A Turkey Snub
New York Post, October 13, 2002-The European Union has foolishly snubbed Turkey. Its executive commission has given the go-ahead to admit 10 new countries by 2004 - Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta. Read More

Iraqi Kurds Review Draft Constitution
Kirkuk named "regional capital."
PM Ecevit warns that Iraqi Kurds are "out of control"
James C. Helicke, The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Rival Iraqi Kurdish groups have reviewed a draft constitution for Iraq in the event Saddam Hussein is ousted by the United States, but said it's not a first step toward forming an independent Kurdish state. Read More

ATAA: Pataki Proclamation Whips Up Unnecessary Hatred
between Turkish and Greek Americans
Dr. Kaymakcalan Demands an Apology from Gov. Pataki
The Turkish Times-Assembly of Turkish American Associations President Dr. Orhan Kaymakcalan has reacted firmly to New York Governor George Pataki's declaration of October 6 as the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe." In his October 11 letter to Pataki, Kaymakcalan made it clear that the aim of such a declaration "can only be to conjure up unnecessary hatred between the Turkish and Greek American communities in New York and around the nation." Read More

Blackballed Turkey stung by Brussels' snub
Human Rights Watch praised HR reforms in Turkey
Jonny Dymond in Ankara and Owen Bowcott, Oct.10, 2002 - The Guardian - The Turkish government has attacked the European commission's report delaying its hope of membership, saying it was based on "deficient information". The report disappointed Turks by saying that their country was not ready even to start membership talks. Read More

Cyprus: Turkish, Greek Cypriot leaders agree to new talks
Rauf Denkas Undergoes Heart Surgery in NYC
Irwin Arieff, UNITED NATIONS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President] Rauf Denktash agreed on Friday to a new round of talks in early November and to begin conferring on treaties and laws for a united Cypriot state. Read More

Turkish General Brushes Off EU Criticism
General Tuncer Kilinc : "We are happy with the situation"
ANKARA, Oct 11 (Reuters) - A senior Turkish general on Friday brushed off criticism in an EU report of the lack of full civilian control of the military, which the European Union sees as an obstacle to Turkey joining the bloc. "We are happy with the situation," General Tuncer Kilinc, general secretary of the powerful National Security Council (MGK), told reporters in response to a question about the EU report published on Wednesday. Read More

Political Rumblings Towards Turkish General Elections
23 parties will run in November including
"Turkish Communist Party"
Yuksel Oktay, Special Correspondent in Turkey, The Turkish Times - Turkish politics is hopping these days with daily developments and a crackling nervous energy focused on November general elections. A recent headline: Kemal Dervis is trying to bring the parties on the left under a roof headed by Erdal Inonu rather than joining the New Turkey Party -- a futile exercise that should never have been initiated. Read More

Jerry Falwell calls Islam's Prophet a "Terrorist"
Pat Robertson: "Islam preaches violence"
NEW YORK (AP) - The Rev. Jerry Falwell says "I think Muhammad was a terrorist" in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on the CBS program "60 Minutes." The conservative Baptist minister tells correspondent Bob Simon he has concluded from reading Muslim and non-Muslim writers that Islam's prophet "was a -- a violent man, a man of war." Read More

Dr. Fatma Gul,
One of the Best in Texas
The Turkish Times - Dr. Fatma Gul M.D. was named by Dallas Magazine one of the best physical medicine/rehabilitation specialists in Texas. She is currently the director of medical rehabilitation at Medical City Dallas. Dr. Gul is a graduate (B.A., M.D.) of Istanbul University, Turkey. Her specialty is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Read More