TURKEY CELEBRATES MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS DAY
May 19, Youth and Sports Day was marked yesterday throughout Turkey as well as in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with great enthusiasm. The holiday commemorates Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s arrival in Samsun from Istanbul on May 19, 1919, an event which began the War of Independence. /All Papers/
LEADERS TO MEET ECEVIT AT HOSPITAL TOMORROW
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s health condition is reportedly getting better and he is ready for a coalition government leaders’ summit to be held tomorrow at Ankara’s Baskent hospital. A statement made by the hospital yesterday said that Ecevit’s treatment was continuing as planned. Ecevit was admitted to the hospital last Friday for the second time this month due to a broken rib and vein inflammation in his left leg, while all his vital signs remain normal. /Turkiye/
BUSY PARLIAMENT SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
A busy schedule lies ahead for Parliament this week, with a number of significant issues in line for discussion. Parliament’s deputies will tomorrow debate a censure motion put forth by the Felicity Party (SP) against Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the members of the government. On the same day, elections to choose the first chairman of the Supreme Council of Public Accounts will also be held. The Parliament will discuss on Wednesday the bill on conditional release which was previously vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. In addition, the Planning and Budgetary Commission will take up a bill which proposes certain amendments to the Mining Law. A commission established to address problems faced by members of the media will also hold a meeting on Wednesday. /Turkiye/
BAHCELI VISITS VIENNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli visited a military museum in Vienna over the weekend. During his visit, Bahceli took special interest in displays of flags, weapons and armaments which were used by the Ottoman military during the 1683 Siege of Vienna. In addition, he also attended the third general congress of the Turkish-Austrian Federation. /All Papers/
YILMAZ IN EGYPT FOR TERRORISM CONFERENCE
Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz flew to Cairo, Egypt over the weekend to attend a meeting organized by the Egyptian Foundations Ministry’s Religious Affairs Supreme Assembly each year. Speaking at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport before his departure, Yilmaz said that the issue of “Islam and terrorism” had been publicly highlighted following last September’s terrorist attacks and that it would be discussed at the meeting. Saying that “Jihad and Terror” was the theme of this year’s gathering, Yilmaz added that he would present a paper on the subject. /Star/
NEW YORK HOSTS TURKISH DAY PARADE
The traditional “Turkish Day Parade” was held in New York City on Saturday with the participation of thousands of Turco-Americans as well as many non-Turkish friends of Turkey. State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar, Turkish Ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu and Turkey’s UN representative Umit Pamir all marched in the parade. State Minister Gurel said that he was happy to see so many Turkish people come out and show their love and support for their country of origin in such a significant way. /Turkiye/
112 REGIONAL OFFICES SHUT DOORS THIS MONTH
To reduce state intervention in the economy and increase public savings, the government has decided to close down 112 regional directorates and chief managerial offices of state organs by the end of this month. Under a Cabinet decision appearing in the April 5-6 issues of the Official Gazette, various public services of a total 185 regional and chief administrative offices of the state will be closed down and their inventories sold off by the end of the year at the latest. /Turkiye/
WORLD BANK TEAM TO VISIT TURKEY THIS WEEK
A World Bank agriculture and financial sector team is to visit Turkey this week as part of preparations to draw up a report. The WB team is to examine and evaluate the progress of its civil and financial sector adjustment loan (PFSAL 2) with an eye on the upcoming approval of the second tranche of the loan totaling $1.3 billion. /Milliyet
ISTANBUL’S HAGIA EIRENE CHURCH HOSTS MUSIC FESTIVALS
The “Mozart Days” musical celebration held at the Greek Orthodox Hagia Eirene Church in Istanbul began yesterday. Capella Istropolitana and a host of other groups will perform the famous composer’s works during event, which is sponsored by the Ulker Company. In addition, the same 1,500 year-old church will host the 30th Istanbul Classical Music Festival beginning on June 8. That event will give music lovers the opportunity to hear famous soprano Kiri Te Kanawa and the Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Musica Group, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Ton Koopman, violinist Vladimir Repin accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, cellist Steven Isserlis and the Academy of Ancient Music group, violinist Shlomo Mintz, soloists from Venice, pianist Lars Vogt accompanied by the Camerata Salzburg Orchestra and finally Les Arts Florissants Orchestra. /Milliyet/
TURKEY CELEBRATES CULTURE WITH FESTIVALS
The 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival began on Saturday with a ceremony held at Rumeli Castle. Twenty plays are scheduled to be performed during the festival. In addition, the fourth International Eskisehir Cinema Days are set to begin today. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION