Turkey Beats S. Korea 3-2 For Third
H. Sukur scored the fastest opening goal in W.Cup history
John Pye, The Associated Press, DAEGU, South Korea (AP) - Hakan Sukur scored the fastest opening goal in World Cup history, just 11 seconds into Turkey's 3-2 victory Saturday night over South Korea for third place in the World Cup. Ilhan Mansiz had two other goals, both helped by Sukur. The Turks, in just their second World Cup, had their best finish; they went out in the first round in 1954. More

ATAA Delegation Holds High-level talks in Ankara
Mehmet Celebi, ATAA Midwest Region Vice President - The annual ATAA delegation this year visited Ankara and Bulgaria on June 10-23. The Ankara part of the visit began on Monday, as the ATAA delegation began its day with the traditional wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. ATAA President Dr. Kaymakcalan later signed the guest book on behalf of ATAA and the visiting delegates. More|Photo Album

Bush thanks Turkey for leading peacekeeping mission
Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey, June 25 - U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday thanked Turkey for taking command of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, calling Turkey a model for Muslims of a secular and democratic state. More

Sam Weems Publishes New Book
"Armenia: Secrets of a "Christian" Terrorist State"
The Turkish Times - Sam Weems, a former District Attorney and Judge from Hazen, Arkansas, has released the first of what is reported to be a four-volume compilation of Turkish-Armenian history before and during World War I. The book, 'Armenian: Secrets of a 'Christian' Terrorist State' focuses on Armenian involvement in the deaths of scores of Turks prior to and during the Russian invasion of Eastern Anatolia and relies primarily on Armenian sources to argue why the events of the 1915 period cannot be labeled as a 'genocide'. The author  highlights long-held Armenian aspirations for statehood and their commitment to achieving that end by any means possible. The book is available through www.stjohnpress.com and www.turkishforum.com. The price of the book and the delivery cost is a total of $35.90 within the continental United States.

Another Turkish-American Enters Politics
John Erder Yackley seeks Illinois House Seat, The Turkish Times, Chicago - John Erder Yackley, 33, a native Chicagoan is running for the Illinois House from the 11th district-Chicago's near Northwest side. He is a nominee of the Libertarian party, the third largest political party in the U.S. "I am a reform candidate who opposes limitless government spending. The Illinois budget has grown 45% in the last four years.More

Turkey to hold peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh
ANKARA, June 18 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday he would meet Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Azeri President Haydar Aliyev later this month to seek an end to a long-standing territorial dispute. More

Turks Take Over Kabul Peacekeeping
Louis Meixler, The Associated Press, KABUL, Afghanistan, June 21 (AP) - Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, took command Thursday of the 19-nation international peacekeeping force guarding the Afghan capital, renewing a military association which dates back 80 years Turkish Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu accepted command of the more than 4,000-strong international force from Britain, which announced plans Thursday for deep cuts in its forces in Afghanistan. More

17th World Cup Competition and the Golden Score
Yuksel Oktay, Istanbul-June 24, 2002 - What joy, what happiness and what relief! As many observers have already done, I want to scream to the world that there are Turks out there who can achieve, whatever it may be, if it is played according to the rules and with fairness. Soccer is not just an act of putting the ball through two posts, as everyone knows, which is the final act, to be sure, and that is what counts at the end. More

Turkish MP Blames Armenian Diaspora
BBC, Monitoring International Reports, June 20, 2002 - Turkish MP and former Health Minister Bulent Akarcali has told the Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak that the Diaspora is the major obstacle in the way of improving Armenian-Turkish relations. He criticized the Diaspora for failing to invest in Armenia or bring their skills to the country. More

Turkish soccer fans celebrate after a live transmission of the so called small final match from the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, at the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's district St.Pauli, northern Germany, on Saturday, June 29, 2002. Turkey won 3-2 vs South Korea. (AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer)

ATAA delegation made its way to the Presidential Palace where it was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. President Sezer expressed his gratitude for the visit, and said that he truly valued what the Turkish American community was doing to promote Turkey in the US and he always looked forward to meeting with the ATAA to exchange ideas. Photo Album

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit salutes deputies of his Democratic Left Party in Ankara on Thursday, June 27, 2002. In his first public address in nearly two months, Turkey's ailing premier appeared to hint at early elections, but later backtracked and said polls would take place when they are due in 2004. The 77-year-old Ecevit was hospitalized twice in May, and has been recuperating at home for weeks after suffering intestinal problems, an infection, a cracked rib and a spinal injury. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

July 15 issue of The Turkish Times will not be published due to our annual Summer Vacation.
See you at the August 1 issue...