May 18th Press Review
NATION TO CELEBRATE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
The Turkish nation will celebrate May 19, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day, tomorrow with parades and ceremonies throughout Turkey, at the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and at Turkish missions abroad. May 19 marks the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence, which is an official holiday dedicated to the youth of Turkey. 90 years ago, on May 19, 1919 Ataturk landed in the Black Sea province of Samsun as a high-level military inspector, and started to organize national forces to save the nation from foreign occupation. Afterwards, a national resistance arose across Anatolia and Ataturk became the leader of the national struggle for independence, which quickly grew in strength and ended foreign occupation throughout Turkey within three years, leading to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. In related news, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday sailed to Samsun with a ship called Ankara to mark the day. /All Papers/
GUL: "THERE IS A GREAT WILLINGNESS AND GOOD INTENTIONS ON THE SYRIAN SIDE TO SEEK A PEACE DEAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST"
There is great willingness and good intentions on the Syrian side to seek a peace deal in the Middle East, said yesterday President Abdullah Gul as part of his three-day visit to Syria. Speaking to the reporters, Gul spoke about Turkey's mediation role between Israel and Syria. "Syrian President Bashar Assad has a very positive attitude and that's very important," he added. Stating that the Syrians are very closely following the signals sent out by the US President Barack Obama, Gul reiterated their genuine request to conclude a deal. Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa visited several historical and touristic places in Aleppo in the last day of his visit, Assad and his wife also accompanied them in their tour. /Star/
PM ERDOGAN MEETS PUTIN IN SOCHI
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Sochi on Saturday. During the meeting, ways to boost cooperation on economy, energy and policy were discussed. Afterwards, Putin told a joint press conference that Turkey and Russia desired a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and that Turkey could play a role during the process. For his part, Erdogan said that Russia is the most important energy resource of Turkey and that there wasn't any problem regarding cooperation. Erdogan also called on both sides to carry the regional cooperation to an international level, saying that the two countries can look for a solution on Cyprus and the Middle East problems under the auspices of UN. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN INAUGURATES NEW LIBRARY IN ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday inaugurated a new library in Istanbul's Yildiz Palace. Sponsored by the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the new library features rare manuscript books and other unique materials from the Islamic civilization. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Erdogan said, "Bringing together the past and the future, this library will preserve a unique book treasury and historic heritage, making them available for researchers." Also speaking at the ceremony, Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) head Ekmeledding Islamoglu thanked Premier Erdogan for his support to establish the library, and added that it would serve further improvement of dialogue and cooperation efforts among different civilizations. State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis and Adurrahman Al-Uveys, the culture minister of the United Arab Emirates, attended the ceremony as well. The IRCICA is an international institution which is active in fields of research, publishing, documentation and information. Its mandate covers multifarious themes in the fields of the history of Muslim nations, history of arts and sciences in Islam, and other subject areas in Islamic culture and civilization. By means of these activities, it aims at studying and better promoting the Islamic culture and civilization throughout the world and acting as a catalyst for research and cooperation in these areas to improve mutual understanding between Muslims and other nations, civilizations and cultures of the world. The IRCICA started its activities in 1980 as the first subsidiary organ of the OIC related with culture. /Turkiye-Star/
IRAQ'S MALIKI: "COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ENHANCED"
Turkey and Iraq will end the terrorist PKK through cooperation between the two countries, said yesterday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new hospital by a Turkish firm in Karbala, he added, "We are in reliable cooperation with Turkey to end the terrorist PKK and others in the region, which aims at damaging the neighboring countries. Stating that the cooperation between the two countries enhanced, he added that they were looking for the ways to boost it much more. /Milliyet/
BRAZILIA'S LULA DUE IN TURKEY
Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) is preparing to host Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Istanbul at the Turkey-Brazil Business Forum meeting. The Brazilian leader, a former labor unionist better known as just Lula, will visit Turkey for the first time and will be accompanied by top ministers and Brazilian businesspeople, the DEIK said in a statement. Lula will attend the forum at the Ciragan Palace on Thursday. The crowded delegation consists of Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and Industry Minister Miguel Jorge, while the businesspeople represent such sectors as energy, infrastructure, aviation and tourism. The forum will also be attended by Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Among the Brazilian businesspeople who will attend the forum is Jorge Zellada of Petrobras, the oil giant which has invested $130 million in Turkey since 2006. Presidents of Turkish football clubs Fenerbahce, and Galatasaray are also invited to the forum. Brazil sent 1,176 football players abroad last year, receiving more than $1 billion in revenues. /Hurriyet Daily News/
DP AND DSP ELECT THEIR NEW LEADERS
Husamettin Cindoruk was elected as the chairman of Democrat Party (DP) in the 5th extraordinary convention of the party on Saturday. Cindoruk got 559 votes in the second tour, after Suleyman Soylu and Mehmet Ali Bayar had withdrawn from candidacy. In related news, opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) held an extraordinary congress yesterday to elect a new leader for the party, as its former leader, Zeki Sezer, resigned after the party's defeat in this year's March 29 municipal elections. There were 16 candidates in the race, including Sezer himself. Former DSP deputy and one of the party council members, Masum Turker won the leadership race with 431 votes in the third tour, while Sezer got 357 votes. /All Papers/
CHRISTOFIAS HOPEFUL ABOUT REACHING SOLUTION BEFORE TALAT'S TERM ENDING
Greek Cypriot Administration leader Dimitris Christofias yesterday expressed hope for reaching a permanent resolution to the Cyprus issue before Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat's term in office ends. “I hope that a resolution will be reached within Talat's term in office. The future belongs to Cypriots. There are two leaders who agree on the same viewpoint. If we want Cypriots to live in peace and welfare, we have to found a united Cyprus,” Christofias said. Talat's term as president expires in April 2010. /Cumhuriyet/
HADISE RANKS 4TH AT EUROVISION
Turkish singer Hadise ranked the fourth with her song "Dum Tek Tek" by getting 177 points at the final of Eurovision Song Contest held in Moscow on Saturday. Afterwards, Hadise said, "I said I would be in top five and then I ranked the fourth," adding that she had reached her goal." /All papers/
