GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 10

HURRIYET

--SHOCKING RESIGNATION OF ADMIRAL

After the shocking resignation of two vice marshals from the Air Forces, the Naval Forces Command was stunned by the resignation of a rear admiral who was expected to be appointed as vice admiral in a month’s time.

 

Mustafa Baha Eren, the commander of the Assessment and Control Department of the Naval Forces responsible for investigation, control and inspection of all Naval Force units, resigned from the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK.

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Eren submitted his retirement and resignation petition to the Command some time ago. The command accepted his petition. Rear Admiral Eren was considered one of the strongest future naval forces commander candidates.

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The unexpected resignation is thought to have stemmed from issues concerning Eren's private life, a similar reason cited in the resignation of the generals from the Air Forces. It was claimed that therefore, Eren had to resign.

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--MINISTER'S BOYCOTT NOT BACKED

Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun called for a boycott of Chinese products. However, his adviser said shortly after Ergun's call that it was the minister's personal view and the government had not made such a decision. Ergun's boycott call came after violent incidents caused the deaths of many Uighur Turks. Ergun said, "If there was no respect for human rights, we have to show our stance towards the products of these countries."

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The ministry's press adviser, Devlet Arik, going against state traditions, said, "It is Mr. Minister's personal view and that the government has not made such a decision."

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--SARIGUL TO SET UP PARTY

Mustafa Sarigul, who was re-elected mayor of Istanbul's Sisli town and who was preparing to establish a new political party, resigned from the Democratic Left Party, or DSP, together with 21 municipal assembly members. Sarigul said, "It is clear that Turkey needs a new energy. I am determined to walk together with my citizens."

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MILLIYET

--"TWO-PHASE" FORMULA FROM AK PARTY

Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will overcome the hesitations about the law --which allows the trial of military personnel by civilian courts rather than in military courts-- with a two-phase additional arrangement: 1-the concept of "military crime" will be clarified, 2-legal assurances will be provided to military missions.

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--CHP TO APPLY TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

After President Abdullah Gul approved the law that allows the trial of military personnel in civilian courts rather than military courts, the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, is preparing to apply to the Constitutional Court. CHP chairman Deniz Baykal called his party group to convene in an extraordinary meeting on Monday. On the other hand, Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, defined the law as "hesitant and faulty".

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--SARIGUL QUITS DSP FOR SECOND TIME

Mustafa Sarigul, mayor of the Sisli district of Istanbul, resigned from Democratic Left Party, or DSP, which he quit in 2001 and then joined again prior to the elections. Sarigul said two weeks ago that they would establish, "Turkey Movement of Change" and attend the next general elections.

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SABAH

--BARZANI'S PLAN

According to a report prepared by the International Crisis Group, if Iraq is separated, its northern region will unite with Turkey. The group quoted Fuad Hussein, an aid to Massoud Barzani, as saying in its latest report that if the Shiite people chose Iran and the Sunnis chose Arabs, Kurds would make an alliance with Turkey. Hussein added that Turkey, in that case, would have direct access to oil in Kirkuk and reserves in northern Iraq.

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--REBIYA'S REQUEST FOR VISA

Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, who has been in exile in the U.S., is preparing to apply for a visa from Turkey after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that whenever she wanted to apply for one, it would be granted. Her two previous applications were rejected.

 

VATAN

--TURKEY TO ISSUE VISA FOR 'MOTHER OF UIGHURS'

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that, in the event that "Mother of Uighurs" Rebia Kadeer applies for a visa, Turkey will grant her one.

 

Speaking to Turkey's NTV channel after hearing the good news from Erdogan, Kadeer said that she is grateful to the people of Turkey for the support they have displayed for their brothers and sisters in Eastern Turkistan.

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--"THERE ARE MORE WOMEN WITH HEADSCARVES IN BERLIN THAN IN IZMIR"

Ten German journalists paid a visit of courtesy to the Governor of Izmir, Cahit Kirac. Asked by a journalist if President Abdullah Gul's wife's headscarf constitutes a problem, Kirac said that the issue of the headscarf is a personal choice.

 

"Those, who want a headscarf, wear it, while others who do not wish to wear a headscarf, do not use it. Turkish laws do not prohibit headscarves," Kirac said. Another German journalist said that "there are more women with headscarves in Berlin than in Izmir. When we arrived in Izmir, we met a very different country. Izmir is very modern and liberal city".

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CUMHURIYET

--THAT MAP HAS NOT CHANGED

The U.S. Congress Research Center has not taken into consideration Ankara's objections to a Turkey map in a Kurds report. The report, released on June 3, 2009, showed the Southeastern and Eastern Anatolia in Turkey, and a part of Iran, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan as a "Kurdish soil".

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The report said the U.S. strategy was to convince the Kurds that they would gain control of Kirkuk. The report also said that Turkey, who fears that the Kirkuk issue might cause independence of Kurds, sees itself as the protector of Turkmen in the region.

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--YOK CHAIRMAN: SEMINARY MAY BE OPENED

Higher Board of Election, or YOK, chairman Yusuf Ziya Ozcan said that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had not made a demand or offer to the board regarding the seminary on Heybeliada. Ozcan said that the board had not been asked to work on the issue. "However, we think that the seminary may be opened, we are positive on this matter," the YOK chairman said.

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RADIKAL

--UN QUARREL OF TURKEY AND CHINA

Thousands of soldiers and police officers took control after the Uighur resistance in Urumchi --the capital of East Turkestan. Chinese officials said that they would execute those who provoked the incidents. Upon Turkey's efforts to carry the issue to U.N. Security Council's agenda, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that "it was completely a domestic affair of China". State

Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, like Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, defined the incidents as "violence". Arinc accused Chinese army of "going Uighur hunting".

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--LEGAL ARRANGEMENT TO BE MADE RAPIDLY

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek replied to questions of daily Radikal about the law regarding the trial of soldiers in civilian courts and its approval by President Abdullah Gul.

 

Cicek said that they attached importance to the recommendations made by Gul, adding that the government would quickly make the necessary arrangements. Cicek said that the arrangements --which would eliminate the concerns conveyed by military to the President, and partially shared by Gul-- would be fulfilled.

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--GOLD OF PRINCESS

Golden crown pieces, earrings and rings --which were believed to belong to a princess -- were found in a 2,200-year-old tomb in Parion Ancient City in the northwestern province of Canakkale, which was one of the most important centers of the Hellenistic period.

 

YENI SAFAK

--WE CAN JOIN TURKEY

In case Shiites and Arabs become separated after the occupation, northern Iraqi Kurds aim to unite with Turkey. According to a report of the Brussels-based U.S. think-tank International Crisis Group, the Kurdish administration in the north of Iraq started to voice this thought after the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, won the general elections in Turkey in 2007.

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The report quoted Fuad Hussein, an adviser to Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, as saying, "If Shiites choose Iran, and Sunnis choose the Arab world, then Kurds will have to have an alliance with Turkey." Hussein also said, "When Kurds feel safe under Turkey's protection, Turkey will have the opportunity to directly access the oil and natural gas in Kirkuk and north of Iraq."

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--MOSQUES SEALED

China, who blockaded Uighur Turks in Urumchi where 156 civilians were massacred violently, also locked the mosques. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will bring up the issue during the G-8 summit. The attack of Chinese militia ended in Urumchi, the capital of East Turkistan. Police imprisoned hundreds of thousands of people in their homes and also isolated Uighur Turks by sealing the mosques. Banners were strung across mosques reading, "Go home and pray there."

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Uighur sources said the number of civilians who were killed in Urumchi since the weekend was around 600-800. When going to Italy for the G-8 summit, Prime Minister Erdogan said he would bring up the issue during his meetings. Erdogan said, "I will meet world leaders. It is impossible for us to remain silent to such violence."

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--SEMINARY MAY BE OPENED

Higher Board of Education, or YOK, chairman Yusuf Ziya Ozcan said the board had not received anything about opening the seminary on Heybeliada. Ozcan said, "In our opinion, it can be opened, we are positive on this matter."

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--BACK TO LAW 27 YEARS LATER

The verdict of the Dev-Yol case was annulled 27 years later. The case was opened in 1982, following the 1980 military intervention. The case filed under extraordinary circumstances of the military intervention will be heard again.

 

The suspects welcomed the remarks of the Supreme Court judge who cited the reason for the annulment as their "restriction of the right to defend themselves."