Turkish Digest

FTN - Tourist Arrivals To Turkey Rise 19.2% in June

2008-07-24T16:12:00.000-04:00

"Tourist Arrivals To Turkey Rise 19.2% in June PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ozgur Tore
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Tourist arrivals to Turkey rose 19.17% year-on-year in June to 3.31 million, the Tourism Ministry said on Wednesday.

The number of tourists in the first half of the year rose 16.36% to 10.69 million compared with the same period last year."

More:FTN - Tourist Arrivals To Turkey Rise 19.2% in June

Turkish court convicts former Kurd party head-agency | Reuters

2008-07-24T15:27:00.000-04:00

"Turkish court convicts former Kurd party head-agency

ISTANBUL, July 24 (Reuters) - A military court on Thursday sentenced the former leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party to one year in jail for evading military service by deception, state-run Anatolian news agency said."

More:Turkish court convicts former Kurd party head-agency | Reuters

Turkish stocks' gains vulnerable to court verdict | Industries | Financial Services & Real Estate | Reuters

2008-07-24T14:07:00.000-04:00

"Turkish stocks' gains vulnerable to court verdict

By Thomas Grove

ISTANBUL, July 24 (Reuters) - Speculation that Turkey's ruling party will survive an ongoing legal case has boosted Istanbul stocks, but analysts say if the court decides to shut the party down stocks could fall to levels not seen since 2006."

More:Turkish stocks' gains vulnerable to court verdict | Industries | Financial Services & Real Estate | Reuters

Pilots in Turkey to organise stoppage over unfair dismissal

2008-07-24T11:57:00.000-04:00

"Pilots in Turkey to organise stoppage over unfair dismissal

Pilots employed by a Turkish airline have called for a work stoppage following the dismissal of a shop steward."

More:International Transport Workers' Federation: News online

Turkey Deploys Final Phase of Lockheed Martin's Vessel Traffic Management Information System

2008-07-24T10:07:00.000-04:00

"Turkey Deploys Final Phase of Lockheed Martin's Vessel Traffic Management Information System

BALTIMORE, July 24 MD-Lockheed-VTMIS

BALTIMORE, July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the world's most challenging
navigable waterways became safer and more secure recently when the Turkish
government deployed the final phase of the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Vessel
Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) for the Turkish Straits."

More:Turkey Deploys Final Phase of Lockheed Martin's Vessel Traffic Management Information System

Is A New Turkey On The Way?

2008-07-24T10:06:00.000-04:00

"Is A New Turkey On The Way?
Published: 7/24/2008

BY CUNEYT ULSEVER

HURRIYET- A number of people have taken upon themselves the task of making a new Turkey, along the following lines:"

More:Is A New Turkey On The Way?

Turk firms look to exports to hedge political risk

2008-07-24T10:04:00.000-04:00

"Turk firms look to exports to hedge political risk

By Selcuk Gokoluk
ANKARA, July 24 (Reuters) - One lesson Turkey's numerous crises have taught its industrialists is to become competitive and gain a foothold in foreign markets to survive in a country with acutely unpredictable politics.
Consumer demand is weak and growth is slowing in Turkey against the backdrop of a global credit crunch and a fierce battle between the Islamist-rooted government and its secularist opponents over the polarised country's identity."

More:Business Feed Article | Business |

Turkey to mediate Iran-West talks

2008-07-24T10:03:00.000-04:00

"Turkey to mediate Iran-West talks
16:25 | 24/ 07/ 2008

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Goncharov) - On his way back from the inconclusive Geneva talks between Tehran and the Iran Six over the disputed Iranian nuclear program, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili stopped in Ankara and held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan."

More:RIA Novosti - Opinion & analysis - Turkey to mediate Iran-West talks

A Turkish theater for World War III*

2008-07-24T10:00:00.002-04:00

"A Turkish theater for World War III*
By Chan Akya

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is on record stating his ambitions to make his country a modern and secular state modeled on the Turkish republic under Kemal Ataturk. Ironically, even as that goal appears mind bogglingly unachievable for Pakistan, recent events will conspire to push Turkey in the direction of Pakistan; into becoming a breeding ground for a new class of Islamic militants. The transition of Turkey into a new front for Saudi interests will follow typical ideological, strategic and political trends."

More:Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs

Austrian police arrest three PKK members for human trafficking

2008-07-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Austrian police arrest three PKK members for human trafficking
Three members of the outlawed PKK were arrested in Austria under charges of human trafficking and forgery, Turkey's state-run news agency reported."

More:Austrian police arrest three PKK members for human trafficking

Talking Turkey: How safe is it for tourists? - 07/23/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

2008-07-24T09:53:00.000-04:00

"Talking Turkey: How safe is it for tourists?

BY CHRISTINA TALCOTT AND CAROL SOTTILI
Washington Post Service

The July 9 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul caused some Turkey-bound travelers to question whether the nation is safe for visitors. The State Department posted a message on its website, advising Americans in Turkey to maintain a low profile and avoid ``facilities where Americans and Westerners are known to live or congregate, especially hotels, restaurants, housing compounds, places of worship, and resort areas.''"

More:Talking Turkey: How safe is it for tourists? - 07/23/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

Yusuf Kanli: Is party closure death penalty?

2008-07-24T09:46:00.001-04:00

"Yusuf Kanli: Is party closure death penalty?
Punishment has to be corrective in nature… That is the modern understanding of punishment. This understanding was the backbone of the anti-death penalty movement in Turkey until that inhumane application was lifted from Turkish criminal law by the Bülent Ecevit government with the exception of times of war and later by the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan government all together including the time of war."

More:Yusuf Kanli: Is party closure death penalty?

Turkey seeks support of UN's Ban for Council seat

2008-07-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

"Turkey seeks support of UN's Ban for Council seat
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan asked U.N. Secretary General to support the country's bid for a non-permanent seat at the Security Council, as he continued his lobby efforts in New York."

More:Turkey seeks support of UN's Ban for Council seat

Turkish çay: thirst solution

2008-07-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

"Turkish çay: thirst solution
Thursday, July 24, 2008

For ages the best remedy against thirst has been tea. Luckily, Turkish çay can be found anywhere, anytime in Istanbul, but it is still a challenge to find a nice çay spot"

More:Turkish çay: thirst solution - Turkish Daily News Jul 24, 2008

METU students protest against Ankara mayor - Turkish Daily News Jul 24, 2008

2008-07-24T09:42:00.000-04:00

"METU students protest against Ankara mayor
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Around 1,000 METU students criticize Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek’s decision, with placards in their hands that read, 'METU belongs to us and it will remain so'"

More:METU students protest against Ankara mayor - Turkish Daily News Jul 24, 2008

Burqa-Clad Woman Denied French Citizenship

2008-07-24T09:29:00.000-04:00

"Burqa-Clad Woman Denied French Citizenship
By Stephen Brown
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, July 24, 2008

A French court’s decision last month not to grant French citizenship to a burqa-clad Muslim woman provided a ray of hope to those willing to stand up for western values and oppose Islamization of their societies. But you would never know it according to the New York Times.

......As part of this “totalitarian political project”, the wearing of the burqa, head scarf and veil has long been regarded as the probing attack of militant Islam against western societies. Secular Turks and moderate Turkish Muslims perhaps understand best the importance and connection of Muslim female clothing with Islamic fundamentalism and its use as a weapon against secular society. Several months ago, 140,000 such moderates took to Turkey’s streets to protest the planned lifting of the ban against the head scarf at universities. Besides the social pressure women would face to wear the scarf, they feared the new measure would constitute an important step in their society’s Islamization."

More:FrontPage Magazine

Political divisions in the way of equality - Turkish Daily News Jul 24, 2008

2008-07-24T09:26:00.000-04:00

"Political divisions in the way of equality
Thursday, July 24, 2008

An attempt to heal political divisions and create a bridge between different factions in the country encountered a hurdle at a meeting yesterday in Istanbul, where a female opposition parliamentarian lambasted the governing party for lacking the political will to address women's issues."

More:Political divisions in the way of equality - Turkish Daily News Jul 24, 2008

Turkish warplanes bomb Kurdish rebel targets - International Herald Tribune

2008-07-24T09:19:00.000-04:00

"Turkish warplanes bomb Kurdish rebel targets

ANKARA, Turkey: Turkish warplanes bombed 13 Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, Turkey's military said Thursday.

Turkey has conducted frequent air raids on suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq. Earlier this year, it also launched a weeklong ground offensive there."

More:Turkish warplanes bomb Kurdish rebel targets - International Herald Tribune

Past Impedes Normalization of Relations between Armenia and Turkey

2008-07-24T09:14:00.000-04:00

"Past Impedes Normalization of Relations between Armenia and Turkey
24.07.08 11:10

Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 July/ TrendNews, corr V. Zhavoronkova, R. Hafizoglu/ Though it is important to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey, they will not solve the problem as it was emotionally charged with feelings they both had, experts said."

More:Trend News : Past Impedes Normalization of Relations between Armenia and Turkey

Erdogan Plans for Early Vote to Foil Possible Ouster by Judges

2008-07-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

"Erdogan Plans for Early Vote to Foil Possible Ouster by Judges

By Mark Bentley

July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, anticipating a court decision forcing him to quit, has begun preparing for early elections that likely would return him to power."

More:Bloomberg.com: Europe

Smoke violators pay 15,747 YTL in two months in Turkey

2008-07-24T09:11:00.000-04:00

"Smoke violators pay 15,747 YTL in two months in Turkey
24.07.08 15:44

Smokers paid 15.7 thousand YTL (almost 13.1 thousand USD) in two months for violating law that bans smoking in closed areas, reported World Bulletin.

Finance Ministry executives said on Thursday, 'we think that around 300 people smoked in closed areas in the past two months.'"

More:Trend News : Smoke violators pay 15,747 YTL in two months in Turkey

Why Are Neocons Attacking Turkey?

2008-07-24T08:58:00.000-04:00

"Why Are Neocons Attacking Turkey?

Avni Dogru | July 24, 2008

Editor: John Feffer

Some neoconservatives in Washington are obsessed with attacking Iran before President Bush leaves office at the end of this year. Hence, they have been pushing the Bush administration for increased economic and political isolation of Iran in order to weaken its current regime. Crucial to this plan is the support of Turkey, a traditional U.S. ally and an increasingly critical player in the region."

More:Foreign Policy In Focus | Why Are Neocons Attacking Turkey?

Trend News : Istanbul becomes 23rd most expensive city: Survey

2008-07-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

"Istanbul becomes 23rd most expensive city: Survey
24.07.08 16:58

Istanbul has been ranked 23rd in the Mercer's 2008 Cost of Living survey, reported World Bulletin.

According to the survey, Moscow is still the most expensive city for expatriates while Asunción in Paraguay is the cheapest."

More:Trend News : Istanbul becomes 23rd most expensive city: Survey

Setur Duty Free plots future as Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen concession begins – 24/07/08

2008-07-24T00:30:00.000-04:00

"Setur Duty Free plots future as Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen concession begins – 24/07/08

By Dermot Davitt in Istanbul

TURKEY. Setur Duty Free last week took over the 20-year duty free concession at Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport (as reported), a concession that will help “rejuvenate” the company’s fortunes, according to Setur General Manager Üstün Özbey."

More:TheMoodieReport.com | Setur Duty Free plots future as Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen concession begins – 24/07/08

Turkey goes for golf

2008-07-24T00:29:00.000-04:00

"Turkey goes for golf - 16 April 2008

Turkey is set to challenge Spain for golf tourism supremacy.

The Turkish Golf Federation has plans to build 100 new golf courses to add to Turkey’s current tally of less than 20. Golf tourism is already experiencing strong growth in Turkey and revenues should hit 500 million euros by 2010, but now Turkey really means business and intends to take on golf giant Spain head-to-head, with the Aegean province of Mugla as its secret weapon."

More:BuyAssociation - Turkey goes for golf