Orhan Pamuk Receives German Peace Award

Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk received the German book trade’s peace prize in Frankfurt.

During his speech, Pamuk commented on Turkey’s entry into the European Union and explained the desire of a muslim country to join Europe should be approved by Europe as this would also strengthen Europe and Germany. Orhan Pamuk also said he was very honored to receive this prize.

The German association of booksellers and publishers is Germany’s primary literary award. The association awards the writers,with this prize,whose work guides to compromise and peace.

About Orhan Pamuk

Pamuk was born in Istanbul in 1952. He studied architecture at the Istanbul Technical University and after attended Journalism at Istanbul University. Turkish novelist has written many remarkable works. Five of his books have been published into English: Beyaz Kale (The White Castle, 1991), Kara Kitap (The Black Book, 1995), Yeni Hayat (New Life, 1997), My Name Is Red (2001) and Snow (2004).

Orhan Pamuk received this prize for the first time and became the second Turkish novelist who received this peace award. The first Turkish novelist who was honored with this prize was the famous novelist Yasar Kemal. Last year's prizewinner was novelist Peter Esterhazy of Hungary. The worthiness of this year’s peace prize is 25,000 Euros (30,000 USD).

Read Orhan Pamuk's Biography & Bibliography.

Istanbul Port Offered $4.3 Billion for Privatization

A new ring was added to the Turkish privatization chain. The highest offer for Galataport Tender, which will change the face of Istanbul, came from the Royal Caribbean Cruises-Global Group with 3.5 billion euros ($4.3 billion).

IC Holding from Turkey, which belongs to Ibrahim Cecen, Limak Company that belongs to Nihat Ozdemir and the Ofer Family, which bought 15.4 percent shares of TUPRAS from Istanbul Stocks Exchange (ISE), is also in the consortium.

The second highest bid came from Tepe Group with 1.37 billion euros.
The lowest offer was made by the Fiba Holding, which belongs to Husnu Ozyegin. The leader of the group that made an offer of 1,004 billion euros is Finans Gayrimenkul.

The Seaport, which will be leased for 49 years in the frame of build-operate-transfer model, will become a major tourism center.

The Royal Caribbean is the second biggest cruise company in the world.

Sweden based Royal Caribbean is the second biggest sea transportation company in the world. The owners of the company are the Yuni Offer brothers.

Global Yatirim Ortakligi (Global Investment Partnership), which takes place in the same consortium with Royal Caribbean, belongs to Mehmet Kutman.

There are claims that Kutman negotiated a transaction to the Warren Buffet for Galataport .
Rause Tri-Party Miscellaneous LCC, one of the partners of the consortium, is also one of the biggest shopping mall investors in the US.

While Sasso Holding is an investment company from Monaco, Antalya Belek Tourism Investment is a subsidiary of IC Holding.
It will change Istanbul's face

The construction of marina port, where big ships come to be anchored, shopping malls and five star hotels are planned by the Project Galataport that will be constructed on 1,200 meter band beginning from the Istanbul Karakoy port.

While some historical buildings will be restored under the context of the three-year project, the coastal band generally used by public institutions will also be open for the public.

The project including Eminonu peninsula, Salipazari, Tophane and Beyoglu aims to form a tourist attraction center.

The Clock Tower, mosques and historical buildings will be protected by the Project.
Furthermore, the port that will be built for the big cruise ships will be able to anchor three or six ships at one time.

Experts say the project, which is estimated to cost $300 million, will be the new face of Istanbul and will attract more tourists.

As soon as the project is implemented, Istanbul will have the opportunity to gain more shares from the tourism cake for the cruises worth $20 billion.

While increased values appear in the tourism transactions by cruisers, Galataport's inclusion in the tour operators portfolio will gradually increase Istanbul's tourism incomes.

About a 139,000 square meter construction area will be reserved for the Project Galataport and most of it will be used for cruise tours and tourism deals.

There will be a fair and congress center of 13,221 square meters and art museum of 11,000 square meters. Hotel complexes, shopping centers and fair and exhibition halls will replace the public buildings on the coastal band.

Istanbul Jewelry Fair at CNR Expo Center

Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen inaugurated the 21st Istanbul Jewelry Fair (International Jewelry, Silver, Watch & Equipment Fair) at CNR Expo Center in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Speaking at the inauguration Tuzmen said, ''jewelry sector reached 929 million USD in export in 2004. This will increase in next years. In 2005, the export amount in jewelry sector will be more than 1 billion USD.''

''Jewelry making exists in Anatolia for over 5000 years. We are now world's second exporter and third producer in this sector. Our target is to be the first,'' he added.

A total of 629 companies, 199 of which from 23 foreign countries, are participating the fair.

22,000 Turkish and 3,000 foreign customers are expected to visit the fair which will remain open till August 27th.

Turkish Engineer Develops Structural Resistance System for Airplanes

Turkish engineer Aydin Akdeniz has developed a new system which detects failures in fuselage of Boeing planes only in five minutes.

Boeing firm is planning to make use of the ''Structural Resistance System'' in its new composite-fuselage B-787 planes, which will be introduced in 2008.

The system will enable technicians to detect any failure in fuselage of planes only in five minutes. Currently, those failures can be detected in an average of 72 hours.

Meanwhile, Akdeniz said in an exclusive interview with the A.A that the system aimed to detect failures stemming from rough landings and loading problems.

''The system will decrease maintenance period of a plane by at least 15 percent. Maintenance period after rough landings will decrease from 72 hours to 5 minutes. The system has been tested in three planes. Two of those planes belong to the Turkish Airlines (THY),'' he added.

Kapadokya Turkish Restaurant Brooklyn Heights NY

I have recently moved to New York from Texas. After our arrival on last sunday, our dearest friends Brad and Andrea have taken us to Kapadokya Restaurant in Brooklyn Heights.

They had a Father's Day Special at Kapadokya. Choice of appetizer, main dish, and a dessert, for a great value of $20.00 per person.

I have ordered Turkish Lentil Soup and as main dish, iskender. Iskender (doner) is known as gyro in the US. It was much better than I was expecting. But the lentil soup was excellent. Our desert was of course baklava, but unfortunately I was disappointed with it.

Kapadokya is located on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, and has a nice street view, and they also have a padio available for outdoor dining.

I will certainly visit Kapadokya many more times, and write more about my experiences.

Kapadokya Turkish Restaurant
142 Montague St
Brooklyn, NY 11201-3516
(718) 875-2211

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is certainly the most important historical site to be visited in Istanbul. It is one of the most frequently visited museums of Europe and is the most visited one in Turkey. The Palace served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years between the 15th and 19th centuries. Its principal parts were finished in 1478, then altered and enlarged by new additions in the reign of each succeeding sultan. The Palace was abandoned in 1855 when Sultan Abdülmecit I, 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, moved to the new Palace of Dolmabahçe. In 1924, it was turned into a museum upon the orders of Atatürk.

Topkapi Palace is a complex of buildings spread out over one of the seven hills of Istanbul. It consists of courtyards serving different purposes which are separated from each other by monumental gates. Pavilions, each used for different purpose, surround these courtyards. The total area of the Palace is twice the area of Vatican and half of Monaco in size.

Besides being the official residence of the Sultan, the Topkapi Palace served as the headquarters of the government. It also housed the state treasury and the archives. The mint, as well as the highest educational institution were located on the Palace grounds.

On exhibitions are the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain; imperial handmade costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury; the richest collection of clocks in the world; the sacred relics of Islam including the swords of Muhammed, his bow and his mantle; priceless collection of miniatures and many other priceless objects. One of the largest diamonds in the world, the Spoonseller Diamond, is displayed in a special showcase in the hall. The rooms are exquisitely decorated and tiled.

Thoughts of an Australian about Turkish Hospitality and Anzac

It was my great delight to be able to spend 3 years in Turkey and I have come home leaving a little of my heart there with the wonderful friends I made.

As an Australian I had mostly heard about Turkey because of our link with Gallipoli (Gelibolu). Every year here on the 25th April, in all our towns and cities, we celebrate ANZAC day. That stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. That was the day our soldiers landed on Turkish soil in 1915, the aim being to finally take Istanbul. However the conflict was a disaster for us but a victory for Turkey.

So why do we remember it as a National day? In 1901 Australia had become a federation or union of seven States but still did not think as one nation. The Gallipoli campaign was the first time Australians came together as one, so even though the campaign itself was a failure, it fired the Australian spirit of mateship and togetherness.

It was only after being in Turkey that I also came to know that it was an important time in the life of your great leader Kemal Ataturk, who was to be so important after the war to bring Turkey to a Republic and prevent it being divided and later as its President to make many sweeping changes.

Now I knew why Ataturk's photograph was in my classroom and his statues so prominent everywhere in Turkey!

I was very pleased to visit Galipoli and was amazed at the small area where so many men lost their lives.To stand with feet in the calm pebble and look back up at the escarpments and gullies. To stand high on Chunuk Bar and look out to sea helped me realise what a hopeless task our men faced, much due to leadership bungles and how important for Turkey to save.

It seemed peaceful to me now, yet somehow special, as if the land itself knows that many brave men died there, and it is special.It was interesting to see how close the lines were and easy to imagine soldiers tossing food, and sometimes grenades, to each other!

I was especially aware of how well the whole area was cared for by Turkey. The day I went workmen were busily repairing damage done to the lawns by many visitors on Anzac day. All the memorials were tidy and great respect shown. Similar words were on all graves. War is sad in any language isnt it?

The monument which really moved me, was the sandstone wall where Ataturk's words were written to Australian mothers, who had gone there in 1934, to see where their sons had died. They were beautiful words and brought tears to my eyes and must have been great comfort to those women. I have copied them, and when I give my talks to groups about Turkey I always read them, and they evoke deep emotion.

Because of those words I changed my idea about one of the stories we had always been told here in Australia.

When it became obvious that no headway was being made to capture the area and it was decided to evacuate, our soldiers set up guns in such a way, with water and string that every now and then a gun would fire. This was supposed to make the Turks think soldiers were still there. They also put bags on the wharves to keep down noise. And so they left without losing any men.

However, my Turkish guide said that of course they knew the enemy was going but they had orders from their leaders to let the brave and courageous men leave! The war had been won and they had no further fight with them.

Having read Ataturk's words,I now believe that is the more likely version of how it really was. The war had been won and to fight further was unnecessary. So thank you!! It showed enormous strength of character to think in such a way.

I do hope that arrangements and changes will be made so that ANZAC days in the future do not result in the area being harmed by so many people at the one time.

Most Turks knew about Gelibolu and it opened many doors of friendship for me. In shops when I said I was Australian they would exclaim 'Gelibolu" and immediately show warm hospitality, which meant big smiles and a wonderful hot drink of cay!

It is good to know ,that out of loss and pain, friendships can be forged and I am proud to be able to call Turkish people my friends.

Jean Ison
NSW Sydney Australia

Turkish Prime Minister Visits White House

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a visit to the US with a large delegation and the aim of putting Turkish-American relations back on track. He met with US President George W. Bush for the purpose at the White House on Wednesday, June 8.

The two leaders made statements at the Oval Office and emphasized the "strategic" relation between US and Turkey. Erdogan said they have common point of view regarding a solution in Cyprus and the fight against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization. Bush put US Secretary of State Condollezza Rice in charge of the issue of direct flights to Ercan Airport in Turkish Cyprus when the subject was brought to the agenda.

Since Turkey and the US share an "important strategic relation", President Bush said, they talked about a wide range of issues during the talks. He thanked Erdogan for his "strong support" of the Broader Middle East Initiative. Democracy in Turkey is a significant example for the people in the Middle East the US President praised. As for Turkey's leading role in Afghanistan, he praised Erdogan, "I appreciate you leadership." From the Palestinian conflict to the economy, the leaders talked about many subjects, Bush said. The Turkish Prime Minister assured in return that solidarity between the two countries will continue in the future as in the past. Satisfied with the meeting, Bush said it was a very rich and important conversation.

The Turkish party conveyed to the White House that Turkey has transformed into a country of stability and security and is open to new investments. Following the meeting with Bush, Erdogan made comments to Turkish reporters. He enumerated the topics of the talks as: Cyprus, Broader Middle East Project, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Afghanistan issue, PKK, Syria, Iraq, Iran, European Union (EU), freedoms, human rights, supremacy of law, minorities in Turkey security and the war on terror. He said both parties are of the same opinion regaring PKK and the US share

Turkey's concerns in the subject. "We are exchanging information and intelligence with the US," he said, "but it's not enough."

Elsewhere, when the White House Spokesperson Scott McClellan asked about the US view on PKK, he responded that the US regards this network as a terrorist organization and the issue came to the agenda during Bush-Erdogan meeting. According to the Spokesperson, Bush spoke of the difficulties Americans face in Iraq.

"We are working on solving these," added McClellan emphasizing the obejctive of the meeting is "to revive strategic partnership."

Erdogan responded to concerns of anti-Americanism in Turkey that it is rightist and leftist marginal groups are trying to keep the issue alive by applying the same picture over and over again. Erdogan stressed that administrations should act beyond emotions; therefore, the Turkish government is taking positive action against anti-Americanism.

As for the Broader Middle East Project, Erdogan said visits to Syria, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia are the steps taken in this direction and he will visit Lebanon upon his return. "Turkey continues with the works of reforms, speeding up democratic process and preventive measures against terror." For Syria causing tension between US and Turkey lately, Prime Minister elaborated: "Syria is our neighbor and we have a 800 km border with them. We talked about how we will bring Syria to our own line of action. They talked with our President [Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer] about troop withdrawal from Lebanon. They said, 'we will pull them out' and they did."

Source: ZamanOnline

Champions League Final Istanbul Turkey

Liverpool is the champion: Liverpool won the European Champions Cup for the first time since 1984, overcoming a three-goal deficit to beat AC Milan 3-2 on penalty kicks following a 3-3 tie Wednesday night in the greatest comeback in the tournament's history.

Turkey hosted the champions league final: European CHampions League Final was held in Istanbul Turkey at Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Thousands of tourists have visited Istanbul, Turkey for this important soccer game.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini scored in the first minute, and Hernan Crespo added goals in the 39th and 43rd.

No team had ever come back from a three-goal deficit in the final, but Liverpool did just that during a stunning sequence in the 50th Champions Cup final. Captain Steve Gerrard scored in the 54th, Vladimir Smicer made it 3-2 in the 56th and Xabi Alonso tied it in the 60th on the rebound of his penalty kick, which goalkeeper Dida had saved.

The game, the highest-scoring final since 1962, went to 30 minutes of overtime, and Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek stopped Andriy Shevchenko twice in the 118th minute, first saving his header, then blocking Shevchenko's shot off the rebound.

Serginho put AC Milan's first penalty kick over the crossbar, and Dietmar Hamann converted his, With Dudek bouncing back and fourth on the goal line, he dived to his right and batted away Andrea Pirlo's kick with his right hand.

Djibril Cisse put Liverpool ahead 2-0, Jon Dahl Tomasson converted for AC Milan, Dida dived right to stop John Arne Riise and Kaka tied it for AC Milan. Smicer gave Liverpool a 3-2 lead and Shevchenko's kick down the middle was saved by Dudek.

It was the fifth title for Liverpool, the first since its fans rioted at the 1985 in Belgium, causing the death of 39 fans and leading to a lengthy ban from European competition. Under currently rules, Liverpool won't be able to defend its title because only the top four teams in England's Premier League qualified for next year's competition and Liverpool finished fifth.

Turkish Restaurant Turquoise Grill San Antonio Texas

While I travel in different countries, especially in the US, I try to visit as many Turkish Restaurants as possible. I have been to San Antonio, Texas last year, but I haven't heard about Turquoise Restaurant.

Yesterday, I have read an article about Turquoise Grill Turkish Restaurant at SanAntonioCurrent.com and I will be visiting Turquoise Grill at my next visit to San Antonio.

This is the address and contact information for Turquoise Grill if you get a chance to visit.

Turquoise Turkish Grill
11220 Perrin Beitel
946-3070
11am-2:30pm & 5-9pm Mon-Fri,
11am-9pm Sat- Sun
Price Range $9-13
Major cards accepted
Wheelchair accessible

American Tourist in Turkey

Here's another article about thoughts of an American tourist in Turkey. Brenda had a trip to Turkey during 2004. She has written her thoughts, experiences, and fascination with Turkish culture during her trip. My friend Haydar has sent me Brenda's notes about Turkey.

American Tourist in Turkey by Brenda Young

I first visited Turkey in the spring of 2004. As an American who had never crossed the Atlantic Ocean, I did not know what to expect once I arrived. I was pleasantly surprised at every turn, and instantly felt a love for this country!

My first reaction was to the beauty everywhere. From the cool breeze and blue water of the Bosphorus to the magnificent structures, so well preserved throughout hundreds of years. I was also privileged to travel throughout the country, to Ankara and down south to the Mediterranean. It was a dream come true for an avid photographer! The beauty of the various areas, so different from what I had seen in other cities, really painted a picture of a country so full of magnificent sites and historical significance.

The food was another surprise. The taste sensations I had never experienced before left me looking forward to the next dining experience. I wasn't even real sure what I was eating at times, but it was just so different and appealing to me that it didn't matter. The spices and blended flavors were like none I had experienced. (I now dine at Turkish restaurants I have found at home as often as possible!).


I had heard many things about the wonderful shopping in Istanbul. I was amazed at the size of the Grand Bazaar and the courtesy of the vendors. I came home with so many "treasures" that I had bought a great prices. Everyone fortunate enough to receive something from Turkey feels so honored and proudly display their gifts in their homes.

I leave the best for last. By far my greatest impression of Turkey came directly from the Turks themselves. I had never experienced being in a country where many people to do not speak my language. I thought that may be a little intimidating. Although I found a fair number of people who speak English, even the ones who do not were so cordial to me and made me feel so comfortable being in their country as we tried to communicate at a very basic level. From a girl I met on a bus who went out of her way to show me how to get back to my hotel, to some new Turkish friends who spent a whole day showing me things only real Turkish residents know to do. Everyone showed such hospitality, seemed so willing to assist, and make sure that I enjoyed my stay in their country. It is the Turkish people who make Turkey a wonderful place to visit!

I have shared my love for this country and its people with so many here in the states, and surely hope they will one day have the opportunity to feel so at home, so far away from home, just as did!

Brenda Young
Nashville, Tennessee
USA

Journey of an American Lawyer

This is a diary of an American Lawyer Steve Schmidt from his last trip to Turkey during 2003. One of my friends "Haydar" has sent me this to contribute.

It will be a great resource because everything is observed from an American citizen's perspective in this diary notes. Let's keep it short and post the notes of Mr. Schmidt:

September 18, 2003

Before today I had covered nearly everything on my itinerary with the exception of visiting the islands. That would take an all day excursion and I wasn’t willing to spend my last day in that fashion. So, I did what I usually like to do as a capstone, I decided to “just get down amongst them.” To this end I purchased some tram tokens, took it to its farthest extreme and got off to walk back. On the way there I noted there were some patches which just weren’t worth walking. Off I started covering ground 3’ at a time. It’s amazing the things one senses in the sights, sounds and smells of a city and its people. It is incredibly enjoyable to do this no matter where you are. One of the more fascinating things about the mass transit system here is that autos, pedestrians, carts, etc. can all share the tram way with the tram. Therefore you see near accidents all the time when cars are trying to pass, dodge, dart, cross, follow, stop these trains. It’s completely reckless, but it’s invigorating as well. Teaches one to step lively. The trams are air conditioned and a relatively cheap and comfortable way of getting about.

While walking along I found a “regular” carpet store which sold carpet for homes and businesses. There were rolls of padding piled high and I had to chuckle. I passed a small park with a memorial in it where mothers were playing with their children. It reminded me of swinging a small child myself and brought back precious memories. I have to note that I may have crossed over today in the matter of appearance. Would you believe that a car actually stopped and a man, in broken English, asked me if I spoke English. When I said, “Yes,” he asked me for directions. I had to chuckle. I sent the poor guy on a wild goose chase, as if I really knew what I was talking about. There would be no way he’d find me in a few minutes. As I sauntered through the city I enjoyed many things. The sight of a man trying to make a little money with just a scale for people to weigh themselves on, walnuts the size of tennis balls, pastry shops that rival anything back home, and the trading jungle on almost every street corner.

Occasionally I’d hop the tram to whiz through the more desolate, deserted sections, but for the most part I walked from the burbs, through the slums, to the high rent district. It was there, in the nice part, that I got a call from Erol. Last evening Erol and Haydar had planned to meet me at 6:30 to spend my last evening together. There was still some unfinished business with regard to experiences and food. Erol called about 4:00 and said that Haydar’s medical rounds and seeing patients had ended early and what time could I get there to start earlier. I figured about 5:00 by the time I stopped at the hotel to drop off some baggage. I didn’t actually make it until about 5:30 because I had to navigate the tramway and a ferry during rush hour. When I finally arrived and was walking off the boat, Haydar was waiting and he didn’t notice me until I almost walked into him. I thought that was funny. I’m starting to really blend in.

Erol drove up in his car which is powered by methane and we drove to the highest hill on the Asian side overlooking the city. Here were buildings that had been built and used by the Sultans to get away. It was a lovely park area with a nice restaurant and vistas that would take your breath away. We walked about for a bit and then decided to have supper. It was a pleasant meal they ordered me, and I began to realize that they intended to pay the bills for the entire evening. Talk about hospitality! Generosity! Kindness! These two had just met me and were treating me like a king! Now let me tell you about my assessment of them both. First, Haydar. He is very good looking and adventurous. He’s always out in front, leading the way, and seems to be absolutely fearless. I enjoy his personality and the way these two interact together. Haydar loves jokes and tells a good one himself. Both men are absolutely brilliant. By comparison, my impression is that Erol is much more reserved and careful about everything. On this evening he was much more talkative than the night before. One senses that there is within him the desire to be as flamboyant as Haydar, but he just has trouble, like me, in letting it out. In our conversations, Erol was quite interested that I understand the Turkish culture, the Islamic religion, and the entire experience. More than once I was asked what I thought and how I would report things when I got back home. I consistently affirmed that I was having a positive experience, that I would come back, that I would bring someone with me. I noted that Erol was suffering some congestion and breathing discomfort and I was very concerned about him throughout the evening. I suggested on several occasions that we cut the evening short for his sake, but he refused.

Following the meal at the restaurant, we headed for a STARBUCKS. I was excited about this. I had brought my card with me for use, and here I’d have the opportunity. Unfortunately, they don’t take cards here yet, but the young people behind the counter were very pleased to have a westerner come up and order an exotic drink. I ordered my usual: white chocolate mocha, half caff, vente, breve, no whip, no foam. Both guys were really impressed as I reeled off my order. The young man behind the counter understood and was trying to tell me the Turkish way of saying. They don’t have vente’s here. They only have small, large and grande. The grande is a medium in the U.S. Both Haydar and Erol got the same drink and both fell in love with it. I had to write it down for them. We sat and sipped for a while and then headed toward a place they had told me about where people smoke water pipes. As we parked and drew near, they kept asking me if I could smell the odor of the smoke. My untrained sense of smell didn’t detect it, but the closer we came, the more I discerned the smell of apples. There was the mall-like setting where the elite of the city (as Erol said, the most beautiful women) come together and play backgammon and smoke water pipes. Now these are large, bulky affairs with interchangeable mouth pieces, long hoses which lead to a water bottle. At the top is what looks like a #10 can opened at each end and sitting over a device that holds the tobacco. It is generally apple, but there are other selections one can make. The tobacco is in this device and live, burning coals are set on top of this. One sucks through the pipe, drawing the heat over the tobacco, through the water and into your lungs. A long puff produces billows of pleasant smelling smoke. An old man who stoked the pipes with fresh coals came by and said, “You must make the water sing.” We sat, joked and talked for a good while as Haydar attempted to teach me to play backgammon. Unfortunately, while I know some of the basics, I lack an appreciation for the strategies and placement of the chips. This was very relaxing time and a sense of well-being and restfulness came over me.

Following this, Erol and Haydar planned to fulfill my last wish for Istanbul, and that is to try a native drink called “Raki.” I’m told it’s made from hashish and it’s called the “milk of lions.” They took me to the Taksim district to a very nice, cozy club with live entertainment. While I didn’t understand any of the words, the music was all Turkish folk ballads and quite nice. The theme of one song, as related to me, was this: It matters not how beautiful you are if I don’t love you. Quite a comment, eh? There were slow songs and fast songs and our drinks came. Let me describe. Raki is a beverage which is served in this fashion. An eight ounce glass is filled to about 2/5s and then water is poured over that. Finally, ice cubes are carefully dropped in. One is supposed to take a sip of the Raki, then a sip of water. Now I became quite concerned about this since Haydar told me a story about a man who had gotten drunk on this stuff, stood up and yelled to all who would listen, “F--- me!” Whereupon he was taken by some companions and when he woke up the next day he had a severe ache in his backside. When asked about his experience drinking Raki, he replied that he enjoyed it, but it make his seater hurt. I had no intention of finding myself in this dilemma.

It has been some time before we had eaten our meal and I didn’t wish to take in any of this drink on a stomach that I felt was nearly empty. Fortunately, the guys ordered a vast spread of fruits and cheese. So, after fortifying myself with some of this, I ventured a sip. If you’ve ever had a very good licorice, you would know what this drink smells like and tastes like. Since I love licorice, I enjoyed this beverage. Our evening at this place started at 10:30 pm and didn’t end until 3 am. We sat, talked, laughed, nibbled, and sipped while listening to great traditional music. Most was provided by one singer, but during the course of the evening, another lovely young lady got up to sing. I had thought she was a guest, because she came in with a group of people and sat off to one side, and when she got up to sing, I thought to myself, “How nice.” My impression was formed because an aged gentleman went up and took the mike and after a monologue, recited a poem.

This second singer was much better than the first. Indeed, she was quite professional. As it turned out, she OWNED this club and has her own recordings. After she sang a fairly complete set, she went from table to table greeting guests and eventually came to ours. During the course of the evening, Haydar had gotten several unpleasant communications from his girlfriend who was complaining that he wasn’t spending enough time and attention on her. We both agreed if she was this type BEFORE they were married, she would be even WORSE after they were married. So, picture us sitting in this private booth, right in front of the stage, Erol is having a very uncomfortable evening with his sinuses, Haydar is having trouble with his girlfriend, and we’re eating fruit, cheese and drinking Roki. When the owner finally came to our table, we had a nice chat. She spoke some English, and she called waiter over and ordered him to bring one of her recordings as a gift to me. She was very gracious and they have a habit of lifting they hand to their opposite shoulder, flat against the chest, as a gesture of goodwill and greeting. It became apparent that Haydar, ever the man of adventure, was interested in this young lady. She was quite pretty and, as I said, Haydar is handsome. I must inject that Erol is good looking to. He is much lighter in complexion and of a different native culture from the Caucasus mountains.

Finally, about 3 am, they musicians and singer were doing their last songs. The musicians played a guitar and another distinctive stringed instrument which has a whiney sound and a very fat echo chamber. The piece they were closing with must have been very popular and it was fast. Suddenly both Erol and Haydar leaped to the floor and began doing some of the most graceful, folk-dancing. Both were quite good, and I dare not attempt anything. Following this, we bade our farewells to the people at the club and walked to our auto. I’d had four glasses of Raki during the course of the evening, but I felt absolutely no effects whatsoever. There was no dizziness, nothing. When I asked Erol about this, he said I needed to have drunk FIVE glasses and it would have been that last glass that did me in. He suggested that it has a cumulative effect and that at a certain point, it all rushes to the small intestine and knocks you out. When one eats cheese with it, the cheese keeps it in the stomach until it’s released. I will have to say that I enjoyed Raki and hope to bring some home from this journey...

Steve Schmidt

Aegean Region

Many would agree that the coastal region of the Aegean has some of the most stunning views in the country and, in the words of Heredotus, "have the most beautiful sky and the best climate in the world."

The bays peninsulas, and golden beaches stretchthe length of coastline and this region was also the venue of countless mythological events. There are remains of ancient cities including Troy, immortalised by Homer, and Pergamum, the art and cultural centre and capital of one of the most powerfulkingdoms at the time.

The provinces in the Aegean region are Afyon, Aydin, Denizli, Izmir, Kutahya, Manisa, Mugla and Usak. Situated in Edremit bay is Ayvalik, the meeting point of the sea, the theraputic springs of Akcay, and pine forests, which has been dubbed the olive-grove Riviera.

To the south are countless resorts, then further south is Foca, famous for the heroic Turkish sailors who were based here. Sardis, the capital of the wealthy Lydian king Croesus, is a small detour inland.

Located in a narrow bay, Izmir is a modern city and the third largest in Turkey, as well as the major part on the Aegean. It brims with life and is a busy commercial centre, with broad boulevards and modern architecture, combined with the traditionalred-tiled roofs of the old houses in the bazaar area.

The peninsula of Çesme with its brilliant waters, superb beaches and thermal springs, lies to the west of Izmir.Among the most famous cities of the ancient world, Ephesus was one of the biggest during the Roman era.

A treasury of all the riches of Ionian culture, Ephesus had a reputation for philosophy and critical thinking. The Temple of Artemis, one of theseven wonders of the ancient world, as well as countless statues, theatres, libraries, markets and smaller temples were all architectural symbols of the city's fame. Further to the south is the ancient city of Priene, built according to a geometricplan designed by the great architect of Milet, Hippodamos.

Milet was a great centre of commerce and thought in the ancient world, and was the venue of many significant developments, scientific and intellectual. The nearby Didim, though not one of theancient cities, is still famous for its magnificent temple dedicated to Apollo.On the Izmir-Antalya road, Aphrodisias (Geyre) was an important centre for culture and art famous for its training in sculpture. On the same road is the world-famous Pamukkale, with its calcium-rich thermal waters flowing out of the mountain whichhave, over centuries, created an extraordinary geographical phenomenon of white marble terraces.

The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis lie behind this. The best known holiday resorts in this area are Bodrum, Marmaris, Datca, Koycegiz and Fethiye, and private boats can be chartered to explore the bays of the south Aegean, immortalised in the book Mavi Yolculuk (Blue Voayge). Bodrum (ancient Halikarnas)is the birthplace of the great historian Heredotus.

The mausoleum of King Mausolos was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Marmaris is a lively resort with a modern marina surrounded by lush mountains and crystal-clear waters,and further south is the bay of Oludeniz, famous for watersports and paragliding, and the coastal town of Fethiye.

Marmara Region

The Roman province of Trakya (Thrace) is separated from the rest of Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardenelle Straits.

Edirne, lying close to the borders of Greece and Bulgaria, is best known for the masterpieces of local architect Mimar Sinan, with wonderful examples from the Ottoman Empire.

The area is also famous for the lush rolling fields, filled with vineyards and sunflowers grown for their seeds and oil.

The cities in this region are Balikesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Canakkale,Edirne, Istanbul, Kirklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya,Tekirdag and Yalova. Marmara Region has a turbulent past.

In 481 BC the second Persian War, the Persian King Xerxes made a bridge of boats over the Dardanelle Straits between Abydos and Sestos. In the same location is the infamous love affair of Leander and Hera, whowere buried in the waters of the strait. And it was here that Mustafa Kemal won the first big victory against enemy forces in World War I, and the war graves and battlegrounds of Gelibolu are visited by thousands of tourists every year.

The lively city of Izmit with its fruit orchards and vegetable gardens is now an industrial centre, and nearby Hereke is famous for its carpets. To the south is Iznik, renowned during Ottoman times for its glazed tiles which adorned the mosques andtombs, and its great Byzantine city walls. Bursa, the land of silk, was the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire and birthplace of modern Turkish Culture . The mosques, like Yesil Came and Ulu Cami, are some of the most important and beautiful inthe country. The country's first ski resort was built on the mountain of Uludag, lying to the south of the city.

Tekirdag, with beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture and broad beaches, is known for its vineyards and wine festivals. To the north is Gonen with its famous thermal springs, and the commercial port of Bandirma which is the biggest in theMarmara sea after Istanbul. Near the city and by Lake Manyas is Kuscenneti (Bird Heaven) National Park with 239 species of birds, many of which migrate from Europe and Asia during the summer, and fly south before the winter.

One the shores of the Marmara Sea are a whole host of beautiful beaches and holiday resorts, including Cinarcik, Armutlu, Gemlik, Mudanya, Erdek, the Marmara and Avsa Islands, Denizkent, Sarkoy and Silivri. To the west is Yalova, a site famous for itsthermal springs.

Regions of Turkey

• Black Sea
• Marmara

Black Sea Region

Lush and green throughout the year, rocky mountains, the cool waters of the coast and plantations of tea, hazelnuts, tobacco and corn, the Black Sea is a unique part of the country.

The main industry is farming, thanks mainly to the high rainfall, andin the summer the roadsides are lined with hazelnuts drying in the sun. The culture, cuisine, climate and even dialect is different to the rest of Turkey, and the coastal road stretches from east of Istanbul to the border with Georgia.

The cities in this region are Amasya, Artvin, Bolu, Corum, Duzce, Giresun, Gumushane, Kastamonu, Ordu, Rize, Samsun, Sinop, Tokat, Trabzon Zonguldak, Bartin and Karabuk.

Akcakoca is on the far western side of the coast, with endless hazelnutorchards. Inland to the east is Safranbolu, with a wonderful collection of old Ottoman houses, and Devek, famous for its intricately carved walking canes.

Further along the coast are Inkum, Amasra and Cakraz, and then Sinop which has been a port for 1000 years and is still one of the biggest in the Black Sea. The town takes its name from the Amazon queen Sinope and local mythology suggests that femalewarriors, called Amazons, lived in this region. It is now an important industrial and commercial centre.Unye and Fatsa, east of Samsun, are popular holiday resorts with natural scenic beauty, beaches, accommodation, campsites and restaurants.

Ordu is a charming city with hazelnut orchards stretching out for miles in all directions and 46km east is Giresun, with its castle perched on a steep rocky slope, crowning the city and overlooking the beach. This is where the Roman general Lucullus saw cherries for the first time, and liked them so much he introduced them into Europe.

Trabzon is another important commercial port on the Black Sea, and it connects with ports in other Black Sea countries. Trabzon Castle was founded on an area shaped like a table, and the architecture that developed around the castle reflects Byzantine,Commagene and Ottoman styles.

The city’s most important building is the Ayasofya Museum, the interior of which is decorated with frescoes, and the exterior with reliefs. From Boztepe Park and the Ataturk Museum there are stunning panoramic views ofthe city. Inside the Altindere National Park near Macka, the Sumela Monastery is perched on high cliffs overlooking the Altindere valley, and was founded in the 14th century by Alexius III. Inside the monastery is a church, a library, various other rooms and asacred spring.

The area around Rize is the wettest in the country with wonderful shades of green, and is the centre of Turkey’s tea production with plantations on the high terraces.

Hopa is the last Turkish port before reaching the Georgian border, and to the southis Artvin. The city was established on the terraced hills overlooking the Coruh River, which is well known for rafting, and within the province are old Georgian houses and churches.

Black Sea Region is one of the most beautiful regions in Turkey. If you want to experince the natural beauty, see every tone of green, and giant waves of Black Sea , you have to visit Black Sea Region during your next visit to Turkey.

Hagia Sophia Pictures Images of Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia Pictures

Hagia Sophia Interior Pictures

Hagia Sophia Interior. Four arches swing across the piers, linked by four pendentives. The apices of the arches and the pendentives support the circular base of the huge central dome.

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Hagia Sophia interior. View towards the north colonnade and gallery.

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Detail of a mosaic icon of Christ from Hagia Sophia

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Hagia Sophia. Detail of the mosaic in the lunette over the south doorway showing Justinian who presents a model of the church of Hagia Sophia to the Virgin and Child.

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Hagia Sophia Exterior Pictures

Hagia Sophia — The church of Hagia Sophia had been identified with the Ecumenical Patriarchate for more than one thousand years. When speaking of the Great Church of Christ, historians refer to both Hagia Sophia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The magnificent monument, a landmark of human creation, has also been identified with one of the greatest epochs in the history of the human race.

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Panoramic view of Hagia Sophia and its surroundings, including the Hippodrome.

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Hagia Sophia — View from the East. The most remarkable feature of the church, which belongs to the transitional type of domed basilica, is the huge dome supported by four massive piers.

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Hagia Sophia lithograph from the album by the Fossati brothers, Aya Sofia Constantinople, London 1852, pl. 25 (Athens Gennadeios Library).

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More About Hagia Sophia

• Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Architecture
• History of The Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Pictures

History of The Hagia Sophia

History of The Hagia Sophia

The most important Byzantine architecture found in Istanbul consists of churches. The most magnificent of all of the Byzantine churches is the Hagia Sophia. This church was designed by the architects Anthemios of Tralles and Izidorus of Miletus. This construction of the second Hagia Sophia was started in 532 by the order of the Emperor Justinian and was built over the ruins of an earlier structure. Materials were brought from Ephesus, Athens, Rome, and Delphi and were used in the construction of this magnificent building. The church was opened for worship five years later, in 537. The Hagia Sophia has a diameter of 31-33 meters and a height of 54 meters and is covered with a large dome. The church was considerably damaged by the earthquake of 557 and the nephew of the Architect Izidorus supervised the repair of the structure.

Because Byzantium was strongly under the intluence of Rome at the time of the construction of the church, Hagia Sophia Architecture is an amalgam of the magnificence of Roman architecture with the standard church architecture of the Byzantines. The original mosaics of the church were severely damaged by the Iconoclasts, but new mosaics replaced the former in the 9th century after the period of Iconoclasm had disappeared. View Hagia Sophia Pictures at Turkish Culture.

Besides the religious subjects of the mosaics used to decorate the interior surfaces, the emperor was also used as a subject. One mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary with the emperors Justinian and Constantine sitting at her sides. Another mosaic shows Jesus sitting on a throne with the Emperor Leon 7 kneeling before him. Another mosaic is of Mary and John the Baptist imploring Jesus for mercy in the name of the people. All these mosaics bear traces of Hellenistic influences. There are also several mosaic "portraits" of other members of the imperial family. Portrait art was very advanced during the Byzantine period. After Fatih captured the city this structure was used for worship by the Moslems. In 1934 Ataturk had a big respect to the history of the Hagia Sophia and ordered that the structure be used as a museum.

More About Hagia Sophia

• Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Architecture
• History of The Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Pictures

Hagia Sophia Architecture

Hagia Sophia Architecture

Hagia Sophia is the supreme masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its spacious nave is covered by a lofty central dome carried on pendentives , a device not previously employed in monumental construction. Pendentives make possible support of the dome on a square framework of four huge equal arches resting on huge piers. The arches at the east and west are extended and buttressed by great half domes, while the half domes in turn are carried on smaller semidomed exedrae. A vast oblong interior, 102 ft (31 m) by 265 ft (81 m), is thus created from a succession of domical elements that build up to the main dome, 102 ft (31 m) in diameter and 184 ft (56 m) high, in which a corona of 40 arched windows sheds a flood of light on the interior.

At the east end of the nave is the vaulted sanctuary apse and at the west end a great narthex or vestibule, beyond which an exonarthex opens to the forecourt, or atrium. Flanking the nave to the north and south are side aisles with galleries over them. Their massive vaults, carried at both levels by monolithic columns of green and white marble and purple porphyry, serve as buttresses to receive the thrust of the great dome and its supporting arches. The vast interior of Hagia Sophia is thus wholly free of suggestion of ponderous load, and its effect is that of a weightless golden shell that seems to possess a miraculous inherent stability.

In this one structural organism the Roman methods of construction are epitomized, modified and enriched by new aesthetic theories and realized in strikingly colorful materials and ornamental techniques. These materials and techniques are often considered Eastern, but they are in fact the logical outgrowth of trends already apparent in Roman imperial buildings of the first three centuries AD. Hagia Sophia interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles and gold mosaic, encrusted upon the brick core of the structure; most of the magnificent figure mosaics have been cleaned and restored to view. Externally, the broad, smooth surfaces of stuccoed walls and the great unconcealed masses of vaults and domes pile up impressively. Hagia Sophia served as model for several of the great Turkish mosques of Constantinople (Istanbul).

More About Hagia Sophia

• Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Architecture
• History of The Hagia Sophia
• Hagia Sophia Pictures

Condoleezza Rice Shows Turkey As a Model

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has shown Turkey as a model for "how Islam, the Muslim world and democracy" do not contradict with each other.

Rice made a speech to the members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and said: "I think Islam, the Muslim world, is indeed going through an evolution, and as with any evolution there are both potential negative outcomes and potential positive outcomes. The negative outcome would be the continued rise of extremism and those who would hijack the great world religion to a cause that clearly has nothing to do with Islam. Islam is a peaceful religion..."

Turkey has a secular government system, and has been known as one of the best secular models in Middle East and Europe.

Turkish National Police Holiday

April 10th is Turkish National Police Holiday. It's 160th anniversary of Turkish Police Academy's start.

It is a one week celebration and many citizens participate in the activities.

Turkish Police Academy History

Police Academy was established on 06 November 1937 as one-year in-service High School under the name of Police Institute in order to train middle and upper ranking administrators in accordance with the 18th Article of the 3201 numbered Security Organization Law.


By the decision of the Training Board of the Ministry of National Education the training duration of the Police Institute was extended to two-year training in 1940, to three-year training in 1962 and to four-year training in 1980.

In accordance with the 132nd Article of the Constitution and the 2nd Article of Higher Education Law it was given a separate legal entity, and with the 06 December 1984 dated and 3087 numbered Police Higher Education Law, it was given the name of Police Academy that is giving four-year graduate degree training and education.

In order to meet personnel needs of the Police Organization in other fields, necessary amendments were made within the framework of 3201 numbered Police Organization Law in 1989 and beginning from 1991, students were started to be accepted under the name of the Faculties and High Schools Unit (FYO) Students and the Police Academy has been assigned for performing of the related services of the Unit.

The Police Academy was reconstructed with the understanding of the Police University by 25 April 2001 dated and 4652 numbered Law.

The Academy was granted the status of University including in its body with its Security Sciences Faculty, Security Sciences Institute, 20 Police Professional High Schools besides Faculty and High Schools Unit.

At the Security Sciences Institute of which establishment was completed in 2002 for giving post-graduate education in four main science branches (Crime Investigations, Security Strategies and Management, International Policing Studies, Traffic Security and Management) was approved by the Higher Education Board on 18.03.2002 and so, these main branches were established.

How to Bargain in Turkey

Bargaining has been an important part of daily Turish Life. Even though new malls, shopping centers, and franchasie stores are being launched every day, there are still many places where you can bargain before deciding to purchase the item.

In Europe or USA, it is common to bargain when you are buying a house, car, or a valuable investment which you will be paying for most of your lifetime. But if you are in Turkey, situation is usually different. You can bargain while shopping at Grand Bazaar, or you can bargain with a taxi driver, or even at a restaurant sometimes.

Bazaars have been a part of Turkish Culture where sellers usually from near villages come to the Bazaar to sell fresh vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, and people (usually ladies) visit the bazaars to buy directly from the farmers (manufacturers).

Bazaars are a great place to bargain while shopping. Also if you are a tourist visiting Turkey, no need to mention, you should bargain hard before buying a valuable item such as an antique rug, or an authentic dress, etc.

Some regular places where you cannot bargain such as: Franchising stores, malls, shopping centers, bus tickets, theaters, restaurants which have menus, public transportation, but remember you always have the right to see a price menu whatever the service you are getting.

So especially be careful and try to bargain with touristic shopping, travel related expenses (tourist guide, private bus rental, sometimes hotels, rental cars etc.)

Have fun at shopping, and good luck with bargaining in Turkey.

NBC Apologizes to Turkish Ambassador

Television network NBC President Jeff Zucker apologized by letter to Turkey's Ambassador to Washington, Frank Logoglu, after broadcasting an inaccurate portrayal of Turkey in a recent episode of the show "West Wing".

The show portrayed Turkey to be a country ruled by Islamic law that had ordered the beheading of a woman for the crime of adultery.

Both Zucker and the executive producer of the show, John Well's, offered their apologies for the unflattering portrayal and worte that they had been misinformed about Turkey and its laws.

"In the future we will not only visit Turkey, a country that we admire, but also present a better and correct portrayal of your country." Zucker and Wells said in an attempt to correct the defamation.

Anyone that has traveled in the Middle East and Turkey, knows that there is no comparison between democratic-secular Turkey and countries ruled by Islamic law.

After NBC's episode many Turkish Americans and Turkish citizens living in the US started emailing, faxing and mailing the NBC and Turkish American Associations' offices.

President of "Assembly of Turkish American Associations" Vural Cengiz has published a message regarding NBC's The West Wing TV Show.

This message explains the events took place before NBC's apology:

Dear Members of the Turkish American Community:

Two weeks after Fox Television’s first episode of “24” defamed Turkey, Turkish companies, and Turkish Americans as supporters of terrorism, NBC’s “The West Wing” defamed Turkey and the ruling Justice and Development Party as executioners of women who have premarital sex.

The “West Wing” episode, “King Corn”, (NBC, January 26, 9am EST), takes place in the corn-growing state of Iowa and concerns a presidential campaign focused on farm subsidies, ethanol, and NAFTA. During the campaign, there arises an international crisis in which Turkey, having adopted Islamic laws under the leadership of the AKP, has convicted and ordered the execution by beheading of a woman, Karli, for having sex with her fiancée. The stated crime is adultery. The news, displaying a map of Turkey and the Turkish flag, adds that the execution will create difficulties for Turkey’s EU admission. Furthermore, the news states that despite the tragic situation of this Turkish woman, the US Administration places so much importance on Turkey’s alliance that it will continue to support Turkey.

A major theme in “King Corn” concerns how presidential candidates and their campaign managers must weigh between political expediency and moral obligations when campaigning. In order to gain corn farmer votes, one candidate supports a measure in violation of his conscience, as he believes the measure actually helps corporate interests rather than corn farmers. Another candidate obeys his conscience and speaks his mind to the farmers despite the risk of losing their support. The wife of the former, who is upset at the fact that her husband acted against his conscience, campaigns the rights of the “poor Turkish woman” and attempts to get her husband interested in the issue. But her husband is more interested in farmer votes than Turkish human rights.

John Wells Productions is in association with Warner Brother Studios. In “King Corn”, the Executive Producer was John Wells, Director Alex Graves, and Emmy award winning writer and creator Aaron Sorkin. Despite their credentials, it appears that these men either conducted no research or deliberately ignored the facts.

The ATAA Anti-Defamation Committee reported that the statements made in “King Corn” regarding Turkey and AKP are false, as there is no Islamic law, no crime of adultery, no crime of fornication, and no death penalty in Turkey. For over 80 years, the Turkish legal code has been based on European models: Swiss, French, Italian and German. AKP, listening to its few orthodox constituents, considered a law against adultery, and wisely decided against it. AKP never envisioned the death penalty for such a crime.

The Committee reported that the Wells team even got the crime wrong, citing adultery to describe sexual relations between two unmarried individuals. As there is no Turkish law on the matter, the Committee reviewed the closest law that could be found. Under Virginia law, which was repealed only days ago, adultery occurs when a married person has sex with a person to whom he or she is not married. Under the same law, premarital sex constitutes the ancient crime of fornication. If the Wells team wanted to be more persuasive in their misrepresentation, they might have fit the right crime to the facts they imagined.

Furthermore, the Committee reported that Turkey is an anti-death penalty country on paper and in practice. AKP removed the death penalty from the books, and prior ruling parties refused to use it. Indeed, the last execution in Turkey took place over twenty years ago regarding an Armenian ASALA terrorist who stormed Ankara International Airport and massacred 10, wounded 72 and executed an American hostage. During the same period, 948 have been executed in America, four since January 1, 2005 (www.deathpenaltyinfo.org). The method of execution in Turkey was hanging, as in the states of Washington and New Jersey, and never beheading, as in countries of France or Saudi Arabia.

The ATAA is communicating with NBC, Wells Productions, Warner Brothers and the sponsors, with the objective to arrest the defamation and obtain relief.

Sincerely,

Vural Cengiz
President, ATAA
Assembly of Turkish American Associations

For more news about Turkey, please visit our Turkish News Category.

Swedish Company Buys Turkcell

Swedish Mobile Phone Company TeliaSonera, based in Stockholm, agreed to pay $3.1 billion in cash for control of Turkey's largest cellular operator as it taps emerging markets to counter slowing growth at home.

TeliaSonera already controls a 37.09% stake in Turkcell and has been in determined pursuit of a controlling stake in the Turkish operator for over a year.

"It's the ambition of TeliaSonera to find ways to increase our ownership stake in Turkcell to a controlling stake," Samppa Seppala, vice president of communications at TeliaSonera International said last year.

Cukurova currently holds a 42% stake in Turkcell and if TeliaSonera’s offer were successfully concluded, this would fall to 15%, while TeliaSonera’s stake would rise to 64.09%. A further 14.74% of Turkcell is publicly floated on the stock exchange, while 6.07% is held by M.V. Group.

Last year, Cukurova lost control of its stake in Turkcell temporarily following the seizure by the Turkish government of a large portion of the stake as security for US$6.2 billion in debt owed by two Cukurova-owned banks to the state. The debt was subsequently restructured and control of its entire equity position in Turkcell was reinstated to Cukurova.

Turkcell in the meantime counted over 23 million subscribers at the beginning of this year and has announced the deployment of EDGE in its network.

Turkcell's Official Website: http://www.turkcell.com.tr/

Cem Yilmaz

Cem Yilmaz was born in 1973 in Istanbul, Turkey. He started drawing comic strips for Leman Magazine in 1992.

Since 1995 he has been performing his own stand up show. Cem Yilmaz has performed over 2500 one man stand up comedy shows during these 10 years.

Cem Yilmaz has still been performing in his stand up show called "CMYLMZ" in Istanbul and his show visits different cities and countries time to time.

He has played in several commercials since 1996 and companies are willing to pay him millions of dollars for commercials and campaigns.

Cem Yilmaz is accepted as one of the best entertainers in Turkish history, and his audience ranges from little kids to grandparents.

After his big success in stand up shows and commercials, Cem Yilmaz has started playing in the movies. His first movie was in 1998 and all the movies he has played in broke the box office records.

Cem Yilmaz Filmography

• Cem Yilmaz IMDB Profile
• G.O.R.A (2004) - Official Website of G.O.R.A. - IMDB G.O.R.A. Page
• Vizontele (2001) - IMDB Vizontele Page
• Hersey Cok Guzel Olacak (1998) - IMDB Hersey Cok Guzel Olacak Page

Turkish Bread

Turkish Bread "Ekmek" is a necessity in Turkish Culture and household. It is usually made two or three times a day by bakeries. You have to eat fresh Turkish Bread and usually it is fresh up to 24 hours.

Turkish bread is an important part of Turkish breakfast and usually served sliced, fresh, and warm along with Turkish tea.

Turkish Bread History

The bakers of the Ottoman period believed that after his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Adam, the Patron Saint of Bakers, learned how to make bread from the Archangel Gabriel.

The secret is still held dear by present-day Turkish bakers. No other bread tastes like everyday Turkish bread. The only similar taste to Turkish Bread's is French bread, but Turkish Bread's original taste is hard to fine in other countries.

This glorious food is enjoyed in large quantities and is loved by all, rich and poor, simple and sophisticated. Every neighborhood has a bread bakery that produces the golden, crisp loaves twice a day, morning and afternoon, filling the streets with their irresistible and wholesome aroma.

People pick up a few loaves on their way home from work, and end up eating the crisp ends by the time they get there. Turkish Bread is known as "Poor People's Friend" since it is cheap, and gives the feeling of "fullness" easily.

Turkish Bread Recipe

Turkish Bread Recipe uses a starter which ferments for 4 days. Using a pizza stone to bake the loaves on would be your best option but if you've no pizza stone, cookie sheets will work also. The recipe seems complicated, but it's a lot easier than it appears."

Original recipe yield: 2 loaves.

Turkish Bread Recipe Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups bread flour, divided
• 3/4 cup water, divided
• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 6 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons salt

Turkish Bread Recipe Directions

• To make the starter: Place 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water in a coverable bowl; stir well. Cover and let sit at room temperature overnight. The next day, add 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water to the bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature overnight. On the third day, add 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water to the bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature overnight.
• To make the dough: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Break the starter into small pieces and add it to the yeast mixture. Stir in 4 cups of flour and the salt. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle a little flour over the dough and then cover it with a dry cloth. Let it raise until double in size.
• Put the dough back onto a lightly floured work surface and punch out the air. Divide the dough in half and knead each piece for 2 to 3 minutes. Shape each piece into a tight oval loaf. Sprinkle two sheet pans with corn meal. Roll and stretch two loaf until they are 15x12 inch ovals. Dust the tops of the loaves with flour. Cover with a dry cloth and let raise in a warm place until doubled in size. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Mist with water 3 times in the first 15 minutes. Loaves are done when their bottoms sound hollow when tapped. Let cool on wire racks before serving.

Turkish Bread Recipe is from www.allrecipes.com

I hope you will like the taste of Turkish Bread . Enjoy "Afiyet Olsun" !

Buying Property In Turkey

Turkey is the bridge between Europe and Asia, surrounded with four seas, and a place where you can see the history meeting modern world.

Buying Property In Turkey

Turkey is the new up-and-coming leisure and second home destination of Europe with very attractive Property prices.

Buying a property in Turkey has become more profitable as Turkey has already been given a date for negotiations on EU membership, now is the time either to invest for your future or secure your retirement to live in an unspoilt environment at relatively low cost.

Every year many more EU and American citizens are settling down in Turkey for a better living. Living cost in Turkey is way lower than almost all of European countries, and natural beauty of the country is another reason for buying a property in Turkey.

Since Turkey has been given the date of October 2005 to start negotiations to become a EU member, you will be able to double and even triple your investment within a few years. Real estate prices are still very attractive in comparison with EU countries.

And with the last changes in the regulations on property ownership for foreign citizens, buying a property is a lot simpler now and living cost is incomparably cheap compared to the majority of European countries.

When buying a property in Turkey you will see the stunning historical architecture showing itself. Turkey had world's some of the most famous architects such as Mimar Sinan.

Advantages of Buying a Property in Turkey

• Stunning historical architecture
• Low living cost
• Great weather (almost 300 sunny days)
• Very reasonable property prices
• Smart investment
• Turkish Hospitality
• Living in a community full of culture and history
  

President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer

Ahmet Necdet Sezer was born on 13 September 1941 in Afyon. He graduated from Afyon High School in 1958.

He graduated from the Ankara University Faculty of Law in 1962 and began his career as a judge in Ankara. Following his military service at the Military Academy, he served first as a judge in Dicle and Yerköy, and later as a supervisory judge in the High Court of Appeals in Ankara. In 1978 he received LL.M. in civil law in Ankara University Faculty of Law.

On 7 March 1983, he was elected as a member to the High Court of Appeals. As he was a member in the Second Chamber of Law, Sezer was recommended to the president by the plenary assembly of the High Court of Appeals among the three candidates for appointment as member of the Constitutional Court. On 27 September 1988, he was appointed by the president as member of the Constitutional Court. On 6 January 1998, he was elected chief justice of the Constitutional Court.

Ahmet Necdet Sezer was elected as the tenth president by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 5 May 2000 and assumed his duties on 16 May 2000. President Sezer married Semra in 1964 and has three children.

Recent International News: President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer

Official Website Presidency of the Republic Turkey

The Bride Turkish Film

THE BRIDE (Gelin) at Boston Turkish Film Festival

The Bride, which depicts the struggles of a migrant Anatolian family to adapt to and survive in the very different conditions of urban Istanbul, is one of the best presentations of internal migration in Turkish cinema. It is also the first, and most accomplished film in Ömer Lütfi Akad's celebrated trilogy, which with The Wedding (Dügün, 1973) and Blood Money (Diyet) has earned a respected place in world cinema for its thematic unity.

The Bride masterfully exposes the evolution of 'little Anatolia' in Istanbul, a phenomenon that would go on to acquire far larger dimensions.The streets of Istanbul are paved with gold - or so people believe…

The Bride portrays the migrant mentality with disarming realism: the unfaltering determination to build a 'present' and 'future' in the big city, even if that means selling everything back home. And the exceptional performance of Hülya Koçyigit in the role of Meryem reinforces the pathos.

Here is a film of 'one-way' journeys: we see the young Meryem lose her ailing son as life grows ever harsher; we follow her to the local factory, where she eventually signs on; we watch parallel developments in the family she married into. And their respective odysseys are central to the 'great leaps forward' of Turkish cinema at the beginning of the 1970s.

• Directed by Omer Lutfi Akad
• Cast: Hulya Kocyigit, Kerem Yilmazer, Kahraman Kiral, Ali Sen, Aliye Rona, Kamuran Usluer, Nazan Adali, Seden Kiziltunc
• 1973, 97 minutes
• In Turkish with English subtitles
• Festivals and Awards: Best Film, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor Awards in the Golden Cocoon (Altin Koza) Film Festival, Adana, Turkey
• Saturday, April 2, 11:00 am

About the Director: Omer Lutfi Akad

Born in 1916. He studied Economics. After working in the banking sector as production chief and accountant, he debuted as film director with Kill the Whore (1949).

With his films, he established a unique style for Turkish cinema and became one of the pioneers of the period called Directors' Generation. In the seventies he realized the famous trilogy The Bride / The Wedding / The Sacrifice which is considered his masterpiece.

Afterwards, forced by the unfavorable conditions, he withdrew from the cinema. He directed some adaptations for TV. He taught at the Cinema and TV Institute of the Mimar Sinan University.

Visit our Boston Turkish Film Festival Page for more films and festival information.

Here is detailed information about movies, and also Boston Turkish Film Festival program:

• Dry Summer Turkish Film - Susuz Yaz
• The Girl With The Red Scarf Turkish Film - Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim

For more information about the festival and other movies, please visit http://www.bostonturkishfilmfestival.org/

The Girl With The Red Scarf Turkish Film

THE GIRL WITH THE RED SCARF (Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim)

A classic and endlessly watchable love story that never dates… Inspired by the novel of acclaimed Soviet writer Cengiz Aytmatov, Atif Yilmaz adapts one of history's greatest love stories to the screen with the greatest finesse. It is said, in fact, that the French poet Aragon described The Girl With The Red Scarf as "the world's greatest love story".

We begin by being lured into the captivating world of Ilyas, a truck driver who delivers sand to a dam construction, his newly acquired wife Asya and their young son Samet. But the legendary love affair between Asya and Ilyas is soon shaken by jealousy, an alcohol habit and extra-marital affair. Ilyas, who genuinely loves his wife but is hampered by an ever weakening character, ends up walking out when job-related problems come to a head. The helpless Asya is left with their son to cope alone. She waits patiently for her husband to return… Until she runs into Cemsit, a sympathetic figure who Samet soon begins to identify as his father. When she finally surrenders to his affections, life takes on an entirely new hue.

But then, years later, Ilyas suddenly appears from nowhere, demanding his wife and child back. His arrival rekindles the questions that have preoccupied hearts and minds since time immemorial. What is love? What makes a lover? What makes a spouse? What makes a father?... And which is harder: to go back or not to go back?

The Girl With The Red Scarf stands out for its brilliant casting, the polished performances of its three leads, Türkan Soray, Kadir Inanir and Ahmet Mekin, the refined direction of Atif Yilmaz and highly effective score of Cahit Berkay. Be warned: this is a film that plays mercilessly on the heartstrings.

• Directed by Atif Yilmaz
• Cast: Turkan Soray, Kadir Inanir, Ahmet Mekin, Nurhan Nur, Hulya Tuglu
• 1977, 90 minutes
• In Turkish with English subtitles
• Festivals and Awards: Best Director, Best Cinematography, Second Film Awards, Golden Orange Film Festival, Antalya . Best Actress Award, Tashkent Film Festival.
• Friday, April 1, 8:00 pm

About the Director: Atif Yilmaz

Born in 1926 in Mersin, He studied Law and Fine Arts in Istanbul University. After working as a film critic, scriptwriter and assistant director, he made his first film The Bloody Cry in 1951.

He has directed about 120 films over a period of 50 years.

He has won national and international awards and his films have been screened in retrospectives in various international festivals.

Visit our Boston Turkish Film Festival Page for more films and festival information.

Here is detailed information about movies, and also Boston Turkish Film Festival program:

• Dry Summer Turkish Film - Susuz Yaz
• The Bride Turkish Film - Gelin

For more information about the festival and other movies, please visit http://www.bostonturkishfilmfestival.org/

Dry Summer Turkish Film

DRY SUMMER (Susuz Yaz) at Boston Turkish Film Festival

Dry Summer, a village story whose source is the struggle over land and water, is one of the most stunning examples of the clash between good and evil in the Turkish Cinema. Repeating the success he achieved with The Revenge of the Snakes, a Fakir Baykurt adaptation shot in 1962, in Dry Summer, Metin Erksan shows the confrontation between two brothers, Osman and Hasan.

Osman surrounds the water that springs from their lands with barriers to prevent the village from using it. Being a good man, Hasan argues that the others should also use the water. Confessing a murder actually committed by his brother, Hasan is convicted and sent to jail. After his release he learns that Osman used deception to take away his wife and marry her. Hasan loses control. In the ensuing fight, he drowns Osman in the water and then clears away the barriers.

One of the best examples of the social realism that first appeared in Turkish Cinema in the early 60's, Dry Summer, due to its success in portraying the sexuality of rural areas and its ingenuity in handling erotic elements, earns a special place in our film history. One should also emphasize that the film marked the rise of Hülya Koçyigit's career.

• Directed by Metin Erksan
• Cast: Hulya Kocyigit, Ulvi Dogan, Erol Tas, Hakki Haktan, Yavuz Yalinkilic, Zeki Tuney
• 1964, 90 minutes. Black & White.
• In Turkish with English subtitles
• Festivals and Awards: Golden Bear, Berlin Film Festival
• Friday, April 1, 6:15 pm

About the Director: Metin Erksan

Metin Erksan worked as a cinema critic in various newspapers and magazines. He graduated from the Department of History of Art in Istanbul University.

In 1952, he directed his first film, The Life of Poet Veysel written by Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu. He directed social realistic films such as Beyond the Nights, The Revenge of the Snakes, Bitter Life and created his own style in his later films such as Dry Summer, Time to Love, and The Well.

He won the Golden Bear with Dry Summer in Berlin Film Festival in 1964 and became a pioneer in the recognition of Turkish cinema abroad.

Dry Summer will be one of the Ten Best Turkish Films which will be featured at Boston Turkish Film Festival.

Visit our Boston Turkish Film Festival Page for more films and festival information.

Here is detailed information about movies, and also Boston Turkish Film Festival program:

• The Girl With The Red Scarf Turkish Film - Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim
• The Bride Turkish Film - Gelin

For more information about the festival and other movies, please visit http://www.bostonturkishfilmfestival.org/