NEWS SCAN for Turkey – June 21st, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
Turkish main opposition asks Merkel not to block Turkey’s EU path
It is reported that the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has written a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, asking her not to block Turkey’s EU accession talks.
The letter said “It would be an unjust, improper and wrong approach to take the attitude that Turkey won’t be able join the European Union”. Merkel’s conservatives had rejected Turkish membership of the European Union in their election program, saying the country would “overburden” the bloc because of its size and economy.
Kılıçdaroğlu also wrote in the letter “regressive situation of Turkey in the domains of democracy, freedoms and human rights. These criticisms would certainly have an impact on the ruling Justice and Development Party AKP government. However, it would be an unjust, improper and wrong manner if these criticisms addressed to the AKP were to slow Turkey – EU ties, especially Turkey’s accession process to the EU. The opening of new and important chapters that would strengthen Turkey’s democratic base would renew the Turkish people’s commitment to the EU”.
EU divided over Turkey chapter opening
The decision of whether or not to delay Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union has been postponed to June 24, as members of the 27-nation bloc try to change the position of Germany, which is insisting on a halt to negotiations as a response to Ankara’s crackdown on protestors.
The EU was set to open talks on Chapter 22, regional policies, next week, after a delay of three years. The representatives of the member states in the European Commission met yesterday to adopt a common position on whether to give a green light to Turkey, but failing that they decided to take up the issue in their next meeting on June 24.
Germany’s decision to block the opening of this chapter due to domestic political reasons caused a rift within the EU countries. Although the Netherlands and Austria are aligned with Germany on this chapter, a significant majority of countries criticized the EU heavyweight and called on it not to block the opening of the chapter on regional policies. Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom have been actively engaged to convince Germany, underlining that this move would fully nix the EU’s leverage on Turkey. The issue was brought to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attention during the G-8 meeting, but her resistance has yet to be overcome thus far.
Turkish Airlines awarded “Best Airline” for the third time
“Best Airline in Europe” award has been won Turkish Airlines again. The world’s largest airline and airport ranking authority, Skytrax has given THY, Turkey’s national flag carrier the title for the third consecutive year.
Temel Kotil, THY CEO said at 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony, held at the Paris Air Show, this was a reflection of the satisfaction of air travelers who chose to fly with the airline.
THY also received the “Best Business Class Catering” award with its ‘Flying Chef’ service for Business Class passengers on its long flights.
A member of the Star Alliance, THY has the world’s 4th largest flight network that spans 229 destinations in 100 countries.
Mersin, southeastern city of Turkey starts hosting 17th Mediterranean Games
On a pleasant (but warm) Thursday evening, Prime Minister Erdoğan officially opened the 17th Mediterranean Games, in the southern province of Mersin. Erdoğan said “”Turkey is making a rehearsal in Mersin. As we are hosting the biggest sports organization in the Mediterranean region, we are actually preparing for 2020 Istanbul Olympics.”
Erdogan said he believed Mersin would perform well at hosting the event, where athletes from 24 Mediterranean countries will compete. He added “Mersin will host the Mediterranean Games in the most beautiful way, and will convey sports’ universal message of peace, solidarity and friendship to the whole world,” he said.
FIFA U20 World Cup finals to start in central Turkish city of Kayseri, today
The FIFA U20 World Cup finals hosted this year by Turkey is set to kick off on Friday. 24 countries are going to compete in the championship in 6 different groups
FIFA President Joseph Blatter will be present at the opening ceremony on Friday and the opening match of the tournament is to be played between Cuba and South Korea at the Kadir Has Stadium. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir will be in charge of the game.
Matches will be played in Istanbul, Bursa, Antalya, Trabzon, Rize, Kayseri and Gaziantep.
Turkey which in the same group (C) with Colombia, El Salvador and Australia,y will play their first group match against El Salvador on June 22 at Avni Aker Stadium in Trabzon.
Insurance sector in Turkey grows 27 percent in first quarter
It is reported that Turkey’s insurance market has enjoyed a substantial growth in the first quarter, reaching 27 percent increase in premium production compared to a year earlier.
The figures announced by the Insurance Association of Turkey (TSB) revealed that insurers in Turkey have produced a premium total of TRY 6.5 billion (approx. USD 3.4 billion) compared to the TRY 5.1 billion generated in the same period of 2012. The breakdown of the impressive total shows that non-life categories constituted the majority with TRY 5.6 billion, while the remainder came from the sales of life insurance products.
Among non-life categories, the premium growth in compulsory traffic insurance products registered a rate of almost 50 percent while non-compulsory traffic insurance growth went up by 20 percent. The increase in the profitability of insurers equaled the market’s growth rate, 27 percent, as profits reached TRY 162.6 million from TRY 128.7 million a year earlier.
20106.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
