end of a beginning, beginning of an end

headscarf (n): A scarf worn over or around the head, often folded and tied. (1) Headscarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head. Headscarves may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as fashion or social distinction, religious signifiance, modesty, or other forms of social convention. (2)

turban (n): (hijab) the Arabic term for "cover" (noun), based on the root حجب meaning "to veil, to cover (verb), to screen, to shelter" (3) The term hijab or veil is not used in the Qur'an to refer to an article of clothing for women or men, rather it refers to a spatial curtain that divides or provides privacy. The Qur'an instructs the male believers (Muslims) to talk to wives of Muhammad behind a hijab. This hijab was the responsibility of the men and not the wives of Muhammad. However, in later Muslim societies this instruction specific to the wives of Muhammad was generalized, leading to the segregation of the Muslim men and women. The modesty in Qur'an concerns both men's and women's gaze, gait, garments, and genitalia. The clothing for women involves khumūr over the necklines and jilbab (cloaks) in public so that they may be identified and not harmed. Guidelines for covering of the entire body except for the hands, the feet, and the face, are found in texts of fiqh and hadith that are developed later. (4)

democracy (n) 1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2. A political or social unit that has such a government.
3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4. Majority rule.
5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. (5)


The tide is turning. Chaos is prevailing. It is rather funny to observe an inherently occidental society to find its way through modern western jargon in its search for contractual consistency. Elected government and its leaders quote words like "individual rights", "democracy", "right to express one's political view" on a daily basis in their angered and agitated speeches against minority leaders and opinion think-tanks.

In the Middle Eastern form of electoral government however democracy means majority dictatorship. As long as the ruling party could express their opinion, there is freedom of speech; as long as that party's political ambititons are served, there is "development" in the society. One could, albeit simply by reading unofficial history, see that nothing has changed so far. Since the first modernization attempts of "tanzimat" (reorganization) movement of the mid 19th Century Turkey is in search of an electoral system that can serve the ultimate goal of that peculiar culture; namely the preservation of the state and concurrently saving face vis a vis the widely accepted notions related to the welfare of its citizens. But it's really getting old. Globalism has pressures as no previous global system asserted over its members. Communications and rapid transfer of in-depth information made it impossible for countries like Turkey just to save face for prolonged periods of time.

The parliament has passed on an overwhelmingly yea vote, an ammendment to the constitution that enables girls who wear "headscarves" to enter universities as students. This act was hailed as an important move in civil rights by government communiquees and official media.

The parliament is still negotiating on a bill to improve the conditions of minority (read Christian) foundations whose main function is to take care of religious buildings and management of minority (read Armenian and Greek) schools. These for decades cannot function due to red tape and nationalization of their posessions indiscriminantly. An opposing MP declared that this bill cannot pass because it would be against the Lausanne Agreement since it gives enormous rights to "foreigners". In Turkey today, any foreigner, say a Greek citizen can buy property. But if you are a Turkish citizen belonging to a Christian (read Armenian or Greek) minority, a foundation you establish cannot own or manage property, even if this property is in your posession for centuries, and an MP can call you a "foreigner" without any consequence. Yet girls who are forced by their parents can go to the university. A great act towards civil liberties!

A professor in an university was convicted of acts against the state because in a public speech, he called, Mustafa Kemal, the founder of the Republic, a "man". For my illiterate readers, I may add that he was actually a member of the male gender. He was criticized by "important" public opinion makers in the media. He will now have to go to European Human Rights court. Yet girls who are forced by their big brothers to hide their faces from other humans now can go to the university. What a major democratic development!

It has been made public that many killings of minority leaders, bombings against a major newspaper and the supreme court was organized by a terrorist group formed by likes of a former general, a prominent lawyer and nationalist. The aim of that organization was simply to provoke nationalist feelings to further oppress minorities. But what happens now is a great mystery. Will there be a court trial against those involved, or will there be any consequences for these individuals are still vague questions with vague answers. Yet girls who beat their siblings because they wear mini skirts can go to the university. It should be counted as joy for democracy mongers!

Near future should unveil all major divisions in Turkish social make up. They would come out of their respective closets like no pervert ever did. This is the age of global chaos and Turkey should have her share. The political camps are getting futher away from each other, minimizing the hope for mature discussion or compromise. As history tells us, most of the price will be paid by the minorities in the broad sense. Liberals, extremists and religious minorities are those who shall pay for the turbulances of a nation that takes shelter in extreme nationalism and majority terror during the times of instability, and proud of it.

This shall be the beginning of an end. The end of a national hypocrisy, since during this phase of instability the closets in each dark corner of a state so secretive in her inner thoughts shall be public once and for all.

But for us, now it is time for silence again. For all shrieking voices are to be silenced by the most powerful weapon of all times: fear for loved ones.




(1) American Heritage Dictionary
(2) Wikipedia
(3) Wikipedia
(4) Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World by Macmillan Reference
(5) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

A Moment In Paradise*

That May morning that Greek troops were landed on Kordelia on the third decade of last century in Smyrna, vast majority of citizens were there to greet them. They were waiting for that moment for generations. Greek Government ready with its carefully studied Asia Minor Politics, started an integration plan immediately. This plan with its economical and political aspects aimed to integrate Christian. Muslim and Jewish communities of the city under a multi-ethnic consensus about the commercial and social life of the city so distinct in many aspects. The Greek army was introduced as peace keepers and it was made clear to the city council, representing all communities of Smyrna that, immediate replacement with the soon to be formed local police is imminent in a very near future. All members of the army were cautious on their treatment of locals in and the people of surrounding towns of Smyrna. Rumours have spread, even among Muslim population of Asia Minor that this government was among the best they've seen ever. Only within months, an unseen social harmony was achieved, Muslims, Christians and Jews alike went by their daily businesses as if nothing happened. The only problem that the governor was facing was due to the very peculiar way of living habits of the city: drunkenness, tavern brawls and street fights among local hoodlums.

However in the rest of Anatolia, another kind of fire was burning. Constantinople, once the center of two civilizations, was under occupation, and Turks everywhere were organizing themselves to liberate their homeland of 700 years. Meetings were held in many major cities and local leaders gathered to discuss ways of obtaining International support in forms of diplomacy, weapons and basic needs of the long starving population. A newly found socialist republic was interested in her southerly neigbor's nationalistic aspirations. The relations between Russia and Ottoman Empire was a sour one historically. Two imperialistic neigbors had always a dispute among them, but newly found republic found a opportunity for a new strategic friendship with Turks.

Nationalist movement was not a new concept among Turks. Unity and Advancement Society (Young Turk Movement) with its roots among Turks from Thessaloniki and Constantinopolis even had some government experience in the files and ranks of the old Empire. Dissidents and followers of that society alike found themselves new possibilities in a nationwide movement to start up a new republic based on Turkish identity. However they had a great problem at hand. Asia Minor was more ethnically divided than any geographical area where a nationalist movement had any hint of success in history. In the meetings they held throughout Anatolia, and after hours of brainstorming they came up with a brilliant idea based on the recent events. Just a few years ago, the dying Empire was able to protect its vast Armenian population by succesfully protecting them against their brothers who were in arms with Russian invasion army, and against Turkish bandits that were destroying remote Armenian villages. They based their new vision on this piece of history. They would go about and embrace every little group of people in Anatolia to form a new identity for a new republic purely based on millenium old civilization that existed in Asia Minor: Federal Democracy. No first among equals, but a strong state based on values and traditions of major ethnic groups, namely Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Kurds and Jews. The eyes of their leaders were shining; they have discovered the secret to save all mankind!

Their military movement followed the same path of vision. With the help of armaments sent by Soviet Republic, and the bravery of the people they have won the war, but were careful on the welfare and protection of their future citizens along the way. Finally they took back Smyrna. Again commotion were on the streets. This time there was again a new hope in the air. The city was excited to be a part of that new kind of state. The religious leaders as well as many Italians, Americans and others that were inhabitants of the city back then gathered up with Turkish authorities to form the first modern city council in Asia Minor immediately. The city, once more was an attraction to the people many surrounding towns and islands. Numerous people moved in to increase the population of this new metropolitan magnet to one million people in a matter of few years. In 1923 only 400,000 Greeks were living in Smyrna with 300,000 Turks and 150,000 Armenians. Today the city hosts more than 1,000,000 Greeks, 1,500,000 Turks and second city with biggest Armenian population in the world with over 1,200,000 Armenians.

Yes, this was a dream. Yes this was a description of paradise. But just think about it. Why did it have to happen otherwise? Whose fault is it? Can human kind be so wrong in its every deed? Does it have to be just one single moment in paradise?

(*)Paradise is also the name of a quarter at the turn of the century Smyrna.

chaos

it's difficult to write under the circumstances. professonalism contradicts with feelings. most of the public opinion makers are directing the hatred towards new targets. anyone who has an opinion against the common ideology is threatened by chief editors and op-eds of major dailies. pictures and videos depicting so called public servants with murderers are being debated.
nobel prize winner writer left the country. he is teaching at columbia, but how about the spring break.
everything, everybody and all thoughts are being supressed,and one wakes up in the morning with an unbearable painin the heart.
identity criris is mounting in a country of seventy plus millions of people.
it is difficult to write under the circumstances.

heute bin ich ein Armenien

as I write these, hrant dink's body is being carried through the streets of istanbul to his final resting place. followed by thousands, and lead by his widow Rakel who in her letter to her decesased husband told the crowds that he has left everyone he knew but his land.

today I am a different man. today I carry on my shoulders hundreds of years of discrimination, neglect and murder. today I became an Armenian. today I am an Armenian. today I became a grown-up man. Today I understand my elders who always told me 'Turks never change'. Indeed they don't.

in the personality of Mr. Dink, the latest Armenian martyr (I am afraid not the last), I cry for the millions massacred and I beseech the world opinion to stop it. to stop it by acknowledging ignorance, to stop it by acknowledging genocides and mass murders and discrimination, and ignorance, and neglect. this is the only way to light a candle for Mr. Dink, and all the millions scattered around the world that are represented in his name.

today, I am an Armenian, even for one day I am proud of it.

he was under influence of the internet

the guy that allegedly murdered Hrant Dink said (as I predicted yesterday) he acted alone and was under influence of the web sites that propagated against Hrant Dink in his early deposition. he is a minor. he will be prosecuted as a minor. the feeble government already blaming 'outside forces'. spineless politicians already arguing this act was against Turkey, one conspiracy theory after another.

this is no conspiracy theory. a wonderful person, a fighter for freedom of speech, a fighter for liberty is slained. and this is a casual event in Turkish standards. but this also is a beginning of a different road that this country has to cope with. this is the end of a century long denial.

today is sunday. let our prayers be with Mr. Dink, his family, his friends and Armenians of Turkey at large. let us pray for his soul and let us hope his death shall be a beginning, him a martyr of a long road to freedom and fight against oppression.
Amen.

they caught the guy

Media reports the authorities have caught the guy who pulled the trigger based on a pilot picture taken by a security camera on 23:00 hours local time.

One Ogun Samast, a native of northern town of Samsun, close to where a catholic priest was murdered last year was taken into custody by security forces supposedly coming out of a bus that took him from Istanbul, the city where he allegedly killed Mr. Hrant Dink.

He is said to carry all artifacts that can put him to the place of murder and can be seen on the pilot picture. He is said to be a worker in a northern town municipality.

This author still believes that all will be blamed to this guy and to this guy only and they will claim that he was acting alone and is solely responsible from this murder.

It is this author's view that, every Turkish citizen who turns his head against injustice, double standards and ignorance, who thinks that minorities are not citizens but foreigners, and they should be deprived off all human rights is the murderer, is the real murderers' accomplice.

But that is a matter of tomorrow. Today is the day for respect and mourning.

As I was writing these sentences, on TV the mayor of Istanbul was thanking the security forces for acting so quickly to take the alleged murderer into custody. I protest this hypocrisy. People whose job is to protect citizens cannot boast on catching some criminals. Shame on them, shame on all politicians right or left who fuelled these double standards and ignorance for 90 years now.

the ‘dove skittishness’ of my soul

by Hrant Dink
Published in Agos (Jan 19th, 2007)

In the beginning I was not concerned about the investigation initiated by Şişli Public Prosecutor under the pretext “insulting Turkish identity”. This was not for the first time. I was familiar with a similar case from Urfa. I was being prosecuted since three years because of my statement at a conference in Urfa in 2002 where I said that “I was not Turk but an Armenian and a citizen of Turkey” and there was again the accusation of “insulting Turkish identity”. I was completely unaware of the trials, I was not interested at all. Some of my lawyer friends from Urfa were dealing with the case in my absence.
I was completely indifferent too when I gave my interrogation to Public Prosecutor in Şişli. In the end I was trusting to my article and my good will. If Public Prosecutor evaluated the whole of the series of my articles and not this single sentence which alone did not make any sense at all, then he would easily understand that I had not an intention of “insulting Turkish identity” and this comedy would end, I thought.I was completely sure that after the interrogation I would be not be sued at all.

I was sure of myself. But to my surprise, the case came up in court. Still I didn’t lose my optimism. So I even told to lawyer Kerinçsiz who accused me during a live Tv program that “he should not be so eager that I would not be punished due to this case and that in case of punishment I would leave the country.” I was sure of myself, I really did not have the will or intention to “insult the Turkish identity”. Everyone reading the whole of the series of my articles would understand this.
And indeed the committee of three academicians from Istanbul University who were appointed as experts submitted a report to the court revealing this understanding. I had no reason to be concerned, in this or that stage of the case this mistake would be erased.
While remaining patient. But it wasn’t erased. The Public Prosecutor wanted to penalize me despite the positive report of the expert committee. Then the judge gave me six months imprisonment.
When I first heard the verdict I found myself under the bitter pressure of my hope that I kept during all the months of trial. I was stupefied... I was hurt and the feeling of rebellion reached its climax. “Let’s wait the verdict, let them prove me not-guilty, then you will regret all that you talked and written about” I had told myself for months just to hold on. During each hearing of the court there were statements published in the news and columns of the newspapers and broadcast in the TV-programs claiming that I said “Turkish blood is poisonous.” Each time I got more popular as an “enemy of the Turk”. At the corridors of the Law Courts fascists were attacking me with racist curses. They were humiliating me with pancards. Hunderds of threats via e-mail, phone calls an letters were pouring down and they were incresing day by day in number.
I was bearing all this and remainig patient with the expectation of verdict of not-guilty.
When the verdict was declared, the reality would be understood and all these people would be ashamed.

My only weapon is my sincerity
But now the verdict was there and all my hopes were lost. From that time on, I was in the most embarrassing situation a man can experience. The judge gave the decision in the name of “Turkish people” and legally registered that I had “insulted Turkish identity”.
I could bear everything but not this. In my view, to humiliate people who we live together on the basis of an ethnic or religious difference is called racism and this is something unforgivable.
Just under the influence of such a psychology, I told to the members of the press who were waiting for me at the door to check “whether I would leave the country or not” the following statement:
“I will consult my lawyers. I will go to the Court of Appeal for cassation and if necessary I will also apply to European Court of Human Rights. If I am not acquitted at any stage, then I will leave my country. Because in my understanding a person sentenced to punishment with such an accusation does not have the right to live with other citizens whom he has humiliated.”
As I said this all, I was emotional as always. My only weapon was my sinceretiy.

A bad joke

But the deep force determinant as it was to alienate me and to turn me to an open target found again a pretext to my statement and this time sued me stating that I was trying to effect the jurisdiction. This explanation was published and broadcast in all means of media but only the one in Agos drew their attention. This time responsibles of Agos and I began to be sued under the pretext of effecting the jurisdiction. It should be a bad joke.
I am a defendant. Who else should have more right to effect the jurisdiction rather than a defendant? But look at the comedy, that this time the defendant is once again sued as to effect the juridiction.

‘In the name of Turkish State’

I have to admit that my confidence to the “justice system” and to the concept of “law” was shaken to a large extent. It meant that the jurisiction was not independent as many state officers and politicians dared to say. Jurisdiction did not defend the rights of the citizen but the State.
In fact I was totally sure that even if it was said that the decision was taken in the name of the people, it was actually taken in the name of the State. My lawyers would apply to Court of Appeal but who could guarantee that deep forces would not be effective there again as determinant as they were to make me down? And were all the decisions of the Court of Appeal right indeed? Was it not the same Court of Appeal having signed the unjust decisions confiscating the real estates of the Minority Foundations?

Despite the efforts of the Attorney General

We applied indeed but did it make sense at all? The Attorney General of Court of Appeal, like the experts stated that there was no element of guilt and demanded my acquittal but the Court of Appeal found me guilty again. To the extent I was sure of my article so was The Attorney General of Court of Appeal of his decision that he objected the verdict and brought the case to the General Council.
But the great force which was just there to make me down and which let its existence be felt at all stages of the case with methods unknown to me, was again behind the curtain. As a result at the General Council again by majority of votes, it was declared that I insulted Turkish identity.

Like a dove

It is obvious that those wishing to alienate me and make me weak and defenceless reached their goal. Right now they have brought about a significant circle of people who are not low in number and who regard me as someone “insulting Turkish identity” due to the dirty and wrong information. The diary and memory of my computer is full of messages from citizens of this circle full of rage and threats. (Let me note that I regarded one among them posted from Bursa as a close threat and submitted it to Public Prosecutor’s office in Şişli but got no result.) To what extent are these threats real and to what extent unreal? In fact it is impossible for me to know this. What is the real threat and what is unbearable for me is the psychological torture of myself.
What I have always in my mind is the following question: “What do these people now think of me?” Unfortunately I am more popular nowadays and feel the look of the people telling each other: “Look, isn’t it that Armenian?”
And just as a reflexaction, I start to torture myself.
One side of this torture is curiousity, the other uneasiness.
One side is caution the other side is skittishness.
I am like a dove...
Like a dove I have my eyes everywhere, in front of me, at the back, on the left, on the right.
My head is as moving as the one of a dove... And fast enough to turn in an instance.

Just look at the price... This is the price

What did Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gül say? What did Minister of Justice Cemil Çiçek say? “The issue of Article 301 should not be exagerrated. Is there someone found guilty and sent to prison?” As if paying a price always means going to prison... Just look at the price... This is the price...Do you know Ministers what a price it is to imprison someone to the skittishness of a dove?.. Do you know it?.. Don’t you look at the doves at all?...

The thing they call “life and death”

What I all experienced was not an easy process... Neither for me nor for my family. There were times when I seriously thought about leaving the country. Especially at moments when the threats focused the ones close to me... At that point I always remained helpless.
What they call “life and death” should be such a thing actually. I could be the warrior of my own will but I had no right of exposing the life of near relations to danger. I could be my own hero but I had no right to reveal courage at the expense of another person let alone a kin.
Just at these helpless moments I found shelter around my family and children. I found the greatest support from them. They were trusting me. There would be together with me wherever I went. They would come when I said “Let’s go” and stay when I said “Let’s stay.”

To stay and resist

But if we go, where then? To Armenia?
But to what extent could a person like me tolarete the injustice as intolerant as I am at this issue? Wouldn’t I find myself in greater troubles there?
To go and live in European countries wasn’t my style either. I know myself. After three days abroad, I miss my country. What should I do there? Ease makes me uneasy! To leave “boiling hells” and go to “ready heavens” was against my understanding. We were sort of people desiring to turn hell to heaven. To stay and live in Turkey was our real wish and and also a must of respect towards all of our known and unknown friends giving the struggle of democracy in Turkey and supporting us.
We would stay and resist.
However if someday we had to go, then we would go like in 1915... like our ancestors... Without knowing where to go.... Walking on the roads they had walked.... Feeling their pain and agony...
With such a reproach we would leave our country. And we would not go to the place of our heart but where our feet went. To whatever place it was.

Frightened and Free

I hope that we are never obliged to experience such an abandonment. We have enough hope and reasons not to live such a thing. Now I am applying to European Court of Human Rights. I don’t know how many years this case will take. What I know and what relieves me to some extent is the fact that at least I will continue to live in Turkey until this case comes to an end.
When a positive verdict is declared I will surely be happier and then this will mean that I will never have to leave my country.
Probably the year 2007 will be a more difficult year for me. Trials will continue, new cases will came up in court. Who knows which kind of injustice I will encounter. But while this all will happen, I will regard the following fact as my guarantee.
Yes, I can feel myself as restless as a dove but I know that in this country people do not touch and disturb the doves.
The doves continue their lives in the middle of the cities.
Yes indeed a bit frightened but at the same time free.

from the press on mr. dink 1

Armenian anger at Turkish murder

From BBC.co.uk- The Armenian government has condemned the murder in Istanbul of a prominent Turkish journalist of Armenian descent.
The speaker of Armenia's parliament said the murder showed that Turkey should not even dream about joining the European Union.

Hrant Dink's murder on Friday sparked a protest by thousands of people where he was shot near his newspaper's offices.

He had written extensively about the massacre of Armenians during the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian said: "The killing of this well-known Armenian journalist in Turkey raises numerous questions and deserves the strongest condemnation.
"We hope that the Turkish authorities will do everything possible to find and punish the culprit strictly in accordance with the law".

The speaker of Armenia's parliament, Tigran Torosyan went even further.
"Following the murder, Turkey should not even dream about joining the European Union," the Armenian news agency Arminfo quoted him as saying.
Journalists and politicians in Turkey have expressed outrage at the killing, which many described as a political assassination, while the US, EU, France, and several human rights groups also voiced shock and condemnation.
Police said Hrant Dink was shot twice. Late on Friday, Turkish media quoted Istanbul's governor as saying three people were in custody over the killing.

Hrant Dink was found guilty in October 2005 of insulting Turkish identity after he wrote an article which addressed the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians nine decades ago.
Dink was one of Turkey's most prominent Armenian voices and despite threats on his life, he refused to stay silent.
The killings of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks is a sensitive subject in both Armenia and Turkey. Many Armenians have campaigned for the killings to be recognised internationally as genocide. Turkey denies any genocide, saying the deaths were a part of World War I.
The two countries still have no official relations since Armenia gained independence after the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

liberty defeated

first apologies are in order. for a long 15 days I couldn't write anything. literally. there are a lot of personal reasons but there are no excuses.

but the wake up call came yesterday. in the form of a tragic event of the kind that dwellers of this country are all so familiar with , but the global public might get schocked. the prominent (and tha accent is on the 'the') Armenian journalist in Turkey was massacred yesterday in front of his newspaper's door, daytime, in front of hundreds of onlookers. he wrote several times that his life was being threatened, by letters, e-mail and even by a deputy governor of istanbul during a meeting in the governor's palace. no precautions were taken. despite the crocodiles' tears on media today his blood stays in the hands of every authority and public opinion maker in this country. at a time he was getting ready to bring issues about problems about freedom of speech in Turkey to the human rights court of Europe, this author thinks the action is another ring in the chain of suppressive events by Turkey at large against its Christian minorities.

I personally wish to condemn all hypocrites of this country and leave the rest of my space to a press realease by his Agos Newspaper staff and his short biography. more I shall write later. May he rest in peace and God bless his soul.

PRESS RELEASE
Our dearest friend , our brother , the editor in chief of AGOS newspaper Hrant Dink has been assasinated ruthlessly.There are no words to explain our pain.

Our deepest condolences for those who can still feel themselves as human beings.

AGOS Members

Hrant Dink was born in Malatya on 15.9.1954.
At the age of seven, he migrated to İstanbul together with his family.
He got his primary and secondary education in Armenian schools. Immediately after lyceum, he got married.
He graduated from Zoology Department of İstanbul University's ScienceFaculty. Then he continued his education at Philosophy Department of the same universities Literature Faculty for a while.
Since 1996 he works as the columnist and editor-in chief of AGOS weekly newspaper which can be regarded as the voice of Armenian community.
He tries to make this newspaper a democrat and oppositional voice of Turkey and also to share the injustices done to Armenian community with public opinion.
One of the major aims of the newspaper is to contribute to dialogue between Turkish and Armenian nations and also between Turkey and Armenia.
He takes part in various democratic platforms and civil society organizations.

PS. The web site of AGOS Newspaper could be reached through this link.

on turkish accession to eu

again, no comment;

from a speech by mr. olli rehn, member of european commission, responsible from enlargement, on turkish accession to eu, on march 8th, 2005 in istanbul:

"It is fair to say that the European public opinion is divided on the prospect of the accession of Turkey into the EU. However, the reality is more complex – as always – and some elements are worth noting.
One of them is the attitude of the younger generations which, according to recent surveys conducted in several EU Member States, is as a general pattern more open to the idea of Turkey’s accession than the older ones. This is pertinent food for thought for European political leaders.
The European project is geared towards the future. It is therefore the legitimate right and duty of the political leaders of the younger generations, of my generation, to look towards the future. We do not live any more in the Cold War Europe, but in the Europe of the 21st century, which is deeply aware that the relationship with the Muslim world is one of its major challenges.
If Turkey succeeds in its reform process and thus fulfils the criteria for membership after negotiations, it will become the crossroads of two civilisations. This represents a great opportunity for Europe and especially for the younger generations of Europe. I want to make sure that this opportunity is not missed.
In the accession negotiations the process is as important as the outcome. In other words, the process of reforms in Turkey - which will make the country fully respect the European values of the rule of law, human rights and democracy in all spheres of life and in all the corners of the country – paves the way for membership, and is as such as important as membership itself. As Prime Minister Erdogan has said, the Copenhagen criteria could actually be called the Ankara criteria, since they are, in the first instance, made for the benefit of Turkey’s citizens and not to please, say, some EU officials.
To convince the European public and governments, I cannot be a salesman of Turkey – but I can plead for fair, serious and determined negotiations, aimed at leading Turkey to EU membership.
My role in this process, and that of the Commission, is that of a referee and a manager. The referee must assess whether Turkey meets the criteria of membership and ensures that Turkey has a fair chance of proving its European credentials. The manager is there to support your efforts in meeting the criteria both financially and politically.
It is finally up to the Turkish people to take action. I am sure that winning this crucial match is worth it for Turkey and for the Turks, as well as for Europe."

new years celebrations

stuffed turkey with rice dinner for six (take away) $120
night out at an average restaurant per person $130
night out at a luxury restaurant per person $200
minimum wage $200

turkey, the land of controversies, turns and turbulances is getting ready for a new year. imagine a country where riches are temporary, the only permenant thing is poverty. riches change hands everyday where almost 70% of the economy is illegal (meaning trade is done off-the-record, without incurring any taxes). life is impossible for almost anybody who wishes to keep his(her) decency, pride or character. one must bribe for almost anything.

when there is no sense of tomorrow, the national motto should be something like "carpe ibidem". among all this mess turkish media and masses are getting ready to get drunk, have fun like there is no tomorrow and spend the last few liras available in their charge limits.

the media are publishing one belle du jour after another to exxagerate the event. although the reality shall set in on thursday (after a lenghty muslim holiday that coincides with the new year's eve this year), let us join the bandwagon with one of their beauties of the days.

Happy New Year everybody. I will be off until Monday unless....

on turkey

a nice advertorial on Turkey I came across in YouTube



yet another one with more visuals;

Ani (Kars) revisited

this note was waiting to be published for the longest time.I have visited the ancient city of Ani (Kars) in eastern Turkey a few weeks ago. it was said the city of dreams by many friends and authors that have visited the city before. seeing it the first time, I say they were right.

it was winter by climate but there were no snow, very unlike Ani they say in december. but aside from that fact, the city was really up to its fame, a crossroads of many cultures: armenian by origin, ornamented by greek, russian and shiite tradition, Ani was full of history and pictures of today's poverty.

large streets and mansions built in the recent russian era dating back to early 20th century. large streets full of ghosts. ghosts of a long forgotten past, when big banquets were shining on the nights of their hosts, rich tradesman benefiting from their location on the silk road. russian era highlighted the city as a trade and resort town.

but the tragic era of the town is just before that. when with the armenians, structures like St. Apostle's Church went into the dark corners of history. The church dating back to late 10th century was an early architectural gem of near east.

today, in the long streches of solitudes we may call streets, one may witness the bitterness of history, how bitter it treated the city-dwellers of today, how it reminds them eveyday the deeds of their ancestors. vast emptiness and rude winds play hide and seek around the thin coats of children playing on the streets for they have nothing else to turn to.

the russian tradition lingers on though. today's Kars is the only city in the area where one can still find a pub open to have a beer every night, have a friendly chat and talk endlessly about politics, economics and failure. today's population of turks, kurds and azeri's, mostly people moved in from neighboring regions as the turkish population moved out to metropolitan turkey, live in basic harmony with spontanous unrest among them due to religious or political preferences.

but one has to wait for snow in Ani. without it it bears no anchor to reality. one has to go back. one has to wait for snow to clean it all.

ps. for those who wants to be informed on the subject and a vast collection of pictures, visit Virtual Ani or for a modern reference; Kars in Wikipedia; Kars in All About Turkey

small christmas gathering

when you are far away, you are far away from home. home means people who share your sentiments along the way. home means when you look through the looking glass, all colors and shapes you see are familiar. home is an old ferris wheel which reminds more memories than your porch chair. it's wind, it's blizzards, it's sunshine, it's life.

2006 christmas will be remembered as the year of "mass-a-thone", 3 masses in 24 hours. since I spend most of my time apart from the town I call home in Turkey, I have missed my church buddies. it was a good chance to reconcile. most of them brits, some canadians and americans. some christian turks. a parish of under 30 people, but it's christmas no matter what.

in southern turkey it's mid-40's, sunny, and of course no snow. but it's still christmas.a small tree, carols on tape, some good mozart, and it's over.

I will be on and off the net for the week to come. but do come, because I will be sharing more thoughts on children, squeezed between the west and the east, children of turkey, and their feelings about Santa Claus and new year presents (as they exchange presents on new years' eve here not on christmas day).

Merry Christmas y'all.