British Columbia Reuters
Wheelchair ‘vanishes' while man is in car wash Jason Dorshorst thought somebody ripped off his $4,000 wheelchair in broad daylight while he washed his pickup truck. It turns out that a good Samaritan took it to keep it from being stolen. Dorshorst, 26, of Plover, washed his vehicle at Speedy Clean Car Wash. He left the custom-made wheelchair outside the business so it wouldn't get wet during the six-minute cleaning. It vanished in that short time. "My first thought was, ‘Why would somebody ever do that?'" said Dorshorst, who was injured in a 2003 motorcycle accident and needs a wheelchair to complete day-to-day tasks. "I've never heard of anyone's wheelchair disappearing." He added, "It's pretty low for somebody to do that." But Plover Policeman Brent Thauer said Wednesday the chair wasn't stolen. A woman who arrived at the car wash while Dorshorst was inside saw the chair and assumed it was lost or abandoned, he said. Her father works with disabled people, and she grabbed the chair hoping he could find the rightful owner, Thauer said. The father saw news reports of the alleged theft, realized what happened and contacted police, Thauer said. "It's good to know there are people around who do the right thing," the officer said. Plover, Wis. AP
‘Man steals bracelet and then swallows it' A 25-year-old man bit off more than he could chew when he allegedly stole a gold bracelet from an 8-year-old girl and then swallowed the evidence, police in northern Mexico said. Jose Rigoberto Cruz Salas was being administered laxatives to recover the evidence at a jail in a suburb of the northern city of Monterrey, said state police officials who not authorized to be quoted by name. Cruz Salas admitted to the theft, said police, who arrested him. He told the local newspaper, El Norte, that he had swallowed the bracelet when he saw them coming. "I just suddenly ate it. I saw the patrol car and the only thing that occurred to me was to swallow it," Cruz Salas said, according to the newspaper. Police ordered an x-ray of his stomach, which revealed the stolen jewelry. He faces robbery charges, punishable by a fine or a jail term of six months to 15 years -- depending on the bracelet's value. Its worth could not be immediately determined. Monterrey, Mexico AP
Czechs confuse Latvia and Lithuania The Latvian flag was in the game program along with a photo of the Latvian national soccer team. Before the match, Czech organizers played Latvia's national anthem. However, the Czech Republic was facing Lithuania on Tuesday night, not Latvia. The Czech Republic's Soccer Federation apologized Wednesday to its Lithuanian counterpart and to the Lithuanian embassy in Prague. The federation said in a statement that the mistakes were inexcusable and measures will be taken not to repeat them in the future. Federation spokesman Vaclav Tichy took responsibility and resigned from his post. His deputy was fired and another federation official fined, the statement said. The Czech Republic, preparing for next month's European Championship, won 2-0. Prague AP
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