*** Audio archives of our broadcasts are at:
http://www.TurkRadio.us/ar/archives.html
Also available for your MP3 players at:
http://turkradio.podomatic.com/
{20080308trh.txt}
x0x Turkish news for week ending 08 March 2008
[Best when viewed with the courier font.]
****************************************************************
A service of the TURKISH RADIO HOUR, producer of:
TURKISH CULTURAL PROGRAM
Saturdays at 6:00 P.M.
KUSF FM 90.3, San Francisco
Also tune to
ORIENT EXPRESS
Tuesdays at 10:00 P.M.
KKUP FM 91.5, CUPERTINO
****************************************************************
Ahmet Toprak edited today's news. Your host is Melis Atalay
For a subscription to the Internet edition of this news,
send a blank email to:
TurkC-L-subscribe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Last week we covered the conflict between Turkey and the Turkish
Kurd
rebels in northern Iraq. As we told you, Turkish troops pulled out
of
northern Iraq after carrying out raids on the rebel hideouts in
rugged
mountains.
Most of the intelligence information came from the U.S., news
reports
indicated. This week we have a few more news items on the aftermath
of
the Turkish incursion.
The first news from the Turkish daily Hurriyet says that Secretary
of
Defense Robert Gates on Wednesday rejected a subordinate's apparent
suggestion that there could be talks with the rebel organization
Kurdistan
Workers Party, saying that the only talks might be with uncommitted
individuals to convince them to abandon the terrorist group.
Mr. Gates was commenting on Lt. Gen. General Raymond Odierno's
remarks.
Gen. Odierno has said earlier in the week that has to be more pressure
put
on the rebels so that talks in negotiations can be started with them.
Mr. Gates said "I was in Ankara last week, we talked a great deal
about
the importance of accompanying the security measures to go after
these
terrorists, the PKK terrorists, with efforts to try and address some
of
the civilian concerns among the Kurdish population, where they
recruit
people, where the PKK recruits people."
He added, "and I think that both President (Abdullah) Gul and Prime
Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan have both put forward proposals in
the
cultural, economic and political arenas to begin doing that. So I
think
it's a matter of doing both.
"Certainly nobody I talked to (in Ankara) was of a mind to have any
conversations with the PKK."
In related news, White House spokesperson Dana Perino reiterated
U.S.
sports to Turkey against the rebels. And said "we have not and we
will
not negotiate or hold talks with the PKK, nor do we expect Turkey to
do
so."
Lastly, the Associated Press reported Friday that the Turkish
president
Abdullah Gul called on the rebels to lay down their arms, and said
that
Turkey will never tolerate those who engage in "terrorism."
* This week Turkey had an official visit from a Kurd. The Iraqi
President
Mr. Jalal Talabani, and ethnic Kurd from the northern part of Iraq,
was in
the Turkish capital Ankara.
The previous Turkish president never invited Mr. Talabani to Turkey
to
show Turkey's displeasure with the northern Iraqi Kurds for not doing
enough to curb the Turkish Kurd rebel activity, news reports say.
The Turkish daily Hurriyet says that Turkey and Iraq tried to mend
ties
during Mr. Talabani's visit.
Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan said on Saturday he wants better
relations with Iraq, while Mr. Talabani proposed the creation of the
political institution to improve ties between the neighboring
countries.
Mr. Talabani said that the Iraq shared Turkey's concerns on the
Turkish
Kurd rebels underground organization Kurdistan Workers Party. He
also
noted that terrorism could be fought with joint activities.
Mr. Talabani said that he has also called on the government of
Iraq's
Kurdish autonomous region to pressure the Kurdistan Workers Party to
give
up their weapons or leave the region.
"We will never accept them carrying out armed attacks against
Turkey,"
Talabani added.
Mr. Talabani had the Iraqi ministers of finance, oil, water
resources,
national security and industry with him on his Turkish trip. In
their
meetings Iraqi and Turkish officials expressed that the 2007 trade
level
of $3.5 billion would be increased to $20 billion within two years.
* In a bid to defuse rising tensions in the wake of mutual rocket
attacks
and bombings over the last days, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has made telephone calls to both Palestinian President
Mahmoud
Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert, reports the Turkish
daily
Milliyet.
Speaking to Mr. Abbas, Mr. Erdogan urged moderation to help end the
current tension and conflicts, and Mr. Abbas asked for his help and
support.
Mr. Erdogan told Mr. Olmert that Israel's recent bombings were
unacceptable and only served to block the peace efforts.
Mr. Erdogan also told Mr. Olmert about Turkish food aid shipments
to
Palestinians being held up at the Gaza border, asking him to expedite
the
arrival of these shipments.
* Writing in the "Eurasia Daily Monitor", Gareth Jenkins says that
Israel's recent military incursion into Gaza has further strained its
already troubled relationship with Turkey and highlighted the two
countries' divergent attitudes toward Hamas.
For many Turks, the contrast between the muted U.S. reaction to the
Israeli raid and its insistence on a rapid curtailment of Turkey's
own
recent incursion into northern Iraq has also reinforced the
perception
that Washington applies different standards to Turkey and Israel.
Israel ambassador to Turkey Gabby Levy commented that Israel sees
the
Hamas and rebel Turkish Kurds' underground organization Kurdistan
Workers
Party are both terrorist organizations.
See the full article at: http://tinyurl.com/2wqeev
* According to the Turkish daily Sabah, on Tuesday French and German
leaders reworked a proposal for a "Mediterranean Union," long seen as
a
ploy to distract Turkey from its European Union membership goal.
Under a compromise between French president Nicholas Sarkozy and
German
chancellor Angela Merkel, membership in the proposed bloc would be
open to
all European Union member states, not just countries on the
Mediterranean
coast.
Meeting in Germany, Chancellor Merkel had objected to President
Sarkozy's more restrictive view of the union.
President Sarkozy, an opponent of Turkey's European Union bid,
first
proposed the idea.
* Thirty-five Turks made this year's list of world billionaires in
Forbes
magazine. According to the list, investor Warren Buffet is the
richest
person in the world.
Thirteen Turks joined the list for the first time this year, raising
the
number of Turks on the list to 35. Businessman Mehmet Emin Karamehmet
was
the highest-ranked Turk, coming in at number 247.
Turkey ranks third in Europe in the number of billionaires and tied
with
Britain on the list after Russia and Germany. Russia has 87 and
Germany
has 59 on the list. U.S. topped the list with 469 billionaires
Among the youngest billionaires section of the Forbes magazine,
Begumhan
Faralyali, aged 31, was also cited and her picture was displayed at
the
cover of the section.
See more at http://tinyurl.com/2nq2bn
* The Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association which recently opened
an
office in Brussels in the European Union capital, took out a newspaper
ad
on the occasion of the March 8th international women's day, and said
that
to ensure that Turkey's women are strong and free European Union
membership is the only way.
On another women's related issue, Reuters reports that Turkish
Prime
Minister Mr. Recep Tayip Erdogan urged the Turkish women to have at
least
three children to counter the aging population. Mr. Erdogan has four
children.
Current projections indicate that Turkey's population of 70 million
will
peak by 2030 to 100 million and gradually decline.
* According to the Reuters, the World Bank's country Director told
the
news agency that Turkey's economic growth in 2008 is likely to be
less
than last year's due to the global economic conditions.
Turkey's gross national product data for last year is yet to be
published, but is expected to show a rise of 4-4.5 percent. The
official
growth target for 2008 is 5 percent.
The country Director suggested that Turkey continue with economic
reforms to attract more foreign investment. Foreign investment in
2007
amounted to $22 billion in the country.
The World Bank approved a $6.2 billion loan to Turkey for energy
and
labor market reforms, Reuters added.
* Around 1,500 inhabitants of the Tigris valley in southeastern
Turkey
will request asylum in Switzerland, Germany and Austria if the
planned
Ilisu dam goes ahead, writes the Swissinfo.
Non-governmental organization the Berne Declaration said on Tuesday
that
people's homes would be flooded.
In a statement, the Berne Declaration said that any asylum requests
would be a direct consequence of Switzerland's implication in the
project.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Edited by Serkan Hatipoglu
* According to the Turkish Daily News, Turkey exports it's
traditional
dessert, baklava, to six continents, according to figures by the
country's
exporters' union.
Baklava exports have increased six-fold in five years, disclosed
the
Turkish Exporters' Union. The exports valued at $292,000 in 2002 rose
to
$1.8 million in 2007, increasing 30 percent in 2007 alone. The top 10
countries to which Turkey exports baklava are Greece, the United
States,
Russia, Spain, Denmark, Japan, Iraq, France, Argentina and the
Ukraine.
Better promotion would increase baklava exports even more, said the
Baklava and Dessert Producers Association Chairman Mehmet Yildirim.
Mr. Yildirim said 445 tons of baklava is produced each day in
Turkey,
adding that the sweet pastry is consumed in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir,
Bursa
and Gaziantep the most. "Baklava has a $2.5 billion share in the
domestic
market," he said.
See more about baklava at:
http://www.turkishcookbook.com/2006/10/turkish-baklava.php
* It is the film festival season in Turkey and Ankara's 19th
International
Film Festival provides a wide selection of award-winning films by
renowned
directors.
Right after the Independent Film Festival and on the brink of the
Istanbul International Film Festival, the capital welcomes the 19th
Ankara
International Film Festival.
The festival, organized by the World Mass Media Research
Foundation,
will screen a rich collection of films from March 13-23. The full
selection of films and the detailed program can be found on the Web
site,
HTTP://Filmfestankara.org.tr.
* Activities celebrating women are in full force surrounding
International
Women's Day on March 8, including the International Filmmor Women's
Film
Festival, the sixth of which will take place from March 14 to April
12.
The goal of the festival is for women to share their life
experiences,
to increase women's participation in the fields of cinema and media
and to
put an end to inequalities between genders.
"A history of women: Obedience, Rebellion, Feminism" is the theme
of
this year's festival, in which female filmmakers from 13 countries
will
showcase their work on feminist issues and women's resistance.
The festival will screen 46 films at the French Cultural Center
(Institut Fran=EF=BF=BDais d'Istanbul) and Alkazar Cinema, both located in
Istanbul's Beyoglu district, from March 14-22.
The festival will then move to Eskisehir from March 28-29, Tunceli
from
April 4-5 and Van from April 11-12. The festival will also include
video
forums, film analysis workshops and discussions with participating
film
directors.
See more about the International Womens Day at:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/events.asp
* During the New York Times Travel Fair that took place Feb. 29 to
Mar. 3,
Turkey's stand received considerable interest after a push in
promotional
campaigns in the U.S. this year.
Turkey, which joined the fair in Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center
for
the second time, this year participated with a larger stand and was
represented by eight Turkey and US-based companies.
Well-known American travel writer and producer of travel programs,
Rick
Steves said Turkey was one of the must-see countries in Europe.
"You should go to Turkey if you want to add taste to your travel in
Europe. It is my one of favorite countries," he said and added that
Istanbul was the fourth largest city in Europe following London, Paris
and
Rome, and was very safe and exciting."
One third of American tourists visiting Turkey were New Yorkers,
said
Turkey's Tourism and Promotion Attache Hasan Z=EF=BF=BDng=EF=BF=BDr,
noting =
that they
had
held talks with representatives of American travel agencies and press
companies during the fair.
He said 646,000 American tourists had visited Turkey as of the end
of
2007, which was a 22 percent increase when compared to 2006 figures.
He
added that they expected the figure to exceed 800,000 by the end of
2008.
See NY Times Turkey travel guide:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/turkey/where-to-go.html
* A digital planetarium has opened in Izmir's =EF=BF=BDzel T=EF=BF=BDrk
Kole=
ji (Izmir
Turk
Highschool). Izmir Governor Cahit KIra=EF=BF=BD said the decision to
launch
Planetaryum and open it to students outside the school was correct.
"Learning by seeing and feeling besides reading will help students
remember what they learn and it will be a permanent knowledge for
them,"
said KIra=EF=BF=BD. Planetaryum will host many events throughout the year.
The events will cover the topics of astronomy, art, education and
technology. The center also has a parallel computer system which can
estimate the locations of the planets and stars. Specific data the
system
reflect the data onto a dome like screen which has 132-meters square
surface area. The process gives the feeling of flying above the
planets.
The planetarium is a United States project that was built by three
foreign teams in three months. The first planetarium in the world
was
built in 1923 in Munich and today there are 3,000 planetariums around
the
world. Around 2,500 of those are in United States.
Izmir's =EF=BF=BDzel T=EF=BF=BDrk Koleji's web page at:
http://www.english-schools.org/turkey/izmir-ozel-turk-lisesi.htm
* Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry will organize a "Turkish
Films
Week" in nearly 30 countries, opened by posh galas and which will
screen
award-winning and recent Turkish films.
Turkish Film Weeks will continue for one-and-a-half years in
countries
including Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Norway, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States as well as the
Turkic
Republics.
The first film week will start in April. Divided into three
categories,
namely old classics and high-quality Turkish films; internationally
renowned and award-winning Turkish films; and recent Turkish films,
the
film weeks will be launched after advertisement campaigns. Turkish
artists
will also attend the events.
A "new era" will start for such activities abroad, said Copyright
and
Cinema General Director Abdurrahman =EF=BF=BDelik. "It will help Turkey's
cultural
promotion to organize such events abroad. That is why we will
organize
Turkish films weeks for one-and-a-half years."
Mr. =EF=BF=BDelik said Turkish nights or Turkish films weeks, organized
by=
Turkish groups and foundations in foreign countries, were advertised
through brochures in limited locations but from now on, big campaigns
will
be undertaken to launch Turkish films weeks.
See more about Zulfu Livaneli honored during Turkish Films Week
at: http://xrl.us/bhhr4
EXCHANGE RATE
EXCHANGE RATE for the U.S. dollar in Turkish Liras: 1.24
WEATHER
High and Low Temperatures in Degrees F, Weather
Ankara, in central Turkey----------: 73/45 Decreasing Cloudiness
Antalya, on the Mediterranean------: 73/61 Decreasing Cloudiness
Erzurum in eastern Turkey----------: 41/9 Foggy
Istanbul, in northwestern Turkey---: 61/46 Partly cloudy
Izmir, on the Aegean---------------: 72/57 Partly cloudy
Trabzon, on the Black Sea----------: 75/45 Decreasing Cloudiness
Snow depths at skiing locations:
Davraz, in Isparta , South Central Turkey 39 inches
Erciyes, in Kayseri, Central Turkey 31 inches
Ilgaz, in Kastamonu, North Central Turkey 79 inches
Kartalkaya, in Bolu, Western Turkey 109 inches
Palandoken, in Erzurum, Eastern Turkey 28 inches
Sarikamis, in Kars, Eastern Turkey 69 inches
Uludag, in Bursa, Western Turkey 68 inches
Saklikent, in Antalya, Southern Turkey 12 inches
SPORTS
Edited by Mark Nowak
* Turkcell Premier Soccer League
Week 24 Match results
Konyaspor 1-0 Trabzonspor
KasImpasa 0-0 Gen=EF=BF=BDlerbirligi
VESTEL Manisa 1-1 Istanbul BB
MKE Ankarag=EF=BF=BDc=EF=BF=BD 0-0 Fenerbah=EF=BF=BDe
Ankaraspor 1-1 Gaziantepspor
=EF=BF=BDAYKUR Rize 0-0 Gen=EF=BF=BDlerbirligi OFTAS
Kayseri 1-1 Denizlispor
Bursaspor 0-1 Sivasspor
Besiktas 1-0 Galatasaray
Standings
Pts Max GP W D L GF GA
1 Besiktas 55 82 25 17 4 4 39 24
2 Fenerbah=EF=BF=BDe 51 81 24 15 6 3 48 25
3 Galatasaray 51 81 24 15 6 3 46 19
4 Sivasspor 51 81 24 16 3 5 35 17
5 Kayseri 45 75 24 12 9 3 39 19
6 Trabzonspor 32 62 24 9 5 10 33 30
7 Denizlispor 30 60 24 8 6 10 30 31
8 Gen=EF=BF=BDlerbirligi OFTAS 29 59 24 7 8 9 24 28
9 MKE Ankarag=EF=BF=BDc=EF=BF=BD 29 59 24 7 8 9 23 31
10 Gen=EF=BF=BDlerbirligi 28 55 25 7 7 11 35 35
11 Konyaspor 28 58 24 8 4 12 27 44
12 Bursaspor 27 57 24 6 9 9 24 27
13 Gaziantepspor 27 57 24 7 6 11 27 37
14 Istanbul BB 26 56 24 6 8 10 30 33
15 Ankaraspor 24 54 24 5 9 10 24 30
-------------------------------------------------
16 =EF=BF=BDAYKUR Rize 23 53 24 6 5 13 24 46
17 VESTEL Manisa 22 52 24 5 7 12 33 44
18 KasImpasa 16 46 24 4 4 16 17 41
* UEFA Champions' League
Fenerbahce 3 - 2 Seville (1st leg)
Seville 3 - 2 Fenerbahce (2nd leg)
Fenerbahce advances on penalty kicks 3-2
* Turkish Mens' Basketball Standings
1. Besiktas 18-5
2. Efes P. 16-6
3. T.Telekom 15-8
4. Fenerbahce 15-8
5. Galatasaray 15-8
6. Antalya 15-8
7. Karsiyaka 14-8
8. Kepez Bld 11-12
9. Banvitspor 9-13
10. Mersin 9-14
11. TED Koleji 9-14
12. Alpella 8-14
13. Oyak Renault 8-15
14. Selcuk Uni. 7-15
15. Beykoz 6-16
16. Darussafaka 6-17
* NBA
Hidayet Turkoglu stats
Date Opponent Result MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF
DEF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Mar 05 @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
WAS W 122 - 92 28 5 - 9 0 - 2 2 - 2 1 4
5 1 0 0 3 5 12
Mar 04 vs. TOR W 102 - 87 40 9 - 16 2 - 3 4 - 6 0
7 7 8 0 0 3 1 24
Mar 01 vs. NYK W 118 - 92 43 9 - 17 2 - 6 5 - 5 1
7 8 10 0 0 4 1 25
Mehmet Okur stats
Date Opponent Result MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF
DEF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Mar 07 @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PHX W 126 - 118 40 9 - 18 4 - 6 3 - 3 5 9
14 1 1 0 3 5 25
Mar 05 vs. MIN W 105 - 76 34 5 - 12 0 - 2 5 - 6 4
5 9 2 0 0 2 4 15
Mar 03 vs. DAL W 116 - 110 41 7 - 10 0 - 2 6 - 9 2
10 12 2 1 2 0 3 20
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS
*** Call us to win tickets to the Tiburon International Film Festival
leave your telephone number and e-mail address with us and you may
win
a pair of tickets to the Turkish films!
Alternately, you can drop and e-mail to turkradio@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
There are three films this year from Turkey in the Festival, dates
are
March 16, March 17, and March 20th. The Festival will start on
Thursday
March 13th.
*** Turkish American Association of California is a non-profit
charitable organization established to promote better
understanding between Americans and Turks.
If you have any questions about Turks and Turkey,
e-mail them at taac@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Planning to go to Turkey? Take a look at our Web pages
that are full of articles and information furnished by
travelers like yourselves:
http://travel.to/sunholiday
*** For more music from Turkey and the Middle East tune to
International Cultural Program.
San Francisco World TV Channel 29
Sundays at 9-10 A.M.
{20080308trh.txt}
|
