TURKEY tr-national
Turkish Press Scan for Aug. 20
HDN | 8/20/2010 12:00:00 AM |
These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 20, 2010. The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review does not vouch for their accuracy.
From Hürriyet Daily News:
HABERTÜRK
-- Gang’s trap for maternity benefits
A gang has been receiving maternity benefits from the Social Security Institution, or SGK, by using fake IDs of real mothers in Istanbul, daily Habertürk reported Friday.
It is learned that the gang cheated the SGK by using the fake IDs of 12 women who recently gave birth to a child.
A mother with the initials G.F. went to PTT Bank four days ago to receive her maternity allowance. But an official told her that her allowance of 5,000 Turkish Liras had already been taken. It was later learnt that the money was taken by another women with a fake identity card.
The gang acquires the identity information of beneficiaries of the payments, prepares a fake identity card using a photograph of one of their female members, who then takes the money from the SGK.
Nuray Er, another victim of the gangs activities, went three times to PTT Bank to receive her money, only to learn that 9,033 liras had been stolen. Upon hearing this, she went to the bank’s branch office where the money was taken from. The authorities told Er that there were security cameras inside and outside the bank office and the thieves would be found easily. Er went to the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office and filed a criminal compliant.
From Anatolia News Agency:
HÜRRİYET
-- TWO SHIPS, SAME ACTIVIST
It has been revealed that Erdinç Tekir, who served three-and-a-half years in prison for his involvement in the seizure of the Avrasya, or Eurasia, ferry in 1996, was on board the Mavi Marmara ship which was raided by Israeli forces on May 31 while carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
-- NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES IN ISTANBUL
The National Security Council, or MGK, convened in Istanbul under the chairmanship of President Abdullah Gül. Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ attended the meeting at the War Academies Command for the last time before he retires on Aug. 30. Recent developments both in Turkey and the world were on top of the agenda of the meeting.
MİLLİYET
-- SHAME OF ISRAEL
It was revealed that the Mavi Marmara ship which was raided by the Israeli commandos while carrying aid to Gaza was robbed by soldiers in Ashdod Port where it was anchored. An Israeli third lieutenant who had permission to enter the ship stole and sold laptop computers and mobile phones from the ship.
Two soldiers connected to the incident were detained.
-- FIRST FAREWELL FROM BAŞBUĞ IS TO MGK
The National Security Council, or MGK, held its meeting at the War Academies Command while President Abdullah Gül was in Istanbul.
Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ, who will retire on Aug. 30, attended the meeting for the last time and Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Necdet Özel attended the meeting for the first time.
SABAH
-- TERROR TOPS AGENDA OF BAŞBUĞ'S LAST MEETING
The National Security Council, or MGK, convened at the War Academies Command in Istanbul under the chairmanship of President Abdullah Gül. Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ was in attendance at the meeting for the last time before his retirement on Aug. 30. During the meeting, it was reiterated that the fight against terrorism would continue without making any concessions.
-- PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR SAYS THEY CANNOT COMBAT FLOOD DISASTER ON THEIR OWN
Pakistani Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin said that the worst flood disaster in the history of Pakistan has destroyed infrastructure of the country. He said that Pakistan did not have the capability to overcome such a calamity on its own.
VATAN
-- INSISTENCE ON AUTONOMY
The leader of the Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, Selahattin Demirtaş, said in the southeastern province of Şırnak, "If you respect this people, you will accept their language, their culture and their demand for democratic autonomy."
-- ISRAEL'S THIEF SOLDIERS
Two Israeli soldiers who were suspected of having stolen computers and mobile phones from the Mavi Marmara ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza were in the news in Israel. A second lieutenant admitted that he stole six computers and mobile phones from the ship and sold them to other soldiers. The second lieutenant had access to the ships after they were taken to an Israeli port following their interception in international waters.
CUMHURİYET
-- WARNING DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED STATES
The U.S. administration sent a delegation to Turkey and threatened to punish the institutions doing business with Iran. The outlines of the warning is that sanctions will be imposed on those who invest in Iran's energy sector, like the Turkish Petroleum Corporation, or TPAO, and those who sell processed oil products to Iran, like the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation, or TÜPRAŞ.
In the event their relations continue, all those companies’ commercial relations with the United States will be terminated.
-- TURKEY IS AFTER REAPER
Ankara has sent a delegation led by Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu to Washington, D.C. The delegation is an effort to overcome the hindrance of Congress in Turkey’s purchase of Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles which can carry missiles, which Turkey wants to deal with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.
RADİKAL
-- TÜRK: ‘YES’ VOTE TO BE GIVEN IF ERDOĞAN PLEDGES
According to Ahmet Türk, the Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, could support a “yes” vote if detainees are released and if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gives a promise to reduce the election threshold and prepare a new constitution.
He said this would prolong the Sept. 20 (cease-fire) timetable.
-- HOPES CARRIED OVER TO RETURN MATCH
Three more Turkish soccer teams delayed their hopes until return matches after their matches in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off rounds.
British Liverpool defeated Turkey's Trabzonspor 1-0, Greek PAOK defeated Turkey's Fenerbahçe 1-0 and Turkey's Galatasaray drew 2-2 with Ukraine's Karpaty in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round.
TÜRKİYE
-- ISRAELI LOOT
A new scandal has erupted in Israel after the interception of the six-ship flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31. Four soldiers who stole computers and mobile phones from the aid ship have been detained.
-- TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ROTATING PRESIDENCY OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Turkey will take over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council on Sept. 1 for a month. President Abdullah Gül will host world leaders during the General Assembly meeting on Sept. 21. Issues such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Middle East, North Korea, the fight against terrorism and climate change will be high on agenda of the meeting.
ZAMAN
-- ISRAELI SOLDIERS WHO PLUNDERED MAVI MARMARA ARRESTED
It has been discovered that Israeli soldiers who attacked Mavi Marmara aid ship carrying aid to Gaza plundered the ship after it was towed to Ashdod Port.
According to Ynetnews, a leading news portal in Israel, one of the four Israeli soldiers who were detained on charges of stealing the computers and mobile phones of volunteers was arrested on Thursday.
Another Israeli soldier was also detained on charges of robbery last Tuesday. Israeli police said the damages would be compensated if the owners of the goods can be determined.
-- FROM POLITICIANS TO BAŞBUĞ: EXPLAIN HERONS BEFORE LEAVING
The General Staff has not made a statement for 18 days regarding the Heron scandal in Hantepe. Politicians have reacted to this.
Justice & Development Party, or AKP, group Acting Chairman Mustafa Elitaş said, "Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ should respond to the allegations before he hands over his post."
YENİ ŞAFAK
-- A HELPING HAND
Pakistani Ambassador in Ankara Tariq Azizuddin said that Turkey and Pakistan have supported each other in their difficult periods. The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) decided to send $1 million in aid to flood-struck Pakistan while two Turkish charity organizations are distributing food to thousands of people in that country every day. Turkey became the first country rushing assistance to the Pakistani people after the worst flood disaster in the country's history.
-- A CALL FOR COMMON SENSE
Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ attended the National Security Council, or MGK, meeting for the last time before his retirement on Aug. 30. During the meeting, it was reiterated that Turkey would maintain its fight against terrorism without making any concessions. The council also warned people to act with common sense in the face of terror attacks.