‘Some are trying to make an Egypt out of Turkey,’ says PM Erdoğan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks during the opening ceremony of the Andromega performance hall in Istanbul, Aug. 3. AA photo
“Should we accept if some try to make an Egypt out of Turkey? Never. The people’s right in Egypt has been extorted,” Erdoğan said, during the opening ceremony of a performance hall in Istanbul Aug. 3.
“If someone respects [the military takeover in Egypt], it is impossible for me as someone who believes in democracy to show him respect,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ had criticized the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Aug. 2 for having stated that the Egyptian military was “restoring democracy.” The military toppled elected President Mohamed Morsi July 3 because people were afraid that the country could descend into violence, Kerry had argued, leading Bozdağ to respond through Twitter that “coups don’t build democracy.”
During his speech, Erdoğan also said the AKP would defer to the results of elections.
“If the people tell us to leave, we will [bow down]. But if they tell us to stay, we will consider its trust as our honor and protect it until our last gasp,” Erdoğan said, arguing once again that those who took the streets during nationwide protests did not represent the majority of the people.
“Nobody should ignore the people because they did not throw stones at the police. Nobody should ignore them because they do not run headlines or signs under dirty letters on international newspapers. This people ran its headline in the elections.”
PM suggests renaming complex
Erdoğan praised Istanbul’s new Arenamega complex, which is set to host major performances. However, he told officials that he wasn’t quite satisfied with its name.
“The Turkish language has been ruined with imported words. We have lost our sensitivity of the Turkish language. But we have a rich history when it comes to naming our works,” Erdoğan said.
“When it comes to naming a child or a work that is as precious as a child, we have to adopt a perspective of conserving our language and civilization. Therefore I submit to your appreciation of finding another name for this complex that belongs more to us,” he added.
The performance hall has a capacity of 35,000 people and a stage of 704 square meters, one of the biggest in Europe.
August/03/2013
Major sweep of Turkish top brass by the government
Speculation had grown that the government did not approve Chief of Gendarmerie Forces General Bekir Kalyoncu's appointment as Land Forces Commander and become the next in line to replace the current Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel in 2015. AA photo
The Supreme Military Council’s (YAŞ) appointments shaping the commandment echelon of the army which was announced Aug. 3 following President Abdullah Gül’s approval, assigned Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Hulusi Akar as the new Land Forces Commander replacing General HayriKıvrıkoğlu, who was consigned to retirement.
The post is considered to be key as the Land Forces Commander is customarily the next in line to replace the current Chief of General Staff General Necdet Özel, who will be keeping his post until August 2015.
Speculation had grown during the three-day Supreme Military Council meetings that Kalyoncu was not approved of by the government as his name was mentioned in testimonies by defendants in the Ergenekon case as a figure involved in operations aiming to organize a coup against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
Air Forces Commander Mehmet Erten was replaced by General Akın Öztürk, Naval Forces Commander Murat Bilgel was replaced by Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu and General Kalyoncu was replaced by General Servet Yörük as the new Chief of Gendarmerie Forces.
Admiral Bilgel was also put sent into retirement, along with Generals Kıvrıkoğlu and Kalyoncu.
Meanwhile, General Erten was appointed as a member of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ). The decision has been interpreted behind the scenes as a “polite way of forcing a resignation,” daily Hürriyet reported. Erten is expected to ask for his retirement within six months, the report added.
August/03/2013
Police close Gezi Park following call for gathering on social media and fire water cannon on small group
Police fire water cannon to disperse a small group of protesters gathered at İstiklal Avenue, Aug. 3. AFP photo
Twitter users mobilized under the hashtag #milyonlargeziparkına (Millions to Gezi Park) to spread word about a gathering at the park in order to commemorate the protesters killed during the demonstrations as well as to denounce police violence and prosecutions against activists.
However, police cordoned off the park’s entrance from the Taksim Square Aug. 3 afternoon. A water cannon truck (TOMA) has been deployed near the juncture between the pedestrian İstiklal Avenue and the Taksim Square, where most of the demonstrations were concentrated in the last few weeks.
Some scuffles have also erupted in İstiklal Avenue as police have once again resorted to pressurized water against a small group of protesters. The pedestrian entertainment area was washed with the TOMA’s water mixed to chemicals, as almost every week-end evening since the start of the protests.
Many by-standers were soaked from the pressurized water fired by the police and some were severely affected by its chemicals.
Police units have also detained a person who started a solo sit-in in front of Gezi Park’s entrance.
The protest to prevent the municipality cutting down trees at Istanbul's small green lung at the heart of the crowded central entertainment area exploded into nationwide demonstrations throughout June, after the outcry caused by the security forces' repeated heavy crackdowns.
Police then violently evacuated the park after protesters had occupied it for over a week. The park was subsequently sealed off for more than three weeks until the beginning of Ramadan on July 8.
August/03/2013
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