Erdogan apologizes for Dersim massacres
ISTANBUL – The Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has apologized on behalf of the state for the massacres in the eastern province of Dersim, in 1937 and 1938. Around 13,000 men, women and children died in the massacres. Goal of the operation was to bring the rebellious province under the control of the republic.
The discussion about Dersim, which is called Tunceli …
Turkey supports Syrian opposition
ISTANBUL – Turkey supports both armed as peaceful Syrian opposition, and offers both groups the possibility to operate from Turkey. The peaceful Syrian National Council might open an office in Turkey soon. The armed Free Syrian Army operates with Turkish military protection from a refugee camp in the border province of Hatay.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA), composed of defected Syrian …
Autumn in Istanbul, that means you can still now and then enjoy a nice sunny day. But unfortunately: the sea of outdoor seatings in Beyoglu, the heart of modern Istanbul, is gone. Wipes clean by the municipality. There was hope this summer that there would be a new policy for outdoor seating, but no: they are gone forever.
For who has …
People leave Van after earthquakes
DIYARBAKIR – Thousands of people are leaving the city of Van in the southeast of Turkey, after it was hit by two earthquakes in less than three weeks. According to Turkish media, the migrants say that the city is no longer livable: there is not enough electricity, and life in tents is increasingly difficult now that it snows.
The first earthquake, …
Turkey put aid on hold on purpose
The Turkish deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay caused uproar with his explanation as to why Turkey refused foreign help in the first two days after Sunday’s earthquake. ‘We first wanted to see our own potential’, he said today during a press conference in the disaster area.
Many Turks and media reacted angrily, because in the meantime many people died. According …
ISTANBUL –Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan announced in a speech on Wednesday morning that he wants to make villages in earthquake areas safer. In the villages practically all houses that were built with ‘mud bricks’ collapsed in the strong earthquake that hit the area on Sunday. ‘We want sturdy houses there of not more than one floor’, he said.
Erdogan didn’t give …
‘Aid to Kurdish municipalities delayed’
ISTANBUL – Although the earthquake in the east of Turkey intensifies brotherhood between Turks and Kurds, on the other hand ethnic tensions are rising. Saban Isiktas, working for the Istanbul office of pro-Kurdish party BDP: ‘There are rumours that the aid to Van is being delayed because Van is governed by the BDP and not by governing party AKP. I …
Turks give en masse aid to earthquake victims
ISTANBUL – After the heavy earthquake yesterday in the East Turkish province of Van, everywhere in Turkey initiatives have started to gather aid for the victims. Municipalities coordinate the aid, arrange boxes and transport, and civilians bring blankets, coats, nappies, socks and sweaters.
A truck arrives at the town hall of Kadiköy, a municipality of Istanbul. it parks by the entrance, …
More deaths Turkey due to bad building constructions
ISTANBUL – The bad state of many buildings in Turkey results in more deaths than necessary after yesterday’s earthquake. Really solving the problem would mean pulling down and renewing parts of cities. Also the education on how the behave during and after an earthquake, is often not sufficient.
In many Turkish cities and villages people live in appartment blocks of at …
PKK attack hampers work on new Turkish constitution
ISTANBUL (ANP) – “Our revenge will be great”, stated the Turkish president Abdullah Gül after PKK attacks in the country’s south east. The attacks on several police and army posts left 24 soldiers dead and 22 wounded.
Turkish ground troops crossed the border with Northern Iraq for the first time since 2008 in pursuit of the PKK fighters.
The increasing violence …
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