Turkish Digest
 
ISSN No 1554-8414
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Armenian Foreign Min Says Wants Ties With Turkey - EasyBourse actualité
"Armenian Foreign Min Says Wants Ties With Turkey
Tuesday November 25th, 2008 / 16h25
YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP)--Resolving the dispute between Armenia and Turkey is in the interest of both countries, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said Tuesday following a rare meeting with his Turkish counterpart."

More:Armenian Foreign Min Says Wants Ties With Turkey - EasyBourse actualité

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posted by Grassroots @ 12:34 PM   0 comments
Qatar meetings important steps to end Turkish Cyprus isolation: Avci
"Qatar meetings important steps to end Turkish Cyprus isolation: Avci
Qatari Minister of Business and Commerce Al Thani said that opening a TRNC representation in Doha would help improve bilateral relations."

More:World Bulletin [ Qatar meetings important steps to end Turkish Cyprus isolation: Avci ]

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posted by Grassroots @ 12:30 PM   0 comments
Turkish ship hijacked off Yemen close to deal with pirates
"Turkish ship hijacked off Yemen close to deal with pirates
A Turkish shipping company owner, whose vessel was hijacked by pirates for ransom off Yemen, is close to a deal, company's lawyer said on Tuesday."

More:Turkish ship hijacked off Yemen close to deal with pirates

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posted by Grassroots @ 12:01 PM   0 comments
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.

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posted by A-News @ 11:26 AM   0 comments
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Istanbul considers 2020 bid
"Istanbul considers 2020 bid

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT/ Sports Features Communications

ISTANBUL, TURKEY, Nov 22: The European Olympic Committees' 37th General Assembly gets off to an exciting start with Turkish President Abdullah Gul telling the delegations that Istanbul once again is planning to throw their hat into the 2020 bid race."

More:Sports Features Communications® - Olympics Features

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posted by Grassroots @ 3:05 PM   0 comments
mnnonline: Christian satellite television sees growth in Turkey
for the complete report from mnnonline click on this link

Christian satellite television sees growth in Turkey

TURK-7 is an exciting Christian television channel broadcasting quality programming to Turkish-speaking people worldwide. TURK-7's Michael Glenn says it's a good fit because the Turkish people are hungry for media. "They are second only to the United States in the number of television channels. So they draw in this stuff, in an eager way. Half the population is under the age of 30. They're more media savvy, more in-tune to this kind of thing. Right now, we're doing four hours a day of broadcasting, and our goal is that within two and a half years, we can go 24/7

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posted by A-News @ 1:41 PM   0 comments
Armenian President to Visit Turkey
"Armenian President to Visit Turkey
23.11.08 14:33

In October in 2009, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will visit Istanbul, where he will watch a football match between the National teams of Turkey and Armenia within the framework of the World Cup, Armen Grigoryan, the Armenian Minister of Youth and Sport, said, the Turkish Yeni Shafag newspaper reported."

More:Trend News : Armenian President to Visit Turkey

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posted by Grassroots @ 12:11 PM   0 comments
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
European Science Foundation: Between success and failure: discrepancies among second generation immigrants in the Netherlands - by Angela Michiko Hama

The Netherlands-a magnet for Moroccan and Turkish immigrants


For the complete report from the European Science Foundation click on this link

Between success and failure: discrepancies among second generation immigrants in the Netherlands - by Angela Michiko Hama

No less than one quarter of second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands drops out of school. This is the most alarming result of a recent survey conducted among the second generation of Turkish and Moroccan descent in the two largest Dutch cities – Amsterdam and Rotterdam. However, this is only one side to the story as the survey report also shows that other second generation immigrants are doing extremely well, with a third continuing to higher education. How can these immense discrepancies in educational performance among second generation immigrants be explained?

The high drop-out rate among the children of immigrants – who are consequently labelled as 'at risk youth' – seems to be explained by two main factors: "Of course, the low educational level as well as the disadvantaged position in society of the parents of the second generation is part of the explanation", said Liesbeth Heering, International Coordinator of the survey from the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI). "However, the inability to cater for the diversity of the pupils in Dutch schools, especially in vocational schools, is an equally big problem" continued Heering.

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posted by A-News @ 8:28 PM   0 comments
Turkish Weekly Comment - Yes, we Cem! Congrats Mr. Ozdemir!
"Yes, we Cem! Congrats Mr. Ozdemir!
Cenk Alican

Wednesday , 19 November 2008

Germany`s Obama, Turkey`s Pioneer, Europe´s Elvis! Commentators and columnist of daily papers used endless synonyms to describe an event that has set benchmarks in Germany`s political and party landscape this weekend: 43-year-old Cem Ozdemir, member of the European Parliament since 2004, was elected co-chairman of the Greens at the party`s ordinary congress in Erfurt, receiving 79.2% of the delegates` votes. It is for the first time in German history that a person with immigrant background becomes the leader of a national party."

More:Turkish Weekly Comment - Yes, we Cem! Congrats Mr. Ozdemir!

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posted by Grassroots @ 1:04 PM   0 comments
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 Gazette

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posted by Grassroots @ 8:30 AM   0 comments
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reuters: ANALYSIS-"Fire in neighbor's house" has Turkey on edge
For the complete report from Reuters click on this link

ANALYSIS-"Fire in neighbor's house" has Turkey on edge

The conflict between Russia and Georgia threatens to undermine NATO member Turkey's ambitions to become an energy hub and could exacerbate misgivings among EU states about expanding the bloc right up to the Caucasus. The fighting over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, which has unsettled oil markets, is another reminder of the strategic importance of Turkey, a country that wants to join the European Union and sits in a volatile region bordering Iran, Syria, Iraq and former Soviet republics. With no energy resources of its own, Turkey has worked hard to become a transit route for Caspian and Central Asian oil and gas exports as Europe tries to reduce its dependence on Russia.

Along with neighbour Georgia, Turkey hosts the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which brings 1 million barrels per day of Azeri oil to Turkey's Mediterranean coast for Western export. It also hopes to host parts of the European Union-backed Nabucco pipeline, expected to be operational in 2013.

Confidence in the pipelines' security was dented last week when Kurdish terrorists claimed responsibility for an explosion that started a fire on the Turkish section of the BTC pipeline. "The East-West energy corridor and Turkey being an energy hub for the West is one of the principal arguments of Turkey in its application for the EU and the need to have a good relationship with Turkey," said Hugh Pope, senior analyst at International Crisis Group. "This conflict casts a shadow over Turkey's foreign policy platform of creating an area of stability."

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posted by A-News @ 6:23 AM   0 comments
Friday, August 08, 2008
Erdogan, Ergenekon, and the Struggle for Turkey - Middle East Forum
"Erdogan, Ergenekon, and the Struggle for Turkey

by Michael Rubin

Last month, Turkish prosecutors issued a 2,455-page indictment detailing an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan by an elaborate network of retired military officers, journalists, academics, businessmen, and other secular opponents of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Although the precise facts of the case are not yet clear, the so-called Ergenekon conspiracy appears to be a largely fictionalized construct, with an ongoing investigation geared mainly to warding off constitutional challenges to the ruling party, not coups."

More:Erdogan, Ergenekon, and the Struggle for Turkey - Middle East Forum

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posted by Grassroots @ 10:52 AM   0 comments
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Staunch secularist to head Turkish forces - The National Newspaper
"Staunch secularist to head Turkish forces

Thomas Seibert, Foreign Correspondent

ISTANBUL // Gen Ilker Basbug, desiganted to be Turkey’s chief of staff of the armed forces, faces the difficult task of balancing the military’s determination to keep its political role with the country’s ambitions to comply with European norms demanding civilian control over the armed forces."

More:Staunch secularist to head Turkish forces - The National Newspaper

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posted by Grassroots @ 11:29 PM   0 comments
Another Internet Site Becomes Inaccessible
"Another Internet Site Becomes Inaccessible

Youtube, the biggest global video sharing site, has been inaccessible for three months now. Another site, dailymotion.com, is banned, too."

More:Bianet :: Another Internet Site Becomes Inaccessible

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posted by Grassroots @ 4:26 PM   0 comments
Turkish Cypriots to Strive for Success of Cyprus Talks - Spokesman
"Turkish Cypriots to Strive for Success of Cyprus Talks - Spokesman

Nicosia, 5 August: The presidential spokesperson of the [self- declared] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday [5 August] that the Turkish Cypriot party was ready for the comprehensive negotiations to be commenced in Cyprus next month."

More:Turkish Cypriots to Strive for Success of Cyprus Talks - Spokesman

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posted by Grassroots @ 4:22 PM   0 comments
Monday, August 04, 2008
Israel stays out of Turkish deal out of fears of US | Israel | Jerusalem Post
"Israel stays out of Turkish deal out of fears of US
By YAAKOV KATZ

Concerns that competing with American-backed defense industries would endanger Israeli-US relations led the Ministry of Defense to back down from submitting a bid for a $400 million deal to develop and manufacture a new tank for the Turkish Armed Forces."

More:Israel stays out of Turkish deal out of fears of US | Israel | Jerusalem Post

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posted by Grassroots @ 9:45 PM   0 comments
Turkey appoints new military chief
"Turkey appoints new military chief

ISTANBUL, Turkey: Turkey's former army chief — a secular general and a strong advocate of NATO — will be the country's next military commander, the military said Monday.

Gen. Ilker Basbug, 65, will replace the current chief, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at the end of August, it said."

More:Turkey appoints new military chief - International Herald Tribune

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posted by Grassroots @ 8:53 AM   0 comments
Turkish lira firms to January levels, inflation eyed | Reuters
"Turkish lira firms to January levels, inflation eyed
Mon Aug 4, 2008 2:00pm IST

ISTANBUL, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Turkey's lira firmed to its strongest level since January 15 on Monday at 1.1495 against the dollar as analysts revised their expectations for July inflation."

More:Turkish lira firms to January levels, inflation eyed | Reuters

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posted by Grassroots @ 8:44 AM   0 comments
Turkey's July inflation likely to hit 4-year record due to energy costs
"Turkey's July inflation likely to hit 4-year record due to energy costs
Turkey's inflation for July is likely to hit a four-year high due to surging energy costs, according to recent surveys. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) in Ankara will announce the figures at 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Monday."

More:Turkey's July inflation likely to hit 4-year record due to energy costs

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posted by Grassroots @ 8:43 AM   0 comments
Friday, August 01, 2008
Great Moral Victory for Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya
"Turkey - Great Moral Victory for Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
July 31, 2008
The world mass media reported falsely on the recent developments in Turkey; announcing that the Constitutional Court ruled yesterday against closing the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is utterly false."

More:American Chronicle | Turkey - Great Moral Victory for Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya

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posted by Grassroots @ 2:25 PM   0 comments
Turkey: the Neocon nightmare?
"Turkey: the Neocon nightmare?
If you follow (even a little) the general neoconservative thinking on Middle East transformation, you know that Turkey has long been the linchpin ally in the region. No surprise there -- Turkey is a democracy, is secular, yet has a majority Muslim population and prefers a moderate approach to, well, most everything."

More:Gainesaying ...: Turkey: the Neocon nightmare?

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posted by Grassroots @ 11:11 AM   0 comments
With its nose bloodied, democratic Turkey needs our support « Greater Surbiton
"With its nose bloodied, democratic Turkey needs our support

Yesterday, Turkish democracy received a bloody nose, but not a knock-out blow. Turkey’s constitutional court voted six to five in favour of banning the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) - to which Turkish President Abdullah Gul also belongs - and banning its leading figures from politics. The court vote fell short of the seven-vote majority needed for a ban. Nevertheless, the court voted to cut the AKP’s state funding. Hasim Kilic, the court chairman and chief justice, described the ruling as a ’serious warning’ to the AKP: ‘I hope the party in question will evaluate this outcome very well and get the message it should get,’ he said; ‘The verdict on cutting treasury aid has been given because of members who decided that the party was the hub of anti-secular activities’, although ‘not seriously enough’ to ban the party."

mORE:With its nose bloodied, democratic Turkey needs our support « Greater Surbiton

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posted by Grassroots @ 10:35 AM   0 comments
Cyprus welcomes AKP reprieve in Turkey
"Cyprus welcomes AKP reprieve in Turkey
By Jean Christou

CYPRUS yesterday welcomed a decision in Turkey not to ban the ruling AKP party, saying it would bode better for new Cyprus negotiations due to get underway next month.

Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou said the outcome of the month-long political crisis in Turkey, which could have seriously impacted on Cyprus, was positive.

Speaking after a meeting with the heads of the diplomatic missions in Nicosia, Kyprianou said any political crisis in Turkey that could result in the strengthening of the military establishment would hinder the process for the solution of the Cyprus problem."

More: Cyprus-mail

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posted by Grassroots @ 10:02 AM   0 comments
Erdoğan Declares Theirs Is Atatürk’s Road
"Erdoğan Declares Theirs Is Atatürk’s Road

Speaking following the decision of the Constitutional Court, President of the Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tries to emphasize that they are not anti-secular, but on the contrary, their road is Atatürk’s road."

More:Bianet :: Erdoğan Declares Theirs Is Atatürk’s Road

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posted by Grassroots @ 9:56 AM   0 comments
Cyprus wedding unites both sides
"Cyprus wedding unites both sides

By Cemil Aybar in Northern Cyprus
A host of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot politicians and luminaries attended the wedding of Aysenur Talat, the daughter of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Al Talat last night.

The service was held in Kyrenia, with well wishers from both sides of the divide attending the event at the Crystal Cove Hotel.

Guests included US Ambassador Ronald Schlicher, UN Chief of Mission Taye Brook Zerihoun, DISY Leader Nicos Anastassiadies and former Cyprus Foreign Minister Nicos Rolandis."

More: Famagusta-Gazette

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posted by Grassroots @ 9:48 AM   0 comments
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
NYT: Turkey’s Governing Party Avoids Ban - by Sebnem Arsu
For the complete report from the NYTimes.com click on this link

Turkey’s Governing Party Avoids Ban - Sebnem Arsu

Turkey’s governing party narrowly missed being banned in a court ruling on Wednesday that released months of pressure in the country and handed a victory to the party’s leader, a former Islamist.The party, Justice and Development, or AKP, as it is know in Turkish, was kept alive by just one vote — six members of Turkey’s Constitutional Court voted to close it, but seven were required. A ban would have brought down the government, forcing national elections for the second time in a year and pitching the country into chaos. “A great uncertainty blocking Turkey’s future has been lifted,” said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the party, speaking in Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

And while the ruling was widely viewed as a win for Mr. Erdogan, and in turn for Turkish democracy, the court did not let the party off the hook, voting to cut its public funding in half, a strong but not fatal sanction, and issued a “serious warning,” that the party was steering the country in too Islamic a direction. “AKP is on probation,” said Soli Ozel, a professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul. “The court clearly said it sees the party as a focal institution for Islamizing the country.”

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posted by A-News @ 4:04 PM   0 comments
Nine detained in Istanbul's twin bomb attack probe
"Nine detained in Istanbul's twin bomb attack probe
Turkish police detained nine suspects in connection with the twin bomb attack in the Gungoren district of Istanbul, Dogan News Agency reported on Wednesday."

More:Nine detained in Istanbul's twin bomb attack probe

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posted by Grassroots @ 11:51 AM   0 comments
The Associated Press: Turkish bombings probed, official links Kurds
"Turkish bombings probed, official links Kurds

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA – 2 days ago

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Bomb blasts that killed 17 people and injured 150 others in a crowded neighborhood square appeared to be linked to a Kurdish rebel group, Istanbul's governor said Monday, though the rebels immediately denied involvement.

Gov. Muammer Guler said police were still investigating the Sunday night explosions, the deadliest attack against civilians in Turkey in five years."

More:The Associated Press: Turkish bombings probed, official links Kurds

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posted by Grassroots @ 10:20 AM   0 comments
A Blast, a Warning, And a Curious Child Is Killed in Istanbul - washingtonpost.com
"A Blast, a Warning, And a Curious Child Is Killed in Istanbul
Father Recalls Sunday's Twin Bombing

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, July 30, 2008; Page A10

ISTANBUL, July 29 -- After the first explosion, Seyma Ozkan rushed from her bedroom to the apartment balcony, her father said. Things don't often blow up in Gungoren, a working-class district near Istanbul's main airport. "

More:A Blast, a Warning, And a Curious Child Is Killed in Istanbul - washingtonpost.com

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posted by Grassroots @ 10:19 AM   0 comments
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
US basketball to be tested by tall Turks - International Herald Tribune
"US basketball to be tested by tall Turks

MACAU: They were sure easy to spot, towering over everyone and wearing red jackets as they walked toward the arena at this resort.

Turkey's basketball team is tall, and it might well provide the sort of challenge the United States is looking for as the Beijing Olympics near."

More:US basketball to be tested by tall Turks - International Herald Tribune

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posted by Grassroots @ 7:25 PM   0 comments
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce president hopes for more Pakistan and Turkish trade
"Istanbul Istanbul Chamber of Commerce president hopes for more Pakistan and Turkish trade
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 00:00 www.daily.pk

Leader of trade delegation, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and member of Higher Advisory Board MUSIAD, Murat Yalcintas has expressed hope that two way trade between Pakistan and Turkey will cross one billion dollars in the near future."

More:Istanbul Istanbul Chamber of Commerce president hopes for more Pakistan and Turkish trade

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posted by Grassroots @ 5:05 PM   0 comments
Turkey's church-state fracture
"Turkey's church-state fracture
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Particularly since 9/11, the West has liked to see Turkey as a symbol of what a democratic Islamic country might look like. Lately that ideal seems threatened by clashes between Turkey's secular and Islamist factions that are a sobering reminder that the church-state separation -- in countries where religion has ruled -- is no easy thing."

More:Turkey's church-state fracture - NJ.com

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posted by Grassroots @ 2:03 AM   0 comments
What Would Ataturk Do? Turkey Battles Over Long-Dead Leader - WSJ.com
"What Would Ataturk Do?
Turkey Battles Over
Long-Dead Leader
By ANDREW HIGGINS
July 29, 2008; Page A1

ANKARA, Turkey -- The Ataturk Thought Association, zealous guardian of the secular creed that guides Turkey, never thought it would come to this.