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Featuring news and articles from
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02 TODAY’S ZAMAN CROSS READER
FATMA DÝÞLÝ
f.disli@todayszaman.com
Freedom of expressýon and AK Party’s Fýrat Dengir Mir Mehmet Fýrat, a senior Justice and Development Party (AK Party) official, came under fire from staunchly secular circles over remarks he made to The New York Times, published in its Sunday edition. "Turkish society has been traumatized. Overnight they were told to change their dress, their language. Their religious ways were dismantled. Societies without that trauma could not care less how people dress," Fýrat told the paper on the life-changing revolutions of the 1920s in Turkey. Many figures, mainly from the Republican People's Party (CHP), slammed Fýrat's remarks, accusing him of being an enemy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's revolutions while Fýrat, at a press conference on Monday, complained that his words have been distorted and taken out of context, which gives a historical background to the revolutions. Criticism of Fýrat also highlighted how some circles in Turkey have a restrictive belief in freedom of expression. Sabah's Ergun Babahan, talking about Atatürk's revolutions, explains that these revolutions were the climax of efforts to "modernize" Turkey, which had been going on for two centuries. "They were not only social revolutions, but also a project to create a nation, a kind of social engineering, an effort to create a new society from head to toe because they aimed to create a modern, educated and industrialized society out of one which was backward and unindustrialized," clarifies Babahan. In consideration of these, he agrees with Fýrat in that it was impossible for these revolutions to not produce traumas in some segments of the society. That is why, he stresses, political movements that do not produce traumas and do not shake the society, are called "reforms" rather than "revolutions." Referring to the harsh criticism Fýrat has drawn for his remarks, Babahan points out a general problem with freedom of expression in Turkey. "Everyone in Turkey is against the freedom to express an idea they disagree with, but they continue to demand the freedom to express their own views. As we internalize democracy I hope we will have the chance to discuss such issues in a productive manner," remarks Babahan. Muharrem Sarýkaya, another Sabah columnist, affirms Fýrat's right to freely express his views and sociologically analyze the effects of Atatürk's revolutions on the society; however, he says that his remarks are highly prone to be read differently at a time when his party faces a closure case over charges of "being against a fundamental principle of the Turkish Republic."
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F OOD FOR THOUGHT
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PRESS REVIEW
Q UOTE OF THE DAY
I'll warn my players that Turks believe until the end that they can win the game. They never give up. Germany coach Joachim Loew
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W ORDS OF WISDOM
I am sure we will have a chance to discuss the intersection, but I would hope that we will not lose track... on Palestinian-Israeli peace. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with. Wayne W. Dyer
columns
press roundup AP
24.06.2008
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If only Terim had a similar plan MUSTAFA KARAALÝOÐLU, STAR If only the technical director of the Turkish national football team, Fatih Terim, had an action plan in his hands like the military's "Plan of Action for Information Support Activities" revealed recently by the Taraf daily, we would have no more need for last-minute miracles in our matches. With such a plan, Terim would be able to coordinate with the referees to see that every ball that was called "out" was actually marked down as a goal. And, of course, all of our penalties would be kicked into our competitor's goalpost.
Calling it a ‘miracle' German and Turkish flags hang side by side at the sales booth of a Turkish-German citizen, right, at the Turkiyemspor Berlin sports club in Berlin. Turkey will play Germany in the Euro 2008 semifinal today.
zaman:
Yesterday's daily covered celebratory gunfire that marks soccer match victories, calling attention to campaigns and efforts that have been launched to stop such celebrations. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan's spouse, Emine, called Duygu Kader Öztürk, a 10-year-old girl injured by a falling bullet, and promised that she would start a campaign to stop the celebratory firing of bullets and that she would raise awareness about the danger of celebratory gunfire.
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taraf:
Some 42,000 police officers will be recruited to the military, read the daily's top headline yesterday, reporting that between 26,000 and 46,000 police officers will have to register with the military in August after the General Staff extended the duration of the time period in which conscripts are required to take an examination from three to 25 days. Police officers have so far been able to evade this exam by getting a doctor's note listing them as bedridden for the duration of the exam.
MÝLLÝYET, SAMÝ KOHEN Will we be able to see a repeat of the miracle we witnessed last Friday night again tomorrow? Will the Turkish national team be able to beat the Germans in Basel after its victory against the Croatians? Doesn't this "unexpected" situation, more than being an accident or a coincidence, owe a lot to the ability, ambition, belief and resolute determination of the Turkish team, especially in the last minutes of the match? However the victory in Vienna is interpreted, our wish is that a similar "miracle" take place in Basel.
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TODAY’S ZAMAN 03
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ÝSTANBUL ANKARA ÝZMÝR ANTALYA ADANA ERZURUM EDÝRNE TRABZON KAYSERÝ
Antalya transformed into ‘stadium’ for tonight’s match CÝHAN
As a main attractions point for German tourists, Antalya hotels are ready for tonight’s game. will work to replicate the ambiance of a stadium." Hotel managers say the national team's performance has so far led to $1 billion in investment. Tourism managers are of the same opinion, saying the team's success has contributed to Turkey's image significantly. Xanadu Hotel General Manager Yusuf Hacýsüleyman agreed. "We set aside a promotional budget of $120 million, but the team's
success has served to multiply this several fold. Turkey's success in sports contributes significantly to the tourism sector and increases curiosity about Turkey worldwide." The national team's efforts in Euro 2008 have been met with great fanfare by all of Turkey. To show its appreciation, TÜROFED plans to surprise the national team with a vacation package if they win the championship. Kenan Baþ Antalya
KONYA ÇANAKKALE DÝYARBAKIR SAMSUN BURSA GAZÝANTEP ESKÝÞEHÝR MALATYA KOCAELÝ
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Gülen’s ýdeas address entýre world
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Hotels in Antalya have gotten ready for tonight's semi-final match between Turkey and Germany, with gardens, poolsides and beaches awaiting the considerable number of tourists that have come in from Germany. The excitement of the national match is being felt throughout the country, including Antalya, the heart of Turkey's tourism sector. With Turkey playing Germany tonight, the excitement has reached new highs. One-third of tourists since the beginning of the year have come from Germany, leading hotel managers in Antalya to take extra care to please Germans this evening. In addition to preparing special menus, hotels are also distributing free German flags and sports gear as well as providing cocktails. Hotel managers have placed large TV screens in hotel gardens and on beaches, transforming the seaside resorts into pseudo stadiums. Turkish Hoteliers' Federation (TÜROFED) Chairman Ahmet Barut said such preparations have been undertaken before to please tourists, but added, "The Turkey-Germany match will be just like a carnival." Every hotel will do what it can to create a carnival-like atmosphere, Barut said. "We have prepared well for the night. This Euro 2008 match will attract the largest audience, so we
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Turkish intellectual Fethullah Gülen, one of the world's most influential Islamic scholars, has come out on the top of a list of "The World's Top 20 Public Intellectuals," organized by influential magazines Foreign Policy and Prospect. However, some people around the world wonder why many people consider Gülen the world's leading intellectual, as proved by the poll results. I must confess that I am neither a specialist on the Gülen movement nor a spokesperson for it. However, I want to share my opinions on what makes Mr. Gülen a world-class intellectual, as over 500,000 votes have confirmed he is. The ideas of Fethullah Gülen, Turkey's most discussed figure for decades now, have become one of the important topics of debate in world intellectual circles in recent years. With millions of followers worldwide in addition to those in his own country, Mr. Gülen has risen to prominence with his statements and actions that shatter into a thousand pieces the twisted perception of Islam shaped by Islamophobia. Attracting worldwide attention with his arguments for inter-religious dialogue and tolerance at a time when Samuel Huntington's theory of the clash of civilizations is extensively used and spread, Mr. Gülen did not remain only at the level of creating ideas, but created a worldwide social movement to carry out these ideas. This quality of his makes him one of the leading intellectuals of the world as well as one of the greatest men of action. He was not content with writing about his approaches, which can be roughly summarized as "living together in peace," "appreciation of differences," "accepting everybody as they are" and "inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance," which he developed to counter the theses of inter-religious and intercultural clashes continuously imposed on the masses. For the realization of his ideals, he has initiated a civil voluntary movement, which is probably the largest the world has ever seen. Today Mr. Gülen is able to easily mobilize his multinational followers, estimated to be in the millions, who are craving to accomplish his ideal of transforming the world into an oasis of peace. Retaining a strong belief that creating a peaceful world is possible through education and having dedicated his life to this cause, Mr. Gülen advises all his followers to lend all their physical strength and spiritual energy toward promoting education all around the world. And in return, his followers, who have not come across in his thoughts and statements a single word that could be adverse to the good of humanity, are making efforts in this direction with might and main. As a result of these efforts, the young generation is learning the ways of living together in hundreds of schools opened by Turkish entrepreneurs in over 110 countries of the world dominated by different religions, languages and cultures. The children of Bosnians and Serbs, Kurds and Turkmens, Russians and Chechens, and Hindus and Muslims, who have fought one another, peacefully study in the same classrooms in these schools. Mr. Gülen has proved through his thoughts,
BÜLENT KENEÞ b.kenes@todayszaman.com
statements and actions that Islam is a religion of peace, even though it is almost associated with fundamentalism, extremism and violence in the West because of the evildoings of some radicals in the Islamic world. And he is famed for the very intimate ties he established with the late Pope John Paul II, Fener Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch Bartholomew, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan and many other representatives of other religions. Mr. Gülen's thoughts and actions have recently started attracting the attention of the international media. While one of the most influential US newspapers, The New York Times, dedicated its headline to a news story on the worldwide activities of the voluntary movement spiritually led by Mr. Gülen, The Economist allotted a large space for Mr. Gülen and the Gülen movement a couple of months ago. In addition, Reuters ran a sizable feature story on the Gülen movement in previous weeks. It is possible to mention many other examples that prove the universal nature of Mr. Gülen's embracing thoughts. However to me, the biggest proof of this is that an important section of Mr. Gülen's followers comprises people from many different ethnicities, religions and cultures other than Turks and Muslims. Today, wherever in the world you travel to, from Siberia to Australia, from China to Canada and from Sweden to Brazil, you can find thousands of people who act upon the ideas Mr. Gülen developed for a peaceful world. Asserting that terrorism cannot be attributed to any religion and completely rejecting violence, Mr. Gülen drew a powerfully distinctive line between terrorism and Islam by stating after the Sept. 11 attacks that "Muslims cannot be terrorists; if they are terrorists, they are not Muslims," and condemned all sorts of terrorism. And he has reiterated his condemnations numerous times by targeting Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. In addition, many universities have held symposia and established chairs in the name of Mr. Gülen, who has attracted the attention of the academic world in many countries outside the United States and Europe. One of the most recent of such academic events was realized in 2007 in London under the auspices of the House of Lords and with the cooperation of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and the London School of Economics; others followed in many other countries. In light of the information I have briefly provided above, nobody should feel out of sorts about his selection as first in the "Top 100 Public Intellectuals" survey conducted by Foreign Policy and Prospect. Just the opposite, we should all be surprised if he doesn't receive the Nobel Peace Prize in the near future.
Reservoirs in Ýstanbul drying out Ýstanbulites risk drought if the city's reservoirs are not filled in the near future, but no rain is expected any time soon because of global warming, according to the Ýstanbul Waterworks Authority (ÝSKÝ). The reservoirs, the main water source for Turkey's largest metropolitan area, have only 300 million cubic meters of water left. Given the city's water usage rate of 2 million cubic meters daily, this is enough for only five months. According to information from the ÝSKÝ four of the city's 10 reservoirs will soon be depleted. Ýstanbulites consumed close to 2 million cubic meters of water daily in the first five months of the year and with the coming of June, this consumption figure has increased. Alibey, Kazandere, Papuçdere and Istranca, the largest of the reservoirs providing water to Ýstanbul, have only about 3 million cubic meters of water left, although their maximum total capacity exceeds 260 million cubic meters. Alibey reservoir dried out completely last summer. ÝSKÝ officials expect that the water stores at the Kazandere, Papuçdere and Istranca reservoirs to be exhausted this summer. To combat the problem, ÝSKÝ has been digging 50 more wells in addi-
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tion to the 180 it dug last year. Well water prevented the Büyükçekmece reservoir from drying out last year. Ýstanbul's water reserves have fallen significantly in the last few years, necessitating that Ýstanbulites use water more efficiently to avoid water cuts this summer. Because of lower than average rainfall over the past three years, the water level at Ýstanbul's 10 reservoirs, which provide water for 12 million Ýstanbulites, decreased by 50 percent. Yasin Kýlýç Ýstanbul ALÝ ÜNAL
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04 TODAY’S ZAMAN
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Erdoðan may meet with Kurdish officials during Iraq visit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan may meet with a senior Kurdish official during an upcoming visit to neighboring Iraq, a news report said yesterday. Erdoðan is expected to pay an official visit to the Iraqi capital next week and have talks with both Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Mahmoud Othman, an Iraqi member of parliament from the Kurdish Alliance, the largest of the Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi legislature, has suggested that Erdoðan would also meet with Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the largely autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, while in Baghdad. Sources in Arbil told the Cihan news agency that the visit will take place on July 4. In
Ankara, officials from the Prime Ministry, speaking with Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity, declined to elaborate on the exact date of the expected visit, citing security reasons. "We can neither confirm nor deny media reports concerning the visit at the moment," the same officials said. "Several economic and commercial agreements will be signed between Iraq and Turkey," Othman was quoted as saying by Pukmedia, a media organ affiliated with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Officials in Ankara declined to comment on whether Erdoðan would have any contact with Iraqi Kurdish officials. Suspecting that they support the terrorist
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Ankara has long refused to have dialogue with Iraqi Kurds. However, two senior Turkish officials broke the ice and had the first high-level direct talks with the Kurdish administration, meeting with Nechirvan Barzani, who is also the nephew of Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, in Baghdad on May 1. But Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani raised the eyebrows in Ankara once again earlier this week, saying the PKK is not a terrorist organization. Responding to questions on possible contacts with Iraqi Kurds, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar Büyükanýt declined to comment, saying diplomacy was not his area, but, in an apparent reference to Barzani's remarks, he suggested that the Kurds must
recognize the PKK as a terrorist group. "I look at the issue from a military perspective. I am the head of an institution that fights against terrorism," Büyükanýt told reporters. "I leave it to you to consider what it means to refuse to call the PKK, which has caused many deaths and significant damage, a terrorist organization. If it is not a terrorist organization, then we should call no organization on earth a terrorist organization. It is the bloodiest terrorist organization ever." But he was optimistic about the possible implications of Erdoðan's visit to Iraq on relations with the neighboring country. "We as the military are in touch with the Iraqi central administration, too. We are trying to develop our relations with the central administration," Büyükanýt said. Ankara Today's Zaman
Better late than never: Turkey wakes up to realýtýes of unconventýonal warfare ANALYSIS
Lale Sarýibrahimoðlu TODAY’S ZAMAN
sessment report that the TSK provided to the US, albeit slightly late, has also revealed that the success of Turkish aerial bombardments of PKK targets has been gradually increasing. Many Western and Turkish military analysts that Today's Zaman spoke with agreed that the success of the operations could be measured with the psychological impact that the operations have had on the PKK, adding that the operations narrowed the terrorist group's room for maneuver in the Iraqi Kurdish region. In a parallel development, the real-time intelligence supply, which used both US and Israeli UAVs, has created more awareness within the TSK that it stands in need
of more counterinsurgency equipment. "This awareness has come quite late," noted a Turkish military analyst, adding that it was only in the mid-1990s, more than 10 years after the PKK launched its first deadly attack in the country's predominantly Kurdish Southeast, that the TSK initiated projects to acquire night vision systems. Lantirn night vision systems from US-based Lockheed Martin have since played an important role in Turkey's aerial bombardments of PKK targets. Despite the fact that the fight against the PKK had been going on for almost 24 years, there has not been any serious focus on the acquisition of equipment to deter asymmetric warfare until recently. It was only in recent years that the TSK decided to buy equipment, such as UAVs, to deter counterinsurgency. In 2005 the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) signed a $183 million contract with Israel's IUP consortium for 10 medium-altitude, long-range Heron UAVs, as well as surveillance and ground command and control equipment. But delays on the part of Aselsan, a local firm, in readying the payloads to be installed on the UAVs has delayed their delivery, with Turkey purchasing three off-the-shelf UAVs from Tel Aviv as an interim measure.
Priority on acquisition of conventional arms draws criticism The TSK's long-standing emphasis on the purchase of conventional arms, despite its description of asymmetric warfare -- and the fight against the PKK in particular -- as a threat to the country's national unity and integrity was criticized by a Turkish deputy last year. During a debate over the Defense Ministry's budget at Parliament's Budget and Planning Commission in November of last year Mehmet Günal, a deputy from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), asked for an explanation of the continued emphasis on the procurement of conventional weapons. "There is a long list of projects at the end of the booklet distributed by the Defense Ministry. But when we examine this long list, we see that they almost all consist of projects and weapons intended for conventional warfare. At a time when the world is facing the biggest asymmetric threat, I have not been seeing in this list emphasis on arms systems to deter such threats, except some plans for the acquisition of sensors and the purchase of attack helicopters," Günal noted. Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül responded by saying that the majority of the arms systems mentioned in the ministry booklet were intended for asymmetric threats, too. Gönül also said that an unspecified amount of resources had already been allocated for the Gendarmerie General Command to increase security along the borders. But Gönül's explanation has fallen short of satisfying Turkish military analysts. Speaking to Today's Zaman, one analyst urged the military to set its priorities carefully in the acquisition of arms, instead of allocating resources for both conventional arms and equipment to deter asymmetric warfare, because this policy has been draining Turkey's already-limited financial resources.
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The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have only recently become aware of the necessity of acquiring more counterinsurgency and border surveillance equipment, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and night vision equipment, according to a Turkish military analyst who has closely followed the Turkish military's assaults in northern Iraq since December of last year. The TSK's newfound awareness followed its use of US-supplied real-time intelligence for pinpointing targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the same source asserted. In a well-known episode in the early 1990s, the US provided Turkey with a certain amount of real-time intelligence in its fight against the PKK. However, high numbers of civilian casualties during Turkey's use of this intelligence at the time had prompted Washington to end this support, a Western military source recalled. But in late 2007 the US decided to supply Turkey with real-time intelligence, helping the TSK increase its level of success in hitting PKK targets in northern Iraq, while considerably avoiding civilian casualties. A battle damage as-
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Police heighten security for visits by EU officials The police are preparing to step up security measures before visits by European Union officials to Turkey, fearing that EU representatives could be the target of attacks amid political tension over a closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), sources said. EU officials have strongly criticized the closure case against the AK Party, which charges the ruling party with becoming a focal point for anti-secular activities. On several occasions, EU authorities expressed concern over possible closure and warned it would have consequences on Turkey's accession process with the EU. Most recently, Dimitrij Rupel, the foreign minister of EU term president Slovenia, said the EU would examine the situation after the Constitutional Court rules on the case and react accordingly. Fearing such statements may turn EU officials into targets of possible attacks by certain opponents of the AK Party, the Foreign Ministry recently asked the National Police Department to increase security measures for visits by EU representatives or officials of EU member countries. Heeding the Foreign Ministry's request, the police sent a confidential memo to its local branches, asking authorities in provinces frequently visited by EU officials to heighten measures for visits of EU representatives and step up intelligence activities to prevent a possible attack. High-level police officials noted that the EU statements critical of the closure case have created discontent among certain circles in Turkey and that such sentiments could lead to provocative attacks on EU officials. The secularist nationalist opposition and some media commentators have lashed out at the EU for "interfering" in the functioning of the Turkish judiciary with their remarks critical of the closure case. Sedat Güneç, Ankara
Turks OK with torture for terrorists, world opinion poll shows contýnued from page 1 Four nations however, including Turkey, lean toward favoring an exception in the case of terrorists, the survey found. The poll found that large majorities in 19 nations favor a general prohibition against torture. In all nations polled less than one in five feels the government should generally be able to use torture. The poll surveyed people from China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, Mexico, Britain, France, Poland, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, the Palestinian territories, Spain, Thailand and South Korea between Jan. 10 and May 6 of this year. An average of 57 percent of those polled favor unequivocal rules against torture. Thirty-five percent favor an exception when innocent lives are at risk and only 9 percent favor the government being able to use torture in general. Support for an unequivocal anti-torture position was highest in Spain (82 percent), Great Britain (82 percent) and France (82 percent), followed by Mexico (73 percent), China (66 percent), the Palestinian territories (66 percent), Poland (62 percent), Indonesia (61 percent) and the Ukraine (59 percent). "The idea that torture by governments is basically wrong is widely shared in all corners of the world. Even the scenario one hears of terrorists holding information that could save innocent lives is rejected as a justification for torture in most countries," commented Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org. "Further," Kull adds, "since such a scenario is exceedingly rare, this poll suggests that virtually all torture used by governments is at odds with the will of the people."
Turks on torture
French Senate rejects referendum ‘hypocrisy’ against Turkey contýnued from page 1 A large majority of the senators -- 297 to seven -- of all political parties, except for the communists, voted to scrap the amendment, which they said was "discriminatory" and "offensive" to Turkey. But it could still be revived when the bill goes for a second reading in both houses of parliament. The foreign relations and defense committee had earlier said the provision of a bill adopted by the national assembly last month "could appear to be directed against a friendly state and ally of France, which is Turkey." It would "likely cause grave harm to diplomatic relations between France and this country," a statement from the committee said some 10 days ago. The national assembly voted in late May to
make a referendum mandatory for accepting new countries with populations totaling more than 5 percent the bloc's entire size. The text is "inadmissible, scandalous, disgraceful, insulting for Turkey," said socialist Senator Alima Boumediene-Thiery prior to the vote in plenary session. "Whether one is for or against Turkey joining the EU, the procedure must be the same as for any other candidate country. Why would the Turks be the only ones to be necessarily submitted to a referendum? Is there not something racist here?" she added. For his part, Senator Pierre Fauchon of the centrist Union for French Democracy (UDF) called the measure "hypocritical and saddening," while Josselin de Rohan, the head of the foreign relations and defense committee, said rejecting the measure would
offer "an opportunity for presenting this great country [Turkey] evidence of friendship." Jacques Blanc, the head of the FranceTurkey Friendship Caucus in the French Senate, meanwhile stated that "a friendly country cannot be targeted in the constitution." The Turkish capital had labeled French lawmakers' approval of the particular amendment as "odd," while warning Paris over the negative consequences of adoption of the clause by the French Senate on "traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries." Turkey is disturbed by the "discriminative approach toward Turkey although accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU began with the common target of full membership and
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with approval of France, too," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. President Nicolas Sarkozy is a vocal opponent of Turkey's entry to the EU, arguing that the mainly Muslim country does not belong in Europe. Instead, he proposes a "privileged partnership," an idea Turkey rejects. The EU opened entry talks with Turkey in 2005, but there has been little progress amid disagreements over Cyprus and opposition from France, which will take over the bloc's presidency from Slovenia on July 1 for six months, among other EU countries, including Austria and Germany. The bloc also suspended negotiations on eight policy chapters because of Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels.
The report on the poll noted that in 2008 Turks show majority support for making exceptions for using torture in cases of terrorism, a dramatic shift from the majority that endorsed clear rules against torture in 2006. Turks also have the largest minority (along with China) among the publics polled that favor allowing governments to use torture in general. According to the poll, a slight majority of Turks (51 percent) believe governments should at least be allowed to use some degree of torture in exceptional cases, such as those involving terrorists, including 18 percent that feel governments should be allowed to use torture in general. A significant number (36 percent), though one of the smallest, says that unequivocal rules against torture should be maintained. Support for making exceptions to use torture in the case of terrorists has risen dramatically from 2006 and is now a majority (up from 24 percent), while those endorsing clear rules against using torture in any circumstance have decreased just as significantly (36 percent, down from 62 percent). Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
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‘Reform of religion’ claims outright lies, Bardakoðlu says MÜKREMÝN ALBAYRAK ÝSTANBUL
Head of the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate Ali Bardakoðlu has stated that recent claims over Turkey making reforms to Islam are totally unsubstantiated and are tarnishing Turkey’s image in the Islamic world. “Even though we have consistently emphasized that our work on hadiths [oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Prophet Mohammed] is definitely not a reform of the religion every time we speak to journalists, some people are still trying to put words in our mouths,” Bardakoðlu told Today’s Zaman.
He complained that he had been unable to rectify the situation of deliberately false news stories being frequently published in certain newspapers. He noted that these purposefully biased reports are embarrassing Turkey in the Islamic world as well as in the West. “People are not conveying the reality; they are imposing their own views on this project. Their attempts to portray this serious work as a reform both in the East and the West, as if saying, ‘If I were you, I would make reforms to the religion,’ and their claims are completely imagined and far from the truth. These claims are only serving to expose their obsessions and fallacies,” he stated. In response to our question on what the real pur-
pose of the project is, he said: “It is to form a collection of hadiths by classifying the authentic sayings of our Prophet into subjects to benefit more from them in our daily lives and to make them our guide. It is to understand and to help people to understand how we should integrate the sayings of our beloved master into the 21st century and what these sayings should bring into our daily lives and relations. It’s nobody’s place to discuss any saying of our Prophet, and it would be a very unbecoming behavior for a Muslim.” Bardakoðlu particularly emphasized that some Westerners are trying hard to show this project as “a reform to religion” to suggest to the Islamic
world that Turkey is distancing itself from it. “We have continually noted that there can be no reform in Islam because there is no need for that. Islam’s inherent knowledge and scripture are very clear. We have the holy Quran, even a single letter of which has not been changed, and this holy book clearly shows us what Islam is. Also, the sayings and actions of our Prophet are obvious and clear. What we have is not an Islam that changes from on person to another or from one interpretation to another. And this being the truth, people cannot possibly change a single part of the Quran or Sunnah, which are the two inseparable essences of the religion. Those who think
they have managed to make ‘positive’ reforms to the religion may receive some appreciation from ignorant people. But the things they say and write are like words written on water; they will disappear in no time, and the authentic, undistorted religion will continue to exist the way it has existed for the last 14 centuries. He who sent this religion is Allah, and it is He who will protect it. People will never be able to make reforms to the religion,” he noted, adding that we should “refresh” and “revive” our piety and religiosity continually in the light of the Quran and Sunnah in order to form an understanding of religiosity that befits a modern Muslim. “And this is not reform,” he added.
Experts repeat warnings over risks of hot, dry weather BETÜL AKKAYA ÝSTANBUL
The arrival of sweltering summer weather has spurred experts to warn the citizenry of the risks of hot and dry weather. Professor Bingür Sönmez, a cardiologist from Ýstanbul’s Memorial Hospital, told Today’s Zaman that individuals, particularly cardiac patients, should be more careful in the summer months. “Our citizens should refrain from engaging in outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hot and dry weather affects people with heart disease more than others,” he stated. Sönmez stressed that cardiac patients should not exercise during noontime but instead choose early morning hours for a walk. “People on medication should consult their doctors and ask whether to decrease the number of pills taken each day as pills may congeal blood and cause dehydration. All citizens should drink at least two liters of water every day. They should avoid eating much and consume fruits and vegetables,” he added. Professor Recep Akdur from Ankara University’s School of Medicine warned that too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays may damage skin and cause cancer. “Being exposed to UV rays for prolonged periods of time damages the skin. The reason behind many kinds of skin cancers is too much exposure to sunlight. We should thus protect our skin against the negative effects of UV rays,” he said. Akdur stressed that skin should be inspected regularly to see whether it has been damaged by overexposure to sunlight. “Those who detect a change in skin color, swelling or bleeding should see a doctor. Sunscreen help decrease the risks of UV rays, but it does not provide full protection. People should not expose their skin to direct sunlight for a long time with the belief that sunscreen will protect them. Those using sunscreen are at a greater risk of developing cancer because they are exposed to too much UV radiation as they believe that these creams fully protect them,” he remarked. The Health Ministry released a statement earlier this month to warn people against the risks of increasing temperatures. “Children below 4 years of age, pregnant women, people older than 65, those suffering from a chronic disease and those on medication as well as alcoholics and drug addicts are affected most by increasing temperatures. People should drink at least two liters of water every day even if they don’t feel thirsty,” read the statement. “Those who are obliged to engage in outdoor activities should wear thin, white clothes, sunglasses and hats. They should drink large amounts of water, milk and fruit juice,” it said. It also warned people to refrain from consuming very cold and icy drinks as well as fatty foods. “Don’t skip breakfast; Eat vegetables and fruits; keep eggs, milk, meat and fish in the refrigerator,” it added.
It all starts with a dream...
Increasing temperatures a threat to forests Experts have also stated forest fires increase with the advent of summer. Hakký Gedik, the director of the local forestry department in northwestern Bursa’s Ýnegöl district, stressed that there is a significant increase in forest fires every year that devastate thousands of hectares of forested land. “Picnicking is forbidden in forested land between June 1 and Oct. 31. People should comply with this ban. Those who see or detect fire or smoke in forested areas should call 117 and inform officials. Setting areas on fire to clear them of brush is a great threat to forested lands as it is quite easy for flames to extend across broad areas in a very short period of time. People should be more sensitive about the environment and refrain from any act that may result in unrecoverable damage,” he said. Forest fires in such varied areas of Turkey as western Ýzmir’s Menemen district, southern Antalya’s Göynük and Alanya districts, northwestern Burdur’s Bucak district and northwestern Çanakkale’s Eceabat district have so far scorched hundreds of hectares of forested land.
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Bahçeli criticizes TÜSÝAD’s constitution offer Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has criticized Turkey’s most influential business organization for interfering in Parliament’s business by offering views on a new constitution. Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday Bahçeli blamed the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSÝAD) for getting in Parliament’s way. “No other institutions should interfere in the [constitution making] process. No institution should assume this task [other than Parliament],” he said. TÜSÝAD organized a meeting last Thursday and called for a “national convention” on a new constitution that would bring together all segments of the political and social spectrum, but the offer was not welcomed by politicians. UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator
Kemal Derviþ was the guest speaker. The participation of Derviþ, who in 2001 became Turkey’s economy minister after a 22-year career at the World Bank, in TÜSÝAD’s gathering and his warnings about an economic crisis were strongly criticized by Bahçeli. The MHP sees Derviþ’s warnings as part of a plot to drag Turkey into an atmosphere of economic crisis. The suggestion from TÜSÝAD came amidst a crisis sparked by the Constitutional Court’s recent annulment of constitutional amendments passed in Parliament that would have ended a long-standing headscarf ban on university campuses. The move led many commentators to conclude that the court had overstepped its authority and that it had actually taken over the role of the legislature, rendering Parliament useless and effectively starting a crisis for Turkey’s parliamentary democracy.
Bahçeli also cautioned that the current political deadlock has continued for 100 days but that Parliament remains merely an observer. He said everybody should be prepared for bad outcomes. If the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is closed and a new party is established, even that new party will face the threat of closure, he stated. “If there is a decision to close it down, we will have a complicated picture. We might have by-elections. We have many unpredictable elements in this process,” he said. A closure case against the AK Party has been pending in the Constitutional Court with charges that the party has become a “focal point for anti-secular activities.” The MHP leader said a new closure case can be expected because Erdoðan’s supporters have been planning to form a new party with the politicians who remained outside of the political ban and join elections under the umbrella of the new party.
“The prime minister is trying to save himself. He may sell out his friends at any time,” Bahçeli stated. Bahçeli also attacked Dengir Mir Mehmet Fýrat, the AK Party’s deputy chairman, regarding his comments to The New York Times on the life-changing revolutions of the 1920s. “Turkish society has been traumatized. … Overnight they were told to change their dress, their language. Their religious ways were dismantled,” Fýrat was quoted as saying in the story. Calling Fýrat’s comments a “disgrace,” Bahçeli inquired about what other AK Party members think about Fýrat’s words. “He dares to challenge the foundation of the Turkish Republic. He accuses Atatürk of being the cause of today’s problems in Turkey,” Bahçeli said. In the story published by the New York Times on Sunday, Fýrat had stated that what had occurred in Atatürk’s time was a revolution and that revolutions cause trauma in society. Ankara Today’s Zaman
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ALÝ ÜNAL
Council of Europe rapporteur proposes monitoring for Turkey contýnued from page 1 Calling for a new constitution to replace the current one -- drafted by a military administration that toppled the civilian government in 1980 -- the report says the Council of Europe should closely follow developments concerning the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey and reintroduce the monitoring process if necessary. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is set to hold an urgent debate on the closure case and the political situation in Turkey on Thursday, during which the report will be voted upon. Repercussions are expected to be serious if the assembly agrees to reintroduce the monitoring on Turkey following Thursday's debate. The European Union, which Turkey has aspired to join for decades, agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2005 only after the Council of Europe, the guardian of European norms and values, decided in 2004 to lift previous monitoring on Turkey's compliance with European human rights and democracy standards. A decision to put Turkey back on the list of countries being monitored is certain to be a hard blow to Ankara's EU aspirations. The EU, which has criticized the closure case with strong statements, has warned that a decision to close down the ruling party will have repercussions. But EU officials have so far avoided calling for a suspension in the accession talks, given the difficulties of restarting the talks once they are suspended. But politicians who are already opposed to Turkey's entry are expected to press for suspension of the process in the event the AK Party is closed down. A Council of Europe decision to put Turkey on the list of countries being monitored for compliance with European norms is certain to strengthen the position of the anti-Turkish membership camp and leave proponents of Turkish accession with few options in their reactions to possible closure without ruining Turkey's eventual membership prospects. PACE has invited Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to attend the Thursday debate, yet the minister seems unlikely to participate unless there is a last-minute change in his schedule. Speaking in Berlin, Babacan suggested yesterday that the closure case was undermining Turkey's international credibility and influence. The report underlines that without constitutional reform, a debate over the legal basis of party closures will continue in Turkey and says current political developments should be seen as a window of opportunity for a broad-based public debate on a new constitution. It warns against putting pressure on the Constitutional Court during the course of the closure case but expresses hope that the judges will take into consideration decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and principles of the Venice Commission, an advisory body to the Council of Europe. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman with wires
PM Erdoðan hýts back at MHP’s Bahçeli for self-sacrýfýce proposal contýnued from page 1 Erdoðan was referring to a statement by MHP leader Bahçeli, who called on him earlier this week to withdraw from politics if the Constitutional Court decides to bar him from belonging to a political party. A top state prosecutor requested in March that the top court close Erdoðan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on the grounds that it had become a “focal point of anti-secular activities.” The prosecutor also sought a ban on 70 of its high-level officials from party membership for five years, including Erdoðan, in addition to President Abdullah Gül, a former AK Party member. Bahçeli argued on Monday that the latest political developments have carried the country to a parting of the ways. “Political parties should make their decisions for the benefit of peace and stability in the country. Heavy responsibility has fallen on Erdoðan’s shoulders, and he should make sacrifices for the sake of his country. His decision to run as an independent deputy [in prospective early elections] will harm democracy. At this point, self-sacrifice is needed, and he should leave politics if the Constitutional Court decides to ban him from belonging to a political party,” he stated. Erdoðan, however, defined Bahçeli’s proposal as “graveyard robbery.” “Whether a politician will withdraw from office or continue in his post is decided by the nation
in democracies. Who are you [to come up with such proposals]? Did the nation give you the authority to offer such proposals? Urging the leader of a political party which garnered almost half of all votes in last year’s elections to step down is not compatible with democratic values,” he said. The AK Party swept almost 47 percent of the votes cast on July 22 of last year and sent 341 deputies to Parliament. “They [opposition parties] don’t strive to normalize the political atmosphere in the country or work for the public but rather ask us to withdraw from politics. Don’t forget that politics is not made with requests and proposals. It is made by winning the hearts of the people and by working for each square meter of the country. Such proposals are signs of self-distrust. We have set off with the motto ‘Everything is for Turkey’ and are moving forward with the same principle and belief,” Erdoðan remarked. Erdoðan also touched upon fatal accidents at shipyards in Ýstanbul’s Tuzla district, where 98 workers have died in work-related incidents in the past seven years, largely due to electrical shocks and falls from platforms. “We had the opportunity to convey our unrest about fatalities to shipyard owners last week, and we will solve problems encountered at these shipyards once and for all. Labor unions and press organs should be especially sensitive to work-related accidents. If we all fulfill our responsibilities, I believe problems at shipyards will be
entirely solved,” he said. He stated that Turkey has achieved considerable success in the last five years in the shipbuilding sector. “The Turkish shipbuilding sector has grown by 400 percent since 2003. Similar accidents and fatalities are experienced at shipyards in even the most developed countries. But, we will exert our utmost efforts to reduce such accidents to a minimum,” he noted. Erdoðan also expressed his confidence in the Turkish national soccer team, which will play against Germany tonight in the Euro 2008 semifinal. “I know that not only 70 million Turks but also hundreds of millions of our friends and brothers will support our team against Germany. We felt the joy of victory against Croatia together with the supporters of our national team from all around the world. I believe we will experience similar happiness [tonight] with millions of people in friendly countries. Our team’s great performance is a product of unprecedented faith and resistance,” he said. He also warned football fans against firing celebratory gunfire after the match. “Let’s experience such great national feelings in the best manner possible. Pay extreme attention not to harm other people. I call on all citizens to act within the boundaries of the law and hold celebrations accordingly,” he said. At least 23 people were reported wounded by stray bullets following the firing of shots in celebration of the win over Croatia in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals on Sunday. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman with wires
European court rules against Turkey in deaths of Greek Cypriots The European Court of Human Rights yesterday ruled against Turkey in the deaths of two Greek Cypriots in 1996 on the divided island of Cyprus, sentencing Ankara to pay almost 400,000 euros to relatives of the two for both pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. The claimants in the case were 12 Greek Cypriot citizens, relatives of Anastasios Isaak and Solomos Solomou who died in 1996. Isaak had participated in a Greek Cypriot demonstration organized by the
Cyprus Motorcycle Federation (CMF) to protest the Turkish military presence in the northern part of Cyprus. Tensions arose when the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) announced that they would organize counter-rallies with the participation of the Turkish extremist Grey Wolves group and that they would fire at Greek Cypriot demonstrators. The claimants as well as the Greek Cypriot government alleged that during the demonstration Isaak was kicked and beaten to
death by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot policemen and counter-demonstrators. As for Solomou, having attended Isaak’s funeral, he entered the buffer zone with other demonstrators near the scene of the killing and, in protest, climbed up a flagpole flying the Turkish flag. He was shot and killed. “Under Article 41 [just satisfaction] of the European Convention on Human Rights, the court awarded 80,000 euros to Anastasios Isaak’s widow for pecuniary damages. For non-pecuniary damages,
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the court awarded 35,000 euros each to Isaak’s widow, his parents and to Solomou’s father, and also 15,000 euros to each of Isaak’s and Solomou’s siblings. The applicants in both cases were also awarded 12,000 euros for costs and expenses,” a press release on the court’s Web site said yesterday. In both cases the court noted that the Turkish government had failed to produce any evidence showing that an investigation had been carried out into the circumstances of Isaak and Solomou’s deaths. Ankara Today’s Zaman
NATIONAL
Prisoner lawsuit dropped for exceeding statute of limitations A lawsuit filed over a gendarmerie operation in Bayrampaþa Prison in December 2000 that resulted in the deaths of 12 inmates and detainees has been thrown out after exceeding the statute of limitations, the daily Milliyet has reported. The lawsuit had been filed seven years ago against the gendarmerie on charges of mistreating inmates and detainees and professional misconduct during an operation called Return to Life, noted Milliyet. The case was being heard at the 3rd Eyüp Criminal Court of First Instance, and the judge and prosecutor on the case had been changed several times. When the 11th judge took over the case, before the second hearing he was to preside over on Monday, he announced that the case had extended past the seven-year limit. Following the announcement, Judge Ali Belen allowed the lawyer for the defendants, Tarýk Kale, to give a statement. “Essentially, the case has become invalid with time, so we request that the case be dropped,” Belen was quoted by Milliyet as saying. Ömer Kavili, a lawyer for the inmates and detainees who were wounded during the operation, objected to the judge’s decision to allow the defendants’ lawyer to speak first, saying that it goes against the established legal practices of the courtroom. Judge Belen replied, “I determine the practices.” To which Kavili responded: “In legal terms, attacking the detainees and inmates with lethal and suffocating gases and kicking and hitting them with batons are defined as torture and cruel treatment. Torture and cruel treatment are tantamount to crimes committed against humanity, and lawsuits filed in connection with crimes committed against humanity do not have a statute of limitations.” The court declared that the statute of limitations in the case expired on June 19, 2008, rendering the case invalid, and also decided to drop the criminal cases against each of the defendants. The expenses stemming from the seven years of hearings have come from public funds. The court also decided that a copy of the verdict will be forwarded to all the defendants and the chief prosecutors’ offices of Bakýrköy and Eyüp. Operation Return to Life was carried out concurrently in 20 prisons across Turkey in 2000 after a large number of inmates turned their hunger strike, which they had begun in October 2000 to protest F-type prisons, into a “death fast” on Dec. 19 of the same year. During the operation, seven inmates and detainees were killed in Ümraniye Prison, 12 in Bayrampaþa Prison, two in Bursa Prison, two in Uþak Prison, four in Çanakkale Prison, one in Çankýrý Prison, one in Ceyhan Prison and one in Sincan Prison, in addition to 55 others who were wounded. Two security officers were also killed during the operation. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
Police officer conscription could pose threat to safety The military may conscript 26,000 police officers this season after the General Staff changed a regulation on exams taken by military conscripts, a move experts say may compromise public safety. All military recruits are required to take a General Staff-administered test that decides whether a draftee will serve six or 18 months in the armed forces. The new rules put the police department in a difficult position. The National Police Department currently has 26,000 officers who have been exempted from the exam, meaning their conscription has been delayed to the next drafting process. However, a regulation issued on Monday by the General Staff extended the duration of the testing period from three to 25 days, making it impossible for police officers seeking to delay their service by getting a doctor’s note next to impossible, many say. Experts say this will create serious security problems - particularly in urban areas. Ýstanbul will suffer the most as 10,000 officers who have currently delayed their military service serve in the city’s police departments. The National Police Department currently has 195,000 officers. Sources say this is already 40,000 less than the department needs. The next draft will take place in August, and police departments have until then to prepare. Experts suggest introducing new measures to circumvent a shortage of police force personnel such as counting service on the police force toward military service. This would not be an unheard of precedent as teaching in public schools counts toward military service according to the current Military Service Law. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
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BUSINESS
TODAY’S ZAMAN 07
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
Russian ban on vegetable imports from Turkey removed
Turkey third poorest in Europe, Lexembourg richest, figures show
FARUK AKKAN MOSCOW
EU hopeful Turkey has ranked the third poorest country in Europe, with only 42 units of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity, the EU's Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) has said. Luxembourg is by far the richest country in the EU and Ireland is second, while Bulgaria is the poorest, Eurostat noted. Eurostat said the GDP per inhabitant in Luxembourg last year was almost three times the EU average, at 276 units. Purchasing power parity is an artificial currency that eliminates price differences between countries. Eurostat said that the Luxembourg result was artificially boosted by a large number of cross-border workers, who had jobs in Luxembourg and boosted its gross domestic product but did not live
Seventeen Turkish hotels were ranked among the world's top 100 in a customer satisfaction survey of 35 million TUI travelers. Germany's TUI, one of the world's biggest tour operators, conducted the survey between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of last year, TUI Turkey Product and Contract Director Melih Yetiþ told the Anatolia news agency: "Seventeen of Turkey's hotels are among the best hotels in the world, and they are qualified for the 'TUI Holly' prize. Last year, this number was 13. The increased number shows Turkey has improved its quality in tourism and that customer satisfaction has also risen." According to data provided by Yetiþ, the Turkish hotels ranking among top 100 are: Amara Beach Resort (Side-Antalya), Barut Club Hotel Hemera (Side-Antalya), Barut Hotel Lara Resort Spa & Suites (Lara-Antalya), Cornelia de Luxe Resort (Belek-Antalya), Gloria Serenity Resort (Belek-Antalya), Hotel Delphin Deluxe Resort (Alanya-Antalya), Hotel Delphin Palace (Lara-Antalya), Hotel Marmaris Park (Ýçmeler-MarmarisMuðla), Hotel Melas Resort (SideAntalya), Hotel Papillon Ayscha (Belek-Antalya), Hotel Papillon Zeugma (Belek-Antalya), Hotel Yetkin (Alanya-Antalya), Iber Otel Sarigerme Park (Sarigerme-Muðla), Magic Life Kemer Imperial (KemerAntalya), Robinson Club (ÇamyuvaKemer), Antalya Robinson Club Nobilis (Belek-Antalya), Robinson Club Pamfilya (Side-Antalya).
there, thus reducing the number of people GDP was divided between. Ireland, a great beneficiary of EU funds, had GDP per capita at 146 units, making it second richest in the 27-nation bloc. Bulgaria, which joined the EU together with Romania last year, had the lowest GDP per capita at 38 units and Romania was second poorest with 41 units. The Netherlands was third richest in the EU with 131 units and Austria was fourth with 128. The euro zone's third biggest economy, Italy, was closest to the EU average with 101 units, falling by 2 units since 2006. Its distance to fourth biggest economy, Spain, widened as Spanish wealth per capita rose to 107 units in 2007 from 105 in 2006. France held steady at 111 units and Europe's biggest economy, Germany, had 113 units, down one from 2006. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with Reuters
TOKÝ contractors to receive extra payments due to rising costs The Turkish government is working to implement a legal arrangement for extra payments to contractors due to sharp increases in the price of construction materials. Erdoðan Bayraktar, the head of the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKÝ), told the Anatolia news agency that under a new arrangement on price compensation, which is due to take effect in several weeks, they will make extra payments amounting to YTL 1.5 billion to contractors during the coming 18 months. Legal amendments are needed for extra payments to contractors, Bayraktar said, explaining that iron and energy prices have been increasing beyond average rates of inflation, making things untenable for contractors. Bayraktar noted that the government has decided to fund extra payments for TOKÝ's contractors. "The prime minister has already issued an order to tackle this problem. We have worked on and completed the technical infrastructure for it. The details are being handled by the Public Procurement Authority (KÝK). It was discussed at the Cabinet meeting, as well," he said. Bayraktar indicated that the necessary legal amendment could be added to one of the bills pending parliamentary deliberation, adding, "Another alternative is that the government may introduce a new bill to expedite the process." "We have repeatedly told government officials that this issue is important. If extra payments are delayed, this will lead to considerable injustice against the contractors," he said. Bayraktar pointed out that 800,000 people are employed at TOKÝ's construction sites and that this is a source of subsistence for about 3.2 million people. Failure to make extra payments on rising costs would mean financial
Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
Energy bill may reach $50 billion by year's end Turkey expended $15.1 billion, or one-fourth of its total import spending, for oil, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and coal imports in the first four months of the year, with experts saying energy costs may well exceed $50 billion by the end of the year. If the upward trend in energy prices continues, Turkey, already a net importer of energy, will receive another blow to its current account balance. Considering the fact that oil has already passed $140 per barrel in international energy markets, with the prices of other energy raw materials moving in parallel to those of oil, the deterioration in the current account balance is likely to be seen by year's end, say analysts. In the first four months of the year, 54.1 percent of Turkey's foreign trade deficit stemmed from energy imports. At the current price and demand level, the year-end energy bill for Turkey is expected to top $50 billion, and the net energy import volume is forecast at $43 billion. The $15.1 billion spent on imports between January and April of this year mark a 59.8 percent increase over the same period last year, when energy imports amounted to $9.44 billion. In 2003, when energy prices were relatively low, energy imports accounted for 16.7 percent of overall import volume. This figure dropped to 14.8 percent in 2004, while reaching 18.2 percent in 2005, 20.7 percent in 2006 and 19.9 percent in 2007. Turkey spent $11.6 billion on energy imports in 2003, $14.4 billion in 2004, $21.3 billion in 2005, $29 billion in 2006 and $28.7 billion in 2007. Ankara Today's Zaman with wires
RECAÝ MORKOÇ
17 hotels in Turkey rank among top 100
Turkish Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker is expected to go to Moscow to sign the agreement, according to which Turkey will be able to export agricultural products after they are tested by laboratories that meet Russian standards. Also, Turkey will prepare extensive reports on the products, documenting their history, from the day they are planted to the day they are harvested, and these reports will be sent to Russia along with the exported products. Rosselkhoznadzor spokesperson Aleksey Alekseyenko told Today's Zaman, "Our demand from Turkey is to send Russia really healthy products. We have had a very productive meeting and agreed to sign a protocol. We have signed a very similar document to the one we signed with EU." Russia previously banned exports of Turkish agricultural products in 2005, claiming the presence of fruit flies.
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Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement to lift an import ban on Turkish tomatoes, lemons, grapes, eggplants and potatoes. Russia recently introduced a ban on Turkish agricultural products, claiming high levels of chemical fertilizers had been found in certain products Turkey exports to Russia. According to Russia's agricultural regulator, Rosselkhoznadzor, delegations from the two countries began negotiations on the issue on Friday and agreed on lifting Russia's import ban on Turkish agricultural products. According to a memorandum signed on Tuesday morning, the ban will be lifted beginning from July 1. It has been reported that the document is very similar to the one that Russia previously signed with the European Union.
troubles for them, he said, adding: "As the head of this institution, I have repeatedly explained this to all relevant authorities. We will do our best to expedite the process. I hope it will be enacted within a few weeks." He further explained that TOKÝ will cover the costs of extra payments from its own funds. "The additional load this will create for TOKÝ may amount to YTL 1.5 billion during the coming 18 months. However, this depends on the bill enacted by Parliament and resolutions by the Cabinet. We need to have a clear view of the future in order to make a good estimate. Yet the state should compensate for the losses its citizens suffer. Sometimes we harshly criticize contractors in connection with their errors. However, I completely support them in this issue. This legal arrangement must be made as soon as possible in order to keep things going without problems. We will make these extra
payments. If needed, we will sell some property to make these payments. We must make these payments. We will do it in order to keep the work at our sites going," he said. Meanwhile, a system for extra payments for road construction contracts tendered by the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) on fixed prices in foreign currencies and financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been established through a Cabinet decision. The contractors will submit responses to the new payment plans by July 8 to notify the tender administrations of their decisions about how they will continue with the existing work. They may sign new contracts based on the newly decided price schedules or they may opt to continue with their existing contracts. They will also have the option of terminating their contracts altogether. Ankara Today's Zaman with wires
Foreýgn perspectýve posýtýve on Turkýsh economy ÝBRAHÝM ÖZTÜRK i.ozturk@todayszaman.com
It may not be good news, but capitalism is the kind of system in which those best able to adapt are the ones who survive. Therefore, those who are not capable of adjusting to the radical change in the landscape of the Turkish economy from isolated, low value-added sectors toward productivity-oriented, high value-added industries with competitive strength are complaining. This is quite natural. However, it is impossible to convince Turkish society, characterized by a very young and dynamic population, to wait around while local companies continue in their old ways. Also, borders start to disappear in a fully integrated world economy. Therefore, either local companies learn to compete with such a dramatic challenge via several varieties of joint ventures with foreign partners, or they may face even greater difficulties. However, rather than changing, some big companies prefer resisting by continuing to cooperate with certain antidemocratic powerhouses. This is a resistance to Turkey opening up and to the radical reformation leading toward a fullfledged democracy and a market-based competitive economy due to the fear of losing privileges. For this reason, this marginal but still quite effective class continuously propagates through the media they control the idea that the economy is not well managed by the government and therefore almost everything is going to become even worse. Unfortunately, it seems that these negative propagations have been effective in society, and therefore the outlook of local businessmen has worsened. The reality is of course quite different, and we can capture this explicit difference by looking at the attitude of foreign investors to the Turkish economy. As the interest of foreigners in Turkey persists, I have had a chance to meet several experts from time to time who seek to forecast Turkey's future transformation. One of the teams that I met last week came from Dresdner Bank, a Germany-based investment bank which operates an office in Istanbul. Head of the Istanbul branch Mehmet Bostan has achieved remarkable success in projectoriented banking. The risk managers of the bank are trying to predict the future transformation of Turkish society, the economy and population. I noticed that the focus of the bank shifted recently from the economy to certain political issues as the economy is jeopardized by political instability rather than short-term economic issues. One of the important topics put on the agenda is the uncompetitive, oligopolistic nature of most industries that prevent foreign entry, thereby also preventing competition and efficiency. Unlike the government, which has carried out market-conforming reforms and privatization measures, most of the industries controlled by the private sector are quite isolated. Therefore some drastic measures should be taken so that the latter environment can be replaced by one of fair and transparent competition. The second set of necessary measures is related to the lack of technical capacity of the available labor force. Therefore, improving education and training -particularly in foreign language skills and technical education based on public-private cooperation and geared to private sector needs -- is crucial. I also attended the meeting of the Investment Advisory Council for Turkey (IAC), which convened in Istanbul last Wednesday. CEOs and high-level representatives of 18 multinational companies, bringing in combined annual revenues of nearly $700 billion and having 1.5 million employees as of the end of 2007, participated in the meeting. The IAC noted in a statement that the council appreciates how much the Turkish government has done to transform Turkey's investment climate since their first meeting in 2004. In 2004, Turkey was capable of attracting only $1 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI), which surged to $22 billion in 2007. The Turkish economy has become the 16th largest economy in the world, and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) has almost tripled since 2001. Despite some economic problems such as slowing growth, rising inflation and an ever-rising current account deficit, foreigners do not focus primarily on these issues as they are common problems almost everywhere currently and these problems are also seen as temporary issues. Despite the fact the IAC members declared their continued interest in the Turkish economy due to existing investment potential, they also pointed to a set of measures that would enhance Turkey's investment attractiveness even further: (1) Enhance dialogue between industry and universities to promote entrepreneurship, leadership and management skills; (2) Accelerate energy sector reforms, including automatic cost recovery pricing, diversification, deregulation and privatization; (3) Move forward with labor market reforms that further enhance flexibility while protecting workers; (4) Improve infrastructure, particularly transportation and information/communication technology as well as the appropriate contractual and legal framework to facilitate public-private partnership and the build-operate-transfer model; (4) Further strengthen the implementation of legislation on intellectual property rights in accordance with international standards; (5) Reduce barriers to further penetration of broadband Internet and PC adoption; (6) Improve customs procedures; (7) Improve public administration practices by enhancing transparency, predictability and efficiency; (8) Strengthen measures to reduce informality, including combating tax evasion; (9) Encourage the growth of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to drive employment and expand their role in the formal economy; and (10) Enact and implement the new commercial code to improve corporate governance and accounting standards.
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08 TODAY’S ZAMAN
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
FINANCIAL
Turkey's millionaires increase by 8,000 in one year
PM vows to decrease foreýgn dependence ýn defense sector
The number of Turkish citizens with $1 million or more in assets (primary residences excluded) increased by 8,000 to 50,000 in 2007, the 12th annual World Wealth Report released on Tuesday by Merrill Lynch & Co. and the Cap Gemini Group has revealed. This refers to a 17.5 percent increase over the previous year. Merrill Lynch Turkey General Manger Kubilay Cinemre disclosed the content of the report at a press conference held yesterday in Ýstanbul. The report shows, Cinemre underlined, that the main engines driving this increase were the economic growth (4.5 percent in the given year), accelerating exports, decreasing amounts of imports of goods other than energy, rising inflation and the consequent upward trend in savings. Cinemre also emphasized that the number of affluent people has considerably increased in the stable environment that followed a disastrous economic crisis in 2001. The report also indicated that the number of people around the world with at least $1 million in assets rose by 6 percent last year to 10.1 million. That means an additional 600,000 people became millionaires or richer even as problems tied to the US credit crisis spread in the second half of the year. The combined wealth of the millionaires' club meanwhile grew 9.4 percent to $40.7 trillion. Their average wealth surpassed $4 million for the first time. The super rich -- those with at least $30 million -grew by 8.8 percent in population while their accumulated wealth grew by 14.5 percent. This rarefied group controls about a third of the $40.7 trillion. India, China and Brazil saw the biggest growth rates in the number of wealthy individuals (22.7 percent, 20.3 percent, 19.1 percent, respectively). The United States, Japan and Germany still had the highest number of wealthy individuals, however. The US is home to about a third of those around the world with at least $1 million. Steady worldwide growth powered the first half of 2007, but more mature markets were hammered in the second half by the US housing and credit crises. Emerging economies were largely unaffected and continued robust growth into the second half of the year, the report found. The economic slowdown resulted in the wealthy shifting their assets to safer investments, such as cash deposits and fixed-income securities. Those two categories accounted for 44 percent of the world's wealthiest assets, up 9 percentage points from 2006. The wealth of the world's richest is projected to reach $59.1 trillion by 2012, advancing at a rate of 7.7 percent, according to the report. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with New York AP
high tech avionics on the helicopters was signed at the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) on Sept. 7 of last year. The project is expected to be completed in 114 months once the contracts go into effect, and the first T-129 attack helicopter will be delivered to Turkey in the 60th month. With this project, TAI will not only have the intellectual property rights of T129 attack helicopters but will also have the right to sell and market these helicopters directly to third countries. In the meantime, Italian Foreign Minister Frattini, who delivered a speech at the ceremony, expressed pleasure over participating at such an event. "I am honored to see that Turkey and Italy are cooperating on such a noteworthy project. Witnessing that our bilateral relations with Turkey and TAI increase day by day pleases me," he said. Frattini also stated that Turkey and Italy have strong economic relations. " More than 630 Italian companies have recently decided to invest in Turkey," he added. Ankara Today’s Zaman with wires
ance," said Erdoðan. He also added that this increase in the use of local resources in the defense sector has boosted hopes for a further increase in the coming years. The defense sector hopes to cover 50 percent of its needs with local resources by 2011. Emphasizing that steps taken to improve Turkey's defense industry would continue with great determination, the prime minister said: "First, the industry and the aviation sector, which ensure that foreign investments stay in our country, have strengthened. They then capitalized on their newly earned strength by increasing exports in the international arena." Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar Büyükanýt and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini were also in attendance at the Ankara event. A contract for the acquisition of 51 (plus 41 optional) ATAK helicopters for the Turkish Land Forces that involves local software development based on the original source codes and hardware as well as the integration of
PHOTO
DIPLOMATIC
Italian Foreign Minister Frattini (L) pats Prime Minister Erdoðan’s hand to show his happiness over their cooperation in helicopter production.
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June 25 forecasts ment prior Announce actual .) ss (po 1 COREPER
ket by mixing BAT's international experience of over a century and Tekel's 140-year-old local legacy. BAT Turkey's Director of Corporate Affairs Tuna Turagay said Tekel privatization was the fifth largest privatization in the history of Turkey. Turagay emphasized BAT's goal of becoming a powerful player in the Turkish tobacco sector through the investments made in Turkey since 2002. "We see Turkey, the eighth greatest tobacco market in the world, as a very important place for BAT's global operations. We have increased our market share in six years. With this merger, we are going to become the second largest enterprise in the sector of high turnover consumer goods in the coming days," he said. He also noted that they provide employment for 2,000 people with their $2 billion investment in Turkey, adding that BAT was targeting further
victimization of Tekel employees." BAT Turkey General Manager Johan Vandermuelen stated that the bidding on Feb. 22 during which they outbid their rivals was a turning point for BAT. Expressing his happiness over the completion of the privatization, Vandermuelen said: "This constitutes an important foundation for BAT's growth opportunities in Turkey. Our making such an investment at a time when global markets are going through a liquidity crisis is an important indicator showing our trust in Turkey and determination to be a long-term investor. BAT's entry into the list of Turkey's highest foreign direct investors with this merger gives us pride." Also pointing out Tekel's importance for BAT, Vandermuelen said that they would strengthen Tekel's brands and improve competition in the mar-
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growth in Turkey. Following the speeches, the contract for the handover of Tekel tobacco to BAT was signed. After the contract ceremony, Kilci answered questions from the press. In response to a question he noted that they had promised to protect their employees from any sort of victimization and that meetings took place between BAT and union representatives for five weeks as part of that promise. Kilci also said that 350 out of the 2,000 employees took BAT's offer and were now registered as BAT workers whereas the remaining 1,650 workers started working for Tekel's Leaf Tobacco Enterprise even though BAT had offered them a higher salary and bonuses. Tekel's tobacco unit department currently holds about 39 percent of the market in Turkey. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
42.68 29.61
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US$/JP¥
107,41
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ENERGY
ERG, Lukoil sign joint venture for oil refining ERG SpA, Italy's largest independent refiner, said Tuesday that it has signed a joint venture with Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil company, for oil refining. ERG said in a statement that a new company will be created -- 51 percent owned by the ERG Group and 49 percent by Lukoil. ERG will contribute the assets of its refinery in Priolo, a town near Syracuse, eastern Sicily, for which Lukoil agreed to pay 1.3 billion euros, the statement said. The Sicilian facility has a total capacity of about 320,000 barrels per day. Italy's industry ministry undersecretary Adolfo Urso told reporters the agreement is "the biggest Russian investment in Italy." "The deal will strengthen the partnership between the two countries, not only at a commercial level, but also at an industrial one," Urso was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. Rome AP
Citi cutting 10 percent of investment bank jobs
57.32
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The first regularly scheduled flights in six decades linking China's mainland with Taiwan will begin July 4, state-owned Air China said Tuesday. The flights are part of a warming in relations between China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 amid civil war. The communist mainland claims the island as part of its territory and has threatened to attack. The weekend flights will link Beijing with Taiwan's capital, Taipei, and southern port of Kaohsiung, Air China said. "This new bridge between Taipei, Kaohsiung and Beijing will help enhance Chinas cultural and commercial ties," an Air China spokesman, Zhang Chunzhi, said in a statement. Taiwan barred direct travel for decades as a security measure but has allowed charter flights on Chinese holidays in recent years. Pressure for direct flights came from Taiwanese businesspeople who have invested heavily in the mainland. They complained about the cost and inconvenience of having to travel to China via Hong Kong and other third points. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who took office on May 20, promised to improve ties with China. Relations were strained for eight years during the administration of Ma's predecessor, Chen Shui-bian. Beijing accused Chen of plotting to make Taiwan's de facto independence permanent. Beijing and Taipei have no formal relations. Beijing AP
LAYOFF 70.39
PEGYO
Ticker
Turkey's Revenues Administration is encountering problems in tax collection in most parts of Anatolia as a result of increased complications businesses have been facing due to the adverse effects of a global financial crisis, recent data by the Finance Ministry have revealed. In the first five months of the year, government officials have been able to collect only 70 percent of all taxes due in 10 provinces, only 5070 percent of taxes in another 53 provinces and less than 50 percent in 18 provinces. The government was supposed to collect YTL 93.47 billion worth of taxes between January and May of this year but only collected YTL 70.6 billion. The highest rate of tax collection was in Kocaeli, with 89 percent, followed by Ýzmir (81.33 percent), Ýstanbul (80 percent), Mersin (76.36 percent), Tekirdað (75.52 percent) and Rize with (74.98 percent). Ankara ranked 13th with 69.19 percent. Iðdýr, in eastern Anatolia, ranked at the bottom of the list. Þýrnak and Hakkari, two highly underdeveloped cities of southeastern Anatolia, followed with 33.04 and 37.88 percent, respectively. Sakarya (38.64 percent), Mardin (38.78 percent), Düzce (39.53) and Yozgat (39.99) also ranked low on the list. Officials were able to collect less than 50 percent of taxes in the provinces of Adýyaman, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Nevþehir, Sinop, Afyon, Bilecik, Karaman, Denizli, Kilis and Bolu. Ankara Today's Zaman with wires
Regular flights between Beijing, Taiwan to begin
The tobacco products department of Tekel, Turkey's alcohol and tobacco monopoly, has been handed over to British American Tobacco (BAT) with a contract signed yesterday. Metin Kilci, the president of the Privatization Administration (ÖÝB), spoke at the meeting held for the handover in Ankara. He noted that the privatization of Tekel's cigarette department was only second to Türk Telekom's privatization in terms of the inflow of foreign capital. BAT paid the offered amount of $1.72 billion to the state through Turkey's Ziraat Bankasý. Emphasizing that Tekel's privatization was not an ordinary transaction, Kilci stated, "From the onset we have always stressed that our aim in the privatization of Tekel is to protect Turkish tobacco cultivators and we have taken important steps to avert the
AT CALENDAR
Tax collection proving problematic in Anatolia
AA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has said it is of crucial importance for Turkey to minimize its dependence on foreign sources in the field of defense. Speaking at a ceremony held at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) yesterday on the occasion of the new tactical reconnaissance attack (ATAK) helicopters, which went into production this week, Erdoðan noted that it was important for the $3 billion project to use local resources. He said the project's software was developed with the use of local resources and that the helicopters will be equipped with Turkish-made weapons. "I am pleased that Turkey is developing its defense industry with every passing day and increasing the use of local resources. The Turkish Armed Forces [TSK], which covered 25 percent of its needs from local sources in 2003, raised this to 42 percent in 2007. This is one of the most important indicators of the sector's perform-
Tekel tobacco union handed over to British American Tobacco
A GLANCE
BUSINESS
Price ($) Light C. Oil Gold Copper
136,73 888,30 3,80
Way
Change (%) -0,01 0,12 -0,28
High 138,75 894,80 3,80
Low 136,07 884,40 3,79
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.
Citigroup Inc &lt;C.N&gt; is cutting thousands of trading and investment banking jobs this week, part of previously reported plans to slash about 10 percent of its investment bank division, people familiar with the situation said on Monday. The job cuts will affect a number of areas at the largest US bank, but among the hardest hit will be mergers and acquisition banking, they said. Transaction activity is slowing in mergers, and there have been fewer layoffs in Citi's merger advisory group so far. Citigroup Chief Executive Vikram Pandit is working to cut costs after the bank lost more than $15 billion in the last two quarters. Citi is on track to record "substantial" write-downs for the second quarter, Chief Financial Officer Gary Crittenden said last week. Citi's investment banking division is still keeping the number of layoffs planned at around 6,500, or about 10 percent of the group's employees globally, one source said. That's in line with the numbers announced earlier this year. But much of the actual laying off is being done this week and next, a source said. New York Reuters
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INTERVIEW
TODAY’S ZAMAN 09
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
‘Turkey and Brazil both looking for solutions to social and economic problems,’ says outgoing Brazilian ambassador TARIK ÖZTÜRK
Outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Turkey Cesario Melantonio Neto says Brazil today is a totally democratized country. ‘Military personnel say nothing about politics at all -- Brazil was ruled by five generals between 1964 and 1985, and today they only speak on military and defense issues,’ he says, noting that it took several decades for Brazil to reach this point Having served three-and-a-half years as Brazil's emissary in Ankara, Cesario Melantonio Neto is leaving Turkey, having been appointed as his country's ambassador to Egypt and permanent observer at the Arab League. Brazil is a shining star of the South. Its economic boom already surpasses that of Turkey, and it follows similar activism in international politics. What is more interesting is Brazil's constructive politics in the Middle East and Africa. Ambassador Neto told Today's Zaman that these similarities are not only about the common problems, but also about deliberate policies in both Turkey and Brazil that seek similar solutions. Ambassador Neto is happy he was not appointed to a post far from Turkey, because he knows very well that Brazilians who come to Turkey once are willing to come back again and again. Mr. Ambassador, in recent years we have seen surging Brazilian interest in the Middle East. Is it oil that attracts Brazil to the region? No, I don't think so. I think this interest can be attributed to a general shift in Brazilian foreign policy. During these last five years of [the] President [Luiz Inácio] Lula [da Silva] government, priority has been given to south-south cooperation. That is not to say that the previous Brazilian governments did not have such a priority, but Lula's government stands out on that issue. So Brazil took an important initiative in South America in May 2005. We organized the first summit meeting of heads of state and government of South American and Arab countries. Since then we have been working to institutionalize this mechanism through the creation of a number of committees and sub-committees. These are working regularly to implement the decisions of this first summit meeting. The second summit meeting of South American and the Arab countries will be held this year … November or December in Doha, Qatar. But why Brazil had this idea and took this initiative? I have to remind you that we have 12 million Brazilians of Arab origin, of a total population of 187 million. The idea was not to "instrumentalize" this Brazilian Arab community; on the contrary it was to use this community as an ethnical bridge to a region from which they originated, whose language they knew and where many traveled regularly either to visit a relative or for business. The result is striking: Our trade with the Arab countries tripled. Another point is the Arab League. The Arab League recently opened an office in Brazil and some months ago Brazil became a permanent observer to the Arab League. Actually as the ambassador of Brazil in Cairo my second job will be to represent Brazil in the Arab League. To further emphasize our deepening interest in the region let me just say this: we will soon open three more embassies in the Arab world, thus increasing the number to 16. As I mentioned the number of embassies, I have to say that a similar cooperation is continuing with Africa. Again, when this government came to power we had 22 embassies in the African continent. In five years we have opened 14 new embassies. We have also used the same summit concept for Africa and are now organizing a summit meeting for South America and Africa that will be held this year in Caracas. It is interesting to see that Brazil is not only connecting to the region, but also helping other South American countries to relate to it. Why is that? We are in a cross-coordination with our South American neighbors. Thanks to Mercosul (the Southern Common Market, established in 1991) we started a South America regional economic cooperation scheme. Mercosul was an economic project inspired by the European Union. But last month we had a meeting in Brazil with all the presidents of South America and we have founded the South American Union. This one is a larger project; more ambitious, more comprehensive and more political. That is also following the European Union project. So, as we are working with this idea of the South American Union, we cannot engage as Brazil as an isolated country in South America. The cooperation with the Middle Eastern and African countries is no longer a Brazilian project. It is a South American project. I want to emphasize that we are trying not the limit our foreign relations [to those] with Europe and the United States only. We are diversifying our economic and political links in the world and multiplying them. Some years ago, to give an idea, our trade was very much concentrated on the EU and US. Today it is 25 percent US, 25 percent EU, 25 percent Latin American and 25 percent rest of the world. So this is an economic project in the sense of making Brazil less dependent on any one of these regions. We have seen in the last two years that international economic variables are going bad, but Brazil is doing very well. The only explanation is Brazil's independence of international variables. There is a striking similarity in what Turkey and Brazil are doing both by means of economics and regional policy. Why is this so? In my opinion Turkey and Brazil have similar problems, as do most developing countries. But what is more important is that, as far as I could observe, the two governments are looking toward similar solutions to our economic and social problems. It seems that Turkey and Brazil are following a project of integrating into the market consumers from very important groups that have been marginalized in both countries. Let's look at Turkey
PHOTO
KERÝM BALCI ANKARA
Cesario Melantonio Neto, the outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Turkey, has been appointed his country’s ambassador to Egypt.
and Brazil. Both countries are doing this: more and more marginalized groups which were not consuming since they were under the poverty line are coming into the market; they are consuming, people are buying more and the industry is growing -the trade and finance is growing. Of course there are people from certain groups in both countries that have a kind of prejudice to this ascension of marginalized groups into society. I cannot understand this position. In my opinion if you are thinking in this way, you are thinking against your national interest. Brazil's relations with the Middle East are not only economic but also cultural. Is this the only explanation for this Arab immigrants to Brazil, or there is something more? The immigrants from the Middle East had an immense role. I can only speak for my country and I can give you some examples: Immigrants from Arab countries are very successful economically. They like politics and they are very strong. Historically, almost 10 percent of our parliament has always been of Arab origin. Even Brazilians, like me, who are not of Middle Eastern origin, have this experience of Arab culture. Why do I have this interest in the region? For a very simple and childish reason! My father who was a professor of Italian and Portuguese origin liked very much the Arab culture and he liked Arab food. So when we were children we were going together to Arab restaurants three or four times a month. He was also a politician and was very much involved with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. So I grew up hearing about the issues of the region, about the importance of Arab immigration to Brazil. This is the Brazilian melting pot that taught us of the other immigrant groups. Brazil has 72 immigrant groups that are represented in Brazilian society. When I say "represented" I mean they have their clubs, maintain their cultural differ-
ences, their music and cuisine. They are very well adapted to Brazilian society without forgetting their backgrounds. There has been an upsurge of neo-socialist leaders in Latin America. Is there a similar political movement in Brazil? Brazil has two important center-left parties: The Social Democratic Party of President [Fernando Henrique] Cardoso, our previous president [who served two terms between 1995 and 2003] and the Workers' Party of President Lula. These two parties are clearly social democratic parties positioned in the center left of our political internal panorama. Many of the leaders of these parties came from old leftist parties like the Socialist Party and Communist Party. These parties still exist in Brazil, but they are very small. The Social Democratic Party and the Workers' Party are the most important parties in Brazil and they dominate politics. They have a number of similarities; they came from the same roots; both parties give a big priority to social progress; both have struggled to reinvent the left in Brazil after the military regime. President Cardoso was a professor of sociology before becoming a politician. So he knew the difficulties of the people and he gave importance to new social programs. His programs were followed by the current government and new solutions were found to the newly emerging problems. As a result of these policies, in the last 15 years, around 15 million families -that means at least 35-40 million Brazilians -- came above the poverty line and became lower-middle income people. You told me in the past that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan and President Lula have similar mentalities? Yes, and [they are] of similar backgrounds. Lula comes from a very poor family. He comes from the Northeast, which is our poorest region. You can compare perfectly our Northeast to your
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Southeast -- without the ethnic and religious element. Lula was born to a very big family of 10 brothers and sisters. His mother got divorced and so this lady went to Sao Paolo with all these children. Lula began working in his childhood. Later on he became a metallurgical worker and eventually he became a union leader and a leader of opposition to the army. He is inspired by his own life, and I assume the same is true for Mr. Erdoðan. Did he have problems with the established regime? Of course, he was in jail during the military regime, because he wanted to re-democratize Brazil. He stood in confrontation to the army. He wanted to make free politics, but for that he had to first guarantee freedom of speech. Thanks to him, Brazil is today a totally democratized country. Military personnel say nothing about politics at all. Keep in mind that Brazil was ruled by five generals between 1964 and 1985, and today they only speak on military and defense issues. But as you see, it took several decades to reach to this point. What about Turkish-Brazilian trade? The number is not very important, if you consider that the overall trade of both countries is over $300 billion and their mutual trade is only $1.5 billion. There is still a lot of room to increase our bilateral trade. In the period that our trade with the Middle East tripled, Turkish-Brazilian trade doubled its size. This is not ideal but it is a good rhythm. A number of initiatives have been and are being taken by the two countries to increase tourism and trade. … For [a stay of up to] 90 days, citizens of both countries do not need a visa. And next month I hope Turkish Airlines (THY) will start its direct flights to Sao Paulo. Several Turkish companies are now investing in Brazil. The Sabancý Group is investing in Brazil in the petrochemical industry, for example. In the last two years three Turkish metallurgical companies have been bought by Brazilian investors. And most importantly, Petrobras made $500 million of investment prospecting for oil and gas in the Black Sea. I have been noticing growing interest in Turkey in the Brazilian media. Last month an international Brazilian TV channel came [to Turkey] with a large group. One of its 60-minutelong episodes will be dedicated to Turkey. Another elite magazine sent to the 100,000 richest Brazilians is covering Turkey in their July edition. When I went back to Brazil last month, I saw three different guidebooks about Turkey in Brazilian Portuguese. This means people are aware of the attraction of Turkey. I know some Brazilians that came to Turkey [once and] then come every year. Besides your position as a diplomat, you are also working with the Latin Academy. Can you inform our readers about its activities? As you said in the beginning there are a lot of similarities between Latin America and this region. Even though the religion and culture is so different, there is chemistry between us. It is sometimes very hard to explain why, but it is very easy for Brazilians to reach Turks and Middle Easterners. We ask people how they feel in Turkey and they say they feel at home. Perhaps this is the Mediterranean mentality. Certainly a degree of informality in human relations makes our communication easier. So we decided in Rio de Janeiro, with a number of colleagues from all Latin countries, to contribute to this old idea of dialogue of cultures and civilizations. We can understand the people of this critical region; we can contribute to this dialogue. Since then we have had a number of meetings in the countries of the region, and each meeting had a different theme. We began in Iran in 2001 when I was ambassador to Iran. I had the honor to organize two meetings in Turkey, one in Ankara and one in Ýstanbul. We had meetings in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and this year we had our meeting in Morocco. The theme this year was "interculturality." The subject is very dear to us in Latin America, as most of our countries are formed by immigrants. So we discussed interculturality in our societies. Today we are more institutionalized thanks to the Alliance of Civilizations. We began before the alliance and some of our members are also members of the alliance. Our chairman is Professor Frederico Mayor, and he became co-chairman of the alliance with [Turkish] State Minister Professor Mehmet Aydýn. Last month we became even more engaged with the alliance, since we appointed a career ambassador to work, as his only task, as the representative of Brazil to the alliance. What jobs and projects are you leaving to your successor? A lot of things! As I said there is room for improvement. The first thing waiting for my successor is relations with the media. It is extremely important for both countries that we should know each other better. We have already established a link between Turkish state TV and Brazilian TV to have more programs about Turkey in Brazil and about Brazil in Turkey. The second is the direct flight issue, which will reduce the cost of travel and missions. A third area is tourism. These are actually all related. If we increase the flow of information and have the direct flight, [then] tourism and trade will increase automatically. We were expecting you to bring more Brazilian football players to Turkey… Well, I know some surprises will be heard in the close future. But negotiations are still at the initial and secret stages, so it is difficult for me to know exactly what is happening. As a fan of Fenerbahçe I am also wondering who is going to replace [coach] Zico. … This is a spontaneous area of cooperation, but you are right, it is very important.
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Sharif party vows renewed pressure on Musharraf The party of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif blamed President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday for Sharif's disqualification from a by-election for a National Assembly seat. Sharif, the prime minister that army chief at the time Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup, had been expected to return to parliament in the byelection this week, but on Monday a high court in the eastern city of Lahore barred him from running. The disqualification compounds political uncertainty that has helped undermine confidence in Pakistani stocks, but the main index surged more than 8 percent after authorities acted to slow a fall in a market that touched its lowest level in more than 15 months the previous day. Sharif's party came second in a February general election and is the second-biggest in a fragile coalition led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, a member of Bhutto's party, said the government would appeal against the disqualification in the Supreme Court and seek a postponement of the vote in Sharif's constituency. A spokesman for Sharif's party, Ahsan Iqbal, said the former prime minister had been disqualified at Musharraf's behest and it underlined the importance of restoring judges he dismissed last year and of getting rid of a president critics regard as unconstitutional. Islamabad Reuters
ARRESTS
Japanese police nab 12 for net threats after stabbing Japanese police have arrested a dozen people for posting on the Internet threats to commit mass murder or other crimes in the weeks since seven people were killed in a stabbing rampage in a busy Tokyo shopping district, Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday, quoting a police survey. "I will commit a massacre that will go down in history," Kyodo quoted one of the postings on an Internet bulletin board as saying. Legal steps were also taken against another five people, Kyodo added. Twenty-five year-old factory worker Tomohiro Kato was arrested on June 8 on suspicion of driving a rental truck into a crowd of shoppers and then knifing passers-by in Tokyo's Akihabara district, known for its discount electronics shops and otaku culture of video games, comics and outlandish fashion. Police have tightened website surveillance and are getting tips from the public after reports that Kato had posted dozens of warning messages on a mobile phone website before the attack, raising questions about whether it could have been prevented. "Police have no choice but to take action," Kyodo quoted National Public Safety Commission Chairman Shinya Izumi as saying. "Otherwise, they will fail to protect what should be protected." Tokyo Reuters
AP
guards, with their guns drawn, rushed Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres toward their cars. The incident was over within minutes, and Olmert returned and boarded the plane to inform Sarkozy what had transpired, witnesses said. Police spokesman Shlomi Sagi confirmed that a policeman guarding the airport committed suicide just as Sarkozy was about to board his plane as a band was playing. Another police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, denied reports that there had been an assassination attempt on the French leader. The incident marred Sarkozy’s three-day trip to Israel, a visit meant to improve relations be-
Zýmbabwe’s Mugabe defýes pressure to stop presýdentýal poll
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe friends, he left in a hurry a few minutes earlier,” Wade said. Mugabe denied that Tsvangirai was in danger. “Tsvangirai is frightened. He has run to seek refuge at the Dutch Embassy. What for? These are voters, they will do you no harm. Political harm, yes, because they will vote against you. No one wants to kill Tsvangirai.” Zuma, who rivals President Thabo Mbeki as South Africa’s most powerful man, called for urgent intervention by the United Nations and regional body SADC (Southern African Development Community), saying the situation in Zimbabwe was out of control. “The ANC (African National Congress)
says the run-off is no longer a solution, you need a political arrangement first ... then elections down the line,” Zuma said. Mugabe said he would not refuse to negotiate with Tsvangirai but the vote must go ahead. “For now there is only one thing for us to accomplish...it’s the legal process on the 27th of June,” the 84-year-old president said. Tsvangirai spent a second night in the Dutch Embassy on Monday. He told Dutch Radio 1 on Tuesday that his refuge was temporary and the government had assured the Dutch ambassador that he would not be hurt. Tsvangirai has not claimed asylum. He said he could leave in the next few days. SADC foreign ministers discussed the crisis in the Angolan capital Luanda on Monday. The state-run ANGOP news agency said SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao told reporters the group agreed with Tsvangirai that a climate of extreme violence existed in Zimbabwe and the government must protect its citizens. US Ambassador James McGee said SADC must declare both the election and Mugabe’s government illegitimate. A non-binding statement by the Security Council in New York condemned “the campaign of violence against the political opposition ... which has resulted in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans and the beating and displacement of thousands of people, including many women and children.” Harare Reuters
THAW
Japanese destroyer arrives in China A Japanese destroyer sailed into southern China on Tuesday in the first port call by one of Japan’s warships to China since World War II, the latest sign of improved ties between the rival Asian giants. The navy vessel with 240 crew members carried blankets, medical supplies and other relief goods for survivors of China’s devastating May 12 earthquake that killed more than 69,000 people. Chinese state media showed pictures of the ship arriving with Chinese sailors lined up on the dock in white uniforms under the two countries’ flags. The destroyer Sazanami was paying a return visit for a port call made by the Chinese guided missile destroyer Shenzhen to Tokyo in November, the first visit by a Chinese military vessel to Japan since the war. The visit comes as relations warm between the countries. President Hu Jintao toured Japan in early May, the first such visit by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. Any Japanese military presence remains a sensitive issue for many Chinese who still hold bitter feelings about Japan’s invasion and occupation of their country in the 1930s and ’40s. Guangzhou AP
The European Union on Tuesday hailed an agreement between Serbia’s Socialist and Democratic parties as a real chance to establish a pro-European government in the Balkan country. The Socialist Party said on Monday it would join an alliance headed by the liberal Democratic Party to form a government after weeks of negotiations since an election on May 11. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said he was awaiting a formal announcement by President Boris Tadic but hoped a government could be formed this week. “There is a real chance Serbia will now have a truly pro-European government and I am very much looking forward to working with that government,” Rehn told reporters during a conference on the Balkans in Brussels. “Of course we have been for long looking forward to seeing a reform-orientated government in Serbia,” he said, adding that this was important for Serbia’s chances of joining the EU. Tadic’s Democrats emerged as the largest party in the May 11 election but failed to secure a parliamentary majority. Nationalists opposed to EU membership tried but failed to forge an alliance with the Socialists. A pro-EU coalition in Belgrade will raise hopes in the West that Belgrade will hand over fugitive war crime indictees to the UN tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, a condition for advancing Serbia’s EU entry prospects. The indictees include Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb general wanted by the UN over the genocide in Srebrenica, where 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed, and 10,000 deaths in the 1992-95 siege of Sarajevo. Rehn said the formation of a new government should provide new momentum towards ensuring Serbia’s complete cooperation with the ICTY: “I believe that full cooperation is possible once an EUorientated government takes office.” Brussels Reuters
The UN Security Council issued an unprecedented and unanimous condemnation of violence against Tsvangirai’s supporters. It was supported by South Africa, China and Russia who have previously blocked such moves Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday defied mounting pressure from both inside and outside Africa to call off Friday’s presidential election, saying he had a legal obligation to go ahead. Both Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and South African ruling ANC leader Jacob Zuma said the presidential runoff must be postponed after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote and fled to the Dutch embassy in Harare. The UN Security Council issued an unprecedented and unanimous condemnation of violence against Tsvangirai’s supporters. It was supported by South Africa, China and Russia who have previously blocked such moves. But Mugabe shrugged off the pressure and the US ambassador to Zimbabwe said the world could not stop the run-off election. “The West can scream all it wants. Elections will go on. Those who want to recognise our legitimacy can do so, those who don’t want, should not,” Mugabe said at a rally in western Zimbabwe. International concern is mounting over Zimbabwe’s political turmoil and economic meltdown, blamed by the West and the opposition on Mugabe, who has held uninterrupted power for 28 years. Wade said in a statement that Tsvangirai took refuge after being tipped off that soldiers were on the way to his house. “He is only safe because, alerted by
Memebers of the ruling party Zanu PF militia beat unidentified people at the venue of the proposed Movement for Democratic Change Party rally in Harare.
tween the two countries. French presidential spokesman Franck Louvrier could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone. Another presidential spokesman who was on another scheduled flight out of Tel Aviv said he knew nothing about the incident. According to Rosenfeld, the guard who shot himself was a paramilitary policeman and had been assigned to a security patrol at the airport. Israel Radio said the guard was stationed 100 meters to 200 meter away from Sarkozy’s plane. Two women soldiers who witnessed the shooting were treated for shock, the radio said. Ben-Gurion Airport AP and Reuters
EU hails chance for a pro-Europe Serb government
Report: EU not cracking down hard enough on racism
AP
DISQUALIFICATION
Israeli security guard Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, in car, after he was rushed into an armored car during a departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
An Israeli police officer fatally shot himself in the head on Tuesday at an airport departure ceremony for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, authorities said, sparking fear of an assassination attempt and prompting bodyguards to whisk Sarkozy and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert away from the scene. The shooting occurred while a military band was playing, and the leaders apparently didn’t hear anything. Dark-suited men then quickly ushered Sarkozy and his wife up the stairs of their plane. In a panic, Sarkozy’s wife, Carla BruniSarkozy, rushed up the stairs ahead of her husband. At the same time, security
PHOTOS
More than 840 wildfires sparked by an "unprecedented" lightning storm are burning in Northern California, alarming the governor and requiring the help of firefighters from Nevada and Oregon. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he found it "quite shocking" how quickly the number of fires has risen in just one day. At least 842 fires were burning on Monday, said Del Walters, assistant regional chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. That was up from 540 late Sunday. All but a couple were in the northern part of the state. "This is an unprecedented lightning storm in California, that it lasted as long as it did, 5,000 to 6,000 lightning strikes," Walters said. "We are finding fires all the time." Firefighting aircraft and other aid arrived from Nevada and Oregonn on Monday. Schwarzenegger said he asked for help "because you can never prepare for 500 or 700 or 800 fires all at the same time." Fierce thunderstorms last Friday night touched off the blazes. "We didn't get real lucky with this lighting storm," Walters said. "It wasn't predicted -- which often happens with these storms that come in off the Pacific, there's no history of the weather as it approaches the shore -- and so we got hammered." In Mendocino County alone there were 110 fires, with just 17 contained. Two of the state's biggest fires had each charred nearly 6 square miles. San Francisco AP
Police officer’s suicide mars Sarkozy trip to Israel PHOTO
Firefighting help comes from Nevada and Oregon
WORLD
Racist violence and discrimination persist across the European Union, and most members of the 27-nation bloc are not taking advantage of tough legislation to crack down on the scourge, the EU’s rights agency warned on Tuesday. Britain and France lead a list of nine countries credited with actively fighting racism and xenophobia, but most other EU members are not making the most of a tough EU-wide “racial equality directive,” the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights said in its annual report. “Racism, discrimination, entrenched disadvantage, racist violence and harassment have remained a fact of life for many individuals in Europe,” the agency warned. “Effective and dissuasive sanctions are crucial to fight ethnic and racial discrimination,” it said. “Without these, discriminatory attitudes and behavioral patterns are unlikely to change and victims remain defenseless.” From 2006-07, Britain punished 95 offenders with sanctions -- more than all of the other 26 member states combined -- said the Vienna-based agency, which polices the European Union in an effort to stamp out discrimination in employment, housing, education, health care and other key areas. It also singled out Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Finland and Sweden for making good use of existing legal tools to fight discrimination. By contrast, a dozen EU member states -- the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Greek Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia -- issued no sanctions at all during the same period. “The absence of sanctions coincides in most cases with the absence of an effective equality body” to fight racism and discrimination, the rights agency said. It said the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Spain have no commission in place to deal with complaints. Vienna AP
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ATTACK
REBUFF
Ahmadinejad proposes trial for world powers Iran said on Tuesday that additional sanctions by the European Union will not affect Tehran, while President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposed the formation of a special court to punish the world “tyrants” for their attempt to thwart Iran’s nuclear program. Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying to a group of judges that “a court should be formed to try and punish all world criminals who invade the rights of the Iranian nation,” according to the state IRNA news agency. Iran considers its nuclear ambitions -- which the West claims mask weapons making -- as an inalienable right. Tehran has dismissed Western claims and contends its uranium enrichment is only meant for electricity production. Known for his anti-Western rhetoric, Ahmadinejad also denounced the West for “issuing a verdict” in the absence of Iran. Ahmadinejad’s remarks were his first following a move by the EU which on Monday approved additional financial and travel restrictions for Iranian companies and individuals -- including the country’s largest bank, Bank Melli Iran. The Iranian leader did not elaborate on where or how the world powers should be punished for sanctioning Tehran. Tehran AP
A bomb killed 10 people, including two US government employees and two US soldiers at a council meeting in the Baghdad stronghold of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Tuesday, officials said. Police said six Iraqis were killed and 10 wounded in the attack at the local council building in Sadr City. The US military blamed renegade Shiite militias called “special groups” for the bombing. That is jargon for rogue elements of Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia that the military says are equipped, trained and funded by Iran. Tehran denies the charges. US forces also blamed a special group cell trying to stir up sectarian violence for a truck bomb that killed 63 people in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad a week ago. A US Embassy spokeswoman said one of the dead American civilians worked for the US State Department and the other for the Department of Defense. She had no further details. One US soldier was also wounded, the military said. Iraqi police said the blast was caused by a suicide bomber. But the US military said a suspect who had tested positive for explosives residue had been caught trying to flee the scene. That suggests a bomb was planted in the council building. Mahmud al-Zamili, a member of Sadr City’s local council, said the blast occurred inside the office of the deputy head of the council. Police said the deputy was among the wounded. “Special Groups are afraid of progress and afraid of empowering the people,” Lt.-Col. John Digiambatista, operations officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, said in a statement. The US military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, has called the “special groups” the
AP
Six Iraqis, 4 Americans killed by blast at Baghdad meeting PHOTO
Afghan police backed by NATO air strikes killed 14 Taliban insurgents after the militants attacked a small town in eastern Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. The Taliban have overrun a number of isolated small towns in the last two years, briefly taking control of local government buildings and forcing thinly spread Afghan and international forces to mobilize to chase them out. Taliban insurgents attacked a police headquarters in the district of Sayed Karam in Paktia province overnight. Police returned fire and international troops launched air strikes. This incident which lasted until morning and resulted in bombing by international forces killed 14 insurgents and wounded four more with support from national police, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The insurgents were from Pakistan, Chechnya and Uzbekistan, it said. Afghan officials accuse neighboring Pakistan of providing sanctuary to the Taliban and say many of the militants who cross the porous border to fight the government and international troops in Afghanistan are Pakistani and Arab nationals. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed the incident. Khost Reuters
The US military blamed renegade Shiite militias called “special groups” for the bombing. That is jargon for rogue elements of Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia. greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq. A Reuters photographer said US and Iraqi forces had cordoned off the council offices in Sadr City, bastion of Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia, where battles between gunmen and security forces raged for weeks until a truce took effect in May. Scores of Americans work closely with local authorities across Iraq in an effort to improve governance and restore essential services following five years of war. Those efforts have picked up in the past year as violence has dropped dramatically. US forces are involved in the programs, and also regularly visit local offi-
cials as part of their routine patrols. Senior Iraqi officials have stressed it is vital to restore government services quickly in Sadr City, a Shiite slum, now that fighting has ended, to give residents an alternative means of support besides the Sadrist movement and the Mahdi Army, which dispenses food and other supplies. There has been little central government control over Sadr City for years. Some two million people live in the area. US officials have mainly blamed Sunni Islamist al-Qaeda insurgents for scores of major bombings that have killed thousands of people in Iraq in the last few years.
But a series of offensives in the past year have significantly weakened the group and forced it out of its traditional strongholds in Baghdad and western Anbar province. On Monday a gunman killed two US soldiers and wounded three as they left a council building southeast of Baghdad. Iraqi security officials said a local official in the town of Madaen had shot the US soldiers who had gone to visit him. The US military said the soldiers had just attended a council meeting in the town when they were ambushed. The identity of the attacker was unclear, the military said. Baghdad Reuters
AP
Air strikes kill 14 Taliban in Afghan east
PHOTO
INQUIRY
London mayor fuming over Iraqi cigar case probe London's flamboyant mayor Boris Johnson is fuming after police took possession of a cigar case he removed from the looted home of former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz shortly after the US-led invasion in 2003. Johnson, a member of the opposition Conservatives and a journalist, travelled to Baghdad in 2003 and wrote about his experiences in the Spectator magazine. He handed the case to the city's Metropolitan Police on Monday, and wrote a letter in Tuesday's Telegraph complaining about the pettiness of a case which he blamed on the ruling Labour Party. "We can confirm that the item in question has today been taken into police custody," the police said in a statement on Monday. "The item, a cigar case, will remain with the police while further inquiries, by the country of origin, are made." The police will consider whether the case is of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific or religious importance and whether it was illegally removed from Iraq. Johnson said the investigation was opened after political rivals raised the issue with police, and accused the Labour Party of being "petty" and "time-wastingly idiotic." He added: "I am accused by my political opponents of removing a cultural artefact from Iraq. As it happens, I also have in my possession a letter from the lawyers of Tariq Aziz, informing me that Mr. Aziz wishes me to regard the cigar case as a gift." London Reuters
German Chancellor Merkel, second right, welcomes US Secretary of State Rice, left, and international Mideast envoy Tony Blair.
Middle East violence overshadows donors conference in Berlin Donors pledged $242 million for Palestinian police and legal institutions at a conference in Berlin on Tuesday, but the meeting was overshadowed by news that a five-day old truce in Gaza had been shaken by rocket fire. Militants in the Hamascontrolled Gaza Strip fired at least two rockets into southern Israel after Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Participants at the Berlin conference had welcomed the Gaza truce, which took effect last Thursday, in their opening speeches, but the question of how to deal with the Islamist Hamas in Gaza had divided top diplomats. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa elicited a strong US reaction when he said reconciling the Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza and the Western-backed government of Mahmoud Abbas was critical for peace and the international “veto” on this had to be lifted. Moussa did not single out any country in particular, but said: “This is a responsibility of all of us.... The Palestinians have to have one front.” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice surprised participants, when she asked to respond directly to Moussa. “You cannot have peace if there is not a partner who respects the right of the other partner to exist,” she said, in an apparent reference to Hamas, which the United States has refused to deal with because it does not recognize Israel or past Palestinian agreements with Israel. The parties also had to renounce violence and live up to international obligations, she said. Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas’ Fatah faction in fighting a year ago, opposes Abbas’ peace talks with Israel. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also reiterated her support for the boycott of Hamas. The Egyptian-brokered truce calls on Hamas to prevent cross-border rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Israel called Tuesday’s rocket strikes a “blatant violation” of the calm and said it would weigh its options. The militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the strikes. Berlin Reuters
ABDUCTIONS
Somali pirates kidnap Germans, coastguard Security forces in a breakaway northern Somali republic are pursuing pirates who kidnapped four German nationals from nearby Yemen and fled into the enclave, its vice-president said. "The four Germans, two men, a woman and a child are being held in the mountains near Qow between Somaliland and the regional administration of Puntland," Ahmed Yusuf Yasin told reporters late on Monday. He did not give any other details. The German Foreign Ministry said it was investigating the reports. Piracy is a lucrative business in Somalia, and hostages are normally treated well in anticipation of a large ransom. Authorities said Somaliland coastguards gave chase in speedboats from their main base in the port town of Berbera on Tuesday morning when the pirates entered Somaliland territorial waters as they headed to Puntland. "The coastguards found the pirates' boat abandoned near Lasqoray," an official said. The self-declared republic of Somaliland broke away from Somalia when the Horn of African country plunged into chaos in 1991, and is relatively peaceful and stable. Hargeisa Reuters
CM Y K
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EXPAT ZONE
Safety ýn numbers ? Residential crime in Turkey appears to be on the rise in major cities, with criminals targeting ground-floor apartments for theft. But street crimes among locals and in tourist areas are more of a problem. Traveling alone has its pros and cons. If you are feeling ill at ease, you may want to seek out a few others. One experienced traveler says, "I'd stake out a comfortable chair in my hostel's common room, and find someone to chat with." You may wonder if this is a good idea? If you are a female solo traveler, you may find that men follow you. One time in Karachi I was walking along and noticed someone lurking nearby. I approached a British couple who were walking just a few steps ahead of me and mentioned the lurker, then asked if they wouldn't mind walking with me for awhile. They were agreeable and said, "Of course, walk with us," and I started walking with them. As soon as the guy saw me meet up with others, he went away. Don't be hesitant to just walk up and say "help me" -- usually people will. I have found this very true in Turkey. I figure if it comes down to being mugged or being embarrassed, I'd prefer being embarrassed. Of course, traveling as a part of an organized tour group doesn't guarantee safety. If you haven't done your own homework yourself about your country of destination you could be asking for trouble. Often people who join organized tours have nothing to prepare
themselves, no directions and they walk around with cameras around their necks and are reckless with money when they shop. It's like they're begging the locals to rob them. It's good to be informed before you go out. Turkey is not as safe as it used to be but it is still safer than most places when it comes to street crimes. With the exception of large urban centers such as Ýstanbul and Ýzmir, street crime is relatively low in Turkey. You need to be careful in Ýstanbul, however! Petty street crime is most common in tourist areas such as Taksim Square, Sultanahmet and in the areas around the Grand Bazaar and Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar. Usually stalkers work in pairs or groups and can be male and female. Carry only what is needed. Usually you can leave your passport in your hotel safe, as a lost or stolen passport can disrupt your travel plans and is expensive to replace. Most street crimes include pick-pocketing, purse snatching, and mugging -- just like any other large metropolitan areas throughout the world. Beware of some sort of diversion such as an argument, a fight or someone bumping you. Often such a stir is caused to commit the crime. Another strategy is to try to begin a conversation with English or French-speaking foreigners. The individual will try to befriend
CULTURAL CORNER
CHARLOTTE McPHERSON tourists and then drug them, using tea, juice, alcohol, or food. One Today's Zaman reader shares his experience: Dear Charlotte, a friend and I were walking down the street in Sultanahmet and a young Turkish fellow who was standing outside a café invited us in for tea. We stayed for an hour and had tea and chatted. He seemed nice enough. He invited us to go to a bar near by for a drink. You can guess the rest… Our drinks were drugged and we were robbed. I am young and adventurous but I learned my lesson the hard way. Think twice before accepting what seems to be a kind gesture. Since my experience I have taken wrestling lessons so I can defend myself better. From Wrestler. Dear Wrestler, thanks for sharing your story. I've heard similar stories where tourists are invited to visit clubs or bars, and then presented with inflated bills for a few hundred dollars or more, and coerced to pay them by credit card or to withdraw cash from a nearby
{{ STARTING UP IN TURKEY {{
CEM KIZILTUG ILLUSTRATION
Getting arrested in Turkey - a frightening thought, isn't it? Sure, getting into legal troubles in a foreign country -- a country of which you may know neither the language nor the laws -- is not nice at all. However, every problem has a solution. Thus, this week Today's Zaman informs you about your rights as a detainee in Turkey and explains what you should do in such a situation. To inform yourself about everything related with legal issues in Turkey, your first destination should naturally be the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which is the Turkish state's law defining crimes and prescribing punishments. Closely related to the TCK is the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK), which contains the regulations governing detention and custody. You can find all these laws, as well as related regulations and recent changes, on the Web site of the Turkish Ministry of Justice (www.adalet.gov.tr). Unfortunately, this Web site is only available in Turkish. However, a small selection of the information can be found on the Web site of the Turkish online consular office (www.e-konsolosluk.net). The most extensive English-language source is, in this regard, surely the online forum www.turkhukuksitesi.com. Here you can find large sections of Turkish legal codes in English. Moreover, you can post your own questions in the user forum and ask professionals for help. However, Today's Zaman has done its best to cut through the bureaucratic red tape for you and prepared a short overview on the most important issues. Of course, every police officer has the right to detain a person who is caught red handed. However, the detainee must be informed of his rights at once. The detainee must be informed that there is a "right to remain silent" and that he is allowed to speak to a lawyer. You can choose this lawyer on your own, and if you cannot afford a lawyer, one must be assigned to you by the Turkish Bar Association (TBB). In any case, your relatives and the nearest consulate or embassy of your home country must be informed about your detention by the Turkish authorities. At a later point a detention protocol must be set up and a state prosecutor must be contacted. Keeping a suspect imprisoned while awaiting trial requires "unquestionable evidence of wrongdoing," a "risk of flight" or that the crime be of "special severity." With regard to foreigners, risk of flight is sometimes dealt with by having the suspect hand over his travel documents (passport and
Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman ‘s readers. Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
LEGAL CORNER
BERK ÇEKTiR
Gettýng ýnto legal trouble ýn Turkey KRISTINA KAMP ÝSTANBUL
ATM to cover the charge. It's hard to tell about people sometimes. If you are traveling or planning a trip here are a few tips for staying safe during your vacation: -- Learn all you can about the local culture where you are going. -- Find out if certain styles of dress are frowned upon. -- Try to discover if certain neighborhoods, bus routes, or subway stations are notorious for petty crime. -- Learn a few key words and phrases in the local language (e.g., those that might get you out of a sticky situation). -- Best to avoid being flashy. In some places iPods, cell phones and certain clothing styles are the norm. In other places, they can make you stand out. If you feel afraid, trust you instincts. Always be in tune with your instincts. If you think a situation is bad, it probably is. Just be on your toes. There is nothing like a good trip -- the experience of a lifetime!
Prenuptýal agreements With the appearance of hot and humid Istanbul days, it is time to take some time off. Today I will be writing about prenuptial agreements, and will answer a question from Alice. The letter reads as follows: "Merhaba! I am writing because I found your article on prenuptial agreements on the Today's Zaman Web site. I am an American woman in Ýstanbul and preparing to marry a Turkish man in Turkey. My family is not entirely supportive due to some unfortunate Internet articles on the topic of American Turkish marriages and would be much more comfortable if we had a prenuptial agreement to protect my assets. Makes sense and my fiancé would like to do whatever it takes to ensure my family's concerns are addressed. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Alice" Dear Alice, nobody gets married in order to get divorced. A couple in love always aims to have a life-long marriage; unfortunately it does not always happen that way. Divorce is a depressing process. Thus nowadays couples prefer to sign prenuptial agreements before the marriage to avoid some of the negative impacts of divorce. It is possible to make a prenuptial agreement under Turkish Civil Law, and prenuptial agreements are quite popular among couples. Turkish law regulates the marital asset regimes under Turkish Civil Code. There are two types of marital asset regimes which you can use for your prenuptial agreement. The first is the basic marital asset regime, which is also referred to as the legal asset regime in Turkish law. The second type is the contractual estate regime, which is divided into three branches. The spouses are allowed to choose one of the marital asset regimes specified by the Turkish Civil Code. If the spouses cannot agree on one of the regime options, then they will be subject to the general "participation in the acquired assets" principle governing the marital assets. However, it is always possible to choose another regime during the course of the marriage. The legal marital asset regime classifies the assets according to the way they are acquired; the first type is a personal asset and the second type is an acquired (marital) asset. The assets owned previous to the marriage are considered personal assets according to the said regime and are not considered part of the disputed assets in a divorce case. However, as a general rule, the assets belonging to both of the spouses are deemed "acquired assets," and the party claiming such assets to be personal is under the burden of proof. The regime of participation in acquired assets is a complicated one but has a fair structure. In this regime spouses have their own assets and also jointly owned assets. As explained above the code stipulates two main regimes -- basic and contractual. The contractual asset regime has three sub-types of contractual estate regimes: the regime of separation in asset, the regime of partition in separated asset and the regime of partnership in asset. Spouses are free to choose one of these regimes in prenuptial agreements. According to Article 205 of Turkish Civil Code, the agreement can be made at a public notary -- the notary can either draft the document or approve of one that the couple brings in -- or the spouses can declare which regime they would like to have to the marriage officer.
flight tickets) to the authorities, thereby ensuring that he will not leave the country. You or your lawyer may propose this to the authorities. In any case, within 24 hours of your arrest you must be presented to a Turkish "peace judge" for an initial judicial interrogation. If the crime you are accused of is a crime "against the Turkish state," this period may be extended to 48 hours. If you have been imprisoned as a group of more than two people, the period of arrest can take four days and it can be extended three times by written statements from the state prosecutor. You and your lawyer have the right to appeal your imprisonment with the peace judge, who must rule on the appeal within 24 hours.
Beyond your rights? Sadly, despite the fact that all of these rights exist in writing, you can expect that they may sometimes be violated. Despite the introduction of much new legislation in recent years, human rights organization Amnesty International still complains that there has been little evidence of progress in the implementation of reforms. "In spite of a general decrease in allegations of torture or illtreatment, there were reports that such abuses were widespread in police custody against those detained during protests. There were continued concerns about unfair trials and conditions in prisons," it said in its annual report last year. So what can you do to be prepared for eventual problems? Well, first of all you can inform yourself at your home country's embassy about lawyers in Turkey who speak your native language. You can contact them in case of emergency. In any case, it is always good to have proper liability insurance that will cover procedural costs in the event of lawsuits. You may also get into contact with the AI branch responsible for Turkey in your home country. These branches are usually involved with a couple of higher authorities in Turkey. In Turkey you may contact the Human Rights Association (IHD), which has offices in nearly every big city. If you have been a victim of torture or ill-treatment, IHD is the place to go for physical and psychological help, as well to make register your complaints with Turkish or EU authorities.
NOTE: Berk Çektir is a licensed attorney at law and available to answer questions on the legal aspects of living in Turkey. Send enquiries to b.cektir@todayszaman.com. The names of the readers are disclosed only upon written approval of the sender.
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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DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is intended to give basic legal information. You should get legal assistance from a licensed attorney at law while conducting legal transactions and not just rely on the information in this corner.
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CULTURE&ARTS
TODAY’S ZAMAN 13
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
PHOTO
HÜSEYÝN SARI
Writers in Berlin to describe ‘being a woman in Turkey’
Ayþe Kulin
Turkish women writers and scholars who conduct research on women’s issues in Turkey are in the German capital this week for a two-day symposium in which they will give accounts of what it is like “to be a woman in Turkey” through their personal experiences and the characters in their novels and stories. The symposium, entitled “Die Frau im Mittelpunkt kultureller Diskussionen in der türkischen Literatur” (Women at the Center of Cultural Discussions in Turkish Literature), is one of the side events of this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, where Turkey is the guest of honor. State Minister for Women’s Affairs Nimet Çubukçu will today deliver the opening speech of the symposium, in which famous Turkish woman writers Ayþe Kulin,
Füruzan to be honored at Ýstanbul Book Fair
Buket Uzuner, Oya Baydar, Ayfer Tunç, Nazan Bekiroðlu, Sevinç Çokum, Ayþe Böhürler and Aksu Bora will be speaking about the social status of Turkish women and the problems they face in both the domestic and social spheres from the perspectives of their fictional characters. Turkish academics who conduct studies on women’s issues in Turkey will also present findings from their studies in separate sessions throughout the symposium. The symposium will consist of five sessions that will focus on topics such as identity, family, career, pressures, violence, religion and migration. The first session, titled “Traditional or Modern?” will include such presentations as “The system, its expectations and our lives” by Müge Ýplikçi; “Resisting identities, imposed lim-
its,” by Nafize Þiþman; “Different gender regimes, different resistance strategies” by Aksu Bora; and “A look at coercion through women characters in Turkish literature” by Ayfer Tunç. Another session will be titled “Women Characters in Turkish Literature: Past and President” and will feature the following presentations: “Fatma Aliye Haným, the first woman writer in Turkey” by Fatma Karabýyýk Barbarosoðlu; “Turkish women as seen in novels” by Ayþe Kulin; “Nigar Haným, the first female poet of the Ottoman Empire” by Nazan Bekiroðlu; “Women characters in migration literature” by Emine Sevgi Özdamar; and “Women character expectations in a male-dominated society” by Vivet Kanetti. The June 25-26 symposium will be held at the Urania Center in Berlin. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
Benjamin Franklin Awards 2008
Füruzan, one of Turkey’s best-known contemporary female short story writers, will be the writer of honor at this year’s Ýstanbul Book Fair, organizers announced Tuesday. Organized by TÜYAP Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc. in collaboration with the Turkish Publishers Association, the fair will hold its 27th edition from Nov. 1-9 at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in Beylikdüzü. The fair will feature a number of panel discussions on the literary persona of Füruzan, the largely self-taught author best known for her depictions of the disadvantaged in society, particularly women, children and refugees. Füruzan, whose works have been translated into English, German, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Arabic and Persian, is also expected to attend book signing events at the fair. The theme of this year’s fair will be “1968 - 40 years ago, 40 years on,” marking the 40th anniversary of the rise of the 1968 movement with a focus on how the movement, which began with strikes and student protests in Paris, affected literature, cinema and the arts in general. Around 550 publishers are expected to attend this year’s fair. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
WINNER
(history/political)
FINALIST
(cover design)
Cohen, Cotillard asked to join the Academy Sacha Baron Cohen, Marion Cotillard, Ruby Dee and Jet Li have been invited to join Hollywood’s most exclusive club -- the group that hands out the Academy Awards. They were among 105 actors, filmmakers, executives and others in the movie business who were asked to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Cohen is British, Dee is American and Li is Chinese. Cotillard, who is French, won the best-actress Oscar in February for “La Vie En Rose.” Other actors invited into the academy were Americans Josh Brolin and Allison Janney and British film star Ray Winstone. Dee was a supporting-actress nominee for last year’s “American Gangster,” while Cohen had a screenplay nomination the previous year with “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” Also on the list of invitees released Monday were Jason Reitman, a Canadian who was a best-director nominee for last year’s “Juno,” and that film’s writer, Diablo Cody, an American who won the originalscreenplay Oscar. Other Americans on the list include directors Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity”), Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”) and Gore Verbinski (“The Pirates of the Caribbean” movies); and writers Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), Jeff Nathanson (“Catch Me If You Can”) and Tamara Jenkins (“The Savages”). The academy has just under 6,000 voting members. Los Angeles AP
MTV moves Video Music Awards to LA The MTV Video Music Awards are going Hollywood. After broadcasting from Las Vegas last year, the awards will air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, MTV announced Monday. MTV said it plans for the first time to enlist its Web-savvy, youthful audience to help decide the nominees. The network intends to take over the movie studio’s lot and present the awards show from sound stages, rooftops and city streets. MTV and Paramount are corporate cousins within Viacom Inc. “With Paramount Pictures as the ideal setting, the glamour and musical heritage of L.A. are sure to be catalysts for creating explosive pop culture moments that the VMAs are known for,” Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, said in a statement. September’s VMAs -- which will mark the show’s 25th year -- has a tough act to follow after last year’s drama-filled extravaganza at the Palms Casino Resort. The Vegas edition delivered one of the most-talked about performances in recent history: Britney Spears’ reviled comeback performance in which the pop star appeared nervous, out-of-shape and just plain out-of-it on stage. This year’s host, nominees and slate of performers will be announced at a later date. New York AP
Online Orders: %20 off from www.kitapkaynagi.com; www.nt.com.tr Int.Orders: www.antstores.com; www.amazon.com Available at NT Bookshops (for your nearest NT bookshop go to Maðaza Ýletiþim Bilgileri at www.nt.com.tr
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14 TODAY’S ZAMAN
OPINION
PHOTO
REUTERS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008
When wýll true democracy arrýve? ÜMÝT KARDAÞ*
The action plans of the General Staff -- Information Support Plan and Information Support Plan Activity Table -- headlined by the Taraf daily on June 20 are terrifying. This is an action plan accusing the political administration of favoring backwardness, staging a counteraction against attempts to make a new constitution, which is cited as contrary to the premises of a nation state; seeking to ensure that the judicial bureaucracy comes into line with the military; manipulating media actors, universities, artists and opinion leaders; and undermining the image and prestige of the opponents of the army. Developments up to now overlap with the goals of the plan. A member of the Constitutional Court who reviews cases which impact the future of Turkey's regime paid a visit to a chief of staff at a time when sensitivity and carefulness was essential; the visit lasted longer than usual and was carried out in secrecy. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar Büyükanýt described the Constitutional Court's decision as the declaration of what is already known. Actually, the general knows better what should be done, but the court declares what the general seeks to publicize.
Does anyone still call this regime a democracy? Frequent searches to imply that popular support for terror would not go unanswered, the decision and plan by which the same message would be given via deliberate attacks on the people living across the border deserves attention, because they show that the mentality making the Kurdish question irresolvable is still influential. In the 1980s the same mentality was prevalent in Diyarbakýr, with systematic torture at the prisons, illegal practices that sought to show that the state was more powerful than the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), operations and maltreatment. Back then, the goals were similar: to intimidate the local people. Denial of this action plan by the General Staff is actually an indirect confirmation and acknowledgement. The General Staff's statement last Friday, in which it declared no such document had been approved by the relevant authorities within the military, refrained from confirming whether or not there actually is such a document. Either there is an action plan known by the commanders, in which case their acknowledgement of this illegal act cannot be expected, or there is an illegal and clandestine entity within the military not sensed by the upper command level. In both cases, the military should take action to expose the plan and bring the perpetrators to justice. This action plan seeks to regulate the political sphere, judicial space, domestic security issues, universities, society and the media. If Parliament does not take steps to ad-
dress this issue, inaction will make Parliament redundant. Those who call such a regime a democracy are actually out of their minds. In order to be rid of this situation, which harms the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the entire country, military actors should play the role they are supposed to play in this case. The primary reason for the ongoing crisis is pressure by the military over three powers. This pressure blocks the resolution of problems and further causes a dispute between the different branches of authority. Military pressure particularly affects the impartiality of the judiciary and Parliament's regulatory role. In this case, the coherence and consistency between the three limbs is disrupted, and this situation creates a tension that also creates unease among the people. Making the law a tool of power and politics is contrary to the legal philosophy. The purpose of the law is to maintain justice and freedom. Both values are lost when the law becomes politicized. This approach raises concerns and doubts over the impartiality and reliability of the courts. The reason for the ongoing crisis is coups in which consistent "exceptions" become the norm, memoranda and the normalization of exceptionalities. During the Ottoman era, the military was influential in the power play and during periods where there were changes of office. The army, which underwent a number of modernization processes, resumed playing roles on the political stage via the Union and Progress Party in 1905. The party, which relied on anti-democratic, repressive and illegal methods, based its legitimacy on its role behind the regime transition and in the repression of the March 31 revolt. During its nine-year term, the party utilized states of emergency and the judiciary as effective tools. The army got involved in politics due to encouragement by the party. Military power was relied on in the fulfillment of political ambitions. Considering the close connection between the party and the military, the opponents also sought partners within the army. The military, deeply involved in politics, experienced a huge failure in the Balkan Wars. A few statesmen sensed the perils of such involvement. Mehmet Kamil Pasha was removed from office because of his recommendations to keep the army away from politics. In a declaration issued by an opposition group, it was noted that the army should remain impartial and that it should focus on military affairs alone. In the administration program announced at the parliament, Gazi Ahmad Muhtar Pasha recalled that they would prevent involvement of the military in politics; to this end, a supplemental bill to the military penal code was adopted in Parliament. However, despite these steps, the military's involvement in politics continued; subsequently the military took the empire to war. The current developments represent a reiteration of history via modern tools.
The military openly intervened in the democratic regime with the memo issued on April 27, 2007. The issuers committed the offense of attempting to prevent Parliament from functioning. The sentence envisaged for this offense is life imprisonment (Turkish Penal Code, TCK, Article 311/1). The action also refers to commission of another grave offense of attempting to block operation of constitutional order. The sentence for this offense is the same (TCK Article 309). Moreover, the memo also sought to influence the Constitutional Court, which was about to make its decision on the presidential election. In this way issuers of the memo further committed the crime of attempting to influence the actors of judiciary (two to four years' imprisonment under TCK 277). The issuers incited public hatred because they declared those who do not say "Happy is who calls himself a Turk" as enemies (one to three years' imprisonment under TCK Article 216/1). Those who prepared the action plan have similarly committed the offense of attempting to block the operation of the Constitutional Court, provoking foreign state authorities and influencing judges who were fulfilling their judicial tasks. Why are the perpetrators of these offenses not brought before justice? No legal action is taken against them because these military men commit these offenses in military zones. For this reason they may be tried in military courts alone, despite their offenses being of a civilian character. Because generals may be tried at the General Staff Military Court alone, a chief of General Staff who committed a certain military crime may not be expected to initiate an investigation into himself; likewise, a military prosecutor cannot take judicial action against such a chief of General Staff. For this reason, Article 145 of the Constitution should be lifted. The said article provides that the military courts review the cases in relation to the military offenses of military officers and offenses committed against military men and in military sites. (The same arrangement was included in Article 138 of the 1961 Constitution.) This was also taken verbatim to the law on military criminal procedure, Law No. 353, (Article 9). This arrangement prevents the trial of military men in a civilian court. The Supreme Court of Appeals decision in regards to the Þemdinli case verifies this. The said constitutional provision should be abolished and Law No. 353 should be amended to include crimes related to military discipline alone. Only if such an amendment is made will military men be tried in civilian courts. If this amendment is made, military men will be tried by civilian judges in connection with charges of civilian offenses. In this way, a fair trial will be ensured for the military men. Moreover, under Article 12 of Law No. 353, in the event a military man commits a military offense together with a civilian person, the latter is also tried by the military
In addition, Article 156 of the Constitution (on military courts of appeal), Article 157 (on military higher administrative courts) and Article 118 (on the National Security Council, MGK) should be lifted. By amendment of Article 117, the chief of General Staff should be subordinate to the national defense minister. By amendment of Article 125, decisions of the Supreme Military Court (YAÞ) should be opened to judicial review and appeal. Articles 2 and 25 of the internal service law, relied on as justification for military coups, statements and memos, should be changed. The statements in Article 2 of Law No. 211, "military service is to teach the art of war and to carry out this war when necessary to protect Turkish territory and the country's independence," should be replaced by: "military service refers to the obligation to teach the military art for the purpose of protecting the country against external threats and dangers." The statement in Article 35 of the same bill, "The duty of the military forces is to protect and watch the Turkish Republic as outlined in the Constitution and the Turkish territory," should be replaced by, "The duty of the TSK is to protect the national borders against external threats and dangers." The following expression should be annexed to Article 148 of the Military Penal Code on the prohibition of political statements and writing by military men: "In the event the military services are undermined or the political, economic and social order of the country is harmed by the commission of these offenses, the punishment will be prison time no shorter than 10 years." In Turkey, the regime is unable to evolve toward democracy. No one is eroding the TSK as an organization or acting with the intention of doing so. Quite the contrary, because the upper bureaucracy of the TSK is eager to serve as the regulator of society's lifestyle, the law and the political order, the military undermines its image and prestige on its own. Politics and law are not included in the sphere of the military, besides, the professional abilities to address the issues fall short in these spheres. In a real democracy, the military is under the command of the civilian authorities and the law and is obliged to protect the security of the people. For this reason, payments are made to the military from the taxes collected from the people; for the same reason, they also enjoy greater privileges. Regulating democracy, politics and society is not the task of the military. If the regime does not transform into a real democracy, no single institution, including the TSK, will be able to survive the turmoil. * Dr. Ümit Kardaþ is a retired colonel and former military judge.
dagistancetinkaya@todayszaman.com.tr
Owner on Behalf of Feza Gazetecilik A.Þ
ALÝ AKBULUT Chief Executive Officer
EKREM DUMANLI Editor-in-Chief
BÜLENT KENEÞ
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TSK is wearing itself out
Daðýstan Çetinkaya
Thýnk tank cafe´ Established on January 16, 2007 NO: 0498 Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Executive Editor Managing Editors
court. To prevent this, articles 54, 57 and 58 should be excised from military criminal procedure law.
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.
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COLUMNS
TODAY’S ZAMAN 15
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
Ireland’s decýsýon and Europe’s future Europe was stunned this month by Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. Indeed, the consolidation of the EU through a long and painstaking process has been halted until a viable solution can be reached. The treaty's defeat has been a "tragedy" for the grand project that is the European Union. The defeat was the result of a highly organized "no" campaign that had played to Irish voters' deepest visceral fears about the European Union. Many ordinary Europeans still feel estranged from the EU machinery and confused by how it works. For all its benefits, many people in Ireland and Europe feel that the union is remote, undemocratic (due to its unwieldy bureaucracy) and ever more inclined to strip its smaller members of the right to make their own laws and decide their own futures. Ordinary citizens see a bossy Brussels, and when they have the chance of a referendum they demonstrate their concerns. This happened in France and Netherlands previously, and now it is happening in Ireland. For the time being the repercussions of the "no" vote seem enormous. For it to take effect, all 27 members of the European
YAVUZ BAYDAR
DOÐU ERGÝL d.ergil@todayszaman.com
Union must ratify the treaty. So the defeat by a single country, no matter how small it is, can abort the whole European ideal. The union will have to find some other method of adjusting institutionally to the addition of 12 new members since 2004. The union's success in creating an expanded Europe would provide a democratic and economic anchor for post-Communist countries after the dissolution of the Soviet empire. The Lisbon Treaty is the product of a series of long and painstaking meetings among all the member states that took place after the rejection of the Nice Treaty by France and the
Netherlands. There is no doubt that the satisfaction of diverse nation-states has been thoroughly thought out and a complex set of principles and institutions were put forward. If the treaty were to be put into effect, the EU would have its first full-time president and a foreign policy chief with wide powers and responsibilities, such as deciding on development aid and how it is distributed. The treaty, as envisioned, reduces the size of the EU's executive organ, namely the European Commission. The plan was to rotate the seats so that each member country would have a seat in 10 out of every 15 years. Another change concerned the voting procedures of the European Council, so that the process is more transparent and fewer decisions would require unanimous votes. Given these positive changes, the general view among pro-EU circles is that the Irish have done no favors for themselves or the rest of the EU. It is unclear what exactly will happen next. Ireland is the only country to put the Lisbon Treaty to a referendum, as its law requires. In gen-
No Comment
INDIA, REUTERS
y.baydar@todayszaman.com
AMANDA AKÇAKOCA a.akcakoca@todayszaman.com
By Cyprýots, for Cyprýots
Turkýsh press ýs senselessly dýggýng democracy’s grave You may, as an outsider, be led to believe that the entire country is about to collapse into an abyss at any moment. This is what primitive, predictable psychological warfare does to you. Let us now take a brief look at an excerpt of the latest story by Sabrina Tavernise in The New York Times, titled "In Turkey, Bitter Feud Has Roots in History." It says the following: "'Turkish society has been traumatized,' said Dengir Fýrat, vice chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP): 'Overnight they were told to change their dress, their language. Their religious ways were dismantled.' "'Societies without that trauma could not care less how people dress,' said Mr. Fýrat, whose offense in the indictment was to have told a journalist that people who were nervous about head scarves should see psychiatrists." It all looks like a simple statement, a way of interpreting history to you, right? But, alas, no. Fýrat is practically #2 in the AKP and what "the premier tool" of the psychological warfare around the party's eventual closure, Doðan Media editors and columnists, see is different. In ugly wars, honorable fighting ends and all that is immoral becomes legitimate. It will be no surprise, therefore, if attacks on Fýrat, by any means deemed necessary, continue. In Turkey, it is naturally not nice if you voice dissent. Deviations in interpreting the history of the republic may get you in trouble, as it did with Professor Atilla Yayla, who was recently found guilty for "insulting the memory of Atatürk" by merely calling him "this man" in a loose statement. Fýrat is, naturally, more important. He is the well-educated lawyer behind the draft constitution. He is also the man, at least for some time now, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan listens to. Targeting him recklessly would, Doðan Media pundits hope, increase the legal burden on his party, making it certain that it is shut down. What about the trauma, you might ask? Of course, in broad terms, Fýrat is right. All the wise men in Turkey, in office or not, agree that the magnitude of the trauma, which peaked in the late Ottoman period, was carried over to the early Republic years. Atatürk led a traumatized nation, and saw the only way out: overnight "revolutions" that would trigger an entirely new project in modernity. Therefore the reform in language called "dil devrimi" (revolution of language) was in official rhetoric for decades. If such sudden changes do not cause (or add to) trauma, then what could? Was the French Revolution a totally painless experience? Try telling that to the maddened columnists and blinded editors of Doðan Media. Not only will they not listen to you, they will also pin a label on you as "traitor" -- as "mildly" as they can. The game is old and simple: The AKP did "bad" things (that the system hated to see happen) and must be wiped out. In order to be able to do that, segments of the media, so ready to minimize the limits of democracy in order to keep its owners' privileges, will be used to manipulate and pollute the minds of the citizens. It is as simple as that. What, otherwise, do you need Hurriyet, Vatan, Milliyet and Cumhuriyet for? Citizens will lose faith in democracy in the end, but who cares? Although it will not help much to reverse the country's course, the plan has already been revealed by Taraf, in a text ambiguously denied by the chief of General Staff. "It exposed," as Today's Zaman columnist Lale Sarýibrahimoðlu, summarized, "The TSK's [Turkish Armed Forces'] latest known memo, dated September 2007 and titled 'Information Support Activity Action Plan.' It comprised a series of measures to intervene in politics and civilian life, with the primary aim of removing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) -which it claims is at the center of anti-secular activities -- from power, by creating a web of pro-military jurists, journalists and artists. The military document defines its goal, among other things, as bringing universities, the judiciary, members of the press and artists into line with the TSK's views due to their power to shape public opinion, while the same document reaffirms continuation of a campaign of intimidation against those who do not think as the TSK does. Launching frequent operations in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern region while hitting the civilians living along Turkey's border with Iraq with heavy artillery will be the means to illustrate to the people of the region that support for terror brings along with it a heavy price to pay…" This "snapshot" should explain to you the fabricated storm around an AKP politician. Believe me, more is to come. "I now fear a hard coup is on its way despite the heavy price that we will all pay," concludes Sarýibrahimoðlu in her latest column. I still stick to my hopes that something other than that will happen, but knowing the "expertise in grave digging" of senseless sections of the Turkish media, I cannot help but fear the worst.
eral, such treaties are far more popular with Europe's leaders than with its voters, and most governments are reluctant to risk the uncertainty of a national vote. The other 26 countries in the European Union are negotiating decisions concerning the EU in their legislatures and among their executives. So far 18 have approved the Lisbon Treaty. Throughout Europe, pro-treaty circles have demonstrated both disappointment and resolve to push ahead with the treaty despite the Irish setback. Ireland had done the same thing previously. In 2001, the Irish rejected the Nice Treaty in a referendum, but later changed their mind in a second referendum the following year. However, there is no guarantee that this will happen again. The treaty's defeat in Ireland lends new momentum to the campaign against it elsewhere. Whatever is to be said about the outcome of the Irish vote, one thing is clear: A part of the people of Europe believe that the elites in Brussels must heed the people, who do not want to be ruled from a distance nor have unlimited power transferred from nation-states to a capital they do not see as theirs.
Euro 2008 or World 2008? BERÝL DEDEOÐLU b.dedeoglu@todayszaman.com
Football cups are passionate sporting events, as demonstrated by the current Euro 2008 euphoria. Following the Turkey-Croatia match, even those who aren't particularly interested in football have started to enjoy it. International games are not just exciting sporting activities. Football has a special place, because it has the gift of reflecting relations between societies, national reflexes and great masses' reactions to victory and defeat. Football demonstrates the technical capacities, skills and even economic backgrounds of different nations. It also highlights national values. So this is not only about the players' quality and their tactics, but also about symbols, commitments and national emotions. Especially during international events, football easily expresses national sentiments. It allows players and supporters to meet and learn about each other, to share the same emotions. But it also permits the shows of antagonism that everyone has in their collective memories. In nations with high self-confidence and in countries that have proven themselves in many areas of international life and are used to both winning and losing, the expression of feelings about a game's results are notably smooth. In others, the football matches are considered something like a war, rather than a joyful competition. The Croatia-Turkey match presents a good example of these realities. This event was not just about two teams or two countries. It became the bearer of a much bigger symbolism. Some people in Turkey have thought that the Turkish team's success is a victory against Europe, maybe because of the
souring mood of Turkey-EU relations or Turkey's traditional and deep-rooted skepticism toward the West. In brief, the match's result was seen as Turkey's success against all Europeans and the "siege of Vienna" syndrome has been resuscitated in the Turkish conscience. As is the case for all nationalisms, Turkish people prefer to prove their existence through identifying themselves against specific "others." Most stunning of all, this match has proven that Turkey is seen as a representative of diverging groups in the international scene. We've seen that crowds have celebrated the Turkish team's victory in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Bosnia, several Arab countries and even some remote parts of China. It's hard to make generalizations, but we can still make some assumptions. Turkic, Muslim and Arab populations living in the "East" have numerous problems with the "West." These perceived or real problems' background is often shaped by a profound historical distrust. As similar people from the same geography support Turkey's EU bid, we can presume that they perceive Turkey's sportive successes as small victories in this tense relationship. Many "Easterners" have noticed that they have important ethnic, religious and historical affinities with Turkey, its football team and its supporters in the stadium. That's why the Croatian team was seen as fighting not only against the Turkish team, but also against all Turks, Muslims and similar groups amongst the "others." The existence of such feelings is a fact, even if we shouldn't exaggerate them or become obsessed with them. As success stimulates those feelings, Euro 2008 has also demonstrated the Europeans' social turmoil, their rising nationalism and the untold struggle between European and non-European societies. Maybe this state of affairs can help us fully understand the importance and real meaning of Turkey's EU accession, which is probably an essential test both for Turkey and the EU.
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Last week Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias spoke in Brussels about his vision for the reunification of Cyprus. Christofias, who is originally from Dikomo, a small village in the district of Kyrenia, expressed his desire to see a reunified Cyprus with a bright and peaceful future, stressing that he would work tirelessly together with Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, to achieve this. This will not be an easy journey, but it is the best opportunity Cyprus has had for a long time and should not be squandered. Cyprus cannot afford another failure. Christofias has a strong mandate and current opinion polls show that 75 percent of Greek Cypriots support his approach. The two leaders need to take a steady step-by-step approach, giving Cypriots a real sense of ownership. Christofias' personal friendship with Talat is very important. During the meeting, he called Talat "my very good friend" at least 15 times and was careful not to say anything that would have resulted in Talat having to respond. Christofias stressed that he wanted a solution that was agreed upon by Cypriots for Cypriots, meaning that the two communities should be left free from outside pressures and foreign interference to decide their own destiny. Christofias emphasized that he hoped Talat would come to the negotiating table and be able to act freely without setting red lines or pre-conditions from Ankara. Christofias is convinced that Turkey is the main obstacle to a solution (compounded by the current political turmoil in Ankara, which they fear may bring the dreaded Kemalists back to power). Turkey needs to prove Christofias wrong. Under way are the meetings of working groups and technical committees designed to "bridge the gap" between the two communities before direct talks start. This exercise should put as many different options as possible on the table. Progress is being made, but difficulties remain on tricky issues such as security, guarantees, property and power-sharing. The leaders are due to review developments on July 1 and consider further confidence-building measures to build on the hugely symbolic opening of the Ledra Street crossing point in April. Such measures are crucial to rebuild trust between the two communities but require the constructive cooperation of all parties involved, including the Turkish military. One confidence-building measure I would like to see is the cancellation of the two anniversaries marking the intervention of Turkey on the island in 1974, which usually involve military displays hardly conducive to a peace process. Direct talks are likely to start in September. Beforehand Christofias wants total harmony between himself and Talat on the constitutional shape of a reunified Cyprus. He categorically rejects such terms as "new partnership state" or "virgin birth" and sees the only way forward as an evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a federal state within the agreed framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality which is in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and high-level agreements of 1977 and 1979. Even though Christofias and Talat made a statement in this regard on May 23, Christofias is concerned that Talat is wavering and that he will bring it to the table again on July 1. Agreement here is crucial. This time round there must be no ambiguities over wording. On the issue of security Christofias believes that if Turkey genuinely supports a solution, it should immediately withdraw at least half of its 43 000 troops from the north as a goodwill gesture (there are 9,000 troops in the south), with the eventual goal being total demilitarization of the island. On the guarantorship currently held by Turkey, the UK, and Greece, he stressed that it was time for the motherlands to say goodbye and leave Cypriots alone to handle their own affairs without interference from chauvinistic forces. However, this view is not shared by Talat or Ankara, both of whom continue to insist that Turkey's guarantor role be maintained as an assurance of their safety. There will need to be some considerable compromises made here, but as long as Turkish Cypriots' security concerns are met Turkey should support their position and not try to impose anything. On Turkey-EU relations he reiterated his government's strong support for Turkey's full membership and said he hoped in the not too distant future Cyprus and Turkey would have good neighborly relations and be cooperating closely within the EU framework. The Cypriot government should therefore demonstrate a constructive approach vis-à-vis Turkey's negotiations and not create unnecessary obstacles. Cypriots have a great opportunity to reunite their island -another such opportunity may never come along again. They should be given total support to bring about a solution, and nobody should stand in their way.
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24.06.2008
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16 TODAY’S ZAMAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008
LEISURE
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Gregorian Calendar: 25 June 2008 C.E. Hijri Calendar: 21 Jumada al-Thani 1429 A.H. Hebrew Calendar: 22 Sivan 5768 calendar@todayszaman.com
ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11:30 13:15 14:45 18:00 21:15 Fri/Sat: 24:30 Suadiye Movieplex: 11:00 12:30 14:00 15:30 17:00 19:00 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:30 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 11:00 12:30 13:45 15:15 16:30 19:15 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ÝZMÝR: Cinebonus Konak Pier: 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 12:15 15:15 18:15 21:15 Fri/Sat: 24:00
APARTMENT 1303
ÝSTANBUL: Bakýrköy Cinebonus Capacity: 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:15 19:15 21:15 Fri/Sat: 23:15 Caddebostan AFM: 12:00 14:15 16:30 18:45 21:00 Fri/Sat: 23:15 ANKARA: Cinebonus Bilkent: 11:00 12:45 15:00 17:15 19:30 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:15
UNTRACEABLE
ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30 Fri/Sat: 24:15 Kadýköy Cinebonus Nautilus: 11:45 14:15 16:45 19:15 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:15 ANKARA: Cinebonus Panora: 12:30 14:50 17:10 19:30 21:50 Fri/Sat: 24:10 ÝZMÝR: Cinebonus Konak Pier: 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30 Fri/Sat: 24:00
BUDDHA COLLAPSED OUT OF SHAME
ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 13:30 15:30 17:30 19:30 21:30
MADE IN EUROPE
ÝSTANBUL: Altunizade Capitol Spectrum: 11:15 13:30 15:40 17:45 19:50 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ANKARA: Metropol: 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:15 19:15 21:15 ÝZMÝR: AFM Bornova Park: 11:45 14:00 16:15 18:30 21:10
Crossword
$2 mln for my lýfe? They were jokýng, says seller It seemed unbelievable when bids to buy a heartbroken man’s life in Australia reached A$2.2 million ($2.1 million) -and it was, with the bemused seller aware his life was only worth a quarter of that amount. Ian Usher, 44, announced in March he was auctioning his life on eBay with the package including his A$420,000 three-bedroom house in Perth, Western Australia, a trial for his job at a rug store, his car, motorbike, clothes and even friends. His decision to sell his life followed the break-up of his five-year marriage and 12-year relationship with Laura with whom he had built the house. Usher, originally from County Durham in Britain before moving to Perth in 2001, said he hoped to raise up to A$500,000 to fund a new life but on the first day of the week-long auction, bids skyrocketed to A$2.2 million. But Usher knew his life was not worth that and was quick to realize there was a glitch in the system with auction Web site eBay allowing offers from non-registered bidders which took a day to sort out. “Apologies to all, but I guess there are a lot of bored idiots out there,” Usher said in a statement emailed to Reuters that was to be posted on his Web site www.alife4sale.com. “Anyway after a long day on the computer, I have decided to pull all bids back as far as the first registered bidder, and the price is back to A$155,000 as I write this ... we are back in the land of common sense and reality, so it’s over to you.”
After 21 bids the amount had risen to A$245,100. A spokeswoman for eBay, Sian Kennedy, said Usher had to verify all the bidders before the auction to check they were genuine buyers and he could delete any he believed were hoaxes. She said this was his responsibility as the bids were not binding. Usher’s life has come under the real estate section on eBay as his house is the main asset in the sale. “The real estate category on eBay is a non-binding section because of the real estate laws in Australia. You need a special license to sell real estate,” said Kennedy. “You need to get in contact with him and he has to verify you are a genuine bidder before you can bid. If he doesn’t think you are genuine he can remove your bid.” Kennedy said Usher is not the first person to put his life up for sale but could be the first to offer it in this package. Australian philosophy student Nicael Holt, 24, offered his life to the highest bidder last year in a protest about mass consumerism. American John Freyer started All My Life For Sale (www.allmylifeforsale.com) in 2001 and sold everything he owned on eBay, later visiting the people who bought his things. Adam Burtle, a 20-year-old US university student, offered his soul for sale on eBay in 2001, with bidding hitting $400 before eBay called it off, saying there had to be something tangible to sell. Burtle later admitted he was a bored geek. Usher’s auction closes at noon on June 29. Canberra Reuters
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ÝSTANBUL: Niþantaþý Citylife: 11:45 14:15 16:45 19:15 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:15 Caddebostan AFM: 11:20 13:40 16:00 18:20 21:00 Fri/Sat: 23:20 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 11:00 13:00 15:15 17:30 18:45 19:45 21:00 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ÝZMÝR: Cinebonus Konak Pier: 11:00 13:30 16:00 18:30 21:00 Fri/Sat: 23:30 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 11:45 14:15 16:45 19:15 21:45
E2 08:00 The Rachael Ray Show 09:00 The Martha Stewart Show 10:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:00 Desperate Housewives 12:00 The Rachael Ray Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 The O.C. 16:00 The Rachael Ray Show 17:00 The Martha Stewart Show 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 The O.C. 20:00 Desperate Housewives 21:00 Footballers’ Wives 22:15 The Sopranos 23:00 Late Night With Conan O’Brien 24:00 South Park 00:30 The Sopranos 01:30 Celebrity Poker 02:30 Footballers’ Wives 03:30 South Park
1975. By the end of World War II, while many European nations were granting independence to their colonies, Portugal maintained that Mozambique and other Portuguese possessions were overseas provinces of the mother country and emigration to the colonies soared. Calls for Mozambican independence developed only in the 1960s and several anti-colonial political groups formed the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), which initiated an armed campaign against Portuguese colonial rule. This pro-Soviet communist group didn’t gather enough support from the public and Mozambican independence came only after a socialist-inspired military coup in Portugal overthrew the dictatorship in 1974 and Portugal affirmed its intention to grant independence to its remaining colonies. By Kerim Balcý
Cnbc-e 18:10 Two And A Half Men 18:50 Scrubs 19:30 How I Met Your Mother 20:00 Chuck 21:00 Dexter 22:00 Funny Games 24:00 Las Vegas 01:00 Dexter 02:00 Funny Games 04:00 Scrubs 04:30 How I Met Your Mother 05:00 Chuck
Hallmark 07:30 The Hollywood Mom’s Mystery 09:15 McLeod’s Daughters 10:00 Sea People 11:45 Spoils of War 13:30 The Hollywood Mom’s Mystery 15:15 McLeod’s Daughters 16:15 Sea People 18:00 Spoils of War 20:00 Trouble in Paradise 21:30 The Poseidon Adventure 23:15 Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer 01:00 Trouble in Paradise 02:30 The Poseidon Adventure 04:15 Tidal Wave: No Escape
Comedymax Ian Usher is auctioning his life on eBay with the package including his house, job, car, motorbike, clothes and even friends.
Cem Kýzýltuð
Mr. DýploMAT!
c.kiziltug@todayszaman.com 503
‘Made in Europe’
MADE OF HONOR
Croatia and rebel Serbs, with the support of Serbia proper. The war ended with a Croatian victory in 1995. Today is Fatherland Liberation War Day in North Korea. On this day the Korean War started in 1950. The war was and is still perceived in North Korea as a war of defense against US imperialism. Turkey joined the war as an ally of the US and sent four brigades to the front. The successful defense of Kunuri by the Turkish brigade was venerated all over the world and is still regarded as a lesson in defense strategy. A total of 741 Turkish soldiers were killed in the Korean War, 2,147 were wounded, 234 were taken as POW and 175 were MIA. Today is Independence Day in Mozambique. The Portuguese established trading ports on the Mozambique coasts as early as 1500 and ruled the country up until
Today is National Statehood Day in Slovenia. Slovenia declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991 after the 10-Day War. Slovenia joined NATO on March 29, 2004 and the European Union on May 1, 2004. Slovenia held the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2008. Today is Statehood Day in Croatia. On this day in 1991, the Republic of Croatia declared independence together with Slovenia. But while Slovenia’s independence was welcomed by the former Yugoslavian republics, the Serbs opposed Croatia’s independence. The ensuing civil war proved to be a long and bloody war originally between the Croatian government and the Yugoslav People’s Army and then mutated into a conflict between independent
08:00 Samantha Who 08:30 Frasier 09:00 For Your Love 09:30 Everybody Hates Chris 10:00 Two Guys and A Girl 10:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 11:00 What I Like About You 12:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos 12:30 Third Rock From the Sun 13:00 Still Standing 13:30 American Dad 14:00 Samantha Who 14:30 Frasier 15:00 For Your Love 15:30 Everybody Hates Chris 16:00 Two Guys and A Girl 16:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:00 What I Like About You 18:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos 18:30 Third Rock From the Sun 19:00 Still Standing 19:30 American Dad 20:00 Samantha Who 20:30 Frasier 21:00 Two Guys and A Girl 21:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 22:00 What I Like About You 23:00 Entourage 23:30 American Dad 00:00 Samantha Who
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Sudoku EASY
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00:00 Identification and Programming 00:25 Music 07:25 Identification and Programming 07:30 Music 08:30 News (English, French, German) 08:40 Live Broadcast (English, German, Russian) 10:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian) 10:45 Live Broadcast (English, German, Russian) 12:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian) 12.45 Live Broadcast (English, German, Russian) 15:00 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian) 15:15 Live Broadcast (English, German, Russian) 18:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian) 18:45 Live Broadcast (English, French) 21:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian) 21:45 Live Broadcast (English, Greek) 23:58 Identification
Broadcast Areas: 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:
travelers’ s.o.s
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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
Ambulance: 112 Fire: 110 171 Police: 155 156 Maritime: 158 Unknown numbers: 118 Turkish Airlines: 444 0 849, U.S. Embassy: 0312 455 5555 U.S. Consulate: 0212 2513602-3-4 Russian Embassy: 0312 439 2122 Russian Consulate: 0212 244 1693-2610 British Embassy: 0312 455 3344 British Consulate: 0212 293 7540 German Embassy. 0312 455 5100 German Consulate: 0212 334 61 00 French Embassy: 0312 455 4545 French Consulate: 0212 292 4810-11 Indian Embassy: 0312 438 2195 Pakistani Embassy: 0312 427 1410 Austrian Embassy: 0312 419 0431-33 Austrian Consulate: 0212 262 9315 Belgian Embassy: 0312 446 8247 Belgian Consulate: 0212 243 3300 Egyptian Embassy: 0312 426 1026 Egyptian Consulate: 0212 263 6038 Israeli Embassy: 0312 446 3605
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T17-25-06-08.qxd
24.06.2008
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CONTINUATION
TODAY’S ZAMAN 17
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
of all accusations if the crimes mentioned in the accusations are not committed during this period. "This is the ratification of the acquittal decision by the highest authority. Gülen was already given the chance to benefit from a pardon, but he chose to stand trial and be punished if found guilty, or acquitted of all charges," he said. Columnist and intellectual Ali Bulaç commented to Today's Zaman that the decision, apart from serving domestic tranquility and social peace, would also boost Turkey's image in the international arena: "Gülen is one of Turkey's international values. He has been promoting Turkey's image all over the world. He is helping Turkey join in the process of globalization as an active subject and not as an object that is shaped. This man should not have been victimized. This court case was damaging the public conscience, and now the wrong has been corrected," he said. Claiming that yesterday was a historic day for both the Gülen movement and for Turkey's legal system, Hüseyin Gülerce, an associate of Gülen and a frequent commentator on the court case, said the decision would boost the movement's dialogue and conciliatory activities. "These people were engaged in dialogue, they were introducing their educational activities worldwide, but they had this burden of the court case. They knew very well that Gülen was in no way guilty of the allegations, but their addressees didn't know that. From now on the movement will be able to promote the values of peace, dialogue and coexistence more freely and with a new energy," he commented to Today's Zaman. Gülerce also suggested Turkey utilize this opportunity to re-launch the dialogue activities halted due to the unfortunate Feb. 28 process, referring to the 1997 decision of the National Security Council to exterminate all religiously motivated movements deemed a threat to the secular regime's future. "I am sure Gülen is going to re-invite those people who accepted his invitation to come together around the same table and speak about their
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contýnued from page 1 "These charges should not have been filed in the first place. We know very well that Mr. Gülen had no activities meriting this court case," he said. The Ankara 11th Criminal Court's May 5, 2006 acquittal decision was contested at the Supreme Court of Appeals Ninth Penal Department, and the court decided unanimously on March 5, 2008 to uphold the decision. Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçýnkaya then decided to bring the case before the Supreme Court of Appeals Penal General Committee, the highest legal authority on criminal issues. The committee decided yesterday to reject the prosecutor's suggestion to allow Gülen to benefit from the statute of limitations instead of being cleared of all allegations. The committee decision means no charges against Gülen may be filed on the same grounds unless the prosecutor claims the crimes have been repeated. Gülen was accused of "establishing an illegal organization in order to change the secular structure of the state and found a state based on religious rules." The case was filed on Aug. 31, 2000 in accordance with Anti-Terrorism Law, No. 3713. Yesterday's decision cleared Gülen not only of these accusations but also rejected Yalçýnkaya's suggestion that the case should have initially been filed under Article 313 of the Turkish Criminal Law, which deals with accusations of establishing organizations in order to perpetrate crimes. Gülen attorney Abdulkadir Aksoy told Today's Zaman that yesterday's decision tacitly implied that Article 313 would also not be applicable in any potential future cases. Aksoy said the committee decision was neither a decision to allow Gülen to benefit from a law on pardons passed Dec. 22, 2000, nor a decision based on the statute of limitations. In Turkey the pardon -which came to be known in the Turkish public as the Rahþan Pardon, after Rahþan Ecevit, the wife of the late Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit -- facilitates a five-year delay of a trial and cancellation
ARDA YAVUZ
Supreme Court of Appeals clears Gülen of all allegations
similarities and leave aside the differences. This is what Turkey needs now. The future of our democracy is bound to reconciliation," he said. He also recalled Gülen's 1994 speech during a GYV opening ceremony, wherein he said democracy was a one-way street with no return. Gülen has also recently mentioned a form of democracy with a "spiritual dimension," a democracy that provides for people's needs related to the hereafter. "This has yet to be discussed," said Gülerce, adding, "This decision may be a window of opportunity to start such a discussion."
Though accepting the relation between the Feb. 28 process and the baseless accusations against Gülen, Bulaç does not think yesterday's decision can be interpreted as a symbolic end to the process. "There are still things to be done. Certainly, this decision will better the image of the judiciary in Turkey and increase the trustworthiness of the judges, but we still have a closure case [pending against] Turkey's governing party," he noted. Tokak agrees that the decision will refresh the judiciary's credibility: "We all need the rule of law and the effective functioning of the legal system," he said. Though also saying respect for the judiciary will be boosted as a result of this decision, Gülerce is not so optimistic about sworn critics of Gülen. "Certain circles will continue to say what they have been saying for 10 years. They will continue their intention-reading exercises," he said. Recalling the results of "The World's Top 20 Public Intellectuals" poll carried out by magazines Foreign Policy and Prospect, Gülerce complained that these "circles" were not happy to see a Turkish citizen top of the list. "They started to make up explanations for the votes Gülen received. They will do the same to the Supreme Court of Appeals decision," he said. Gülen was voted the world's top living public intellectual in an Internet poll, the results of which were declared by Foreign Policy this week. Initial remarks about the Supreme Court of Appeals decision yesterday revolved around the question of whether Gülen would be returning to Turkey from his 10-year stay in the US state of Pennsylvania. Asked about Gülen's plans, Tokak said Gülen's decision was unrelated to the Penal General Committee decision. "Gülen was already cleared off all accusations by the Ankara 11th Criminal Court. He had no legal limitations preventing him from returning to Turkey. Up until now, he has decided to stay there according to his own considerations and the advice of his doctors. I think his future decision will be based on the same factors," he said.
Turkish hearts beat for national team contýnued from page 1 “The coach decides who will play in which position and I am sure he'll make the right decisions,” Semih said. “He is doing a great job under these circumstances. When it comes to tactics and motivation, he's the best coach I've ever worked with.” Turkey will be without goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, defender Emre Aþýk and midfielders Tuncay Þanlý and Arda Turan, who are banned for their country's first European Championship semifinal but would be available again if Turkey reaches the final. UEFA organizers on Monday rejected the Turkish Soccer Federation's (TFF) appeal to lift Volkan’s two-match ban. Volkan was suspended after being sent off for pushing striker Jan Koller to the ground near the end of his team’s 3-2 victory over Czech Republic in the group stage and missed Turkey's quarterfinal victory over Croatia on Friday night. UEFA's appeals body also upheld the fine of $42,100 imposed on the federation for crowd disturbances and improper conduct of the team and officials. Injured Galatasaray defender Emre Güngör (calf) and Villarreal’s central striker Nihat Kahveci (thigh) have been ruled out for the rest of the tournament, while Galatasaray defender Servet Çetin (hip and knee), Lariss midfielder Tümer Metin (groin) and Newcastle United midfielder Emre Belözoglu (groin) are all still highly doubtful for today’s game. Emre was back in training Monday, but only managed some light exercise apart from the team. "We have to deal with it, but we are still not afraid of any opponent," Beþiktaþ defender Gökhan Zan said. "Of course, the Germans are the favorites because they always do better and better when a tournament advances. We must rely on the same courageous football that has brought us this far," according to a report by AP correspondent Nesha Starcevic. Turkish hearts will be racing as their national team faces the Germans this evening. One thing is certain, though: By reaching the semifinal, Turkey has already achieved its bestever result in the European Championship. Despite the injury and suspension troubles, the never-saydie Turks remain optimistic they can still make the final. But sportsmanship should prevail no matter who wins. “Our first goal was reaching the quarterfinals. But now we've come this far, the semifinals are not enough. We want more,” Gökhan said. It is going to be a clash of old friends and so sportsmanship should prevail between the winner and the loser.
Probable teams Germany (4-5-1): 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich; 17-Per Mertesacker; 21-Christoph Metzelder; 16-Philipp Lahm; 7Bastian Schweinsteiger; 6-Simon Rolfes; 13-Michael Ballack; 15-Thomas Hitzlsperger; 20-Lukas Podolski; Miroslav Klose. Turkey (4-4-2): 1-Rüþtü Reçber; 22-Hamit Altýntop; 16-Uður Boral; 4-Gökhan Zan; 3-Hakan Balta; 20-Sabri Sarýoðlu; 10Gökdeniz Karadeniz; 6-Mehmet Topal; 7-Mehmet Aurelio; 18-Kazým Kazým; 9-Semih Þentürk. Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
Live on atv and LÝG TV 21.45: Germany vs. Turkey
Yalçýnkaya argues for DTP closure
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Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçýnkaya on Tuesday told the judges of Turkey's highest court that the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) should be shut down. The prosecutor delivered his verbal argument in a closure case against the DTP in which he accused the party of ethnic separatism. "The DTP is engaging in activities against the fundamental principles of the Constitution and the integrity of the state," Yalçýnkaya said. "The party should be closed as it has been sup-
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Super-sub striker Semih set to take center stage
porting -- and has even been controlled by -- terrorism," he added. The court will hear the party's defense on Sept. 16. Yalçýnkaya last year lodged a formal application to the Constitutional Court to close the DTP on the grounds that it had become a "focus of activities aimed at damaging the independence of the state and the indivisible integrity of its territory and nation" after the party called for Kurdish autonomy in the Southeast. The votes of at least seven of the 11 judges of the court are necessary to shut down the DTP. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
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contýnued from page 1 “I don't think I play badly when I start a game, it's just that I score goals as a substitute,” he said on Monday. “Of course every player wants to be in the starting XI and I always prepare myself to start.” Nicknamed “Young Semih” after coming through the Fenerbahçe youth ranks and often being a substitute, he was top scorer in the domestic Turkcell league last season with 17 goals. However, he said the strike against Croatia, which followed goalkeeper Rüstü Reçber's punt into the box, put all his previous goals in perspective. “Maybe I will never forget the Croatia goal for the rest of my life. I thought we were going out but then our coach Fatih Terim told us to hit long balls. It was like a miracle for me,” he said. Semih's cheeky smile and boyish good looks hide a sensitive side, especially when it comes to Terim. Ýstanbul/Basel Today’s Zaman
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T18-25-06-08.qxd
24.06.2008
15:14
Page 1
18 TODAY’S ZAMAN
W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 0 8
TODAY’S LEARNING TIME
QUOTE OF THE DAY
elementary READING
The number thirteen No one really knows why people in so many countries do not like the number 13. Perhaps one reason is that when people began to count,
they used eight fingers and two hands. This made twelve. They could not count higher than this. Some Christians say that is not
lucky because there were 13 people at a meal the day before Jesus was killed. In an old story about the old Greek gods, 12 gods were invited to a meal but one more came. This made 13 gods. The story says that this is why the god Balder, who was at the meal was killed.
OSMAN TURHAN
Many people believe that number 13 is not a lucky number; this is why many hotels do not have a 13th floor. The floors go from 12 to 14, and there is no number 13. Some people will never sit at a table with 12 other people. They will tell someone to go or ask another person to sit with them at their table.
Part 1: Comprehension
ILLUSTRATIONS
Answer the questions 1.Why do many hotels not have a 13th floor? __________ 2.How many people sitting at a table is unlucky? __________ 3.What did people use to count with? _______________ 4.What happened to the god Balder? ___________________ 5.Is the number 13 unlucky in your country? _____________
Part 2: Vocabulary
Activity: A PERSON or A THING?
1.Grocer
2.Printer
3.Saucer
4.Passenger
5.Cooker
Look at the words in bold and choose if it is a person or a thing. Circle the correct answer.
a.person
a.person
a.person
a.person
a.person
b.thing
b.thing
b.thing
b.thing
b.thing
Find the correct words in the story to complete these sentences. a.I'm going to stay in a ……… for my holiday. b.We have eight ...................…. on our hands. c.I won a holiday. I'm a very ………….. person. d.The baby tried to climb up on to the …………..
ýntermedýate "Come on, move it," Sally beat impatiently on the steering wheel of her sports car. It is stupid to get caught up in the rush hour! She had planned to leave work early, at three o'clock, to give herself a chance to have some rest and take a bath before leaving for an important meeting at the social club. Yet, just at ten to three a client had showed up and two hours later she had finally finished dealing with the man. Now she was stuck in a traffic jam at 5:30, and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting. There would be no time for a hot bath. Ahead of her, the traffic was moving at last, and she swung quickly out into the centre lane to turn right, and raced the last half-mile through the quiet suburban streets to her house. Pulling up on the driveway, she leapt out of the car and ran for the house. As she opened the door, she nearly tripped over Peta, who was standing beside it. "Hey, Peta, hello," she said, bending down to stroke the large Alsatian dog's head, "I've got no time for you now, but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from the club." It was then that she noticed something worrying about the dog. Peta seemed to be coughing or choking, her stomach pumping repeatedly as if she was trying to throw up and
Activity: Vocabulary Practice Match the words with their definitions given below. 1.hold ____ 2.unalienable ____ 3.endowed ____ 4.pursue ____ 5.created ____ 6.truth ____ 7.liberty ____ 8.self-evident ____ 9.right ____ 10.declaration ____ a.to follow; to chase b.given; provided c.clear, obvious
READING
Good dog she could hardly breathe; her sad eyes gazed up at Sally helplessly. Sally bent down to take a closer look at Peta. On closer examination, the dog did look very sick, and Sally realised she would have to take her down to the vet urgently. When she got to the vet's surgery, Dr. Locke had not left yet and when he saw the state of Peta, he brought her quickly into his office. "It looks something is stuck in her throat, it shouldn't take me too long to get it out" said the doctor. "Please, doctor, I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting - can I leave her with you, and go and get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, is that OK?" "Sure, you get going" said the doctor. "I'll see you in ten minutes" Sally rushed back to her car and made the quick trip to her house. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring. "This is Dr. Locke," said an anxious voice. "Is that you, Sally?" "Of course it's me," said Sally,
without need of proof. d.untransferrable; cannot be given to another person e.freedom f.a power of privilege that a person has by law or tradition g.to believe, consider h.something that is true i.made; fabricated; constructed j.a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
"no-one else lives here." "I want you to get right out of that house immediately," said the doctor's voice. "I'm coming round right away, and the police will be there any time now." The phone went dead. Sally was both confused and frightened by the obvious fear in the voice of the doctor. She replaced the receiver and ran into the street quickly. At that moment a police car stopped screeching outside the house with its lights flashing. Two policemen got out and briefly made sure that it was Sally, the owner of the house and ran into the house through the still open door. Sally was by now totally confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived. "What's this all about? Why are the police in my house?" shouted Sally. Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white-faced figure, a man, who could hardly walk, with blood all over him. "My God" said Sally, "How did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?" "He must be a burglar," said the doctor. "I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Peta's throat, it turned out to be a man's ring and glove. I don't think he's a very happy burglar."
Part 2: Vocabulary
1.client ____
a.immediately
Match the words from numbers 1-5 with their similar meanings from letters a-e.
2.urgently ____
b.hurry
3.rush ____
c.extract
4.anxious ____
d.concerned
5.remove ____
e.customer
Circle the best answer. 1.Where did Sally work? a.an advertising agency b.a vet's surgery c.a social club d.the text does not say 2.Why was she angry at the beginning of the story? a.She was lost. b.She had lost a client at work. c.She was stuck in a traffic jam. d.Her dog was sick. 3.Why did she take the dog to the vet's surgery? a.It was time for Peta's check up. b.The dog couldn't breathe properly. c.She wanted to get her out of the house. d.The doctor had asked to see her. 4.Why did she leave Peta at the surgery and drive home again? a.She wanted to catch a burglar. b.The dog was too sick to come home. c.The doctor wanted to keep her. d.Sally wanted to change her clothes. 5.How long did it take Joanne to drive home from the surgery? a.two minutes b.ten minutes c.an hour d.the text does not say 6.What happened as she arrived home for the second time? a.The police arrived. b.The phone rang. c.The dog died. d.A burglar was just escaping. 7.Why did the doctor tell her to get out of the house? a.There was a dangerous dog in there b.It was on fire c.He knew there was a burglar inside d.He wanted to meet her outside 8.Why did the burglar look very sick? a.The police had caught him b.He had caught a disease from the dog c.He hadn't found any valuable thing to steal d.The dog had bitten off his fingers 9.What was stuck in Peta's throat? a.a tenis ball b.a bone c.a stick d.human fingers 10.He wasn't a happy burglar because... a.he was caught b.he couldn't steal anything c.he had lost three of his fingers d.all above
Phrasal Verbs:
Specialized Vocabulary
COUNT ON meaning: When you count on somebody, you rely on them to help or support you. example: Ask Mary. You can always count on her to know the latest information.
Idiom of the Day Wolf in sheep’s clothing MEANING: a person who pretends to be good but really is bad EXAMPLE: Be careful of that man. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
advanced READING
Dealing with divorce One of the most traumatic periods of life that any person can go through is divorce. Regardless of who is at fault, it saps both the husband and wife mentally, physically and financially. The presence of children only exacerbates the situation. After all the legal proceedings have been finalized, most people need a lengthy period to recuperate. Some adults, however, feel the need to find a new partner immediately because of loneliness, insecurity or money reasons. Kyle is a policeman who is recently divorced with one grown child. Kelly and Kyle had been married for 24 years prior to breaking up. Due to the rigors of his job, Kyle feels isolated when he returns to his forlorn apartment at night. He wants to get back on the dating scene, but he doesn't know how. A friend says to try an internet dating service. The internet wasn't even born when Kyle and Kelly exchanged vows, so Kyle has no idea where to begin. Fortunately, many of his fellow officers are single, and can offer him advice on how to get started with his profile for a dating service. Here is what they told Kyle:
Be completely upfront on your profile. Kyle has an advantage in that he has learned a lot about himself during the divorce, and what he wants in a partner. Write what you have, and what you want and hate in a potential partner. Make sure you have clarity in your profile. Make sure you emphasize that you may not be looking for a serious relationship at this particular point in time. Make sure to highlight when you may be interested in a serious commitment in your profile. Your children don't need to know about your dating activity. Date for a few months, and then introduce your partner to your children. It's important to see long-term potential before integrating another person into your family. Don't use most of your profile talking about your children. Bring up activities that you enjoy doing with them, and that's enough. Including a photo of your children is fine; don't forget the internet attracts predators. Keep your profile updated, humorous and positive. Enjoy what you are doing. It's okay to look back on your past relationships, but leave the negativity out.
Vocabulary Exercise
a.money c.simplicities 6.forlorn _____ a.dirty b.small 7.upfront _____ a.ahead c.honest 8.clarity _____ a.clearness c.confusion 9.integrate _____ a.remove c.merge 10.predator _____ a.intellectual c.charity
Part 1: Comprehension Questions;
VOCABULARY Fashion: Designer (noun) is a person with a desire to create. They combine practical knowledge with artistic ability to turn abstract ideas into formal designs for the merchandise we buy, the clothes we wear. The actress demands that she only wear designer clothes everyday. Entertainment: Box office (noun) the office of a theater, stadium, or the like, at which tickets are sold. The film was a huge hit at the box office. Publishing: Epilogue (noun) is the additional text at the end of the book, that provides readers with additional information on the subject. Every great book needs an epilogue to tell us what happened to its featured characters down the road. Technology: JPEG (noun) is an efficient method for storing graphic files for transmission across phone lines. Lydia could not see the photos her friend sent her in an email because she had a problem opening the JPEG. Architecture: Elevator (noun)is a transport device used to move goods or people vertically, from one floor to another. Asli took the elevator to the tenth floor of the building.
“No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happy.” Herbert Spencer
DO AWAY WITH meaning: When an organizations or people do away with something, they get rid of it. example: The death penalty has been done away with in many countries.
Fill in the blanks with the correct letters. 1.traumatic _____ a.enjoyable b.funny c.relaxing d.stressful 2.to sap _____ a.to drain b.to improve c.to be an advantage d.to fill 3.to exacerbate _____ a.to make worse b.to make better c.to create d.to erase 4.to recuperate _____ a.to die b.to fade away c.to regain one's health d.to become more and more ill 5.rigors _____
Activity: Practice, Practice, Practice! Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 1.I don't know why you are not interested in the job offer. If I got an offer like that, I would ______ at the opportunity. a.nibble b.jump c.work 2.She never stops trying to annoy me. She is always trying to ______ at me. a.hail b.get c.guess
b.difficulties d.education c.lonely d.well-lit b.complicated d.timely b.complexity d.wordiness b.borrow d.adopt b.vulture d.reader
3.He couldn't have been very hungry. He just ______ at his food. a.nibbled b.got c.scored 4.I don't know for sure why they have done that but I could ______ the reason. a.know b.guess c.get 5.We did very well last year but even so I think we should ______ at doing better this year. a.aim b.guess c.work
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER KEY:
ELEMENTARY: (Part 1) 1.T 2.F 3.T 4.F (Part 2) 1.c 2.d 3.e 4.f (Activity) 1.list 2.case 3.book 4.juice 5.party 6.window 7.shoes 8.holidays 9.map 10.machine INTERMEDIATE: (Part 1) 1.T 2.F 3.T 4.F 5.F 6.F 7.T 8.T 9.T 10.F (Part 2) 1.c 2.d 3.a 4.c 5.b ADVANCED: (Reading) 1.d 2.a 3.b 4.c 5.d 6.b 7.a 8.a 9.d 10.c (Activity) 1.well mannered 2.mood 3.refrain 4.impolite 5.choice 6.silly 7.poisonous 8.assembly 9.infantile 10.cultivate
Slang: SNAIL MAIL meaning: Letters sent through the post office; mail that is carried, as opposed to e-mail. example: It can take a week to send a letter by snail mail. Confusing Words In English: FEMALE VS FEMININE Female is a noun the sex of a woman or animal For example: The female of the species is very aggressive. Feminine is an adjective describing a quality or type of behaviour that is considered typical for a woman. For example: He's an excellent boss with a feminine intuition.
In cooperation with English Time
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T19-25-06-08.qxd
24.06.2008
19:42
Page 1
SPORTS
Hiddink tells Russians to enjoy themselves Coach Guus Hiddink said Russia's success at Euro 2008 had surprised him and told his players to enjoy themselves in their semifinal against Spain because whatever the result it would make them better players. Hiddink's men tactically outwitted Netherlands 3-1 in their quarterfinal, to set up a second meeting in the tournament with Spain. Basel, Reuters
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008
TENNIS
Defending women's champion Venus Williams overcame a shaky start to reach the Wimbledon second round with a 7-6, 6-1 victory over British wildcard Naomi Cavaday on Tuesday. The American was given a tougher than expected workout on Center Court by the Englishwoman, worldranked 197, who matched the seventh seed stroke for stroke in the opening set before wilting in the second. “She played a great match, put a lot of pace on the ball and made me make some errors,” Williams said as she left the court. She next faces Anna Keothavong, the highest-ranked British woman who beat Vania King of the US 4-6, 6-2, 63. Meanwhile, Sania Mirza battled through the pain barrier to reach the second round of Wimbledon with a scrappy 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 win over Colombia's Catalina Castano. In men’s play, last year's semifinalist Richard Gasquet comfortably moved into the second round, beating American Mardy Fish 6-3, 64, 6-2. He next faces compatriot and former semifinalist Sebastien Grosjean, who overcame Italian Potito Starace 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. London Reuters
AP
‘Today there will be no losers, only winners’ PHOTO
Defending champ Venus Williams safely through
Turkish fans cheer as they wait in front of a giant screen at the fan zone in downtown Vienna last Friday, prior to the quarterfinal match against Croatia.
The Germany versus Turkey match today may not appear to be a local derby, but in a way that is exactly what today's Euro 2008 semifinal in Basel resembles. Around 7 million foreign citizens live in Germany, and over 2 million of them are Turkish. In the 1960s the booming West German economy produced a labor shortage, prompting a stream of Turkish arrivals. In reverse, 4 million German tourists flock to Turkish beaches annually. Ties are strong between the two countries, but the relationship has not always been easy between communities, as is often the case with mass immigration. Things have changed for the better though in recent years. Third and fourth-generation Turkish-Germans have founded successful companies in their new home country, creating jobs and making an important contribution to the gross national product. Integration is now strong. Soccer has also played its part in bringing together the two cultures. Turkey squad members Hamit Altýntop and Hakan Balta were born in Germany, with hundreds of thousands of others of similar extraction playing at all levels. This has led the Turkish Soccer Association to open an office in Germany, scouting heavily for future Altýntops and Baltas, something which bore fruit in the 2005 UEFA European Under-17 Championship when Ludenscheid-born Nuri Þahin was the inspiration for Turkey's triumph. Others of Turkish de-
scent, such as Mehmet Scholl, have represented Germany while the German Sepp Pontiek played a crucial role in Turkey's international rise when he was national coach, assisted by one Fatih Terim. In 2006, when Turkey failed to reach the FIFA World Cup finals, many Turkish-Germans started openly supporting the hosts for the first time, flying combined flags from their cars, homes and businesses. At the ongoing Euro 2008, they have been spoilt for choice. "I talked to my friend in Berlin and she told me that the Turkish celebrations in the streets were indescribable. It will be a very special soccer party on Wednesday [today]," said Germany defender Arne Friedrich after Turkey's quarterfinal win. His sentiment has been shared by Turkish callers to German radio. "This will be the game of the century for us," stated one. About half a million people are expected to flock to the Fan Mile in Berlin on Wednesday night for the match. "It couldn't have been better for Berlin than these two teams meeting," said Fan Mile spokesman Michael Wirtz. Kenan Kolat, chairman of the Association of Turkish Communities in Germany added: "We are already in the final. By this, I mean Germany and Turkey. My car flies both flags. Germany is the fatherland, Turkey the motherland. Both are in our hearts and this is a positive way of showing it," according to a report on uefa.com. Ýstanbul/Basel Today’s Zaman
ATHLETICS
Officials: Justin Gatlin can’t run internationally
REUTERS
Ex-Fener coach Loew to use experýence wýth Turks agaýnst them
MOTOR RACING
Formula One teams face hike in entry fees Formula One's governing body has proposed raising the teams' 2009 entry fee to 740,000 euros ($1.15 million) each from the current 300,000 to pay for services and equipment. The proposal, revealed in an advance dossier seen by Reuters, will be put to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) world motor sport council at a meeting in Paris on Wednesday. If approved, the governing body will then discuss the measures with the 10 teams. The move comes after drivers expressed anger last week about the dramatic hike in the cost of their competition licenses, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton having to pay 228,000 euros instead of 1,725 in 2007. However the additional cost to the teams comes in the context of continuing negotiations with commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and CVC Capital Partners for a new Concorde Agreement controlling the sport and setting out the future division of revenues. Media reports last week suggested that FIA President Max Mosley, who will be present at today's meeting with Ecclestone, will push for the teams to receive a far greater share of the money. London Reuters
SOCCER
Nasri yet to finalize move to Arsenal, agent says Samir Nasri's agent has denied claims made by the Olympique Marseille midfielder that he has agreed a four-year deal with English Premier League side Arsenal. “Discussions are continuing between the two clubs and the player,” Jean-Pierre Bernes was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the Web site of sports daily L'Equipe (www.lequipe.fr). “Nothing has been finalized, no element of the transfer has been finalised and everybody is still talking. It is premature to announce anything at all,” he added. On Monday, France international Nasri announced on his personal Web site that he had signed a fouryear contract with Arsenal for a fee of 16.8 million euros ($26.09 million). “We inform you that Samir will no longer be an Olympique Marseille player next season and that he has signed a four-year contract with London club Arsenal,” said a statement on www.samirnasri.fr. Paris Reuters
Gül, Erdoðan, Merkel to take trip to Basel The Turks will have their most prominent supporters on hand for this evening’s Euro 2008 semifinal against Germany. President Abdullah Gül’s office has said the Turkish president will attend the match in Basel, Switzerland. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, an ardent soccer fan, will also be there, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel, an ever-present fan during Germany's run to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup, has appeared at only one Euro 2008 match so far -- the 1-0 win over Austria that assured the team a quarterfinal place. Still, she took time out from a European Union summit on Thursday to catch a little of Germany's 3-2 win over Portugal. Ýstanbul/Basel Today’s Zaman
PHOTO
While US sports officials must abide by an American court ruling allowing Justin Gatlin to race at the US Olympic trials, world bodies made it clear the banned 100-meter Olympic champion is not eligible to participate in either the Games or other international events. “He will not be allowed to run in any international competition during the period of his suspension,” International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) spokesman Nick Davies told Reuters on Tuesday. Davies's comments in an email from IAAF headquarters in Monaco echoed a similar statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “Pursuant to the sanction that was imposed upon Mr. Gatlin as a consequence of an anti-doping violation, Mr. Gatlin is not eligible to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,” the IOC said in a letter to the US Olympic Committee (USOC) as Gatlin fought the terms of his doping ban in a US court. Eugene, Oregon Reuters
Turkey gives fans route to Euro 2008 final
Coach Joachim Loew (3L) stands in front of the players during a training session of the German national soccer team during the Euro 2008 in Tenero. When Germany coach Joachim Loew speaks about the passion, the perseverance and the unpredictability of the Turkish team, he is speaking from personal experience. Loew coached in Turkey and he thinks this experience could help him and his German team in today's Basel battle. One of the things Loew has warned his players about is the passion in Turkey's game. After staging three amazing comebacks to reach the semifinals, even an injury-ravaged Turkey will be confident heading into the game, Loew said. “All teams in the semifinals have a certain class. I know Turkish players and the conditions there from my own experience,” Loew said. “They become euphoric, especially if things are going their way. They have national pride, very high morale and they play until the end, the very last minute. It will be very hard. “I'll warn my players that Turks believe until the end that they can win the game.” Not that Loew's players should need reminding after watching Turkey equalize against
Croatia with the last kick of the quarterfinal game. Having gone behind in the 119th minute, Turkey still went on to win the penalty shootout. “They never give up,” Lowe said. “They always believe they can turn it around. Some people did not expect them to come back but they have incredible morale,” according to an AP report. Loew said Turkey in a way was a more difficult team than highly favored Portugal, which Germany beat 3-2 in the quarterfinal. “The Portuguese were easier to figure out. The Turks are more creative and don't stick to their positions so much,” Loew said. “We'll need to summon up all our resources.” Loew coached Fenerbahçe during the 199899 season and also had a brief stint at Adanaspor, He has nothing but praise for the country, especially the “hospitality and the humanity” of the people. “It was my third coaching season and I learned a lot in Turkey,” Loew said. “I benefited enormously. They identify with a club and now with the national team incredibly.” Loew said one of his jobs ahead of the game is to keep his team's feet on the ground
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after the rousing performance against Portugal. “We will not underestimate Turkey but we will work on our strengths,” he said. Unlike Turkey, which has huge injury and suspension problems, Germany's preparations have gone smoothly. Loew will be back in the dugout after serving a one-match ban in the stands, and unlike Turkey coach Fatih Terim he has a full complement of fit players. With Torsten Frings injured for the quarterfinal against Portugal, Loew took the bold decision to play a new 4-5-1 system with Simon Rolfes and Thomas Hitzlsperger as holding midfielders and Michael Ballack free to get forward as much as he could. “I've always considered 4-4-2 my favorite formation but we did well with 4-5-1 against Portugal,” Loew said at a news conference on Monday. “We just have to find the right way to unlock the Turkish defense. No matter what formation we play, it's important we get our running patterns and movement off the ball right. If we do that, the question of the formation is secondary.” Ýstanbul/Basel Today’s Zaman
Despite possibly missing as many as nine regulars when it takes on Germany in the European Championship semifinals this evening, Turkey has already plotted its route to the final. The Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) has published Turkey's Euro 2008 road map on its official Web site -- up to and including Sunday's final at Ernst Happel Stadium. The schedule contains all the team's travel and training times, even for the days after the Germany game on Thursday, and ends with the time and date of the final, listing Turkey to play an unnamed opponent. Turkey, which scored late goals to win its last three matches after dropping behind, has proven before in the tournament that it never loses its self-confidence. Ýstanbul/Basel Today’s Zaman
Podolski spark lighting up Germany again Lukas Podolski has put two frustrating years behind him to lead Germany to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 and prove his best young player award at the last World Cup was a promise of more to come. Podolski, a center-forward by trade, lost his place in the team to Mario Gomez before the tournament but has reinvented himself as a midfielder to great effect, scoring three times and playing a key role in the quarter-final win over Portugal. “The last two years have not been easy,” Podolski said in the buildup to today's semifinal against Turkey. “I didn't get too many games at Bayern Munich but I resolved to train as hard as possible, to claw my way back into the national team. Now I want to reach the final.” Dropping him would now be unthinkable for coach Joachim Loew, but for a long time it looked as though the 23-year-old would have to scrap it out for a place on the bench. Basel Reuters
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Baby crocs start chatting before they hatch Baby crocodiles start chatting to one another and to their mothers just before they hatch, perhaps signaling that it is time to be born, French researchers reported. The little crocs make an "umph! umph! umph!" sound right before they hatch, Amelie Vergne and Nicolas Mathevon of Universite Jean Monnet in Saint-Etienne, France reported. Washington, Reuters WWW.TODAYSZAMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008
Fast patient turnover spreads germs in hospitals AP PHOTO
Overcrowded hospitals that try to cope with growing patient loads by churning them through more quickly may be helping the spread of drug-resistant germs, Australian researchers reported on Monday. As populations grow, and as people live longer lives, this problem will only worsen, Dr. Michael Whitby of Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and colleagues reported. "The drive toward greater efficiency by reducing the number of hospital beds and increasing patient throughput has led to highly stressed health-care systems with unwelcome side-effects," they wrote in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. Hospitals filled to capacity are more likely to have outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other infections, they said in a review of several studies on the issue. Many studies have shown that doctors, nurses and other health care workers do not wash their hands as well and as frequently as recommended, and this problem worsens during times of understaffing and high workload, they said. Overcrowded hospitals also struggle to isolate patients with MRSA and other dangerous infections. The study noted for example that in Australia, the number of public hospital beds per person fell by 40 percent between 1982 and 2000, while 14 percent more patients were treated. Other developed countries such as Britain, the United States and Canada have similar trends, they said. Hospitals often cope by treating patients in a single day instead of admitting them as inpatients. Washington Reuters
Experts: Quýck dýagnoses of drug-resýstant TB crucýal
Francisco Ngano lies in the arms of his mother Cecilia in the Trinity Hospital in Sanje district, Malawi. The child has recurrent battles with pneumonia and tuberculosis, officials at the hospital said.
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Countries with huge caseloads of tuberculosis are finding it hard to cope because they do not have the laboratories to make speedy diagnoses that are essential to save lives. Speaking at an infectious disease conference in Kuala Lumpur, TB specialists spoke about how it could take up to five months for patients to get test results and often the patients would be dead by then. This was especially true for patients with drug-resistant forms of TB and immune systems that were seriously compromised by other diseases, such as AIDS. Drug-resistant TB is more difficult to treat and patients can die without stronger, secondline drugs. "We have treatments that are moderately effective and that are available at affordable prices, but the bottleneck is diagnosing the cases and getting them the right treatment," said David Moore, an infectious disease expert at Peru's Cayetano University. Not only has Peru a substantial caseload of TB. In some parts of the country, up to 6 percent of TB cases are drug-resistant forms. These need to be tested in more sophisticated laboratories, which are in short supply. "Very few countries in the world have labs to test for resistance and there aren't resources
to get samples into labs and results out of labs (in Peru)," Moore said, adding that samples spent most of the time sitting in refrigerators waiting to get transported here and there. Such delays can be fatal. "Delayed diagnoses mean they (patients) transmit more to other people and 60 percent of your patients are dead by the time the MDR-TB (multi-drugresistant TB) results are back," he said.
Treating the wrong type Roxana Rustomjee, director of the Medical Research Council's TB Unit in Durban, South Africa, said faster diagnoses were urgently needed in Africa, where the most severe form of TB, extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), is increasingly seen. Up to 99 percent of patients with XDR-TB die even before they get test results, she told the conference. "They die of TB because you are treating the wrong (less severe) type of TB," she explained. In places with advance healthcare systems, such as Hong Kong, it takes 2 weeks to diagnose drug-resistant TB. Globally, there were 489,139 cases of MDRTB in 2006, and 72.4 percent of these were in Asia. Together, China and India accounted for half of all the cases. South Africa has 6,000 new MDR-TB cases each year. Kuala Lumpur Reuters