mind me asking who are you to say who will end up in fire or not?? 
and p.s whats laicist???
and p.s whats laicist???
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Türkiye (6 Viewers)
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mind me asking who are you to say who will end up in fire or not?? and p.s whats laicist???
and p.s whats laicist???
Turkey reportedly compromised Mossad's ten Iranian agents
17 October 2013 /TODAYSZAMAN.COM WITH REUTERS, İSTANBUL
Turkey has reportedly compromised Israel's intelligence agency Mossad's ten Iranian agents and leaked the sensitive information to Iran earlier last year.
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius claimed in his column published on Thursday that “knowledgeable sources” said the Turkish government disclosed to Iranian intelligence the identities of up to 10 Iranians who had been meeting inside Turkey with their Mossad case officers.
Sources described the Turkish action as a “significant loss of intelligence” and “an effort to slap the Israelis.”
There was no immediate comment from Israel or Turkey, but Israeli ministers have accused Erdoğan of adopting an anti-Israeli stance in recent years to bolster his country's standing in the Muslim world.
Ignatius opined that Israeli anger at the deliberate compromise of its agents may help explain why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became so entrenched in his refusal to apologize to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about the May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid.
Once-strong relations between Turkey and Israel hit the rocks in 2010 after Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists who were seeking to break Israel's long-standing naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Ignatius said top Israeli officials believe that, despite the apology, the severe strain with Erdoğan continues. He cited Israeli intelligence officers as describing chief of Turkish Intelligence Organization (MİT) to CIA officials several years ago as “the [Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security] MOIS station chief in Ankara.”
He added that Israeli intelligence had apparently run part of its Iranian spy network through Turkey, which has relatively easy movement back and forth across its border with Iran, adding that the MİT had the resources to monitor Israeli-Iranian covert meetings.
In April 2012, Iran announced that it had broken up a large Israeli spy network and arrested 15 suspects. It was not clear if this was connected to the alleged Turkish leak.
Iran has long accused Israel of spying inside the country and of killing a string of Iranian nuclear scientists - the last in January 2012. Israel and the West accuse Iran of looking to build an atomic bomb. Tehran denies this.
Ignatius stated that US officials assessed the incident as a problem of misplaced trust, rather than bad tradecraft. He cited one source to describe the justification of US officials as saying that the Mossad, after more than 50 years of cooperation with Turkey, never imagined the Turks would “shop” Israeli agents to a hostile power.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin declined to comment on the Washington Post report, but said relations with Turkey were "very complex".
"The Turks made a strategic decision ... to seek the leadership of our region, in the Middle East, and they chose the convenient anti-Israeli card in order to build up leadership," he told Israel Radio.
Energy Minister Silvan Shalom also declined to comment, but told Israel Radio that after unrest shook the Arab world in 2011, Erdoğan had sought to win "legitimisation as the undisputed leader of the new revolution".
The United States tried to broker a reconciliation between its allies Turkey and Israel in March, persuading Netanyahu to apologize for the 2010 killings.
However, Israeli officials said subsequent attempts to build bridges by agreeing on a deal to compensate families of those killed in the Israeli naval raid had floundered.
"The only thing that we have achieved since March is to show the Americans that Erdoğan is not remotely interested in a reconciliation," said an Israeli diplomat, who declined to be named given the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
Shortly after the 2010 incident off the shores of Gaza, the then-Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak voiced concern that Turkey could share Israeli intelligence secrets with Iran.
"There are quite a few secrets of ours (entrusted to Turkey) and the thought that they could become open to the Iranians over the next several months ... is quite disturbing," Israel's Army Radio quoted him as saying in August 2010.
17 October 2013 /TODAYSZAMAN.COM WITH REUTERS, İSTANBUL
Turkey has reportedly compromised Israel's intelligence agency Mossad's ten Iranian agents and leaked the sensitive information to Iran earlier last year.
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius claimed in his column published on Thursday that “knowledgeable sources” said the Turkish government disclosed to Iranian intelligence the identities of up to 10 Iranians who had been meeting inside Turkey with their Mossad case officers.
Sources described the Turkish action as a “significant loss of intelligence” and “an effort to slap the Israelis.”
There was no immediate comment from Israel or Turkey, but Israeli ministers have accused Erdoğan of adopting an anti-Israeli stance in recent years to bolster his country's standing in the Muslim world.
Ignatius opined that Israeli anger at the deliberate compromise of its agents may help explain why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became so entrenched in his refusal to apologize to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about the May 2010 Gaza flotilla raid.
Once-strong relations between Turkey and Israel hit the rocks in 2010 after Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists who were seeking to break Israel's long-standing naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Ignatius said top Israeli officials believe that, despite the apology, the severe strain with Erdoğan continues. He cited Israeli intelligence officers as describing chief of Turkish Intelligence Organization (MİT) to CIA officials several years ago as “the [Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security] MOIS station chief in Ankara.”
He added that Israeli intelligence had apparently run part of its Iranian spy network through Turkey, which has relatively easy movement back and forth across its border with Iran, adding that the MİT had the resources to monitor Israeli-Iranian covert meetings.
In April 2012, Iran announced that it had broken up a large Israeli spy network and arrested 15 suspects. It was not clear if this was connected to the alleged Turkish leak.
Iran has long accused Israel of spying inside the country and of killing a string of Iranian nuclear scientists - the last in January 2012. Israel and the West accuse Iran of looking to build an atomic bomb. Tehran denies this.
Ignatius stated that US officials assessed the incident as a problem of misplaced trust, rather than bad tradecraft. He cited one source to describe the justification of US officials as saying that the Mossad, after more than 50 years of cooperation with Turkey, never imagined the Turks would “shop” Israeli agents to a hostile power.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin declined to comment on the Washington Post report, but said relations with Turkey were "very complex".
"The Turks made a strategic decision ... to seek the leadership of our region, in the Middle East, and they chose the convenient anti-Israeli card in order to build up leadership," he told Israel Radio.
Energy Minister Silvan Shalom also declined to comment, but told Israel Radio that after unrest shook the Arab world in 2011, Erdoğan had sought to win "legitimisation as the undisputed leader of the new revolution".
The United States tried to broker a reconciliation between its allies Turkey and Israel in March, persuading Netanyahu to apologize for the 2010 killings.
However, Israeli officials said subsequent attempts to build bridges by agreeing on a deal to compensate families of those killed in the Israeli naval raid had floundered.
"The only thing that we have achieved since March is to show the Americans that Erdoğan is not remotely interested in a reconciliation," said an Israeli diplomat, who declined to be named given the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
Shortly after the 2010 incident off the shores of Gaza, the then-Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak voiced concern that Turkey could share Israeli intelligence secrets with Iran.
"There are quite a few secrets of ours (entrusted to Turkey) and the thought that they could become open to the Iranians over the next several months ... is quite disturbing," Israel's Army Radio quoted him as saying in August 2010.
@Eddy
You wanted a proof about Mustafa Kemal being a Jew. This should be sufficient and i can find more like this if not. Of course you can still deny it until you see a ''scientific'' evidence like DNA report or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Bennett
Bennett approved the permission certificate to M. Kemal Atatürk to Samsun, that he started Turkish Independence struggle there.
You wanted a proof about Mustafa Kemal being a Jew. This should be sufficient and i can find more like this if not. Of course you can still deny it until you see a ''scientific'' evidence like DNA report or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Bennett
Bennett approved the permission certificate to M. Kemal Atatürk to Samsun, that he started Turkish Independence struggle there.
Turkiye ready to take first ride on landmark undersea train line
28 October 2013 /TODAYSZAMAN.COM, İSTANBUL
From Tuesday onward, Oct. 29 will not only be commemorated as the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic, but the day a giant transportation project, the Marmaray, connecting İstanbul's Asian and European sides via an undersea commuter train line, was inaugurated, fulfilling an Ottoman sultan's dream from 153 years ago.
The project aims to ease İstanbul's heavy traffic and reduce travel time between the two sides of the Bosporus to four minutes. Marmaray, the world's first undersea tunnel connecting two continents, will carry 75,000 passengers per hour and around 1 million passengers per day.
On Tuesday, a 13.6-kilometer section of the 76.3-kilometer project is being launched. Until the project is completed, the Marmaray will run from Ayrılıkçeşme on the Anatolian side to Kazlıçeşme on the European side. A ride on the line will cost TL 1.95.
After numerous test runs of the Marmaray tube were conducted, officials announced that İstanbulites will be able to start using the service on Tuesday.
The Marmaray line connects the Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa commuter train lines with an undersea tunnel beneath the Bosporus Strait. The complete line will consist of three underground stations in İstanbul's Yenikapı, Sirkeci and Üsküdar districts and 36 above-ground stations. The Ayrılıkçeşme station will serve as a transfer station for the Kadıköy-Kartal subway line.
Speaking at the International Silk Road Conference in İstanbul on Monday, Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım said the Marmaray is more than just a Turkish project to improve public transportation in İstanbul, but part of the Silk Road, which has served humanity for centuries, connecting Asia and Europe.
“This is a project of reuniting civilizations. The Silk Road is not only a caravan route but a road that links Western and Eastern civilizations,” he said.
Before Tuesday's landmark opening, the project was presented to journalists on Sunday by municipal officials. Yıldırım was scheduled to have dinner on Monday with representatives of the company that built the Marmaray and workers who took part in the construction of the tunnel.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in İstanbul on Monday to take part in the Marmaray's inauguration, where Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also be in attendance along with many other top state officials.
In an attempt to ensure more effective use of the line and integrate the Marmaray into the city's public transportation system, the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has launched new bus lines to bring passengers to the Ayrılıkçeşme, Üsküdar, Sirkeci, Yenikapı and Kazlıçeşme stations.
On Monday, British daily The Times announced the opening of the Marmaray, saying that the “tunnel is the linchpin in what has been dubbed an 'Iron Silk Road' linking Europe and Central Asia.”
The first test run of the project took place with a ceremony attended by Yıldırım and Erdoğan in August. A train was brought to the Zeytinburnu district's Kazlıçeşme neighborhood on the European side. The train then traveled to the Ayrılıkçeşme stop. Erdoğan and Yıldırım were among the first passengers to travel in the Marmaray tunnel.
Speaking before the August test run, Erdoğan said it would take just four minutes to cross from the European and to the Asian side of İstanbul thanks to the project, adding: “This project is not the project of the century, but the project of centuries. … We, as the government, have made a 150-year dream a reality. We don't only make promises; we also achieve them. We are solving the transportation problems across Turkey with numerous underground projects.”
The foundations were laid for the Marmaray line by Prime Minister Erdoğan on May 9, 2004, and construction has been carried out by the General Directorate of Railroads, Ports and Airports Construction (DLH); Japanese contractor Taisei Corporation; Turkish firm Gama-Nurol; and the Avrasya Consult firm. The project includes 13.6 kilometers of tubing, 1.4 kilometers of which is underwater. The 36-station line will provide travel between the European and Asian sides of İstanbul in just four minutes and, with high connectivity, allow seamless transfers to other forms of transportation throughout the city, including lines that connect to the airports. The undersea rail system will connect with the suburban Gebze-Söğütlüçeşme and Halkalı-Kazlıçeşme lines. In addition to İstanbul's metro line, Marmaray will link to the İstanbul-Ankara high speed train line.
Travel time between Gebze and Halkalı is expected to take 105 minutes, between Bostancı and Bakırköy 37 minutes and between Söğütlüçeşme and Yenikapı12 minutes.
Safety concerns
The launch of Marmaray has sparked a debate about the safety of the tube project and its earthquake readiness as İstanbul lies on major fault lines.
During his meeting with journalists on Sunday, Minister Yıldırım downplayed the concerns about Marmaray's safety, saying that all measures have been taken to prevent safety problems. He added that there are skyscrapers in Kozyatağı and Bostancı that face a greater risk than Marmaray in case of an earthquake.
However, opposition parties raised some allegations on Monday with regards to Marmaray's safety and said the project was launched hastily, before its shortcomings could be worked out.
A deputy chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Umut Oran, carried his party's claims about Marmaray to Parliament's agenda to be addressed by Prime Minister Erdoğan.
Oran asked Erdoğan many questions concerning Marmaray's safety, such as whether it is true that one of the locomotives running in the Marmaray tube was damaged during a test run attended by the transportation minister, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) general manager and high-ranking ministry bureaucrats on Oct. 25; whether the minister and bureaucrats were stuck in the locomotive for an hour; and whether there have been some collapses in some parts of the Marmaray tunnels that were ignored so the line's inauguration could go ahead on Oct. 29 in compliance with the orders of Erdoğan, who will be responsible for any accidents that happen because the line was opened prematurely.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also voiced concerns about Marmaray in a motion submitted to Parliament by the party's Kocaeli deputy, Lütfü Türkkan. Türkkan asked Yıldırım to respond such questions as why the project has been launched section by section instead of all at once and whether this could lead to accidents due to possible signaling errors.
He claimed that the government has launched the project prematurely in order to capitalize on it in the upcoming local elections.
Project's completion delayed due to archaeological findings
The expected completion date for the Marmaray project was pushed back four-and-a-half years due to archaeological findings during excavations.
A Cabinet decision that included an update to the cost of the Marmaray project was published in the Official Gazette on Dec. 17, 2009. Pursuant to the Cabinet decision, the undersea tube's completion date was postponed from April 2009 to Oct. 28, 2013, with archaeological digs cited as the reason for the delay. The Cabinet said that the project's completion date had to be extended because of the findings and the non-standard nature of the tube's construction, noting that nothing could be done to prevent the lengthy delay. The delays cost four-and-a-half years and at least $500 million.
The excavation work for the public transportation project was monitored by archaeologists from İstanbul Archaeological Museums. Various artifacts were found, including human skeletons, church ruins, water wells, fossilized footprints and sherds from nearly a million earthenware pots and plates. One of the most outstanding historical artifacts unearthed is the fourth-century Port of Theodosius from the Byzantine era. Moreover, 36 sunken ships -- 30 of which were merchant vessels equipped with sails and five of which were galleys propelled by rowers -- that sank between the fifth and 11th centuries were also been located. All of the pieces will be classified and, if possible, broken artifacts will be restored. Some 40,000 historical items that will help to reveal the ancient history of İstanbul were discovered by 500 laborers and 60 experts.
In the meantime, test runs began in İstanbul on Monday for another transportation project, the Haliç Metro Bridge, which is also expected to ease the city's heavy traffic. The bridge, which will accommodate a new metro line, will be used by around one million people a day and will enter into service in January 2014.
What does Prime Minister Abe's visit to Turkey mean?
by Sasaki Yoshiaki
28 October 2013 /
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been holding historic visits after coming to office for the second time. We could say that Abe, who has been pursuing a more active foreign policy compared to his predecessors, is working hard to ensure that Japanese diplomacy becomes more influential.
It seems that the reason for this ambition in Japanese diplomacy is the stagnation in the world economy and unpromising relations with Western countries. The government shutdown in the US, which raised concerns among world economic circles, is still fresh in memories.
Stagnation in the economy leads to change in a country's security approach. In an attempt to address domestic opposition and dissatisfaction because of economic slowdown, states generally tend to create an image of an external enemy so that national solidarity is achieved and economic deterioration is forgotten. In this way, the public policies work for some time, but in the end, things get even worse.
We may argue that economic reasons have encouraged the prime minister to look for new friends abroad and to maintain close relations with these new friends. Turkey is of course one of the countries that seems to be a rising star in its region and achieving visible economic development. Otherwise, a second visit within the same year to Turkey would not have happened.
We see that Turkey also trusts Japan. If this had not been the case, it would not have preferred Japan to build a nuclear plant in Sinop. Construction of the nuclear energy plant means a strong bond between the two countries because without mutual trust and confidence, it would not become possible to share high-security nuclear technology. We are talking about a project that would remain in place for 40-50 years; it cannot be interrupted by some sporadic and temporary disagreements. Therefore, before a plant, long-term friendship and trust should be constructed first between two countries.
It is obvious that Turkey prefers Japan because of its financial strength and high technology. Japan, on the other hand, picks Turkey as potential partner for the following reasons:
First, Japan believes that Turkey will be able to learn the applications of this technology and employ it for the good of the people. Otherwise, Japan would not have considered exporting nuclear plant technology to Turkey. Second, the Japanese authorities uphold that Turkey may be a good strategic partner. Despite the fact that Turkey and Japan are geographically distant, there are many resemblances and similarities in different fields between the two countries. I suppose that the Turkish people have witnessed one of these similarities during Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Turkey in 2006. Kouizumi bent his knees in a mosque he visited. This means that Japanese people, like the Turkish people, bend their knees in respected and sacred places and in front of people they care about most.
There are also linguistic similarities between the two countries and nations; the Turkish and Japanese languages can be considered grammatical twins. This means that the patterns of thinking of the two peoples are also the same. The Japanese and the Turks employ a similar approach towards the world and express their views in regards to what they observe. For this reason, Turkish is one of the foreign languages that the Japanese learn fast.
Many ministers, bureaucrats and politicians as well as people are aware of these similarities and resemblances. For this reason, nobody expressed opposition to Prime Minister Abe's attempts to strengthen ties with Turkey. In addition, the Japanese know that Turkey extends support and aid to people in Arab countries, Central Asia and Africa and that it attracts interest and respect in these regions. We may argue that this image of Turkey impresses Japan as well.
Likewise, Japan is making efforts to ensure the development of its neighboring nations in East Asia. Japan, through cooperation with Turkey, may establish permanent relations and ties with Arab countries and Central Asian states. Turkey has a special place in the Central Asian region. From this perspective, Turkey may lead to Japan to achieve a bright future in cooperation.
Japanese companies have been working together with Turkish corporations in Central Asia for a while. Japanese companies are improving their businesses with the support of their Turkish partners. Of course, this will continue in the future as well. Because he is aware of this, Prime Minister Abe holds no doubt vis-à-vis Turkey. For this reason, he wants to pay a visit to Turkey for the second time within a year.
Unlike relations between Turkey and the West, there is no historical background in the relations between Turkey and Japan. But the historical background between Turkey and the West is full of bad memories. On the contrary, Turkey and Japan have good relations as two good friends who have just started to get to know each other. In a sign of friendship, Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II sent a warship to Japan, but the Ertuğrul sank in an unfortunate incident. However, this tragic event also offered a good opportunity for the Japanese people to remember the friendship of the Turkish people. The local people of the place where the vessel sank buried the victims in their own village, took care of the wounded and initiated nationwide campaigns. They subsequently sent the money they collected to Turkey for distribution to the relatives of the victims.
Then it was Turkey's turn to extend help. By the time a war started between Iran and Iraq, President Turgut Özal sent a Turkish Airlines aircraft to rescue the Japanese who were trapped in the warzone. The Japanese asked the pilot about how he felt after the incident; he told them he did his job as a human being. This attitude, which reflects altruism, is precious for the Japanese people. Not only the pilots, but also the cabin crew held similar sentiments. This means that altruism is a national characteristic of the Turkish people. I personally would like to offer my thanks to these people.
This characteristic is particularly important in dangerous environments. Nuclear energy could lead to dangerous outcomes. In such cases, we need altruistic and brave people. Because we have witnessed that there are many Turkish people holding these characteristics in history, for this reason, Prime Minister Abe and the other Japanese authorities did not hesitate to transfer nuclear technology to the Turks.
If the seed is good, the crop will also be good, even if it takes time. It appears that mutual friendship is the main basis of the relationship between Turkey and Japan. The product will always be good no matter how much time passes by. I hope that the mutual respect between the two nations will survive forever.
28 October 2013 /TODAYSZAMAN.COM, İSTANBUL
From Tuesday onward, Oct. 29 will not only be commemorated as the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic, but the day a giant transportation project, the Marmaray, connecting İstanbul's Asian and European sides via an undersea commuter train line, was inaugurated, fulfilling an Ottoman sultan's dream from 153 years ago.
The project aims to ease İstanbul's heavy traffic and reduce travel time between the two sides of the Bosporus to four minutes. Marmaray, the world's first undersea tunnel connecting two continents, will carry 75,000 passengers per hour and around 1 million passengers per day.
On Tuesday, a 13.6-kilometer section of the 76.3-kilometer project is being launched. Until the project is completed, the Marmaray will run from Ayrılıkçeşme on the Anatolian side to Kazlıçeşme on the European side. A ride on the line will cost TL 1.95.
After numerous test runs of the Marmaray tube were conducted, officials announced that İstanbulites will be able to start using the service on Tuesday.
The Marmaray line connects the Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa commuter train lines with an undersea tunnel beneath the Bosporus Strait. The complete line will consist of three underground stations in İstanbul's Yenikapı, Sirkeci and Üsküdar districts and 36 above-ground stations. The Ayrılıkçeşme station will serve as a transfer station for the Kadıköy-Kartal subway line.
Speaking at the International Silk Road Conference in İstanbul on Monday, Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım said the Marmaray is more than just a Turkish project to improve public transportation in İstanbul, but part of the Silk Road, which has served humanity for centuries, connecting Asia and Europe.
“This is a project of reuniting civilizations. The Silk Road is not only a caravan route but a road that links Western and Eastern civilizations,” he said.
Before Tuesday's landmark opening, the project was presented to journalists on Sunday by municipal officials. Yıldırım was scheduled to have dinner on Monday with representatives of the company that built the Marmaray and workers who took part in the construction of the tunnel.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in İstanbul on Monday to take part in the Marmaray's inauguration, where Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will also be in attendance along with many other top state officials.
In an attempt to ensure more effective use of the line and integrate the Marmaray into the city's public transportation system, the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has launched new bus lines to bring passengers to the Ayrılıkçeşme, Üsküdar, Sirkeci, Yenikapı and Kazlıçeşme stations.
On Monday, British daily The Times announced the opening of the Marmaray, saying that the “tunnel is the linchpin in what has been dubbed an 'Iron Silk Road' linking Europe and Central Asia.”
The first test run of the project took place with a ceremony attended by Yıldırım and Erdoğan in August. A train was brought to the Zeytinburnu district's Kazlıçeşme neighborhood on the European side. The train then traveled to the Ayrılıkçeşme stop. Erdoğan and Yıldırım were among the first passengers to travel in the Marmaray tunnel.
Speaking before the August test run, Erdoğan said it would take just four minutes to cross from the European and to the Asian side of İstanbul thanks to the project, adding: “This project is not the project of the century, but the project of centuries. … We, as the government, have made a 150-year dream a reality. We don't only make promises; we also achieve them. We are solving the transportation problems across Turkey with numerous underground projects.”
The foundations were laid for the Marmaray line by Prime Minister Erdoğan on May 9, 2004, and construction has been carried out by the General Directorate of Railroads, Ports and Airports Construction (DLH); Japanese contractor Taisei Corporation; Turkish firm Gama-Nurol; and the Avrasya Consult firm. The project includes 13.6 kilometers of tubing, 1.4 kilometers of which is underwater. The 36-station line will provide travel between the European and Asian sides of İstanbul in just four minutes and, with high connectivity, allow seamless transfers to other forms of transportation throughout the city, including lines that connect to the airports. The undersea rail system will connect with the suburban Gebze-Söğütlüçeşme and Halkalı-Kazlıçeşme lines. In addition to İstanbul's metro line, Marmaray will link to the İstanbul-Ankara high speed train line.
Travel time between Gebze and Halkalı is expected to take 105 minutes, between Bostancı and Bakırköy 37 minutes and between Söğütlüçeşme and Yenikapı12 minutes.
Safety concerns
The launch of Marmaray has sparked a debate about the safety of the tube project and its earthquake readiness as İstanbul lies on major fault lines.
During his meeting with journalists on Sunday, Minister Yıldırım downplayed the concerns about Marmaray's safety, saying that all measures have been taken to prevent safety problems. He added that there are skyscrapers in Kozyatağı and Bostancı that face a greater risk than Marmaray in case of an earthquake.
However, opposition parties raised some allegations on Monday with regards to Marmaray's safety and said the project was launched hastily, before its shortcomings could be worked out.
A deputy chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Umut Oran, carried his party's claims about Marmaray to Parliament's agenda to be addressed by Prime Minister Erdoğan.
Oran asked Erdoğan many questions concerning Marmaray's safety, such as whether it is true that one of the locomotives running in the Marmaray tube was damaged during a test run attended by the transportation minister, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) general manager and high-ranking ministry bureaucrats on Oct. 25; whether the minister and bureaucrats were stuck in the locomotive for an hour; and whether there have been some collapses in some parts of the Marmaray tunnels that were ignored so the line's inauguration could go ahead on Oct. 29 in compliance with the orders of Erdoğan, who will be responsible for any accidents that happen because the line was opened prematurely.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also voiced concerns about Marmaray in a motion submitted to Parliament by the party's Kocaeli deputy, Lütfü Türkkan. Türkkan asked Yıldırım to respond such questions as why the project has been launched section by section instead of all at once and whether this could lead to accidents due to possible signaling errors.
He claimed that the government has launched the project prematurely in order to capitalize on it in the upcoming local elections.
Project's completion delayed due to archaeological findings
The expected completion date for the Marmaray project was pushed back four-and-a-half years due to archaeological findings during excavations.
A Cabinet decision that included an update to the cost of the Marmaray project was published in the Official Gazette on Dec. 17, 2009. Pursuant to the Cabinet decision, the undersea tube's completion date was postponed from April 2009 to Oct. 28, 2013, with archaeological digs cited as the reason for the delay. The Cabinet said that the project's completion date had to be extended because of the findings and the non-standard nature of the tube's construction, noting that nothing could be done to prevent the lengthy delay. The delays cost four-and-a-half years and at least $500 million.
The excavation work for the public transportation project was monitored by archaeologists from İstanbul Archaeological Museums. Various artifacts were found, including human skeletons, church ruins, water wells, fossilized footprints and sherds from nearly a million earthenware pots and plates. One of the most outstanding historical artifacts unearthed is the fourth-century Port of Theodosius from the Byzantine era. Moreover, 36 sunken ships -- 30 of which were merchant vessels equipped with sails and five of which were galleys propelled by rowers -- that sank between the fifth and 11th centuries were also been located. All of the pieces will be classified and, if possible, broken artifacts will be restored. Some 40,000 historical items that will help to reveal the ancient history of İstanbul were discovered by 500 laborers and 60 experts.
In the meantime, test runs began in İstanbul on Monday for another transportation project, the Haliç Metro Bridge, which is also expected to ease the city's heavy traffic. The bridge, which will accommodate a new metro line, will be used by around one million people a day and will enter into service in January 2014.
What does Prime Minister Abe's visit to Turkey mean?
by Sasaki Yoshiaki
28 October 2013 /
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been holding historic visits after coming to office for the second time. We could say that Abe, who has been pursuing a more active foreign policy compared to his predecessors, is working hard to ensure that Japanese diplomacy becomes more influential.
It seems that the reason for this ambition in Japanese diplomacy is the stagnation in the world economy and unpromising relations with Western countries. The government shutdown in the US, which raised concerns among world economic circles, is still fresh in memories.
Stagnation in the economy leads to change in a country's security approach. In an attempt to address domestic opposition and dissatisfaction because of economic slowdown, states generally tend to create an image of an external enemy so that national solidarity is achieved and economic deterioration is forgotten. In this way, the public policies work for some time, but in the end, things get even worse.
We may argue that economic reasons have encouraged the prime minister to look for new friends abroad and to maintain close relations with these new friends. Turkey is of course one of the countries that seems to be a rising star in its region and achieving visible economic development. Otherwise, a second visit within the same year to Turkey would not have happened.
We see that Turkey also trusts Japan. If this had not been the case, it would not have preferred Japan to build a nuclear plant in Sinop. Construction of the nuclear energy plant means a strong bond between the two countries because without mutual trust and confidence, it would not become possible to share high-security nuclear technology. We are talking about a project that would remain in place for 40-50 years; it cannot be interrupted by some sporadic and temporary disagreements. Therefore, before a plant, long-term friendship and trust should be constructed first between two countries.
It is obvious that Turkey prefers Japan because of its financial strength and high technology. Japan, on the other hand, picks Turkey as potential partner for the following reasons:
First, Japan believes that Turkey will be able to learn the applications of this technology and employ it for the good of the people. Otherwise, Japan would not have considered exporting nuclear plant technology to Turkey. Second, the Japanese authorities uphold that Turkey may be a good strategic partner. Despite the fact that Turkey and Japan are geographically distant, there are many resemblances and similarities in different fields between the two countries. I suppose that the Turkish people have witnessed one of these similarities during Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Turkey in 2006. Kouizumi bent his knees in a mosque he visited. This means that Japanese people, like the Turkish people, bend their knees in respected and sacred places and in front of people they care about most.
There are also linguistic similarities between the two countries and nations; the Turkish and Japanese languages can be considered grammatical twins. This means that the patterns of thinking of the two peoples are also the same. The Japanese and the Turks employ a similar approach towards the world and express their views in regards to what they observe. For this reason, Turkish is one of the foreign languages that the Japanese learn fast.
Many ministers, bureaucrats and politicians as well as people are aware of these similarities and resemblances. For this reason, nobody expressed opposition to Prime Minister Abe's attempts to strengthen ties with Turkey. In addition, the Japanese know that Turkey extends support and aid to people in Arab countries, Central Asia and Africa and that it attracts interest and respect in these regions. We may argue that this image of Turkey impresses Japan as well.
Likewise, Japan is making efforts to ensure the development of its neighboring nations in East Asia. Japan, through cooperation with Turkey, may establish permanent relations and ties with Arab countries and Central Asian states. Turkey has a special place in the Central Asian region. From this perspective, Turkey may lead to Japan to achieve a bright future in cooperation.
Japanese companies have been working together with Turkish corporations in Central Asia for a while. Japanese companies are improving their businesses with the support of their Turkish partners. Of course, this will continue in the future as well. Because he is aware of this, Prime Minister Abe holds no doubt vis-à-vis Turkey. For this reason, he wants to pay a visit to Turkey for the second time within a year.
Unlike relations between Turkey and the West, there is no historical background in the relations between Turkey and Japan. But the historical background between Turkey and the West is full of bad memories. On the contrary, Turkey and Japan have good relations as two good friends who have just started to get to know each other. In a sign of friendship, Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II sent a warship to Japan, but the Ertuğrul sank in an unfortunate incident. However, this tragic event also offered a good opportunity for the Japanese people to remember the friendship of the Turkish people. The local people of the place where the vessel sank buried the victims in their own village, took care of the wounded and initiated nationwide campaigns. They subsequently sent the money they collected to Turkey for distribution to the relatives of the victims.
Then it was Turkey's turn to extend help. By the time a war started between Iran and Iraq, President Turgut Özal sent a Turkish Airlines aircraft to rescue the Japanese who were trapped in the warzone. The Japanese asked the pilot about how he felt after the incident; he told them he did his job as a human being. This attitude, which reflects altruism, is precious for the Japanese people. Not only the pilots, but also the cabin crew held similar sentiments. This means that altruism is a national characteristic of the Turkish people. I personally would like to offer my thanks to these people.
This characteristic is particularly important in dangerous environments. Nuclear energy could lead to dangerous outcomes. In such cases, we need altruistic and brave people. Because we have witnessed that there are many Turkish people holding these characteristics in history, for this reason, Prime Minister Abe and the other Japanese authorities did not hesitate to transfer nuclear technology to the Turks.
If the seed is good, the crop will also be good, even if it takes time. It appears that mutual friendship is the main basis of the relationship between Turkey and Japan. The product will always be good no matter how much time passes by. I hope that the mutual respect between the two nations will survive forever.
I thought it was your product, exported to various corners of the world. Racism came here with Kemalism after the WW1, Kemal was a worshipper of the west and wanted to replace religion with racism.
Abe vows atomic safety as Turkey buys plant
Kyodo
ISTANBUL – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to boost Japan’s efforts to ensure the safety of nuclear power as one of its firms jointly won an order to build an atomic plant in Turkey, the first such order for a Japanese company since the Fukushima crisis started.
Earlier Tuesday, Abe and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed promoting bilateral economic cooperation. Japan aims to increase exports of large infrastructure to Turkey and other emerging economies in fields such as energy, health care and agriculture.
“Japan is responsible for helping improve the safety of atomic power in the world by sharing its experience and lessons from the accident,” Abe said at a joint news conference following the summit in Istanbul, referring to the Fukushima catastrophe.
Erdogan said Turkey needs nuclear power, showing his intent to call for more foreign investment in relevant projects.
During Abe’s visit, a joint venture established by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Areva SA of France reached agreement with the Turkish government on a project to construct a nuclear plant with four advanced reactors in the Black Sea province of Sinop.
The venture, Atmea, set up in 2007 and based in Paris, had obtained preferential negotiating rights with Ankara.
When last visiting Turkey in May, Abe agreed with Erdogan to provide the country with Japan’s civil nuclear technology — an accord necessary for Japanese manufacturers to be involved in such projects.
On Tuesday, Abe said he and Erdogan “discussed measures to promote economic cooperation, such as large infrastructure development.”
They had been expected to agree to launch preliminary talks for a bilateral free trade accord, but they ran out of time. .
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...mic-safety-as-turkey-buys-plant/#.UnIPGRBE0Qo
Abe vows atomic safety as Turkey buys plant
Kyodo
ISTANBUL – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to boost Japan’s efforts to ensure the safety of nuclear power as one of its firms jointly won an order to build an atomic plant in Turkey, the first such order for a Japanese company since the Fukushima crisis started.
Earlier Tuesday, Abe and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed promoting bilateral economic cooperation. Japan aims to increase exports of large infrastructure to Turkey and other emerging economies in fields such as energy, health care and agriculture.
“Japan is responsible for helping improve the safety of atomic power in the world by sharing its experience and lessons from the accident,” Abe said at a joint news conference following the summit in Istanbul, referring to the Fukushima catastrophe.
Erdogan said Turkey needs nuclear power, showing his intent to call for more foreign investment in relevant projects.
During Abe’s visit, a joint venture established by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Areva SA of France reached agreement with the Turkish government on a project to construct a nuclear plant with four advanced reactors in the Black Sea province of Sinop.
The venture, Atmea, set up in 2007 and based in Paris, had obtained preferential negotiating rights with Ankara.
When last visiting Turkey in May, Abe agreed with Erdogan to provide the country with Japan’s civil nuclear technology — an accord necessary for Japanese manufacturers to be involved in such projects.
On Tuesday, Abe said he and Erdogan “discussed measures to promote economic cooperation, such as large infrastructure development.”
They had been expected to agree to launch preliminary talks for a bilateral free trade accord, but they ran out of time. .
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...mic-safety-as-turkey-buys-plant/#.UnIPGRBE0Qo
You haven't done your homework again? Do a bit more research before throwing shit, that will make you look less ignorant. I am the one supposed to be ignorant orc here, don't steal the role.
What do you mean by Asian part, almost whole country is in Asia. When you say the word ''fascism'' in Turkiye, they will reply with ''did you mean Izmir?''.
Izmir known as ''fortress of kemalism'', is here, not very east huh?
This is what Islam tell about racism
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All Aware. (49:13)
Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do. (16:97)
And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision. (65:11)
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Whoever calls towards 'unsuriyyah (racism/tribalism/nationalism etc) is not from amongst us, he who fights on (the basis of) 'unsuriyyah is not from amongst us, and he who dies upon 'unsuriyyah is not from amongst us." (Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; also a white person has no superiority over black person nor does a black person have any superiority over white person except by piety and good action. Mankind is from Aadam (عليه السلام and Aadam is from soil." (Sharh al-Tahhaawiyyah)
Once Abu Dharr and Bilaal (رضي الله عنها had a dispute, but in a moment of anger Abu Dharr said: "O son of a black woman!" So Bilaal complained to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم who said to Abu Abu Dharr: "O Abu Dharr, did you slander his mother? You are a man in whom there is still some jaahiliyyah (ignorance)!" Abu Dahrr began to cry profusely and asked the Prophet to ask for forgiveness for him. Abu Dahrr left the masjid with tears streaming from his eyes and went to Bilaal. When he saw Bilaal he placed his cheek on the ground and said: "I will not get up until you place your foot over my face. You are the noble and I am the lowly!" Bilaal began to cry: he approached Abu Dharr, stood him up and then kissed him on that very cheek. Then they hugged each other and cried.9
This is what Islam told us 1400 years ago while your illuminated people were discussing about if it is ok to use same bus with black in 20th century.
About Kemalism and racism
Before the AK Party government(2002 - ) most of the people did not even know what is a Kurd. Kemalism taught them there is no Kurd but mountain Turks. They are called Kurd because they are living in snowy region and when they step on snow, it sounds like ''kard, kurd''. No joke!
another kemalist bs here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Language_Theory
I would have find you tons of racist quotes such as ''non-Turks have no right other than beign slaves'' from kemalist ministers but resources in english are limited.
Newspaper founded by Kemal himself, and named ''Republic'' says ''Kemalist Turkiye hails Fascist Italia''
another one with Inonu, second man after Kemal on front page with Hitler. ''Sincere congratulations between our national chief and führer''
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-306143-six-arrows-and-racism.html
What do you mean by Asian part, almost whole country is in Asia. When you say the word ''fascism'' in Turkiye, they will reply with ''did you mean Izmir?''.
Izmir known as ''fortress of kemalism'', is here, not very east huh?
This is what Islam tell about racism
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All Aware. (49:13)
Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do. (16:97)
And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision. (65:11)
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: "Whoever calls towards 'unsuriyyah (racism/tribalism/nationalism etc) is not from amongst us, he who fights on (the basis of) 'unsuriyyah is not from amongst us, and he who dies upon 'unsuriyyah is not from amongst us." (Abu Dawood)The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم
said: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; also a white person has no superiority over black person nor does a black person have any superiority over white person except by piety and good action. Mankind is from Aadam (عليه السلام and Aadam is from soil." (Sharh al-Tahhaawiyyah)Once Abu Dharr and Bilaal (رضي الله عنها
had a dispute, but in a moment of anger Abu Dharr said: "O son of a black woman!" So Bilaal complained to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم who said to Abu Abu Dharr: "O Abu Dharr, did you slander his mother? You are a man in whom there is still some jaahiliyyah (ignorance)!" Abu Dahrr began to cry profusely and asked the Prophet to ask for forgiveness for him. Abu Dahrr left the masjid with tears streaming from his eyes and went to Bilaal. When he saw Bilaal he placed his cheek on the ground and said: "I will not get up until you place your foot over my face. You are the noble and I am the lowly!" Bilaal began to cry: he approached Abu Dharr, stood him up and then kissed him on that very cheek. Then they hugged each other and cried.9This is what Islam told us 1400 years ago while your illuminated people were discussing about if it is ok to use same bus with black in 20th century.
About Kemalism and racism
Before the AK Party government(2002 - ) most of the people did not even know what is a Kurd. Kemalism taught them there is no Kurd but mountain Turks. They are called Kurd because they are living in snowy region and when they step on snow, it sounds like ''kard, kurd''. No joke!
another kemalist bs here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Language_Theory
I would have find you tons of racist quotes such as ''non-Turks have no right other than beign slaves'' from kemalist ministers but resources in english are limited.
Newspaper founded by Kemal himself, and named ''Republic'' says ''Kemalist Turkiye hails Fascist Italia''
another one with Inonu, second man after Kemal on front page with Hitler. ''Sincere congratulations between our national chief and führer''
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-306143-six-arrows-and-racism.html
You're sailing on wrong waters again.
Fathers saying?
It is forbidden for a woman to marry with a non-muslim in Islam. No mention of race here.
Keep the line clean?
Even The Sultans married with foreign women, sisters of sultans were married with important Ottoman statesman such as Grand Viziers and none of them were Turk.
Balkans and Middle East, two swamps of modern day were enjoying peace with more than 40 different ethnicities without nationalistic and sectarian wars under the Muslim Ottomans. You don't like Muslims? Ok. But at least do it properly.
USA took the Ottoman model to become what are they today. Ruling different kind of people, from denial and discrimination to integration. That's how they ended up with black president. They have discovered the thing Islam told 1400 years ago in near past.
Fathers saying?
It is forbidden for a woman to marry with a non-muslim in Islam. No mention of race here.
Keep the line clean?
Even The Sultans married with foreign women, sisters of sultans were married with important Ottoman statesman such as Grand Viziers and none of them were Turk.
Balkans and Middle East, two swamps of modern day were enjoying peace with more than 40 different ethnicities without nationalistic and sectarian wars under the Muslim Ottomans. You don't like Muslims? Ok. But at least do it properly.
USA took the Ottoman model to become what are they today. Ruling different kind of people, from denial and discrimination to integration. That's how they ended up with black president. They have discovered the thing Islam told 1400 years ago in near past.
Turkiye breaks another taboo with headscarved deputies in Parliament
31 October 2013 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM WITH REUTERS, İSTANBUL
Amid fears that tension in Parliament would rise over several Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies wearing headscarves while attending parliamentary sessions, four headscarved deputies walked into Parliament on Thursday and faced no words of protest or anger from opposition parties, marking the end of a long-standing ban on the wearing of headscarves in the chamber.
Four AK Party deputies, Sevde Bayazıt Kaçar, Gönül Bekin Şahkulubey, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gülay Samancı, announced that they had decided to cover their heads in line with their religious beliefs after performing hajj in Mecca in October. The deputies said they would attend parliamentary sessions with their scarves on because there are no regulations banning the wearing of headscarves in Parliament and Turkey has recently allowed the wearing of headscarves by public employees, except for members of the judiciary and military. These deputies attended Thursday's session of Parliament while wearing their scarves.
There was a huge crowd in Parliament on Thursday and the press chamber was filled with journalists wanting to report on the historic occasion. Controversial and conflicting statements from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) throughout this week, which hinted that the party may prevent the headscarved deputies from taking part in the parliamentary session, had raised concerns in society on whether Turkey would witness the same treatment received by Turkey's first headscarved deputy, Merve Kavakçı, in Parliament in 1999.
Amid angry protests and boos, Kavakçı was forced out of Parliament for wearing a headscarf during her swearing-in ceremony.
Bülent Ecevit, the prime minister at the time, addressed the packed assembly, saying, "This is not the place to challenge the state. Inform this woman of her limits!” while half the chamber stood shouting: "Get out! Get out!" to the seated Kavakçı.
Kavakçı left in tears. She was not only dismissed from Parliament but was also stripped of her citizenship. Moreover, the Constitutional Court considered her wearing a headscarf in Parliament as evidence of a violation of secularism in the closure case of her party, the Virtue Party (FP) in 2001.
Yet, Turkish Parliament showed a pro-freedom stance toward headscarved deputies on Thursday, invalidating fears of the repetition of the Kavakçı incident.
31 October 2013 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM WITH REUTERS, İSTANBUL
Amid fears that tension in Parliament would rise over several Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies wearing headscarves while attending parliamentary sessions, four headscarved deputies walked into Parliament on Thursday and faced no words of protest or anger from opposition parties, marking the end of a long-standing ban on the wearing of headscarves in the chamber.
Four AK Party deputies, Sevde Bayazıt Kaçar, Gönül Bekin Şahkulubey, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gülay Samancı, announced that they had decided to cover their heads in line with their religious beliefs after performing hajj in Mecca in October. The deputies said they would attend parliamentary sessions with their scarves on because there are no regulations banning the wearing of headscarves in Parliament and Turkey has recently allowed the wearing of headscarves by public employees, except for members of the judiciary and military. These deputies attended Thursday's session of Parliament while wearing their scarves.
There was a huge crowd in Parliament on Thursday and the press chamber was filled with journalists wanting to report on the historic occasion. Controversial and conflicting statements from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) throughout this week, which hinted that the party may prevent the headscarved deputies from taking part in the parliamentary session, had raised concerns in society on whether Turkey would witness the same treatment received by Turkey's first headscarved deputy, Merve Kavakçı, in Parliament in 1999.
Amid angry protests and boos, Kavakçı was forced out of Parliament for wearing a headscarf during her swearing-in ceremony.
Bülent Ecevit, the prime minister at the time, addressed the packed assembly, saying, "This is not the place to challenge the state. Inform this woman of her limits!” while half the chamber stood shouting: "Get out! Get out!" to the seated Kavakçı.
Kavakçı left in tears. She was not only dismissed from Parliament but was also stripped of her citizenship. Moreover, the Constitutional Court considered her wearing a headscarf in Parliament as evidence of a violation of secularism in the closure case of her party, the Virtue Party (FP) in 2001.
Yet, Turkish Parliament showed a pro-freedom stance toward headscarved deputies on Thursday, invalidating fears of the repetition of the Kavakçı incident.
@Eddy
You wanted a proof about Mustafa Kemal being a Jew. This should be sufficient and i can find more like this if not. Of course you can still deny it until you see a ''scientific'' evidence like DNA report or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Bennett
Bennett approved the permission certificate to M. Kemal Atatürk to Samsun, that he started Turkish Independence struggle there.
You wanted a proof about Mustafa Kemal being a Jew. This should be sufficient and i can find more like this if not. Of course you can still deny it until you see a ''scientific'' evidence like DNA report or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Bennett
Bennett approved the permission certificate to M. Kemal Atatürk to Samsun, that he started Turkish Independence struggle there.