Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

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Turkey Rejects Desmond Tutu’s Peace Letter

KURDISH ISSUE

Turkey Rejects Desmond Tutu’s Peace Letter

Although it was pre-arranged, police stopped us and said that the letter would not be accepted, said Reverand Esau, who took the letter to Turkey’ s London Embassy. “We are very saddened but we will not stop our efforts to try and engage the Turkish government.” " Tutu, in his letter, had asked Erdogan to solve the Kurdish problem through peaceful negotiations.

From Desmond Tutu to Erdogan: "Solve Kurdish Problem by Peaceful Means”

KURDISH ISSUE

From Desmond Tutu to Erdogan: "Solve Kurdish Problem by Peaceful Means”

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Human rights activist Archbishop Tutu underlined that no winner could emerge from such a clash. “Peaceful negotiations are the only lasting solution to the problems,” he added. According to a report by ANF, the Turkish Embassy in London did not accept Tutu’s letter.

Greek and Turkish Parties Claim Reduction of Armament

Greek and Turkish Parties Claim Reduction of Armament

Greek and Turkish left-wing parties Synaspismos and ÖDP called for gradually reducing the defence budget and re-allocate sources to economic, social and ecological development. Labour parties EEK and DİP demand to dispense military bases in Turkey and Greece.

17 May 2010 Tolga Korkut

Journalist Convicted for Anecdote about PM Erodoğan

Journalist Convicted for Anecdote about PM Erodoğan

Journalist Mustafa Arıgümüş received a prison sentence of eleven months and 20 days because of alleged insult of PM Erdoğan in a published anecdote. Sevda Turaçlar from Adana was convicted for the same offence. A similar case of journalist Kaşkar from Milas is still pending.

16 April 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

German Chancellor Merkel Visits Turkey

German Chancellor Merkel Visits Turkey

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Ankara today. With Prime Minister Erdoğan she discussed EU accession talks and Turkish-German relations. Merkel also touched the topic of armament in Turkey and Greece. On Tuesday, she will continue her two-day visit in Istanbul.

29 March 2010 Tolga Korkut

Turkish NGOs: "PM Erdoğan Incites Hatred"

Turkish NGOs: "PM Erdoğan Incites Hatred"

Prime Minister Erdoğan was harshly criticized in his own country for saying to expel 100,000 illegal Armenian immigrants from the country. More than 30 NGOs condemned the PM's reaction to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 by the Swedish parliament.

22 March 2010 Bawer Çakır

Call for Free Education Ends in Detention

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Call for Free Education Ends in Detention

"Parasız eğitim istiyoruz" -the slogan "We want free education" on a banner displayed at the "Romani meeting", which was also attended by PM Erdoğan, is seen as an illegal slogan and was reason to detain two young people. Allegedly, holding up the banner was a criminal offence.

19 March 2010 Tolga Korkut

Edoğan's 'Warning' to Columnists Creates a Growing Stir

Edoğan's 'Warning' to Columnists Creates a Growing Stir

DSP MP Süleyman Yağız addressed Prime Minister Erdoğan with a letter of inquiry. The Prime Minister's 'warning' towards columnists caused strong reactions among journalists. Yağız asked Erdoğan critical questions about his statement and his attitude on press freedom.

4 March 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Columnists Protest Prime Minister

PRESS FREEDOM

Columnists Protest Prime Minister

Turkish columnists published a joint statement referring to Prime Minister Erdoğan's call to "control newspaper bosses and columnists". 47 columnists signed the statement of protest until now.

3 March 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Erdoğan Accused Media of Provocation

Erdoğan Accused Media of Provocation

Prime Minister Erdoğan blamed the media and the opposition to "set a place in an uproar" in a meeting with Provincial Chairman. He said that columnists are turning the country upside down and put a strain on the country.

1 March 2010 Erol Önderoğlu,Çiçek Tahaoğlu

High-Ranking Military Officers Arrested in Balyoz Investigation

"BALYOZ" COUP PLAN

High-Ranking Military Officers Arrested in Balyoz Investigation

Five admirals, three of them retired, and two retired colonels have been arrested related to the Balyoz coup plan. Six people were released. Retired commanders Fırtına and Örnek were taken to the courthouse. The Prime Minister held a meeting with the ministers in the evening.

24 February 2010 Tolga Korkut

Sentence for Juveniles' "Light Bulb Tayyip" Slogans

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Sentence for Juveniles' "Light Bulb Tayyip" Slogans

Eight trials have been launched against three high school students in Bursa for the slogan "Light bulb Tayyip". The juveniles were convicted in three cases, so far only one court ruled for their acquittal. Young O.K. was found guilty of the same charges in Bursa last year.

3 February 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Prime Minister Erdoğan Meets with Union Confederation

Prime Minister Erdoğan Meets with Union Confederation

Prime Minister Erdoğan invited Türk-İş President Kumlu for talks regarding the Tekel workers on 28 January. The time limit given by six union confederations to take relevant measures elapsed on 26 January.

27 January 2010 Tolga Korkut

Has the Prime Minister Got yet Another Directive for the Media?

Has the Prime Minister Got yet Another Directive for the Media?

Seeing the media on his side for the Israel crisis, the Prime Minister forgot the part of the media he previously reprimanded and said without distinction: "We would like to thank the media". Do not be fooled! Independence suits our media still!

15 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Director Çetin Urges Politicians to "Stop the War"

Director Çetin Urges Politicians to "Stop the War"

Turkish director Sinan Çetin addressed the Prime Minister and other politicians at the openening of an exhibition: "People with Turkish Ids are dying. You have the power, solve it, sir..."

7 January 2010 Erol Önderoğlu

Journalists Fined Under Charges of Insulting PM

FREEDOM OF PRESS AND EXPRESSION

Journalists Fined Under Charges of Insulting PM

Journalists Perihan Mağden form Radikal newspaper and Cemal Subaşı from Tempo Magazine each have to pay 5,000 TL in compensation to the Prime Minister's family. The Court of Appeals approved the local court's decision regarding the compensation claims as licit.

23 December 2009 Bawer Çakır

Erdoğan: "No Reversal in Initiative"

Erdoğan: "No Reversal in Initiative"

The Prime Minister indicated that the project aimed at solving the Kurdish question would continue, "whatever the price".

28 August 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Greenpeace Protests against Putin-Erdoğan Meeting

Greenpeace Protests against Putin-Erdoğan Meeting

Environmentalists have warned that the Russian Prime Minister's visit will only lead to the encouragement of nuclear energy.

7 August 2009 Bawer Çakır

Türk: "Happy and Hopeful", Erdoğan: "Hopes Have Increased"

Erdoğan-DTP Meeting

Türk: "Happy and Hopeful", Erdoğan: "Hopes Have Increased"

Following the meeting between Prime Minister Erdoğan and a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DTP today, both sides displayed optimism.

5 August 2009 Tolga Korkut

"Party Leader" Erdoğan Finally to Meet Kurdish MPs

"Party Leader" Erdoğan Finally to Meet Kurdish MPs

After long refusing to meet with MPs from the pro-Kurdish DTP, Prime Minister Erdoğan will meet a delegation tomorrow, but emphasises that he will attend the meeting as a party chair.

4 August 2009 Tolga Korkut

"Lightbulb Tayyip" Has Confused Bursa Courts

Freedom of Expression

"Lightbulb Tayyip" Has Confused Bursa Courts

While one Bursa court punished a child for "insulting a civil servant on duty", another Bursa court has acquitted eight people for similar slogans.

4 August 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

"PM Has Authority to Investigate General Staff"

Plan Against the AKP and GÜLEN

"PM Has Authority to Investigate General Staff"

Prof. Dr. Sancar has criticised the Prime Minister for going to court over alleged military plans to defame his party.

22 June 2009 Bawer Çakır

Prime Minister Announces New Economic Package

Economic Crisis

Prime Minister Announces New Economic Package

The PM claims that his "Incentive and Employment Package" will create 500,000 jobs. Twelve sectors are being targeted, and tax reductions may continue.

5 June 2009 Tolga Korkut

Advice for PM: How to End "Fascism"

PM Erdoğan's Comments

Advice for PM: How to End "Fascism"

If the Prime Minister is sincere in his criticism of past treatment of "others", here are some suggestions, both from an academic and from bianet.

27 May 2009 Tolga Korkut

Erdoğan Contradicts Message of “Alliance of Civilisations” at Home

Erdoğan Contradicts Message of “Alliance of Civilisations” at Home

As co-sponsor of the Alliance of Civilisations, Erdoğan is aiming to solve tensions between Muslims and the West with a liberal media and policies on youth, education and migration. However, his government is going in the other direction.

8 April 2009 Erhan Üstündağ

Türk: AKP Did Not Solve Kurdish Question, Kurds Took Votes Elsewhere

Türk: AKP Did Not Solve Kurdish Question, Kurds Took Votes Elsewhere

Evaluating the election results, Türk from the DTP said that the “charity approach” of the AKP has not worked. The DTP has won in Diyarbakır, a city that Erdoğan wanted to win in, as well as in seven provincial and 51 district municipalities.

31 March 2009 Bawer Çakır

Kurdish Politician Sentenced to Plant Trees for Criticizing PM

Mahmut Alınak is condemned by court for his statement against PM Erdogan's visit to his hometown Kars. The court rules that his remarks are "insulting".

4 March 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Four Convictions for “Lightbulb Tayyip” Slogans

A court in Bursa has handed out deferred prison sentences to four people for shouting slogans about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

4 March 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

PM Calls For Unity in Diyarbakır Amid Protests

PM Calls For Unity in Diyarbakır Amid Protests

PM Erdogan refrained from openly criticizing DTP, the powerful pro-Kurdish party in the region. TRT6 made a live broadcast of Erdogan's speech, translated into Kurdish. Five protestors were taken into custody.

22 February 2009

IPI Accuses Prime Minister of Intimidating Media

A representative of the IPI National Committee says that it “cannot be coincidence” that journalists and newspapers are being put under pressure at the same time.

19 February 2009 Erol Önderoğlu

Erdogan Leaves Davos Gaza Panel in Protest

Erdogan Leaves Davos Gaza Panel in Protest

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left a Middle East panel at the World Economic Forum in protest at being allocated less time to speak than Israeli President Shimon Peres. No permanent rift seems to have taken place.

30 January 2009

Campaigners React To Prime Minister's Words About Apologizing To The Armenians

Campaigners React To Prime Minister's Words About Apologizing To The Armenians

The Prime Minister criticizes those who campaign to apologize to the Armenians about the Great Catastrophe of 1915 by describing the whole thing as irrational. The campaigners react to Prime Minister’s words.

17 December 2008 Bawer Çakır