The leader of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Ahmet Turk, has commented that "If the Turkish Republic chooses to use democratic methods in solving the Kurdish problems, we will make a call to the PKK to 'either clean up the mines you have laid in the region, or reveal their locations.'"

Turk went on to say "We want violence, clashes, and mines to be taken off Turkey's daily agenda. In order for this to become a reality though, the most important thing is for the government to give the message that they will use non-violent methods in solving the problem."

Racist slogans on Nicosian buildings raise tensions in Cyprus

Radical Southern Cypriot nationalists have written in giant letters "Death to Turks" across some large buildings in Nicosia which can be seen from the Turkish side of the island, from across the Green Line. The signs have, predictably, opened the way to tension between citizens on both sides of the divided island.

Alongside the "Death to Turks" graffiti, there are also statements such as "Axes and fire for the Turkish dogs," and "Greece is the greatest." Members of the Turkish Cypriot authority have reportedly appealed to the United Nations for help in having the offensive slogans removed from the buildings. They have also registered their official protest with the Southern Cypriot authority.

Systematic anti-Turkish hostility is not necessarily a new factor in the Southern Cypriot order; it is well known that the Southern Cypriot national defense army soldiers have carried out training with tee-shirts that read "The best Turk is a dead Turk."

BACK TO TOP

TUIK figures reveal drops in hunger, poverty across Turkey

The Turkish Institute of Statistics (TUIK) has released its figures depicting poverty and hunger levels in Turkey for the year 2005. According to TUIK's "Results of the 2005 Poverty Project" report, there were 623,000 people in Turkey living beneath the hunger level, while 14,681,000 people in Turkey were beneath the poverty level in 2005.

Results from the same survey showed that in 2005, a family of four in Turkey making 190YTL would be on the hunger level, while a family of the same size making 487YTL would be on the poverty level.

TUIK figures reveal a drop in both hunger and poverty levels in Turkey in comparison with previous years.

BACK TO TOP

Sunday, January 07, 2007

 Prime Minister shocks electricity companies with privatisation speech

PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement on a return flight from Lebanon that, “Prices will go up, and we will be held responsible. There will be no privatisation in the field of electricity for the time being”, came as a shock to companies preparing to make their proposals on 19th January 2007, following acceptance of their sufficiency by the energy bureaucracy.


The Minister of Finance, Mr. Unakıtan, the Energy Marketing Regulatory Authority and the Turkish Privatisation Administration, which is getting ready to accept procurements on 19th January 2007 for three selected regions, all learned the Prime Minister’s decision through the media.

BACK TO TOP

Nation state under threat

The undersecretary for the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), Emre Taner, exlained that for both geopolitical and strategic reasons, Turkey has never had the luxury of letting things flow at her own pace or of simply following laissez-faire tactics with regards her policies.


Speaking at the 80th anniversary of the MIT in Ankara, Taner said, “In this period that we are currently in, we will see the process by which many nations will lose the marathon of history.”

Redefinition

Taner went on to say that “all values, structures, relations, systems and social order, be it socio-economic or political, religious or m are being reshaped and redefined. This process is representative of the period in which new key players and secondary players, and the rules of the international system, are being redefined and even reborn”.

Unprepared for the post-1990s

“While it was foreseeable that the bipolar global system was not to last long in the second half of the 20th century, nations were unprepared for the post-1990 period. The primary reason for this is the deeply conservative manner in which countries gripped by the status quo approach yses the system. For this reason, any predictions regarding the future were unsuccessful within the rigid puritanical approach”, Taner said.

BACK TO TOP

First female ambassador returns to capital

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is preparing to re-assign Zergün Korutürk, former Turkish Ambassador to Lisbon, to the position of principal clerk, foreign-affairs advisor and spokesperson for the President. A formal decision will be declared either today or tomorrow regarding Korutürk’s position.

BACK TO TOP

Police department and school administration investigate images of drug-abuse

Police and school administrators are investigating images of drug-abuse in a sixth form in Ankara that were recently part of a Star Television broadcast.

In a written statement, school administrators said they were already looking into the incident. Both the officials and the police department will study the images closely in order to reach a conclusion about the next step for putting an end to the problem.

BACK TO TOP

Failure by US forces to capture PKK leaders sparks anger in Ankara

Following sharp comments made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan two days ago regarding what he characterized as a lack of "concrete steps" on the part of the US in the struggle against Northern Iraq-based PKK members, it has been revealed that a recent situation in the Northern Iraqi city of Erbil sparked Erdogan's words on the matter.


Sources in Ankara say that it was the failure of US forces in Iraq to capture well-known PKK leaders Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik, despite their known location, that led Erdogan to make his outburst en route to Lebanon two days ago.

Recently, Turkish forces had received information that both Karayilan and Bayik had gone to a hospital in the Northern Iraqi city of Erbil, which is under the control of Mesut Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party, for health check-ups. This information was then shared with US forces in the region, and the message was given to "Either capture these two terrorists and hand them over to us, or we are going to capture them ourselves." Neither of these two scenarios, however, took place.

Discomfort over US failure to take "concrete steps," as Erdogan characterized them, against the PKK has reportedly also begun to affect Turkish-appointed special representative against the PKK, former General Edip Baser. Baser has apparently threatened to resign from his posting if more strenuous action is not taken against the terrorist forces in Northern Iraq.

BACK TO TOP

Bulgarian entry into EU changes status of many Turks living in Northern Cyprus

Southern Cypriot authorities are now reportedly worried about the affect that Bulgaria's official entry in the EU will have on them in terms of the many Turkish-Bulgarian citizens thought to be living in Northern Cyprus. Spokesman for the Southern Cypriot authority, Hristodulos Pashiardis, has said that the government will not able to prevent citizens carrying Bulgarian passports from entering Southern Cyprus from Northern Cyprus to find work.


When many ethnically Turkish citizens who also carry Bulgarian passorts wanted to participate in the 2005 Bulgarian elections by casting their votes at the Bulgarian consulate in Southern Cyprus, they were not given permission by authorities on the southern side of the island.

BACK TO TOP

Rocky Kardak islands the new setting for "fish wars" between Turkey and Greece

A grouping of rocky islands off the Turkish coast which almost brought Turkey and Greece to the point of war in 1996 has become these days the setting for a new kind of tension, that over the gilt-headed bream, known in Turkish as "cipura," a popular Mediterranean fish.

The Kardak islands are in a prime location for catching cipura, especially in December and January. And so, according to a recent article in the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Turkish and Greek fishing boats are involved in a high tension stand off, backed by each sides' coast guard boats, in the hunt for cipura.

According to reports in the Greek press, Turkish coast guard boats have been trying to prevent the Greek fishing boats from casting their nets in the waters off of Kardak, while some Turkish press has even written of Greek coast guards firing on Turkish fishing boats. Athens has not made any official comment on the ongoing tension in the waters off of Turkey.

BACK TO TOP

Funeral services in Ankara for Tasar bring ANAP leaders together

Funeral services will take place today in Ankara for popular opposition party MP and former cabinet member Mustafa Tasar, who was killed over the four day Bayram vacation in a car accident. The news that Tasar had been killed in an accident spread throughout ANAP ranks quickly, resulting the in the return to Ankara by varying high level members of the party, who had been all over the country due to the Kurban Bayram holiday.

In a final message placed by Tasar on his web site prior to his death, the ANAP member had said "Don't wait for separation to make peace, don't wait for the opposite side to be in pain in order to apologize, and don't wait for problems to come along to pray."

Meanwhile in Konya, main opposition party leader Deniz Baykal spoke about the need to take precautions on traffic and driving in Turkey, as he attended funeral services for Konya Regional CHP Secretary Ali Alp, who was also killed this past week in a traffic accident.

BACK TO TOP

Sunday, January 14, 2007

The only friends Turks have in this world is the Kurds

Participating in the conference called "Turkey Seeks for its Peace", famous writer Yaşar Kemal said: "Turks only have a single nation to call a 'friend'. Since the Malazgirt War, Kurds and the best friends of Turks."

"The only friend a Turk has is a Kurd"
Giving a speech in a conference called "Turkey Seeks for its Peace" in Ankara, famous writer Yaşar Kemal said: "Turks have a single friend and it is not a secret: since Malazgirt War, Kurds and Turks are each other's best friend."

Stating that Turkey is full of racists who are hiding behind "nationalism" Kemal said: "For the last 25 yearsi there is a "light war" going on in the Southeast Anatolia. There had been many cease fire decisions but for some reason the war does not seem to end. This war has broken Turkey's belly. We have become a country who fights with its own people. More and more we lose dignity in the eyes of foreign nations. No one grant us right any more. We called guerillas 'terrorists' and hoped things would change. Those who went up to the mountains to fight for their rights were in fact university students or graduates."

BACK TO TOP

Kemal: We have named the guerrilla a terrorist

Making the opening speech for the 'Turkey seeks her peace' conference, famous writer Yaşar Kemal spoke of the 25 year struggles within the country as a 'light war'. "We have named the guerrilla a terrorist, and hoped something would come of it. Terms can change according to every situation, and will one day be useless. We have devolved into a country that fights with its own people." Emphasising that Kurds and Turks are friends, Kemal said, "Listen all you nationalist racists. If there is anyone we can call our friend, it is the Iraqi Kurds."

BACK TO TOP

Custom massacre


A young boy who run away with his girl cousin was killed by the girl's family even though the governor mediated for peace.

A young boy called Mehmet Öztürk has run away with his girl cousin in Gaziantep. In order to save him from a "custom murder", his family asked help from the governor and the police chief. However, Öztürk was poisoned by his uncle and lost his life.

Custom murders does not seem to end
A young boy called Mehmet Öztürk(33) and his cousin Nursel Öztürk have fallen in love with each other. Nursel's father, who is also the uncle of Mehmet Öztürk opposed their marriage demand. Finally, the couple has run away to Istanbul. Afraid of losing their son to a "custom murder", Mehmet Öztürk's parents have asked help from the governor and the police chief.
To keep things pleasant, Mehmet's father even offered Nursel's father to give one of his other daughters to one of Nursel's brothers. But his offer was also rejected by Nursel's parents.

Last week, the groom Mehmet Öztürk was found dead in a watering channel. It was learned that Nursel's relatives have poisoned and tortured him.
Police have arrested Nursel's father for murder.

BACK TO TOP

Authorities mixed up bodies from Iraq plane crash

Two families were left without the bodies of their loved ones when Iraqi authorities mixed up the bodies taken out from the plane's wreckage. Adana governor spokesman said: "There might be less than 33 bodies because there were burnt and crashed bodies as well."

Iraqi authorities have sent 33 bags containing only 32 bodies
Bodies of the plane crash victims were mixed up by Iraqi authorities. Two families were left without the bodies of their loved ones due to a mistake made by Iraqi authorities in Baghdad. Public Prosecutor's office have demanded graves to be opened to take DNA samples from the bodies.
Adana governor spokesman Demir said: "Instead of 33, we have received 32 bodies. There might be mistakes done during the removal of the bodies from the wreckage. DNA tests will determine which piece belongs to who since some bodies were not one piece. 7 out of 33 body bags were in fact a "box" containing pieces of the bodies.
Authorities have begun opening the graves yesterday.

BACK TO TOP

Authorities to Izmir parents: Don’t be alarmed by girl with HIV

Parents in Izmir have begun to panic following recent news about 11 year-old S.Ş. - who has changed three schools to date - and her mother P.Ş., who is accused of being a prostitute. Both are infected with HIV. The authorities have invited parents to keep calm, informing them that the virus is not contagious.


Losing her father to AIDS, and having been infected with the virus in her mother’s womb, 11 year-old S.Ş. is awaiting a decision at the hospital where she is currently under treatment. In the meantime, the girl’s mother P.Ş. wants her daughter, currently under state protection, to be handed back to her.

BACK TO TOP

USA and Turkey: Strategic partners?

Prime Minister Erdoğan delivered yet another stinging rebuke to the US regarding their actions in Iraq. “We’re supposed to be associates with the US, but it seems we are expected to lend a helping hand in difficult times while they will not do the same for us. They claim to share our troubles, but when it comes to taking action, what is said remains words”, Erdoğan said.

In Turkey, US support for a relatively stable northern Iraq is believed to stoke the fires of Kurdish nationalism and strengthen calls for an independent Kurdistan that would threaten Turkey’s south-eastern borders.

BACK TO TOP

“My daughter would have been taken out of school if I told them she has AIDS”

An 11 year old girl, S.Ş, has been removed from an Izmir primary school and taken into state care after another parent told school authorities that the girl is HIV-positive and alleged that her mother works as a prostitute at a truck garage.

A woman who called herself G. revealed the girl’s condition to a teacher on 4th January. S.Ş. and her mother, P.Ş., were staying with G. until she denounced them. The woman claimed that P.Ş often took her daughter to the truck garage, and said she wanted the little girl to be saved.

While P.Ş, - who is also HIV-positive - denied the prostitution charge, she defended her decision to keep her daughter’s medical condition private. “If I had told them we had the virus, my daughter would have been shunned from school and deprived of many things”.

The school, as well as the Ministry of Education and the police, decided to take immediate action following the complaint and are investigating the situation.

BACK TO TOP

Another big year in merger deals

Turkish firms signed USD$17bn in company mergers over 2006, part of a global boom fuelled by low interest rates and surge in big-money private equity firms that saw a total of USD$3.9tn in merger deals signed worldwide.

Can Deldağ, Head of the Financing Department at Ernst & Young Turkey, said that although they initially forecasted $50bn in transactions over three years including 2007, the boom has caused E&Y Turkey to adjust their predictions for the coming year. “$48bn was reached in only two years, so we have raised our limit to $60bn USD”, Deldağ said.

TNT to expand Turkish operations

Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT, a Dutch courier and delivery service, said the company sees Turkey as a bridge to the Asian market and will seek to expand their local operations organically or by buying up Turkish companies.

The company has selected Istanbul for an annual meeting to be attended by 250 top company executives.

BACK TO TOP

PM Erdogan: We lost nothing, gained nothing from Lokmaci Gate

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking yesterday evening on NTV, referred to the recent public polemic between State Minister Nimet Cubukcu and main opposition leader Deniz Baykal, expressing support for Cubukcu's role in the incident.

Said Erdogan, "Who started this whole polemic? Baykal. Nimet Cubukcuk, as the State Minister responsible for womens' affairs, and as a woman herself, was offended and simply did her job. What she said she said for all women, and because of this, I can only thank her. As it is, I thanked her myself."

Touching on the recent controversy surrounding the Northern Cypriot administration's decision to destroy the Lokmaci Gate overpass, Erdogan said this:

"There is nothing which be either lost or gained from the destruction of the Lokmaci Gate. Our military there used to go over an overpass, and now they will go across flat land. It is being portayed as though we gave away something valuable to the Greek Cypriots. In fact, Talat took a step here which put him in the front. We pushed Southern Cyprus into a corner, and in fact we have one more trump in our hands now."

BACK TO TOP

Rice: Problems for Turkey and Iraqi Kurds if we don't succeed

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, joined by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, yesterday described to two committees of the US House of Representative, which now lies under Democrat Party control, some of the various regional scenarios which might well unfold if Washington is unsuccessful in its Iraqi mission.

Speaking to members of the House of Representative Foreign Affairs Committee, Rice touched on the problems which could occur between Turkey and the Kurds if Iraqi Kurds decide to split off from the rest of Iraq. Rice also said that it was within the context of the various dynamics at play within Iraq between the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds that the US had decided to make it policy to support the unity of Iraqi soil, post-invasion.

Rice told committee members about the possibility of Iran's regional clout rising in the wake of American failure to secure Iraq, noting that Iran was set to do whatever it wanted in Iraq's southern regions, and saying "As it is, everyone here is worried about Iran." Rice warned that this could lead to a giant clash between Sunnis and Shiites in the region across the entire Middle East.

Speaking before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates yesterday asserted that if US troops were to pull out early, they would leave behind a chaotic state on the verge of dissolution, and that Iran's clout would rise sharply in both southern Iraq as well as in the capital Baghdad. Said Gates, "This situation would be one in which not only Iran, but also potentially Turkey, Syria, and different Sunni states would try to get involved."

BACK TO TOP

Ankara welcomes Bush mention of need for Iraqi land unity

The new Iraq strategy revealed by US President George W. Bush two nights ago included words on the fight against the PKK presence in Northern Iraq. Said Bush, "We will work together with the Turkish and Iraqi governments to solve the problems along their borders."

While Ankara is reportedly not satisfied with the idea that dealing with the PKK be left to the Iraqi government, it was also noted that nothing about the demographic changes in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk or the Turkmeni population itself was mentioned. Bush's reference to the need to keep Iraqi soil unified was welcomed by Ankara as a clear message to the Kurds.

Some sources are comparing the US plans for bringing lasting peace to areas that have been "cleaned" of terrorists to the Turkish military methods of "enter the terror region, clean up the area, and bring about peace" in fighting the PKK.

BACK TO TOP

Retired General Baser: Turkey cannot just sit back and watch PKK in northern Iraq

Turkey's appointed anti-PKK coordinator, Special Representative Edip Baser, has said that results from joint-efforts with the US and Iraq in fighting the significant PKK presence in the northern Iraqi region had been thus far unsatisfying.

Baser, who is a retired general from the Turkish Armed Forces, noted that if necessary, Turkey was prepared to take over-the-border action in terms of dealing with the PKK. Said Baser, "It cannot be expected that the Turkish Republic's government sit with its hands tied watching these events."

In statemenst to the BBC's Turkish Service broadcast, Baser complained about the slow pace of steps being taken against the PKK in Iraq, though noting that he was pleased that at least the commission against the PKK was working, and that progressing, if slowly.

Noting later in the interview that the PKK was moving about freely in northern Iraqi regions, Baser said "A single-handed or joint operation with US forces are both on the table in terms of options."

BACK TO TOP

Interior Ministry looking into Kurdish language on Diyarbakir Municipal web site

Officials from the Turkish Interior Ministry are looking into a recent publication in Kurdish which was made on the Diyarbakir Municipality's web site.

A statement by Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir was taken by Interior Ministry inspectors regarding the city's municipal web site, although a separate statement by the Diyarbakir Municipality recalled that the city's official web site had been published in Turkish, English, and Kurdish for awhile now.

BACK TO TOP

Turkcell customers rise in number to 31.8 million people

Turkcell Communications Services have announced a 14% increase in subscribers as of December 31, 2006, bringing the total number of subscribers up to 31.8 million people.

The statement made by Turkcell noted that in December 2005, the number of subscribers was at a comparative 27.9 million people. Of the 31.8 subscribers to Turkcell services, 5.8 million people are billed customers, while 26 million use pre-paid services.

BACK TO TOP

Bad weather blamed in Iraq crash; US Embassy issues condolences

Despite the fact that the crash of a Moldavian-owned Antonov-26 airplane which killed more than 30 Turkish workers in Iraq two days ago was near a US-operated air force base in Baghdad, there has still been no official statement on the incident.

The US Embassy in Ankara did however issue a message of condolences yesterday. Though rampant speculation exists as to how and why the airplane, which was mostly carrying workers for the Turkish-owned Kulak Construction firm, went down, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials maintain there is no evidence as to the flight's crash being the result of an attack from the ground. Instead, say Ministry officials, it appears that bad weather appears to have been at fault.

Yesterday, the bodies of 33 on board the crashed flight were returned to Adana for DNA work and funerals. Adana Governor Cahit Kirac and the relatives of the dead awaited the arrival of the flight from Iraq at the Adana Airport, and as the bodies were lifted off the flight to be put into waiting ambulances and funeral carriers, police on duty at the airport stood in an honor formation.

The Beled Airport near Baghdad, where the ill-fated flight was supposed to have landed, was an air force base built by Saddam Hussein. Located 68 kilometers north of Baghdad, Beled now holds great strategic importance for US troops in Iraq. The base is currently being used by US forces as a logistic center for its land forces.

BACK TO TOP

Iranian Consulate in Erbil raided by US forces as Bush gives speech

Just as US President George W. Bush was explaining his new strategies on Iraq to the American nation yesterday evening, a raid was being carried out on the official Iranian Consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil at 3 in the morning local time. During the raid, 5 Iranians were arrested, and their computers and documents were consficated.

US authorities have not yet commented on the early morning raid on the Erbil Iranian Consulate, though it was noted that in his speech, President Bush had underlined that "Military precautions will be taken in Iraq against enemy activities by Iranian and Syrian forces based in Iraq against the coalition troops." Some sources speculated that the raid on the Iranian Consulate in Erbil signalled a start to the implementation of this new tactic.

The first news of the Erbil raid came this morning on Iraqi state and Kurdish television channels. During the last week of December 2006, US troops arrested 4 Iranians who had come to Iraq as the guests of Talabani. Two of the 4 were military authorities, while the other 2 were diplomats. Following negative reaction from both Iran and Talabani himself, the US troops let the group of 4 Iranians go free.

BACK TO TOP

Report on Kirkuk: 600,000 Kurds have moved to this northern city post-Saddam
Hurriyet has obtained a copy of the report on the population shifts in the Northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, a report whose contents have underlined in speeches over past weeks by both National Intelligence Agency (MIT) head Emre Taner and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The study on Kirkuk's demographics, and developments related to the rapid movement of Iraqi Kurds into the area, contains the following details:

* An estimated 600,000 Kurdish citizens have been moved to Kirkuk from different areas in Northern Iraq, and have subsequently been registered to vote in elections. There are allegations that money has been promised to many of the Kurds moving to Kirkuk. Some reports note that the promised money has been as much as 10 to 20 thousand dollars per family.

* Most of the Kurds moving into the region are being placed in apartments being built in Suleymaniye or in Rahimova, Iskan, and Shorca near Erbil.

* Other Kurdish families moving into the area are currently staying in tents near the Kirkuk Stadium, many waiting for money promised to them in return for making the move.

* Peshmergas and their families have moved into the military garrisons in Kirkuk built during Saddam Hussein's rule.

* According to United Nations statistics, the number of Turkmenis, Kurds, Arabs, and Suryanis forced to move away from Kirkuk under Saddam Hussein's rule was around 11,800. The number of Kurds estimated to have moved to Kirkuk following Saddam Hussein's overthrow is around 600,000.

BACK TO TOP

New statistics on places to pray in Turkey

According to newly released statistics from the Turkish Police Headquarters, Turkey is rich in places for prayer. While there are currently 77,777 mosques throughout the country, there are 373 official houses of worship for non-Muslims living in Turkey as of the end of 2006. This number was lower, at 273, in 2005. Though counted by the government as "cultural centers" rather than houses of worships, the "cemevis" used by the non-Sunni Alevi portion of the Turkish population were counted at 900.

Most of the 321 churches in Turkey today are Greek Orthodox. Of the 90 active churches, 1 is on the island of Bozcaada, 8 are in Gokceada, 6 are in Hatay, and 75 are in Istanbul. With the Greek population estimated at under 2,000 currently in Turkey, this means that there is one church for every 20 Greek-Turks. For the Armenian-Turkish population, there are fewer churches, despite the fact that there are more of this group; an estimated 45,000 Armenians make their permanent home in Turkey. With 55 working churches, the Armenians' houses of worship are mostly in Istanbul too, though there are 7 Armenian churches in Hatay, and one each in Mardin, Diyarbakir, and Kayseri. Other churches spread throughout Turkey include 60 Suryani Orthodox churches, Bulgarian Orthodox churches, Georgian Catholic, Arab Orthodox, and other Christian churches, including 52 Protestant churches which have been at the center of controversy due to missionary activity.

In terms of Judaism, there are 36 active synagogues in Turkey today, found in Istanbul, Adana, Ankara, Izmir, Canakkale, Hatay, Bursa, and Kirklareli. There are an additional 3 which are registerd but not active.

BACK TO TOP

Squadron of 24 F-16 fighters lands at US base in Incirlik

A certain silence which had reigned over the US Incirlik Air Force base in the Turkish city of Adana for the past 3 years came to a close today.

After an absence of 3 years, a squadron of 24 US F-16 fighter jets landed at Incirlik yesterday, reinforced also by an early warning system AWACS airplane, as well as tanker airplanes meant for mid-air fuel replenishing. The F-16s which landed at Incirlik yesterday began flight training runs in Adana this morning, although authorities did not comment on whether the jets will be staying at Adana for a long duration or only temporarily.

BACK TO TOP

Opposition leader Mumcu lambasts Erdogan's Iraq policies

Opposition leader Erkan Mumcu of the ANAVATAN Party yesterday issued sharp criticism of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Iraq policies.

Said Mumcu, "While claiming he is going to make policies on Iraq as as the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic, Erdogan has in fact given in to other peoples' policies. Most of the things he says don't actually hold. There is something I have to say to the head of this government, who is responsible unfortunately for the point we have reached in our foreign policies.......Don't try to fool anyone with words about interfering in Iraq. What needs to be done is to close the Habur border crossing, and open the Ovacik border crossing. If he were to do this, then I would believe that there was true vision and courage behind the person that stands on that podium....But the Prime Minister cannot do this, because he has become the plaything of those who want to be in Iraq. But I say 'Stand up straight.' Open up the Ovacik border crossing and let them hand over to you the top commanders of the PKK."

BACK TO TOP

Syrian "Doctor Bahoz" takes over reins at Kandil PKK camp

The PKK Central Coordination Board has reportedly brought to the head of the terrorist organization Syrian citizen Fehman Huseyin, code named "Doctor Bahoz." Heading up the PKK's armed Peoples' Defence Forces wing, Dr. Bahoz was heard retorting over his wireless to PKK fighters complaining "We are dying here while those on Kandil Mountain do nothing" by answering "It's because you don't know how to fight."

PKK Central Coordination includes figures such as Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik and Duran Kalkan. The decision to bring in Dr. Bahoz means that the Syrian PKK leader will be heading up PKK forces spread throughout Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

Speech from Zap Camp on January 6

A speech given January 6, 2007 by Dr. Bahoz from the so-called "Zap Camp" in Northern Iraq was in Kurdish, but was also translated into Turkish for broadcast over wireless radios. In it, Bahoz warns PKK members to follow orders from their commanders, while reminding them over and over that they were at war.

BACK TO TOP