News Scan for Turkey, September 10th, 2017
They will never be able to break our fraternity, unity: PM Yıldırım
Those who are aiming to destroy the brotherhood and unity of the Turkish people will never be successful, Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has said, vowing that Turkey will continue to serve as the protector of all those who are in need in the wider region.
“We will further strengthen our bonds of love. From this square in Söğüt, I tell all those vile ones who target our unity and try to cast a shadow on our fraternity: You will never win,” Yıldırım said in his address at an event marking the 736th commemoration of Ertuğrul Gazi, the father of Osman Bey who founded the Ottoman Empire in present day Söğüt district of the Marmara province of Bilecik.
“You will never be able to destroy the brotherhood of this people. You will never be able to lower this flag and silence these ezans,” he stressed, referring to the Muslim call for prayer.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/they-will-never-be-able-to-break-our-fraternity-unity-pm-yildirim-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117797&NewsCatID=338
Amnesty chief visits jailed Turkey director in prison
The secretary general of Amnesty International visited the rights group’s jailed Turkey director Saturday and called for her release, along with seven other activists being held in pre-trial detention for allegedly aiding a terror group.
Salil Shetty said Amnesty’s Idil Eser was doing well but added “The issue is really as to why is she in prison in the first instance?”
Police raided a hotel on the island of Buyukada near Istanbul in July and detained 10 activists during a workshop on digital security. Eight people, including German Peter Steudtner and Swede Ali Gharavi, were arrested. Two were released pending trial after surrendering their passports and must regularly present themselves at a police station. Germany has repeatedly called for Steudtner’s release.
“There is absolutely no evidence against the people who were in the Buyukada workshop,” Shetty said.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/amnesty-chief-visits-jailed-turkey-director-prison-49721284
Amid tension, Trump and Turkey’s Erdogan agree to strengthen ties
U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan spoke on Saturday and agreed to continue to work toward stronger ties and regional security, Erdogan’s office said, a day after he lashed out at U.S. authorities for indicting one of his ex-ministers.
Ties between the United States and its NATO ally have been strained by Washington’s support for the YPG Kurdish fighters in the battle against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group.
Ankara has also been frustrated by what it sees as Washington’s reluctance to extradite the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey blames Gulen, who has lived in Pennsylvania since 1999, for last year’s failed coup.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey/amid-tension-trump-and-turkeys-erdogan-agree-to-strengthen-ties-idUSKCN1BK0SA
Ancient ‘Sarcophagus of Heracles’ ready to be returned to Turkey
The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry announced Sunday that the sarcophagus of Heracles has been handed over to Turkish officials by Swiss authorities in Geneva and will be returned to its homeland in Turkey Wednesday.
The tomb of Heracles, which dates back to the Roman period in the second century B.C. and depicts the Twelve Labors of Hercules, was confiscated in 2010 by the Switzerland customs authority at the port of Geneva.
The tomb was delivered to the customs area on September 6 and will soon be moved to Zurich to be returned to Turkey on a September 13 cargo flight after an official deal is signed by both Turkish and Swiss authorities.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2017/09/10/ancient-sarcophagus-of-heracles-ready-to-be-returned-to-turkey
Turkey draws world’s attention to Rohingya Muslims
More aid is being sent to Rohingya Muslims in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, after a Turkish delegation, headed by Turkey’s first lady Emine Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, delivered 1,000 tons of aid to Bangladesh. So much so that the authorities in Bangladesh who previously did not accept any refugees from Rakhine are now personally delivering aid to Rohingya Muslims
Bangladesh, for the first time in 15 days, assisted the Rohingya Muslims, who are expecting aid in their bamboo-made makeshift tents. Gathering on the 50 kilometer-long muddy Teknaf road, Rohingya Muslims almost crushed each other trying to catch the clothing and rice bags being thrown from moving trucks. No crisis desk has yet been established in Rakhine, where aid is delivered in an unorganized manner.
http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkey-draws-worlds-attention-to-rohingya-muslims-2792729
Iraqi Kurdish referendum among closest threats on Turkey’s national security: MHP head
The National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli said on Sept. 9 that the planned independence referendum of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government on Sept. 25 was among the closest threats on Turkey’s national security and that it should not be allowed.
“This referendum of peshmerga is one of the closest threats on our national security and it should never be allowed. If the potential Kurdistan referendum is not hindered, our last homeland will be an open target of a dark and treacherous conspiracy,” Bahçeli said speaking in the Mediterranean province of Isparta.
The MHP leader had earlier stated that the independence referendum should be deemed a “casus belli” for Turkey if necessary. But Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım dismissed claims that it would be tantamount to a cause of war as a war “can only break out between two states,” and Ankara does not recognize Arbil as a state.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iraqi-kurdish-referendum-among-closest-threats-on-turkeys-national-security-mhp-head.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117771&NewsCatID=510
10.09.2017
compiled by Editor BTT
This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
