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Turkish Government News
April 29, 2014 Tuesday
German president meets Turkish opposition party leader
Ankara
Turkish Government has issued the following press release:
Germany's President Joachim Gauck met with Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader
of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), on Monday
in the capital, Ankara.
Gauck's visit to Turkey comes two days after Germany's far-right
National Democratic Party (NPD) held a neo-Nazi rally on Saturday in
the mostly Turkish-populated Kreuzberg. The rally ended after hundreds
of people stopped the neo-Nazis from marching.
CHP Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu addressed the media after the
one-hour meeting, saying CHP's views on rising racism in Germany were
not discussed during the meeting. However, the main opposition party
wants justice to be served as soon as possible, according to Logoglu.
On April 5th, Burak Bektas, a Turkish man, was killed in the mostly
Turkish populated area of Neukoln in Berlin. The murderers'
whereabouts are still unknown as the killing raises debates of
increasing racism in Germany.
"We are against all kinds of racism whether it is in Germany, Turkey
or in the world," Logoglu added.
- Alevi situation
Logoglu said the situation of Turkey's Alevi people, who constitute
the largest religious minority in the country, was another topic
discussed during the meeting. He said the German president was
surprised that 'Cemevi's, Alevi place of worship, do not count as
official praying halls.
Cemevis are fundamentally important for the Alevi population but are
not recognized as places of worship in Turkey, according to the
Presidency of Religious Affairs.
- Turkish opposition
Logoglu quoted Gauck as saying there is a perception that Turkey has a
'weak' opposition.
"Gauck said CHP's projects are important as a social democrat party,''
Logoglu said. ''It is important to make the youth arouse interest to
politics and [Gauck] knows that CHP took lessons from the Gezi Park
incidents."
"The president wished us luck, stating that 28 percent is considered
as a huge vote in Germany," said Logoglu.
Armenian, Kurdish injustice taboos lifted
Joachim Gauck also said taboos concerning injustice against Armenians
and Kurds in Turkey have been lifted.
Gauck spoke at the Middle East Technical University during his Turkey
visit, noting that the influence of the military in politics have been
pushed back in the country.
''Turkey began the process of dialogue with the Kurds, and reduced the
number of violent conflict,'' Gauck said. ''For example the injustice
taboos against the Turkish Armenians or Kurds began to be lifted.''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expressed condolences to the
descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the incidents of 1915
are positive developments in Turkey, according to Gauck.
He also said Turkey's humanitarian aid service to Syrian refugees is
'impressive'.
"Turkey assumed many Syrians refugees without any conditions and
established refugee camps, schools, supplied humanitarian aid and
service health assistances,'' Gauck said. ''In fact, the government
also provides medical assistance to around 500 thousand people who do
not live in the refugee camps.''
For more information please visit: http://www.aa.com.tr/
April 29, 2014 Tuesday
German president meets Turkish opposition party leader
Ankara
Turkish Government has issued the following press release:
Germany's President Joachim Gauck met with Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader
of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), on Monday
in the capital, Ankara.
Gauck's visit to Turkey comes two days after Germany's far-right
National Democratic Party (NPD) held a neo-Nazi rally on Saturday in
the mostly Turkish-populated Kreuzberg. The rally ended after hundreds
of people stopped the neo-Nazis from marching.
CHP Deputy Chairman Faruk Logoglu addressed the media after the
one-hour meeting, saying CHP's views on rising racism in Germany were
not discussed during the meeting. However, the main opposition party
wants justice to be served as soon as possible, according to Logoglu.
On April 5th, Burak Bektas, a Turkish man, was killed in the mostly
Turkish populated area of Neukoln in Berlin. The murderers'
whereabouts are still unknown as the killing raises debates of
increasing racism in Germany.
"We are against all kinds of racism whether it is in Germany, Turkey
or in the world," Logoglu added.
- Alevi situation
Logoglu said the situation of Turkey's Alevi people, who constitute
the largest religious minority in the country, was another topic
discussed during the meeting. He said the German president was
surprised that 'Cemevi's, Alevi place of worship, do not count as
official praying halls.
Cemevis are fundamentally important for the Alevi population but are
not recognized as places of worship in Turkey, according to the
Presidency of Religious Affairs.
- Turkish opposition
Logoglu quoted Gauck as saying there is a perception that Turkey has a
'weak' opposition.
"Gauck said CHP's projects are important as a social democrat party,''
Logoglu said. ''It is important to make the youth arouse interest to
politics and [Gauck] knows that CHP took lessons from the Gezi Park
incidents."
"The president wished us luck, stating that 28 percent is considered
as a huge vote in Germany," said Logoglu.
Armenian, Kurdish injustice taboos lifted
Joachim Gauck also said taboos concerning injustice against Armenians
and Kurds in Turkey have been lifted.
Gauck spoke at the Middle East Technical University during his Turkey
visit, noting that the influence of the military in politics have been
pushed back in the country.
''Turkey began the process of dialogue with the Kurds, and reduced the
number of violent conflict,'' Gauck said. ''For example the injustice
taboos against the Turkish Armenians or Kurds began to be lifted.''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expressed condolences to the
descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the incidents of 1915
are positive developments in Turkey, according to Gauck.
He also said Turkey's humanitarian aid service to Syrian refugees is
'impressive'.
"Turkey assumed many Syrians refugees without any conditions and
established refugee camps, schools, supplied humanitarian aid and
service health assistances,'' Gauck said. ''In fact, the government
also provides medical assistance to around 500 thousand people who do
not live in the refugee camps.''
For more information please visit: http://www.aa.com.tr/