GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 30

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 30, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET
-- ALARMING NIGHT IN ANTALYA
One engine of Boeing 737-400 type plane of Anadolu Jet, belonging to Turkish Airlines, stopped while heading from Ankara to southern province of Antalya. Pilot of the plane managed to land at the Antalya Airport. Four hours after this shocking incident, this time a Boeing 737-800 type plane, belonging to Israel's El-Al, made an emergency landing to Antalya airport with one engine.

-- SNOW FALLS ON MOUNTAINS
First snow of the season fell on Uludag Mountain, one of the most important winter resorts of Turkey. According to State Meteorology Institute officials, summit of Uludag was totally covered with snow. Separately, snow thickness in Erciyes Mountain in central Anatolian province of Kayseri reached 8 cm.

MILLIYET
-- A DREAM COMES TRUE IN AUSTRIA
Alev Korun became the first Turk to enter the Federal Parliament in Austria following elections in that country. "I am happy to realize the dream of all immigrants," Korun said. Her goal is to make sure that all babies of immigrants receive Austrian citizenship upon birth.

-- NEW YORKERS LISTEN TO FATIH ERKOC IN 6 LANGUAGES
Turkish musician Fatih Erkoc gave a concert in New York. Erkoc's concert took place at the world famous Lincoln Center. Erkoc sang songs in six different languages. His concert lasted more than two hours.

SABAH
-- ITALIAN GESTURE TO TERIM
Fatih Terim, coach of Turkish national team, was invited to Italy to train his former team. Terim will be the coach of both Fiorentina and Milan at each half-time during the match that will played on October 8. The revenue from the match will be used for ALS patients.

-- REPORT ON INFANT DEATHS
Scientific Board investigating the death of 13 babies in Tepecik Hospital of the Aegean province of Izmir prepared its pre-report. It was determined that infection was spread from the bottles of liquid food given to babies while drip-feeding.

VATAN
-- NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES HAVING MORE SHARE OF TURKISH EXPORTS, TUZMEN
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that "while the European Union (EU) is receiving smaller amounts of Turkish exports, neighboring and regional countries are having more share of Turkish exports." "For years, the EU received 56-57 percent of all Turkish exports. However, in the first half of 2008, the EU received only 50 percent of all Turkish exports. In 2002, Turkey's neighbors and regional countries received 25 percent of all Turkish exports. In the first half of 2008, Turkey's neighbors and regional countries received 41.3 percent of all Turkish exports," Tuzmen said.

-- GOODYEAR TYRES TO HALT PRODUCTION FOR EIGHT DAYS
Goodyear tyres company will halt production in its Adapazari and Izmit factories for eight days between October 3rd and 10th. The company decided to temporarily halt production due to the recession in the market and large numbers of tyres in stock. Goodyear plans to decrease the amount of production until December 31, 2008.

CUMHURIYET
-- EXHIBITION IN THE MEMORY OF PIPPA BACCA
International Fine Arts Association Turkey National Committee organizes "Bride of Peace" exhibition in the memory of Pippa Bacca who was killed in Turkey after departing from Italy through hitchhiking. 32 Turkish and 37 Italian artists attend the exhibition that will remain open in UPSD Art Gallery between October 8- November 7.

-- SUCCESS OF TURKISH COMPANIES
Defense Industry companies step up efforts in the recent years to meet needs of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Companies of Turkish Defense Industry at the same time started to sell their genuine designs abroad. A total of 6 companies sell their goods abroad.

RADIKAL
-- FENERBAHCE WILL HOST DINAMO KIEV OF UKRAINE
Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey will host Dinamo Kiev of Ukraine in Istanbul at Group G in European Champions League to get three points. Aragones, coach of Fenerbahce, is very cautious: "Kiev is a good counterattack team. We should be very careful."

-- OPENING OF PARLIAMENT COINCIDES WITH RAMADAN FEAST AFTER 29 YEARS
President Abdullah Gul will address the opening of the 3rd Legislative year of Parliament's 23rd Term. Parliament which will formally start to work after Ramadan Feast holiday will take up very important matters. The opposition parties are expected to bring onto the agenda allegations regarding Turkey side of Deniz Feneri e.V. case heard in Germany. Opening of the new legislative year of the Parliament coincides with Ramadan Feast for the first time after 29 years.

YENI SAFAK
-- MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION TO APPOINT 13,000 TEACHERS
Turkish Ministry of National Education announced that it would appoint 13,000 new teachers on November 5. The ministry would accept job applications between October 22 and 31, 2008.

-- AMRAAM MISSILES FOR TURKISH F-16 JETS
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is making preparations to procure 107 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) fro the United States. The missiles would cost the TSK $157 million.

Hurriyet

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Museums open for visitors over holiday

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Turkey's art calender offers a great deal of options for art lovers. This week is a great chance for those who spend their holiday in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir to experience a week full of art. Most of prominent museums in three big cities will be open after tomorrow

ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News

Museums in Turkey's three big cities, Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, promise a holiday full of history and art for those who want to spend this week of holiday visiting exhibitions. Since most of the museums continue to welcome their visitors during the holiday, a variety of exhibitions to suit all interests await visitors.

Among Istanbul's museums, the Pera Museum, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Dolmabahçe Palace Museum, Rahmi M. Koç Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Water Museum (Deniz Müzesi) and Topkapı Museum are open on the second and third days of the Ramadan holiday. The only museum in Istanbul that will be open on the first, second and the third day of the holiday is Yedikule Hisarı Museum. Basilica Sistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı), Archeology Museum, Hagia Sophia and Turkish Islamic Arts Museum and Hagia Irini Church will be open on the first day after 1:00 p.m. and they will stay open for the rest of the holiday.

In the capital Ankara, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, State Art and Statue Museum, and Ethnography Museum of Ankara will open at 12:30 p.m. on the first day of the holiday and welcome visitors between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for the remaining holiday period. Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which includes an important exhibition on the Independence War as a permanent exhibition, will be open every day except Monday. Atatürk's house, which was modeled on the original one in Salonika, will open it's doors from the third day of the holiday. The museum will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The Aviation Museum of the Air Force Command and Ankara's first industrial museum, the Çengelhan Rahmi Koç Museum, will be open after the first day of the holiday. The Aviation Museum will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., while the Koç museum will be open between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The İzmir Ethnography Museum and İzmir Archeology Museum will be open after 1 p.m. on the first day of Bayram and will be open for the entire Bayram holiday. The world's oldest known agora, the İzmir Agora Open Air Museum, and the İzmir Trade History Museum can be visited every day between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The İzmir Atatürk Museum will not be open during Bayram, but afterwards opens between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

While the ruins at Ephesus and the Selcuk Virgin Mary House, Çeşme Museum and Bergama Museum can be visited during the holiday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Selçuk Ephesus Museum will open its doors to visitors after 1 p.m. on the first day of Bayram.

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Bayram in holiday resorts

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Turkey welcomes the nine-day Bayram holiday last Friday evening. After school opens at the beginning of September, Turkish tourists leave holiday resorts, but this week is a very good chance to enjoy the last days of summer in holiday resorts. For those who have a chance to spend their holiday away from home, Turkey's popular coasts offer cheaper holiday alternatives for Turks as well as foreigners

ISTANBUL - TDN with wire dispatches

Turks and foreigners alike will be able to catch the last summer rays over the coming week. So as Bayram approached, tourist resorts around Turkey were busy preparing for the anxiously awaited nine-day holiday.

For Turks as well as foreign tourists, the holiday week is one of the last chances of the year to enjoy sea and sun at affordable prices in resort destinations such as Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye. Sector officials say they expect the tranquil Aegean city of Muğla's Akyaka district � famous for its natural beauties � to be visited by many tourists during the holiday. �We have a different concept of tourism. We don't give licenses to places playing loud music. Guests visiting the district have the opportunity to take a rest in nature. They join tour programs and enjoy magnificent coves during their holiday,� said Akyaka Mayor Ahmet Çalca.

Bodrum Hoteliers Association Secretary General Orhan Kavala said hoteliers were hopeful about the Bayram holiday. Kavala said the tourism season was still high in Bodrum, the popular Aegean holiday resort, adding: �The rate of foreign tourists is high in mid- to high-priced hotels. We receive extra demand from domestic tour agencies for the Bayram holiday. They ask for lower prices. We think that Bodrum will have a very good week.�

Noting that hotel prices during Bayram would be considerably lower than earlier high-season prices, Kavala explained that since holiday prices were lower compared to July and August, visitors during Bayram would be able to enjoy the same, maybe even better, quality service at a lower price. �The number of domestic tourists is lower in Bodrum. The coasts host foreigners. September and the first weeks of October are the best time for [Turks to] holiday in Bodrum. The coasts are empty. Hotel staff offer better service because they are not too busy,� he said.

Special packages in Fethiye

It's not just Bodrum's tourism industry that will flourish over Bayram. Fethiye Hoteliers Union Chairman Yavuz Torunoğulları said domestic tourists had made their reservations for the Bayram week. �Hoteliers have finished their preparations. We expect that Fethiye will be visited by a great deal of visitors. They can join daily boat tours and visit 12 islands and coves between Fethiye and Göcek.�

Butterfly Valley and Saklıkent Canyon are among the numerous places holiday-goers can visit. �Eşen Stream offers the opportunity for canoeing and Babadağ Mountain offers paragliding, which are very attractive activities for tourists. Ancient cities like Cadianda, Letoon, Pınara, Sidyma, Arsada, Xanthos and Patara, as well as an abandoned Greek village, Kayaköy, are among places worth seeing,� said Torunoğulları.

Marmaris awaiting holiday-goers

Southern Aegean Hoteliers Union, or GETOB, Chairman İlhan Açıkgöz said guests in the Mediterranean town of Marmaris could visit Günnücek, Yalancı Boğaz (Liar Strait) and Cennet Island. Açıkgöz said Marmaris was even more beautiful in the fall. �The town offers lots of alternatives for those who want to enjoy the last days of summer until morning hours and for those who want to rest in a natural and calm atmosphere,� he said.

He said hotels in Marmaris expected to be full during the Bayram week. �There are many foreign tourists at the moment. Hotels are now at 75 percent of their capacity, but it will rise to 100 percent with the arrival of domestic tourists, who left the region when the schools opened.�

Datça and Dalyan

For vistors opting to visit the Aegean town of Datça during Bayram, the head of the Dalyan Association for Tourism Culture and Environmental Protection, Meral Beltan, suggested visiting Gökçeler Bükü, Palamut, Hayıt, Kızılbük, Akvaryum and Lindos coves.

�They can also visit the ancient city of Knidos, the statue of Aphrodite, and the Burgaz and Sarı Liman ruins,� she added.

Beltan said visitors to another Aegean town, Dalyan, which is famous for the King Graves and Caretta caretta turtles, could see the Aşı and Bakardi coves as well as the Ekincik Gulf.

There is plenty of variety for visitors to Dalyan, including beautiful moonlit tours of the area. �Moon tours offer visits to Köyceğiz village and the canals of Dalyan and then come to İztuzu beach. Visitors can relax under the moonlight on the sea.�

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İyi Bayramlar

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Surprised by a child kissing their hands and drawing it to the forehead as a sign of respect or enjoying the delicious holiday desserts, expatriates enjoy the full range of Bayram experiences. Together with the Muslim majority of the country, expatriates living in Turkey enjoy a Bayram break as well ŞAFAK TİMUR ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News

Expats to experience a Muslim Bayram

While Turks look forward to Bayram to come together with family members or just to have a break from the rush of life, expatriates from various religions and nationalities also have their own Bayram experiences.

“In my first Bayram here in Turkey, I went to Edremit (a district in the western province of Çanakkale) with a good friend to visit her family,” said Stephanie Holtman, a music teacher who has lived in Turkey for five years. Holtman had already had the opportunity to witness the traditions of a Turkish family who closely follow Bayram's religious rituals as her friend's father was an imam. “We woke up every morning and had breakfast all together,” she said, explaining how the family offered candies to visitors and cooking baklava, a traditional Turkish desert.

“It was really a nice experience with the family and to see how they celebrate it,” said Holtman, who visited an area of Turkey outside of Istanbul for the first time that Bayram. “I realized that Istanbul is not all of Turkey. I experienced the country,” she said. Currently Holtman says she does not experience the Bayram atmosphere fully as she lives on her own.

Kim Erkan on the other hand, who has lived in Turkey for many years, has done more than just witness Bayram but has lived it as she was married to a Turk and used to live in Aydın, a small Aegean province. “When we lived in Aydın, I spent hours wandering around the open air street market, where women in colorful costumes sold goods they had made, grown or cooked to return home armed with odd but interesting presents, herbs and spices, exotic sweets and dried fruits to serve with tiny cups of thick, black Turkish coffee,” she said, telling about the Bayram preparations of the city residents. She witnessed women taking their children to the hamam, while their husbands waited for them outside at the barbershop, getting a Bayram haircut and shave on Arife, the day before Bayram starts.

Be a part of the community

Although religion and the tradition often differ, it does not seem that difficult for many to feel part of the community. Based on her own experience, Erkan said, “With love, respect and compassion, Islam and Christianity can exist comfortably side by side in happy union, growing stronger with each generation.”

Virginia Lowe, co-owner of a pizza place in Istanbul's Sultanahmet district, who visited many countries before she decided to settle in Turkey, said she did not feel that she was outside looking in. “While we may follow different roads to get there, we all look to the same God. I am one of the people of the book. And a joyful celebration is a celebration wherever it occurs in the world,” she said.

Lowe said she was at first startled when a child took her hand, kissed it and drew it to his forehead. “When I understood the gesture to be a sign of respect to an elder, I was touched. And now I am accustomed to the ritual when my younger friends perform it in a half-joking, half-respectful manner to their ‘abla' (elder sister). It means that I am part of the community,” she said. For Bayram, Lowe would make packets of American candies for the local kids who would knock on her door for candies, along with for the young men at the local shop nearby her house, as she said they had always been kind to her.

Turkey changes too

However, as time has passed, some of the traditions have started to weaken, especially in big cities. “Most people I know, regard it as a holiday,” said Stein-Gunnar Sommerset a Norwegian who has lived in Turkey for almost three years. According to Allan Keilin, an Australian English teacher living in the western province of Kocaeli, people are not that happy to visit relatives during Bayram. “People look annoyed as they have to see family and visit everybody and it is difficult to travel to four or five different family members,” he said.

Erkan on the other hand said Bayram retained its traditional importance and “is still celebrated with festive enthusiasm and pleasure,” despite many social and economic changes Turkey has experienced. Bayram is a reunion time for many people, according to Holtman too. “Families come together and visit people who they may only visit at Bayram,” she said. “I like that it is connecting the family.” turkishdailynews

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Talat calls for solution in Cyprus by year's end

"I prefer to have a solution by the end of the year. Time is very crucial," Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said. [Getty Images]

29/09/2008

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat called for a rapid solution regarding the divided island of Cyprus on Saturday (September 27th). "The more time passes, the fewer chances we have [to solve the issue]," Talat warned in an interview with the Greek radio station Flash. "I prefer to have a solution by the end of the year. Time is very crucial," he stressed. He said the main problem between the two Cypriot communities is the property issue, adding that territorial disputes are also difficult to solve. Greek Cypriots should stop blaming Turkey for the situation in Cyprus and accept more UN involvement in the negotiation process, the Turkish Cypriot leader said. Talat and Cypriot President Demetris Christofias are scheduled to hold their next round of reunification talks on October 10th. The two sides agree in principle to a bizonal, bicommunal federation, but sharp differences remain on security, territorial issues and Turkish settlers. (Flash, Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet, Reuters - 28/09/08)

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GOOD MORNING-- SCAN ON SEPT 29

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 29, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET
-- ITALIAN DEPUTIES WATCH OZPETEK'S FILM AS LESSON ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Turkish Ferzan Ozpetek's film "Mukemmel Bir Gun" (A Perfect Day) was shown to Italian deputies as a lesson on domestic violence. The film was shown to Italian parliamentarians prior to the adoption of a draft law on domestic violence. Ozpetek's film participated in the 65th Venice International Film Festival and its story is on how domestic violence turns into a family tragedy.

-- 8 PKK TERRORISTS SURRENDER TO TURKISH SECURITY FORCES
Eight PKK terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces at 1700 hours the other day, the Turkish General Staff announced. The terrorists surrendered in south-eastern province of Sirnak.

MILLIYET
-- TEMPERATURES TO RISE ON WEDNESDAY
Weather will be rainy in eastern and Black Sea regions and partly cloudy in other regions throughout the Ramadan feast. According to State Meteorology Affairs Directorate General, temperatures, currently under seasonal averages, are expected to rise in the whole country as of Wednesday.

-- LEADERS EXPECTED TO BE IN ANKARA IN RAMADAN FEAST
New legislative year opening ceremony will take place on the second day of the Ramadan Feast and so the leaders will be in Ankara. President Abdullah Gul is expected to be in Ankara throughout the feast. Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan will be in Black Sea province of Zonguldak on the first day of the feast, but will be in Ankara on the second day. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in Istanbul on the first day of Ramadan Feast and on the second day will come to Ankara.

SABAH
-- ERDOGAN: WE WILL OVERCOME THIS CRISIS
Commenting on the global crisis, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "Turkey will certainly overcome this crisis. To achieve this, we should not be deceived by the tricks of those people with self-interests."

-- NEW LIFE ON OCTOBER 1
Social security system will be renewed starting as of October 1st. Under the new system, retired pay of those who have newly become members of Social Security Institution (SSK) will drop. Those who were brought to hospitals urgently, will receive treatment. Salaries of those who work after getting retired, will be cut.

VATAN
-- IT WILL NOT BE LIKE 2001 BUT....
Economics Professor Asaf Savas Akat said that Turkey would get affected by the economic crisis in the United States but "there is no need for a nightmare." "The Turkish economy will not go through an economic crisis as it did in 2001," Akat stressed. "The Turkish banking sector went through a major shock in 2001, but now stands strong. Capital entering the Turkish market is not leaving the country. Also, public finance and budget implementation are going well in Turkey. As such, there is no need to get worried over the economic crisis in the U.S.," Akat noted.

-- ALL HOTEL ROOMS BOOKED
All hotel rooms in southern province of Antalya have been booked during the Ramadan Feast, told tourism authorities. Demand for hotel rooms in Antalya went up by 70 percent when compared to the same feast last year. Antalya will welcome 450,000 domestic tourists during the Ramadan Feast which begins on Tuesday, September 30.

CUMHURIYET
-- REAL SECTOR
According to a survey carried out by Central Bank in manufacturing industry working places, rate of those who are "pessimistic" over the course of events rose. The rate, which was 13.3 percent in September last year, rose to 42.4 this year in September. Rate of business places which said production dropped, rose to 30.4 percent.

-- ERDOGAN: CRISIS WILL BE OVERCOME WITH THE LEAST DAMAGE
In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "we are going through a very big fluctuation process in global scale. Turkey will definitely overcome this fluctuation."

RADIKAL
-- HATAY AFRAID OF SECOND "ULLA" DISASTER
A cargo ship ran aground in Cevlik coast of Samandag town of Mediterranean province of Hatay. The Comoros Islands flagged ship, carrying iron dust, later fell asunder because of the strong waves. Rescue ship coming from Iskederun could not do anything because of the weather conditions. Front part of the ship totally sunk. The ship is expected to be unloaded after weather gets calm.

YENI SAFAK
-- THINGS BUSY DURING RAMADAN FEAST
The "Sultan of 11 months", Ramadan will end with Monday's fast breaking dinner. The Ramadan Feast will begin on Tuesday, September 30. Most Turks will enjoy a holiday week of nine days. Weather will be rainy throughout Turkey during the feast.

-- TURKISH COMPANIES TO RECEIVE A CREDIT OF $100,000 WITH NO INTEREST
Turkish Ministry of Industry and Trade began a loan program for Turkish small and medium scale companies exporting goods. According to the program, these companies would be able to receive a loan of $100,000 to be paid back in six months. The government will not charge any interest on the loan.

hurriyet

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Celebrating the Ramadan Holiday

Събота, 27-ми септември, 2008

SPOT 1: Eid ul-Fitr, or the Ramadan Holiday as it is popularly called, has been a special occasion for over 1400 years and crowns the month of Ramadan for Muslims SPOT2: The holiday is celebrated throughout the Muslim community world wide and brings together all in the shared celebrations. It reinforces the feeling that Muslims are part of a universal community GÜL DEMIR and NIKI GAMM ISTANBUL – Turkish Daily News

Nine whole days - just incredible in a world in economic crisis! Yet that's what fallen to the lot of people in Turkey this year although one can be sure that the people caught up in the crisis in banks and insurance companies around the world could use that time off. Perhaps it's a good thing though on second thought because it will certainly improve Turkey's tourism revenue even if it's only local. What used to be a traditional religious holiday has become an excuse for a vacation for many people.The holiday began many centuries ago and only two years after the Hegira when the Prophet Mohammed went to Medina, as a means of celebrating the end of a month of fasting, announced by sighting the new moon. This holiday is considered the lesser of two big ones. The greater one is the Sacrifice Holiday or Kurban Bayram during the first half of December this year. The Arabic term for the first day of the holiday is Eid ul-Fitr and means the Festival of Breaking the Fast. The breaking of the Fast is essentially breakfast but in daylight this time. Technically the “Festival” runs from sunset on the last day of Ramadan for three days until sunset on the third day. So the day leading up to the start of the holiday is only a half day for offices and banks so people who need to shop are free to do so. As it falls on a Monday this year, it's no wonder that the Turkish government has declared the whole of Monday part of the holiday. It should end Thursday evening but the government also saw fit to declare Friday a day off as well. Better than having a bunch of disgruntled employees hanging around for a few hours wishing themselves elsewhere.The holiday is celebrated throughout the Muslim community world wide and brings together all in the shared celebrations. It reinforces the feeling that Muslims are part of a universal community and everybody is enjoined to carry out three duties during the holiday. One is to give alms (one-fortieth of one's income); to make peace with and visit each other; and to visit the graves of relatives.

The first day of the Festival in Turkey

Basically the day starts with a shower or bath although in the days before homes had indoor plumbing, it would mean a trip to the hamam. Then new clothes and shoes are put on or at least newly cleaned clothes. A father will consider it a great shame if he can't even afford new shoes for his son. After a light breakfast, the men are off to the mosque to pray. Then home again greeting any friends or neighbors met on the street and then the visits begin, including perhaps a visit to the cemetery to pray over the graves of departed loved ones. People go to kiss the hand of the eldest member of the family so too do politicians go to kiss the party leader's hand or the top management would go to the company owner. Where it's a relative, first in line are oldest male on the male side. Only after the male side is completed does the female side come into play. The children all dressed up in their new clothes are cut, preening themselves and looking for compliments even as they kiss their elders' hands. The elders in turn would kiss the children's faces and eyes and express the wish that Allah would grant them long years.Children meanwhile scour their neighborhoods, going from door to door in theory to wish people ‘Happy Holiday' but in actuality to receive candy or even better money. Pocket money for the week that they get to keep and spend on whatever they want. In spite of that the candy and chocolate makers are going to have happy smiles on their faces. For instance Ulker's Godiva chocolate, a world-renowned, up-scale candy is all set for the onslaught of buyers as the holiday approaches. But woe betide the person who has forgotten to buy candy and didn't make it to the bank for small change. It wouldn't be the first time that someone has hidden at home out of embarrassment at not having anything to offer children.In fact shopping for presents and sweets turns the days before the holiday into a real expedition. For the middle class that usually meant a visit to the many clothing stores on Mahmutpaşa, a street that extends down hill from the Covered Bazaar to practically the Spice Bazaar. Less well-off people would take their chances on the noisy, crowded, colorful street vendors at the “bazaar” that occupied the open areas around Yeni Camii until the municipality decided to eliminate this long-time tradition. Of course one shouldn't forget the baklava and other candies from Hacı Bekir, the only store in Istanbul that can boast of having carried out its business from the same location for more than 200 years.The servants, the janitors and even the postmen and garbage men expect a certain amount of money as a reward for their faithful services. And as you sit visiting, the sound of the drums comes from the streets. The drummers ring all the doorbells in each building hoping that their zealous efforts to get you up at 3:30 am to eat breakfast were worth a reward. But this is a tricky business because most people don't get up to actually see who this walking alarm clock is; anyone with a drum could claim to be the real drummer and sometimes do. Customs are slowly changing in Turkey to some extent because of economic conditions. People can't afford what they used to and some aren't inclined to be as generous with their alms giving as they once were. And at least in the big cities families are moving apart. But everybody is still ready to celebrate the holiday, nine days of vacation.Do you suppose Kurban Bayram in December will also be a nine-day holiday?

Ramadan in 1918 Saudi Arabia

“Just before sunset… there was a great concourse of people assembled on the housetops craning their necks in the direction of the jagged tip of Tuwaiq set off by a sunset of unusual splendor. Many of the crowd were women, who are credited with keener sight than men… and as luck would have it a band of wispy clouds lay over the moon's position throughout those critical moments… As the darkness gathered about us it was clear that the moon was not to be seen that night, and disappointed figures crept down from their roofs to break the fast which was to be endured for another day.” At 2 A.M., however, gunshots suddenly announced the end of Ramadan. “Some Bedouin… had come in post-haste to report that they had seen the crescent of the new moon and an ecclesiastical court had accepted their evidence.”

**H. St. J.B. Philby in 1918 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as quoted in Muhammadan Festivals by G. E. von Grunebaum.

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Turkish opposition party vows support for EU membership efforts

24/09/2008

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Leaders of Turkey's main opposition party, the People's Republican Party (CHP), visited Brussels on Tuesday (September 23rd) where they vowed to support Ankara's efforts to join the EU, despite serious disagreements over the secular system and freedom of expression. The CHP leaders rejected accusations by the ruling Justice and Development Party that its members refuse to co-operate in efforts to bring the country closer to the EU. "Since the beginning of this government in 2002, we have supported practically all initiatives of this government, the reform packages, constitutional amendments, and legal amendments in the direction of EU membership," Onur Oymen, deputy CHP leader, told a press conference. He acknowledged, however, that his party is worried by some important omissions in the national programme. (Turkish Daily News - 24/09/08; Reuters - 23/09/08)

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Popular Turkish journalist arrested

24/09/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- Popular Turkish journalist Tuncay Ozkan was arrested early Monday (September 22nd) at his home in Istanbul, the latest in a string of arrests related to the investigation into the Ergenekon organisation. Police raided Ozkan's home and confiscated his computer and some documents. Ozkan is a prominent opponent of the ruling Justice and Development Party. He was among 16 people arrested on Tuesday as part of the continuing investigation into a shadowy group accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

In other news Tuesday, police arrested about 40 people protesting the planned construction of a nuclear power plant in Turkey. The protesters, including members of the Greenpeace environmental group, staged a peaceful rally outside the energy ministry in Ankara. Turkey holds the first tender Wednesday for construction of its first nuclear power plant near Mersin. (Turkish Daily News, Hurriyet, Sabah, Vatan, Zaman, Cumhurriyet - 24/09/08; RIA Novosti, Dogan, Anadolu news agency, CNN Turk, Reuters, ITAR-TASS - 23/09/08)

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Bulgarian news service's chief editor attacked by unknown assailants

24/09/2008

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Unknown assailants attacked the editor-in-chief of local internet site www.frognews.bg late Monday (September 22nd). Ognyan Stefanov was beaten by four masked men who waited for him outside the restaurant where he was having dinner with his wife. Stefanov was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, broken legs and spinal trauma. Stefanov is believed to be behind an anonymous website, www.opasnite.net63.net, that publishes corruption allegations involving senior government officials as well as critical reports about police officers and shadowy businessmen. Stefanov rejects the claims.

In other news, the Bulgarian police arrested the State Agency for Youth and Sports Deputy Chairman Ivan Lekov on Tuesday. The prosecution said the arrest was based on Lekov's suspected abuse of office on the heels of recent reports of fixing football matches through the mediation of referees. (Reuters, Sofia Echo, Darik, Capital, Dnevnik, Netinfo - 23/09/08)

setimes

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 25,2008

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 25, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--HE HAD HIDED HIS ARMADA STAKE FROM COURT

The declaration of property of Zahid Akman's, head of Turkey's media watchdog, Which he gave to Ankara's 24th Criminal Court of First Instance does not include the his stake at the company named Armada, although he said, "I declared my stakes in Armada at my declaration of property," at Turkish broadcaster NTV.

--WARNING AGAINST CORRUPTION FROM MUSIAD
The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD), known with its closeness to the government, made a call to Prime Minister to fight against corruption. MUSIAD administration talked to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday and wanted corruption to be dealt with more effectively.

--PATRIARCH: I WANT EU FULL MEMBERSHIP FOR MY COUNTRY
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeow, in his address to European Parliament, said, "being a Turkish citizen living in Turkey, I want European Union (EU) full membership for my country. Not privileged partnership." Bartholomeow said Turkey's population was overwhelmingly Muslim but this would not constitute a problem in front of membership.

MILLIYET
--WE MUST TAKE OVER IZMIR, UNAKITAN
Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that "we must take over Izmir. In order to carry Izmir to the desired level, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) must take over the city." The current mayor of Izmir is a politician from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

--MYTECHNIC AIMS AT SALES OF $300 MILLION
Turkey's biggest center of airplane maintenance and services, Mytechnic, opened in Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The service facility is located on a land of 47,500 square meters and cost $80 million. Mytechnic aims at sales of $300 million in the next four years.

SABAH
--WARRIOR EAGLE DID NOT GIVE IN TILL THE LAST MOMENT
Kazim Kanat, a journalist of daily SABAH, was diagnosed with cancer and defeated the illness. However, he got pneumonia because of a virus from the air-conditioner and died at the age of 58. Kanat was fighting against cancer for 10 years.

--DECISION FOR DENIZFENERI WILL BE ASKED FROM GERMANY
Ankara Public Chief Prosecutor's Office will ask from Germany the documents regarding Denizfeneri e.V. case. Huseyin Boyrazoglu, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor, said investigation was underway.

VATAN
--9 YEARS MANDATORY EDUCATION IN 30 PROVINCES
Students in 30 Turkish provinces will have to attend school for a mandatory period of nine years as of the 2009-2010 academic year. Students who are six years old would have to attend school as of next academic year.

--WEATHER TO GET COLDER
Western portions of Turkey will receive heavy rainfall as of Thursday, said the Turkish weather service. Central Anatolia will also receive heavy rainfall as of Thursday night. Temperatures in central and western Anatolia will drop by 4-6 degrees Celsius.

CUMHURIYET
--RISKS OF TURKISH BANKS INCREASING
International credit rating company, Standard and Poor's, said in a report that "inflation pressure and domestic political fluctuations pose a risk to Turkish banks." "The risks of Turkish banks are increasing," told Standard and Poor's.

--MUSIAD DEMANDS CHANGE IN CABINET
The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD) asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make changes in his cabinet. A delegation from MUSIAD paid a visit to Erdogan on Wednesday and conveyed MUSIAD's request for a cabinet change.

RADIKAL
--ONLY ONE PARTICIPANT IN NUCLEAR TENDER
Only one consortium offered a bid in the fourth tender opened for the construction and operation of Turkey's first nuclear power plant. The group consists of Russian-Turkish "Atomstroyexport-Inter Rao-Park Teknik".

--JURISDICTION SEES "FENER"
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Huseyin Boyrazoglu said they would ask German State Court to send Turkey the decision made for Denizfeneri case. Boyrazoglu said, "when we take the decision, we will see whether it is included in the scope of our field of mission. However, we think it is."

YENI SAFAK
--TWO MORE TURKS AT COCA-COLA
Guran Yet was appointed as Institutional Finance Director of Coca-Cola whereas Can Arcasoy was assigned as Director of Eurasia and Africa Group Fruit Juice Category. Yet will control global money flow and Arcasoy will be responsible for fruit juice market of 90 countries.

--COMPULSORY EDUCATION WILL BE 9 YEARS
Kindergarten will be compulsory in Turkey as of next year. This practice, which will enable compulsory education to be 9 years, will start in 30 provinces.

hurriyet

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 24

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 24, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--14 MORE DETAINED IN ERGENEKON INVESTIGATION
In the eighth wing of operation Ergenekon, journalist Tuncay Ozkan, former mayor of Esenyurt Gurbuz Capan, and former police chief Adil Serdar Sacan were detained. Also, forensic medicine experts Safak Akbas, Yildirim Basaran, Mustafa Tavsan and Mustafa Aga; and retired colonel Tanju Guvendiren were among the detainees. Guvendiren was the former state security court (DGM) prosecutor in Ankara and the honorary member of the Military Court of Appeals.

--ERUYGUR OPENS HIS EYE, UNDERGOES SURGERY
Retired general Sener Eruygur, who fell in the prison and had a cerebral hemorrhage, opened his eyes for the first time in six days. Eruygur was in prison within the scope of operation Ergenekon. Eruygur underwent a surgery, and doctors implanted a device in his head that regulates blood pressure. Eruygur will be anaesthetized for a few more days.

MILLIYET
--EUROPE'S MOST CROWDED CITY: ISTANBUL
European Union's statistics institution, Eurostat, announced that Istanbul is Europe's most crowded city with a population of 9,898,000 people. With its 3,402,000 people, Ankara ranked the fourth biggest city in Europe.

--TOFAS SUSPENDS PRODUCTION FOR A BRIEF TIME
Turkish Automotive Factory, TOFAS, announced that it would suspend production for a period of two weeks, beginning on September 24, due to the economic recession in Europe and falling sales. Auto production will resume on October 8.

SABAH
--PRESIDENT GUL: THE GAP SHOULD BE CLOSED
President Abdullah Gul extended support to calls for reform at the UN General Assembly meeting and said the greatest task laying ahead of the international community was closing the gap between the richest and poorest countries as fast as possible.

--FORMER POLICE CHIEF IN POLICE CUSTODY
The ninth wave of Ergenekon investigation came yesterday. 14 people including journalist Tuncay Ozkan, former police Chief Adil Serdar Sacan, former State Security Court prosecutor Ret. Col. Tanju Guvendiren, former mayor Gurbuz Capan, surgeons and forensic experts were taken into police custody.

VATAN
--IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN ERGENEKON AND DENIZ FENERI CASES
Police raided houses of 14 well-known people early on Tuesday in the eighth wing of operation Ergenekon. Journalist Tuncay Ozkan; former Esenyurt mayor Gurbuz Capan; Adil Serdar Sacan, the former chief of Istanbul Organized Crimes Department; former prosecutor and retired colonel Tanju Guvendiren; former editor-in-chief of Kanalturk Adnan Bulut; and Ozkan's doctor and a cardiologist Mesut Ozcan were detained in simultaneous operations carried out in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

Judicial expert Mahir Akkar was also taken into custody. He was a person who filed a complaint against the administrators of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office. For AK Party administrators, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former parliament speaker Bulent Arinc, Akkar lodged a complaint, saying that "they were targeting at the secular state and were in actions resembling the Shariah."

--850 MILLION YTL TO SINPAS FOR ATAKOY COAST
Sinpas-Kat consortium won the auction for 124,980 square-meter plot of the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) in Istanbul's Atakoy coast. TOKI put the plot to sale with an estimated value of 650 million new Turkish liras (YTL). Sinpas-Kat offered 850 million YTL.

CUMHURIYET
--NINTH WAVE IN ERGENEKON
16 people including former Esenyurt mayor Gurbuz Capan, journalist Tuncay Ozkan and former police chief Adil Serdar Capan were taken into police custody on Tuesday in simultaneous operations waged in Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul. Former State Security Court Judge Ret. Col. Tanju Guvendiren and Tuncay Ozkan's physician, cardiologist Mesut Ozcan, who were taken into custody in Ankara, were brought to Istanbul for interrogation.

Leader of the "Biz Kac Kisiyiz" platform, Ozkan said what they were face to face with was "Recep fascism". Former Police Chief Sacan was known for police investigations regarding corruption allegations in Istanbul during the time Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the mayor of Istanbul. Mahir Akkar, who is also among the people who were arrested, had sued AK Party officials in the past.

--HISARCIKLIOGLU WARNS: NOOSE ON OUR NECK
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the chair of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) who said "free market economy collapsed", said the greatest risk for Turkey was the debt load of the real sector. Hisarciklioglu said, "everybody should watch out for their balance sheet. If anyone falls, this will trigger others."

RADIKAL
--SMOKING BAN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CIGARETTES CONSUMPTION
The smoking ban that went into effect indoors on May 19 has had a great impact on smokers throughout Turkey. Cigarette consumption went down significantly.

--GUL PRESIDENT UNTIL 2014
If a draft law of the ruling AKP was adopted, Turkish President Abdullah Gul would remain as the president until 2014. According to the draft law on the "Presidential Election Law", the president will be elected by popular vote and serve for a period of five years. Individuals will be eligible to get elected for a second period. In order to get elected as the president, an individual must be at least 40 years old and be a university graduate. The presidential election will be a two-round one. In the first round, an individual must have received more than half of the votes to get elected as the president. If a candidate does not receive more than half of the votes, then a second round of election will take place in which the candidate with the majority of the votes will get elected as the president.

YENI SAFAK
--THEY ARE ALSO DETAINING ME
Gurbuz Capan, Tuncay Ozkan and Adil Serdar Sacan are detained within the scope of operation Ergenekon. When he saw the police, Ozkan called Sahin Mengu, an MP from the Republican People's Party (CHP), just like retired general Hursit Tolon, and told him that police were detaining him.

--400 MLN DOLLARS TO TMSF
Cukurova Group agreed with the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) on its debts stemming from the Interbank. Mehmet Emin Karamehmet will pay $400 million to the fund. $249 million of this amount is the debt itself, and the rest is the interest rate.

--FEAST IN THE AIR
The Feast of Ramadan has pleased airline companies. The companies have increased their flights to meet the demand of people who want to go on a vacation during the nine-day holiday. Onur Air's director general Sahabettin Bolukcu said, "there is a significant demand for flights to the Southeastern Anatolia Region. We will meet the demand working 24 hours a day."

hurriyet

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 23

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 23, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--DO NOT DISCUSS BEFORE PUBLIC
Aydin Sengul, Izmir provincial chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) called the mayor of Izmir Aliaga town, Tansu Kaya , and the member of municipal council, Safi Teymur, both from ruling AKP, and asked them not to discuss the corruption claims with the media. "This incident is personal. The discussion harms our party. I will never let this happen," Sengul said.

--GERMAN POLICE RAIDED HIS HOUSE
The German home belonging to the head of Turkey's media watchdog, Zahid Akman, was ordered to be searched by court under the house building probe act, according to documents. Frankfurt police raided Akman's house in April 25, 2007 after a decision taken by the Frankfurt Court.

--ECONOMIC CRISIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TURKEY, ERDOGAN
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would overcome the fluctuation in the global economy with a minimum damage. Erdogan said, "I believe that the current process will become an opportunity for Turkey." at a press conference he held on economic developments. He said the global and social development programs implemented in the country would restrict the impact of the global crisis on Turkey.

--I THREW AWAY MY MOBILE PHONE, IDIZ
Turkish actress Nurseli Idiz who was detained under the Operation Ergenekon and then released told Hurriyet that no accusation was made against her. Idiz said from this point on, she has decided to no longer use a mobile phone and has disposed of it. "They presented to me a transcript of intimate conversations," she said.

MILLIYET
--AREA OF GENDARMERIE TO BE NARROWED
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who attended the fast-breaking dinner of the Security Directorate General, sent the message that the scope of the responsibility of the gendarmerie would be narrowed, while widening the responsibilities of police.

--HADI CAMAN PASSES AWAY
Hadi Caman, one of the important figures of Turkish theater, passed away in a rest home in Istanbul yesterday. Caman had been struggling against ALS disease for almost a year. A ceremony will be held for Caman at Nisantasi Yeditepe Oyunculari Hall at 11:00 a.m. today.

SABAH
--FOREIGN EXCHANGE WARNING TO PRIVATE SECTOR
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkish companies that did not have foreign exchange income should be more careful on the foreign exchange risk. "Turkey has changed; it is more resistant to shocks from now on. We may turn the global crisis to an opportunity. The conviction of the central bank is different on interest rates, but I think rates may be dropped further. There won't be any new taxes," Erdogan said.

--NUCLEAR ERA
Turkey pushes the button on a nuclear power plant which became the source of widespread discussions around the world. The fourth step is underway for the tender that failed three times before. Companies will submit their bids on Wednesday to the related commissions. A total of 13 investor companies have taken specifications so far.

VATAN
--ECONOMY HAS NOT BEEN SO STRONG UP UNTIL NOW
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said, "The Turkish economy, which had been affected by the smallest economic crisis in the world in the past has come to the point now that it may cope with giant global crises." Commenting on recent global economic developments, Erdogan said the Turkish economy has reached a so strong structure that it did not have before.

--INFECTION BEHIND INFANT DEATHS
The investigation carried out at Tepecik Hospital New Born Unit in the Aegean province of Izmir, where 13 newborn babies died, revealed the saddening fact the deaths were caused by an infection.

CUMHURIYET
--REMOTE-CONTROLLED BOMB KILLS ONE SOLDIER IN HAKKARI
A bomb, which was left near a building, detonated when a group of soldiers were passing by in Yuksekova town of the southeastern province of Hakkari. In Semdinli town, one security officer was wounded in a clash between security teams and terrorists.

--WE LOST HADI CAMAN
Hadi Caman, an important Turkish actor, died at the age of 65. Caman had long been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and had been receiving treatment at a nursing home since May 15.

RADIKAL
--INFECTION KILLED
A legal and administrative investigation was opened into the death of 13 babies over 24-hours at Izmir’s Tepecik Hospital. The preliminary results from the autopsies reveal that an infection was found in five of the dead babies. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on the babies deaths: "Premature births are always risky."

--GOOD WORKS IN FILMEKIMI
This year’s Filmekimi (movie festival) will please cinema fans. Woody Allen's Palme d'Or winner "The Class" and 21 recent movies of master directors like Wim Wenders and Hayao Miyazaki will be featured at Filmekimi. The festival will take place at Emek Cinema Hall between Oct.10-16.

YENI SAFAK
--CRISIS TO BE TURNED INTO AN OPPORTUNITY
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that the reflection of the (economic) crisis to Turkey would be low because corruption was prevented in the country. Erdogan said, "Turkey will overcome this crisis with minimum affect, and walk towards its target with determination. I believe this process will be turned into an opportunity for Turkey."

--KILLER VIRUS
Prof. Recep Ozturk from the Scientific Board, which examined the death of 13 babies within 11 hours at Izmir Tepecik Hospital, released the results of the preliminary examination, and said that an infection in the serum given to the babies was responsible for the deaths.

hurriyet

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Geothermal waters to serve tourism

Monday, September 22, 2008

Anatolia News Agency - YOZGAT

The Hydrology Department at Ankara's Hacettepe University has started activities to detect and draw on geothermal sources in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat.�We obtained good results from detections in Yozgat city and its Sorgun, Sarıkaya and Yerköy districts. Studies are ongoing to utilize these new sources as producing means,� said Yozgat Governor Amir Çiçek. �The sources in Yerköy, Sorgun and Sarıkaya are used in local heating, and they are working for the establishment of thermal and health tourism as well as commercial greenhouses.�Because there are no thermal water sources found in the districts within the activities titled, �Geothermal Water Research and Potential Evaluation,� there will be other works and research conducted.Pointing out that the most important geothermal sources are in Yozgat, Çiçek said, �Foreign people in European countries try to cure their illnesses using thermal sources and they prefer Turkey because Europe is more expensive.�Çelik said a committee from the Hacettepe University had begun activities to find new sources. �We will activate these sources and use them for promoting tourism,� Çelik said. �Energy is at a crucial point now. It is crucial not only for Turkey but for all the world's countries. Renewable energy is needed. We have started a mobilizing in Yozgat. In six districts works will be started soon. We will open the areas with thermal water to commercial green housing, health tourism and the other alternative tourism sectors. Investors are impatient about the issue and investment opportunities are widening for geothermal and thermal health tourism.�

turkishdailynews

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Innovations in Turkey's advertisement

Monday, September 22, 2008

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

The Culture and Tourism Ministry's “Advertising General Management” started looking for new and different ways to promote Turkey.In recent years, the ministry used the “sea – sand – sun” tourism slogan as well as essential destinations such as Ephesus, Capadocia, Pamukkale and Istanbul for the country's advertising visuals. But this time, they will present Turkey's rich potential in areas such as history, faith, culture and health to target markets.Alongside world-renowned tourism localities, Turkish coffee, ceramics, thermal springs, nature sports and other elements reflecting the Turkish people are included in the tourism advertisements. The ministry decided to organize various advertisements depending on the interests of tourists.

Human Factor in the Advertisements

The ministry changed the former advertisement design that had much criticism before for resembling postcards as there was no human depiction. In recent adverts, figures of “happy humans” who are on holiday in Turkey are being used in advertising visuals.While the visuals of previous years displayed sandy beaches and turquoise blue seas, golf courses and the vitality of Istanbul's nightlife are put on the adverts.A similar advertising strategy is pursued for Russia but also with elements familiar to Turkey being presented, such as rich opportunities for history and nature tourism as well as “Turkish coffee and ceramics.”Advertising visuals for 83 countries this year were revised for better context and design.[H.H] No World Heritage of Turkey on visualsDespite all these varieties, some of the “World Heritage” sites in Turkey are not included in the advertisements, such as the ancient city of Xanthos, famous for its traditional houses; the legendary ancient city, even the subject of Hollywood films, Troy of Homer's Iliad, as well as Hattuşaş and the Divriği Ulu Mosque that represented the Hittite civilization. Only in Russian advertisements is there a picture of the huge horse that was used in the movie “Troy.”

turkishdailynews

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 22

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept. 22, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
-THEY TOOK THE MONEY, CONFISCATION TO EXPATRIATES
Germany will confiscate funds to recover the financial aid made to a building society on behalf 1,300 Turkish citizens living in this country. Zahid Akman, head of Turkey’s media watchdog, RTUK, whose name was involved to Deniz Feneri charity fraud case, had also earlier held a post in the administration of this society.

--ERUYGUR RELEASED
Retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who has been suffering from cerebral hemorrhage since he fell down on Sept. 17 at the Kandira Prison where he was being kept for 2-1/2 months, was released due to health problems. Upon a report from Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine Hospital where Eruygur has been receiving treatment, the public prosecutors dealing with the case regarding "Operation Ergenekon" applied to a court on duty. The court decided yesterday that Eruygur shall be released.

--THERE WAS A CIA CAMP IN ISTANBUL IN 1979
According to a 2004 dated CIA report on the internet, al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden spoke about his "days in Istanbul" in an interview with Arabic daily "Cairo" issued in London in 1994. Bin Laden said in the interview that he was carrying out commercial activities in Istanbul when the Russians invaded Kabul in 1979. "When I was staying in Istanbul, Arab jihadists started to go to Afghanistan with the help of CIA, which set up a transit camp in Istanbul," Bin Laden also said.

MILLIYET
--FORMER GENERAL RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SUFFERING CEREBRAL HEMORRAGE
An Istanbul court decided Sunday to release Sener Eruygur, former commander of the Gendarmerie Forces, from prison after he suffered brain hemorrhage and a neck fracture. Eruygur was awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a case publicly known as the Ergenekon, a criminal network with suspected ties to the military and bureaucracy. The former general was hospitalized after he fell down in the prison.

--THIRTEEN INFANTS DIE IN ONE DAY IN HOSPITAL
Thirteen newly-born babies died due to a suspected infection in less than twelve hours at a hospital in the western city of Izmir. A quick probe was launched to investigate after the infants died on Saturday. The infants were said to have been premature and immature.

SABAH
--RELEASED FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS
An Istanbul court decided to release from prison retired general Sener Eruygur, who fell down in prison and had a cerebral hemorrhage. Eruygur was under treatment at the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine but under police surveillance. A neurologist from the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) went to the hospital on behalf of the General Staff and examined Eruygur. The professor said that there was no need to transfer the retired general to GATA as what was being done in the hospital was right. His family will decide whether or not to continue Eruygur's treatment in Kocaeli.

--GUL'S INTERESTING ANSWER
When he was flying to the United States, journalists asked President Abdullah Gul if he would be in this office for seven or five years, and whether he was thinking of running for a second term if he stayed in office for five years. Gul said, "A law in line with the constitutional amendment will be passed for the presidential election. Whether it is one or two terms will be definite at that time."

VATAN
--RELEASED UNDER INTENSIVE CARE
Retired general Sener Eruygur, who had a cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down stairs at Kandira prison, was released from prison upon a demand by a prosecutor on Sunday. Eruygur, the chairman of the Kemalist Thought Association, was sent to prison 77 days ago within the scope of Ergenekon investigation. Eruygur is receiving treatment at the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine hospital. During his interrogation, Eruygur demanded that he be tried without detention because of complicated health problems. However, his demand was rejected.

--PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CALLS ON RTUK CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said, "Resigning does not mean accepting that s/he is guilty. It is his decision" when commenting on Zahid Akman, the chairman of Turkey's Supreme Board of Radio and Television. Toptan said, "He is the one who can well-evaluate the situation because he knows the dimensions of the claims." Toptan's calling on Akman to resign is meaningful because the parliament elects the members of RTUK among the candidates nominated by political parties.

CUMHURIYET
--FORMER GENERAL IN COMA RELEASED FROM PRISON
After being hospitalized due to brain hemorrhage and neck fracture, Sener Eruygur, former commander of the Gendarmerie Forces, was released from prison where he was awaiting trial under the Ergenekon case. Eruygur was hospitalized five days ago after he fell off in prison. Doctors said Eruygur was still in critical condition.

--THIRTEEN INFANT DEATHS IN ONE DAY
Twelve newly-born premature infants died in less than 12 hours at a hospital in the western city of Izmir on Saturday, which was followed by another infant death Sunday evening. The Health Ministry has launched a probe as a medical investigation was also underway.

RADIKAL
--RELEASE DECISION FOR ERUYGUR
Retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who suffered from cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down at a high-security prison in northwestern province of Kocaeli, was released due to health problems. Eruygur was arrested within the scope of "Operation Ergenekon". Four lieutenants and a military student were detained within the framework of the operation as well. Six out of thirteen people that were sent to the courthouse, including Seyhan Soylu and Nurseli Idiz, were also released.

--RAIN UNTIL FRIDAY
Rainy weather is influential across Turkey. Heavy rains, which started in the Aegean and western Mediterranean regions, continued to Marmara. Experts say that rain will continue till Friday and temperatures will drop 2-4 degrees Celsius in central and western Anatolia.

YENI SAFAK
--RELEASED IN HIS SLEEP AFTER 78 DAYS
The 9th High Criminal Court of Istanbul decided that retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who had a cerebral hemorrhage after he fell down at prison, shall be released. Eruygur was arrested under the "Operation Ergenekon" and sent to a high-security prison in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on July 6. Last Wednesday, Eruygur was hospitalized after fell down from the stairs due to high blood pressure.

The Public Prosecutor's Office that is dealing with the investigation regarding "Operation Ergenekon" applied to the high criminal court on duty and demanded Eruygur's release. Assessing such demand, the court decided that he shall be released.

--HOTELS EVACUATED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN
Turkey's Marmara, Black Sea, central Anatolia and Mediterranean regions are under the influence of rainy weather. Temperatures also dropped 2-4 degrees Celsius together with heavy rain. While heavy rainfall caused flood in several neighborhoods of Istanbul, some hotels in the Mediterranean province of Antalya were also evacuated due to floods.

hurriyet

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 21

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Sept 21, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET
--TMSF AGAIN CONFISCATES HIS COMPANIES
The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) of Turkey again confiscated 36 companies of Erol Aksoy who could not pay installment of his debt of $945.1 million. Aksoy's companies, including Cine5, Kablonet and Show Radyo, were confiscated by TMSF. Aksoy said he would keep holding talks with the Fund to take back his companies.

--FENERBAHCE REVIVES
Fenerbahce soccer team defeated Genclerbirligi 3-0 in Kadikoy, Istanbul and returned to the league. Alex, Guiza and Kazim scored the goals and Fenerbahce gained three points and morale.

MILLIYET
--SARGSIAN SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE TERRITORIAL DEMAND FROM TURKEY
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian told Milliyet that he earlier said that he was not against establishment of commissions between the two countries when re replied to a question. Sargsian said but there must be diplomatic relationship between the two countries before a commission. Sargsian asserted that Armenia did not have a territorial demand from Turkey.

--FIVE ARRESTS IN ERGENEKON
Four lieutenants and one military student were arrested under the Operation Ergenekon. One lieutenant was released. Actress Nurseli Idiz and Seyhan Soylu are still in the police department.

SABAH
--FENERBAHCE BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF
Fenerbahce soccer team which has got unfavorable results in the Turkish league and also in Europe defeated Genclerbirligi 3-0 at home and breathed a sigh of relief. Guiza, Alex and Kazim scored the goals in the match.

VATAN
--"COUP" ACCUSATION
It is alleged that five lieutenants, who have been detained under Operation Ergenekon, called for a movement "to take action". Sources said that there were video images of the lieutenants together with Hursit Tolon and Sener Eruygur taken at headquarters of the organization in capital Ankara. "We are losing the country, let us take action," the detained were saying in the images.

--RESCUED BEFORE MINUTES TO DEATH
A total of 36 illegal migrants have been rescued by the Turkish coast guard as their plastic boat was about to sink near Dikili town of the Aegean province of Izmir. The illegal migrants alleged that Greek coast guard teams caught them near Lesbos island, they first damaged the boat and then sent the migrants back to the Turkish territorial waters.

CUMHURIYET
--ONE LIEUTENANT RELEASED
Five lieutenants and a military student, who were among the 19 people detained within the framework of Operation Ergenekon, were sent to the
courthouse. While one of the lieutenants Onder K. was released, the other four and the military student were sent to the 9th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. The lieutenants are being tried on the charge of "being members of an organization".

--GENIUS DALI'S EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL
Sabanci Museum has done a remarkable thing and opened the biggest "Dali Exhibition" out of Spain in Istanbul. The exhibition comprises of nearly 400 pieces, paintings and documents belonging to Salvador Dali.

RADIKAL
--EVERY YEAR ONE TUZ LAKE DISAPPEARS
Doga Association and Atlas Magazine organized a trip to Tuz Lake (Salt Lake in the central Anatolia), the second largest lake of Turkey, which has dried up in the recent years. Several activists carrying banners asked the authorities that the region must be rescued.

--TIM CHAIRMAN SAYS TURKEY WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEM IN EXPORTS
Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said they did not expect an important problem in the country's exports till the end of 2008 that would be caused by global financial crisis.

YENI SAFAK
--INTERESTING CONNECTIONS OF LIEUTENANTS
It has been alleged that five lieutenants, who were taken into custody under Operation Ergenekon, desired to create an atmosphere of provocation within the public and they established a special structure to achieve their goal. Sources said that the lieutenants had a connection with Kemal and Neriman Aydin, who have been detained under Operation Ergenekon, and that they established "training groups" within the organization.

--10 MINUTES TO DEATH
Greek patrol teams caught 36 illegal illegal migrants who were trying to sneak into Europe. After removing the engine and making a hole on the boat, Greek police left the migrants alone on the water. Turkish coast guard teams saved the migrants from drowning.

hurriyet

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