www.todayszaman.com - June 30, 2008

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Peter Gabriel unleashes ‘Big Blue Ball,’ the long-simmering world music project he launched in 1991

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US escalating covert operations against Iran, according to The New Yorker magazine reporter Hersh

Yo u r Wa y o f U n d e r s t a n d ý n g T u r k e y

page11 Mugabe declared winner of widely condemned Zimbabwe poll TURKEY TO PRESS BUTTON ON $10 BILLION IN PRIVATIZATIONS NEXT MONTH

Turkey eyes $10 bln from sales acted to open tenders for the privatization of Milli Piyango was recently approved by a parliamentary subcommittee, while the bill on highway privatization is still pending in Parliament. Kilci stated the privatization processes for Milli Piyango and highways would be launched one week after the relevant bills are published in the Official Gazette. The government expects to gain $5 billion in revenue from the privatization of the lottery and sugar factories and another $5 billion from highway privatization.

"The operating rights for Milli Piyango will most probably be transferred to private enterprises for 10 years. Twenty percent of Milli Piyango's proceeds are transferred directly to the operating enterprise.

After the privatization process, 3 percent of these proceeds will be transferred to the Milli Piyango Administration and the remaining 17 percent will be transferred to the company that becomes the preferred bidder in the privatization process. However the whole of this 17 percent is not profit; it includes operating costs as well. Milli Piyango's proceeds in 2007 were around YTL1.5 billion. Seventeen percent of this sum is equal to YTL 255 million. If we take the fact that the Milli Piyango operating rights will be transferred to bidder enterprises for 10 years into consideration, we can conclude that these companies will compete during the privatization process for revenue of YTL 2.5 billion for 10 years," stated Kilci.

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The privatization processes for the Turkish national lottery (Milli Piyango), the country's highways and sugar processing plants are expected to begin in July, however Halkbank's privatization has been suspended, says the head of the Privatization Administration (ÖÝB). ÖÝB President Metin Kilci, in an interview with Anka news agency, said the ÖÝB was waiting for the relevant bills to pass in Parliament for the launch of the privatization processes for Milli Piyango and highways.

Milli Piyango's privatization -- a process long seen as stagnant after deferral due to early elections and a subsequent presidential vote last year - was postponed from May until June. The bill en-

CHP, Socialist International on brink of breakup

Turkey's domestic problems should not be an excuse for not engaging with the Cyprus peace process -- especially at a time when Greek Cypriots are moving toward supporting a compromise solution to the Cyprus problem, according to Hugh Pope, a senior analyst based in Ýstanbul for the International Crisis Group (ICG), an independent conflict resolution and prevention organization.

"I do believe that something just might happen.

I am not cynical and do believe that the two sides can change as long as everyone realizes that they can't just stand by and watch in the old bored manner -- the situation today is fundamentally different from before 2004 because of Cyprus' EU membership and has high costs all round if there is failure," said Pope, the principal author of the second Cyprus policy report for the ICG this year. CONTINUED ON PAGE 06

Turkey aims high as global economic turbulence continues ÝBRAHÝM TÜRKMEN, ÝSTANBUL The State Planning Organization (DPT) has prepared a comprehensive projection to establish challenging goals regarding the basic pillars of the national economy for the coming three years, even as major players in the global economy take a more conservative stance in the face of a possible recession.

The fourth middle-term program, covering the period between 2009 and 2011, was accepted by the Cabinet and published in the Saturday edition of the Official Gazette.

The main goal of the plan, the DPT explained, was to put forward a plan to increase the living standards of the individuals in accordance with the vision of a Turkey "growing in stability, distributing income more fairly, being competitive on the global scale, transforming into an information society and having completed the harmonization process for EU membership." CONTINUED ON PAGE 07

Frustrated by what appears to be an imminent wave of criticism of his party's conduct, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has decided to boycott a meeting of the world's socialist and labor parties that begins today in Athens. CHP leader Deniz Baykal, nonetheless, yesterday participated in a local Mulberry Festival in Ayaþ, a town in Ankara province.

Last week, a member of the Socialist Party (PS) of France, Alain Chenal, told Today's Zaman that that the Socialist International (SI) Ethics Committee might suggest a common position to all SI members regarding Turkey's SI member the CHP. Back in the summer of 2007, the SI Council had launched a monitoring process into the CHP over its commitment to the principles of democracy. CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

‘Political deadlock no excuse for Cyprus peace delay'

He also noted the ÖÝB would require enterprises to compete in Milli Piyango's privatization to fulfill a series of prerequisites. "Bidding companies will have to pledge that they will have the technical proficiency to exploit Milli Piyango. We need to take bidder companies' technical proficiency into consideration for Milli Piyango's effective exploitation.

We can't expect the companies to have the required technical proficiency at the moment, but they have to pledge that they will have it in a certain period of time," remarked Kilci. Kilci also said Turkey planned to privatize its highways and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Ýstanbul, transferring their operating rights to private enterprises for 25 years. CONTINUED ON PAGE 08

Foreign Trade Minister Tüzmen (R) met Iraqi Trade Minister Abdulfalah al-Sudani at Baghdad's Al Mansour Hotel, outside the city’s Green Zone.

Tüzmen prepares ground for fruýtful outcome from Erdoðan’s výsýt The state minister for foreign trade, accompanied by a group of businessmen and Turkey's special envoy to Iraq, arrived yesterday in the Iraqi capital for talks with senior officials in preparation for a landmark official visit expected to be paid to Baghdad by the Turkish premier.

State Minister for Foreign Trade Kürþad Tüzmen and the accompanying delegation, guarded by a 50-strong team of Turkish special forces

members, headed for Baghdad's Al Mansour Hotel, where the minister delivered opening remarks at the inauguration of the Turkish-Iraqi Business Forum held at the hotel outside of the Green Zone in Baghdad. The forum became the first major gathering held by a foreign country out of the Green Zone in the city. Tüzmen also had separate meetings with the Iraqi oil minister, planning minister and trade minister at the hotel.

The Green Zone (International Zone) is the heavily guarded diplomatic/government area of closed-off streets in central Baghdad where US occupation authorities live and work. Turks working for Turkish companies in Iraq also attended the forum.

The Turkish delegation's visit represented the largest contingent of all visits from Turkey to Baghdad since the US-led invasion of the country in 2003, Tüzmen noted in his speech at the forum. CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

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Thousands raise voice against coups with new movement The Common Sense Movement, a platform bringing together civil societies, opinion leaders, journalists, academics, writers and politicians from different segments of society, held its first meeting opposing coup attempts and anti-democratic practices in Turkey in the eastern province of Malatya on Saturday. Tens of thousands gathered to advocate democracy, rule of law and national sovereignty at the meeting, planned in cooperation with NGOs including the Young Civilians, the Association of Turkish Voluntary Enterprises (TGTV), the Civil Servants' Trade Union (MemurSen), the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-Ýþ) and the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER). CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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02 TODAY’S ZAMAN

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F OOD FOR THOUGHT

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Q UOTE OF THE DAY

I know firsthand how good she (Hillary Clinton) is, how tough she is, how passionate she is, how committed she is.

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama

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W ORDS OF WISDOM

Today the Australian nation says thank you to you, the men and women of the Australian Defense Force, for your service in Iraq.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample underfoot.

Atatürk and Gülen test HAMDULLAH ÖZTÜRK, ZAMAN Foreign Policy magazine ran a poll of 100 living intellectuals, asking who the most important of today were. The poll's results showed that Fethullah Gülen was "out in the lead." This emphasis is because groups in Turkey that attach much importance to polls fail to accept their results and come up with justifications such as arguing that "his fans hijacked the poll." Arguments put forth by these groups, apparently bothered by Gülen's rank, reminded me of another poll conducted some 10 years ago. This poll was conducted in a similar setting, i.e., in the US and by Time magazine. The magazine had run a poll to select the statesmen of the century. The Turkish daily Hürriyet had launched a campaign to ensure that Atatürk, too, is included in the poll and urged its readers to "vote for Atatürk." Let us consider if Time had not nominated Atatürk or Hürriyet had not launch a campaign to support Atatürk, would Atatürk have been humiliated?

Horace Greeley

press roundup

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Dýffýcult týmes for the CHP The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is going through tough times because of irregularities in the party's accounts, as confirmed by the Constitutional Court last Friday. An investigation was launched into the CHP accounts after a scandal broke out over an illegal money transfer from the party to television station Kanaltürk. The top court said the irregularities in the party's accounts in 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2006 totaled YTL 930,000 and criminal complaints would be filed against those responsible for keeping the party's records. Also complicating the CHP's situation are the prospects of a decision to be issued by the Socialist International (SI), which will today convene in Athens for its 23rd congress, on whether to issue a warning or even expel the CHP from the institution for severing ties with social democracy. The CHP has drawn the ire of many social democrats with its disregard of the nation's will on many occasions and its enthusiasm for military meddling in politics.

Zaman's Mustafa Ünal terms the situation a twist of fate for the CHP -- which had raised the loudest fuss over the Welfare Party's (RP) "missing trillion" case concerning the disappearance of more than 1 trillion lira in Treasury grants to the RP -- to now be accused itself on the same charge. "The allegations are really serious; undoubtedly, it will have political consequences for the CHP. The RP case is obvious. The now-defunct RP paid a heavy cost in the lost trillion case. RP leader Necmettin Erbakan is under house arrest over this case, despite his old age. There are striking similarities between the CHP and RP cases," he says, adding that not only the CHP administrators but also CHP leader Deniz Baykal may face charges due to the account irregularities. Regarding the prospect of the CHP's expulsion from the SI, he finds SI concerns about the CHP's social democrat credentials valid.

"The most striking characteristic of the left-wing ideology in the world is its quest for settlement of values such as democracy, freedom and human rights. Yet the situation is different in Turkey. The ideological, protectionist politics of the CHP, the largest party of the Turkish left wing, stand opposed to democracy and freedoms and deal harm not only to the left wing but also to Turkey. If only Baykal would go to Athens and listened to the SI criticism. Perhaps then both the CHP and Turkey would be saved from a calamity," contends Ünal.

Sabah's Ergun Babahan likens the CHP to a frog in one of La Fontaine's tales that exploded while trying to become a cow.

"The CHP is like this frog at the point it has reached today. It is a Kemalist party but assumes itself to be a social democrat one," he says, stressing that the CHP does not settle its party policy on the labor-capital relation but on a secularism-Shariah relation, prioritizing Kemalist order instead of democracy. "In such a case, although the party's name is the Republican People's Party, it has to speak up for the bureaucracy not the public," claims Babahan. As a result of this, he says, the CHP always lacks a strong public support and never becomes a true alternative to the ruling party. "The SI will tell the frog, 'You are a frog and your efforts to become a cow will not change this fact.' The real identity of a party that defines itself a social democrat will be revealed along with the world it belongs to," says Babahan, also expressing his belief that the path to SI membership for a more deserving Turkish party may be paved in this way.

PRESS REVIEW

ÖNDER DELÝGÖZ

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What was discussed at PACE? ESER KARAKAÞ, STAR On June 26 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) discussed a pending closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). At the end of the meeting, 71 members cast their votes, with 65 voting "yes" for the text that condemns the closure case and three members abstaining. Those three people who did not support the text were members of our opposition parties, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In my opinion, we must at this point discuss two important issues: The first is our opposition parties' tradition of casting their votes with a pro-statist stance on the international arena. Second, politicians are obliged to advocate politics, their raison d'être. We have already witnessed that political parties which had boycotted politics and Parliament in connection with last year's presidential election suffered a defeat in the following general elections.

Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Ice Hockey Team, whose players are all children who were working on the street, has become the champion by beating 12 other teams in the ice hockey tournament held June 18-22 in Ankara.

yeni þafak: Change in the CHP toward fascism, read the daily's headline yesterday, arguing that the Turkish left wing has begun to perceive the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) as a fascist and pro-coup political party. The CHP, which supports the judiciary's intervention in politics, is afraid of receiving a warning from Socialist International (SI), which will convene in Athens on Monday. German social democrats in the SI demanded the CHP's expulsion from the SI on the grounds that it has become a fascist party. CHP leader Deniz Baykal was still undecided on whether to participate in the SI meeting as of Sunday, reported the daily.

star:

Jurists told the daily that the irregularities in the CHP's accounts, as announced by the top court last Friday, were very similar to the lost trillion case of the Welfare Party (RP), a case concerning the disappearance of more than TL 1 trillion in Treasury grants to the RP; hence, they said, CHP leader Deniz Baykal should be tried like RP leader Necmettin Erbakan, who is currently under house arrest. Associate Professor Adnan Küçük told the daily: "The party leaders

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A rough struggle is taking place within the proKurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), between its "radical" and "democratic" groups. For the first time, the DTP's moderate groups are determined not to step back. It is rumored that if the DTP's radicals fail to "nominate a candidate who will embrace all groups," Ahmet Türk will run for the leadership of the party, ignoring "the organization [the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)]." It is expected that a compromise can be found and this expectation and the determination of the moderate groups have caused serious concern in the radical camp. Referring to the moderate group, some DTP members suggest that they are unable to control them. They plan to end this division at least until the party congress. Kurdish politics, particular in the DTP domain, are passing through a critical process. The DTP will either reform itself and open up new political horizons or continue to offer a lack of a solution, as has been the case so far.

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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, who inaugurated a medical facility in Ýstanbul on Saturday, complained about the doctors, read one of the front-page stories in the daily yesterday. Stressing the importance that his government gives to the healthcare sector, he was quoted by the daily as saying: "This is not only our business but also doctors'. When we see something negative about the healthcare system, we feel great pity.

Doctors who took an oath to serve for the people should feel more pity in such cases. Money is not everything," referring to certain doctors who refuse to treat patients on the grounds that they cannot afford treatment expenses.

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Will hawks or doves win in the DTP?

symbolize the party's integrity. If Erbakan had been tried and punished for the lost trillion case, Baykal should be tried as well." Another associate professor, Mustafa Þentop, commented: "In the RP's lost trillion case, there wasn't a signature from Erbakan; however, the court said it was impossible for a party leader not to be aware of the party's transactions. So, Baykal should be included in the CHP's case."

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NATIONAL

TODAY’S ZAMAN 03

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ÝSTANBUL ANKARA ÝZMÝR ANTALYA ADANA ERZURUM EDÝRNE TRABZON KAYSERÝ

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Slow-motýon coup agaýnst Turkýsh democracy

Mt. Nemrut restoration continues with plans for visitor center

BÜLENT KENEÞ b.kenes@todayszaman.com

TODAY’S ZAMAN

Ancient statues on Mount Nemrut

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In an ongoing project that began last year to preserve the artifacts on Mount Nemrut, known for its huge statuary, the next steps will be to landscape the area, build a visitor’s center and restore the statues. The Nemrut ruins are located near the Karadut village of Kahta district in the southeast of Turkey, 66 kilometers from Adýyaman. At an altitude of 2,206 meters, the Commagene-era figures and constructions are known variously as the “eighth wonder of the world” and “the throne of the gods.”

Associate Professor Þahin Güçhan, a lecturer at the architecture department of Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), told the Anatolia news agency that under the Commagene and Nemrut Preservation and Development Program -- established under an agreement between ODTÜ and the Culture and Tourism Ministry -- they will continue to work until 2010 on promoting and restoring the Nemrut ruins, included on the World Heritage List by the UNESCO. He noted that their priority is to rearrange the area surrounding the Nemrut ruins and repair the cracks on the statues and other artifacts. “We have prepared a preliminary project for the landscaping work and our project was approved. The ministry will open a tender for the implementation of the projects,” he said.

Güçhan explained that they will see to it that the work is carried out with extreme care in order not to cause any damage to the ruins. “It is our goal to make the Nemrut ruins a place where visitors can stroll amongst the statues comfortably and without causing any damage to them. To ensure that this happens internationally recognized standards should be taken into consideration,” he said. He stated that as part of the project, they will build a visitor’s center. “This center will be a modern building with a large hall where visitors can rest as well as a theater hall and three rooms for permanent exhibitions.

Souvenirs will be sold at the center, and documents will

be available concerning the Nemrut ruins. Tourists will first arrive at this center, where they can park their cars, and will be taken to the ruins by minibuses.

Güçhan explained that in addition to official security officers, area guides will work to ensure security in the ruins and to prevent visitors from damaging statues and other items. “These guides will be selected from the local people and they will guide tourists through the ruins. No one will be allowed to enter the ruins area without being accompanied by a guide. This is what was suggested in the long-term development plan. This will ensure that the artifacts are not damaged by visitors,” he said.

Refuting claims that the statues on Mount Nemrut face more threat of damage than other historical sites in Turkey, he said they had compared photos of the ruins taken 100 years ago with current photos: “It is true that

the ruins have suffered damage. But we cannot say that they are being damaged at a faster rate than other historical sites.” Güçhan also commented about the renovation work to be undertaken during the project. “We will be in Adýyaman on July 23 and will work until Aug. 10.

We will inspect the programs in place to preserve the statues and other remnants, and we will conduct experiments to find the most effective mixture for repairing the cracks on the statues. We will use this mixture in the renovation work next year,” he remarked.

“Also, the Mount Nemrut Scientific Consultation Board will meet at the Nemrut ruins on July 29-30. The board members will work with us to decide on the experiments to be conducted for finding an effective repair mixture as well as other actions that need to be taken to preserve the site,” he noted. Gaziantep Today’s Zaman

Edirne ready to host 647th oil wrestling championship The 647th Edirne Kýrkpýnar Oil Wrestling and Cultural Activities week starts today and will feature concerts, tournaments and folk dance shows in addition to the famous oil wrestling.

Edirne Governor Mustafa Büyük, Edirne Deputy Mayor Namýk Kemal Döleneken, Kýrkpýnar Aða Mehmet Çadýl (last year’s victor) and visitors will be present at the opening ceremony. The crowd will gather at the statue of Atatürk in Edirne and recite the national anthem, officially starting the week of activities.

The oil wrestling championship will be held in Edirne’s Kýrkpýnar district on July 4-7. Following opening speeches, the recitation of the national anthem and the Kýrkpýnar anthem, the Greek Serez Band will perform a concert in Sarayiçi, where the championship will take place.

Set to conclude on July 6, the 647th Kýrkpýnar champion, the Kýrkpýnar aða, will be determined.

The Kýrkpýnar oil wrestling championship is the oldest wrestling festival in the world and has been held continuously since 1357 in Rumelia, the part of the Ottoman Empire that lay in Europe. Wrestlers wear tight, short, leather pants called “kýspet.” Made of water buffalo leather, they weigh approximately 13 kilograms. The wrestlers cover their bodies with olive oil before the bouts begin. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman with wires

CM Y K

Turkey has recently been the scene of the greatest struggle of its modern history. It will be revealed at the end of this struggle whether Turkey remains a so-called democracy in a way peculiar to itself or turns into a democracy meeting universal standards. This fierce fight between the old elite and the new elite means a breaking point for Turkey: Either our wounded, useless and fake democracy, ever under the guardianship of the military, will be eliminated as well, or we will become a full democracy.

The new Anatolian bourgeoisie that has become integrated with the world through globalization now wants to break free from Kemalist impositions that should already be a thing of the past. An overwhelming majority of Turkish people want the Turkish Republic to be a genuine republic and democracy to be full democracy. They expect national sovereignty to be the sole grounds of legitimacy, and they don’t agree with the military or bureaucracy’s attempts to cast a shadow over this sovereignty. The Turkish nation now wants to have individual rights and freedoms that meet universal standards and desires to save this democracy from the guardianship of the military/bureaucracy.

The struggle of Turkey, which is undergoing a great transformation, can also be described as a struggle between the old elite and the new elite; the center and the periphery; the Kemalist neo-nationalists and liberal/conservative democrats; and fascism and democracy. It is also possible to view this struggle as one between the old bourgeoisie used to feeding on the state-centered protectionist economy and the Anatolian capital that derives its power from competition.

While the reformist new elite that represents 80 percent of the people is struggling for a full democracy and a real market economy, the old elite that represents 20 percent of the people and doesn’t want to lose its privileges stemming from the status quo is waging a fierce resistance with all its might.

While the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) derives its power from the ascendant new elite and the middle class that has been rising in Anatolia, the main supporters of the status quo comprise the old bourgeoisie of Ýstanbul, the military, bureaucracy and those whose interests lie in continuity of the status quo. Despite 80 percent of the population’s demand for change, the old elite, which is still very influential within the system, is resisting with all its strength for continuation of the status quo.

This resistance appears to be directed and controlled by the same center. Some military documents published last week by liberal daily Taraf raise doubts that it is the Turkish military that has been masterminding and manipulating this resistance. The documents exposed by Taraf contain plans on making the higher education institutions, the media, some so-called civil society organizations and the judiciary adopt stances similar to that of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

The things we have experienced since the presidential crisis in 2007 demonstrate that the methods envisaged in the document in question have been in use for a long time. During the one year we have left behind -- and we can call this process a slow-motion coup -- we have seen that the army, by issuing a military memorandum; retired generals, by staging protests with the so-called civil society organizations they control; the Higher Education Board (YÖK), by becoming a source of resistance against the liberal policies of the government; and the media, by being a medium for the psychological war methods that make an impression that it is being control by the same center, have all fulfilled their mission successfully.

When these proved to be insufficient to get rid of the AK Party, which has started pushing the Kemalist-elitist structure, the last trump card -- the judiciary -- has been made

a part of the play. According to the results of a survey conducted by think tank the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), 56 percent of Turkish judges think that individual rights and law come second when it’s the interests of the state in question. However judicial bodies serve to protect rights and freedoms from the state all around the world. But in Turkey, it is the judiciary’s most sacred duty to perpetuate the influence of the appointed bureaucracy and the military over the system.

With most of the rulings made recently by the high judiciary being quite far from being lawful, the judiciary itself is serving an ideological understanding in the same line with the pro-establishment Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Kemalist-Jacobin-fascist style. We have been observing that the high judiciary has been fulfilling the mission devised for it by making a ruling during the presidential elections last year that paralyzed Parliament, by annulling the constitutional amendment that constitutionally secured the right to receiving education in universities with any sort of clothing, and by filing a closure lawsuit against the AK Party based on ludicrous and unsubstantiated proofs.

Today, we are faced with a judiciary in Turkey that is trying to close down a ruling party that won 47 percent of the vote in an election held not even a year ago. It is certain that this will negatively impact Turkey’s economic growth as well as the future of its politics. The AK Party, which strongly defends democracy, liberal economy and the human rights and freedoms, is at the same time the only party that represents the national integrity. While the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), with its policies based on the Kurdish ethnic identity, failed to get satisfactory results in the mainly Kurdish eastern and southeastern Anatolia provinces, the parties outside the DTP and the AK Party received almost 0 percent. And we should consider the fact that the AK Party’s votes (54 percent) in the Kurdish provinces are higher than those of the DTP -- an indicator that the Kurdish population wants only democracy, not separation.

So how does the status quo react to this reality through the judiciary it controls?

Strangely enough, as of today, it has opened closure lawsuits against the two parties (the DTP and the AK Party) that managed to integrate Kurds into the democratic system.

This situation constitutes a great danger for the country’s integrity and nation’s unity in addition to short-term political rifts, because it leaves no other alternative to our politicized Kurdish citizen but to “go to the mountain” to protect their cultural and political rights. A country couldn’t have done a greater damage to its unity and integrity by means of its own judiciary.

Operating in the same line of thought with the CHP by trampling the law, the high judiciary is playing with fire to protect the status quo and to guard the interest of the old elite, thereby openly jeopardizing the country’s integrity and the nation’s unity. Even this is enough to reveal what this Kemalist elite is ready to sacrifice in order to win the struggle it has been waging in the name of neo-nationalism. And this makes everybody with common sense in Turkey have serious misgivings.

So what do the military and the CHP-backed neo-nationalists defend? Anti-Americanism, anti-Europeanism, anti-democracy, anti-globalization, anti-privatization and opposition to foreign capital. What they desire is a statist, closed regime like the one in North Korea.

We should evaluate the AK Party closure case from these perspectives and not as a simple party closure case, even though it would be like a black stain on Turkish democracy; that is, from the perspective of whether the Turkish democracy will continue to develop or will be shelved, causing Turkey to turn into a closed regime like North Korea…

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04 TODAY’S ZAMAN

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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim took refuge at the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday after police began investigating an allegation that he sodomized his male aide.

Anwar, 60, dismissed the accusation, made in a police complaint filed by the 23-year-old aide on Saturday, as "a complete fabrication." The sodomy allegation is "clearly a desperate attempt by the ... regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people toward freedom, democracy and justice," Anwar said in a written statement early Sunday.

Hours later, he had moved to the Turkish Embassy amid concerns about being arrested and also because he had received anonymous death threats, said party official Azmin Ali. "The [Turkish] ambassador agreed to ensure his safety," Azmin said. Embassy officials could not immediately be contacted. In Ankara, Foreign Ministry officials were also unable to comment on the situation immediately.

"He is there for protection but he is not seeking political asylum," Tian Chua, the spokesman for Anwar's political party, said by telephone.

"We just want to make sure that he is secure."

The dramatic developments that began to unfold

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Malaysian opposition leader takes refuge in Turkish Embassy

Police and supporters of Anwar Ibrahim are seen outside the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Ibrahim took refuge at the embassy due to fears he could be assassinated. a little before midnight Saturday will likely further roil Malaysian politics, which have been in turmoil since March 8 elections handed the governing National Front coalition its worst-ever result.

A three-party opposition coalition led by Anwar made spectacular gains, winning an unprecedented

82 seats in the 222-member Parliament and the legislatures of five states. Anwar has threatened to engineer defections from the National Front to bring down the government by September.

Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail, said her husband was "safe and sound" for now, but de-

scribed the sodomy accusation as an attempt at "political murder."

More than 50 supporters gathered outside the Turkish Embassy anticipating a visit by Anwar's family. Police blocked roads in the area in an apparent security precaution.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insisted the government was not responsible for the accusation, saying there was no conspiracy "to cause [Anwar] trouble or harass him or raise such issues to undermine him." Asked about Anwar's denial, Abdullah said it "was common for an accused person" to claim he was innocent.

Anwar, a charismatic politician, was once part of the ruling establishment, rising to the post of deputy prime minister and finance minister in then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government in the 1990s. But it all unraveled in 1998 when he was accused of sodomizing his driver and abusing his power to cover up the deed.

Mahathir fired him from the government and had him jailed. Anwar was subsequently convicted on both charges but Malaysia's highest court overturned the sodomy conviction and freed him in 2004. Kuala Lumpur/Ankara AP with Today's Zaman

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Tüzmen prepares ground for fruýtful outcome from Erdoðan’s výsýt "This time, we have kept this visit of the Turkish delegation narrower. Next time, we will try to come with a delegation of 400-500 businessmen, as we did prior to 2003.

You know that I do when I make promises.

I've noticed that things are gradually getting better in Iraq. It is our wish that Iraq recovers from the crisis by preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty," Tüzmen was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

"I believe that we can create a joint economic zone at the Turkish-Iraqi border. Such a zone would be a good role model to other countries. I want to remind that the foundation of the European Union was laid down at a time when Europe was going through an economic crisis," the minister also said, noting that despite negative conditions, the trade volume between Turkey and Iraq is expected to reach $20 billion by 2010.

Tüzmen said Ankara has been preparing to sign a free-trade agreement with Iraq, with which it has been planning the free movement of goods and services.

"We believe that the establishment of a joint industrial zone at the Turkish-Iraqi border will facilitate investments, especially in the energy sector. We may be able to erect refineries and power plants at the border that will meet some of Iraq's need for electricity and oil products," Tüzmen said. "We are preparing to establish a Turkish industrial zone in the Basra region. After Turkey opens a consulate general in Basra, a foreign trade delegation from Turkey will visit the Basra region to explore business opportunities," he added.

Remarks were also delivered at the forum by Iraq's Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, Electricity Minister Karim Wahid, Planning Minister Ali Baban, Finance Minister Bayan Jabr, Minister of Housing Bayan Dizayee and Minister for Water Resources Abd al-Latif Rashid.

Barzani: No planned meeting with Erdoðan Turkish officials have declined to announce a date for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan's visit

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contýnued from page 1

CHP, Socialist International on brink of breakup contýnued from page 1 A report drawn up by the committee was discussed at a meeting of the council on June 30 last year. The report, which was adopted unanimously, called on the SI to investigate "how the CHP acted when it comes to support for democracy."

Baykal, a vice president of the SI, got wind of criticism to be made public at the Athens meeting and sent his party's deputy chairman and foreign policy executive Onur Öymen to Europe to lobby influential SI members on the CHP's behalf. Öymen spoke with many influential members of the SI, including its president, Greece's main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader, George Papandreou.

However, Öymen's efforts went in vain and Baykal eventually announced yesterday morning that he will not attend. He is rumored to have been waiting for a telephone call to be initiated by Papandreou, hoping to be persuaded to participate in the conference. But all the CHP leader received was an indirect message from the Greek politician.

"As the president, I cannot recommend any political party or member to either bring or not bring a particular issue to the agenda," Papandreou was quoted as saying to Baykal in the message, sources say. Speaking to his party's senior executives upon receiving this message, Baykal accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) -- which defines itself as a conservative democrat party -along with European social democrats of lobbying against the CHP via talks with SI executives.

He suggested that the CHP has been protecting "the Turkish Republic and secularity" and said his party has done nothing wrong. "Attempts against the CHP are aimed against Turkey," Baykal said. In comments published in yesterday's Milliyet, Baykal told Milliyet Ankara Bureau Chief Fikret Bila that his party was considering a break with the SI, if need be.

"If they are in doubt that the CHP is the creator, implementer and protector of Turkey's modernization project, if they are in doubt of the CHP's social democrat character, then we can say that 'everyone should go their own way,'" Baykal told Milliyet.

The CHP is expected to discuss whether to break with the SI during a meeting of its Central Executive Board (MYK).

Pro-status quo or not

Tüzmen says he had to bring a small group of businessmen to Iraq due to security considerations, but promises a much larger delegation in his next visit. because of security considerations, but the visit is likely to take place late this week. The visit will be the latest high-level contact between Turkey and Iraq in the aftermath of a landmark visit by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Ankara in March.

Baghdad says it wants a strategic partnership with Turkey, and Ankara is willing to boost cooperation, particularly in the areas of energy and trade.

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said over the weekend that a military cooperation deal could also be signed with Iraq during Erdoðan's visit, revealing that a draft framework agreement has already been prepared by officials. Turkish troops launched an eight-day ground incursion into Iraq to eliminate the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases there in February.

Aerial strikes also continue periodically.

While in Baghdad, Erdoðan is expected to have talks with both 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, suggested last week that Erdoðan would also meet with Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the largely autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, while in Baghdad.

Barzani nevertheless denied any plans to meet with Erdoðan. Speaking to reporters in Arbil, Barzani expressed pleasure on Saturday over Erdoðan's upcoming visit to Baghdad, Anatolia reported.

"To date, we haven't had a plan to meet with

the Turkish Republic's Prime Minister Erdoðan.

But of course if this takes place, we will feel very glad. We will greet him in Iraq very warmly. But there is no such plan at this point," Barzani added.

Asked to comment on recent statements by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani over the PKK, Nechirvan Barzani said it was Massoud Barzani who personally instructed Iraqi Kurdish officials to build good ties with Turkey. "He wants a positive solution for problems.

Barzani's desire is to find a peaceful solution to problems," he said. Nechirvan Barzani also hailed a reform in the Turkish laws to allow full-day broadcasting in Kurdish on state television in Turkey. "This is how problems are resolved," he added. Ankara Today's Zaman with wires

Kurds say oil deals will stand despite opposition from Baghdad The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has said oil deals with foreign companies signed solely by representatives of the country's Kurdish north will stand, despite opposition from the Iraqi central government.

The Shiite-led government in Baghdad considers any deals signed by the Kurds illegal since the country has not yet finalized a new national oil law. But Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said the more than 20 production-sharing contracts the Kurds have signed with international oil companies since they drafted their own oil and gas law in August 2007 are "irreversible."

"Anyone who wants to put off these deals is a dreamer," said Barzani during a press conference held Saturday in Arbil. Kurdish and Iraqi government officials had talks this past week in Baghdad to try to settle their differences over a proposed new oil law but made little progress. Barzani said the two groups have agreed to set up a committee

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headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that will try to reach a final solution on the oil deals signed by the Kurds. "We are resorting to this alternative after reaching the conclusion that this dispute is political, not technical," said Barzani.

Iraqi political factions have been at loggerheads since February 2007 over the law, which would set rules for foreign investment in Iraq's oil industry and determine how oil revenues will be shared among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Major obstacles include a dispute over the rights of regional administrations to negotiate contracts with foreign oil firms and who has the final say in managing oil and gas fields.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry has threatened to blacklist companies that sign deals with the Kurds, but that has not prevented firms from working with the Kurdish administration. The Kurds announced a new package of oil deals with South Korea's state oil company on Wednesday. The Iraqi government had previously excluded the state-owned Korea

National Oil Company from taking part in bids to develop Iraq's oil and gas fields after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kurds.

Kurdish officials claim the contracts are in line with the Iraqi constitution and therefore totally legal.

"Since these contracts do not violate the constitution, no power in Baghdad can cancel them," said Barzani.

The Kurdish prime minister's comments are expected to further deepen the rift with the central government over the issue. Iraq has an estimated 115 billion barrels of oil and some 112 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, according to the government.

The Kurds, who control three northern provinces, sell the roughly 10,000 barrels of oil per day they produce to the domestic market since their region has no coastline to transport the resources.

TPAO seeking partners in Iraq Turkey, which supports Iraqi unity as a main pillar of its Iraq policy, says agreements that are

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not accepted by the Baghdad government will not be accepted as legitimate by Ankara either.

Energy is one of the most promising areas in which Turkey hopes to boost its ties with neighboring Iraq. Turkey's state-owned oil company, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), has recently been granted approval by the Baghdad government for oil exploration in Iraq. "As TPAO ... we have started talks with Shell and several other oil companies for a partnership," TPAO General Manager Mehmet Uysal told Reuters on Friday. A Shell spokesman declined to comment.

In the absence of the long-delayed national oil law, Baghdad has been negotiating shortterm technical service contracts. The deals are worth around $500 million each. Five of the deals that have been under discussion are with Royal Dutch Shell, Shell in partnership with BHP Billiton, BP, Exxon Mobil and Chevron in partnership with Total. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires

When the SI Ethics Committee report was presented at the council meeting, a member from Sweden felt the need to take the stage and underlined the fact that the report did not actually call for "an examination on the overall situation in Turkey's political life." Swedish politician and SI member Anne Ludvigsson told Today's Zaman then that rather, it called for "monitoring and investigating the CHP's stance regarding the course of affairs in Turkey's democracy and political life."

The CHP has received much criticism from SI members, who say its "nationalist rhetoric" is in violation of universal democratic standards. Ludvigsson said at the time that she was annoyed when the CHP took a supportive stance toward what appeared to be a military intervention in politics during Turkey's failed presidential election process.

The Turkish military issued a powerful statement on April 27 last year, hours after the first round of the presidential election, expressing concern over secularism debates in the context of the election and warning of intervention.

Earlier the same, day the CHP took the ballot to the Constitutional Court, which annulled it, saying in a controversial ruling that there should have been at least 367 deputies in attendance during parliamentary voting.

The CHP did not receive criticism solely from SI members; a group of human rights defenders in July addressed an open letter to the SI while launching a petition campaign to have the CHP expelled from the SI. "We, as owners of the signatures below, want to express our uneasiness over the CHP's membership in the SI. The CHP, which is provoking nationalism with its barrier to freedom of thought and expression and its manner and discourse against multiculturalism, has lost its social democrat identity and has turned into a pro-status quo, right-wing nationalist party," the letter read.

DTP to replace CHP? The Democratic Society Party (DTP), an observer member of the SI, has been supporting the body's criticism of the CHP, slamming the main opposition party's policies both inside the country and at SI meetings abroad.

Only one political party from one country can be a member of the SI; other left-wing parties can serve as observers. If the CHP is expelled from the SI, the DTP is expected to become a member of the body.

The DTP faces a closure case at home. Last year, a top court lodged a formal complaint with the Constitutional Court seeking the closure of 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. Ankara Today's Zaman

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TODAY’S ZAMAN 05

M O N D AY, J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 0 8

MAHMUT BURAK BÜRKÜK

FEHMÝ KORU f.koru@todayszaman.com

A hýdden hand

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Probability AK Party will not be closed: 51 percent

Turkey made it to the semifinals in Euro 2008 in a series of stunning comebacks, temporarily diverting the nation’s attention from the country’s ongoing political turbulence.

Two football-filled weeks The national football team’s magnificent performance in Euro 2008 has proven to be a magic wand that temporarily distracted the country from its current problems. A former Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy said: “The chief target of politics is to lead the society toward a fulfilling life. And civil society organizations struggle to that end.

However, interestingly enough, although everyone is focused on the same target, our country has been a scene of tension and combat as part of this struggle to attain a fulfilling life. Our national team has

achieved this; they made us forget our problems for two weeks and allowed us to live that life in a real sense.”

Expressing his wish for the society to take away lessons from the team’s achievement contrary to attempts of those allegedly fighting for a fulfilling life to sabotage social welfare, he said: “We have started to appreciate that these vicious debates that wear out our psychological stability will not bear any fruit. I hope that the socially comforting power of football will help greater masses grasp this reality.”

Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies are discussing a decrease in the possibility of their party being shut down. When asked what factors strengthened their optimism, most deputies cited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan’s comfortable and sound-minded attitude as the primary reason. A significant number also mentioned the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decision to relegate Turkey to the division of second-class democracies and to start monitoring it. The third factor was Prime Minister Erdoðan’s meeting with Land Forces Commander Gen. Ýlker Baþbuð.

A deputy, referring to National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s oft-repeated suggestion, said: “Bahçeli suggested that our party be cloned.

When this suggestion was not considered, he asked that Erdoðan step down because he, supposedly, knew what was going to happen. Bahçeli is clever enough not to suggest on his own things that go against political courtesy. Those able to estimate the grave consequences of closing down a party are speaking through Bahçeli. The prime minister delivered a speech that made the MHP leader regret his suggestion, thereby demonstrating his determination to carry on. However unimportant these may seem, they are details that offer us clues as to whether or not the party will be closed.”

Another AK Party deputy spoke of impressions circulated through the media. “The Taraf daily is waging a significant struggle for democracy with its liberal publication and has published very important documents, such as the road map on social engineering prepared by the military and titled ‘Lahika-1,’ which directly relates to party closure. If the ruling party is shut down, it will be tantamount to a coup to overtake the civil administration. The revelations that this coup is being staged by judges who think like soldiers, and now directly by soldiers, is a

Military admits having intelligence on fatal terrorist attack The General Staff on Saturday confirmed newspaper’s claims that the army had prior intelligence on an attack against security forces in the Southeast by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that left 13 soldiers dead, but noted that the unit in question had been duly warned.

The person who leaked the document proving the existence of prior knowledge of the PKK’s attack had been discovered and would be punished accordingly, a statement posted on the Web site of the Office of Chief of General Staff said on Saturday.

The statement also warned newspapers that it would be taking the necessary measures to protect itself in the face of what it called recent “hateful” attacks by the media. The statement was referring to reports that appeared in newspapers claiming that individuals or groups in the military had plans to manipulate public opinion against the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

In addition to the alleged secret plans to foment antigovernment public opinion, another report said the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had been warned ahead of an attack in

the southeastern city of Daðlýca on security forces that resulted in the death of 13 soldiers last October.

“A long-lasting defamation campaign conducted by certain circles against the TSK has escalated recently through print and broadcast media, including the Internet. The TSK believes it is likely that these multi-faceted and systemic attacks against it will continue in the future and it will closely monitor such developments,” the military said, in a statement posted on its Web site on Saturday.

Two weeks ago the Taraf daily printed a leaked army file documenting a comprehensive plan of action to intervene in politics and civilian life. In a report published last week based on another document leaked from within the military, the same newspaper also said the TSK had an intelligence report in advance of the Daðlýca attack by PKK terrorists. “The TSK acknowledges that it faces an orchestrated and hateful attack by certain circles. There is no doubt that the TSK will take the necessary precautions to defend itself,” the statement said. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman

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situation that will cast a long shadow on the impartiality of the judiciary.

“Can those suggesting that PACE’s decision is meant to influence the judiciary defend this document? Of course not. I think the revelation of this document is an important development that suggests the party will not be shut down. On the other hand, the militant periodical Aydýnlýk, controlled by Doðu Perinçek, currently on trial for his role in the Ergenekon terrorist organization, continues to publish articles that target Haþim Kýlýç, the president of the Constitutional Court. The current ideological balance among members of the court is known to suffice a ruling in favor of closure; so if this balance hasn’t changed, what benefit would they derive from attacking Kýlýç?”

We discussed the increasing morale within the party with a very close aide to Erdoðan. This legal aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: “I can say that the possibility of not being shut down has gone up to 51 percent. Our colleagues’ commentaries are accurate for the most part.”

The ruling will be made by the end of July. When asked what the AK Party plans to do if August arrives and the party is not shut down, the legal aide noted that the first step would be engaging in self-criticism. “We will form an atmosphere where all institutions, including the opposition, can engage in self-criticism. We will place a greater emphasis on that we are not against secularism and that we can never be against secularism. We will demonstrate that we are standing behind promises made on the balcony of the party headquarters on the evening of July 22.”

Despite the looming Constitutional Court ruling, AK Party deputies and essential staff are entering July with high spirits. Having taken measures to prevent the party’s closure, the party’s leadership also seems psychologically ready for the possibility that it may remain open.

The last time I saw Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), among his European counterparts, we were in Munich, Germany. He was attending last year’s European Security Conference and I was there to cover both the conference and his bilateral contacts. The main speaker of the conference, Vladimir Putin, made an important speech denouncing the US and its allies for causing misery and injustice in the world.

During our discussions at the hotel, I somehow thought Baykal would like to align himself with other European leaders sharing the “leftist” political philosophy he presumably embraces. I took his enthusiasm as a promise to turn himself into a politician with a mission -a mission which would make Turkey more democratic and more in line with Western values.

He even listened to my reasoning that Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), would make a good president when the time comes for Parliament to elect the new president and Erdoðan’s likely successor as prime minister, Abdullah Gül, would be a better opponent.

I was of the opinion then as I am now, since he lacked Erdoðan’s charisma, Gül could not represent a reasonable challenge to AK Party rivals.

I remember saying to Baykal that elections due to be held in a year would be won by the AK Party and no one would stop them from remaining in power for another five years. But Baykal would become prime minister after that five-year term finishes, with Gül at the helm of the country and the AK Party.

What I had in mind when I said that he would become prime minister one day was a new image of Baykal as a harbinger of democratic rights to the people.

My hope has not been realized of course. Baykal has become a harbinger of non-democratic forces and his party has taken Turkey into an uncertain future by putting pressure on the Constitutional Court.

Baykal will be remembered by his announcement that Turkey would enter a civil war if the Constitutional Court did not approve of his party’s request to convene Parliament with at least 367 deputies present in the opening of each session.

A day before the Constitutional Court’s decision, the army placed a warning on its Web site aimed at affecting the presidential election. The CHP then went so far as to defend the army’s right to meddle in politics. Baykal was the first and only politician who announced that the armed forces could be considered a civic organization.

They did all this to prevent Gül from becoming president. For his own purposes, Baykal didn’t like the idea of Erdoðan assuming the presidency and did everything in his power to stop this from happening.

When Erdoðan announced Gül as presidential candidate, Baykal turned all his attention to stopping Gül’s presidential ambitions in its tracks.

Watching him from a distance and comparing him with other Western leftist leaders as he mingled with them in Munich, I was more than surprised.

The CHP’s actions are anathema to any democraticminded person. When Parliament passed two constitutional amendments to lift a ban on wearing a headscarf at universities, the CHP went to the Constitutional Court to overturn them. The court, although it has no authority over constitutional amendments, ruled the way the CHP had asked it to. The CHP was alone in its opposition to the constitutional amendments since all the other parties, including some independents, voted for them.

The CHP is also alone in condoning the Constitutional Court’s decision to take up the AK Party’s closure case.

All these can be taken as legitimate political maneuvers of a party against its powerful rival, but how about its resistance to overhauling the Constitution which is a product of the 1980 military takeover? The CHP has fought vigorously to obliterate any efforts to that effect and has been successful in its fight.

When I heard the news that the Socialist International (SI) is considering ending all formal ties with the CHP, I didn’t feel any remorse. Rather, I felt relief on behalf of my leftist friends who have been restless lately because of the CHP’s behavior. Some even wrote letters to the SI asking it to do exactly that.

The CHP expelled from the SI would be in a better position to start soul searching and adopt new ways more in tune with European leftist standards.

I know, I know, the CHP has more trouble on the home front and would pay little attention to the decision of the SI. The Constitutional Court, which has been hand-inglove in many matters with the CHP, has found misconduct in the CHP’s financial records and decided to send the issue to a civilian court. The amount of unaccounted expenditure is in the neighborhood of YTL 1 million. The exact amount has caused some leaders of the Welfare Party (RP) to serve in prison and a former prime minister to spend his days in home arrest. Those responsible for misconduct would be sentenced to long prison terms and would be stripped of their political rights.

The CHP leadership, which has been in favor of banning politicians from politics, now sees its own political rights on the line, and when we have barely adjusted ourselves to the possibility of the AK Party’s closure, a new judicial process is in the offing which would see the end of the CHP. Never mind expulsion from the SI. Someone’s hand is involved, but whose?

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06 TODAY’S ZAMAN

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008

INTERVIEW

‘Polýtýcal deadlock no excuse for delayýng peace ýn Cyprus’ PHOTO

MUSTAFA KÝRAZLI

‘Turkey is used to crises. Turkey lives with crises. This doesn't mean Turkey can't change policy to support its interests. Despite worries about public opinion, in the past year Turkey implemented a fundamental change in its Iraq policy. … It can achieve this with Cyprus, too’

Hugh Pope A senior analyst based in Ýstanbul for the International Crisis Group (ICG), an independent conflict resolution and prevention organization, he currently covers Turkey and Cyprus. For the decade preceding 2005, he was a staff correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and reported on the broader Middle East. Born in South Africa, Pope was educated in Britain and received a B.A. in Oriental Studies (Persian and Arabic) from Oxford University in 1982. His most recent book is “Sons of the Conquerors: the Rise of the Turkic World,” an account of travels among Turkic peoples and communities from China to America. It was selected as one of London-based magazine The Economist’s “best books of the year” in 2005 and was published in Turkish under the title “Evlad-ý Fatihan: Türki Dünyanýn Yükseliþi.” He is also the co-author with his first wife Nicole of “Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey,” selected as a New York Times “notable book” in 2000 and published in Turkish as “Çýplak Türkiye: Modern Türkiye’nin Kýsa Tarihi.”

their terms. They also believed there could be no compromise from a position of weakness and so they never truly committed to negotiations. When they joined the EU -- and that was a crazy decision by the EU, to admit a divided country -- the Greek Cypriot attitude fundamentally changed. They feel secure with the EU behind them. They thought, “Turkey may have a big army, but now we have the EU.” A second change is the departure of [former Greek Cypriot leader] Tassos Papadopoulos.

People tend to forget that he ran a regime of fear and squashed any talk of compromise.

What would have happened if someone had supported the Annan plan when Papadopoulos was in office?

If you opposed Papadopoulos -- especially on the Annan plan -- you could have expected harassment in courts, vilification in the media and maybe even have your telephone bugged. If you were someone campaigning for the Annan plan, you were scared. Papadopoulos swayed public opinion. He said it was not a good plan.

But in the four years after 2004, Greek Cypriots saw that none of Papadopoulos’ promises came true. The Turkish Cypriot side was becoming slightly stronger, not weaker.

Were there economic factors?

Yes. Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, even Palestine and especially Syria used to be big friends of the Greek Cypriots. Indeed, for decades Syria was the Greek Cypriot torchbearer against Turkey in the Arab world. All this has changed. In October, Syrians even opened a ferry line to North Cyprus.

Papadopoulos couldn’t explain how the Greek Cypriots lost their position in Syria. The fact is Turkey is the biggest and the most dynamic economy in the region, so everyone is turning toward it. Cyprus is doing okay, it’s pretty rich. But its tourist industry is sagging. If Cyprus is going to be a regional center for financial services, it cannot do it without having access to Turkey. Businessmen could see that but could not advocate normalization with Turkey because of Papadopoulos, because Greek Cypriot politics are very local, everyone knows what everyone else is doing. Finally, they

saw that without compromise with Turkey, there will be no troop withdrawal or long-term security.

So putting all these reasons together, that’s why the Greek Cypriots have changed. And Turkey should really take them seriously.

Don’t you think this has come at a bad time for Turkey because the government is distracted by domestic political problems?

The political struggle in Ankara that came out in the open in April last year is not new and probably behind the scenes for much longer.

Ankara is very distracted, but Ýstanbul isn’t. Turkey is used to crises. Turkey lives with crises. This doesn’t mean Turkey can’t change policy to support its interests. Despite worries about public opinion, in the past year Turkey implemented a fundamental change in its Iraq policy. It has agreed with the United States about its fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and has also agreed to have a relationship with northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), major policy changes. Turkey can achieve this with Cyprus too.

Does Foreign Ministry support for a solution to the Cyprus problem mean that the bureaucratic elite is not against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) position on solving the Cyprus issue?

New polls are showing that most Turks do support the goal of EU membership, and I think the Foreign Ministry has a constructive position on Cyprus to support that goal. We know that the AK Party is a well-organized political party and that it is represented in the government and it has done a lot on the Cyprus issue and the EU. But don’t forget that there are other numerous groups of people in Turkey. Let’s call them proEuropean secularists who don’t necessarily like the AK Party’s conservative stance but have no political representation in Ankara right now.

None of us know how the EU-Turkey relationship is going to end up. But the process of convergence is important for both sides and most people in Turkey have seen benefits from it.

How about the military?

The Turkish military could have blocked the

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Cyprus talks, but it hasn’t. In effect, it agreed to withdraw from Cyprus under the 2004 agreement, the Annan plan. When a crossing opened on Ledra Street earlier this year, it required and got the cooperation of the military.

I don’t think the military is going to stand in the way just for the sake of standing in the way.

[Turkish Chief of General Staff] Gen. Yaþar Büyükanýt went to the island shortly after the March 21 Christofias-Talat meeting. He supported the opening of negotiations but underlined that the army needs to be convinced of the safety of Turkish Cypriots. In my opinion, solving Cyprus is much more strategically important for Turkey than having a few thousand troops on the island.

Turkey’s EU membership process has stalled in large part because of continued disputes over Cyprus. But now there is a closure case against the governing party in Turkey and EU officials have clearly indicated the membership process could be stopped if the party is closed. Don’t you think this political situation poses a bigger threat to the EU-Turkey relations than Cyprus?

It could be, we don’t know yet, nobody knows.

But we do know about Cyprus. Cyprus can be solved and it could be a trump card in saving the EU process, too. Greek Cypriots need to be given indications from Turkey that Turkey is sincere.

Turkey is sincere but they can’t see it. The same applies for Turkey, which needs to see signals from the Greek Cypriots. Talat and Christofias trust each other and seem to have things worked out already.

Their problem is not so much between each other; their problem is at home with nationalists.

As you have already indicated in the report, rising nationalism in Turkey is a worry. Do you believe that it can be overcome in the Cyprus case?

Nationalism is a problem but good leadership can solve it and institutions can also solve it. The National Security Council (MGK) had a very important meeting on April 28 and clearly indicated that they want to leave the way open for a Cyprus

PROFILE

contýnued from page 1 If talks fail, there will be real problems between Turkey and the EU because Cyprus is already using bilateral issues to block Turkey’s EU accession: “That will get worse.

Turkey will try to take revenge on the EU through NATO. Tensions will rise.”

Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias had a landmark meeting in March, ending up with an agreement to start preparatory talks to pave the way for reunification of the divided island. They are expected to meet tomorrow to review progress and hopefully set a date for direct talks.

For Monday Talk, Pope noted that the window of opportunity is small and could start to close in late 2009 as preparations begin for Turkish Cypriot parliamentary and presidential elections in February and April 2010 respectively.

Pope highlighted the change in the Greek Cypriot position from that of 2004, when they overwhelmingly rejected the so-called Annan plan -- a United Nations-mediated, European Union-approved plan for a new Cyprus federation and a Turkish troop pullout.

What changes have you recently observed in Greek Cyprus that you had not seen before?

I lived in Cyprus, on the Greek side, for a year between 1986 and 1987. One of my daughters was born there. I never used to talk about the Cyprus problem with ether side because it was too emotional. People were too wounded and too angry. I have gone back to Cyprus over the years, but nothing much seemed to change. However, in October when I went there, I met about 50 Greek Cypriots and not one of them hit me over the head with the Cyprus problem. Even the most supposedly nationalist people, after half an hour of explaining the nationalist point of view, would start asking me questions about Turkey that implied a new interest. Greek Cypriots don’t know very much about Turkey and they are usually frightened of Turkey. That was a big change and gave us a hint, when we were writing the first report in January, that there was a possibility of change and that the Greek Cypriots were reconsidering their position.

Normally, we would not do two reports one after the other on the same subject. But we think there is a real chance; that we should try and help the process and alert everyone to the fact that something is really happening here. A lot of people worry about Turkey’s relations with the European Union, but no one sees the connection with Cyprus.

What is the connection? Please elaborate.

Cyprus has always been a critical wedge between Turkey and Europe. If everyone can solve Cyprus, a lot of problems between Turkey and the EU can be solved. It’s a psychological thing and historical, too. An academic we quote in the report says Cyprus has been a “well of poison” for Turkey.

And if you look back to what happened in 1955, the riots [and destruction of the Orthodox Greek minority’s property] in Ýstanbul, they were linked to Cyprus. That was one of the deepest wounds suffered by Ýstanbul since World War II. The expulsion of Greeks in 1964 was also linked to what was happening in Cyprus. Many of the problems we are dealing with in the Greek Orthodox minority here have been linked to Cyprus. The problems that we had between the EU and Turkey in the ‘80s and ‘90s were linked to Cyprus, because Greece usually justified them on the basis of the Cyprus problem.

And today it is again Cyprus that has pushed Turkey off the EU rails. Turkey took a risk in agreeing to the Annan plan in 2004 but felt that it got no reward when the Greek Cypriots rejected it and the EU admitted Cyprus anyway. As a result, in 2005, when the EU demanded that Turkey implement the additional protocol to the customs union on Cyprus (to open its seaports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic) Turkey failed to implement it. This led to the closure of eight chapters of [Turkey’s EU accession] negotiations.

Why do you think the Greek Cypriots are more interested in a solution now than before?

I have a theory about that. From Turkey’s point of view, the Greek Cypriots looked very strong. They seemed to have all the legitimacy, with the world on their side and not on the Turkish side. But actually the Greek Cypriots were very frightened and felt insecure. They knew all these words from the outside world would never get them back what they wanted, which was a reunification on the island on

solution. They could have cut it off, but they didn’t.

You recommend that the UN secretarygeneral appoint a special advisor soon. Do you see that happening? Is there a name?

Former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is one name that has come up to be the next top UN envoy of the secretary-general for Cyprus. We don’t know whether he will be appointed yet but we need to have at least an announcement that full talks will start on Sept. 1.

Christofias and his people say they need time to get the Greek Cypriots used to the idea that there is going to be a compromise. Christofias has already broken a lot of taboos. To keep the momentum going, we need announcements in July of the date of the new talks and more confidence-building measures to keep the good news flowing, to build up people’s belief in the process.

And lastly, what would you say about how Turkey is perceived in Europe these days as more judiciary and military interference in the Turkish political system has come out into the open?

It’s spoiling Turkey’s image, of course. [EU Commissioner for Enlargement] Olli Rehn talked of a sense of disbelief. Turkey seemed to have defeated its demons and decided to be in the EU process but suddenly this happens. People don’t understand it. When you don’t understand something, you withdraw. It’s really unfortunate because it leaves Turkey alone. I think there should be an EU law that one EU leader should visit Turkey every month just to give a big hug to everybody and say, “It’s OK, you’re in the big picture.” For Turkey, Europe is Plan A, B and C. There are a number of Plan Ds lying around there -- Central Asia, the Middle East, Russia -- but they are optional extras. They are not on the main menu. The Europeans should realize that they can’t live easily without Turkey either. Turkey is part of the European architecture. The Europeans have to find a way of dealing with Turkey respectfully and decently, but they are avoiding that issue because they do not see -- or do not want to see -- all the things that bind Turkey with Europe.

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ASIM ERDÝLEK a.erdilek@todayszaman.com

HNWI trends; (2) Analysis of HNWI investment behavior and asset allocation trends; and (3) Spotlight on how wealth management firms, such as Merrill Lynch, have to adapt to the shifting global pool of HNWIs. The major findings of the first section of the report can be summarized as follows: (1) There were 10.1 million HNWIs, the highest ever, in 2007, an increase of 6 percent over 2006. (2) HNWI wealth totaled $40.7 trillion in 2007, a 9.4 percent increase from 2006, decelerating slightly from 11.4 percent growth in 2006, with average HNWI wealth exceeding $4 million for the first time. (3) During 20022007, the wealth of HNWIs grew by more than 50 percent, with the number of HNWIs increasing by nearly 3 million. The table below summarizes these basic trends since the WWR began to be published. (4) The UHNWIs, the "superrich" category, benefited from the fastest growth in 2007, rising 8.8 percent in population size and 14.5 percent in total wealth. (5) HNWI population gains were highest in regions of emerging markets, especially those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America, growing by 15.6 percent, 14.3 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively; greatly exceeding those in developed economies. Their rapid real economic growth, surging prices for commodity exporters and the rise of emerging financial centers as important global players, leading to robust market capitalization performance, contributed to emerging market HNWI gains. (6) At the country level, India, China and Brazil recorded the highest HNWI population growth rates at 22.7 percent, 20.3 percent and 19.1 percent, respectively. (7) The

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F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his 1926 short story "The Rich Boy," wrote: "Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me."

To which Ernest Hemingway's dismissive rejoinder in his 1936 short story "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" was, "Yes, they have more money." How much more money? We find some intriguing answers to this and related questions in the 40-page World Wealth Report (WWR) 2008, published last week by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch, the 12th annual report on how wealthy the rich are, where they live, etc. WWR 2008 analyzes the macroeconomic factors -- especially real gross domestic product GDP growth, domestic savings rates and stock market capitalization performance -- that drive wealth creation and how they affect high net worth individuals (HNWIs), the "rich," and ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), the "superrich," around the world. HNWIs and UHNWIs are defined as persons holding at least $1 million and at least $30 million in financial assets, respectively. Financial assets include private equity holdings at book value, as well as all publicly traded equities, bonds, funds and cash deposits, but exclude collectibles, consumables, consumer durables and primary residences.

Domestic currency values are translated to US dollars at an annual average exchange rate.

The use of the US dollar as the common yardstick reflects its dominant global role as the major reserve and vehicle currency, but its recent sharp depreciation vis-à-vis many currencies, especially the euro, raises questions over whether its use is still justified. Clearly, its depreciation has created an upward bias in the calculation of HNWI data for many countries whose currencies have been appreciating relative to the US dollar.

WWR 2008 covers 71 countries, accounting for more than 98 percent of global income and 99 percent of global stock market capitalization. The report consists of three sections: (1) Review of global drivers affecting

TURGUT ENGÝN

The rich around the world and in Turkey

global HNWI financial wealth is forecast to reach $59.1 trillion by 2012, growing at an annual rate of 7.7 percent. (8) HNWI financial wealth is forecast to grow faster in regions of emerging market economies than in regions of developed economies, with the Middle East and Latin America expected to grow at 15.3 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively. WWR 2008 presents country-specific data for some countries, but not for Turkey. According to the head of Merrill Lynch in Turkey, Kubilay Cinemre, however, there were 50,000 HNWIs in Turkey in 2007, up from 42,000 in 2006. The 19 percent increase was among the highest country HNWI population growth rates in the world. Overall, WWR 2008 provides striking evidence of the relative shift of financial wealth from the West to the East, from the developed world to the developing world. This shift has several significant macro and micro economic implications such as the direction of the global economy and the changing business opportunities for wealth management companies as well as luxury goods manufacturers.

The WWR 2008 is based on data current as of the end of 2007. This year thus far global stock market capitalization has taken a serious hit, with emerging market stocks in particular declining sharply and their investors suffering huge losses. With real GDP growth also slowing around the world, two of the three drivers of HNWI wealth creation are now in the negative territory. So next year's WWR might show more modest HNWI improvements than this year's and possibly even a deteriorating HNWI environment, especially in emerging markets, including Turkey. In the longer run, we could see rising social and political opposition to widening income and wealth inequalities, which partly underlie the striking but controversial emergence and growth of HNWIs and UHNWIs, the super class of the rich and the very rich, around the world. As a small minority, they have to persuade the vast majority that being rich or superrich has social as well as private benefits. This is a contentious issue unlikely to be settled by unbiased economic analysis. It has always been primarily an ideological and political issue.

Turkey aýms hýgh as global turbulence contýnues contýnued from page 1 According to the plan, gross domestic product (GDP) will climb to $773 billion in 2009, $810 billion in 2010 and $901 billion in 2011. These numbers mean that the economy is expected to grow by 5 percent next year. In the following two years, the growth rates will be 5.5 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

These bold targets seem not so easy to attain considering that the world is being harshly hit by waves of recession fears, stemming from soaring oil prices and a subprime mortgage crisis.

In parallel to the projections on the GDP, per capita GDP will also see significant increases during the mentioned years. The DPT plan estimates that this figure will exceed $9,000 in 2009 and will likely be $12,164 in 2011. The DPT also forecast consumer prices index (CPI), that is, inflation, at 7.5 percent, 6.5 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, in each of the next three years. It expects the determination to meet inflation targets by the government and the central bank will continue during the period covered by the plan.

It also devoted a special part to measures to be taken to boost employment, setting demanding targets for this too. If the DPT's estimates prove true, 1.3 million people in total will have the opportunity to find a job for the first time in the coming three years.

Still, the report was cautious as it considered the possibility of a "slowdown" in the global economy and international trade. Depending on this moderately pessimistic suggestion, it estimated that Turkey's exports will only rise 10.4 percent on average during the three years ahead to reach $181.7 billion annually by 2011. It has long been increasing at rates more than 20 percent. Imports will also see a drop in the rate of increase, the report said. Turkey will be importing

Free trade zones sustain high performance Trade volume in Turkey's free trade zones increased 14 percent to $11.1 billion in the first five months of 2008 when compared to the same period last year.

According to figures from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the Ýstanbul Leather Free Zone exported $2.5 billion of products, while the

Aegean Free Zone exported $1.7 billion and Ýstanbul-Atatürk Airport (AHL) $1.3 billion in the first five months of 2007.

Most trade through free zones in the first five months of the year was made to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and EU countries: $4.1 billion. EU countries were the biggest customers of the free zones,

purchasing $3.4 billion-worth of goods from these special districts. The OECD countries that are not EU member states expended $790 million in their trade with Turkey's free zones. Free zones fall within the borders of a country but are exempt from regulations on customs, taxes, foreign currency, price, quality and standards. Ýstanbul, Today's Zaman

PHOTOS

Turkey's business world is still reeling after the government's shocking 22 percent electricity price increase decision last week, saying that this will deal a major blow to employment, production, sales and exports.

Already complaining of losing ground on competitiveness with their foreign rivals due to unbearably high input costs, businessmen claim that the recent hikes will make it extremely difficult to even remain in business. They admit that a revision in prices was unavoidable but say it should have been done incrementally, starting from an initial increase of 1.5 percent.

Erhan Özmen, the founding chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Young Businessmen (TÜGÝK), said the manufacturing industry was already trying to clear a number of hurdles, such as the overvalued lira and high interest rates, and is currently on the brink of losing competitiveness in world markets.

"Increasing electricity tariffs by 22 percent at a time when businessmen are suffering the trauma of these huge problems was definitely a bad decision. It will have a highly adverse impact on the industry," he noted, speaking to the Anatolia news agency yesterday. For Özmen, the rate of increase means

ZAMAN

Electricity price hike shocks businessmen

Erhan Özmen reflecting Turkey's three-year inflation burden on electricity prices all at once.

"God willing, we hope Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan will change this decision to a more digestible and rational one," he said.

Memduh Boydak, board member of Boydak Holding and the president of the holding's furniture company Ýstikbal, also reacted negatively to the decision. "To tell the truth, the business world is in shock," he said, adding that the price hike is high enough to disturb households and industrialists alike. He also noted that he wished the increase had been gradually

Memduh Boydak implemented. "It would be better to spread the price increase over time," he said.

Association of Gaziantep Young Businessmen (GAGÝAD) Chairman Yaþar Erturhan suggested seeking the solution in more investments in alternative energy resources to match the increasing demand for energy as a consequence of rising private sector investments and population. "Electricity prices have strategic importance," he claimed, acknowledging that the current price hike will put Turkey's business world in a predicament in the global arena. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman with wires

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goods worth $277.6 billion by 2011 after seeing a 9.1 percent average increase annually, it said.

Tourism revenues will continue to make record highs, it estimated: In 2009, $21.4 billion will flow in from foreign investors and climb to $23.6 billion by 2011, according to the plan. All in all, the report suggested that the rate of the current account deficit over the GDP will be around 6 percent after three years.

The decisive commitment of the government in the privatization process was underlined in the plan, which said the state will completely leave the electricity distribution, telecommunications and sugar production industries. It also estimated that the state's share in port administration will see a sharp decrease.

Public investments, the report highlighted, will be used as an "effective instrument" to decrease the disparities in the levels of development among different regions of the country. Impoverished regions will be given priority in the allocation of the investment budget, it indicated, and said that large sums will be transferred to complete the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) as well as some economic projects in eastern Anatolia and the Konya plain. The state's coffers will also provide money for the installation of facilities for better use of the country's renewable energy resources.

Some other plans as detailed in the DPT plan were as follows: The private sector will be encouraged to participate more in infrastructure projects. Measures will be taken to ensure long-term energy supply security and to prevent power outages that may arise in the medium term. Local and renewable resources will be given utmost priority to decrease the dependency on natural gas from foreign suppliers. More attention will be paid to boosting research and development activities on satellite technologies and production.

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Ballmer becomes lone voice at Microsoft's helm

Turkey to press button on $10 býllýon ýn prývatýzatýons ýn July

‘25 sugar processing plants in six packages’ Kilci also stated that they would begin the tender process for sugar processing plants in the next month, adding that they would sell 25 sugar factories in six portfolios. He said they would take immediate action for the A, B and C portfolios, and would put the other three out for bidding in one month. The bids will be held at 10-day intervals, he also said.

The ÖÝB president emphasized that they would employ the "sale of assets" method for the first time in the privatization of sugar factories, adding that they would not divide the portfolios amidst themselves, but that bidders were allowed to make offers as joint initiative groups for any portfolio and later divide it between themselves following the completion of privatization procedures.

The ÖÝB president stressed that their foremost concern while forming the portfolios was quota integrity, noting: "We also took into consideration the issue of geographical distance, while focusing on quota integrity. Also of concern were the overall capacities of the factories included in the portfolios. That is, their possession of capacities that would make privatization worthwhile.

The chief determinant here is quota. This will not only be privatization. It will also be a

MEHMET KAMAN

process that will bear a meaning for the sector in terms of rationalization. It's likely that the new owners of these factories will opt to reequip them; they will take steps to increase the production capacity in some, decrease in others, or change the direction of the production."

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"We don't plan to privatize the Bosporus Bridge at the moment. All highways, along with the Fatih Bridge, will be privatized. We have more than 2,000 kilometers of highways and 72 highway maintenance stations.

The tender process for the highways is expected to be completed before the end of this year and the transfer of their operating rights will be completed in the upcoming year," he said.

A number of large international companies have already expressed interest in the highways privatization process. Macquarie Infrastructure of Australia, Abertis of Spain, Brisa of Portugal, Itochu Corp. of Japan and Atlantia of Italy are just a few among these.

Noting that they would seek competency criteria, financial ones in particular, in highway privatizations, Kilci said: "We will seek financial power, because this will not be a process limited to operating. Certain investments will be obligatory. Not in terms of experience, but certain financial and technical prerequisites will be sought.

What I mean by technical is that the bidders should have done highway constructions before, rather than operating them."

Steve Ballmer has been CEO at Microsoft Corp for eight years, but he will finally get to move into the corner office vacated by Bill Gates, the college friend who brought him to the company nearly three decades ago.

The pressure of leading the world's largest software maker will only escalate in the wake of a bungled attempt to acquire Yahoo Inc, a move that forced the Web pioneer into the waiting arms of Microsoft's archrival, Google Inc. Adding fuel to the fire has been a lukewarm reception by customers for the company's flagship product, Windows Vista.

"The pressure is certainly on," said Alan Davis, analyst at investment firm D.A. Davidson.

For the first time in his career, the 52-year-old Ballmer, whose public histrionics often overshadow a sharp intellect and a gift for numbers, must shoulder the weight of Microsoft's future without Gates, who stepped down on Friday from the company he cofounded to focus on philanthropy.

Their partnership was forged at Harvard University, where the pair formed an unlikely friendship: Gates, the middle child of a prominent Seattle family, and Ballmer, a Detroit native whose parents never went to college.

They both lived in a dormitory full of "antisocial math types," according to Gates. Ballmer, outgoing and involved in many social clubs on campus, seemed to be a study in contrast to the aloof Gates, who preferred all-night programming sessions and poker games.

However, the pair shared a love of math and bonded over their reputations as energetic guys.

To this day, they still engage each other in numbers games, calling it "math camp."

After college, Ballmer went to work at Procter & Gamble Co, sharing an office with current General Electric Co CEO Jeffrey Immelt, who has said the two disliked a common boss and would pass the days playing garbage-can basketball.

Ballmer spent a year at Stanford University business school before Gates persuaded him to drop out and become Microsoft's first business manager. A month after joining, he found it was running behind on orders and its engineers were overworked.

"I decided to quit," Ballmer said at an employee event to mark Gates's last day at Microsoft. "I said, 'Jeez, I just dropped out of business school to come to a 30-person company as the bookkeeper'."

Gates persuaded Ballmer to stay at the company over dinner, explaining Microsoft's ambitious vision: to place a computer on every desk and in every home.

‘Market conditions not suitable for Halkbank sale’ Kilci stated that they had not yet made a decision on a privatization strategy for Halkbank. "Our current stance is that we want to present our recommendation to the Supreme Privatization Board (ÖYK) after completing an assessment in line with the market conditions. It will either be a public offering or a strategic sale. However as of now, we haven't made any recommendations to the government or the ÖYK, nor have we made any certain decisions," he said.

In response to the question of whether the global financial crisis had hindered the privatization of Halkbank, he stressed: "We are not concerned with whether a privatization is initially realized or not. Our main measure is the achievement of success. The completion of a privatization at a good and adequate price is important to us.

We are devising a strategy considering all these parameters, and given the current conditions, it is out of the question for us to take any steps forward."

Ziraat Bank public offering Kilci assessed Ziraat Bank General Director Can Akýn Çaðlar's suggestion -- based on his bank's social responsibility stemming from their engagement in the agricultural banking sector -- that Ziraat Bank be not privatized before agricultural loans become prevalent in the banking sector, that at most 10 to 15 percent of its shares be privatized when the right time comes and that this limited privatization be realized through public offering.

The ÖÝB head said he agreed that the correct privatization strategy for Ziraat Bank was to begin the privatization with a public offering.

"Ziraat is a major bank, and I don't deem it rational to privatize the entire bank at once. This is not a result springing from the specialization fields of the bank, and they are not reasons for not privatizing it. The subsidized loans allotted

by Ziraat are covered from the Treasury, not from the resources of the bank. When the Treasury decides to provide a support in this field, it may well be done by some other banks too. The provision of this loan, to me, should not constitute a privilege for any bank," Kilci noted.

‘I'm really tired' In response to a question over whether he was tired by five years at the helm of the ÖÝB, Kilci said: "Well, we should come up with a correct term. 'Tired' would not be the accurate way of expressing my condition, but since I cannot seem to find a better alternative, I can say I'm tired. I'm really tired, and I don't mean a physical tiredness. We have had to hold tenders more than once in the privatization of some gi-

gantic enterprises, such as the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TÜPRAÞ), Turk Telekom, and Turkey's alcohol and tobacco monopoly (Tekel)." Also recalling that they realized the privatization of other major companies such as the Ereðli Iron and Steelworks (Erdemir), he said: "We have displayed very determined, persistent behavior. I think I have proved the power of the ÖÝB."

Scary management Microsoft executives talk about Ballmer's ability to digest large chunks of data, while carefully probing business proposals for weaknesses in logic or reasoning.

Ballmer's sales and marketing prowess complemented Gates's technical acumen as Microsoft grew from a fledgling start-up into a world-beating software company.

He worked up the ranks, becoming Microsoft's president in 1998 and replacing Gates as CEO in 2000. Ballmer is Microsoft's second-biggest shareholder after Gates with a 4.3 percent stake in the company, valued at more than $11 billion.

Michael Silver, analyst at research firm Gartner, describes Ballmer's management style as "scary," but credits him for being a good listener to the needs of his customers.

"Steve's a bright, tough guy and a good marketeer," said Silver. "His personality can be very imposing." Ballmer often grabs headlines with sharply worded jabs at competitors. He once called free Linux software "a cancer" and dismissed Web search leader Google as "a one-trick pony."

His exuberance for all-things Microsoft has also earned him viral video fame on par with lonelygirl15 or Obama Girl. Video of Ballmer's enthusiastic support for software developers has been viewed more than 1 million times on YouTube, a performance that earned him the unflattering nickname of "Monkey Boy." "He was always the foil to Gates," said Mary Jo Foley, author of "Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era." "Gates is such a serious, plodding, methodical guy and Ballmer knew that to be part of the dynamic duo with Bill, he needed to be the opposite." Seattle Reuters

Business Group: "In terms of economic size, population and deal potential, Turkey is the largest country covered by our fund. When we talk about deal potential we like to separate it into two groups; in the first group we see entrepreneurs who have established a good business but need equity financing to reach the true potential of the business, while in the second group we see a large number of family-run enterprises where there is not a second or third generation to continue the business and therefore the owners realize that they need to sell it. Only in the past three years have we seen the realization of this pent-up demand and we expect this to continue."

Previously, the buyout rate of such family enterprises has been slow, often due to unrealistic valuations from owners and the sentimental attachment to the family company. There are signs that this culture is beginning to change however. Gökçe Kabatepe, managing director of Raymond James Securities Turkey, told OBG: "When the Turkish economy was growing at record levels some owners

would ask for impossibly high multiples of their company's true value. In times of a slowdown, Turkish businesses tend to become more reasonable and their prices drop."

In addition, the nature of private equity has also changed, according to Selcuk Yorgancýoðlu, Abraaj Capital's executive director for Turkey.

"Private equity used to mean venture capital. Now it is more organized, works as a strategic partner, takes a softer approach to entry and has fairer exit expectations. This makes it a better fit to family businesses," he told OBG. Dubai-based Abraaj Capital acquired a 49.9 percent share of the Turkish Acýbadem Health Group in 2007.

As well as the abundance of skilled managers in Turkey, the country rates well in terms of ease of doing business according to Yorgancýoðlu. "The financial regulators in Turkey are the best managed in the region, using strict rules and timelines making business easier for private equity firms both in the transaction process and the running of the company," he said.

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Some medium-sized companies view private equity investment as an important stage to become big enough to list on the Ýstanbul Stock Exchange (ÝMKB). Mavi, one of Turkey's most famous fashion brands, is currently in talks with Turkven Private Equity. Arsin Akarlýlar, CEO of Mavi, told local press that strongly seasonal profits were a barrier to listing.

"It would be hard for a medium-sized company to manage these ups and downs in the stock market," said Akarlýlar. "Therefore we have chosen a private equity [firm] as a partner. That is a mechanism to prepare a medium size company to go public," he added. The details of the partnership are expected to be finalized in the next three months.

The sources of private equity funding are also likely to change according to Ayanlar. "We are seeing a lot more private equity funds looking for investments in Turkey than we originally imagined.

This is mainly due to the current global and local market conditions. With around $1 billion of net oil export revenues per day by Arab countries in 2007, we are seeing and expect to see many more institutional investors coming from the Middle East; in Europe, private equity activity is currently on hold and we are seeing and expect to see large private equity firms looking at the Turkish market for deals below their normal minimum ticket value; and lastly we are seeing and expect to see establishment of local private equity funds," he said.

The coming years will be an interesting time for private equity in Turkey according to Yorgancýoðlu.

"As global strategic players restructure and refocus their businesses, committed private equity funds in Turkey will continue to make acquisitions. Target companies will benefit from private equity led growth in preparation for the next round of global M&A activity. This is a sizeable opportunity and it's only the beginning," he said. * Oxford Business Group

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The acquisition of a majority stake in local retailer Migros Turk by a British-led private equity consortium was a conspicuous event given the global slowdown in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity since the credit crunch took hold in August 2007. While the country will inevitably feel the effects of the slowdown, there remain plenty of opportunities in Turkey for private equity firms.

On June 2, a consortium led by the Londonbased private equity firm BC Partners completed the purchase of a 50.8 percent share of Migros Turk for $3.2 billion. The other members of the consortium were local firm Turkven Private Equity and Italian outfit Dea Capital, the private equity arm of Italian De Agostini Group. It was one of the largest private equity deal in Turkish history and the third-biggest leveraged deal globally in the first quarter of this financial year. With 14,800 employees and 2007 revenues of $3.7 billion, Migros is the market leader in Turkey.

The deal was finalized at a time when buyout activity has virtually ground to a halt in the region. The total values of the next nine largest buyout deals in Central and Eastern Europe totaled just $616m according to UK-based financial analysts Dealogic. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of potential in the Turkish private equity market, which began in earnest five years ago.

According to financial consultancy firm Deloitte, the volume of private equity deals totaled $6.5 billion between 2005-2007, with private equity firms involved in 24 transactions in 2007.

The make-up of the Turkish business community, with its high proportion of local players, makes it ripe for future deals. Orhan Ayanlar, vice president of Bedminster Capital Turkey, which runs Southeast Equity Fund II -- a $320 million private equity fund investing in Turkey and the Balkans -- told Oxford

CÝHAN

MATTHEW YOUKE*

REUTERS

Private equity funds bucking the trend

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what you eat

So is that a plant growth retarder, a rodenticide or just a plain old fungicide?

SHARON CROXFORD ÝSTANBUL

Markets these days display a dazzling array of perfectly sized, shaped and often colored fruit and vegetables. Apples that are uniformly round, shiny, perhaps green, firm to the touch, without a mark or scrape; tomatoes that are vibrantly red, heavy in weight, unblemished and these days still attached to the vine -- this is what consumers have come to expect and this consumer demand for flawless fruit and vegetables, especially at low prices, is what drove up the use of pesticides and aggressive agricultural practices after World War II. Pesticides are chemical or biological substances used to control pests. In the production of food they have become especially useful as many pests cause destruction and devastation to crops. The word pesticide is a generic term used to describe a range of products that deal with rodents, insects, fungi and plants. Rodenticides are used to kill or control rodents; insecticides to kill or control insects; fungicides, fungi, molds and mildews; herbicides, weeds; algicides, algae; nematicides, nematodes (roundworms); viricides, viruses, etc. Plant growth retardants, used to alter some growth processes in plants, are also treated as pesticides and covered by the same regulations.

Pesticides protect crops; they kill or cause undesirable affects in living organisms, and this alone suggests that they have the potential to harm humans, animals and the environment. Acknowledgement of this is seen in the numerous checks that a pesticide must go through before it is deemed safe for use. In the United States pesticides are subjected to 120 health, safety and environmental tests to ensure their safety and effectiveness. From the development through to testing and final approval a pesticide will wait nine years and have cost a manufacturer somewhere between $150 and $180 million. Pesticides are a serious business.

Pesticides linked with illnesses

GRAPHIC

ABDÜLKERÝM KESKÝN

Pesticide toxicity is also a serious business. Pesticides have been linked with various acute and chronic illnesses. Chronic effects of pesticides include both cumulative effects of lowlevel exposures as well as long-term effects of acute exposure.

Cancer, asthma, neurological disorders and birth defects are consistently referred to in the large body of literature surrounding pesticides and illness. Organophosphate exposure is linked with neuropathies resulting in both cognitive (concentration, language and memory) and affective (mood, anxiety, depression and personality changes) deficits. This group of pesticides acts by irreversibly inactivating the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is essential to nerve function in insects, humans and many other animals. It is worth remembering here that the nerve gas used by the Japanese doomsday cult in the Tokyo underground train system in 1995 was sarin, an organophosphate. Herbicides in the chlorophenoxy family are strongly associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and exposure to the fumigant gas methyl bromide, used to kill insects, rats and mice, is a known animal reproductive toxin.

Other pesticides have also been linked with asthma or asthma-like symptoms in two large studies in the United States.

Along with these respiratory, neurological and oncological illnesses, reproductive and developmental effects probably raise the greatest concern. Whilst it is difficult to draw conclusive endpoints, maternal exposure to pesticides in an occupational rather than environmental nature may result in spontaneous abortions and fetal death, congenital malformations and low birth weight as a result of growth retardation in the womb. In men exposure could result in infertility from a low or zero sperm count. Determining whether one chemical or several are involved has been difficult given the study designs. It also needs to be emphasized here that many of these pesticide illnesses were observed in people who had close contact with the chemicals, often through work as farmers, gardeners, groundskeepers, forestry and fisheries workers and the like.

Most of the recent worry about pesticides has not essentially been for those working closely with the various chemicals but for consumers of the products of agriculture. It would be quite easy to misinterpret the reports of the pesticide illnesses from workers whose exposure is vastly different to the average person who eats fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This does not discount the need to address the excessive use of pesticides. It is however quite easy to simply target the levels of pesticides and their residues, that is, remaining pesticide or breakdown products in the food chain, when considering the effects of pesticides, and just as simply forget the chemicals in the home environment. Surveys in the United States have shown that 78-97 percent of households use pesticides in the home, lawn or garden with an average of three to four products per home. Not to forget the exposure from pet products and insecticidal shampoos for people, especially children, who have frequent contact with pets.

CM Y K

Back to the food chain, however, and it is interesting to note that pesticides can be used at any stage during the agricultural process -- applied to seeds, soils, foliage, immature and mature produce or during storage. Strict laws, regulations and policies across the world state how and when each pesticide should be used so that farm and farm workers, consumers and the environment are protected. Governments and similar bodies undertake monitoring and surveillance of pesticide use, along with end product testing, to identify breaches in safe practice and ensure remedial action is taken.

Disregard of rules a problem The system all sounds secure and almost airtight, but as with all such systems where humans are involved there will be breakdowns, failures and blatant disregard for the rules. In an ideal world each farmer would have access to information that tells him (or her) which methods of pest control are most suited to his farm. If it comes down to the use of chemical pesticides, how much, when and how they should be applied is crystal clear. Again in this ideal world any residual pesticides are found in such minute concentrations that they are unlikely to cause any harm to humans. Maximum residue levels are checked in a range of foods, yet in reality this is a very small percentage of foods produced. In the United Kingdom 30 percent of all foods tested and 40 percent of fruits and vegetables contained pesticide residues, with 98 percent of these containing levels within the legal limits.

Unfortunately this is not always the case. Often farmers and farm workers are unsure about the correct application of pesticides or do not keep records of use. In a scientific paper published in 2005, researchers from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Izmir found that 86.9 percent of 131 greenhouse workers within the province of Ýzmir used pesticides and that 59.3 percent did not take protective measures during pesticide use. They also found that application technique, location, amount, time or any other required information of the pesticides used was not recorded.

Despite this worrying example, Turkish farmers have historically used fewer pesticides than other developed countries, although marked differences occur across the various regions. The general trend is that wherever intensive production methods are practiced, more pesticides are used. In the mid 1900s pest management practices mostly depended on calendar spraying that emphasized pesticide application as the sole method of managing pests. Researchers at Michigan State University Department of Agricultural Economics found that grape producers in the Manisa region used calendar spraying and sometimes at amounts in excess than recommended by the government. At the time only 20 percent of greenhouses in the Mediterranean region used integrated pest management (IPM) systems.

Current agricultural policy in Turkey reflects commitments stemming from the World Trade Organization Agreement on Agriculture and developments in the European Union Common Agricultural Policy as Turkey lines up to ascend to full membership, along with developments in international trade. This is all good for the health of crops and workers in Turkey, as priority will be given to alternative pest control methods, particularly IPM and biological control methods. Emphasis in policy will be on natural and environmentally friendly practices.

Integrated pest management an option The development of integrated pest management was the natural response to the increased use of pesticides and the full realization of the deleterious effects of the chemicals involved. It does not eliminate the use of pesticides but balances their use with biological controls (the use of beneficial insects/organisms to suppress pests), cultural controls (use of crop rotation, cultivation and tilling practices, plant and row spacing, field sanitation to reduce pest problems), physical and mechanical control (the use of traps to diminish pests and hand weeding) and genetic control (use of resistant plant varieties to avoid pest problems).

Sustainable and organic agriculture are the two other systems that aim to improve food safety and lessen the environmental impact of pesticide use in agriculture. For these systems to really develop and become mainstream, consumers need to be convinced of the need to address the pesticide issue and prepared to support increased prices for fruit and vegetables at the markets. This has happened to a degree in developed countries across the globe and is seen more and more in Turkey. However, given the recent hikes in the prices of other foods, such as the staples of bread and rice, many people may opt to balance the budget with the cheapest fresh produce, not likely to be from farms with high inputs.

Even if the majority of people are not persuaded about the consumer benefits of reduced pesticide residues in the food chain, at the very least reducing the risks for agricultural workers is worthy of serious consideration.

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Rice emphasizes friendship during visit to China

Afghanistan will not be secure as long as insurgents are allowed to operate freely in sanctuaries on the Pakistan side of the border, a NATO spokesman said on Sunday.

With international forces in Afghanistan struggling against what the US Pentagon describes as a “resilient insurgency,” Pakistan is coming under increasing pressure to stop militants operating out of remote enclaves in ethnic Pashtun border lands. “We know that as long as the insurgents operate safely on the Pakistan side of the border, then there can not be security in Afghanistan” NATO spokesman Mark Laity told a regular news conference in Kabul. Pakistani forces launched an offensive in the Khyber region on Saturday to clear militants from the approaches to the city of Peshawar But the militants being attacked are from a faction that does not have a reputation for crossing into Afghanistan to fight Western troops backing the government of President Hamid Karzai. Laity made no mention of the Pakistani offensive but referring to Pakistani government efforts to end surging militant violence through negotiations, said militants could not be given a free hand. Kabul Reuters

TERROR

Blast in India’s restive northeast kills 6, injures 40 A blast at a crowded roadside market on Sunday in India’s restive northeast killed six people and injured 40, a local official said. The explosives were strapped to a bicycle at a busy weekly market that sells pigs, goats, vegetables and clothes in Kumarikata in western Assam, near the Bhutan border, local police official G.P. Singh said. About 20 of the victims were injured critically, he said. The blast was under investigation, but officials suspected a leading separatist group, the United Liberation Front of Asom, may have been involved because it has been active in the area, Singh said. ULFA is one of several rebel groups that are fighting for autonomy or independence in India’s northeast. The militants say India’s national government exploits the region’s rich natural resources but does little for the area’s indigenous people, most of whom are ethnically closer to people in Myanmar and China than the rest of India. Last week, several ULFA commanders announced a cease-fire and called for an end to their 30year rebellion. Other factions of the militant group have rejected the truce, and analysts expected violence to flare as the rebel leaders struggled for control. Gauhati AP

North Korea Rice was also expected to raise the issue of multilateral talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program.

On Thursday, North Korea delivered a long-delayed list of its nuclear activities, but analysts say key questions remain about its nuclear weapons and proliferation.

China which hosts six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, is seen as key to placing pressure on the prickly reclusive state, which some experts have said will continue to drag out the disarmament process. Duhiangyan Reuters

Funding for the covert escalation, for which Bush requested up to $400 million, was approved by congressional leaders, according to reporter Hersh, citing intelligence and congressional sources US congressional leaders agreed late last year to President George W. Bush’s funding request for a major escalation of covert operations against Iran aimed at destabilizing its leadership, according to a report in The New Yorker magazine published online on Sunday.

The article by reporter Seymour Hersh, from the magazine’s July 7 and 14 issue, centers around a highly classified Presidential Finding signed by Bush which by US law must be made known to Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders and ranking members of the intelligence committees.

“The Finding was focused on undermining Iran’s nuclear ambitions and trying to undermine the government through regime change,” the article cited a person familiar with its contents as saying, and involved “working with opposition groups and passing money.”

Hersh has written previously about possible administration plans to go to war to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear

weapons, including an April 2006 article in the New Yorker that suggested regime change in Iran, whether by diplomatic or military means, was Bush’s ultimate goal.

Funding for the covert escalation, for which Bush requested up to $400 million, was approved by congressional leaders, according to the article, citing current and former military, intelligence and congressional sources.

Clandestine operations against Iran are not new. US Special Operations Forces have been conducting crossborder operations from southern Iraq since last year, the article said.

These have included seizing members of Al-Quds, the commando arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and taking them to Iraq for interrogation, and the pursuit of “high-value targets” in Bush’s war on terrorism, who may be captured or killed, according to the article.

But the scale and the scope of the operations in Iran, which include the Central Intelligence Agency, have now

been significantly expanded, the article said, citing current and former officials.

Many of these activities are not specified in the new finding, and some congressional leaders have had serious questions about their nature, it said.

Among groups inside Iran benefiting from US support is the Jundallah, also known as the Iranian People’s Resistance Movement, according to former CIA officer Robert Baer.

Council on Foreign Relations analyst Vali Nasr described it to Hersh as a vicious organization suspected of links to al Qaeda.

The article said US support for the dissident groups could prompt a violent crackdown by Iran, which could give the Bush administration a reason to intervene.

None of the Democratic leaders in Congress would comment on the finding, the article said. The White House, which has repeatedly denied preparing for military action against Iran, and the CIA also declined comment. New York Reuters

A helicopter makes a water drop near Pasadena.

California wildfires bring dismal air quality Hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires have turned the air of Northern California into an unhealthy stew of smoke and ash, forcing the cancellation of athletic events and other outdoor activities.

Health advisories urging residents to stay indoors to limit exposure to the smokey air were issued on Saturday from Bakersfield north to Redding, a distance of nearly 450 miles (725 kilometers).

Air pollution readings in the region are two to 10 times the federal standard for clean air, said Dimitri Stanich, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board.

Some areas are experiencing the worst air quality on record, with the smoke hanging down to the ground like a fog.

Air quality agencies are especially concerned about small-particle pollution. The tiniest particles can penetrate past the body’s immune defenses, traveling deep into the lungs and the bloodstream.

“When you have it on the scale we are seeing now, it is very dangerous to the general public health,”Stanich said. “This is a very serious problem.” Sacramento AP

Girl’s death sparks riots in south China

DETENTION

Ex-Khmer Rouge foreign minister to launch appeal The former foreign minister of the now-defunct Khmer Rouge movement plans to appeal to Cambodia’s genocide tribunal for release from his pretrial detention, a court spokesman said on Sunday. The United Nations-assisted tribunal has charged Ieng Sary, 82, with crimes against humanity and war crimes. He will appear on Monday to press for his release, tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said. Ieng Sary is one of five defendants being held by the tribunal, which plans to begin its first trial later this year.

His wife, 76-year-old Ieng Thirith, who served as the Khmer Rouge’s social affairs minister, is also being held on charges of crimes against humanity. The tribunal, jointly run by Cambodian and international personnel, is attempting to establish accountability for atrocities committed by the communist group when it ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The group’s radical policies resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. In their detention order in November, the investigating judges said Ieng Sary is being prosecuted for supporting Khmer Rouge policies that were “characterized by murder, extermination, imprisonment and persecution.” Phnom Penh AP

versation,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on the sidelines of Rice’s visit.

China met with the envoys of the Dalai Lama in May, but further talks were postponed by the Sichuan earthquake.

President Bush has rebuffed calls to boycott the Olympics, saying he viewed the event as a sporting contest and would use his special access as an invited guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao to raise US concerns in private.

China says the Games should not be politicized.

US escalating covert operations against Iran

AP

NATO: No Afghan peace while Taliban has sanctuary

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (C) looks at destroyed buildings during her visit to quake-hit Duhiangyan, Sichuan province, on Sunday. Rice paid her respects to victims of the massive May 12 quake in Sichuan.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, under pressure to raise human rights and Tibet with Chinese officials, emphasized friendship over friction during a visit to China on Sunday.

After touching down in Chengdu, capital of quake-hit Sichuan province, Rice met with quake victims and toured a relief camp in Dujiangyan, a city hard hit by the May 12 quake which killed some 70,000 people.

“I’m really impressed by the recovery effort.

It is really a sign of how the human spirit can overcome great devastation,” Rice told reporters.

Washington has been a vocal critic of China’s human rights record, and urged China to continue talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Beijing denounces the Dalai Lama as a separatist and blames him for masterminding the March 14 riots in Lhasa to derail preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August. The Dalai Lama denies the accusations, and says he favors more autonomy for the mountainous region, rather than outright independence.

Rice, the most senior US official to visit China since the deadly riots in the Tibetan capital, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi later on Sunday.

“Human rights are always a part of the con-

PHOTOS

WARNING

PHOTOS

Corruption watchdogs and senior politicians rounded on Kenyan Finance Minister Amos Kimunya on Sunday over the sale of a luxury Nairobi hotel to Libyan investors in a deal they said had the whiff of scandal. Some called for the resignation of Kimunya -- at the helm of east Africa’s largest economy since 2006 -- after he announced on Friday the Grand Regency went for 2.9 billion Kenya shillings ($45 million) in a government-to-government deal. “The price is laughable. It cannot meet the cost of soft furnishing alone,” fellow minister Mutula Kilonzo, who runs the Nairobi Metropolitan portfolio, told local media. The country has been cheated, and you can give this corruption another name worse than Goldenberg.”

The hotel, owned by a Kenyan tycoon accused of being the architect of the so-called Goldenberg scandal that nearly sunk Kenya’s economy in the 1990s, is viewed by many Kenyans as a symbol of the graft bedeviling their nation Kamlesh Pattni, who has been tried but never convicted despite multiple probes into the siphoning of some $1 billion of public funds over bogus diamond and gold export, handed the five-star, multi-storey hotel to the central bank earlier this year Media speculated that had won him immunity. Kimunya, who told parliament last week the hotel’s sale would be public, said in his statement on Friday authorities received too “sweet” an offer to refuse from the Libyans. Nairobi Reuters

REUTERS

CORRUPTION

Uproar over Kenya hotel sale to Libyan investors

WORLD

Iranian students chant slogans during a demonstration in front of the German Embassy in Tehran to protest against the West.

Iranian foreign minister: Israel in no position to attack Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday he did not believe Israel was in a position to attack the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

“They know full well what the consequences of such an act would be,” Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki told reporters.

He was speaking a day after the head of the Revolutionary Guards was quoted as saying Iran would impose controls on shipping in the Gulf oil route if Iran was attacked and warned regional states of reprisals if they took part.

Speculation about a possible attack on Iran has risen since a US newspaper reported this month that Israel had practiced such a strike.

Mottaki said Israel was dealing with the consequences of its 2006 war with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and was suffering a “crisis of deepening illegitimacy” in the Middle East region. “That’s why we do not see the

Zionist regime in a situation in which they would want to engage in such an adventurism,” he said when asked about the possibility of an Israeli attack.

Fear of an escalation in the standoff between the West and Iran, the world’s fourth largest oil producer, have been one factor pushing oil prices to record highs. Crude hit a record level on international markets near $143 a barrel on Friday.

Analysts say Iran could use unconventional tactics, such as deploying small craft to attack ships, or using allies in the area to strike at US or Israeli interests.

Iran’s Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said reports of a possible strike were part of the “psychological warfare” waged by the West against Iran, aimed at diverting attention from “domestic failures” in the United States and Israel. Tehran Reuters

Thousands of rioters torched police and government office buildings in southwest China on Saturday, in unrest triggered by allegations of a cover-up over a girl’s death, residents and state media reported on Sunday.

About 10,000 people mobbed government offices in Weng’an county, Guizhou province, on Saturday afternoon demanding justice over the teenager’s death after her body was found in a local river, a resident said.

“Local residents were very angry about the injustice exercised by local authorities,” the resident, who is an official at a local government office, told Reuters by telephone.

“About 10,000 people rushed to the site and totally burned down the county party office building, and burned other offices in the county government.”

“They also burned about 20 vehicles, including police cars,” the official, surnamed Huang, said.

Huang said residents were angered when authorities declared the girl had killed herself by jumping in the river. Residents believed the girl had been raped and murdered by a relative of a senior government official. Beijing Reuters

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TODAY’S ZAMAN 11

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AP

ONSLAUGHT PHOTO

Ivorian rebels prepare for offensive against dissidents Rebel forces who support Ivory Coast’s peace process prepared a counter-offensive on Sunday to take back control of two towns in the western cocoa belt occupied by followers of a sacked rebel chief, a spokesman said. A local television journalist said three civilians and one dissident insurgent died in clashes on Saturday between rebels and dissidents in Seguela, more than 400 km (248.5 miles) northwest of the main commercial city Abidjan. Fighting was also reported at another western town, Vavoua, where the dissident fighters had also rebelled against the sacking last month of their commander Kone Zakaria by military leaders of the New Forces rebels who control the north. “This morning things are quiet, there has been no fighting overnight,” New Forces spokesman Issa Fleby told Reuters. The New Forces rebels, who support an internationally backed peace process in the world’s No. 1 cocoa producer, were waiting for reinforcements before fighting back, he said. Witnesses told Reuters they saw military vehicles go towards Seguela. Ivory Coast’s brief 2002/2003 civil war divided the country in two, with the New Forces controlling the north and the government of President Laurent Gbagbo holding the south. The two sides signed a peace and reunification deal in March 2007. Abidjan Reuters

PLEDGE

Kazakh leader vows reform before taking OSCE chair Kazakhstan’s president promised the West on Sunday his country would pursue democratic change before its chairmanship of Europe’s main human rights watchdog in 2010. Oil-rich Kazakhstan, key to Europe’s efforts to diversify its energy supplies, won approval last year to take over the rotating annual chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Addressing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the Caspian state’s capital Astana, President Nursultan Nazarbayev reassured the West he was fully committed to democratic change. “We want to be a modern, democratic and prosperous nation,” he told the Assembly, the OSCE’s first such meeting in Central Asia. “The potential of Kazakhstan’s constitution... allows us to fulfill many very important steps of further democratization. Many in Kazakhstan credit Nazarbayev with bringing stability after years of post-Soviet chaos and using oil revenues to raise living standards. Astana Reuters

BLASTS

Abkhaz official says 6 injured in 2 explosions Two bombs exploded in a resort town in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia province on Sunday, wounding six people, regional officials said. Abkhazian authorities blamed Georgia’s government for the blasts, which came amid increasing tension over the Russian-backed separatist region. All six of the victims were wounded in a blast at a marketplace in the town of Gagry, according to Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh’s press service. It said one woman was taken to a hospital in the nearby Russian city of Sochi with serious injuries. The other explosion, near a bank in Gagry, caused no casualties, the press service said. “Behind these terrorist acts stands Georgia, which is not halting its attempts to destabilize the situation in Abkhazia,” the press service quoted Bagapsh as saying. Bagapsh said the blasts were “aimed against Abkhazia and against the Russians who vacation on the territory of our republic.” The lush province on the Black Sea coast has been a favorite vacation spot since the Soviet era.

Police said the wounded were local residents, not Russians, the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti reported. Abkhazian officials routinely accuse Georgia of responsibility for violence in Abkhazia, claiming the central government is preparing to attempt to take control of the province by force. Georgian officials deny responsibility for such incidents and say they are provocations. In the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said Georgian officials were unfamiliar with the details and could not immediately comment. Sukhumi AP

MURDER

UK police arrest two men over fatal teen stabbing British police arrested on Sunday two men over the killing of a teenager in London. The victim, believed to be 18, was stabbed in an area north of Kings Cross rail station on Sunday morning after an argument with a group of men.

He was taken to Whittington hospital where he later died.

“The full circumstances are still being investigated,” Scotland Yard said in a statement. “We are keeping an open mind regarding the motive and are searching for the murder weapon or weapons.” Two male youths both in their teens were arrested nearby. Police have launched a campaign to discourage knife crime in the capital, while newly-elected London Mayor Boris Johnson has made tackling youth violence one of his priorities. London Reuters

President Robert Mugabe greets the crowd at his final rally in Chitungwiza. Mugabe on Sunday was declared the winner of a widely condemned election in Zimbabwe which African observers said was scarred by violence and intimidation.

G8 may invest $10 bln yearly in tech to cut CO2 The Group of Eight wealthy nations are looking at investing more than $10 billion a year to support new technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), a Japanese daily reported on Sunday.

A draft statement on economic issue is being considered for release at the July 7-9 summit of G8 leaders in Hokkaido, northern Japan, the business daily Nikkei said.

The G8 countries plan to fund research to develop CCS projects, which bury emissions from power plants, as a measure to help meet a global target to halve greenhouse gases by 2050, Nikkei said. The draft statement also includes an agreement to set national interim goals to reduce emissions by 2020-2030, a step environmentalists and the EU say is vital, the Nikkei said, adding that no figures were included. A Japanese government source told Reuters last week that the United States had yet to agree to a goal of reducing global emissions by 50 percent by mid-century.

The G8 leaders will share strong concern over rising crude oil prices, which are pushing up inflation and depressing the world economy, Nikkei said.

The leaders will call for oil-consuming and producing nations to cooperate more closely, the newspaper said. Oil prices rose to a record near $143 a barrel on Friday.

Prices have jumped more than 45 percent this year, extending a six-year rise, as supply struggles to keep pace with rising demand from emerging economies such as China and India. Tokyo Reuters

Mugabe declared winner of widely condemned poll as opposition cries foul The inauguration allowed Mugabe to extend his 28 years of unbroken rule before attending an African Union summit in Egypt today where he has vowed to confront his critics Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Sunday was declared winner of a widely condemned election which African observers said was scarred by violence and intimidation.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said Mugabe had won Friday’s vote, in which he was the only candidate.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, was due to be sworn in shortly in a ceremony at State House, officials said.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who withdrew from last Friday’s election a week ago, saying nearly 90 of his supporters had been killed by government-backed militias, dismissed the inauguration as meaningless.

Mugabe, 84, said earlier he had won a “sweeping victory” but voting figures were not immediately available.

Tsvangirai, who rejected Mugabe’s invitation to attend the swearing-in, said he would ask African Union leaders meeting in Egypt on Monday not to recognize the re-election. Mugabe spokesman George Charamba said the invitation was “done in the spirit of the president’s wish to reach out ... It is a major step towards political engagement.”

But Tsvangirai told Reuters: “I can’t

give support to an exercise I’m totally opposed to... the whole world has condemned it, the Zimbabwean people will not give this exercise legitimacy and support.”

Mugabe is under pressure from within Africa to enter talks with Tsvangirai over the country’s political and economic crisis. He went ahead with the vote in defiance of international opinion and despite widespread dismissal of the election as a sham.

Tsvangirai told Reuters the opposition was committed to AU-sponsored talks with Mugabe’s government although no negotiations had started.

Mugabe defied a chorus of calls to cancel the election and negotiate with Tsvangirai, who defeated Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party in a March 29 election but fell short of outright victory, forcing Friday’s runoff.

Pan-African parliament observers, one of the few groups able to monitor Friday’s ballot, said the vote was so flawed it should be rerun.

The inauguration would allow Mugabe to extend his 28 years of unbroken rule before attending the AU summit today where he has vowed to confront his critics. Harare Reuters

Kenya urges African troops into Zimbabwe The African Union (AU) should deploy troops in Zimbabwe to resolve a crisis that has become an “embarrassment” to the continent, Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga was quoted as saying on Sunday.

“What is happening in Zimbabwe is a shame and an embarrassment to Africa in the eyes of the international community and should be denounced,” Odinga said in Swahili during a visit to his home province Nyanza in west Kenya. “So we are saying we want the African Union to send troops to Zimbabwe.

The time has come for the African continent to stand firm in unity to end dictatorship,” added Odinga in the speech. Odinga -- a former opposition leader whose powersharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki after Kenya’s disputed election is touted by some as a possible model for Zimbabwe -- has been one of the most vocal critics of Mugabe in Africa. Mugabe was expected to be declared the winner of Zimbabwe’s widely condemned election on Sunday. Critics are calling for action to end Mugabe’s 28-year rule after he went ahead with Friday’s presidential run-off despite opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s withdrawal because of killings of his supporters. Nairobi Reuters

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero

Zapatero may no longer negotiate with ETA Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said his government is no longer prepared to negotiate with ETA to put an end to Basque separatist violence, according to an interview published Sunday.

In a nine-page interview in leading daily El Pais, Zapatero said trying to negotiate with ETA had not produced good results.

“Dialogue has proved useless, seeing what ETA has done,” Zapatero was quoted as saying. “There is not going to be dialogue.”

In March 2006, ETA declared what it described as a permanent cease-fire, but reverted to violence nine months later by killing two people in a car bombing at a Madrid airport parking garage after failing to wrest concessions in peace talks with Zapatero’s government.

ETA has killed more than 825 people since 1968 in its quest to carve out an independent country from parts of northern Spain and southwestern France.

The government acknowledges it was caught off guard by the 2006 blast and has been cracking down on ETA ever since, arresting dozens of its members and suspending two pro-ETA nationalist political parties through legal action.

In the interview granted to five El Pais journalists, Zapatero also said he had high expectations for the forthcoming presidential elections in the US. “I mustn’t confuse my wishes with reality, but I have already said elsewhere that I like (Barack) Obama,” Zapatero was quoted as saying. Madrid AP

Israel says 2 captured soldiers are dead, to swap bodies for Hezbullah prisoner

US faces Iraqi anger over raid near holy Shiite city of Kerbala

turn for their bodies, the Cabinet agreed to reIsrael’s Cabinet voted overwhelmingly on lease Samir Kantar, a Lebanese guerrilla imprisSunday in favor of an emotionally charged oned for nearly 30 years for an attack etched in deal to swap a notorious Lebanese prisoner for the Israeli psyche as one of the cruelest in the nathe bodies of two soldiers declared earlier in the tion’s history. Hezbullah had offered no sign that day to be dead. The deal with the Lebanese Goldwasser and Regev were Hezbullah militant group has alive and the Red Cross was nevsparked a fierce debate over er allowed to see them. Ahead whether Israel would be giving of the vote, Prime Minister Ehud up too much -- or carrying out its Olmert said for the first time highest commitment to its solthat Israel has concluded the diers to do everything possible to two soldiers were dead -- killed bring them home if they fell into during the raid or shortly after. enemy hands. Hezbullah mili“We know what happened to tants captured Ehud Goldwasser them,” Olmert told the Cabinet, and Eldad Regev in a July 2006 cross-border raid that sparked a according to comments reEhud Olmert vicious, month-long war. In released by his office. Jerusalem AP

US military could conduct operations and detain susThe US military faced Iraqi anger on Sunday pects without Iraqi approval. “This action was barbarover a raid near the holy Shiite city of Kerbala in ic and a violation of Iraqi sovereignty ... Iraqi forces in which a distant relative of Prime Minister Nouri althe local government were not aware of it,” Aqeel alMaliki was killed. Iraqi leaders in Kerbala said the Khazali, the governor of Kerbala province, told a pre-dawn raid on Friday should have been approved news conference on Saturday. by local authorities since security for Provincial police chief Maj.-Gen. the area was handed to Iraqi forces Raad Shakir said US helicopters last year. The US military has not relanded in the al-Hindiya district, sponded to questions about the incijust east of the city of Kerbala, durdent. The incident comes at a sensiing the raid. One person was killed tive time for Washington, which is and another detained, he said. In negotiating a new security pact with other violence, a suicide car bomber Baghdad to provide a legal basis for killed seven policemen and woundAmerican troops to stay in Iraq after ed three in an attack on a patrol in a United Nations mandate expires on Dec. 31. Of the key sticking points northern Iraq’s Salahuddin Nouri al-Maliki in negotiations has been whether the province, police said. Baghdad Reuters

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12 TODAY’S ZAMAN

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EXPAT ZONE

Operatýng ýn conflýct ask in a nice manner and treat the hotel staff with respect.

-- Make them feel important and not like servants.

-- Win them to your side! If your Turkish hotel staff member likes you, they will do anything for you.

-- Adjust and manage your expectations of how things should be.

-- Be ready for things to be different and expect surprises.

-- Beware! Turks don't want to disappoint you, so they will say what they think you want to hear.

Some foreigners have accused Turks of being liars. We try to help our guest understand them. In one instance, the guest was upset that the person at the front desk told them they would have a technician come and check the air-conditioning unit and that no one came. They waited 15 minutes and no one had come!

I told our guest 15 minutes is probably not long enough. The technician may be tied up elsewhere. Wait an hour and then let me know.

Another foreigner shares how they were shocked to see that there were no bars around the edge of the restaurant's terrace to prevent children from falling off.

I told this person that there are no safety checks to pass, as is the case in some Western countries. Turks expect the group to

Why is my hotel room so hot? Why do the waiters take my plate and drink away so quickly? Why don't Turks like to sit in a breeze? These are just a few of the questions that each of the 220 conference attendees asked my staff this week.

This past week, my tour agency organized a large conference for people representing a number of different nationalities for one week at a resort on the Aegean Sea. Mind you, the weather was hotter than any expected and the pools were well used!

It is always interesting to see how people of different nationalities relate and how each of them relates to the Turkish hotel staff. The stage is set for some conflict and clashing unless foreign nationals adjust and are flexible.

Turkey can make a false impression on the visitor who has just landed and sees that things look similar to back home. Many visitors comment on how Turkey on the surface looks somewhat familiar, but then quickly add that the mentality is different. Ideas on service and performance differ.

To help avoid cultural conflict between guests and hotel staff, one of our tour staff members gave a 15 minutes orientation at the beginning of the conference to the newcomers to Turkey. A few of the tips were: -- You will be more likely to get your problem solved if you

TARIK ÖZTÜRK PHOTO

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LEVENT GÜLER

E X PAT VO I C E

watch out for each other's children.

Different cultural values such as safety, time and service will vary.

If you travel abroad and expect things to be just like home, you are in for a big surprise.

I'll never forget the first time I ordered coffee in London. I asked for coffee and the waitress asked me if I wanted it black or white? I had never heard the expression "white" before, meaning coffee with milk. It surprised me. But I replied, "Black, please." That is just a simple example of cultural differences. How much more is it true that when we visit cultures with different languages and religions we can expect differences to be even stranger to us.

Don't let cultural conflicts ruin your visit; prepare yourself and enjoy them.

To understand intractable conflicts, it is essential to understand that there are different levels operating in conflict. Chris Moore, au-

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CULTURAL CORNER

CHARLOTTE McPHERSON

Both Heybeliada (L) and Burgazada (R), which are a short boat ride away from Ýstanbul and make great getaways, allow one to enjoy nature, horse-drawn buggies and bicycling.

Of love and lýzards ASHLEY PERKS ÝSTANBUL

As I sit down to write this article, my heart goes out to the amazing Turkish soccer team playing deeply under-strength against a full German squad. It was however, one of the most exciting matches I have ever watched, from Turkey's first goal in the 22nd minute. And as usual, they didn't give up right to the final whistle, despite persistent and ferocious fouling by the Germans - much of it unnoticed, it would seem, by the referee. Despite this, and speaking as one who rarely watches soccer, this exciting match was, in a way, a heart-stopping end to a great day.

Holiday Log, week two: Wednesday June 25. You may recall from last week that I am spending my holiday over on the Princes' Islands. Yesterday (Tuesday), I decided to dust down my mountain bike that I haven't ridden for two years and take it over for a more arduous and wide-ranging tour. In particular, I hadn't visited Heybeliada for a long time, and thought I would start with a cycle ride round there.

As I was saying, I decided to dust down the bike. This I mean literally. It had been hanging on its hook out on the balcony and, rather than the shiny metallic blue it was when I hung it up for the winter two years ago, it was a sort of ghostly graywhite. This of course is clear evidence of just how polluted Ýstanbul is. The gear cogs, chain and joints were dried out and rust has set in permanently. Right then; first things first, a full clean and service. After a good wash-down, I then sprayed on a dose of the ever trusty WD-40, the lubricant spray that can even help start cars in cold, damp weather (I should know, I'm English!).

Then out for a test drive. The bike's chrome parts were not the only thing that was rusty! Still, I made it home alive.

The next stage required military planning, as I wanted to make up a picnic that would last the day. That meant cooking-to-cool, as I had envisaged one of my notorious spiced chicken pieces accompanied by pasta in mayonnaise with mixed peppers, onions and garlic. So what? So, we had been informed that power would be cut off the following morning from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. That would mean that other issues came into play such as boiling the kettle for morning tea, having a comfortable shower, running the dishwasher and everything else that might re-

quire electricity. Efficient logistical planning was therefore essential to my having the kind of day out I had envisaged.

Up at 7 a.m., I got everything done, had a good French breakfast: a bowl of strong coffee, French toast and fresh orange juice. (This is often known as a "continental breakfast," as in "Would you like the Continental or the full English, sir?") And so it was off to Heybeliada in the early-rising heat of the day.

I was somewhat shocked, therefore, at the changes that have occurred on what was my second-favorite island. House and sports complex building projects going up, trucks everywhere, (on an island!), and additionally, buses and staff cars (cars?) from the Naval College. Furthermore, you are forbidden to cycle along the seafront. So I walked my bike along the front until I came to where it joins the high street and then pedaled off in the direction of the forest and its picnic area.

Imagine my surprise then when I was stopped at a kind of toll gate where I was informed that entrance to the picnic site would cost me YTL 2.20! Wanting to revisit old haunts, I reluctantly coughed up and continued on my way.

There is a nice café and terrace, an area where you can hire all the equipment you need for a barbecue, and public lavatories. But oh dear; further on up the road in the welcome shade of the pine trees I found the area I had enjoyed so much in the past in pretty bad shape. It leads down from the area of picnic benches to a spit which overlooks Burgazada and where there are the remains of an old lighthouse or watchtower. Cruising down to the tower I noticed litter, broken beer bottles and scattered empty cans, bags of detritus and abandoned water bottles. The tower itself, which you can climb, was in a pitiful state with only one in three of the steps up the spiral staircase intact. I climbed anyway, as the 360-degree view is fantastic.

And I had to pay money for this? Moreover, the blaring music from the Beach Club was most off-putting.

Worse, exiting I found no one! People were strolling down the street and into the forest at will! I don't know who the bandits are on the upper entrance, but I think they are a tourist trap. You can get there by going up to Heybeliada's main road which is one way (tek yön), although hiring bikes or taking a phaeton (horse-drawn buggy) will save a longish trip. Once through the broad avenues

lined with magnificent houses, you end up in the forest and a little way on see the right turn sign down to the beach and thus have dodged the villains. I cycled up there and stopped at a bench area for a rest and some much-needed water.

The relative peace helped as well as a couple of young green lizards playing hide-and-seek around the benches, which cheered me up. I had had enough, however, and got the first ferry out of Dodge, direction... Burgazada, of course.

This island is worth cycling round counterclockwise -or taking a phaeton -- and the main road ends at a cul-desac and a very good restaurant to revive you for the return.

Going back is easy if you take the right fork and follow straight into the village. My heart greatly uplifted, after a late lunch sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree with a friendly lizard upside down on the bark for company, and looking across miles of sea to the European side, I headed back the quick way to the village and a much-needed freezing cold tonic and lemon at my favorite bar in the harbor.

Having checked the ferry time I needed to get back to Bostancý, I found I had 20 minutes to wait, so I set off for one more walk, pushing my bike, along the village's only (short) high street. To my surprise and immense delight, I bumped into Nazlý, one of my most beautiful, brightest and best former students, whose family had just settled into their holiday home for the summer. A quick excitable chat and exchange of new phone numbers, e-mails, etc., and I had to rush off to get the boat.

As I stood up on the top deck at the stern of the ferry, I savored the now less-fierce sunshine glinting across the water as if directly upon me. I was glowing, and not only because of the addition that had been made to my suntan from a full day out in the fresh air and scorching sunshine. I gazed back at the receding island of Burgaz, as a departing lover might do, already looking forward to returning to her: the island that is.

Finally, a propos of nothing, here's a joke I thought up over lunch: An ecologist is standing at a bar having a carrot juice, when he turns to the man next to him and asks, "Do you know what your carbon footprint is?" "How would I know?" the man replies. "I don't wear carbon shoes." Happy hols, and be careful in the sun; it's heating up here in more ways than one!

thor of "The Mediation Process," refers to substantive, psychological and procedural levels of conflict. In short, he means the "what" conversation, the "feeling" conversation and the "identity" conversation.

In Turkey, the second level -- feeling -- is essential to understand.

It includes power, status, emotions and other relational parts of the conflicting interaction. Remember, the tips we gave to our guests at the conference were on this level.

Turkey as a nation is in a struggle for her identity and Turks are very proud people. When a Turk believes he is being talked down to, he will become argumentative and not back down or be quiet.

Either way, your problem will not get resolved by that person. It will not matter to him if it things are set aright or not.

I guarantee if you show a little respect, stay calm (even if chaos surrounds you) and make the person feel important, the problem will get resolved. Granted it may not be in the way you thought, but at least it will be addressed and you will have been assisted.

Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman ‘s readers.

Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.”

Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com

LEGAL CORNER

BERK ÇEKTiR

Regýsterýng property under the name of a company (1) I have received two letters from my dear readers and both are relevant to acquiring property in Turkey through a Turkish company.

The first I will deal with today, and reads as follows: "Dear Mr. Çektir, I have found your articles most interesting and helpful. We have some property in Turkey and it was put into a Turkish company to safeguard it until the military permissions came through and then it would be put into my name as normal in the tapu office."

I have to interject here and make a remark.

This is unusual. There are thousands of foreign buyers who have purchased properties in Turkey and I haven't heard of any forming a company in order to safeguard the property until the military permission is given. Under normal circumstances you should have an agreement with the seller and this agreement should state that you have already paid a deposit or down payment that secures the property until the permission is granted by the military.

I am now suspicious of your situation and wonder if you have been sold property that is actually in a prohibited military zone, where permission will never be granted. I would venture to guess that the seller offered a property to you which is in a military zone and stated that someday the military zone will be lifted or foreigners will be able buy properties in the forbidden military zone after a change in legislation. If you suspect this, please let me know the details of your transaction and my response will be somewhat different.

"In between of course the law was suspended.

I understand now that all the necessary paperwork has been signed by the government and some minor adjustments are being made and then it will be law at the beginning of July. Does this mean that they can be transferred directly from the company into my personal name then?"

Before giving my answer, I have a question.

Who are the shareholders of the company? If it is you and your wife or a relative or friends there will be no problems in having the company board decide to make the transaction. In this case you will be able to sell the property from the company to your name. If the shareholders are third parties, then you should first make sure that the company will make a resolution to transfer the property to you.

In both cases, the transfer should not take place directly and you will need to wait for the military permission, unless this procedure is no longer included in future legislation. One should note that the government is unlikely to change the law in a way which enables foreigners to acquire properties directly as Turkish citizens can. I personally think that the military clearance requirement will be in effect for a long time to come.

"Does this mean that they can be transferred directly from the company into my personal name then?"

To sum up, you should not expect to acquire the property directly from the company without a military clearance check (if the property is not in the prohibited military zone), but you will be able to acquire the property from the company after the necessary processes are completed.

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.

CM Y K

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CULTURE&ARTS

Ýzmir's Celsus Library to host world premiere The ongoing 22nd edition of the Ýzmir International Festival will host a world premiere on Thursday night when Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis takes to the stage at the historic Celsus Library in the ancient city of Ephesus for a performance of Euripides' ancient tragedy "Phaeton."

The performance, set to start at 9:30 p.m., will be featured as part of this year's Turkish-Greek Art Get-together section of the annual festival. The performance will see Frangoulis sing fragments from "Phaethon," manuscripts of which were recovered in the 1890s in Egypt when experts discovered that a number of ancient Egyptian mummies were actually wrapped in old parchments on which Euripides's tragedy was written. The parchments were believed to be among those saved during a fire from the Library of Alexandria.

Thursday's performance, the first-ever staging of "Phaeton" in the modern world, features slight rearrangements of the text of the tragedy, since some parts of the manuscripts could not be restored. The performance in two acts, directed

by Nikos Charalambous, will feature a musical collage of ancient hymns dedicated to the Apollo, one of the twelve principal gods in Greek mythology, in its second act.

The Ýzmir International Festival, organized annually by the Ýzmir Foundation for Culture, Art and Education (ÝKSEV), this year runs until July 22, featuring 10 performances under the slogan "Feeding our appetite for art." Among upcoming events in the festival are a concert by jazz trumpeter Maffy Falay and his quintet; a special gala concert by opera singers Raffaella Angeletti, Roberta Canzian, Marco Berti and Vladimir Stojanov; and classical music concerts by the Virtuosi Italiani; the Ýzmir Festival Orchestra and the Bremen Youth Symphony Orchestra. The festival will end on a high note this year, with world-renowned maestro Zubin Mehta conducting the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra at the closing concert on July 22 at the Celsus Library. Ýstanbul Today's Zaman

TODAY’S ZAMAN 13

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CINEMA

CONCERT

Wim Wenders to chair Venice film festival jury

Ýdil Biret set for concert with Bodrum Orchestra

Acclaimed German film director Wim Wenders will chair the jury of this year's Venice Film Festival, Reuters reported. Wenders, best known for his films "The Buena Vista Social Club" (1998) and "Paris, Texas" (1984), won the Venice festival's Golden Lion prize in 1982 with his film "The State of Things," about a shoestring movie producer and his ragtag crew. The Venice Film Festival will mark its 65th edition this year from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.

The Bodrum Chamber Orchestra, a young orchestra founded in September 2007, is scheduled for a concert at the historic Bodrum Citadel this weekend.

Featuring world-renowned pianist Ýdil Biret as soloist, the orchestra, under the baton of maestro Naci Özgüç, will take the stage at 9 p.m. on Saturday night to present a repertoire consisting of pieces by Albinoni, Bach and Mozart, as well as Turkish composer Nevit Kodallý. Ticket price: YTL 20

ALBUM

Modern Turkish composers' polyphonic work out now A selection of the works of three contemporary Turkish composers -- Mehmet Nemutlu, Özkan Manav and Hasan Uçarsu -- is now featured on a double-disc album, released through the label Kalan Music. "Üç Çaðdaþ Besteci" (Three Contem-porary Composers), features 15 pieces that offer a sampling of the composers' work for piano and chamber orchestras. The album features a blend of concert recordings in addition to pieces recorded at studios.

Gencer to be remembered at Ýstanbul festival finale The 36th edition of the Ýstanbul International Music Festival ends tonight with a concert dedicated to late Turkish diva Leyla Gencer. The festival's resident orchestra, the Borusan Ýstanbul Philharmonic, featuring famous Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca as soloist, will present arias from the world Romantic opera repertoire at the concert to be conducted by maestro Karel Chichon. The performance is set to start at 8 p.m. at the Hagia Eirene Museum.

A ‘big’ deal for Peter Gabriel ‘Big Blue Ball’ features collaborations between Gabriel and US roots-gospel group the Holmes Brothers, Irish singer Iarla O Lionaird and Papa Wemba's Congolese band and Japanese percussionist Joji Hirota with Sinead O'Connor. About half the songs are sung in English; others are in Arabic, Congolese, Hungarian, Swahili and Madagascar languages

Toddlers inspire robot sounds in sci-fi movies The out-of-this world audio in the new animated science fiction movie "Wall-E" often comes from the most mundane, Earth-bound activities -- like a trip to the grocery store.

When Ben Burtt, the two-time Oscar-winning sound engineer who designed the voices of R2-D2, ET and now "Wall-E"s robot, needed the sound of shopping carts banging together for a scene in Pixar's movie, he took his 10-year-old daughter to a market, where they put their recorder in a cart and pretended to shop (banging into things in the parking lot for good measure). But when it comes to making robots emotionally resonant, Burtt bases his ideas on the voice of humans. Very small humans.

"The bulk of the vocals, the expressive vocals, are really sounds that are more like a toddler makes. ... Kind of the universal language of intonation," Burtt said in an interview aired on AP Radio.

Sometimes, though, finding just the right sound is the product of a happy accident, said Burtt, who has won sound effects editing Oscars for 1989's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and 1982's "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial." "I'd gotten a big punching bag, a big canvas bag that you normally would beat and box with it, and I wanted to do some impacts," Burtt said. "But I dragged it through the hallway to go to the studio on a rug, and it made a wonderful sound, like a howling wind." The result: the main component of the sound of a wind storm in the film. "WallE," a Walt Disney Pictures release, opened over the weekend in the United States. Washington AP

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AP

MTV may consider one more chance for Spears MTV isn't ruling out giving viewers more Britney Spears at this year's Video Music Awards. "Everyone deserves a second or third chance, right?" Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, playfully told The Associated Press during a telephone interview Friday. When asked if he was just joking, Toffler said "sorta." "Who knows?" he said.

Spears' out-of-it "Gimme More" comeback performance during last year's MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas was one of the most-talked televised moments of 2007. The drama-filled VMAs drew 7.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Another Spears redux could equal even more eyeballs. "I'm not sure how we top Britney opening the show," said Toffler. "We are working on it every minute of every day." This year's MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7. Toffler said the award show's performances will occur on the lot's various sound stages, rooftops and faux city streets.

"The backlot gives us versatility," said Toffler. "So we're pretty excited." Los Angeles AP

FESTIVAL

CM Y K

RANDY LEWIS LOS ANGELES

OK, so cut Peter Gabriel some slack for taking too long to finish an album: "Big Blue Ball," a long-simmering world music project he launched back in 1991, that finally surfaced last Tuesday.

In the intervening 17 years, Gabriel has released four other collections of his music, launched an innovative United Kingdom-based music download Web site (www.We7.com), continued nurturing WOMAD, the world music and dance festival he initiated in 1982 and started a lifestyle-driven site (thefilter.com). He also assembled The Elders, a group of about a dozen veteran world leaders, including former South African President Nelson Mandela, former US President Carter and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, with the aim of bringing their collective experience to bear on the planet Earth's social and political problems.

Meanwhile, "Big Blue Ball" sat.

And sat. And sat. But, in truth, partly because of Gabriel's many other interests and commitments. In some respects, it's taken nearly two decades for Gabriel and his collaborators to get a lasso around this large-scale effort.

Over the course of four years, Gabriel threw open the doors of his Real World recording studios for a week at a time, 24 hours a day. That way, musicians he'd invited from around the world to participate in WOMAD would have a forum to collaborate during the course of that event on new sounds and new ideas, unencumbered by geographical, musical or budgetary limitations.

"Big Blue Ball" features collaborations between Gabriel and US roots-gospel group the Holmes Brothers (on the album's first single, "Burn You Up, Burn You Down"), Irish singer Iarla O Lionaird and Papa Wemba's Congolese band and Japanese percussionist Joji Hirota with Sinead O'Connor. About half the songs are sung in English; others are in Arabic, Congolese, Hungarian, Swahili and Madagascar languages. It's eclectic, but there's a rhythmic pulse to the tracks that underscores the many-cultures, oneworld idea behind the project.

"We knew we only had this collection of people for a limited time, some of them for just two or three days," Gabriel said from his Real World headquarters in the countryside west of London. "So we decided to spend all time recording and performing and waste none of the time sorting it out. With the many, many tapes, which we were still using in those days, it was a bit of a nightmare."

Engineer Richard Chappell, who worked on virtually all the sessions, recalled that "in the first year, nobody quite knew what to do. In the second year, people started to get more excited about what was happening, and by the third time people had really figured it out. We'd have up to 20 different recording sessions going on in various places at the same time. If it wasn't raining, there'd be people set up outside with portable studios."

Gabriel gave the task of sorting

through mountains of raw material to Stephen Hague, who has produced albums by Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams and others, Chappell and mixing engineer Tchad Blake. "There were a lot of wonderful performances," Hague said, "but a lot of them were really unformed. ... My background is more in contemporary pop music, and I'm a real structuralist. My goal was to try to get these things to read from beginning to end, and in the end, I think the album reflects that."

Gabriel and his main "Big Blue Ball" partner, Karl Wallinger of World Party, were more interested in songs than an international jam session. "Jamming can be fantastic for those people who are participating in it, but it's not always great for the audience," Gabriel said.

"So Karl and I mostly stayed in the upstairs room and tried to steer people more toward actual songwriting."

Recently, he's said he thinks of "Big Blue Ball" as a fine wine, released only after it had been aged properly.

Not only that, but it also represents something larger for a performer whose career has been defined by a commitment to exploding conventions, either through his epic prog-rock excursions as the original lead singer of Genesis, through his genre-bending solo albums of the 1970s and 1980s and through his groundbreaking music videos in the early days of MTV. Whereas some musicians strive for hit singles, others for philosophical or political statements in themed albums, Gabriel is ever on the lookout for ways to change the fundamental shape of what music can and should be. "I always thought the digital revolution would actually change the content of music, the same way the piano roll or the 45 rpm single did," he said.

"But it's been very slow to come. I really feel there should be a cultural renaissance that digital technology could advance. So even though this project is 15 years old, I think it's still a precursor to a day when people all over the world can work together to generate new ideas."

"Now, not only can we make records very cheaply, but the costs of distribution have been virtually eliminated," Gabriel continued. "And I've always thought that should result in all sorts of things should and could happen, like collaborations left, right and center. We should begin to see more artists like Damon Albarn and Jack White, who can be part of two or three projects simultaneously rather than being locked into one identity."

And how did this forward-thinking musician choose to introduce this project to the world? The first version of "Big Blue Ball" was released in vinyl LP form two weeks ago, ahead of the CD and download editions that became available Tuesday. "I actually like the fact that young kids today are getting heavily into vinyl again," Gabriel said. "It's always had a very warm sound, so even though I'm a huge digital fan, there's still something to be said for analog -- in the same way that there's still something to a bunch of musicians sitting around in the same room playing together, as opposed to recording alone in their bedrooms." © Los Angeles Times, 2008

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T15-30-06-08.qxd

29.06.2008

16:28

Page 1

COLUMNS

TODAY’S ZAMAN 15

M O N D AY, J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 0 8

End of the road to accessýon?

Last Wednesday I arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. I was almost refused entry for having a Schengen visa not issued by Dutch but by Greek authorities. I walked away much disturbed, thinking that the treatment I got was perhaps a reflection of the anti-Turkish sentiment said to be growing in Holland.

When I stepped out of the terminal building, however, I came across taxi cabs driving around proudly adorned with Turkish flags. In the evening, while watching the game between Turkey and Germany at the hotel where I was staying, I was pleasantly surprised to see Dutch people around me cheering for Turkey. The next day, I was shown a cartoon in one of the leading Dutch dailies that wittily said, "By losing against Germany, the Turks have proved that they are truly Europeans." There is no doubt that the Turkish national team's successful performance in the European Championship has contributed to a favorable image for Turkey throughout Europe. TurkeyEU relations are, however, going through perhaps their most troubled period, due to crises on both sides.

The purpose of my visit to Holland was to attend the conference on "Perceptions and Misperceptions in the EU and Turkey: Stumbling

YAVUZ BAYDAR

ÞAHÝN ALPAY s.alpay@todayszaman.com

Blocks on the Road to Accession" organized by the Center for European Security Studies (CESS) and the Turkey Institute of Holland.

Various aspects of the current crises on both sides were taken up at the conference, attended by academics and experts.

It is clear that the EU is going through a crisis, mostly due to the reactions to enlargement in the wake of the accession of 12 new members since 2004. Those social segments who are the losers in EU enlargement and globalization are increasingly turning against the project, which has consolidated peace and democracy in the continent.

Fears are spreading among such groups that globalization threatens the welfare state and that immigrant communities, especially Muslims, threaten European national identities. Populist politicians are exploiting

these fears to further spread intolerance of different cultures and lifestyles. The principle of "unity in diversity" seems to no longer appeal to an increasing part of EU populations.

The current crisis in Turkey seems to bear similarities to the crisis in the EU. Aren't the closure cases against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Democratic Society Party (DTP), the former representing Muslim and the latter Kurdish identity, primarily a consequence of intolerance of different cultures and lifestyles promoted by uni-culturalist official policies and nationalist politicians? Aren't those who are increasingly opposed to the EU project those segments of Turkish society that are (in both economic and political terms) the losers in the EU accession process in particular and globalization in general? Resistance by losers to globalization and integration can be said to be the root cause of the crises being experienced in both the EU and Turkey today.

There is no doubt that the coinciding crises gravely threaten Turkey's EU hopes. In these circumstances the closure of the AKP and DTP by the Constitutional Court in Ankara will seriously raise the risk of suspension (never to resume) of the accession negotiations that have made scant progress since their start nearly three years ago.

No Comment

JAPAN, REUTERS

y.baydar@todayszaman.com

ÖMER TAÞPINAR o.taspinar@todayszaman.com

Iran and the US electýons

Turkey needs an opposýtýon that spreads hope, not fear I remember those early, off-the-record chats. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) leaders, astonished by the election victory in 2002, were conscious of the fact that their party, so full of promises then for a new Turkey, needed a rational opposition of the left.

Some of those leaders went so far as to say that they would discreetly endorse the existence of such an opposition. "Turkey suffered a lot because of mindless fights between party leaders who thought politics started and ended with their personal interests," a prominent AKP figure had said to me, referring to the rifts between Demirel and Özal, Çiller and Yýlmaz. "We will not behave like that," he added.

When I then asked about Baykal, they sounded hopeful. And the period directly following the 2002 elections proved that there could indeed be a new spirit for reform, as the Republican People's Party (CHP) gave its support to early EU reform packages.

But, there has always been something peculiar and unpredictable about Baykal, something which I believe the AKP leadership had miscalculated. As it became critical to solve the Cyprus issue, slightly before 2004 the AKP started to see a new pattern. As if "reset" for a new path, Baykal chose to oppose every move by the AKP, escalating his rhetoric to provoke Erdoðan whenever possible. Going against wise advice, Erdoðan fell into the trap, and soon after Turkish politics turned into a venue for a ruthless shouting match.

This was one of the greatest tactical mistakes by Erdoðan: he had to play somebody else's game.

Meeting with AKP leaders after the landslide victory in July 2007 gave completely different messages about the opposition. All their hopes of being able to communicate with a rational opposition were lost along the way. Lack of cooperation on issues such as Article 301 or the Foundations Law proved to the AKP, they told me, that the AKP from then on had to go it alone. While the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chose to keep the long-term strategy of a comeback, in the so-called left -- the CHP and Democratic Left Party (DSP) -- shifted to become the representatives of the bureaucratic elite, voicing solely concerns of "deep Ankara."

From a well-established, principled, rational, democratic point of view, the current panorama in Turkish politics is one of deep misery.

While two parties that together attracted more than half of the national vote are threatened by closure, others choose to look the other way, deliberately ignoring the huge threat to the entity that only has meaning with the free vote of the citizen. The staunchest supporter of this line is certainly the CHP, followed by the almost extinct, aimless DSP. These two parties do not conduct any democratic -- let alone leftist -line at all. They only attempt to fill the vacuum of voter support by praising closure processes -- whose criteria are fully open to discussion -- to share power, in the name of maintaining the status quo.

Currently, irrationality is so ingrained that, when observing the events surrounding the CHP and DSP, one can no longer even be surprised by its magnitude. In recent weeks, the CHP has been subjected to scandals and inquiries and not even blinked. The party's secretarygeneral, Önder Sav, blundered badly by leaving his cell phone on and accused the authorities of bugging his line. He did not apologize.

Instead, he attacked everybody in sight. The CHP did not show any signs of repenting when it was revealed that the party had a "special deal," aimed at propaganda, with a private TV station. And, when the top court filed a lawsuit last week, claiming that there were illegal transactions of some $800,000 in the financial records of the CHP, the entire leadership pretended as if it was about another party.

Meanwhile, a comedy is taking place at the DSP. Rahþan Ecevit, Bülent Ecevit's widow, who has no formal ties with the DSP leadership, suggested that DSP Chairman Zeki Sezer step down. She urged the party to "import" people from "the right" to stop the bloodletting. It is all about a minor party that is practically nonexistent both in ideology and practice.

Irrational? Laughable? Well, not really. Both parties have large sums of funds (tens of millions of dollars) placed in banks, and independent observers unanimously agree that the "political struggle" is all about that.

The heart of the matter is that these two parties, of the same caliber, are Kemalists, though they pretend they are social democrats.

They build their strategy on spreading fear of doomsday scenarios.

Humiliation, thereby, of the voter's intelligence domestically turns into sheer arrogance internationally. Attacks on the Council of Europe's declaration and Baykal's threats to the Socialist International (SI) -"The CHP must get a guarantee that it will not be subjected to criticisms at the SI congress" -- are the latest signs.

Today, in Athens, the SI is meeting. Whether the CHP will or will not be present there and whether the CHP will be allowed to be a member of the SI are not the core issues (these are the problem of the SI). The core issue is whether Turkey can progress at all with an opposition that spreads fear and with a total vacuum in the democratic left.

A Dutch official that we listened to at the conference said roughly the following on the current state of EU-Turkey relations: "Turkey was declared, somewhat reluctantly, a candidate for membership in 1999. When Turkey achieved significant reforms, it was decided at the end of 2004 that it 'sufficiently' fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, and accession negotiations opened at the end of 2005 despite demands by some member states that Turkey be offered privileged partnership instead of membership. Ankara, however, failed to fulfill its legal obligations to the EU and insisted on non-recognition of a member state. And now Ankara threatens to close down its government party. If that is the case, who can argue that Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen criteria? Many member states, with France in the lead, may very well demand suspension of negotiations.

Currently, Sweden is the only remaining member state in the EU who is earnestly fighting for Turkey's interests against France."

If the real purpose of the closure cases against the AKP and DTP is to derail Turkey's accession to the EU, the Constitutional Court may very well achieve that end.

Mýlýtary’s polýtýcal gluttony ÝHSAN DAÐI i.dagi@todayszaman.com

The military is the ultimate force capable of defending the country against foreign intrusions. For this it is equipped with weapons and personnel. Looking at the Turkish military based on leaked documents, it is obvious that the priorities of the Turkish military are quite different. Its officers engage in activities that have nothing to do with their job.

Let's remember the military's extra-legal activities in recent years. Last year Nokta magazine published extracts from the memoirs of a former navy commander, Gen. Özden Örnek (the veracity of which was later authenticated by a court), disclosing two attempted military coups in 2004 and 2005. These were not mere interference in politics through verbal statements, rather they were contemplated as hard coups led by Gen. Þener Eruygur, who later became the president of the Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD), according to the memoirs. Gen. Örnek noted in his memoirs the day he was appointed navy commander, "It seems from now on I will be involved more in politics and less in naval matters."

Nokta also revealed a General Staff document suggesting that the military should act together with "friendly civil society organizations." This was followed by so-called "republican rallies," interestingly led by Gen. Eruygur's ADD. Another General Staff document published in Nokta divided journalists into pro-military and anti-military. You probably remember what happened to Nokta magazine after that: It was raided by a military prosecutor, intimidated and closed. This was indeed the beginning of the military's more aggressive and open political operations, as reflected by an April 2007 memorandum.

The latest document, titled "Information Support Action Plan" and published by Taraf daily, shows that the military has never ceased its activities to influence the political and social agenda. They work to "bring the positions of high judges, university rectors and civil society leaders in to line with those of the military" as if there were a well-defined political stance of the mili-

tary. It talks of a transfer of resources to civil society to finance their pro-military activities. The action plan asks to "discredit individuals who are against the military's stance" and to order some authors to write books praising the military and its political role.

Could these be activities of a military in a normal democracy? It is now easier to understand why the military is against the EU membership and a democratization process. A military cannot engage in these kinds of activities in a normal functioning democracy. This attitude is not independent of the military's gluttony for political power. They know the simple fact that in the EU integration process, it is impossible to sustain the military's political power in Turkey. Thus the EU is viewed as a threat not merely to the Turkish nation state but the military's unaccountable political and economic power within the system.

Given the logic and approach in the latest "action plan," I wonder what kind of psychological operations the General Staff has staged since 1999 against the EU. I will not be surprised if one day such a military document is revealed.

Many high-level commanders have stated numerous times that democracy and human rights are a façade for anti-secular and pro-separatist movements. Why? Should it have something to do with the fact that in a normal functioning democracy the military has to withdraw to its barracks?

Mesut Yýlmaz, the former leader of the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN, formerly ANAP), stated last week that so long as Islamist and Kurdish separatist threats remain, the military will not withdraw to its barracks but will interfere in politics. The question is very simple: Would the military be willing to give up its power, accumulated, according to Yýlmaz, by the presence of such threats? Well, an entity would not voluntarily give up its power be it a private company or a state institution. The military is no exception. Then another question emerges: Would they wish for the excuses they use to maintain and exercise power to disappear? I do not think so. They have therefore an inherent interest in exaggerating the threat, be it Islamist or Kurdish separatist, in order to maintain their power, privileges and resources.

The threats that they exaggerate and sell to the people serve to justify their political gluttony.

CM Y K

Of all the countries in the world watching the upcoming American presidential elections, Iran is probably the country that has the most at stake. One advantage Middle Eastern autocracies have over the United States is that they can outlast American governments, elected for only four to eight years. The concept of losing power through democratic elections is foreign to most leaders in the Middle East. Therefore, Iranian and Arab regimes have one major advantage on their side: time. A Middle Eastern state that has a vital conflict with the US can stick around long enough and wait for the next American administration, with the hope that some "change" may occur with the new policy team in Washington. Middle Eastern autocracies have such longevity.

Democratically elected American presidents simply do not.

There are of course certain risks involved with this strategy. The American position against a certain Middle Eastern state may harden, rather than soften, from one administration to another. Yet longevity often pays off because when a new American president comes to the White House, there is always a tendency to discard the policies of the previous administration in order to make a fresh start. This was certainly the case for the Bush administration taking over from Clinton in 2000 and it will certainly be the case in 2008 if Barack Obama becomes the president. This is why Iran is probably hoping and expecting such an outcome. After all, Obama has already made it clear that he will adopt a very different strategy from the Bush administration in dealing with Iran. The Democratic candidate argued that his administration would consider direct talks with Tehran. "The notion of not talking to your enemies on the grounds that this would make you look weak is simply ridiculous. Look at what the Bush administration achieved by not talking to Iran. The Iranian regime is stronger than ever," Obama said in one of his multiple public debates with Hillary Clinton.

No wonder such words are music to the ears of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the regime in Iran.

On the other hand, the Iranian regime must feel little comfort listening to the Republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain. There seems to be no daylight between the Bush administration and a potential McCain administration when it comes to Iraq or Iran policies. McCain advocates a long-term American presence in Iraq. Comparing Iraq to Germany and Japan, where American military bases can still be found, the Arizona senator said Washington may stay as long as it takes in Iraq, "even 100 years if that's in the Iraqi national interest." Therefore, the difference between Obama and McCain could not be starker. As is well known, Obama was opposed to the war from the very beginning and he is willing to disengage the number of American troops in an incremental fashion. Yet, Senator Obama is also conscious of the risks involved in a speedy withdrawal. He has repeatedly said that "America has to be as careful in getting out of Iraq as it has been careless in getting in." This is why, in my opinion, the real policy difference between McCain and Obama is more about Iran than about Iraq. McCain is even more hawkish than the Bush administration about Iran. Several time he has argued that the "only thing riskier than an air operation against Iran is to have an Iran with nuclear weapons." No wonder Iran is genuinely hoping for an Obama victory.

The real question, under these circumstances, is the following: Can Iran do something to hurt McCain's chances of getting elected? The answer is yes. Iran can significantly reduce Mc Cain's chances by turning up the volume of violence in Iraq. All Tehran has to do is to instigate the Iraqi Shiite militia over which it has control. McCain's chances of getting elected are largely related to stability in Iraq. McCain came as far as he did in opinion polls thanks to improvements in the security situation of Iraq.

His candidacy and campaign is clearly associated with Iraq and depends on continued American success there. A major downturn in Iraq would clearly benefit Obama and hurt McCain.

However, there is one major problem for Iran. In case Tehran decides to fuel violence in Iraq in order to hurt McCain's electability, there will be a major price to pay. Such a strategy would give ammunition to hard-liners within the Bush administration who are anxiously waiting for an excuse to launch air attacks against Iranian nuclear sites. This is why Iran needs to be very careful if it decides to fuel violence in Iraq in order to impact US elections. There are many hardliners in Washington who await an Iranian provocation to finally have a legitimate excuse to attack Tehran.

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16 TODAY’S ZAMAN

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008

LEISURE

tv guýde

Gregorian Calendar: 30 June 2008 C.E. Hijri Calendar: 26 Jumada al-Thani 1429 A.H. Hebrew Calendar: 27 Sivan 5768 calendar@todayszaman.com

ÝSTANBUL: Beyoðlu CineMajestic: 11:30 12:45 14:00 15:15 16:30 17:45 19:00 20:15 21:30 Caddebostan AFM: 11:00 12:10 13:20 14:30 15:40 16:50 18:00 19:10 20:20 21:30 Fri/Sat: 23:00 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 11:00 13:00 14:15 15:15 16:30 17:30 18:45 19:45 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ÝZMÝR: Ýzmir Cinebonus Konak Pier: 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 11:30 14:00 15:15 16:30 19:00 21:30 Fri/Sat: 24:15

MADE OF HONOR

ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11.00 11.45 14.00 16.30 19.00 21.30 Fri/Sat: 24.00 Kadýköy Cinebonus: 11.30 14.00 16.30 19.00 21.30 Fri/Sat: 24.00 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 11.00 13.00 15.15 17.30 19.45 21.00 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

UNTRACEABLE

ÝSTANBUL: Þiþli Megaplex Cevahir: 11:30 13:30 15:30 17:30 19:30 21:30 Kadýköy Cinebonus Nautilus: 11:45 14:15 16:45 19:15 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:15 ANKARA: Kýzýlay Büyülü Fener: 12:15 14:30 16:45 19:00 21:15 ÝZMÝR: Cinebonus Konak Pier: 10:30 12:45 15:00 17:15 19:30 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30

Crossword

Aerosmith fans can finally get their chance to step into the shoes of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry as video game developer Activision Inc. released its Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game on Friday.

Dozens flocked to the Hard Rock restaurant in Times Square to see the legendary five-member rock band debut the game and try out the latest Guitar Hero addition. Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford even brought his sons to take a look at the band's creation.

The game features 30 of the band's most notable hits such as "Love in an Elevator" and "Sweet Emotion." It also includes songs from various artists Aerosmith performed and collaborated with over the years, including Run D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett. There is even a special guitar controller emblazoned with the band's red-and-white logo for hard core fans.

The game and guitar controller bundle for Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation3 and Nintendo's Wii sells for $99.99, with an additional PlayStation2 version for $89.99. The game is also sold individually for each of the consoles and costs $59.99 and $49.99, respectively.

The Aerosmith game is the first Guitar Hero edition that focuses on an individual rock band. The previous three versions of the game featured various rock music genres that ranged from grunge, classic rock, metal, punk and '80s hits.

"This is an experiment for us," said Charles Huang, co-founder of Activision's RedOctane unit, which oversees the Guitar Hero franchise. "There are certain artists that have so much great music like Aerosmith,

Movýemax 07:40 Flicka 09:20 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 11:00 The Invisible 12:50 A Deadly Encounter 14:30 Employee of the Month 16:20 Goodbye Bafana 18:30 Outlaw 20:30 WillFull 22:20 Goal II: Living the Dream 00:20 Blood and Chocolate 01:55 12 Days of Terror 03:25 Goodbye Bafana

REUTERS

WANTED

Aerosmýth steps ýnto výrtual world ýn new ‘Guýtar Hero’ PHOTO

ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:30 19:45 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:15 Kadýköy Cinebonus Nautilus: 11:00 13:00 15:15 17:30 19:45 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:15 ANKARA: Ata On Tower: 11:45 13:45 15:45 17:45 19:45 21:45 Fri/Sat: 24:00 ÝZMÝR: Konak AFM Passtel: 12:00 14:30 17:00 19:15 21:30 ANTALYA: Cinebonus Migros: 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:15

Goldmax 09:05 Bullitt 11:00 Everybody’s All-American 13:10 The Dead Zone 14:55 Autumn in New York 16:45 Say It Isn’t So 18:20 The Hunted 20:00 Behind Enemy Lines 21:45 Dune 01:40 Freddy’s Nightmares: Photo Finish 03:10 The Hunted 04:45 Bye Bye Love

Cnbc-e 18:10 Two And A Half Men 18:50 Scrubs 19:30 How I Met Your Mother 20:00 Chuck 21:00 CSI: NY 22:00 Malena 24:00 Las Vegas 01:00 CSI: NY 02:00 Malena 04:00 Scrubs

Hallmark 07:30 Back to the Secret Garden 09:15 McLeod’s Daughters 10:00 Bridesmaids 11:45 The Hound of the Baskervilles 13:30 Back to the Secret Garden 15:15 McLeod’s Daughters 16:15 Bridesmaids 18:00 The Hound of the Baskervilles 20:00 Wild at Heart 21:00 Inspector Morse 23:00 Midsomer Murders: Vixen’s Run 01:00 3 A.M. 02:45 Don’t Look Down

Aerosmith members attend a press conference for the new video game "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" in New York.

Metallica and Van Halen ... but we wanted to do something much bigger." The Santa Monica, Californiabased company said Aerosmith's vast collection of rock hits and elite status in the music industry made the band the ideal choice for the new game. "There's only a handful of bands that have that longevity," Huang said.

During the game's creation, band members spent two weeks performing in a motion capture studio in order for their video game figures to move

exactly as the group performs on stage.

Activision is set to come out with a Metallica Guitar Hero edition in 2009, but declined to specify what month the game will be released. The company will also release Guitar Hero: World Tour during the Christmas season, which will include a drum set and microphone in addition to the guitar controller. This version will rival Activision's biggest competitor "Rock Band," produced by Electronic Arts. Los Angeles Reuters

Comedymax

Cem Kýzýltuð

Mr. DýploMAT!

c.kiziltug@todayszaman.com 508

ROGUE

08:00 Til Death 08:30 Frasier 09:00 Maggie Winters 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 Til Death 14:30 Frasier 15:00 Maggie Winters 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 Til Death 20:30 Frasier 21:00 Two Guys and A Girl 21:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 22:00 What I Like About You 23:30 American Dad 00:00 Til Death

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ÝSTANBUL: Levent Cinebonus Kanyon: 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:30 19:45 22:00 Fri/Sat: 24:15 Caddebostan AFM: 11:40 13:50 16:30 19:00 21:15 Fri/Sat: 23:30 ANKARA: Cinebonus Panora: 11:00 12:50 15:05 17:20 19:35 21:50 Fri/Sat: 24:15

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 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 23:30 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 24:00 South Park 00:30 High Stakes Poker 02:30 Footballers’ Wives 03:30 South Park

festival in the world which has continued since the first contests in 1357 in Rumelia, than a name used for the European lands of the Ottoman state. Kýrkpýnar oil wresting, which has a tradition dating back almost 650 years, hosts persevering contests for a week, with the active participation of media, folk-dance groups, millions of spectators, artists and statesmen both from Turkey and all over the world, and with a varying array of activities every year. This year is the 647th anniversary of the festival and it will take place between June 30 and July 6.

June 30 is also an important day for music lovers because this is the birthday of Yngwie Johann Malmsteen -- a legendary guitar player, composer and bandleader. A Swedish musician widely recognized for his guitar skills, Malmsteen achieved widespread acclaim in the 1980s for his technical proficiency and his pioneering of the shred guitar technique and neo-classical metal genre. By Kerim Balcý

EASY

‘Wanted’

IT HAD TO BE YOU

ident) and the National Islamic Front, headed by Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, came to power through a bloodless coup.

Today is Revolution Day (or Army Day) in Guatemala. This day commemorates the revolution for agrarian reform on June 30, 1871, in which Justo Rufino Barrios overthrew President Vicente Cerna Sandoval.

Today is Troop Withdrawal Day in Libya. The day celebrates the withdrawal of the peacekeeping forces of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) from the border zone between Libya and Chad. OAU troops were deployed in the border zone upon the invasion of Chad by Libyan forces. As Libya had her troops withdrawn by mid-November 1981, the leadership of the OAU ordered the termination of the peacekeeping mission and withdrawal of troops by June 30, 1982.

Today the historical Kýrkpýnar oil wrestling and cultural events in Edirne begin. The festival is the oldest wrestling

Today is Independence Day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the third largest country by area on the African continent. A Belgian colony up until 1960, the country’s post-independence name was the Republic of the Congo until Aug. 1, 1964, when its name was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to distinguish it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo. On Oct. 27, 1971, then-President Mobutu Sese Seko renamed the country Zaire, from a Portuguese mispronunciation of the Kikongo word nzere or nzadi, which translates to “the river that swallows all rivers.” Following the First Congo War, which led to the overthrow of Mobutu in 1997, the country was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Today is the Revolution for National Salvation Day in Sudan, the largest African country by area. On this day in 1989 the coalition of Omar al-Bashir (still the country’s pres-

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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

movýe guýde

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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Alanya FM 94.4 Ankara FM 100.3 Antalya FM 92.1 Ayvalýk FM 101.1 Bodrum FM 97.4 Fethiye FM 103.1 Ýstanbul FM 101.6 Ýzmir FM 101.6 Kalkan FM 105.9 Kapadokya FM 103.0 Kuþadasý FM 101.9 Marmaris FM 101.0 Pamukkale FM 101.0 Trabzon FM 101.5

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CONTINUATION

Yalçýnkaya to argue AK Party closure at court

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The Supreme Court of Appeals chief prosecutor will make a verbal statement at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday in a closure case he filed against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

In the ongoing case against the AK Party, Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçýnkaya will give his verbal defense at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

The AK Party will present its verbal defense on Thursday.

After this process is completed, the Constitutional Court rapporteur will compile the evidence and statements and prepare his report on the content of the case. Both the AK Party and Yalçýnkaya will be able to submit additional evidence to the Constitutional Court in order to support their arguments while the rapporteur is preparing his report. After the report is complete it will be submitted to the 11 members of the high court, and Constitutional Court President Haþim Kýlýç will determine a meeting date for the case.

The 11 members of the Constitutional Court will come to a decision on the AK Party closure case during this meeting; if any of the 11 members does not attend they will be replaced by the senior of the four substitute members of the court. According to the Constitution, in order for the Constitutional Court to ban the AK Party it needs the approval of a qualified majority, namely seven out of its 11 members. The Constitutional Court can either close the party or deprive it partially or completely from receiving Treasury funds. Ankara Today’s Zaman with wires

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Thousands raise voice against coups with new movement contýnued from page 1 Meeting participants, numbering around 50,000, slammed recent military coup attempts perpetrated through several institutions that have resorted to anti-democratic practices, carrying banners that read, “We have set off with Common Sense, we will not take breaks in our path toward democracy”; “Sovereignty belongs neither to the judiciary nor to coups; it belongs unconditionally to the people”; “Say ‘stop’ to coups”; and “No to coups for full justice.” The meeting was held peacefully under tight security.

Memur-Sen President Ahmet Gündoðdu, who delivered a speech at the meeting, said the nation should have the final say on its future. “There are some circles in Turkey who say they will govern the country no matter who is in power.

We, as the nation, say ‘no’ to such antidemocratic initiatives. We will not consent to a democracy crisis and coup attempts.

We are here today to say that sovereignty belongs to the people. Turkey is a democratic and secular country governed by the rule of law. No single person is superior to another,” he said.

Hak-Ýþ President Salim Uslu said the single thing Turkey did not need was tension. “Our people should be in peace and solidarity. Turkey was in dire straits during the presidential elections. We are here today as democracy is being threatened and despised. Familiar scenarios are currently

being restaged. There are some who are forcing the boundaries of the Constitution. They wish to straighten out journalists, politicians and the nation.

There are attempts to replace rule of law and democratic values with a regime of judges. And the country is heading in a direction incompatible with democracy.

We shouldn’t still [have to] be calling for democracy and freedoms in this era,” he remarked.

Yýldýray Oður, on the other hand, who spoke on behalf of the Young Civilians, a group known for its use of sarcasm in its protests, noted the nation had so far remained silent in the face of coups and anti-democratic practices. “This meeting is an indication that the nation has finally broken its silence,” he said.

The Common Sense Movement will continue its string of meetings in the days ahead, with gatherings planned in different cities across the country. Saturday’s meeting came only one week after a similar gathering in Ýstanbul, where thousands rallied in protest of recent coup attempts.

More than 20,000 people gathered in Ýstanbul’s historical Tünel neighborhood on June 21 to raise their voices against anti-democratic initiatives in the country through a silent rally. The rally was held by a number of NGOs and spoke for the nation’s stance against those wishing to prepare the groundwork for coups and anti-democratic initiatives. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman

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The Common Sense Movement, a platform bringing together civil societies from different segments of society, held its first meeting opposing coup attempts and anti-democratic practices in Malatya on Saturday.

Turkish Syriac community gather for great ritual in Adýyaman.

Syriac community ritual takes place in Adýyaman The 10th Great Ritual of the Syriac Kadim Community took place in the eastern Turkish province of Adýyaman on Saturday with the participation of Assyrians from Turkey and abroad.

The ritual was conducted by the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Çetin, and Metropolitan of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the province of Adýyaman Melki Ürek, who is also responsible for Syriac churches in Þanlýurfa, Malatya, Hatay, Mersin and Elazýð. Assyrians prayed and lighted candles during the ritual, which was held at Mor Petrus-Mor Pavlus Church.

Delivering a speech after the ceremony, Çetin said the ceremony, organized on the occasion of the establishment anniversary of Adýyaman Syriac Church, brought together Syriac communities whose members were born and grew up in Adýyaman and later immigrated to other places.

Stressing the contributions of Syriac communities to the promotion of Adýyaman, Çetin said: “We love the people living in this country and we pray for all of them.

We always pray for the peace and development of the country and we pray for the removal of terrorist actions and the maintenance of world peace.” Çetin added that they faced some problems, as did other communities in Turkey, and that they were in contact with local administrations and the government for their settlement. “Some churches are not active. I hope the government can help us to pray there again. This would make us even happier,” he said, also saying that religious freedom was the cornerstone for a peaceful society. Ürek also gave a speech, saying that they held a very beautiful ceremony.

A dinner followed the speeches. Adýyaman Today’s Zaman

Babacan to host Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister

US missile base deal possible this week Poland and the United States may sign an agreement within the week on installing a US anti-missile base in Poland, a senior Polish official said on Sunday.

“The negotiations are winding down and everything points to an agreement being signed this week,” PAP news agency reported Zbigniew Chlebowski as saying.

Chlebowski, head of the ruling Civic Platform party’s parliamentary caucus and mouthpiece for Prime Minister Donald Tusk, declined to give details.

But speaking on a public-affairs radio show earlier on Sunday, Chlebowski criticized presidential aide and former foreign minister Anna Fotyga for paying an unannounced visit to Washington at the end of the negotiating process. “Whenever talks are in their final phase, only negotiators should take part in them, and Madam Minister Fotyga is not one of them,” he said.

His criticism reflected rivalry over foreign policy between the liberal government and conservative President Lech

Please be informed that Phytosanitary Certificate which belonged to plants that were imported by our company from China with the certificate number 310800208009615, dated 18/04/2008, has been lost and is not valid.

NEMA BAHÇE KÜLT. ÜRT.VE PAZ. LTD.ÞTÝ.

Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and immigration, is scheduled to arrive in Turkey today for a two-day working visit at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.

“During the meetings, our country’s EU membership negotiations and regional and international affairs will be discussed in addition to bilateral political, economical and cultural relations,” between Luxembourg and Turkey, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement released yesterday announcing the visit. Asselborn was appointed to his current post back July 2004, following parliamentary elections the previous month. In the spring of 2005 he visited Ankara for EU Troika-Turkey meetings as his country was then held the rotating term presidency of the EU. The current president, Abdullah Gül, was then foreign minister. The visit came on the heels of demonstrations marking International Women’s Day on March 8, 2005, when police used force and tear gas against demonstrators. Ankara Today’s Zaman

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Kaczynski. Fotyga on Sunday defended her US visit whose purpose she said had been to sound out the other side’s intentions.

“That mission has been accomplished. I am convinced the Bush administration wants to bring the matter to its successful conclusion,” she said on news channel TVN24. Washington wants to install 10 land-based interceptors in Poland as part of an anti-missile shield designed to protect the United States and its NATO allies from attack by what it calls “rogue states,”

particularly Iran.

Agreement has been reached with the Czech Republic which is to host the shield’s radar installation. Talks with Warsaw have frequently stalled over the Poles’ insistence on massive US military aid including short- and medium-range air defenses such as Patriot PAC-3, THAAD or AMRAAM missiles. Russia sees the proposed system as a threat to its national security and has warned of a new arms race if is deployed. Warsaw Reuters

McCain, Obama court Hispanic voters with reform promise Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday reached out to the Hispanic community, the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and one that is expected to be an important voting bloc in the presidential election. Each candidate sought to capitalize on an issue important to the Hispanic community -- immigration reform -- with McCain calling it his “top priority,” and Obama accusing the Republican of caving in to conservatives on the issue. The two spoke separately to some 700 Hispanics attending the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference. It is the first of three such appearances each candidate is scheduled to make to Hispanic organizations in less than a month, underscoring the importance of a voting bloc that is expected to carry a great deal of weight in such battleground states as Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and others with large numbers of Spanish-speaking voters.

Both McCain and Obama support an eventual path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country illegally, and, the issue is therefore not expected to be a major point of differentiation in the campaign. Still, Hispanics will be paying careful attention to what is said on the subject.

McCain co-sponsored broad bipartisan Senate legislation last year that would have overhauled the immigration system and improved border security; the legislation split the Republican Party as critics pushed for a border-enforcement only approach.

After the measure failed, and in the heat of the Republican nomination race, McCain emphasized the need to secure the borders first before enacting other reforms, which he said were still needed.

The Republican drew sustained applause Saturday after answering the question of whether “comprehensive immigration reform” -- and not just enforcement -- would be a top priority in his

first 100 days in office. “It will be my top priority yesterday, today and tomorrow,” McCain said. “We have to secure our borders ... but we also must proceed with a temporary worker program that is verifiable and truly temporary. We must also understand that 12 million people are here, and they are here illegally, and they are God’s children.”

Appearing later, Obama accused McCain of walking away from comprehensive immigration reform. “One place where Senator McCain used to offer change was on immigration. He was a champion of comprehensive reform, and I admired him for it. But when he was running for his party’s nomination, he walked away from that commitment and he’s said he wouldn’t even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote,” Obama said as the crowd interrupted him with applause. “We can’t vacillate. We can’t shift.”

Like McCain, Obama also was asked how broad immigration reform will rank in importance at the outset of his presidency. Said Obama: “It will be one of my priorities on my first day because this is an issue that we have demagogued.”

Responding to Obama’s criticism, McCain’s campaign issued a statement that said Obama “worked to kill” last year’s Senate legislation by voting for amendments to it that Democratic sponsors opposed. A recent AP-Yahoo News poll showed that Obama lead McCain among Hispanics, 47 percent to 22 percent with 26 percent undecided. Still, Obama, who is trying to become the first black US president, does not have a lock on the diverse group.

During the Democratic primary, Hispanics referred rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to Obama by nearly 2to-1. McCain is hoping to build on recent Republicans’ inroads with Hispanic voters. President George W. Bush captured about 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, the most ever for a Republican presidential candidate. Washington AP

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

elementary READING

thirty-seven. He's a really big doctor in Spain. Antonio thinks he is very clever.

He admires his uncle. He hasn't got any children and he is not married.

This is his father's sister, Maria.

She's a Spanish teacher. Her husband's name is Roberto. He's a businessman. He's got a lot of shops in Mexico City. He's quite rich. They have got a daughter called Bella.

Antonio loves his family very much and he is looking forward to seeing them again in the summer.

A family photo He works as an accountant in London.

Then this is his brother, Marc. He's at school. He's also got a little sister, Merriam, she's just four. Antonio loves his brother and little sister very much.

This is his mum's brother, Pablo.

He thinks he's about thirty-six or

ILLUSTRATIONS

OSMAN TURHAN

This is Antonio. His mother is from Spain and his father is from Mexico, but they live in London. He's nineteen and he studies Literature at London University.

He is very interested in books. This is his family: his mother, Sheila. She is fortyfive, and his father, Alejandro. He's fifty.

Activity: Must, Must, Must!

Circle the correct answer.

1.We're very busy. You will have to wait.

You ______ patient. a.must go b.must be c.must be in a hurry 2.It's important to talk to Caroline. You __________ to her. a.must leave b.must speak c.mustn't contact 3.This is a secret. You ________ anyone. a.must tell b.mustn't tell c.must meet 4.This is a really useful dictionary. You ______ it. a.must buy b.mustn’t buy c.must tell 5.Please stay on the pavement. You ______ on the grass. a.must run b.must'nt walk c.must go

Part 1: Comprehension Answer the following questions. Who...

1.is a Literature student? ______________ 2.is forty-five? _______________________ 3.has got a job as an accountant? _______ 4.is at school? _______________________ 5.does Antonio love very much? _______ 6.is Antonio's uncle? _________________ 7.is very clever? _____________________ 8.is a Spanish teacher? _______________ 9.is a businessman? __________________ 10.has got a daughter called Bella? _____

Part 2: Vocabulary Study the words given below and fill in the blanks using them.

1.interested: If you are interested in something, you think it is important and want to learn more about it or spend time doing it 2.accountant: one who does financial works and accounts.

3.about: nearly, around 4.just: only 5.really: honestly, in truth 6.admire: to be impressed by someone 7.quite: very, completely 8.called: given or having a specified name 9.look forward to: to wait for with pleasure 10.again: another time, once more

1.I think Sezen Aksu is a very good singer. I ________ her.

2.There weren't many people at the meeting, ________ Jack and Chris.

3.My father works as an _________ in a very big company.

4.She is ________ friendly. She gets on well with everybody in the class.

5.I will come to the meeting at ________ 10 o'clock.

6.I know her name. She is ________ Jane.

7.My friend is going to arrive on Thursday. I'm _________ meeting him.

8.I can sometimes be rude to you, but believe me! I _________ love you.

9.He is not _________ in football. He doesn't like ball games.

10.I sent a message to her, but she didn't receive. I will send it _________.

ýntermedýate READING

True (T) or False (F)

The famous Monastery of St. Bernard The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy. At 2470 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe.

The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was founded in the eleventh century, lies about a mile away. For hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass. These friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watch-dogs even in Roman times. Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, but each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty. Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.

During the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited

Activity: Small words have important meaning!

Circle the correct words to complete the sentence correctly.

1.John and Mary are my friends. The _____ I met after finishing high school. a.latter b.later 2.The library has _______ books. a.many b.much 3.Sam is two years ________ than Jeff. a.younger b.smaller 4.This mosque is the _______ building

VOCABULARY Specialized Vocabulary Literary Terms: Conflict (noun) is the struggle found in fiction.

Conflict/Plot may be internal or external and is best seen in (1) Man in conflict with another Man: (2) Man in conflict in Nature; (3) Man in conflict with self.

The man in the book was in conflict with his dark side.

Accountancy: Journal (noun) is any book containing original entries of daily financial transactions.

The company bookkeeper should always ensure that the journal is kept up-to-date.

TODAY’S LEARNING TIME

by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars. As there are so many people about the place, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure. However, in winter life at the monastery is very different. The temperature drops to -30 and very few people try to cross the Pass. The monks prefer winter to summer because they have no privacy.

The dogs have a greater freedom, too, because they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure. The only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of sliers who go there for Christmas and Easter. These young people, who love the peace of the mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.

in town. a.eldest b.oldest 5.There are only ________ apples left. a.a few b.few 6.I am very ___________ in Literature. a.interesting b. interested 7.I make ______ money than my sister. a.fewer b.less 8.Please tell me an __________ story. a.interesting b.interested 9.My father is 180 centimeters _______. a.tall b.high 10.June 13 was the _____ day of school.

Art: Canvas (noun) Fabrics that are prepared for painting. Available in panels, stretched on frames, or obtained by the yard.

Aysha bought two large canvases from Kabalci to start her new paintings with.

Cooking: Fry (verb) to cook in a hot fat.

Jihan fried two eggs for her breakfast.

Music: Classical Music (noun) is the period of music history which dates from the mid 1700’s to mid 1800’s. The music was spare and emotionally reserved, especially when compared to Romantic and Baroque music.

Bob always plays classical music on his stereo when he wants to relax.

1. The Great St. Bernard Pass is only the highest in Switzerland and Italy. ________________________________________ 2. For many years, St. Bernard dogs have rescued many people. __________________ 3. St. Bernard dogs originally come from Asia. ________________________________________ 4. Asians used St. Bernard dogs as watch dogs. ________________________________________ 5. A recently built tunnel makes the Pass harder to cross. ________________________ 6. Now, nobody tries to cross the Pass on foot. ________________________________________ 7. The visitors people who visit the monastery during summer are mostly people who are crossing the Pass by cars. _________ 8. Winter and summer time in the monastery is very similar to one another. ________________ 9. Monks of the monastery are happier during winter because they have more privacy. ______ 10. During winter, nobody visits the monastery. ________________________________________

a.latest b.last 11.I am afraid we do not have _____ bread left. a.any b.some 12. Antiseptic soap is the best way to keep your hands ________. a.clear b.clean 13.My father is two years ________ than my mother. a.older b.bigger 14.England is ______ European country. a.a b.an 15.Jack has ______ girlfriends than I do.

a.fewer b.less 16.The bad smell made me feel _____. a.sick b.ill 17.My father has been _______ since last spring. a.sick b.ill 18.Is there ______ oil in the fridge? a.many b.much 19.Would you like ______bread? a.some b.any 20.What is the ____ fashion from Paris? a.latest b.Last

Phrasal Verbs:

Idiom of the Day Cream of the crop MEANING: the best EXAMPLE: Of all the designers, Mark was the cream of the crop.

PASS OUT meaning: To fall asleep from exhaustion or from drinking too much; to faint. example: When we were in college, we used to drink until we passed out.

“Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.”

Rita Mae Brown

advanced READING

Get outside this summer and enjoy!

Put your heavy clothes away. Get your spring cleaning done. Take your swim trunks and flip flops out of storage.

Summer is here. Holidays. The beach.

Outdoor cafes and concerts. Just about everything that is great about life happens in the summer. Of course, this includes romance. If this is your first summer with the new girl friend, there are some great things to do out there with her. Don't be a "couch potato"! Get outdoors and enjoy.

So what are some of the special things you can do with your "friend"? Be innovative when planning a date with your girl. Do things that she likes to do.

Summer is all about being outside in the nice weather. Do things in places where she will be relaxed. This may distinguish you from all the other men chasing her.

Where are some different summertime activities?

Mini-golf: Challenge her to a game where the winner has to buy ice cream afterwards.

Have a picnic in the park: Get a blanket, some wine and food, and head to a local park. Throw the blanket down on the grass and enjoy the day.

Bring a Frisbee to the park: This is a lot of fun, and you can pick on each other afterwards about it.

Drive-in movie: Most big cities still have these types of settings, or they have a park that plays films under the stars. Going to one is different, fun, and something

she may have never done before.

Go to a concert in a park: Get the local newspaper and see who is playing.

Go to a rodeo: There are usually all kinds of rodeos in rural areas in the summer. They are a lot of fun, and will give you something to talk about after.

Go to a country fair: Is there anything more fun than trying to win your gal a stuffed animal?

Take a drive into the country: Check out some of the hamlets near you. It's good entertainment, and it gives you a chance to talk.

Go for a walk in the sunset: Select a place in your area which has a good view, and catch the sunset together.

Go to a street fair: Most villages have street fairs with vendors and food. Try on the exotic shirt, eat some food on a stick, and have a good time.

Summer is the time for new things and adventure. Don't spend all of it inside.

Vocabulary Exercise

6.to pick on _____ a.to tease b.to remove c.to select d.to hate 7.under the stars _____ a.on the beach b.in a stadium c.with famous people d.outdoors 8.rodeo _____ A form of outdoor entertainment with: a.jugglers and acrobats b. race cars and motorcycles c.cowboys and horses d.arts and crafts 9.hamlet _____ a.countryside b.animals c.small village d.metropolis 10.to vend _____ a.to lend b.to sell c.to buy d.to owe

Fill in the blanks with the correct words.

1.heavy _____ a.warm b.difficult to carry c.not light d.old 2.flip flop _____ A kind of: a.shirt b.hat c.belt d.shoe 3.innovative _____ a.limited b.boring c.special d.creative 4.to distinguish from ______ a.to connect b.to separate c.to define d.to add to 5.to head to _____ a.to score b.to go to c.to leave d.to injure

Activity: Idioms Read the sentences and guess the meaning of the idioms. Circle the correct answer: 1.Oh! It's raining cats and dogs today! I wish I'd brought my umbrella to school! a.I forgot my umbrella today. b.It's raining heavily. c.Cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

2.When I told my mom I would be home around 2 am, she had a cow! a.My mom bought a baby cow. b.My mom is really strange. c.My mom was really upset.

3.Mary: How did you know it was my birthday today?

Jane: Oh, a little birdie told me! a.Mary told Jane it was her birthday. b.An unnamed person told Jane about Mary 's birthday. c.Jane told Jean it was her birthday.

4.Jack: Why didn't your brother ride the roller coaster with us?

James: Oh, he's such a scared cat! He won't get on any fast ride. a.James's brother is afraid to ride the roller coaster. b.James's brother is a cat. c.James's brother didn't go to the roller coaster.

5.When the telephone salesman told me I could buy some concert tickets for only $20.00 if I gave him my credit card number, it seemed a little fishy to me, so I hung up the phone. a.I thought the telephone salesman smelled like a fish and I didn't like that. b.I thought the phone salesman was a dangerous fish and he scared me. c.I thought the phone salesman was dishonest and I felt suspicious of him.

6.I never learned how to use a computer, so I lost my job to a new employee. It's a dog-eat-dog world. a.Only the strong or the best survive. b.Dogs are eating dogs at the office. c.Dogs like to eat dogs for lunch.

FRIDAY’S ELEMENTARY: (Part 1) 1.They are talking 2.Tilly is the youngest student in the her birthday is on December 31st 3.It doesn’t feel very special 4.Beryl is ANSWER KEY: class, the shortest (Part 2) 1.is the tallest person in the class 2.Ben’s taller than Andy 3.is the tallest girl 4.is shorter than Brenda 5.taller…. uglier 6.are similar to\ look like 7.stick out 8.helps everyone ………. gets angry. (Activity) 1.auxiliary 2.verb 3.verb 4.adjective 5.noun 6.adjective 7.adverb 8.adverb 9.noun 10.noun INTERMEDIATE: (Part 1) 1.d 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.a (Part 2) 1.d 2.c 3.a 4.e 5.b (Activity) 1.for 2.for 3.since 4.for 5.since 6.since 7.since 8.for 9.since 10.for ADVANCED: (Reading) 1.b 2.c 3.a 4.c 5.d 6.d 7.b 8.c 9.a 10.b (Activity) 1.smog 2.emission 3.acid rain 4.to recycle 5.to destroy 6.climate 7.ozone layer 8.forest 9.to pollute 10.global warming POP Quiz Answer Key: (Part 1) 1.snail mail 2.gibberish 3.hog 4.b.o. 5.cheering up 6.clam up 7.do away with 8.freak out 9.gave in 10.a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Part 2) 1.experiment 2.feminine 3.male 4.felt 5.search engine

SPLASH OUT meaning: When you splash out on something, you spend a lot of money, perhaps too much, on something. example: I urge parents to think twice before splashing out on expensive computer games for their kids.

Slang: ROOKIE meaning: A beginner; one who is new to a profession or field. example: The older players taught the rookie how to play the game.

Confusing Words In English: ITS VS IT’S Its is a possessive determiner similar to 'my' or 'your' For example: Its color is red.

It's is the short form of 'it is' or 'it has' For example: It's difficult to understand him.

In cooperation with English Time

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SPORTS

Manny Pacquiao stops Diaz in 9th round Manny Pacquiao became the first Asian boxer to win major titles at four weights by stopping David Diaz in the ninth round of their WBC lightweight bout on Saturday. After starting his career 13 years ago as a flyweight, Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) has evolved into a dominant fighter in five divisions. Las Vegas, AP

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008

SOCCER

RUGBY

Aussie players wary after poor play against France

Gay equals fourthfastest 100 meters after near miss The sizzling run followed an embarrassing mistake by Gay in the opening round in which he said he misjudged the finish line and needed a late surge to qualify. Only world record holder Bolt and Jamaican countryman Powell, the former record holder, have run faster

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The winning margin seemed impressive -- 34-13 over France -- but the hot-and-cold performance against Les Bleus left Australia wondering who might make the grade for the upcoming Tri-Nations series. New Wallabies coach Robbie Deans forecast changes if there was no improvement on the 18-12 escape against Ireland two weeks ago, and might keep a similar lineup for the second test against France on Saturday in Brisbane. Star flyhalf Matt Giteau typified the mood in the Wallabies camp Sunday when, despite scoring one try, setting up another and slotting five goals in a personal 19point effort, acknowledged to feeling anything but safe under Deans. The Wallabies needed a 15minute flurry, which yielded three tries, to turn a slender four-point halftime advantage into the Wallabies' biggest winning margin over France in Australia. Giteau and halfback Luke Burgess both felt the Wallabies tried too hard to make things happen in the opening half and were now sweating on Deans overlooking those shortcomings when he and assistant coaches Jim Williams and Michael Foley have their next selection meeting on Tuesday. Sydney AP

SOCCER

Adebayor says he may leave Arsenal for Barca Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor said on Sunday there was a good chance he could be leaving Arsenal to join Barcelona. “Barcelona has made a good financial offer,” Adebayor told the News of the World newspaper. “Yes, I am still under contract to Arsenal but it is up to the directors to satisfy my demands, otherwise I will leave.” Recent media reports have also linked the 24-year-old player with a move to AC Milan but Adebayor made it clear the lure of Spanish soccer was strong. “You have to take advantage of the moment,” he said. “Why not go to Barcelona if the manager there (Pep Guardiola) already has me in his plans. That means there is a big chance of seeing me there.” London Reuters

CRICKET

Kiwis clinch series after beating England at Lord's New Zealand clinched a 3-1 win in the series by cruising to a 51-run victory over England in the fifth and final one-dayer at Lord's on Saturday, ensuring Kevin Pietersen's debut as captain ended in defeat. The home team, chasing 267 to win, were bowled out for 215 with skipper Daniel Vettori taking three for 32 with his left-arm spin. Owais Shah top scored with 69. Earlier, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram hit half-centuries to guide New Zealand to 266 for five in 50 overs. The second match in the series was abandoned as a no-result. London Reuters

Tyson Gay poses for a picture with his time on the clock after setting a new American record during his quarterfinal heat in the men's 100m.

World champion Tyson Gay equaled the fourth fastest 100 meters of all time when he clocked an American record 9.77 seconds in the quarter-finals at the US Olympic trials on Saturday. The sizzling run followed an embarrassing mistake by Gay in the opening round in which he said he misjudged the finish line and needed a late surge to qualify. Only world record holder Usain Bolt and Jamaican countryman Asafa Powell, the former record holder, have run faster.

"I thank God that I was able to run a (personal record), but that's what I want to do in the finals," said Gay, whose previous best was 9.84 seconds.

"After the first round, I was scared," Gay said. "I almost started crying as soon as I crossed the line because I thought I didn't make it." His time broke former world record holder Maurice Greene's 1999 national record of 9.79 seconds and

overshadowed Muna Lee's surprising win in the women's 100-meter final. Lee clocked 10.85 seconds to upset former world champions Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams.

Edwards finished second and Williams third to make the US team for Beijing. Both clocked 10.90 seconds.

Edwards had equaled the eighth fastest women's 100 ever with a time of 10.78 seconds in the semi-finals.

Marshevet Hooker, who had a windassisted 10.76 seconds on Friday, was a non-qualifying fourth and world 200-meter champion Allyson Felix took fifth.

"I was coming in here just trying to make the team," said the 26-year-old Lee, who was a member of the 2004 US Olympic team in the 200.

"I felt really well blasting at the beginning and feeling relaxed at the end," she said. America's top shot putters also earned

berths for Beijing. World champion Reese Hoffa won the event in 22.10 meters with world indoor champion Christian Cantwell second at 21.71m. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson was third at 20.89m. Hyleas Fountain dominated the heptathlon, winning with 6,667 points, the best score in the world this year.

Turnaround Gay went from a frightful opening run to America's best in less than three hours.

He had a comfortable four-meter lead by midway the opening race, but slowed down after about 70 meters. The field closed rapidly and Gay, now behind, had to surge for the finish. He made it, qualifying fourth in his heat in 10.14 seconds to advance. "(Had I not advanced) it would have been on (television) as one of the most bonehead plays," Gay added. Eugene, Oregon Reuters

The goals were flying in at just over two and a half per game before the final at UEFA Euro 2008 on Sunday. There were 76 already in 30 games, the same number as at this stage four years ago, with the quality matching the quantity. Here is list of the 10 best goals before Sunday’s grand finale, as compiled by the organizers of the Euro 2008 tournament: Lahm: Germany 3, Turkey 2 (semi June 25) Semih Þentürk's 86th-minute equalizer might have floored a lesser side, but not Germany. They quickly regrouped and within four minutes had won with a goal that will live long in the memory. Thomas Hitzlsperger's pass split the Turkey defense and Philipp Lahm smashed the ball over the advancing Rüþtü Reçber to send Germany to their sixth final.

Pavlyuchenko: Holland 1, Russia 3 (quarters June 21) Roman Pavlyuchenko had made the most of the chance afforded to him by Pavel Pogrebnyak's injury and he made no mistake when Sergei Semak found him with a cross 11 minutes into the second half in Basel. The FC Spartak Moskva striker thumped a firsttime volley beyond Edwin van der Sar. Schweinsteiger: Portugal 2, Germany 3 (quarters June 19) Bastian Schweinsteiger had been told by his coach, Joachim Loew, that he had a "debt" to his teammates after being sent off against Croatia. The midfielder went a long way to repaying it at St. Jakob-Park when he slid in at the near post to touch in Lukas Podolski's low cross to round off a blistering break down the left.

Ballack: Austria 0, Germany 1 (Group B June 19) After losing to Croatia the pressure was on Germany and though they never totally convinced against the cohosts one moment of magic from their inspirational captain was all they needed. It came four minutes after the break, Michael Ballack drilling a rising shot from a free-kick high past Jürgen Macho in the Austrian goal.

Nihat : Turkey 3, Czech Republic 2 (Group A June 15) Turkey scored a succession of stunning late goals but this was the pick of the bunch. Released by Hamit Altýntop's precise pass, Nihat Kahveci looked up before sending a curling shot around Petr Cech and in off the underside of the crossbar, completing a remarkable recovery and sending Turkey through to the quarter-finals.

Sneijder: Holland 4, France 1 (Group C June 13) Arjen Robben's third goal for the Netherlands deserves special mention but better still was their fourth. Wesley Sneijder picked up the ball on the edge of the area, waltzed round Jeremy Toulalan then shot high over Gregory Coupet and in off the crossbar.

Van Persie: Holland 4, France 1 (Group C June 13) Another Dutch counterattacking masterpiece started with a superb piece of skill from Ruud van Nistelrooy on the halfway line, which sent Robben haring down the left. He crossed for Robin Van Persie who volleyed in first time. Coupet got a hand to the ball but it was just too powerful.

Ibrahimovic: Greece 0, Sweden 2 (Group D June 10) The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until a moment of brilliance from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

After exchanging passes with Henrik Larsson on the edge of the area the FC Internazionale striker fired a thumping drive into the top right corner of Antonis Nikopolidis's net.

Villa: Spain 4, Russia 1 (Group D 10 June) David Silva retrieved a loose ball on the edge of his own area and set in motion a lightning-quick counter that saw Joan Capdevila and Andrés Iniesta combine brilliantly before the latter released Villa who sprinted into the box then shot low beyond Igor Akinfeev.

Sneijder: Netherlands 3, Italy 0 (Group A June 9) Giovanni van Bronkhorst started the move by clearing off his own goal line from an Italy corner. He then raced up field before hitting a cross-field pass to Dirk Kuyt, who cushioned the ball perfectly for Wesley Sneijder to hook past Gianluigi Buffon. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman AP

The Croatian Soccer Federation has been fined for the racist behaviour of fans at the team's Euro 2008 quarterfinal against Turkey, UEFA said.

“Croatian fans were guilty of displaying a racist banner and showing racist conduct at the match,” UEFA said in a statement. Turkey won the June 20 game at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time.

Croatia were fined nearly 12,500 euros ($19,680) and have three days after they receive the reasons for the decision to appeal, UEFA added on its website www.uefa.com. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman

Nihat’s goals chosen among 10 best before Euro 2008 final

REUTERS

Croatian federation fined over racist fans

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Ana Ivanovic

For three days running, a series of seismic shocks ripped through Wimbledon, causing destruction rarely witnessed so early at a grand slam tournament. The exit of Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic rocked the All England Club on Wednesday and 24 hours later 2004 Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova and twice runner-up Andy Roddick were also ejected.

On Friday, the biggest name in the women's draw, top seed and newly-crowned French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, was toppled in round three. The quartet were not the only players forced to catch early flights out of London: as the event goes into its second week, only six of the men's top 16 seeds and eight of the women's

have made it through to the fourth round.

For the men, it was their worst performance at Wimbledon since 2002 when only two top-16 seeds survived the first week. While Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have ruthlessly cast aside their opponents to reach the last 16, more significantly for local fans 12th seed Andy Murray also survived the cull to keep alive Britain's hopes of ending the 72-year wait for a home-grown men's champion.

The seeds who were not so lucky included Djokovic (3), Nikolay Davydenko (4), David Ferrer (5), Roddick (6), David Nalbandian (7), James Blake (9), Tomas Berdych (11), Paul-Henri Mathieu (14), Fernando Gonzalez (15) and Radek Stepanek (16).

Before the tournament started, many pundits were

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predicting the end of Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign after he was thrashed by Nadal in the French Open final three weeks ago. Even Swedish great Bjorn Borg, whose modern-era record of five successive Wimbledon men's titles Federer equaled in 2007, had picked the Swiss maestro as his third favourite for the championship, behind Nadal and Djokovic. While Djokovic has already left the grasscourt grand slam with his tail between his legs and Nadal dropped a set in the second round, Federer has silenced his detractors by gliding past his opponents. Little-known Russian Alla Kudryavtseva and Chinese doubles specialist Zheng Jie had little in common when they walked through the All England Club gates last Monday. London Reuters

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REUTERS

Wimbledon looking to recover after a string of upsets

Turkey's Nihat Kahveci scores during Group A match against the Czech Republic in Geneva on June 15.

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