News Scan for Turkey, July 16th 2016

All parties express united stance against coup attempt at emergency session in Parliament

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey convened in an emergency session following the failed coup attempt, as thousands of people chanted outside. Almost a hundred ambassadors, excluding the ones from the U.S. and U.K expressed their solidarity with the Turkish government by attending the extraordinary session.

The session started with a moment of silence to honor the ones who were killed by pro-coup soldiers during the attempt. Speaker of the Parliament Ismail Kahraman recited all ten verses of the Turkish national anthem, as the parliament accompanied him.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım was greeted with applause as he entered the parliament, shaking the hands of some politicians from opposition parties. Leaders of all four parties at the parliament showed up to issue a joint statement against the coup attempt, which failed with the efforts of Turkish people and police.

http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/07/16/all-parties-express-united-stance-against-coup-attempt-at-emergency-session-in-parliament

Obama: All parties in Turkey should support democratically elected government

The White House said US President Barack Obama had spoken to US Secretary of State John Kerry and agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the “democratically elected” government.

The pair urged all sides to “show restraint and avoid any violence or bloodshed” in Turkey – a key ally and a strategically important member of the coalition fighting so-called Islamic State.

Mr Kerry – who is on a visit to Russia – said he had spoken to the Turkish foreign minister, saying he had emphasised “absolute support for Turkey’s democratically elected, civilian government and democratic institutions”.
“The United States views with gravest concern events unfolding in Turkey,” Mr Kerry said.

Russia: Problems in Turkey need to be resolved in accordance with constitution

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the need to avoid all “bloodshed”, saying that “problems in Turkey need to be resolved in accordance with the constitution”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was “deeply concerned” with reports from Turkey, adding Russia’s priority was to secure the safety of Russian institutions and citizens in Turkey. “Moscow hopes that however events in Turkey develop, whoever initiated what’s happened, the security of Russian citizens will be protected”, he said  adding “Turkey is a very important regional power. Of course stability in Turkey and situation there, has an impact on the situation in the region . So we all want whatever it is that is happening in Turkey to finish as quickly as possible, in a legitimate manner and for the country to return to the path of stability, predictability and order”

http://www.bbc.com

Nato Secretary-General urges calm and respect for Turkey’s constitution

The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization urged “calm and restraint” and for respect of Turkey’s constitution and democratic institutions.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he spoke early Saturday morning with Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. “I call for calm and restraint, and full respect for Turkey’s democratic institutions and its constitution,” Mr. Stoltenberg said in a statement after the call. Mr. Stoltenberg said he was following the events in Turkey closely and with concern.

After the Turkish military’s announcement that it had seized control of the government Friday from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NATO delegations scrambled for news.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-officials-scramble-for-news-of-turkey-coup-1468618653

Turkey’s top judicial board HSYK dismisses 2,745 judges over coup attempt

The Turkish Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) laid off 2,745 judges and removed five members after an extraordinary meeting on Saturday, which came after a failed coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ), while 11 prosecutors, 10 Court of Appeals members were arrested, and arrest warrants were issued for 140 others.

Some members of the state council who have connections with the FETÖ terror organization were also detained, according to the Anadolu Agency. Some 541 judges were from courts of first instance among the total 2,745 judges who were laid off, while the remaining 2,204 judges were from courts of original jurisdiction.

At least 1,563 army personnel, including give generals and 29 colonels were detained across Turkey on Saturday according to the Interior Ministry, after a bloody coup attempt by the FETÖ terror organization, headed by U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is said to have infiltrated Turkey’s state apparatus with thousands of followers in an effort to overthrow the democratically elected government.

http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/07/16/turkeys-top-judicial-board-hsyk-dismisses-2745-judges-over-coup-attempt

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.

16.07.2016
compiled by Editor BTT