ATATURK COMMEMORATED ON 71ST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, was commemorated yesterday throughout Turkey, in Northern Cyprus, and at Turkey's missions abroad on the 71st anniversary of his death. Traffic stopped and sirens blared for two minutes starting at 9:05 a.m., the time Ataturk died in Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace 71 years ago. All flags around the country were lowered to half-mast. The first official commemoration ceremony was held at Ataturk's mausoleum, Anıtkabir, in Ankara, with top state officials, led by President Abdullah Gul, placing a wreath of red and white carnations at the tomb. Participants also observed a minute of silence and sang the Turkish national anthem. Gul and political leaders also issued statements marking the day. In his message, Gul said Turkey had courageously realized Ataturk's modernization and transformation steps. Speaking in Ankara, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wanted to celebrate Ataturk's life. "November 10 should never be a day of mourning," he said. "Let's not forget that important people are remembered for their ideas, work, sacrifices and endeavors, not through mourning." Quoting Ataturk as saying, "Seeing me definitely doesn't mean seeing my face; rather, it suffices if you can understand my views and feelings," Erdogan added that November 10 is an opportunity to commemorate, understand and improve Ataturk's main philosophy and work. Erdogan also said working to make Turkey a stronger, more democratic and more developed country is the best way to honor Ataturk's legacy. At the ceremony, Erdogan also praised the legendary heroes of the War of Independence, saying that the Turkish people are grateful for their efforts to establish the Republic of Turkey. /Hurriyet Daily News-Today's Zaman/
PARLIAMENT BEGINS TO CONSIDER MAJOR DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE
Parliament yesterday started to debate government plans to solve the so-called Kurdish or southeastern Anatolia issue, with Interior Minister Besir Atalay taking the floor as the first official to brief deputies about the outlines, goals and limits of the democratic initiative. Atalay gave a timeline of government plans to solve this longstanding problem, saying it would be done through expanding the democratic rights and freedoms of Turkey's citizens of Kurdish origin along with other socioeconomic measures. "The democratic initiative has two connected goals," he said. "One is to end or minimize terrorism, and the second is to improve democracy and raise its standards." Atalay said terrorism can end only when the terrorist PKK lays down its arms, meaning its members abandon the group and leave its mountain bases. "No one should seek to gain political advantage from this," said Atalay. "Political showmanship doesn't help solve the problem. We don't approve of this attitude and no one should think repeating it," he added, referring to the celebrations by the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in southeastern Turkey, which followed the surrender last month of 34 terrorist PKK members and sympathizers. He said the government hasn't closed its doors to anyone and that defending a stalemate over the problem and "negative politics" serve no one's interests. "We know that our people will have to pay a much greater cost tomorrow if we don't solve this issue today, which has taken tens of thousands of lives," he said. He added that on Thursday he would publicly unveil the measures the government plans under the move. "The government's democratic move deals with the terror problem as a whole in all its dimensions," he explained. "We have to think of the democratic move not as a weakness but on the contrary a necessity of our decisive and resolute fight against terrorism." Atalay said democratization and expanding freedom are important for fighting terrorism based on ethnic nationalism. "Our goal is to secure an environment free of terrorism and violence where everyone feels safe and free living together in a peaceful and prosperous country," he said. He added that the initiative aims to eliminate a key hurdle to Turkey emerging as a strong regional power and key global actor, adding that the nation will hear more about the initiative in the weeks to come. Also addressing Parliament yesterday, opposition speakers continued to blast the initiative, claiming that it would undermine the unity of the Turkish nation and the unitary state structure of the Turkish Republic. Parliament is expected to have a broader evaluation of and debate of the plans tomorrow. /Sabah/
US STATE DEPT: "WE SUPPORT THE IAEA PROPOSAL FOR IRAN TO SEND ITS URANIUM TO TURKEY"
The US supports the International Atom Energy Agency's (IAEA) proposal to send its uranium to Turkey, US State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly said on Monday. "We support the proposal as the IAEA has presented it," he told a press conference. "And as I say, we're still waiting for a formal reply to it.. And of course. we hope that Iran will make the next - make the right choice and accept the proposal. But we will consult on next steps if Iran ultimately decides to not take this opportunity." /Turkiye/
IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT: "WE NEED TURKEY'S SUPPORT"
Iraq is pleased with Turkey's increasing role in the Middle East and hopes Turkey will increase its support to Iraq, said Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi yesterday. Speaking at a panel at Istanbul's Bilgi University on the future of Iraq, he said that in order to minimize the danger after the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, they need neighboring countries' support and that he wants Turkey to continue training Iraqi security forces. Al-Hashimi also said that he doesn't think that the US plays any role in Turkey emerging as a power in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY, EGYPT AIM TO BOOST TRADE VOLUME TO $10 BLN WITHIN THREE YEARS
The total foreign trade volume between Turkey and Egypt is expected to reach $3.5 billion by the end of year, with a target to increase annual trade to $10 billion within three years, State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan said yesterday. Speaking at the Turkey-Egypt Business Forum organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), Caglayan said he believes trade between the two countries has yet to reach its full potential. Annual trade between the two countries hit $300 million this September, more than all of last year, he said, adding that they foresee this figure hitting $3.5 billion by year's-end. The upward trend of the last seven years will continue, he said. Trade between Turkey and Egypt is a win-win situation, he added. /Today's Zaman/
CEYLAN'S "THREE MONKEYS" GETS CREATIVITY AWARD FROM EUROPEAN COUNCIL
Famed Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Uc Maymun" (Three Monkeys) has received the Creativity Award of the Council of Europe. The jury of the European Cinema Competition, made up of eight ambassadors and two high-level officials, all of them currently serving on the Council of Europe, gave Ceylan's movie the Creativity Award, while presenting a Human Rights Award to Ursula Meier's "Home." Ceylan's movie also won last year's Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival. /Hurriyet/