
Sunday, July 06, 2008

Turkey in 2003: January

JANUARY 1

The period given to couples who were married before the new Turkish Civil Code entered into force to choose property regime ended.
Higher Election Board (YSK) announced that the constitutional amendment which increased by-election period to 90 days would not affect by-election to be held in southeastern Siirt province on February 9.

JANUARY 8

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the law which lifted financial zero year. Sezer had earlier vetoed the law but the parliament had re-adopted the law without any changes.
In a reception he hosted for journalists, Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok said, ''we respect to everybody's religious beliefs and ways of his/her expressing his/her religious beliefs in daily life. But, nobody should expect such beliefs especially headscarf to be used as a political imposition in contrary with regulations, Constitutional Court and Council of State decisions and as a symbol or action aiming to deteriorate traditions of the Republic.''
Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said, ''does February 28 process still continue? If fundamentalist process continues in Turkey, this process also continues.''
A Turkish Airlines (THY) RC-100 plane en route from Istanbul to southeastern Diyarbakir province crashed into a field when it was landing at Diyarbakir Airport. Seventy-four people died while three people survived the accident with injuries.

JANUARY 9

Two R-F4 reconnaissance planes crashed near Erhac base in eastern Malatya province. Four pilots died in the plane crash.

JANUARY 10

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul stated that Turkey permitted the United States to carry out site survey in ports and bases in Turkey. The General Staff said that a delegation comprised of 150 people from U.S. Armed Forces would come to Turkey and start site survey in some ports and bases as of January 13.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the law on amendment on some laws to prevent bribe for foreign public officials in international commercial procedures and the European Union (EU) adjustment package which paved the way for Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's deputyship.

JANUARY 11

Protests were staged in some cities against a possible U.S. intervention in Iraq.
Ali Talip Ozdemir was elected leader of Motherland Party (ANAP) in ANAP third regular congress.

JANUARY 13

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok met in the Prime Ministry building. Gul and Ozkok evaluated developments in Iraq in their meeting.
Following the meeting, Gul and Ozkok stressed that ''all organs of the state were in full compromise for a solution without a war.''

JANUARY 15

Turkey signed the sixth protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of death penalty.
U.S. experts carried out site survey at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Kurtkoy region of Istanbul.

JANUARY 16

U.S. experts carried out site survey in Yenice Train Station in Tarsus town of southern Mersin province.

JANUARY 17

A summit on Iraq was held at the Presidential Palace under chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and some ministers attended the summit.
Participants reviewed demands of the United States from Turkey in case of a possible military operation against Iraq.
Turkey notified its responses to the United States.
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers met with Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.
A group comprised of 500 people who are members of Ankara Anti-War Platform staged a ''No to War'' protest in front of U.S. Embassy in Ankara.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned the law which foresaw postponement of cases and punishment of crimes committed through press to parliament.
Sezer approved the laws on establishment of family courts and on amendment to National Security Council (NSC) law.

JANUARY 18

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent a letter to U.S. President George Bush in which he asked for a peaceful solution to Iraq crisis.
U.S. experts carried out site survey at Corlu Airport and Iskenderun Port.

JANUARY 19

JANUARY 20

Central Population Administration System (MERNIS) project was put into practice by a ceremony also attended by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Every citizen was given an identity number as a part of the project.
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor Hamza Keles demanded imprisonment term from five to ten years for Fethullah Gulen on charges of ''forming an illegal terrorist organization in order to replace the constitutional system with Shariah.''

JANUARY 21

Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit against seven people including former Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) Director General Gokhan Yardim on charges of corrupting in tender for feasibility studies of Samsun-Ankara Natural Gas Pipeline Project.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan acquitted from the case in which he was tried on charges of acquiring illegal property.

JANUARY 22

The Constitutional Court stated on Wednesday, ''it is inappropriate to take any decision about the request for precautionary measure to strip Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Erdogan off his party leadership authorities because when he was excluded from founder membership, his leadership came to an end automatically.''
Constitutional Court Deputy Chairman Hasim Kilic said that Erdogan would not use his leadership authorities from now on.
AK Party Central Decision and Execution Board (MKYK) ended Erdogan's leadership.

JANUARY 23

Erdogan was re-elected AK Party leader.
A lawsuit was filed against People's Democracy Party (DEHAP) leader Mehmet Abbasoglu and 26 administrators of the party on charges of ''forgery in official documents.'' It was claimed that Abbasoglu and 26 administrators of the party showed that the party had completed its organization before November 3 general election.
British Chief of Defense Staff Sir Michael Boyce visited Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok. Boyce also visited Incirlik Base.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul received German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

JANUARY 24

NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe General James L. Jones came to Turkey as official guest of Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok.
The regulation which enabled foundations of societies to acquire properties was issued in the Official Gazette. Number of foundations of societies functioning in Turkey was calculated as 160.

JANUARY 27

AK Party leader Erdogan announced that he would run his candidacy for deputyship from southeastern Siirt province in March 9 by-election.
An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked Pulumur town of eastern Tunceli province. One person died while some places became uninhabitable in the earthquake.

JANUARY 29

Dispatch of equipment and materials to region under control of Second Army Command started as a precaution and preparation for possible developments in the region.