Turkish Digest
 
ISSN No 1554-8414
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Land, property to be roughest issues in Cyprus talks
"Land, property to be roughest issues in Cyprus talks
The toughest issues during the unification talks would be land and property, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Sunday, adding the negotiations will begin in June if none of the two parties in the divided island withdrew."

More:Land, property to be roughest issues in Cyprus talks
posted by Grassroots @ 1:13 PM   0 comments
Massa completes title hat-trick in Turkey - CNN.com
"Massa completes title hat-trick in Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Brazilian driver Felipe Massa won the Turkish Grand Prix for the third successive year in Istanbul on Sunday.

Massa is chased home by Hamilton as he completes a third successive victory in Istanbul.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton gave McLaren a major boost by finishing ahead of world championship leader Kimi Raikkonen, in the other Ferrari."

More:Massa completes title hat-trick in Turkey - CNN.com
posted by Grassroots @ 11:49 AM   0 comments
Turk Akbank takes lion's share of ING's army business
"Turk Akbank takes lion's share of ING's army business
Turkey's largest publicly traded bank in terms of market capitalization, Akbank said late Friday it sees 'an important opportunity' in the takeover of Oyak Bank by the Dutch financial giant ING."

More:Turk Akbank takes lion's share of ING's army business
posted by Grassroots @ 7:16 AM   0 comments
Is the EU's 'democracy check' on Turkey wrong? - Turkish Daily News May 09, 2008
"Is the EU's 'democracy check' on Turkey wrong?
Friday, May 9, 2008

Cengiz ÇANDAR

If anything “good” has come out of the closure case filed against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the Constitutional Court on March 14, it is the revival of Turkey-European Union relations which have been idle for some time. While that, of course, stems from “negativity,” it still is a revival."

More:Is the EU's 'democracy check' on Turkey wrong? - Turkish Daily News May 09, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 5:28 AM   0 comments
Hotel Of The Week: W Istanbul, Istanbul - Europe, Travel - The Independent
"Hotel Of The Week: W Istanbul, Istanbul

This isn't just a place to stay for the night, it's Istanbul's vision of the future


By Kate Simon
Sunday, 11 May 2008

Visitors to Istanbul come to see East meet West, old meet new. It's a tourism imperative that has been successfully realised at the W Istanbul, which officially opened last week."

More:Hotel Of The Week: W Istanbul, Istanbul - Europe, Travel - The Independent
posted by Grassroots @ 2:18 AM   0 comments
The scent of nostalgia in 133-year-old Tünel - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"The scent of nostalgia in 133-year-old Tünel
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Carriages of the Tünel, the world’s shortest, and Istanbul’s oldest, underground railway, have been renovated. Some restoration will also take place on the 574-meter long railway. Called the ‘Barbakan,’ the special water evacuation system in the historic tunnel has also been restored."

More:The scent of nostalgia in 133-year-old Tünel - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 2:06 AM   0 comments
Turkish wives battle culture of domestic abuse - Los Angeles Times
"Turkish wives battle culture of domestic abuse
Emine Yaman was paralyzed after she was shot by her husband. Her case shows how the law has yet to overcome ingrained traditions.
From the Associated Press
7:34 AM PDT, May 10, 2008
ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- Emine Yaman lies in bed, her legs rigid, her feet prone to sores and swelling. Paralyzed by a bullet that her husband fired into her chest, she is the face of domestic violence in a country struggling to discard long-held cultural practices that denigrate women."

More:Turkish wives battle culture of domestic abuse - Los Angeles Times
posted by Grassroots @ 1:54 AM   0 comments
Galatasaray clinch 17th Turkish title - CNN.com
"Galatasaray clinch 17th Turkish title

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Galatasaray beat Genclerbirligi Oftas 2-0 on Saturday to clinch their 17th Turkish league title.

Galatasaray finished the season with 79 points, six more than Champions League quarterfinalists Fenerbahce.

Both teams qualify for next season's Champions League."

More:Galatasaray clinch 17th Turkish title - CNN.com
posted by Grassroots @ 1:23 AM   0 comments
TurkeyOnTheNet » Blog Archive » Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources.
"Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources.
Posted Cumartesi, Mayıs 10th, 2008 at 23:08

Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources.
AYB Kredisi Turkey has been granted 300 million Euros in the form of two loans by the European Investment Bank, it was announced late Thursday.
The two loans will be used to support investments on renewable energy resources and environmental projects, the Turkish Treasury said in a statement issued in Ankara."

More:TurkeyOnTheNet » Blog Archive » Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources.
posted by Grassroots @ 12:56 AM   0 comments
First textilepark of EU in Turkey
"First textilepark of EU in Turkey

The foundations were laid for Istanbul Textilepark, which is the first in Turkey and Europe and has a few examples in the world, in Halkali with a budget of 17 million euro funded by EU
Textilepark, which was selected by EU among 52 sectors and planned to be the epicentre of textile and readytowear sector and started operating within 2 months, will set the first significant example of the cooperation between universities and industrialists in Turkey."

More:First textilepark of EU in Turkey - GÖZLEM GAZETESİ
posted by Grassroots @ 12:53 AM   0 comments
Hakan Şükür fails to make Terim's cut
"Hakan Şükür fails to make Terim's cut

Turkey coach Fatih Terim has named an inital 26-man squad for UEFA EURO 2008™ but there was no place for veteran striker Hakan Şükür.

Surprise omission
The omission of Hakan Şükür from Terim's list was the most surprising news given that he played eight times in qualifying. The 36-year-old striker was a member of the Turkey squad that participated in EURO '96™, UEFA EURO 2000™ and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. "

More:euro2008.uefa.com - Hakan Şükür fails to make Terim's cut
posted by Grassroots @ 12:51 AM   0 comments
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer dies at age 80
"Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer dies at age 80

By SUZAN FRASER

Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Soprano Leyla Gencer, who made her career at Italy's famed La Scala opera house, has died in Milan, officials said Saturday. She was 80.

The singer known as La Diva Turca -- the Turkish Diva -- died Friday of respiratory problems and heart failure at home in Milan, La Scala and the Turkish State Opera and Ballet said."

More:Charleston Daily Mail - News - Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer dies at age 80
posted by Grassroots @ 12:51 PM   0 comments
Surfacing — Istanbul’s Beat Is International - Travel - New York Times
"Istanbul's Beat Is International

TO sample the youthful sounds of Istanbul, snake down a narrow street behind Tunel square until you find Badehane. For years, this one-room corner cafe (General Yazgan Sokak 1D; 90-212-249-0550) in the buzzing night life district of Beyoglu has been a favorite of the bohemian set, which comes on Wednesday nights to listen to the gypsy tunes of a local legend, Selim Sesler."

More:Music Issue: Surfacing — Istanbul’s Beat Is International - Travel - New York Times
posted by Grassroots @ 10:50 AM   0 comments
Flying Broom Women's Film Festival starts in Ankara
"Flying Broom Women's Film Festival starts in Ankara

The New Anatolian / Ankara
10 May 2008

The 11th International Flying Broom Women's Film Festival kicked off in Ankara on Thursday with the theme 'Be Yourself and Create Your Dream.'"

More:The New Anatolian
posted by Grassroots @ 10:45 AM   0 comments
Turkish judge: new laws should not hurt secularism
"Turkish judge: new laws should not hurt secularism
The head of Turkey's top administrative court said on Saturday arrangements that would harm secularism could not be regarded as ensuring the right to education, adding foreigners should show respect to Turkish judicial organs."

More:Turkish judge: new laws should not hurt secularism
posted by Grassroots @ 10:42 AM   0 comments
IPSWICH-BORN Erdem Misirlioglu, of Turkish descent and with strong family connections to Newbridge, tells Mike Smith how it feels to be in the final.
"IPSWICH-BORN Erdem Misirlioglu, of Turkish descent and with strong family connections to Newbridge, tells Mike Smith how it feels to be in the final.

May 10 2008 by Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo

How did you feel when you heard you had reached the final?

“I felt surprised, but quite relaxed! My family made lots of noise. Mum probably cried.”

Have you had to practise more than usual for the final?"

More:IPSWICH-BORN Erdem Misirlioglu, of Turkish descent and with strong family connections to Newbridge, tells Mike Smith how it feels to be in the final. - icWales
posted by Grassroots @ 10:36 AM   0 comments
Kurdish rebels reportedly killed in Turkey airstrikes - CNN.com
"Kurdish rebels reportedly killed in Turkey airstrikes

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- The Turkish military launched airstrikes on Kurdish rebel positions in southeastern Turkey on Friday evening, killing 19 rebels, the military said.

The strikes followed a rebel attack on a military outpost in Hakkari province in which two Turkish soldiers were killed, according to the military's Web site."

More:Kurdish rebels reportedly killed in Turkey airstrikes - CNN.com
posted by Grassroots @ 10:03 AM   0 comments
Turkey gets 300 million Euros of loan from EIB
"Turkey gets 300 million Euros of loan from EIB
Turkey’s Energy Minister said Turkey would look to develop further geothermal energy resources."

More:Turkey gets 300 million Euros of loan from EIB
posted by Grassroots @ 5:53 AM   0 comments
Turkey's tension is between extreme secularists and Muslim democrats - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Turkey's tension is between extreme secularists and Muslim democrats
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Orhan Pamuk's novel on the tensions between hardline secularists and Muslim democrats seems to be a realistic analysis of today's Turkey, not a surrealistic exercise"

More:Turkey's tension is between extreme secularists and Muslim democrats - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 5:01 AM   0 comments
Higher Education Entry of Turkish Immigrant Youth in Germany -- Kristen et al. 49 (23): 127 -- International Journal of Comparative Sociology
"Higher Education Entry of Turkish Immigrant Youth in Germany
Cornelia Kristen

University of Leipzig, Germany, kristen@sozio.uni-leipzig.de

David Reimer

University of Mannheim, Germany, dreimer@uni-mannheim.de

Irena Kogan

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Germany, irena.kogan@uni-bamberg.de

Drawing on three large datasets from the German Higher Education Information System Institute (HIS) from 1990, 1994 and 1999, the study reveals that Turkish youth are considerably more likely than Germans to enter tertiary education. This result sharply contrasts with findings on the Turks' poor performance in primary and secondary school. The higher propensity for tertiary education among Turks can, to some degree, be explained by their lack of familiarity with the German system of dual vocational training and their educational motivation."

More:Higher Education Entry of Turkish Immigrant Youth in Germany -- Kristen et al. 49 (23): 127 -- International Journal of Comparative Sociology
posted by Grassroots @ 4:56 AM   0 comments
Carlsberg pulls out of Turkish market - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Carlsberg pulls out of Turkish market
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Wary of the government’s high taxes and competition in the sector, Danish brewer Carlsberg decides to leave the Turkish market. The firm, which formerly suspended its additional investments in the country, is now negotiating with Israeli partner CBC for the sale"

More:Carlsberg pulls out of Turkish market - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:54 AM   0 comments
Bravo! | Miami International Piano Festival - 05/09/2008 - MiamiHerald.com
"Bravo! | Miami International Piano Festival
Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

The Miami International Piano Festival continues through Sunday with three wide-ranging recitals and the traditional Concerto Night closer.

At 8:15 p.m. Friday, Gulsin Onay will make her Florida debut. The Turkish pianist will perform Schumann's Abegg Variations, Book II of Debussy's Images, Chopin's Ballade No. 3, along with works of Mendelssohn, Elgar and Ahmed Anan Saygun."

More:Bravo! | Miami International Piano Festival - 05/09/2008 - MiamiHerald.com
posted by Grassroots @ 4:54 AM   0 comments
Belek takes its place on golfing map - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Belek takes its place on golfing map
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Belek, chosen as Europe's golf destination in Europe this year by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, takes its place on the golf map by hosting a leg of the Ladies European Tour. The tour’s executive director says she is impressed with what Turkey offers to golfers
"

More:Belek takes its place on golfing map - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:34 AM   0 comments
How women found their voice in Turkish cinema - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"How women found their voice in Turkish cinema
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Here’s a brief look at the history of women in Turkish cinema. Take a look at how the one-dimensional female characters found their unique and distinctive voices in the last century"

More:How women found their voice in Turkish cinema - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:33 AM   0 comments
Surprise mothers with unique tastes - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Surprise mothers with unique tastes
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Hotels have special offers for this year's Mother's Day. Brunches and experiencing different tastes of various cuisines might be a part of this special day. Here are some choices from the Turkish Daily News"

More:Surprise mothers with unique tastes - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:32 AM   0 comments
Eyes wide shut with Sufi music therapy - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Eyes wide shut with Sufi music therapy
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Patients of the cardiac surgery intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital are treated with Sufi music therapy. The department’s medical specialist Erol Can, a Bulgarian immigrant of Turkish descent, tries to heal his patients through playing the ney, a traditional Sufi instrument"

More:Eyes wide shut with Sufi music therapy - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:31 AM   0 comments
Clan system breeds blood feuds and lots of wasted lives - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
"Clan system breeds blood feuds and lots of wasted lives
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Serdar Alyamaç
DİYARBAKIR – Turkish Daily News

Families in Turkey feuding against each other for generations know Sait Şanlı, chairman of what is known as the Reconciliation Committee, as a peacemaker. "

More:Clan system breeds blood feuds and lots of wasted lives - Turkish Daily News May 10, 2008
posted by Grassroots @ 4:30 AM   0 comments
3 killed in rebel landmine blast in SE Turkey
"3 killed in rebel landmine blast in SE Turkey

DIYARBAKIR: Three people were killed and five others wounded on Friday when a landmine detonated by Kurdish guerrillas destroyed their minibus in southeast Turkey, security officials told reporters."

More:Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - 3 killed in rebel landmine blast in SE Turkey
posted by Grassroots @ 4:28 AM   0 comments
Europe’s “Islamic Dilema”
"Europe’s “Islamic Dilema”

by Emy Matesan

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first visit to Germany in the beginning of February illustrates the “Islamic dilemma” Western European countries currently face. In front of a predominantly German audience, Erdogan had emphasized the need to better integrate the Turkish minority. He stunned Chancellor Angela Merkel when he suggested that Germany build Turkish high schools and universities in order to help the integration process."

More:COMOPS » Europe’s “Islamic Dilema”
posted by Grassroots @ 4:27 AM   0 comments
IMF completes Turkey review, freeing up $3.65 billion loan - International Herald Tribune
"IMF completes Turkey review, freeing up $3.65 billion loan

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund completed its final review Friday of Turkey's $10 billion (€6.4 billion) stand-by loan facility that is now drawing to a close after three years. Officials in Ankara have said there will be no new program and the country no longer needs IMF financing."

More:IMF completes Turkey review, freeing up $3.65 billion loan - International Herald Tribune
posted by Grassroots @ 4:25 AM   0 comments
EU parliament head slams possible court ban of Turkish ruling party
"EU parliament head slams possible court ban of Turkish ruling party
Mike Rosen-Molina at 2:16 PM ET

Photo source or description
[JURIST] European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering [official website] Thursday slammed a bid by Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya [official profile, in Turkish] to have the country's ruling Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) [party website, in Turkish] legally dissolved [JURIST news archive] for not respecting Turkey's strict secular principles. Poettering said it would be 'absurd' for the Constitutional Court of Turkey [official website, in Turkish] to close the party as it had come to power through democratic means. On Wednesday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn [official website] called for the Turkey to respect democratic principles [Turkish Daily News report] in what was considered a message of support for the government. Rehn has previously warned [JURIST report] that the closure of the AKP could have could be serious ramifications for Turkey's bid to join the European Union [JURIST news archive]. MSNBC has more."

More:JURIST - Paper Chase: EU parliament head slams possible court ban of Turkish ruling party
posted by Grassroots @ 4:23 AM   0 comments
Turkish Islamic author given 3-year jail sentence
"Turkish Islamic author given 3-year jail sentence

By Thomas Grove
REUTERS

11:29 a.m. May 9, 2008

ISTANBUL – Controversial Turkish Islamic author Adnan Oktar was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday for creating an illegal organisation for personal gain, state-run Anatolian news agency said.

A spokeswoman for his Science Research Foundation (BAV) confirmed to Reuters that Oktar had been sentenced but said the judge was influenced by political and religious pressure groups. "

More:SignOnSanDiego.com > News > World -- Turkish Islamic author given 3-year jail sentence
posted by Grassroots @ 4:19 AM   0 comments
FT.com / World - Political crisis hurts Turkey’s image
"Political crisis hurts Turkey’s image

By Vincent Boland in Ankara

Published: May 8 2008 18:26 | Last updated: May 8 2008 18:26

Turkey’s image abroad is suffering because of a crippling domestic political crisis that has shaken confidence in the financial markets, according to the country’s president."

More:FT.com / World - Political crisis hurts Turkey’s image
posted by Grassroots @ 4:17 AM   0 comments
Iran-Turkey trade projected to hit $20b by 2011
"Iran-Turkey trade projected to hit $20b by 2011
Tehran Times Economic Desk

TEHRAN - Iran and Turkey expect their bilateral trade volume to reach $20 billion annually in the next three years.

In a meeting with Turkish State Minister for Foreign Trade Affairs Kursad Tuzmen, Iranian Industries and Mines Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian said that Iran appreciates the expansion of bilateral ties."

More:tehran times : Iran-Turkey trade projected to hit $20b by 2011
posted by Grassroots @ 4:14 AM   0 comments
French PM says Paris is against Turkey's full EU membership - International Herald Tribune
"French PM says Paris is against Turkey's full EU membership

NICOSIA, Cyprus: France's prime minister reiterated his country's opposition to Turkey's full membership in the European Union on Friday."

More:French PM says Paris is against Turkey's full EU membership - International Herald Tribune
posted by Grassroots @ 4:12 AM   0 comments
CCWA Discussion Board - Turkey and the European Union
"Turkey and the European Union
Poll #1185228 Turkey and the EU
Turkey plays an important and often controversial role in world politics. In 2005 Turkey was tagged as one of the Next Eleven, a group of eleven countries determined as having strong potential to become one of the world’s largest economies based on macroeconomic stability, political maturity, openness of trade and investment policies and quality of education."

More:CCWA Discussion Board - Turkey and the European Union
posted by Grassroots @ 4:09 AM   0 comments
POSSIBLE RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY - Eurasia Daily Monitor
"POSSIBLE RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

By John C. K. Daly

Friday, May 9, 2008

Among the “frozen conflicts” left over from the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the economic implications of Armenia’s 1988 to 1994 conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are perhaps the most striking, as Armenia’s economy has until recently stumbled along while Azerbaijan’s has soared, floating on a tidal wave of oil export