News Scan for Turkey, September 18th, 2017

Turkey begins military exercise on Iraqi border week before Kurdish referendum

The Turkish army said it launched a military exercise on Turkey-Iraq border on Sept 18 just a week before Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is set to hold an independence referendum.

The exercise will take place between Silopi and Habur provinces of Turkey where Habur border gate is also situated. The army said the exercise is part of Turkey’s anti-terror fight operations being operated in the border region.

The move came after Turkey harshened its opposition against KRG’s referendum bid.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-begins-military-exercise-on-iraqi-border-week-before-kurdish-referendum–.aspx?pageID=238&nID=118078&NewsCatID=341

Millions of students head to school amid debate over removal of Turkish high school entrance exam

Millions of students will head to school for the new education season amid a fresh debate over the removal of the Turkish high school entrance exam.

While the new semester is set to begin on Sept. 18, Turkey has been discussing the removal of the Transition from Primary to Secondary Education (TEOG) exam. The issue was initially brought to the country’s agenda on Sept. 15, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “he hopes TEOG will be abolished immediately,” while also stressing he found the practice wrong.

“Don’t we have shortcomings in the national education system? Yes, we do. We will overcome them. For example, I do not want TEOG anymore and I find it wrong. It needs to be removed,” Erdoğan told private broadcaster A Haber late on Sept. 15.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/millions-of-students-head-to-school-amid-debate-over-removal-of-turkish-high-school-entrance-exam.aspx?pageID=238&nID=118064&NewsCatID=341

Busy diplomatic schedule awaits Erdoğan at UN summit

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left for the 72nd U.N. General Assembly in New York Sunday, where he will be engaging in high diplomatic traffic regarding key issues such as the upcoming planned referendum of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Rohingya Muslims’ crisis in Myanmar. The president will also hold meetings on the sidelines of the summit with several world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul ahead of his departure, President Erdoğan said that during his speech at the General Assembly tomorrow, he will touch on major issues that pose a threat to Turkey’s security, including the crisis in Syria and Iraq and ongoing counterterrorism operations.

Erdoğan also emphasized that a group meeting will be held during the U.N. General Assembly regarding the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2017/09/18/busy-diplomatic-schedule-awaits-erdogan-at-un-summit

Turkish aid agencies continue to help Rohingyas

Turkish aid agencies on Sunday distributed food at the Bangladesh border to the Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state. The food packages, including rice, oil, chickpeas, flour, salt and sugar, were distributed to 1,300 families at the Balukali, one of the five major refugee camps along the border.

A 1982 law passed in Myanmar in denied Rohingya — many of whom have lived in Myanmar for generations — citizenship, making them stateless, removing their freedom of movement, access to education, services, and allowing arbitrary confiscation of their property.

Describing the field as “very difficult” for the refugees, Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kinik said there are over 400,000 Rohingya Muslims at the Bangladesh borders, most of them are not able to get proper materials for hygiene, food and health care. The Turkish Red Crescent teams are holding talks with Bangladesh authorities to determine the needs of the refugees and to pave the way for aid.

http://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkish-aid-agencies-continues-to-help-rohingyas-2793816

A photo of Turkey’s minister with suspect of attack on funeral of HDP MP’s mother sparks reactions

A photograph of Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu taken next to one of the suspects of the racist attack on funeral of mother of HDP’s jailed deputy co-chair Aysel Tuğluk spurred reactions as the picture went viral on social media.

Reported to have been taken at the police department on the night of the incident, the photograph had suspect Murat Alp and minister Soylu standing next to each other closely and posing with a joyful facial expression.

Releasing a statement about the photo from his official social media account, Minister Soylu began his statement by referring to those who criticized the picture ‘inferior’ and continued by saying it was the anniversary of execution of two ministers of the right-wing government of Democrat Party in the aftermath of the 1960 military coup. ‘A half of a century has passed but your inferior approach has not changed’, Soylu said in his statement.

https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/a-photo-of-turkey-s-minister-with-suspect-of-attack-on-funeral-of-hdp-mp-s-mother-sparks-reactions-179823.html

Turkey summons German ambassador over pro-PKK event in Cologne

Turkish foreign ministry summoned Germany’s ambassador to Ankara and “expressed a strong reaction” on Saturday after a pro-PKK event was organised earlier this month in Cologne.

Martin Erdmann was called over Saturday’s event during which about 3,000 pro-PKK demonstrators gathered at Deutzer Werft Square as part of a so-called international Kurdish festival, said a statement from the ministry.

“We condemn that PKK terror organisation’s extensions in Germany are allowed to hold an event in Cologne. Our reaction has been strongly expressed to the Germany’s Ambassador” said the statement. The statement also criticised the German authorities’ inaction about the messages that were read out during the demonstration, which praised the organisation and its leaders.

http://www.trtworld.com/turkey/turkey-summons-german-ambassador-over-pro-pkk-event-in-cologne-10585

18.09.2017
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.