| Tuesday, November 25, 2008 |
| EU-Digest - Largest ever Dutch Trade delegation visits Turkey - The Netherlands one of Turkey's most important investors |

Largest ever Dutch Trade delegation visits Turkey - The Netherlands one of Turkey's most important investors The Largest ever Dutch trade delegation is in Turkey this week - A truly Dutch economic invasion of Turkey. The delegation includes a total of 134 company representatives ranging from Personnel Management to Environmental Companies, and every other category in between. One newspaper reported that even some buses in Turkey are carrying banners with the slogan "Holland Pioneers in International Business". The Dutch delegation is headed by his Excellency Frank Heemskerk, the Dutch State Secretary of Economic Affairs. Turkish PM his Excellency Recep Erdogan was so impressed by the size of the delegation that he changed his agenda to be able to receive the delegation later this week in Ankara.Yesterday the Dutch delegation cruised the Bosphorus. The Netherlands is one of the most important investors in Turkey. Last year Dutch investments in Turkey amounted to approximately euro 8.45 billion (US$11b. Turkey is also the 4th most important non-EU member trading partner of the Netherlands after Russia, Switzerland and the US. The Turkish-Dutch who are citizens of the Netherlands of Turkish ancestry numbered 357,900 people in 2006, according to the Dutch Census Bureau. They make up 2.2% of the total population. The majority of Dutch Turks live in the four major cities of the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht). The first Turks arrived in the 1960s and 1970s as workers to fill up the labor shortage during that time in the Netherlands, as well as in other Western European countries. The majority of Dutch Turks adhere to Sunni Islam, although there is also a considerable Alevi fragment. A number of Turkish-Dutch writers have come to prominence. Halil Gür was one of the earliest, writing short stories about Turkish immigrants. Sadik Yemni is well known for his Turkish-Dutch detective stories. Sevtap Baycili is a more intellectual novelist, who's writing is not limited to migrant themes. Nebahat Albayrak (born April 10, 1968 in Şarkışla) is a Turkish-Dutch politician in the Netherlands. She is the current State Secretary of Justice in the Netherlands. Labels: EU, Investment, Netherlands, Trade, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 11:26 AM   |
|
|
|
| Sunday, November 23, 2008 |
| http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3216 |
| For the complete report from Religious Intelligence click on this link Dutch take Islamic Ramadan festival as their own - by Paolo Gallini According to a new poll, the Dutch have adopted the Sugar Feast, which marks the end of the Islamic fasting month Ramadan, as one of their favorite cultural traditions.The choice of the festival followed a poll by the Dutch Center for Folk Culture. It came 14th in the list of 100 top traditions. The center (Nederlands Centrum voor Volkscultuur, NCV) asked several thousand people to name traditions that they considered important for themselves or for the Netherlands as a whole. No shortlist of options was drawn up in advance. Queen Beatrix in Hilversum unveiled the top 100 at the opening of the Year of the Traditions. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the top choice in the poll was the feast of Sinterklaas. This Dutch precursor of Santa Claus, celebrated each year on December 5, is followed on the list by the decoration of a Christmas Tree. In third place is Queen's Day on April 30. Labels: EU, Netherlands, Ramadan
|
posted by A-News @ 1:50 PM   |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, September 16, 2008 |
| Cyprus talks create 'positive framework' for EU aid programme |
"Cyprus talks create 'positive framework' for EU aid programme Famagusta Gazette 16.SEP.08 The decision of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to enter fully fledged negotiations for a Cyprus settlement will create a positive framework for facilitating the implementation and the success of the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, a European Commission (EC) report says."
More: Famagusta GazetteLabels: Cyprus, EU, Turkey
|
posted by Grassroots @ 8:30 AM   |
|
|
|
| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
| The EarthTimes: Anti-Islam film fails to provoke Dutch Muslims |
| For the complete report from The EarthTimes click on this link Anti-Islam film fails to provoke Dutch Muslims In the crowded shopping streets of Lombok in the fourth largest Dutch city, Muslims appeared much less motivated to take action against Wilders. Friday's shopping continued as usual. "No, we are not talking about Fitna," a man standing among a large group of Muslims standing outside a local mosque after prayers on Friday, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. "We are talking about my new car. That's really more important than some film by a Dutch legislator about the Koran." Dutch Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists seem to have found a common denominator: EU Citizenship, Democracy, and Free Enterprise. It might not be perfect, but its better than cutting each others throat or having some fanatic blow up your family. Labels: EU, Geert Wilders, Muslims, Netherlands
|
posted by A-News @ 7:29 PM   |
|
|
|
| Friday, February 15, 2008 |
| Barak says he’s lobbying for Turkey’s EU bid |
"Barak says he’s lobbying for Turkey’s EU bid
Praising Turkey's role in the Middle East region by calling it a 'strategic player,' Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak suggested yesterday that it would be 'a grave mistake' for the European Union not to eventually let Turkey in as a full member of the bloc."
More:TODAY'S ZAMANLabels: EU, Israel, Turkey
|
posted by Grassroots @ 9:01 AM   |
|
|
|
| Thursday, September 06, 2007 |
| ZNet: Secularism and Islam: the Turkish experience |
 For the complete report from ZNet click on this linkSecularism and Islam: the Turkish experience Most Turks - including, apparently, many of those who vote for the AKP - are proud of their country’s secular tradition. Earlier this year, when Gul’s presidential candidacy was initially proposed by the AKP, large numbers of them were led to believe that this tradition was somehow under threat. Their suspicions were not entirely unfounded. For instance, a dozen years ago Gul had talked about wishing “to end secularism” - although, not long afterwards, he had also spoken of wanting to see the “Islamic headscarf and the miniskirt walking hand in hand”. However, it wasn’t so much his utterances that his opponents picked on: they appeared to be piqued by the fact that his wife, Hayrunisa, sports such a headscarf. As do millions of other Turkish women. And, of course, there are large numbers who don’t. Anyhow, back in May there were massive anti-Gul demonstrations in Ankara and Istanbul. In Turkey the president is elected by parliament, and an opposition boycott led the Constitutional Court to annul Gul’s election, because it deemed the assembly inquorate. The decision was handed down after the military made it clear where it stood via a message posted on its website. With only a little bit of exaggeration, it has been described as the world’s first internet coup. Labels: EU, Islam, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 2:11 PM   |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, September 04, 2007 |
| Alde: The environmental quiz - answer and win |
| For the complete details on the ALDE quiz click on this link The environmental quiz - answer and win Did you know that just by closing the tap in between brushing one's teeth, you could save enough water to fill 6,000 Olympic swimming pools? Take the ALDE quiz and find out many more tips on how to save the environment and your own money! YOUR action counts! The ALDE Group is the 3rd largest political group in the European Parliament, holding the balance of power between the left and right. Labels: EU, the Environment, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 6:22 AM   |
|
|
|
| Friday, August 31, 2007 |
| Contra Costa Times/Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Turkey's exotic call: Eurasian flavorings influence culture mix - by Anne Chalfan |
| For the complete report from the Contra Costa Times/Pittsburgh Post Gazette click on this link Turkey's exotic call: Eurasian flavorings influence culture mix - by Anne Chalfan The Grand Bazaar boggles the eyes, the ears and the mind, with more than 4,000 shops spread over 61 streets under one roof. It's fascinating and confounding, with pulsating colors and beckoning vendors. Please, have a cup of tea and see our rugs. Lady, you like that purse? I make a good price for you. The Rimskys, who had experienced Grand Bazaar madness on a previous trip, did a little strategic planning prior to this trip and hired the services of the Screaming Shopper, aka Marilyn Hill Henderson. Henderson is a British ex-pat who promises to demystify shopping in Istanbul. The Rimskys walked into the hotel, grinning and dripping with sweat. Mission accomplished: They had bought three fabulous rugs that were being shipped to their home. And Mary Lou was adorned with a few baubles -- a fabulous gold necklace and earrings. Joe sported a new Izod shirt, with three more tucked in a bag.Turkish people are very friendly and work hard to speak English. Turkey is 99 percent Muslim today, but the nation remains secular, and Turkey is desperate to remain moderate in its quest to join the European Union. Istanbul, despite its milling 16 million, is a fun city with a plummy locale occupying both Europe and Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus, the inlet that divides the two continents. Labels: EU, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 5:13 AM   |
|
|
|
| Thursday, August 30, 2007 |
| Eurobarometer: The EU's relations with its neighbours |
A survey of attitudes in the European Union Highlights regarding Turkey:
Firstly, two out of the three current candidate countries are at the top of the list of countries that EU citizens mention spontaneously as being set to join the European Union in a near future. Respondents indicate first and foremost that Turkey is expected to be next in line to join the European Union (34%), followed by Croatia (12%). Citizens from the EU15 are more likely to know about Turkey’s membership bid (36% vs. 26% in the new Member States). The candidate status of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is still less well-known (5%). ****** At national level, the accession process of Turkey is the best known in the Netherlands (66%), Sweden (59%) and Denmark (55%). Slovenes are better informed about the candidate country status of Croatia (72%) and of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (22%). Almost every second Austrian mentions Croatia when speaking about future enlargement of the European Union (48%). ****** In general, EU citizens are moderately aware of the countries which are set to join the EU. They spontaneously name two formal candidate countries (Turkey and Croatia) in first and second place as countries set to join the European Union in a near future. However, the candidate status of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is less well known.
For the complete report: The EU's relations with its neighboursLabels: EU, Europe, Turkey
|
posted by Grassroots @ 9:35 PM   |
|
|
|
|
| BBC NEWS: Have Your Say - Is Gul the right choice as Turkish president? - send BBC your feedback |
| For the BBC survey click on this link Have Your Say - Is Gul the right choice as Turkish president? - send BBC your feedback Abdullah Gul has been elected president of Turkey - the first politician with an Islamist background to become Turkish head of state. Mr Gul took his oath at a ceremony in parliament, pledging loyalty to democracy and to the secular Republic. The European Union welcomed Mr Gul's election, calling it a positive step in the country's campaign to join the bloc. What is your reaction to Mr Gul's election as president? Is he the right man for the job? How do you think Turkey's secular opposition and the army will react? To give your opinion go to the BBC survey by clicking on this link
Labels: EU, Gul, Survey, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 5:03 AM   |
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S ZAMAN: Eurasia festival to offer Turkey award-winning movie premieres |
| For the complete report from TODAY'S ZAMAN click on this link Eurasia festival to offer Turkey award-winning movie premieres As drought-weary Turkey hopes to welcome cool and rainy days with the arrival of autumn, moviegoers and art lovers also have high hopes that the new season will help them shake off dreary summer days with festivals, major exhibitions and theater and opera performances. The Altın Portakal (Golden Orange) Film Festival, one of Turkey's major film festivals that has been running for more than four decades, will do just that in the holiday hotspot of Antalya when it gets under way in October. In its 44th year, the Antalya Film Festival -- which covers the Golden Orange and the newly launched sister event, the Eurasia International Film Festival -- is getting ready to salute film buffs with an extensive selection of European and Asian movies and a number of gleaming guests, including movie stars and film professionals from around the globe. Organized by the Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audiovisual Culture (TÜRSAK) in collaboration with the Antalya Foundation for Culture and Art (AKSAV), both festivals and the Eurasia Film Market will take place Oct. 19-28. Labels: EU, Film Festival, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 4:55 AM   |
|
|
|
|
| Forbes.com: US Army to Examine Iraq Contracts - intended for Iraqi security forces ended up being used for murders and other violent crimes in Turkey. |
| For the complete report from Forbes.com click on this link US Army to Examine Iraq Contracts - intended for Iraqi security forces ended up being used for murders and other violent crimes in Turkey. Among the contracts to be reviewed by the Army are awards to former Halliburton subsidiary KBR, which has received billions of dollars since 2001 to be a major provider of food and shelter services to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats in the US Congress have claimed that KBR, formerly known as Kellogg Brown and Root, benefited from ties to Vice President Dick Cheney, who once led Halliburton Co., the Houston-based oil services conglomerate, and congressional Republicans.Democrats in Congress have claimed that KBR, formerly known as Kellogg, Brown and Root, benefited from ties to Vice President Dick Cheney, who once led Halliburton Co., the Houston-based oil services conglomerate, and congressional Republicans. Labels: EU, Iraq, Turkey, USA
|
posted by A-News @ 3:17 AM   |
|
|
|
| Wednesday, August 29, 2007 |
| France says some Turkey-EU chapters should wait for some time |
"France says some Turkey-EU chapters should wait for some time France wants some parts of Turkey's accession talks with the European Union to go ahead before others, with those that assume Ankara will join the bloc waiting until later, a government spokesman said on Wednesday. In a speech on Monday setting out his foreign policy goals, President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would not oppose continued talks with Ankara as long as one possible outcome was the offer of an association with the EU rather than membership. France has said in the past it has a problem with five of the 35 areas, or 'chapters,' into which negotiations are divided, arguing that they assume an outcome of full membership."
More:TODAY'S ZAMANLabels: EU, Sarkozy, Turkey
|
posted by Grassroots @ 11:22 PM   |
|
|
|
| Sunday, August 26, 2007 |
| Israel must get US Jews to back down, Turkey's envoy tells 'Post' | Jerusalem Post |
"Israel must get US Jews to back down, Turkey's envoy tells 'Post' By HERB KEINON
Turkey expects Israel to 'deliver' American Jewish organizations and ensure that the US Congress does not pass a resolution characterizing as genocide the massacre of Armenians during World War I, Turkish Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan told The Jerusalem Post Sunday."
More:Israel must get US Jews to back down, Turkey's envoy tells 'Post' | Jerusalem PostLabels: EU, Israel, Turkey
|
posted by Grassroots @ 11:07 PM   |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, July 03, 2007 |
| How the Turks made Europe Safe for Capitalism - Salon.com |
 For the complete report go to Salon.com or click on this linkHow the Turks made Europe Safe for Capitalism The basic argument is not new in historical circles. The theory is that the incursions of the Ottoman Empire -- all the way to the gates of Vienna! -- forced European principalities to stop squabbling against each other and join forces against a common enemy. This is supposed to have had a huge impact on the ability of fledgling Protestantism to survive the bloody Counter-Reformation. Even mighty Catholic potentates like Charles V and the King of the Hapsburgs Ferdinand I were forced to grant concessions to German Protestants in order to gain their help in fighting off the Turk. Harvard development economist Dani Rodrik, himself of Turkish descent, pointed out Iguyun's paper in his own consistently excellent blog, observing impishly that "you would think the [European Union] would be a bit more hospitable to Turkey's membership aspirations," given the Ottoman Empire's crucial contribution to Europe's economic development. That seems unlikely, but it does raise an entirely different question. If the military threat from the Turks at least temporarily staunched internecine war between Catholic and Protestant, maybe the world today needs a similar external menace to reduce "clash of civilization" tensions between Islam and the West. Labels: EU, Turkey
|
posted by A-News @ 6:10 AM   |
|
|
|
| Thursday, May 17, 2007 |
| Turkish business and EU accession |
"Turkish business and EU accession By Sinan Ülgen Turkish accession prospects were becoming bleaker at the end of 2006, just over a year after the start of accession talks. Both Turkey’s political elite and its people are disillusioned with the EU. Opinion surveys show that support for accession among the Turkish electorate has fallen to around 32 per cent, a drop of 30 percentage points in just two years. Some Turkish politicians are advocating that Turkey should walk away from the accession process. Against this background of growing doubts and uncertainty, Turkish businesses have stood out as steadfast supporters of their country’s EU aspirations. Their support has remained strong throughout the turbulent history of EU-Turkey relations. However, now that business support is needed more than ever, there is a risk that it might be waning."
More:Center for European ReformLabels: Business, EU, Europe
|
posted by Grassroots @ 6:48 PM   |
|
|
|
| Tuesday, May 08, 2007 |
| Spiegel OnLine: Germany Greets Sarkozy Victory: A Beacon of Hope for Europe? - Carsten Volkery |
The European dream team? For the complete report from the SPIEGEL ONLINE click on this linkGermany Greets Sarkozy Victory: A Beacon of Hope for Europe? - Carsten Volkery Although Nicolas Sarkozy played the nationalist card during the election campaign, the future French president is still regarded as a beacon of hope for the EU -- particularly by the German government. Nevertheless, there are likely to be conflicts ahead on a number of issues, including talks on Turkish membership. As economics minister, Sarkozy was a tough protectionist, who wanted to protect France's "national champions" from too much disagreeable competition from other European Union countries. Among other things, he fought to stop the planned acquisition of Alstom by Germany's Siemens. And it was he who in May 2004 initiated his party's decision to hold a referendum on the EU treaty. The French "non" led to the current EU crisis. Labels: EU, France, Merkel, Sarkozy
|
posted by A-News @ 10:55 AM   |
|
|
|
| Sunday, February 04, 2007 |
| Turkey’s EU Membership Process: Short Term Problems and Long Term Perspectives |
"Turkey’s EU Membership Process: Short Term Problems and Long Term Perspectives
Turkey’s EU Membership Process: Short Term Problems and Long Term Perspectives
Kader Sevinç Adviser to a Member of European Parliament Overview
Turkey faces a momentous time and challenges in its increasingly complex and frustrating (for both sides) accession negotiations with the EU. There is still talk of the EU-Turkish relations once again heading towards another critical turning point (or a “train crash” in the words of the enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn) this autumn if both sides fail to reach common ground. "
More:..:: ABHABER.COM ::.. Turkey’s EU Membership Process: Short Term Problems and Long Term PerspectivesLabels: EU
|
posted by Grassroots @ 1:51 PM   |
|
|
|
|
|