Today's Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news :: News

Hrant Dink’s ‘deep family’ attends case hearing

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The “deep family” of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was fatally shot by an ultranationalist teenager outside the Agos weekly in 2007, was present yesterday during the 12th hearing of the Dink trial.

Council of State once again stands by coefficient injustice

BETÜL AKKAYA DEMIRBAŞ — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The 8th Chamber of the Council of State has once again ruled to retain a system that uses a lower coefficient to calculate the university admission examination scores of graduates of vocational high schools.The system makes it more difficult for vocational school graduates to enroll in a program of their choice.

Turkey missed opportunity for new constitution, says Gül

ERCAN YAVUZ — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

President Abdullah Gül, who spoke to journalists on Sunday before his departure for an official visit to India, said Turkey has missed the opportunity it once had to change its constitution, an anti-democratic document left over from the 1980 coup d'état era.

NGOs call for calm amid prospect of violence in Southeast

AYŞE KARABAT — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

At a time when many civil society organizations in Diyarbakır have urged the public to join in “two minutes of darkness for perpetual light” in order to protest against violence, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its offshoots are preparing to stage violent acts, planned to begin on Feb. 15, the anniversary of the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence on İmralı Island in the Sea of Marmara.

Parliament post-brawl peace efforts face obstacles

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin held a lunch at noon yesterday to reconcile deputies who had a physical brawl in Parliament last week, but the Republican People's Party (CHP) did not join in, in protest of an earlier standoff between Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Güldal Mumcu and Bülent Arınç.

Gül says MGSB not superior to Constitution, asks for revision

BEJAN MATUR — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

President Abdullah Gül has said the National Security Policy Document (MGSB), which acts as a guideline for the military in situations of domestic conflict, does not supersede the Constitution and needs to be revised in accordance with the realities of today.

Police capture BDP attackers in Balıkesir

SEDAT GÜNEÇ — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Several individuals who attacked the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) headquarters with pump rifles last Friday were detained in Balıkesir yesterday.

Labor unions seek talks with Erdoğan on Tekel dispute

TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A number of labor unions have made a joint decision to take the initiative to meet with Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Şahin and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an attempt to find a solution to the current debate over Tekel, Turkey’s alcohol and tobacco monopoly.

India-Turkey: Time to translate commonalities into closer bilateral ties

EMINE KART — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Whenever there was a need to talk about bilateral relations between India and Turkey, a brief sentence mentioning their history of friendly relations but also unmet potential for cooperation was enough.

Illnesses caused by smoking kill 100,000 annually in Turkey

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

About 100,000 people die as a result of tobacco-related illnesses every year in Turkey, Green Crescent Fight Against Alcohol and Cigarette Abuse Chairman Necati Özfatura has said.

Ankara defies US pressure on normalization process with Armenia

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Already annoyed by an Armenian court ruling which it says threatens agreements to normalize relations with Yerevan, Ankara is highly uncomfortable with a planned vote in a US congressional committee next month on a resolution to label the World War I-era killings of Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire as “genocide,” because it regards the timing of such move as an indication of pressure being imposed on Turkey.

Yanukovich presses Tymoshenko to concede Ukraine election defeat

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich on Monday pressed rival Yulia Tymoshenko to concede defeat after his slender victory in a presidential election that could tilt the ex-Soviet state back toward Moscow.

Ankara to host trilateral Balkan talks, eyes breakthrough

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic will have a trilateral meeting in Ankara today, marking the fifth such trilateral meeting between the ministers.

No way back from democracy for Turkey, says Erdoğan

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Stressing that Turkey has taken historic steps on its quest for democratization, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Turkey cannot turn away from the progress it has made and return to darker days.

Iraqi Sunni leader has talks in Ankara at delicate time

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Leading Iraqi Sunni leader Osama al-Tikriti was in Ankara on Monday for separate talks with both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Davutoğlu to pay official visit to Kazakhstan

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is scheduled to depart for Kazakhstan on Wednesday for an official three-day visit at the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart, Kanat Saudabayev, the Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.

MİT agents, intelligence officers frequented Ergenekon suspect’s place

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A tea garden owned by Osman Gürbüz, a suspect in the investigation into a clandestine gang charged with plotting to overthrow the government known as Ergenekon, was frequently visited by members of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), police and gendarmerie officers as well as officers from various intelligence departments, according to testimony from the suspect.

Storms, heavy rain paralyze life in western, southern Turkey

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Storms and rainy weather paralyzed life yesterday in Turkey’s southwestern provinces, including Antalya, İzmir, Denizli and Edirne.

Report: Israel restricts tourism advertisements involving Turkish Cyprus

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has curtailed the advertisements of a company that offers tourism services to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), an Israeli daily has reported.

Parliament to debate bill on stone-throwing minors

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A bill aiming to prevent minors detained on charges of throwing stones at security forces during illegal demonstrations from facing trial as adults under Turkey’s Counterterrorism Law will soon be brought to Parliament for deliberation, a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy has said.

Costa Rica elects Chinchilla first woman president

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Laura Chinchilla, a protege of Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias, won a landslide election victory in Costa Rica on Sunday to become the country’s first woman elected president.

Parliament to look into recent child kidnappings

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A group of deputies has called for the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate a recent spate of child abductions throughout the nation.

Turkish foreign minister due to Kazakhstan

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will leave for Kazakhstan on Wednesday as the guest of Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.

US federal agencies closed due to blizzard

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The federal government announced it would remain closed on Monday and most schools planned to shut down as residents of the US mid-Atlantic struggled to dig out from a blizzard that dumped two feet (half a meter) of snow on the region.

Millions of kids return to school for new semester

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

About 15 million elementary, middle and high school students started the spring semester yesterday following a two-week winter break which started on Jan. 22.

Excavations in search of dead bodies resume at Habur

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Excavations have resumed on land near the Habur border gate in the southeastern province of Şırnak as part of an investigation launched following statements from a long-time military translator who claimed that individuals executed illegally had been buried there.

Turkish prime minister due to Qatar

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay a visit to Qatar on February 13 and 14 upon an invitation by Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani.

Shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station

AP — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Endeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit on Monday on what’s expected to be the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station.

Antalya to export 43 million flowers for Valentine’s Day

ŞABAN GÜNDÜZ — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Nearly 43 million cut flowers will be exported to Western Europe, particularly England, the Netherlands and Germany, for Valentine’s Day, the chairman of the Antalya Union of Cut Flower Exporters, Osman Bağdatlıoğlu, said on Monday.

Altan summoned to military court for testimony on plot

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A military court has summoned Ahmet Altan, the editor-in-chief of the Taraf daily, which revealed alleged plans to topple the government in January, to testify as a part of an ongoing investigation into the recently publicized Sledgehammer plot.

Greek Cyprus's Socialists quit govt over peace talks

REUTERS WITH TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Cyprus's socialists quit the governing coalition on Monday, accusing President Demetris Christofias of making concessions to Turkish Cypriots in reunification talks.

EU Commission set to win parliamentary approval

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The European Parliament is expected to approve the next European Commission in a vote today, ending months of uncertainty that has stalled policy-making in the bloc.

Drug-related deaths increase by 14 percent

HASAN ÇİLİNGİR — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The number of drug-related deaths in Turkey increased by 14 percent in 2008, rising from 139 deaths in 2007 to 159 in 2008.

Injured Iraqis brought in for medical treatment

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Ten Iraqi people, who were seriously injured in a bomb attack in Iraqi city of Najaf, were brought to Turkey for medical treatment.

Iran plans major nuke expansion over next year

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Iran says it will start producing higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday and add 10 uranium enrichment plants over the next year in a nuclear expansion sure to stoke tensions with the West.

Turkey-press scan on Feb. 9

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 9, 2010. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Turkey has great role from Balkans to Central Asia, US ambassador

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

US Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey said on Tuesday that Turkey had a great role from Balkans to Central Asia, in Africa and especially Middle East.

Children taken from Haiti face uncertain fate

HENRI CAUVIN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

FERMATHE, Haiti -- It was a couple of weeks after the earthquake when word began to spread in a small, poor village here.

One missing in floods and storm in southern Turkey

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

A person was reported missing in floods and storm that hit a Mediterranean province on Monday.

Turkey, India issue declarations on combating terrorism and technological cooperation

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkey and India issued joint declarations on combating terrorism and scientific & technological cooperation during Turkish President Abdullah Gül's visit to India.

France agrees to sell Russia advanced amphibious warship

AP — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

France has agreed to sell Russia an advanced amphibious warship and is considering a Russian request for three more, French defense officials said on Monday.

Turkey send medical aid to Haiti

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkey sent on Tuesday medical assistance to quake-hit Haiti.

Greek Cyprus president says will press on with talks

REUTERS WITH TODAY’S ZAMAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias pledged to continue reunification talks on Tuesday, dismissing criticism from a former coalition partner of tactical blunders in negotiations with Turkish Cypriots.

Northern Irish militant group INLA dumps all its weapons

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

One of Northern Ireland’s deadliest paramilitary groups has dumped all its weapons in front of independent witnesses, the commission overseeing the province’s disarmament process said on Monday.

Report: 1 dead, 1 missing in floods in Turkey

AP — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkey's state-run news agency says one person drowned and another person is missing following storm-triggered floods that hit a road near the Mediterranean resort of Antalya.

EU Parliament backs new Commission, hard work begins

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved the line-up of the next European Commission on Tuesday, clearing the way for the EU executive to take office nearly four months behind schedule.

Chinese villagers attack government building

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

More than 300 people in a southern Chinese town attacked a government building over the weekend in protest against a water diversion scheme, state news agency Xinhua said on Monday.

Turkish PM receives foreign ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Bosnia-Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in his office in Ankara on Tuesday.

President Gül meets with Turkish journalists in New Delhi

THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said Turkey has been conducting silent diplomacy for a couple of weeks to ease tension due to Iran's stepping up uranium enrichment.

Report: Iran jails senior reformer for six years

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

An Iranian court has sentenced a reformist former deputy foreign minister to six years in jail over his role in unrest that erupted after last year’s disputed election, the ISNA news agency reported on Monday.

Palestinians want talks to focus on borders

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Palestinians are weighing indirect peace talks with Israel to be mediated by the United States, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said on Monday, adding that they should focus on border issues.

NATO, Afghans to hold Taliban bastion ‘forever’

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

NATO forces and their Afghan allies will hold territory seized from the Taliban in an imminent major operation “forever,” the commander of British forces in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province said.

US wants UN sanctions resolution on Iran within weeks

REUTERS — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The United States wants the UN Security Council to approve a resolution within weeks, not months, laying the ground for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.