NATION GRATEFULLY COMMEMORATES ATATURK ON 71ST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING AWAY
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, is being commemorated today, the 71st anniversary of his death on Nov. 10, 1938. All across the country, daily life and traffic stop each year at 9:05 a.m., when Ataturk passed away, as sirens wail and people observe two minutes of silence. Flags across the country are flown at half-staff. President Abdullah Gul and pillars of the Turkish state delivered messages yesterday stressing the founding father's vision. "One of his most important successes was the establishment of the republic, dynamic and open to innovation. Turkey today continues its progress in a way that its founders envisioned," Gul stated. "Our country is attaining a great stature worldwide. I am fully confident that with its economy, democracy and military, Turkey will continue to increase its weight in the international arena." The first official ceremony today will be held at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum. Top state officials will attend the ceremony led by Gul, who will lay a wreath on the tomb at 9:05 a.m. Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, and political leaders all issued messages yesterday hailing Ataturk's achievements. In his message, Basbug said Ataturk shouldn't be just a memory in people's hearts. "We carry our leader, who brought our nation into the civilized world of the future in unity and safety, in our hearts not like a memory but as a living reality that directs our thoughts," Basbug said. Born in 1881 in Thessalonica, Ataturk was a distinguished army officer, revolutionary statesman, and the founder of the Republic of Turkey as well as its first president. He became known as an extremely capable military officer during World War I. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, he led the Turkish national movement in the War of Independence. Having established a provisional government in Ankara, he defeated forces sent by the Allies. His successful military campaigns led to the country's liberation and the establishment of Turkey. During his presidency, Ataturk embarked upon a program of major political, economic and cultural reforms to transform the country into a modern, democratic and secular nation-state. /Today's Zaman-Hurriyet Daily News/
IN ISTANBUL, GUL URGES COMCEC LEADERS TO RATIFY PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
Istanbul yesterday hosted the 25th meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference's (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). Delivering the opening speech of the meeting, President Abdullah Gul stressed the importance of the OIC as well as non-OIC member countries working to solve international issues. In his speech, he touched on such topics as the Palestinian issue, the Arab-Israeli dispute, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia. He also said that a proposed preferential trade system would improve trade among OIC member states and urged their leaders to ratify rules of origin agreements as soon as possible so the system could begin. /Star-Aksam/
ERDOGAN DUE IN ROME NEXT WEEK FOR FAO SUMMIT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Italy next week to take part in a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference. Erdogan will deliver a speech at the FAO World Summit on Food Security, which will take place in Rome on next Monday and Tuesday, and stay in Italy through Wednesday. /Hurriyet Daily News/
BAGIS: "TURKEY WON'T LET AN INVISIBLE WALL BE ERECTED BETWEEN EUROPE'S EAST AND WEST"
In a message yesterday marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, chief negotiator for European Union talks Egemen Bagis stressed Turkey's determination to move towards becoming a full EU member despite new "walls" put before Ankara's EU accession talks. Saying that the fall of the wall brought together two nations sharing a common history and values, and wanting to live together in a common future, Bagis said 10 former Eastern Bloc states have since joined the EU. Warning that some are trying to build a new Berlin Wall-like barrier, Bagis suggested that failing to offer a clear perspective on Turkey's EU accession bid will mean an invisible wall between Europe's East and West. "With its all contributions, Turkey is pursuing a policy in favor of the integration of Europe, keeping its stance aimed at solving all the continent's problems," he added. /Turkiye/
TURKEY, IRAN DISCUSS IAEA PROPOSAL ON URANIUM
Turkish and Iranian officials discussed Iran's nuclear program on the sidelines of an economic summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul this week, focusing on a recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposal that Iran ship its enriched uranium to Turkey. Iranian reports said that Tehran rejected the offer, made by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei last week. But in Istanbul, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the prospects were positive. "We have taken up the issue both during the (October) visit of our prime minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) and meetings held on Sunday," Davutoglu told reporters yesterday. "We are in a very constructive position with both the IAEA and Iran." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived in Istanbul on Sunday to attend yesterday's OIC summit. Ahmadinejad had talks with both Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul on Sunday evening but no statement was made after any of the meetings. Officials confirmed, however, that Iran's nuclear program was one of the issues discussed. ElBaradei has said that Iran's enriched uranium could be transferred to Turkey until Russia provides Tehran with high-enriched uranium. Tehran has yet to give a full, official reply on the proposal, drafted three weeks ago after consultations with Iran, France, Russia and the US, although Iranian reports said Tehran rejected the offer. Turkish officials said Ankara was ready to contribute to efforts to help the resolution of Iran's nuclear controversy peacefully, although they say Turkey has not received any formal proposal to help with ElBaradei's offer. /Today's Zaman/
BELARUSIAN DELEGATION SET TO VISIT TURKEY
The chair of the Belarusian-Turkish Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, Gennady Novitsky, will visit the Turkish Parliament with a delegation today. The Belarusian delegation will reportedly be received by Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin and will also meet with Reha Camuroglu, the head of the Turkish-Belarusian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. /Hurriyet Daily News/
HOUSTON, TEXAS ENJOYS TURKISH CULTURE FESTIVAL
Houston, Texas was the scene a colorful Turkish Culture and Children Festival over the weekend. Held by the Raindrop Turkish House at Houston's Herman Square Park, the festival attracted many local residents. Participants from across the Turkic world promoted their cultural and culinary assets in stands at the festival. Festivalgoers also enjoyed a performance by Mehter Takimi, the Ottoman Janissary Band from Inegol, Bursa. Examples of traditional Turkish handcrafts such as marbling, calligraphy, ormamenting and carpet weaving were also on display. /Turkiye/