GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON OCT 16

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Oct. 16, 2008. HotNewsTurkey does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
-- BASBUG: WE WILL FIND WHO LEAKED OUT INFORMATION
Responding harshly to news reports that no measures were taken although there had been intelligence that an attack would be staged on Aktutun military outpost, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug said, "we have launched legal action against those who leaked out information and used it." Basbug said, "those who praise the terrorist organization are responsible for the blood that has been and will be shed. The attack in Bayraktepe was a suicide attack for the terrorist organization, but an epic of heroism for the soldiers, who fought there." Basbug also said that the Armed Forces were stronger, more determined and resolute than ever.

-- TURKISH AUTHORS OPEN TO WORLD WITH THEIR BOOKS
Turkey, participating in the 60th International Frankfurt Book Fair as the guest country, has promoted its contemporary and traditional literature to the world. Many people visited Turkey's stand at the fair.

-- CHP'S CANDIDATE FOR ANKARA MAYOR IS KARAYALCIN
Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), met Murat Karayalcin, the chairman of the Social Democrat People's Party (SHP). This meeting resulted in Karayalcin's standing for Ankara mayor's office in the local elections due in March 2009 from the CHP. Also, two leaders agreed to merge SHP into CHP.

MILLIYET
-- UNREALIZED ZERO TOLERANCE
The whole world has harshly reacted to death of Engin Ceber after being tortured in jail. The Guardian wrote that the case cast a question mark over the "zero tolerance" policy towards torture proclaimed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The BBC said that the government had a policy of zero-tolerance regarding torture with rights groups claimed that the problem persisted.

-- COMEDY OF DRUNK PASSENGER
A drunk passenger of Uzbek descent has attempted to hijack a Turkish Airlines (THY) plane bound from the southern Turkish province of Antalya to Russian city of St. Petersburg. He claimed that he had a bomb strapped to his body. But he passed out after flight attendants continued serving alcoholic beverages. Then, fellow passengers quickly overpowered him. The plane did not change its route, and landed at the St. Petersburg Airport safely.

-- GREATEST POET PASSES AWAY
Fazil Husnu Daglarca, one of the legendary names in Turkish poetry, has died of cardiac and renal failure at the age of 94.

-- BAN ON PUBLISHING OF AKTUTUN DOCUMENTS
The Military Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the leaking of some confidential documents regarding the terrorist attack on Aktutun gendarmerie outpost by military personnel. The documents were published by the Taraf daily. The Prosecutor's Office prohibited publishing of such documents.

SABAH
-- COUNTRY LIKE A MOVIE SCENE
It is just like sitting in a theater, watching a movie. The genre of the movie is thriller, drama, action and comedy. This is the summary of a day in Turkey. Pick one of these news stories:

DEFENDING TORTURE: CONTROLLED POWER
19 police officers of the Istinye Police Station, where Engin Ceber --who died of torture-- were detained, gave testimony. "We used proportional and gradual force," they said.

DID NOT DENY BUT REACTED HARSHLY
Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug made a statement about terrorist attack on Aktutun outpost. "Those who backed and praised the acts of the terrorist organization were responsible for the blood that had been and would be shed," he said. Basbug urged everybody to take the right side.

HIJACKER GETS DRUNK
Russian Yasha Rashidov said he was carrying a bomb and attempted to hijack Turkish Airlines plane bound from Turkish Mediterranean resort province of Antalya to Russia's St. Peterburg. Flight attendants served alcoholic drinks to the hijacker. After a while, Rashidov passed out and he was arrested by the police at the airport in St. Petersburg.

CREDIT-CARD DEBTORS DOUBLE
The number of people who could not pay their credit card debts doubled in the first eight months of 2008 to reach 323,000. The figure was 180,000 in 2007. The number of people, who failed to pay their personal loans, also tripled to hit 120,000.

VATAN
-- SOLDIERS IN FURY
General Staff Chief Gen. Ilker Basbug said that those who showed the attacks of the terrorist organisation as an accomplishment would share the responsibility of the bloodshed in present and future. Basbug was furious because of allegations that the army had been informed beforehand about the recent terrorist assault on Aktutun military station, intensifying criticism of neglect against the army, and oozing of secret military documents. Basbug made the toughest statement since he assumed the post and said, "what happened in Bayraktepe military outpost is just like a suicide attack for the terrorist organisation. And for our soldiers who fought and died there it is a legend of heroism." Basbug referred to documents published on Taraf daily and said, "legal action was launched against those who oozed the classified documents regarding the Aktutun attack and those who used those documents." Basbug finished his speech with a harsh message: "In the face of recently intensifying attacks all armies would react the same way. Therefore my final say on the matter is: I am warning and inviting everyone to take the right side."

-- NATIONAL FRUSTRATION
Turkish national soccer team who barely defeated Bosnia Herzegovina in the 2010 World Cup qualifying rounds, this time drew with Estonia who conceded 13 goals so far in its first three matches. Turkish national team who missed four chances to score during the game, lost hopes of qualifying from the group as leaders as Spain beat Belgium.

CUMHURIYET
-- ENGIN CEBER WAS BEATEN EVERYWHERE
Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Sariyer district of Istanbul took the testimonies of the 19 police officers who were among the squad that took Ceber and his friends under police custody. The statements of the police officers unequivocally revealed the maltreatment. The officers admitted that they resorted to violence even in the police vehicle. They all acted in concerted words and said "we did not make torture, we used proportional force." The most striking thing in the statements was the fact that the police officers took the finger prints of Ceber and his friends by using "proportional force" under orders from the prosecutor.

-- NATIONAL TEAM FAILED TO PASS GOALIE
Turkish national soccer team who compete in the Group 5 of the 2010 World Cup qualifying rounds in Europe, suffered a major loss. Turkey got a rather unexpected result in their fourth match. Turkey who missed innumerous chances to score, tied with Estonia 0-0. This was Turkey's second tie in the group.

RADIKAL
-- SUCH A TOWERING RAGE
General Staff Chief Gen. Ilker Basbug, who apparently got angry because of leaking of documents regarding the terrorist attack on Aktutun gendarmerie outpost, reacted to criticisms against the Turkish Armed Forces. He said that the military was taking legal action against those who leaked out reports and those who published those reports. "Those who praise the actions of the separatist terrorist organization are responsible for the blood that has been shed and will be shed," he said by raising his voice.

-- DAGLARCA'S FAREWELL
Fazil Husnu Daglarca, one of the greatest names in Turkish poetry, has died at the age of 94. He never joined any literary groups. He was a member of the Turkish Armed Forces till 1950.

YENI SAFAK

-- WE DID NOT THINK OF SUCH A LOSS
The Turkish national soccer team did an unexpected thing, and drew with Estonia, which conceded seven goals to Bosnia-Herzegovina and 3 goals each to Spain and Belgium in Tallinn. Thus, Turkey jeopardized their chances to reach the finals. In the World Cup qualifying round, Turkey drew with Belgium and they failed to win three points against Estonia. Whether or not Turkey will qualify for World Cup finals will depend on three matches it will play against Spain and Belgium. Turkey will play two games against Spain, including an away and home match, and one away game with Belgium.

-- MEMORANDUM TO MEDIA
Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug reacted very harshly to publications regarding the Aktutun attack that killed 17 soldiers. Calling on the media, Basbug said, "every one should stand in the right place." Basbug also said, "those who praise the terrorist organization are responsible for the blood
that has been and will be shed."

-- KENT'S DIFFERENCE
Muhtar Kent, a CEO of Coca-Cola of Turkish descent, said that the company raised its profit by 14 percent in the third quarter of 2008, when Coca-Cola's biggest rival Pepsi had a 9.5 percent profit loss. Kent said the company raised its profit, which was 1.65 billion USD, to 1.89 billion USD in the third quarter of 2008. "Adapting to new conditions is the key to our success," Kent said.

Hurriyet

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Newborn deaths spark debate on Turkey's health system

06/10/2008

Prosecutors have launched an investigation after 13 newborn babies died within 24 hours in a state hospital in Izmir. Last month, 27 babies died in another hospital in Ankara. The health ministry says hospital infections happen even in developed countries, but the doctors' union blames a worsening health system for newborn deaths.

By Ayhan Simsek for Southeast European Times -- 06/10/08

More than 50 newborns have died in the last three months in Turkey. [AFP]

The Turkish government has launched an investigation after 13 newborn babies died within 24 hours in a state hospital in Izmir late last month. It was only a few weeks after another health scandal in Ankara, where 27 newborn babies died at the Zekai Tahir Burak Hospital -- most from infection.

The initial results of the recent investigation showed an infection spread by intravenous fluids caused the babies' deaths at the Tepecik Research and Education Hospital in Izmir -- also the case in the Ankara hospital. The head of the investigation, Professor Recep Ozturk of the Istanbul Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, said the team has identified the bacterium that caused the infection. After reviewing the past records of the Izmir hospital, the investigators ruled out possible negligence by the doctors or the hospital team and said the deaths could best be described as an "accident".

Despite the team's findings, the public has demanded the resignation of Health Minister Recep Akdag. Local media have said that the tragic deaths illustrate the deterioration of the country's health system. A columnist from Milliyet, Ece Temelkuran, criticised allegedly mismanaged privatisation in the health sector, the delegation of responsibility to unprofessional firms, the lack of adequate health facilities and the failure to train new personnel. Temelkuran says that Akdag shoulders the responsibility and should resign. But her call, joined by those of many other critics, fell on deaf ears.

Although Akdag acknowledged the problem of hospital infections in Turkey, he claims success in efforts to reduce infant mortality at birth. "We are saddened by the death of any newborn baby or mother, but we should also look at the statistics," Akdag said.

"The number of children who die at birth was 29 [of every] 1,000 live births in the year 2003. This has decreased to 17 to 18 deaths in each 1,000 live births this year. That means we have managed to save the lives of thousands of babies," he said, conceding the number of children who die at birth was still high and pledging continued efforts to decrease this number.

According to the minister, the rate of infant mortality in Turkey is relatively low, compared with that of other developing nations. But the EU has long criticised candidate country Turkey's health system. In its 2007 Progress Report, the Union said that the percentage of infants who die at birth is "still high".

The tragedies have sparked calls for Health Minister Recep Akdag to resign. [Getty Images]

According to UN statistics, the infant mortality rate in EU member countries averages 5.84 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Turkey, estimates differing with Akdag's claims put infant mortality at around 36.98 deaths per every 1,000 live births.

Officials at the Izmir Medical Chamber blamed the health ministry and health policies for the recent increase in newborn deaths. "In Izmir, maternity hospitals are overloaded. Throughout Turkey, we do not have enough maternity hospitals or maternity experts," chamber director Suat Kaptaner said. He also blasted the government's controversial call for families to bear "at least three children".

"Under today's conditions, where we lack adequate health services and have widespread poverty, how one can expect people to have at least three children? ... We do not have adequate personnel," Kaptaner said.

The opposition has filed written questions to parliament on the tragedies. Republican People's Party Izmir representative Selcuk Ayhan asked whether political appointments to the high positions at the health ministry may have contributed to the recent events.

Increasing political and public pressure on the government has forced officials to consider reform in maternity hospitals. The health ministry has organised a meeting for representatives of state and private hospitals for later in October. The meeting will focus on identifying the basic needs of the hospitals -- such as personnel levels and the number of beds, incubators and other medical items. The ministry plans to meet the demands of the health centers, redistribute the assigned personnel and co-ordinate the flow of patients among public and private hospitals.

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com

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