Yusuf Kanlı: Critical stage in anti-terror war

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is stressing that Turkey has come to a “critical final stage” in its war against terrorism. Difficult to believe, but if Turkey can use the present momentum not only for the “annihilation” of the terrorist presence in the mountains – both Turkish mountains as well as those in northern Iraq – and undertake some serious political, social, psychological and of course economic reforms eradicating the “root causes” of terrorism, that indeed might be the case. Although some people might have difficulty seeing it and despite all the criticisms – ones we shared – that the government was wrong to delay seeking authorization from Parliament to dispatch troops into

 

Turkish Press Scanner

Radikal Government to end educational aid for handicapped The government is set to stop paying the educational costs of handicapped students in private schools, the daily Radikal reported yesterday. In June 2006 the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ratified a law on educational costs of handicapped students under the social security umbrella, which resulted in a remarkable increase in the number of students in special schools. Before the ratification of the law, only 67,000 handicapped were studying, whereas the number rose to 161,000 after the law was enacted. Nevertheless, the government opted to limit the payments and impose stricter conditions, as it could not bear the co...

Turkey Should Become E.U. Member If It Fulfils Criteria, Socrates

 Turkish foreign minister to visit Greece in December : Europe World

[MONDAY TALK] ‘The DTP should not be closed,’ says Kurdish intellectual Metiner

by YONCA POYRAZ DOĞAN

Mehmet Metiner, a Kurdish intellectual, says the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) would benefit the most from a forced closure of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).

Turkey: undisputed leader of the Middle East

Although the Armenians and the Greeks played the Christian card quite well in the 20th century and tried to push Turkey into the position of the most underrepresented and discredited nation on earth, it didn't work well in the last century and won't work in the 21st century, either.

Annapolis: too little too late

It is hard to understand why the Bush administration has waited so long to engage in high-level diplomacy in the Middle East peace process.

The PKK story: ‘Blood and Belief’

Aliza Marcus's new book, "The PKK and the Kurdish Fight for Independence: Blood and Belief" (New York University Press, September 2007), is the best and most recent study on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). It is an extremely valuable contribution to a proper understanding of the PKK phenomenon.

 

New constitution and the Abant spirit

The Abant Platform that discussed "Islam and Secularism" in its first meeting in July 1998 held its 10th meeting in İzmit, Kartepe, to discuss the new constitution.

 

Prime minister consolidates ‘Muslim democrat’ image

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered important messages about ways to end the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) at a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Kızılcahamam over the weekend where he reiterated the importance of heeding democracy and expanding the rights of Kurdish citizens to erode support for separatism.

 

An article on the US

by ESER KARAKAŞ, STAR

Contrary to what is often thought about Americans in many countries, the US is the world’s most aristocratic and elite country.

Conservatives continue to dazzle

by GÜLAY GÖKTÜRK, BUGÜN

As Etyen Mahçupyan, a Zaman daily columnist, said, “Conservatives continue to dazzle!” It is apparent that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government is determined to embark on a new chain of reform processes in the first years of its second term.

A turning point

by MÜMTAZ’ER TÜRKÖNE, ZAMAN

Turkey has rolled up its sleeves to prepare a new constitution. Isn’t it a turning point for a nation to have a constitution that was prepared by legitimate representatives instead of one that was written under the power and shadow of guns?

 

Press Roundup

Students flocked to the hospital where the Republic of Turkey’s first female teacher -- 93-year-old Refet Angın -- was being treated to flowers on Saturday to honor her on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.