Turkish Forum

Month: February 2010

  • Letters to Obama, Congressmen and Senators

    Letters to Obama, Congressmen and Senators

    [ 23 Feb 2010 12:15 ]

    Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. During the past couple weeks American Azerbaijanis and their US supporters have sent 1211 letters to the US Administration, including US President Barack Obama, vice-president Joe Biden, secretary of state Hilary Clinton, as well as US Congressmen and Senators, APA’s Washington correspondent was told at Azerbaijani Diaspora organization USAN.
    The reason for sending the letters was to recognize and commemorate the Khojaly Massacre of 1992.

    The authors of the letter point out that “All Azerbaijani people will forever remember where they were on February 26, 1992, like all Americans will forever remember where they were on the tragic morning of September 11, 2001. Having experienced terror firsthand, Azerbaijan has become a staunch ally of the United States in the War on Terror and a member of the Coalition, with Azerbaijani battle-ready peacekeepers serving side-by-side with Americans in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq”.

    On the 18th anniversary of the massacre the Diaspora is also calling upon the to properly recognize and commemorate this tragedy on the floor of the Congress, in the Congressional Record, and by attending a vigil, and to pressure the Armenian government to accept its responsibility for this massacre and withdraw its troops from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan.

    In the meanwhile the Turkish and Azerbaijani Diasporas have sent during the recent two weeks more than 2436 letters to the representatives of US government, including the Congress members and the House and Senate Foreign affairs Committee. These letters are targeting to influence the US Congress to vote against the H252, Congressional resolution on the so called “Armenian Genocide”, voting on which has been has been scheduled for a vote in at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 4, 2010.

  • Turkish Police Detain Retired Army Chiefs Over Plot

    Turkish Police Detain Retired Army Chiefs Over Plot

    (Update2)

    By Ali Berat Meric and Steve Bryant

    Feb. 22 (Bloomberg) — Turkish police detained at least 40 people as part of a probe into an alleged coup plot by senior military officers, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

    The case is a matter for the judiciary, Erdogan told reporters in Madrid today, declining to give further details. Ibrahim Firtina, the former air force chief, and ex-admiral Ozden Ornek were among those taken into custody in police operations in Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir, state-run news agency Anatolia said, citing unidentified police officials.

    The arrests follow a report in Taraf newspaper on Jan. 21 that army officers had drafted a plan in 2003 to stage bombings that would undermine confidence in Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted government. It’s the latest escalation of tensions between Erdogan and the military, which is tasked with maintaining the constitutional separation of state and religion.

    The detentions reflect “an increasingly open war” between the governing Justice and Development Party and its secularist opponents, Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst for the Eurasia Group, a New York-based company that measures political risk, wrote in an e-mailed report. The power struggle raises “the risk of a head- on confrontation that would badly damage political stability.”

    Stocks, Lira Fall

    Turkish stocks and the lira fell after the raids were reported. The main ISE National 100 share index dropped 1.4 percent to 52,592.88 at the close of trading in Istanbul. The lira declined 1 percent to 1.5285 per dollar.

    The prosecutors who ordered today’s detentions were acting within their rights and independent of any government instructions, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said in an interview with CNN Turk television.

    Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug on Jan. 25 called the allegations published in Taraf “unconscionable” and said they were part of a campaign of psychological warfare designed to undermine public trust in the armed forces. Basbug postponed a planned visit to Egypt today after the arrests, CNN Turk said.

    In 2007 Erdogan called early general elections after the army criticized his choice of Abdullah Gul as president because of his Islamist past. Erdogan won re-election with 47 percent of the vote, the biggest share any Turkish party had drawn in almost 40 years, and promoted Gul to the presidency. The next election is due by July 2011.

    Several former army officers as well as journalists, trade unionists and academics are already being tried on charges of plotting a coup against Erdogan’s government in 2003.

    Police also searched the homes of retired generals and the offices of military research and fund-raising foundations today, Anatolia said.

    To contact the reporter on this story: Steve Bryant in Ankara at [email protected]. Ali Berat Meric in Ankara at

    Last Updated: February 22, 2010 10:54 EST

  • Washington blames Ankara for trouble in Armenian issue

    Washington blames Ankara for trouble in Armenian issue


    MEHMET ALİ BİRAND

    Monday, February 22, 2010

    The signed historical protocols with Armenia are losing their attractiveness with each passing day. General evaluation by Washington shows that Ankara is to be blamed for the point we arrived at. The Obama administration is very negative about the future of this protocol and the “genocide” resolution.
    If we gather evaluations and statements made by those monitoring upper-level authorities in Washington closely in this regard, then a totally different scenario from what we assumed emerges.
    One of the very first steps taken by the Obama administration in order to get rid of this genocide dilemma was to bring Turkey and Armenia together for a long process of discussion. Those who characterized this as a “step taken deliberately” complain, “We spent a lot of effort and time.”
    The same circles that draw attention to the process that started with a visit by the president and continued with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton focusing on this issue say that Turkey is responsible for what happened later on.
    According to the Americans, Turkey was not able to effectively convince Azerbaijan in time. People believe that after the signing the protocols it surrendered to Baku’s brisk reaction too soon.
    The prime minister linking the condition of signing the protocols in Parliament to the Karabakh issue is perceived by them as a “fatal stroke.”
    And the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court they perceive as an “intelligible reaction” that does not hinder the protocol in harmony with the country’s general atmosphere.

    ‘Genocide’ resolution may pass this time

    It is being called attention to how the Obama administration will react when this now in Washington prioritized issue of “genocide” resolution in respect to Turkey comes up in Congress.
    During Obama’s election campaign he attracted attention saying that he would acknowledge the Armenian genocide and if there was no further development he’d be forced to continue his attitude.
    The same authority says “the shortest and most effective way to change this situation is for Turkey to separate the Armenian protocols from a solution in Karabakh,” knowing how difficult this is. But he can’t restrain himself from saying, “There is no other way out.”
    You see there are again black clouds gathering in Washington, as typical each year. The same scenarios will be played. Mutual threats, unnecessary tension and relations harmed.
    Will Washington just observe this situation?
    The following is the answer we get:
    “Can you tell us what Turkey does to make Obama not lose his bonus by taking back his promise? Why should we put the president into a difficult situation only to please an Ankara that constantly beats Israel or is at adverse terms with us regarding Iran?”
    Recently opponents of the AKP in Washington are able to more effectively make their views public. In the beginning the Obama administration did not pay much attention and continued supporting Erdoğan. But this support has slowly eroded. They say, “We no longer can pretend not hear their voices. We have started to feel that something is fishy about Turkish foreign politics.”
    This is the latest situation in the Armenian “genocide” resolution, to the attention of all those who are related to the subject.
    © 2009 Hurriyet Daily News
    URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=washington-blames-ankara-for-trouble-in-armenian-issue-2010-02-

    — On Mon, 2/22/10, Hikmet Ersoy <[email protected]> wrote:

    From: Hikmet Ersoy <[email protected]>
    Subject: TURKIYE ARTIK TEK BASINA…
    To: “Turkish Forum” <[email protected]>, , “dtk (Dunya Turkleri Konseyi)” <[email protected]>

    Bildigimiz gibi ABD DIS Isler Komitesi 4.mart gunu bizi ilgilendiren cok kritik bir oylama yapacak.
    Anlasilan o ki uzun yillardan beri “Soykirim..” tasarisinin gecmemesi icin Kongre de Turkiye lehine lobi yapan
    Yahudi Kuruluslari Israil-Turkiye gerginligi nedeni ile bu kez seyirci kalacakmis….Ve savasmamizi beklemeyin demisler.
    ( Sebebi herhalde hepimiz biliyoruz…!!! )
    Zaten ortalikda Turk lobisi denilecek bir sey yok… Daha once Bush ve Clinton aksine karar cikmasini onlemislerdi…
    O tarihlerde Musevi lobisi gercekden bizi desteklemisti…
    Fakat anlasiliyor ki Obamanin gucu bugun yeterli olmayacak…
    AIPAC ( En guclu Israil lobisi ) parmagini bile kipirdatmayacakmis…
    ADL ( Etkili Yahudi toplulugu ) Herhangi bir calisma icinde degiliz,demis.
    JEWISH STREET – Pozisyonumuzu olmayacak demis…
    Butun bunlarin karsiliginda Turk Dis Isleri “Kiyamet kopar ve Turkiyenin baski gordugunde geri adim atan degil
    aksine cok sert….!!!! tepki veren bir yapiya sahip oldugunu ..!!!! ” hatirlatmislar ilave olarak da “ABD ile iliskilerimiz
    gozden gecirilir..” demisler….!!!!!!!!!.
    Sonucda “Haticeye degil, neticeye bakacagiz…” . Insallah Amerikalilar bu tepkimizden korkarlar….!!!!! ve
    oy birligi ile lehimize karar verirler…!!!!
    H.E
  • Khojaly genocide commemorated at University of California

    Khojaly genocide commemorated at University of California

     
     

    [ 22 Feb 2010 15:40 ]

    Baku – APA. California-based Azerbaijan-American Council, Association of Turkic-speaking students at Berkeley and Association of Turkish-American Assembly organized a ceremony for commemoration of Khojaly genocide on February 19 at the University of California, Berkeley. Azerbaijan-American Council told APA members of the Azerbaijani community, Azerbaijani students educated in California, officials of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and Berkeley students attended the ceremony. Professor Thomas Goltz of Montana University, Professor Thomas Ambrosio of North Dakota State University, Parvin Akhanci of University of California, Davis, Azerbaijan Consulate General official Elshan Baloglanov, ATAA representative Ergun Kirikovali and AAC Director Executive Javid Huseynov addressed the ceremony.

    Odious Armenian terrorist, Armenian national hero Monte Melkonian, who was killed by the Azerbaijani soldiers in Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in June, 1993, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.

  • Kazak Halk Dansları Orkestrasının Konserine Davetlisiniz

    Kazak Halk Dansları Orkestrasının Konserine Davetlisiniz

    ISTANBUL- ANKARA- ESKISEHIR-BURSA

    Tattimbet Akademik Halk Enstrümanları Orkestrasının

    Türkiye Turnesi için hazırladığı Konser Programı

    1. Kurmangazi eseri «Sariarka» Icra eden orkestra ve sefi Erlan Baktigerey
    2. Ğ¢urkes eseri «Konil asar» Icra eden orkestra ve «Ğ kku» dans toplulugu
    3. Dauletkerey eseri «Koroglu» Icra eden orkestra
    4. Dede Korkut eseri «Konir» Kil kopuzda Ulusal yarismalarin odul sahibi

    Ğ•rjigit Ospanhanov

    5. Ğ¢attimbet eseri «Sarijaylau» Icra eden orkestra ve sefi KC devlet sanatcisi Ğ bdugalisin  Sokanbayev
    6. S. Kaldayakov eseri «Ak mandaylim» Orkestra esliginde Ulusal yarismalarin odul sahibi Ğœunira Ğœukajanova
    7. V.Ğ .Моsart eseri «Ğ¢urk marsi» Icra eden orkestra
    8. Sugir eseri «Ğ kku» Icra eden orkestra ve «Ğ kku» dans toplulugu
    9. Karasay bestesi «Karasay» Icra eden KC devlet sanatcisi

    Bolathan Tasimov
    10. Turk sarkisi «Cok uzaklarda» Orkestra esliginde solist Mogolistan ve KC kultur sanatcisi Ğœerues Basay
    11. Ğ¢attimbet eseri «Kokeykesti» Icra eden orkestranin kopuzcular grubu
    12. Ibiray eseri «Kizil asik» Icra eden «Gencler» Birliginin odul sahibi Caksikeldi Kemalov
    13. Тurk sarkilarindan potpuri Icra eden orkestra ve sefi Erlan Baktigerey
    14. Dina eseri «Naviski» Icra eden orkestranin dombiracilar grubu
    15. Sasubay sarkisi «Ğ k kayin» Solist KC devlet sanatcisi

    Ğœeyirhan Adambekov
    16. Kirgiz bestesi «Bas botoy» Icra eden orkestra
    17. Ğ .Cubanov eseri «Bi kuyu» Icra eden orkestra ve «Ğ kku» dans toplulugu
    18. Halk turkusu «Gauhar tas» Orkestra esliginde KSSCB halk sanatcisi Bibigul Tolegenova
    19. L. Hamidi eseri «Bulbul» Orkestra esliginde KSSCB halk sanatcisi Bibigul Tolegenova
    20. Kurmangazi eseri «Serper» Icra eden orkestra

    Orkestranin sanat yonetmeni ve sefi Uluslararasi yarismalarda bircok odul kazanan Ğ•rlan Baktigerey

    Orkestra sefi KC devet sanatcisi Ğ bdugalisin Sokanbayev

    TÜRKİYE TURNESİ TAKVİMİ :

    22.02.2010 PAZARTESİ:

    İstanbul Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Ord.Prof.Dr.Cemil Bilsel Konferans Salonu – İSTANBUL

    23.02.2010 SALI :

    Cumhurbaşkanlığı Senfoni Orkestrası €“ ANKARA

    24.02.2010 ÇARŞAMBA :

    Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Atatürk Kültür Merkezi €“ ANKARA

    25.02.2010 PERŞEMBE : Eskişehir Kültür ve Sanat Sarayı €“ ESKİŞEHİR

    26.02.2010 CUMA : Merinos Kültür Merkezi – BURSA

    KAZAKİSTAN TATTIMBET AKADEMIK

    MILLI ENSTRUMANLAR ORKESTRASI

    1988€™de Kazakistan Karaganda Eyaletinin sanat hayatinda yeni olusum olarak ortaya cikti. Orkestra sefi Duysen Ukibay€™in yonetiminde 25 kisiden olusan Kazak milli enstrumanlar orkestrasi kurulmustur. Iki yil sonra orkestraya, sertpe kuyun (dombira calma turu) babasi, unlu muzisyen Tattimbet adi verilmistir.

    1991-1994 yillari orkestra sefi K. Sayjanov olmustur. Bu orkestranin sanatsal olarak ust seviyeye cikmasina katkida bulunmustur.

    KSCB€™nin halk sanatcisi, devlet odulleri sahibi, Prof. Samgon Sagaddinuli Kacigaliyev orkestranin ilk kurucularindan olmustur. 1992€™de ise bu orkestranin yonetimine davet edilmistir. Maestro bolgesel folklor malzemelerinden, Kazak, Rus ve yabanci klasikler ile BDT ve dunya ulkeleri bestecilerinin eserlerinden olusan ozel bir repertuar yapacak bir is tecrubesiyle gelmistir.  Boylece, Cumhuriyetimizin muzik tecrubesinde ilk defa €œAbay€ ve €œKiz Jibek€ operalarinin konser versiyonu Kazak orkestrasinin eslik etmesiyle sahnelendirilmistir . Buyuk is ve sanat tecrubesiyle kendisine guvenilerek teslim edilen orkestrayi mesleki acidan gelismesine tum cabalarini sarf etmistir.

    S. Kacigaliyev gibi tecrubeli ustayla birlikte calismak, orkestra sefi D.Ukibay ve A.Sokanbayev mesleki gelisimini olumlu bir sekilde etkilemistir. O donemlerde orkestra sefi D.Ukibay ise, 2001 yilinda I. Cumhuriyet S.Kacigaliyev orkestra sefleri yarismasinin odul sahibidir. 2006 yilinda Kazakistan emegi gecen devlet sanatcisi unvanina sahip olmustur.

    Mesleki derecesi yuksek muzisyenler: Kazakistan emegi gecen devlet sanatcisi, Kurmangazi Cumhuriyet yarismasinin odul sahibi G.Boltayeva; Kazakistan emegi gecen devlet sanatcisi, Kurmangazi Cumhuriyet yarismasinin odul sahibi B. Tasimov; Kurmangazi Cumhuriyet yarismasinin odul sahipleri B.Smagulov, K.Gabdelov, M.Ibirayev, E.Ospanhanov, B.kasimova, S.Rahimgaliyeva, S.Iztileuova vb. Sanatcilarin mesleki acidan gelismesi, kurumun akademiye donusturulmesine buyuk bir katkida bulunmustur.

    Orkestra; ABD, Fransa, Isvicre, Isvec, Cek Cumhuriyeti, Slovakya, Iran, Irak, Turkiye, Rusya, Guney Kore vb. ulkelerde turnelere cikip sanatini sergilemistir. Bugunde orkestranin sefi ve sanat yonetmeni Uluslararasi N.Tilendiyev orkestra sefleri yarismasinin odul sahibi Erlan Baktigerey€™dir.

    Boyle bir orkestranin Kazak halk ezgileri ve turkulerinden bir konser daha sunacak olmasi Istanbullu muzikseverler acisindan buyuk bir kazan olarak gorulmektedir.

    Karagandi Tattimbet Orkestrasini Istanbul’a gelerek konser icra etmesinide emegi gecenlere basta Turksoy Baskani Sayin Dusen Kaseinov ve Avrasya Enstitusu Baskani Prof. Dr. Hayati Tufekcioglu olmak uzere herkese en derin sukranlarimizi sunarız.

    Not: Program ucretsizdir.

  • Washington DC – Khojali Massacre DEMONSTRATION

    Washington DC – Khojali Massacre DEMONSTRATION

    COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION

    To Commemorate the Anniversary of Khojali Massacre

    And Protest Armenia’s Occupation of Western Azerbaijan

    Friday, February 26, 2009 Time and Location 11:30 AM  – 12:00 PM:

    Assembling at Dupont Circle

    (intersection of Massachusetts , Connecticut , and New Hampshire avenues).

    Closest metro station: Dupont Circle , red line. 1

    2:00 PM -1:30 PM:

    Walking through Massachusetts Avenue to the Embassy of Armenia

    located at 2225 R Street NW (intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and R Street ,

    near Sheridan Circle ) and holding demonstration.

    1:30 PM:

    Disbanding. This event, organized by local community members,

    has been coordinated with Washington DC Metropolitan Police and Secret Service.

    Sound equipment and signs will be provided, but participants are free to bring their own signs, posters, and flags. 

    Due to heavy traffic in and around DC area and difficulties with finding parking space,

    participants are encouraged to use public transportation,

    especially Metro, to ensure timely arrival.

    For additional information, contact Bedir Memmedli,  703-400-2523  703-400-2523 or [email protected]

    DEMAND JUSITCE FOR KHOJALI VICTIMS!

    SAY NO TO ARMENIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN WESTERN AZERBAIJAN !

    SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN’ S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY