Turkey will meet with Kurdish leaders
Sometimes articles in the media leave such an impression that one thinks, “we have come to a dead-end.”
Statements between Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt and the prime minister and the foreign minister about “whether to meet with Kurdish leaders” confused many.
There was an impression that the military was vetoing meeting with Kurdish leaders and was also against the civil authority’s meeting with them.
I was at the General Staff’s office yesterday and especially inquired about this issue. I was explained, with a very certain tone, that the chief of staff did not adopt such a stiff attitude toward the issue. It was emphasized that the chief of staff was only saying, “As the chief of staff and as the military, I cannot speak to them. The politicians can do as they please; I do not and cannot interfere with their doings.” They pointed out that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said, “In the case of war, one can even meet with his enemy,” and that they believed him to be right. It is clear that the chief of staff would like to correct misunderstandings on this issue.
Another clue came from the Foreign Ministry.
Even though a date has not yet been set, there are preparations to meet with Kurdish leaders soon.
The truth and the impressions do not always fit.
Ia Orana (Good day in Maori language):
I do not need to introduce Akın Öngör to you. He is not like anyone I have ever met before. I don’t know anyone else who is so in control of their life or daily activities. Usually it is not us, but daily developments that are in control. To the contrary, Öngör is a person in control of his life.
He wrote a book about his latest gigantic adventure.
The story of an 80-day sea voyage he made in his 40-meter yacht “Viamiti,” traveling 6,751 sea miles.
His book is also very different.
Akın kept a “Ship’s Log” (Seyir Defteri) with a flowing style…
Artist Birol Kutadgu drew a “Picture Book” (Resim Defteri)
The photographs were taken by Akın Öngör.
The oil paintings and pencil drawings are also Kutadgu’s.
Fully 263 pages are adorned with beautiful pictures.
As if all this is not enough, there are many DVDs and you can watch what Öngör encountered during his encounters with excitement.
It is hard not to be jealous of Öngör.
Fortunately, he is such a pleasant, aware and enjoyable person that it is a delight to be around him.
The book is a definite buy.
If you think that the money you pay will be go toward to the journey’s cost, you are wrong. The money will go to the Gülin Öngör Kız Anadolu Meslek Lisesi in Manisa, Akhisar. Thereby Gülin Öngör will enjoy having both Akın and a vocational school to her name.
Navy keeps its promise:
Last year, I wrote about the collaboration between the Bodrum Underwater Sports Association (BOSAD) and the Şişli Underwater Sports Club.
Their goal was to realize an artificial reef and sunken wreck for divers in our country. During the first phase, they aimed to evaluate diving spots around Karaada in Bodrum and create new diving areas. For this purpose, they requested decommissioned ships from the Turkish Navy.
The navy made all divers happy by donating the 37-meter Pınar-1, built in 1938 followed by a 29-meter assault boat donated by the coast guard. Both ships are currently being prepared and will be sunk off Karaada’s coast in the forthcoming months. A charming park will also be created for foreign and local divers.
Amateurs such as us owe both BOSAD and the navy our gratitude.
You, too?:
I don’t know whether you are acquainted with Professor Nevzat Yalçıntaş.
I have known him for years.
He is always gallant, befitting of a traditional Istanbul gentleman and among the people I respect.
However, answering a question recently regarding the slogans chanted during Hrant Dink’s funeral, he said: “To say we are all Armenians means we are all Christians. This will weaken the belief in Islam and as a result of action-reaction, some people got provoked and the “We are all Ogüns” slogan was born…”
I froze when I read this.
Was there a misunderstanding? Could it be that Yalçıntaş’s statements were not reflected correctly?
No, there was no exaggeration.
How could it be that a man of science like Yalçıntaş would make such a comparison?
How could he not understand that saying “We are all Armenians” was a show of sympathy? And what can be said of the chance that those who said, “We are all Armenians,” mean to denounce Islam and become Christians?
No, it cannot be.
We mustn’t underestimate the Turkish public this much. We mustn’t ridicule its intelligence so much.
Is it not a bigger mistake to claim that those reacting to the events saying, “We are losing Turkey, we are becoming Christians,” are identifying themselves with Ogün Samast?
Some ignorant people can say things like this but this does not suit a professor like Yalçıntaş.