NEWS - Bianet

NEWS

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EU will Fund Demining of Cyprus

The European Union will provide 2.5 million euros for the demining of Cyprus. With the project, beginning in the no-man zone in Nicosia, an area of 180 kilometers will be demined. The project is in line with the Green Line regulations.

Cicek: Turkey Fulfilled all Conditions for EU

Cicek says any additional legal arrangement is out of question for EUs setting a negotiation date for Turkey. additional legal arrangement was out of question for European Unions (EU) setting a negotiation date for Turkey in December.

Women Ask for Shelters

The Metropolitan Municipality responded to shelter demands by saying it will support a womens shelter opened by the Human Resources Development Foundation. That is not our demand, said the women, and added they were expecting a clear explanation.

10 August 2004 Burçin Belge

Security Council To Be Headed by A Civilian

Turkeys supreme security body, first time since its establishment in 1960, is to be headed by a civilian, along with Turkeys reforms for the EU membership bid. Two candidates are former ambassador Osman Korutürk and Ümit Pamir.

6 August 2004 Vincent Boland

NGOs Should Not Be Deprived of Foreign Aid

Lawyer Cinmen and Atamer from the Helsinki Citizens Association criticize presidents veto against the law of Associations. Ataman criticizes the government also for lack of consultation with the NGOs during the legislation process.

Generals Send Controversial Letter Back

The letter was sent by MHP Deputy Chairman Mehmet Sandir to 5,000 state officials including 313 top representatives of the military, and was containing calls for action against AKP government.

Civilian MGK Still Non-Existent

Lawyer Cetin said nobody has so far seen the regulation which allows civilians to be appointed as Secretary-Generals of the National Security Council. Regulations and laws on the council should be open to public, said Cetin.

4 August 2004 Yıldız Samer

Austria Shows Red Light To Turkeys E.U. Bid

Austrian Prime Minister Schüssel told German Capital journal that they oppose Turkeys EU membership due to religious reasons. Turkey has a lot of conflicts stands before on her way to EU membership, Schüssel said.

Family of Turkish Driver mourn for Yuce

Family of Turkish driver Murat Yuce, killed in Iraq, mourn for him. Leyla Yuce, bursting into tears, said, I want to hope that my husband still lives.

In Execution Cassette: Let Him Start First

Yuce, who was killed by Iraqi fighter, read from a text in their hands: This declaration is to all the Muslims in the world, and especially to the Turkish Muslim Public. Everybody knows that Iraq is under US occupation as the US itself has confessed.

Reaction From AKP to Letter Of MHP

The Nationalist Action Partys (MHP) sending letter to 313 generals, asking from them to warn the government, stirred Ankara.

Hungry Children who Work 12 Hours a Day

A research conducted by Prof. Alphan and researcher Avci, showed that working children suffer from malnutrition and are underdeveloped due to working conditions. 72 percent of the children surveyed skip at least one meal a day

EMO: Dont Drag Turkey to a Disaster

The Chamber of Electrical Engineers objected to Turkeys plans to build a nucelar plant. Turkey doesnt need nuclear energy, said EMO. Nuclear lobbies are looking for new markets, and a garbage dump for their waste.

Turkey and Iran Converge on Countering PKK

PM Erdogan during his Teheran visit thanks Iran for its cooperation in countering the Kurdish guerrillaPKK/Kongra-Gel. Erdoğan also expressed grief of the deaths of Iranians in clashes between the terrorist organization and Iranian security forces.

Ecevit Quits Politics

At a party congress, DSP Leader Ecevit made a farewell speech to his party members and said, I can now have much spare time. For the last fifty years, I have always dreamt of writing poems and make paintings on top of a mountain.

Academicians:We Didnt Approve Train Project

Professors, who are deputies of ruling Justice and Development Party refuted the claim of Transport Minister Binali Yildirim that they have given their consent to the Accelerated Train project.

Gul: Bush Thinks Like Us About Kirkuk

Foreign Minister Gul made warnings on Kirkuk, before the Summit of Neighboring Countries of Iraq which will be held in Cairo this week. Pointing out that Kirkuk was a high-ranking issue for Turkey, Gul said, US President Bush shares same ideas with us.

Court of Appeals Turns DEP Sentences

Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals overturned on Wednesday conviction of four former Democracy Party deputies including Leyla Zana, Orhan Dogan, Hatip Dicle, and Selim Sadak, and ordered the retrial of the case.

Turkey Wants to Train Iraqi Police in Jordan

Studies are underway to determine whether or not the training would be under the NATO umbrella, or this training would be given in Iraq or any other country.

Court Gives Eğitim-Sen 60 Days

The 2. Labor Court in Ankara asked Eğitim-Sen, (Education and Science Workers Union), to amend its statutes in 60 days. Kazim Genç, the lawyer representing Eğitim-Sen, says the case should be considered under freedom of expression criteria.

Can Turkey Digest Reforms?

It is unfortunate that the ECHR in its recent decision sustaining the headscarf ban in Turkish universities has fully adopted the assumption that in Turkey secularism can only be secured by state control of religion and restriction of religious freedoms.

12 July 2004 Şahin Alpay

Media Freedoms and Violations Head to Head

According to a quarterly monitoring report by BIA2, the grip on Turkeys audio-visual media is eased with lesser number of bans, while the strict control by the Supreme Board however continues with doubled number of warnings.

German Ambassador Warns Former DEP Deputies

German Ambassador to Turkey Wolf Ruthart Born, who was unable to attend a dinner hosted by former DEP deputies on Monday, invited Leyla Zana and her friends to a breakfast.

7 July 2004 Salih Boztas

We will not Give up Headscarf Struggle

Tuna, lawyer of Sahin, the Turkish woman who opened a case in the ECHR against Turkeys ban on headscarves in universities, said that even though the ECHR ruled in Turkeys favor, the legal process had not ended.

Erdogan on Sahin Verdict: Double Standard

Prime Minister Erdogan alluded that European Court of Human Rights decision in Sahins headscarf case is political and amounts to a double standard.

Police Accused of Sexual Harrasment

A woman form the Labour Movement Party claimed she was sexually abused by police during the NATO protests and applied for legal action. Womens groups condemned police violence against demonstrators in a press statement.

ECHR Rules for Turkish Headscarf Ban

ECHR announced its decision in the 1998 lawsuit filed by Sahin and Tekin. The court found that Turkey didnt violate the ECHRs 9th Article on religious freedom. Jurists interpreted the verdict as ECHR found restricted freedom enough for Turkey.

1 July 2004 Ali Ihsan Aydın,Deniz Aydın

Turkey Grows by 12.4 Percent in Three Months

The growth rate has become 17.5 percent in current prices and 12.4 percent in constant prices in the first period of 2004 when compared with the same period of 2003.

What was Experienced during Bushs Speech?

15 minutes prior to Bushs speech, guests are taken to the place where the speech will be delivered. It is not that easy to listen to a formal speech when the sun is at its zenith. However, Istanbuls beauty imparts a cold happiness to the people.

1 July 2004 Ekrem Dumanlı

Anti-NATO Protesters Dragged on The Ground

Anti-NATO demonstrators who on Tuesday, gathered on Istanbuls central Istiklal Street to protest against NATO and Bush have been harshly treated with tear gas and clubs. Some 40 people were dragged on the ground and detained.

NATO Summit Disturbs Istanbul Inhabitants

The NATO Summit brought stress, fear and more taxes to the people of Istanbul, said Economist Sonmez. Sponsoring companies will reflect their expenses to the prices of their goods and services, Sonmez criticizes the NATO.

Women Writers Protest NATO

The Turkey PEN Women Writers Committee announced their opposition to war and all initiatives in support of war. We are protesting NATOs initiatives which are supposedly in the name of peace, the committee said.