The following are translated excerpts from articles that appeared in the Turkish press.
TURKEY'S MAIN OPPOSITION CHIEF: 'FOUNDATION IS SLIPPING' FOR AKP
The "foundation is slipping" for the Justice and Development Party [AKP], according to the Republican People's Party [CHP] leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who has criticized the ruling AKP for "creating crises."
Speaking over the weekend during a breakfast with journalists in Sivas, the party leader said that the ruling party has forgotten the problems of the people, while focusing instead on petty matters.
"The AKP is creating crises. They're dragging along mass crowds behind that crisis. If Turkey were administered well, we would not be facing such crises. Even if the President is projecting everything as ordinary, the truth is that the crisis is becoming deeper. We are hoping for quick results," said Kılıçdaroğlu regarding developments following the Supreme Military Council, or YAŞ.
This year's YAŞ meeting witnessed a confrontation between the government and the military regarding appointments and promotions in the army. While the meeting continued last week, President Abdullah Gül, who was asked about the developments, said, "Everything is quite normal."
Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the Prime Minister has even interfered with the inner workings of the CHP to create crises. This "cheap politics," according to Kılıçdaroğlu, is "unbecoming to a Prime Minister."
"The Prime Minister is taking on such small matters that he forgets about the country's problems," concluded Kılıçdaroğlu. According to the CHP leader, the Prime Minister does not follow clean and proper politics, and therefore is seeking to stay in power. "But it won't work. The foundation is slipping. The Prime Minister will have to go," he said.
Stating that the response from citizens has been increasing following a renewal within CHP after the party congress, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We're expecting at least a 40% target. We want to come to power on our own, because CHP is the only party that can save Turkey from its current dilemma."
Addressing previous comments from the Prime Minister, Kılıçdaroğlu said that whenever he mentions regional foods, Erdoğan speaks of eating. "Are you not full yet?" asked Kılıçdaroğlu. "Stop so the people can become full."
"These people [AKP] are fractous. They have divided the country and made enemies of siblings," said the party leader." But we will not divide. We will have one heart. We will support Turkey with honor."
"I will bring you to account,"Kılıçdaroğlu continued.. "You can create crises or hide behind your soldiers all you want; you will have to go."
CRISIS ENDED AFTER 8 DAYS
Current Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner was assigned as the Chief of Turkish General Staff (TGS) as of August 30, 2010. The new Commander of the Land forces, Gen. Ceylanoglu, was assigned as the First Army Commander 4 days ago. He is known as the general who gave the order to the tanks to patrol in Sincan during "February 28" era. The new first army commander will be Gen. Hayri Kivrikoğlu, formerly the Commander of the Aegean Army. Gen. Necdet Ozel was assigned as the Commander of Gendarme, and is expected to become Chief of TGS in 2013.
http://haber.gazetevatan.com/8-gun-sonra-mutabakat/322058/1/Gundem
NETHENYAHU TESTIFIES IN "MAVI MARMARA" INVESTIGATION
The civil commission formed by Israel started to listen the testimonies of Israeli officials about the "Mavi Marmara" flotilla incident. As the first step, PM Nethenyahu testified in front of the commission, saying: "I am sure that the act of the Israeli armed forces will be found legal under international law". The commission, led by former High Court Prosecutor Yaakov Tirkel. will be hearing MND Barak tomorrow, and Chief of Israeli General Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkhenazi on Wednesday. Te UN Commission formed for the incident will start its hearings tomorrow. The UN Commission; led by Former PM of New Zealand, the Honorable Geoffrey Palmer, will not ask for the testimony of Israeli soldiers; instead, the committee will base its decision the report of the local investigation commissions. Turkey assigned former undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ozdem Sanberk, to the commission. The Israeli representative in the commission will be retired diplomat Joseph Chikanover; the first report of the commission is to be presented by next month.
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/15514123.asp?gid=373
LAND-MINE KILLS THREE TROOPS IN NUSAYBIN
A remote-controlled mine planted by Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] terrorists went off, killing three troops. The blast occurred near the town of Nusaybin in the southeastern province of Mardin. Two of the troops died at the scene, while the third died in the hospital.
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/15513364.asp?gid=373
61.9 % OF CEOs BELIEVE MOST VOTERS WILL SAY 'YES' AT SEPT. 12 REFERENDUM
Ekonomist and Capital magazines held a survey among Turkey's foremost companies' CEOs. Of the 194 CEOs surveyed, 61.9% said that they believed most voters will say "yes" at the Sept. 12 referendum on constitutional amendments.
'SLEDGEHAMMER' SUSPECTS RELIEVED AS 'MEMORANDUM' ONES CALL IN SICK
The 11th Istanbul Court of Serious Crimes accepted the objections made on apprehending "Sledgehammer" suspects by the 10th Court on Saturday. The 102 suspects will be tried without arrest in the case whose first hearing will be held Dec. 16. The 12th court stated that the victims do not have "fugitive status" as they showed up to testify previously when they were called, therefore they cannot be apprehended as "fugitive suspects."
Sledgehammer is an alleged military coup plot against the leading Justice and Development Party [AKP] drafted in 2003. According to the allegations, the military planned drastic measures to foment unrest in the country to remove the AKP from power. Those measures included bombing two major mosques in Istanbul; an assault on a military museum by people disguised as religious extremists; and raising tension with Greece through an attack on a Turkish plane, then blaming the incident on the Aegean neighbor.
Meanwhile, some suspects of the "Internet Memorandum" case who failed to answer the call to testify last week, are reported to have illness certificates from the GATA Military Academy Hospital. The "memorandum" is the allegation that the Chief of General Staff founded Internet sites to distribute propaganda against the leading administration of the Justice and Development Party [AKP].
The suspects called to testify by Istanbul Public Prosecutor Öz included Gen. Hasan Iğsız, acting commander of the 1st Army; and also the principle candidate for the position of Land Forces Commander, Adm. Mehmet Otuzbiroğlu, acting North Area Navy Commander, and Col. Dursun Çiçek. The latter two are also suspects in the "Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) case. The remaining suspects are 11 active-duty soldiers, four retired soldiers and a retired civil servant.
Daily Taraf reported on Saturday that 10 of the suspects, including General Iğsız have reports from GATA, while some of them failed to come to testify due to being out of the country.
