NEWS SCAN for Turkey – May 30th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
Protesters stay on at Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul to prevent a construction project
A group of protesters who had been camping for the past three days in Taksim’s Gezi Park to stand guard against the demolition of the park’s walls and the uprooting of trees were dispersed by riot police who arrived at the scene early on Thursday with riot control vehicles and pepper spray.
The group resisted the police but had to leave the area when officers used pepper spray and tear gas to break up the protest. They also set fire to three tents put up by protestors.
Construction workers immediately started their work after the group was dispersed. They also brought down trees that had been felled the day before but had been replanted by the demonstrators.
Turkish-Italian Tofaş to export light commercial vehicle (LCV) North America
Turkey’s leading automotive manufacturer, the Turkish-Italian JV Tofas, has announced plans to export a Doblo-based light commercial vehicle (LCV) model to the North American market.
The popular Doblo model, currently in production at Tofas Bursa plant, will undergo modifications and upgrades for the North American market, requiring an investment of EUR 268 million, according to a statement made by the company to the Public Disclosure Platform of Borsa Istanbul. The vehicles to be shipped to US and Canadian markets will be rebranded as Ram Promaster City, with the first shipments beginning by the second half of the next year. Tofas plans to export 175,000 vehicles to the US and Canada until 2021.
Syrian opposition not convinced to attend Geneva II meeting
Syria’s main opposition group said today it would not take part in proposed U.S.-Russia peace talks, a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu participated in their Istanbul meeting.
The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) will not take part in any international conference or any such efforts so long as the militias of Iran and Hezbollah continue their invasion of Syria,” the opposition acting chief George Sabra told reporters in Istanbul today, according to Agence France-Presse.
In addition to the question of participation in the proposed Geneva conference, the election of a new president, the agreeing on an interim government and the voting in of new members to join the group were the other main reasons for the gathering in Istanbul.
Minister Ebu’s-Subh says Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit will break political embargo on Palestine
Palestine Detainees Affairs Minister informed Turkey that Israel has infringed rights of Palestinian detainees.
Palestine Detainees Affairs Minister Ebu’s-Subh said, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit will break the political embargo on Palestine administration and strengthen the self determination and resistance right of Palestinians.
Ebu’s -Subh said,Erdogan will witness the ugliness of Israel’s land, sea and air blockades during his visit.
Turkey ranks among the worst 10 countries in bribery
Turkey ranks among the worst 10 countries in which bribery is commonly used to win contracts, according to an Ernst&Young survey conducted with C-level executives in 36 countries.
Some 39 percent of Turkish respondents to the survey think resorting to bribery is necessary to win the tenders in their sector, while 55 percent believe corruption is “widespread” across all businesses.
The gap between the two figures reveals the respondents’ tendency to think bribery is more common in the overall economy than in their own sectors.
30.05.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
