NATION CELEBRATES MAY 19
The Turkish nation celebrated May 19, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day, on Saturday with parades and ceremonies throughout Turkey, at the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and at Turkish missions abroad. Top leaders led by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum in Ankara. Signing the commemorative guestbook at the mausoleum, Sezer said that Turkey's youth is the greatest guarantor of the future of the country, adding that nobody has the power to block Turkey's path to modernization. /Turkish Daily News/
SAMSUN HOSTS FINAL REPUBLICAN RALLY BEFORE ELECTIONS
The last pro-secular republican rally ahead of July's general elections was held yesterday in the Black Sea port city of Samsun. Tens of thousands gathered in the city's central square to protest the government by chanting slogans such as: "Turkey is secular and will remain secular!" They carried Turkish flags and posters of Ataturk, the founder of the republic. In addition, the leaders of the two main leftist parties - Deniz Baykal of the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and Zeki Sezer of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), who agreed last week to work together in the elections - made their first joint public appearance. Speaking to reporters, the leaders said they had done their duty by joining forces for the elections, and that now is the time for people to pool their votes at the ballot box to take Turkey to a bright future. /All Papers/
CELIK: "CHANTING SLOGANS DOESN'T MAKE YOU A TRUE NATIONALIST"
Education Minister Huseyin Celik said yesterday that he doesn't believe chanting a few slogans in demonstrations makes anyone a true nationalist. Visiting Konya yesterday to attend the opening of a sports and social center at a school, Celik said that true nationalism and patriotism means serving the country. Stressing that his government has placed great importance on education, and citing the opening of many schools throughout the country as evidence of this, the education minister said that members of his party were the real nationalists. /Milliyet/
BUYUKANIT HELPS CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEHMETCIK FOUNDATION
Addressing a weekend ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Mehmetcik Foundation, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that he remembered the day the group was founded, adding that it serves the families of soldiers. "It has no other purpose," said Buyukanit. Stressing that the Turkey's citizens are patriotic and love their country, Buyukanit added that no one has the right to judge such people. /Aksam/
BASER: "WE EXPECT THE US TO MOVE CONCRETELY AGAINST THE PKK"
Turkey's Special Anti-Terror Envoy Edip Baser said yesterday that significant progress has been seen in the fight against terrorism since the envoy mechanism was established but complained of problems in making further progress. "There is a concrete step which we expect from the US," he said. "If we don't see this step from Washington, we could decide to end the mechanism in short order. Then there will be no need to force the mechanism." Baser declined to specify what step he was referring to. /Star/
BAKOYANNIS: "I'M HOPEFUL FOR A CYPRUS RESOLUTION NEXT YEAR"
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said yesterday that no solution to the Cyprus issue is in the offing this year but that she is hopeful about 2008. Speaking to the Greek media yesterday, Bakoyannis said in the wake of the Greek Cypriots' 2004 rejection of the Annan plan it was no longer being considered. She added that though Greece and Greek Cyprus have close ties, the island state isn't under Athens' protection. Bakoyannis also said that she works for reunification and coexistence on the island. /Star/
EUROPEAN REGIONAL RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT CONFERENCE BEGINS IN ISTANBUL
The seventh European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent (Kizilay) Conference began in Istanbul yesterday. The conference brings together experts on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and migration to discuss the situation of migrants in Europe and to provide them with more assistance to protect their health and rights, regardless of their legal status. Addressing the gathering, State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin called AIDS and TB "disasters" which have led to great losses of life. The conference hosted by the Turkish Red Crescent will last for four days. /Turkiye/
26TH TURKISH DAY PARADE HELD IN NEW YORK
The 26th Turkish Day Parade led by the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) was held in New York City over the weekend. The Turkish Day Parade began at the intersection of Madison Avenue and 56th Street and ended at Dag Hammarskjold Park, near the Turkish House. Turkey's Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy and other officials took part in the parade along with many Turkish people living in the US. Addressing the crowd, Sensoy said that they were living not only in an allied country, but a friendly one. /Cumhuriyet/