NEWS SCAN for Turkey – Aug 8th, 2013

Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites

Ramadan Festival begins Thursday

President Abdullah Gül said in his message that “We have all seen how illegal and violent acts disturbed peace in all parts of the country. It is essential that we all understand this and focus on hopeful tomorrows.”

Gül said no one should be anxious about Turkey’s future, adding that they will continue to exert efforts to make Turkey an economically developed country, deepen its democracy and justice system and expand rights and freedoms.

Turkey’s President also drew attention to the sufferings in the Islam geography. “Turkey aims to ensure the establishment of peace and calm in Syria and takes careful steps in the face of Turkey-Syria border incidents,” Gül said.

He said further that political divide in Egypt, the heart of the Arab world, polarization and extraordinary circumstances, pose the biggest threat to the country’s stability and future.

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Cemil Çiçek pointed to the need to display kindness and reconciliation in the solution of problems.

Chief of General Staff General Necdet Özel wished a happy Ramadan Festival to the members of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Özel said in his message that “As members of the Turkish Armed Forces, we will find the strength, we need in the execution of all our duties, in the love, support and trust that Turkish nation has for us.”

Erdoğan says assembly may open earlier for Kurdish bid

Vowing to work and finalize his government’s self-proclaimed ‘democracy package,’ Prime Minister Erdoğan says the opening of the Parliament might be made earlier for the final touch efforts for Kurdish peace bid

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has heralded the probable early arrival of a long-awaited package of reforms dubbed the “democratization package.” The step comes as the country has become a global center of attention, this time in a negative sense, due to concerns about government-led actions considered steps back on democracy.

Erdoğan signaled the move as he spoke to reporters Aug. 8 after performing morning prayers at the Süleymaniye Mosque of Istanbul on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, making clear that Parliament might reconvene early from its summer recess to pass laws expanding rights.

Turkish PM says comments rejecting the ruling of court constitute a crime

In his first comments on a recent Turkish court ruling that sentenced 19 individuals (mostly retired army top brass) to life sentences for attempting to stage a coup, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said comments rejecting the ruling constitute a crime.

“The statements by the main opposition party and other critics are ugly. There cannot be a logic which says judiciary is good when it takes decisions I like and bad when it takes decisions I do not like. In particular, the statements by the leader of the main opposition constitute a crime in my opinion. Statements like “I do not recognize the judges and prosecutors of this court cannot be accepted legal” are completely interference in the judiciary,” Erdoğan said on Thursday while responding to questions by reporters after performing Eid prayer at İstanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque.

Erdoğan underlined that the İstanbul court’s ruling is open to appeal. “I hope justice is served,” he said.

Turkey wants to be one of the world’s top five countries in agricultural development

Focusing on its objectives for the year 2023, Turkey examines the developments in agriculture in detail. The objective is to be one of the top five countries in agriculture in which Turkey becomes a “global actor”. Research and Development department of the AKP prepared a report regarding the developments in agriculture in Turkey under the coordination of Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Suleyman Soylu. According to the report, Turkey has been ranking the first in Europe and seventh in the world in terms of agricultural growth and the world’s largest nut, dried apricot and cherry exporter since 2011, cash support to farmers has tripled during the last decade, agricultural support totaling 50.6 billion TL was provided during the 2003-2012 period and agricultural support to be given in 2013 will amount to 9.1 billon TL.

Fires that engulfed forests in some central villages of Hatay province three days ago were taken under control.

Hatay governor Mehmet Celalettin Lekesiz said “We can confirm that forest fires have been brought under control. Teams are dealing with a small area at the moment. Two thousand hectares of forest burned.”

“On August 5 at 02.30 a.m., forest fires that broke out in an area surrounded by Dikmece, Gülderen, Oğlakören and Alahan villages, and moved towards Karaali and Karlısu towns, have been brought under control to a great extent,” governor Lekesiz announced.

Firefighting teams arriving from Hatay as well as from neighbour cities are taking part in extinguishing efforts, he added.

Three planes, nine helicopters, 50 water-tenders, 15 water tanks and several construction equipment were employed by teams in their efforts to contain the blazes.

08.08.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA

We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.