NEWS SCAN for Turkey – June 17th, 2013

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

Five Turkish unions go on one-day strike to support Gezi protests

It was declared by five Turkish unions Sunday that they would stage a one-day nationwide strike on Monday to protest the forced removal of hundreds of demonstrators by riot police from a park at the heart of the city where the government wants to build a shopping mall which is considered to be absolutely inacceptable by millions of citizens.

The Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) has about some 240,000 members in 11 unions, the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK), the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) and the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects’ Chambers (TMMOB) have announced the strike in a joint statement. The total number of the members of the four unions amounts to nearly 800,000. It is reported that only emergency staff will be working in hospitals.

Turkish interior minister warns laborers not to attend illegal demonstrations

While answering the questions of journalists following a workshop in Ankara on Monday, Turkish Minister of Interior Muammer GULER required laborers not to attend the protests upon call of trade unions.

In reply to a question about the content of the water sprayed from riot control vehicles, the minister said he knew about the content and the police had the authority to use force within framework of law.  “Police can use shield, baton, can spray water, compressed water and tear gas and if necessary a gun according to law. There is no water with drug content used. Police use compressed water or tear gas and when needed dyed water but nothing else. We don’t have such standard.”

The interior minister also stated that 393 people were taken under custody and they were trying to complete the questioning as fast as possible.

Turkey adopts new measures to prevent hot air balloon accidents in Cappadocia

It is reported that General Directorate of Civil Aviation has put a series of measures into effect to prevent hot air balloon accidents in Cappadocia, Turkey’s prominent tourist destination.

A circular released by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation on June 14, 2013 emphasized the need for further measures as air traffic in Cappadocia has increased.

According to the new practice, hot air balloons tours will take place twice a day. The first session will start 30 minutes before sunrise and end at 11 a.m. and a maximum of 100 balloons will be permitted to fly at the same time. The second session will begin at 2.30 p.m. and will go until half an hour after sunset and maximum 50 balloons will be permitted.

Balloons without Global Positioning System (GPS) will not be given permit to fly as of September 15, 2013. The GPs data of all balloon trips will be transferred to servers where they will be kept for two years.

Number of passengers will be determined by balloon capacity according to the standard set by the circular and a certified English speaking personnel will also need to be on board during trips.

Turkish PM says Turkish economy and democracy has passed the test

During the advisory committee meeting of Expatriate Turks living abroad in Ankara on Monday, Turkish PM Erdogan said that the Turkish economy and democracy had passed the test after recent developments.

Erdogan also said, “Those who have seen the sincerity of our country keep supporting the process” and added “we will convince those with hostile intentions against Turkey”.

On the other hand Erdogan commented that he did not recognize such a European Union Parliament”, referring to EP decision about Gezi Park.

He went on to say, “I am against those who violate my area of freedom”, referring to protesters and stressed, “Don’t praise the cruelty but stand by the oppressed”.

Britain spies on Turkish finance minister and his delegation in London

It is reported that Britain intercepted phone calls and monitored computers used by officials taking part in two high-level international finance meetings in London in 2009, including Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and his delegation of 15.

The newspaper (Guardian) said some delegates from countries in the Group of 20 used Internet cafes that had been set up by British intelligence agencies to monitor their emails.

It is interesting to note that the report was published hours before leaders of the Group of Eight countries — all of which are in the G20 — start a two-day summit in Northern Ireland.

The newspaper stated said it had seen classified documents that detailed secret monitoring by British intelligence of officials at a G20 leaders summit and a finance ministers’ meeting in 2009 and suggested it had been sanctioned at a senior level by the government of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

17.06.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA

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