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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Turkish Press Review, 07-01-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning22.01.2007CONTENTS
[01] SLAIN EDITOR HRANT DINK TO BE LAID TO REST TOMORROWHrant Dink, 53, a prominent Turkish journalist of Armenian descent who was murdered Friday afternoon in Istanbul, will be laid to rest tomorrow following a memorial ceremony at 11:00 a.m. in front of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian daily Agos, which he founded and edited. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to attend Dink's funeral on behalf the government. In a related development, a 17-year-old boy, Ogun Samast was arrested on Saturday in the Black Sea city of Samsun for Dink's murder. In addition, seven other people have been taken into custody, and policeefforts are underway to clear up all details of the crime. Dink, the editor in chief of Agos, had gone on trialseveral times for his public comments claiming an Armenian genocide, and he was convicted last year for "insulting Turkishness" under controversial Article of 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK); he received a six-month suspended sentence. Meanwhile, a stream of messages from leading politicians and non-governmental organizations condemning the assassination continued over the weekend. "This kind of inhuman act will never achieve its purposes," President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in a statement. Furthermore, hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to the journalist at the spot where he was gunned down, lighting candles and laying flowers underneath his picture, while some groups have been marching in Istanbul chanting slogans condemning the murder. /All Papers/[02] RULING AKP HOLDS RETREATThe ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held a retreat in Kizilcihamam, outside Ankara, over the weekend. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish nation wanted peace, adding that certain circles which intend to destroy ongoing efforts to improve the country's democracy and freedom would fail. Calling the murder of journalist Hrant Dink an attack on Turkey's stability and development, Erdogan praised the arrest of a suspect in the killing so soon after the attack. "The arrest of the perpetrators of this attack, which has deeply saddened our nation, is what we expect," he added. Erdogan also hailed his government's efforts to further develop the country during its rule and called on his deputies to work hard in the runup to general elections set for this November. /Turkiye/[03] ITALIAN PM PRODI: "TURKEY IS A VALUABLE ASSET FOR THE EU"Prior to his two-day visit to Ankara beginning today, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said that Turkey was a valuable asset for the European Union. "We believe that when Turkey achieves the reforms needed in the membership process, it will be an invaluable asset for the EU," he said. "But of course we need patience and wisdom to achieve this goal." Prodi, a former top EU official, reiterated his center-right government's support for Turkish membership in the Union. The Italian prime minister will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer today and tomorrow will attend the opening ceremony of the Mt. Bolu Tunnel together with Erdogan. /Hurriyet/[04] VERHEUGEN: "THE EU'S DOORS ARE OPEN FOR TURKEY"European Union Commission Vice President Gunter Verheugen said over the weekend that the EU's doors are open for Turkey and Europe will find a new way to solve the Cyprus problem. Verheugen, visiting the northwestern city of Bursa on Saturday, spoke to journalists at a dinner hosted in his honor. Asked about falling public support in Turkey for EU membership, Verheugen said EU institutions were aware of this trend. Stating that the Turkish nation is an honorable one, Verheugen said that he advises EU member countries to act accordingly and heed the reactions of the Turkish people when a member country opposes Ankara's membership. /The New Anatolian/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS… [05] DEEP ROOTS OF THE MURDERBY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on the murder of Hrant Dink, the prominent Turkish journalist of Armenian descent. A summary of his column is as follows: ‘Who benefited from the murder of Hrank Dink? Turkey's enemies. It means that the murder was committed by forces hostile to Turkey! Don't consider the boy who was caught as the murderer, as there is a "killer state" behind him!' These are unnecessary political conspiracy theories. If a 17-year-old boy has enough hatred within himself to kill someone, he can get a Beretta gun and do it! He only has to find a few people to help him. It's clear the murder wasn't a professional job, because he was caught by the police with the gun he used plus the white hat and clothes he wore while doing the job. Couldn't big forces and clandestine, professional groups even get him a change of clothes? Of course, all possibilities should be explored by investigators. Once Dink told a panel the following, which he later included in his column in Agos newspaper: "In 1986, when I was in Denizli to do my military service, all of my friends were honored by being made noncommissioned officers, with only me left out … I had two children … I was disappointed with this discrimination.' This is an example of discrimination he faced! Of course, we could talk about certain events in history. Such arguments won't end for any nation or group. The problem causes from not overcoming feelings created by bad events in history. Armenian terrorist group ASALA shed blood for this reason, and the Armenian diaspora nurses its hatred. Let's try to consider the situation of the world if we couldn't overcome the traumas in history of all nations. This racist hatred murdered Dink! It's enough for a boy to find a gun! It's so simple, serious, and dangerous! The unconscious hatred is seen in groups which are closed, insulated, and socially deformed, and ones which have bad tendencies. When there's tension in the community, the worst actions are seen in these groups. It's always like this, isn't it? Let's not forget that we have a responsibility to build our future. If we want to build a sustainable life for our children, and a bright and honorable future for Turkey, then one of the conditions for this is avoiding actions both individually and officially which breed racist hatred and instead showing respect for differences and freedom of expression! Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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