NEWS SCAN for Turkey – July 17th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
PM Erdoğan likens Gezi protesters to ‘piteous rodents’
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has likened Gezi Park protesters to “piteous rodents” aiming to put a hole in the “ship that 76 million Turkish citizens are in.”
Following the tense riots during the Gezi protests in June, Prime Minister Erdoğan had earlier portrayed the protesters negatively, calling them “thugs.”
Speaking at an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner hosted by the Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans’ Confederation (TESK) in Kastamonu on Tuesday, Erdoğan said there were some circles among the Gezi protesters who “tried to solve their problems with the government by targeting the country’s economy, stability and safety.”
Rixos Hotels chain wins Istanbul’s Golden Horn port tender
The Sembol-Ekopark İnşaat-Fine Otelcilik joint venture – all companies Rixos Hotels chain has shares in – submitted the highest offer $1.35 billion, plus taxes, in the action for the privatization of the shipyards in Istanbul’s Golden Horn (Haliç), following the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, today.
The joint venture competed against Cengiz-Taca-Galeri İnşaat joint venture who withdrew from the tender in the 21st round and the Sembol-Ekopark İnşaat-Fine Otelcilik joint venture became the winner of the tender. If the Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communication approves the offer, the tender will be finalized. Fettah Tamince, the owner of the Rixos Hotels chain, said after the tender that they planned to make an additional investment worth around 1 billion Turkish Liras (nearly $521 million). They aim to attract an additional 1 million tourists a year with the Golden Horn port project. He said it was not certain that Rixos Hotels would take part in the project.
The project for the privatization of the Camialtı and Taşkızak shipyards on the Golden Horn includes two yacht ports, two five-star hotels – each with 400 rooms – a big mosque with capacity for 1,000 people and shopping malls and parks in the area of around 230,000 square meters. The winning consortium will build the tourism complex in four years and hold the operation rights for 49 years, following a BOT model.
Turkey will establish “Turkey Commerce Centers”
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said that they work on a new support mechanism for Turkish exporters emphasizing they will establish “Turkey Commerce Centers”.
“Private sector will also support these centers and those centers will serve the business world,” said Caglayan. He also stressed that this mechanism would help especially traders making exports to the USA and Asia-Pacific. Consultancy will be significant role of centers said Çağlayan, adding that regulations about these centers will be made after necessary verifications by institutions.
Caglayan aslo said that as a government they are on the eve of very significant works, adding that some regulations will be made to remove bureaucratic barriers for industrialists.
CHP leader: Turkey back 105 years in media freedom
The leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has lashed out at the government for its attitude towards the media, maintaining that a large portion of the media is under the control of the government.
“In terms of media freedom, we have gone back to the level we were at 105 years ago,” Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said at a press conference on Tuesday, maintaining that the media is being jointly controlled by the government and the police and that a large number of media bosses do as they are told by the government.
“We have been going through a period in which news stories which get the nod from the government are published, while those which don’t are censured or subjected to self-censorship,” Kılıçdaroğlu added at the press conference, held to announce a report on journalists in prison in Turkey.
Microsoft Turkey triples “Country of the Year” awards
Microsoft’s Turkish branch grabbed the coveted ‘Country of the Year’ award, given to the best performers among the software giant’s 112-country network for the third time.
Presented to Microsoft Turkey General Manager, Tamer Ozmen, by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in a ceremony held in Atlanta, USA, the award also means increased resources and investments dedicated to Microsoft Turkey.
“Driven by a dynamic and entrepreneurial spirit, Turkey is the same league as China, Brazil, Mexico and Russia when it comes to economic growth. Microsoft Turkey adresses the growing IT needs of the Turkish economy..”, Ballmer said at the ceremony.
24.07.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
