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Greek and Turkish Cypriot Negotiations Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators met Friday for the first time in four years to lay the groundwork for reunification talks that that are expected to start in June between the divided island's leaders, reported Reuters Friday. Hopes of reuniting Cyprus, divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, have risen since Greek Cypriot Demetris Christofias was elected president in February. Both he and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat say they want a settlement. The 30-year standoff is a hurdle to Turkey's bid to join the European Union and a source of tension between Greece and Turkey. "This is a momentous occasion (and) evidence of commitment and determination," said Elizabeth Spehar, acting head of the United Nations mission in Cyprus, as the talks began. U.N. attempts to reunify the Mediterranean island have repeatedly stalled. Talat and Christofias have met twice since the Greek Cypriot elections, and are expected to meet again socially on May 7, a spokesman for Christofias said. Both leaders belong to the traditional left and they have a good rapport. Formal peace talks between them are expected to begin around the end of June, after 13 teams from the island's Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides have prepared the ground on topics ranging from governance to environmental protection work. "This is the best opportunity for a solution for many years," said Joan Ryan, Britain's special envoy for Cyprus. "This opportunity must not be missed." Working groups will look at complex reunification issues such as power-sharing and linking the island's two economies, and technical committees on matters like environmental protection, cooperation on crime prevention and cultural issues. UN welcomes efforts Meanwhile the U.N. Security Council welcomed last month's agreement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to start talks and expressed hope they will lead to the reunification of Cyprus. A statement approved Thursday by consensus by the 15-member council also welcomed Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's readiness to assist the parties to end the division of the Mediterranean island. "The whole council has been encouraged by recent developments," The Associated Press quoted Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers as saying. "The signs are positive here that we can actually make progress on this and we will do everything we can to achieve that," he said. The council also welcomed the opening of a crossing at Ledra Street (Lokmaci) "as an indication of political will to tackle issues that have obstructed progress, and an important signal that both sides seek to improve the lives of all Cypriots." It said it looks forward to other confidence-building measures. The Security Council commended Christofias and Talat "for the political leadership they have shown." The council said it is encouraged by the launch of the working groups and technical committees "that will prepare the ground for the start of full-fledged negotiations, in a spirit of good faith, on a comprehensive and durable settlement." "The Security Council looks forward to the results of this preparatory process within the three-month timeline agreed by the two leaders, which it is hoped will build trust, momentum and a sense of common interest in the search for a just and lasting solution," the council said. Council members reaffirmed their commitment "to the reunification of Cyprus based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation and political equality." Britain's Sawers said the March 21 agreement followed by the reopening of the Ledra Street crossing "has boosted confidence on all sides." He called it "a measure of the political will of the two leaders on the island, and we commend them for that." "Of course, there's a lot of work still to be done," Sawers said. "A solution to the division of Cyprus has eluded us for four decades, but there is a real opportunity now to take this forward, and we in the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Secretariat and the secretary general will do all we can to take this forward and to seize this particular opportunity." 
LONDON BACKS TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP The UK doesn’t support Germany and France in their attempt to prevent Turkey from EU membership. “My opinion is the official position of Great Britain, which sees Turkey a member of the European Union,” said Alan Waddams, European Commission representative in Azerbaijan. “I am hopeful Turkey will be accessed to the Union soon,” he said adding that he doesn’t think that protraction of talks can be caused by religious issues, Trend reports. Addressing a UMP conference, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have reaffirmed their opposition to full membership of Turkey in the European Union. France and Germany understand that Turkey’s membership will press three informal EU leaders – France, Germany and UK. With its vast territory, population of many millions, tremendous economic and geopolitical significance will comprise the leading ‘four’ of Europe, experts say. Prime Minister Erdogan is planning to meet with French and German leaders soon.
U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday said the United States would continue to help Turkey fight their "common enemy," Kurdish rebels, but the White House also urged Ankara to find a political solution to the problem. During a White House visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Bush praised Turkey as a model for democracy in the Muslim world and pledged U.S. support in its fight to contain the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. "A common enemy is the PKK. It's an enemy to Turkey, it's an enemy to Iraq and it's an enemy to people who want to live in peace. The United States, along with Turkey, are confronting these folks and we will continue to confront them," Bush said. Added Gul: "We are working against our common enemy, the PKK. And we have once again underlined the importance of our cooperation in fighting against the PKK." White House officials said Turkey has shown restraint in its military response to attacks by the PKK and called on Ankara to seek open dialogue with Iraq to resolve problems along the two countries' border. Turkey, which has been waging an aerial bombing campaign against PKK positions in northern Iraq, blames the rebels for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people since 1984 when the PKK took up arms to fight for an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. Bush also called for the NATO ally's admission to the European Union as a step that would aid peace. "I strongly believe that Europe will benefit when Turkey is a member of the European Union," Bush said at a meeting intended to demonstrate improved U.S.-Turkish relations after years of tensions over Iraq and other issues. "I view Turkey as a bridge between Europe and the Islamic world, a constructive bridge. And so I believe it's in the interests of peace that Turkey be admitted into the EU," Bush added. The United States and European Union, like Turkey, classify the PKK as a terrorist organization. Turkey has as many as 100,000 troops along its mountainous border with Iraq and has carried out military operations with assistance from U.S. intelligence. Tuesday's meeting marked Gul's first visit to Washington as president. He and Bush were scheduled to have lunch afterward. Before the meeting, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush would encourage Gul to work with Iraqi government leaders on a long-term political solution. Meanwhile, the death toll from a bomb attack last week in southeast Turkey's largest city rose to six on Tuesday, while Turkish authorities detained seven people in connection with the explosion. The PKK said on Monday that its own members working independently may have been responsible for the bomb, the first semblance of a claim of responsibility since the attack. 
Gül meets with French PM Serdar Alyamaç PARIS – Turkish Daily News While in Paris for the Bureau of International Exhibition (BIE) General Assembly Tuesday, Turkish President Abdullah Gül met with the French prime minister to discuss terrorism, the Armenian issue and the European Union. We talked very frankly about many things. I think it was very fruitful meeting,” Gül said about his meeting with Francis Fillon at the Turkish Embassy On the question of the so-called Armenian genocide, which was on the agenda of the French Parliament, Gül said, “This is the business of historians and scientists, not politicians. Turkey has opened its archives to research on this issue. We also offered to set up a joint research commission. [Fillon] agreed and supported our joint historical commission on the issue.” More democracy needed to stop terrorism: Terrorism can damage democracy and human rights, said Gül and pointed out that democracy isolates terrorism: “Turkey has expanded human rights and democracy. Democracy isolates terrorism. Strengthening democracy in Turkey would help us in our fight against terrorism,” he said. Referring to Turkey's EU membership bid Gül said that Turkey should enact reforms. “We should enact these reforms for ourselves. Negotiation with the EU is not only political, it is also a technical issue. Turkey's road map is very clear. We should take care of our business. We should do all this because it is for the benefit of the Turkish people,” he said. Answering a question about Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union proposal, Gül said, “Turkey is a Mediterranean country. The Mediterranean Union is not an alternative to Turkey's EU membership.” Pointing out that bilateral economic relations with France have been improving, Gül said French companies' interest in building nuclear power stations in Turkey has risen after the nuclear power energy law was enacted in Turkey. Turkey in France in 2009 Gül also said they have talked with Fillon about the announcement of a celebration of Turkey in France in 2009. “We have talked about introducing Turkey to the French people in 2009. During that year, cultural activities about Turkey will be held. The French prime minister added that they have been preparing very seriously and they will appoint a very important person to the administration of the organization committee. With this organization, Turkey will be featured in France in 2009,” said Gül. 
Pierini praises Turkey's democratization The European Union sees that democratization and modernization in Turkey are improving, said Marc Pierini, head of the European Commission's Delegation to Turkey yesterday. He emphasized the fact that the political crisis during the presidential elections was overcome proved the maturity of the democratic insitutions in Turkey. But he warned Turkey needs to do a lot during its membership process. "At the end of the process Turkey will be stronger, so will the EU," he said. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin crosses himself while attending a church service as he visits Butovo, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2007, a site south of Moscow, where firing squads executed thousands of people 70 years ago during the height of Stalin's purges. The Butovo firing range was used for executions from 1930 until after Stalin's death in 1953. Some 20,000 people, including priests and artists, were killed there in 1937-38 alone. There are estimates that the toll from Stalin's Purges accounted for the deaths of over 50 million people during his reign of terror in the Soviet Union. 
Music in Turkey Sezen Aksu was born July 13, 1954 and is a Turkish pop music singer, song-writer and producer popular at home and abroad. She has sold over 40 million albums. Her nicknames include the Queen of Turkish Pop and Minik Serçe ("Little Sparrow"). Aksu's influence on Turkish pop and world music has continued since her debut in 1975, and has been reinforced by her patronage of and collaboration with many other musicians, including Sertab Erener, Sebnem Ferah, Askin Nur Yengi, Hande Yener, and Levent Yüksel. Her work with Tarkan resulted in continental hits like "Simarik" and "Sikidim," and her collaboration with Goran Bregovic widened her international audience.
Biography Along with her close friend Ajda Pekkan, Aksu is credited with laying the foundations of Turkish pop music in the 1970s. Her sound has also spread across the Balkans and Greece. It was this sound that changed the face of the Eurovision song contest when her protegé Sertab Erener won in 2003. Aksu has also toured in Europe and the U.S to critical appraise. She has championed a variety of causes, including women's rights, the environment, and Turkish education. Aksu has been married and divorced four times, but kept the name from her first marriage to Ali Engin Aksu, a doctor of geology who currently resides in Canada. She has a son with Sinan Özer.
Career An Aksu drive finally got Turkey to apply for the Eurovision Song contest in the mid-70s. Ironically however, even though she competed in the national finals for the competition three times - "Küçük Bir Ask Masali" (A Little Love Tale) was a duet with Özdemir Erdogan, "Heyamola" was performed as a trio with Coskun Demir and Ali Kocatepe and "1945" was her solo performance - none got the chance to represent Turkey abroad. It was to be left to her pupil Erener to win the Eurovision and realise Aksu's dream to push her musical vision further into Europe. In the 80's, Aksu had a relationship with producer Onno Tunç that was both romantic and professional. The couple put their signatures to works that broke new ground in Turkish pop music, such as Sen Aglama (Don't Cry), Git (Go), Sezen Aksu'88 and Sezen Aksu Söylüyor (Sezen Aksu Sings). Her music matured in the 90's, when she co-produced her best selling album to-date Gülümse (Smile) with Tunç. The A-1 track from the album called Hadi Bakalim (Come On Now) was a hit in Turkey and Europe, and was published as a single in Germany. It was to be later rediscovered in Europop by singer Loona as Rhythm of the Night. She also began to produce albums for her vocalists, notably producing Askin Nur Yengi's debut album Sevgiliye (To the One I Love) again with Tunç. She was to repeat this successfully with artists Erener and Yüksel. Parting ways with Tunç, in 1995, Aksu branched out with the experimental album Isik Dogudan Yükselir (Light Rises From the East), drawing both on western classical and regional Turkish musical traditions. This album made her name outside Turkey and gave her a world music following across Europe. In 1996, she released Düs Bahçeleri (Dream Gardens) as a tribute to Tunç, who died that same year tragically when his private plane crashed. In 1997, she released Dügün ve Cenaze (The Wedding And The Funeral), this time collaborating with Goran Bregovic. She returned to her roots with Adi Bende Sakli (Its Name Is Hidden In Me), which was released in 1998. She began to use experimental sounds and was once again pushing Turkish pop into the future. Aksu continued with this trend with her subsequent albums Deliveren (Crazymaker), Sarki Söylemek Lazim (Gotta Sing), Yaz Bitmeden (Before The Summer Ends) between the years 2000 - 2003. After a two year hiatus, she returned with Bahane (Excuse) in 2005. That same year she released Kardelen (Snowdrop) where all proceeds went to charity, and before the end of 2005 released a Bahane/Remixes (Excuse/Remixes) double-CD album which contained the original Bahane album in disc one and the remixes of songs in Bahane in disc two. At the end of the year her albums Bahane, Kardelen and the re-released album Sarki Söylemek Lazim were the three best-selling albums in the country. In 2005 she was featured in Fatih Akin's documentary film "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul" with a performance of the song "Istanbul Hatirasi." Aksu has recently been re-releasing all her old classics digitally remastered and with specially designed new sleeves. After her concert tour in summer 2006, she will record a new album in the USA. Sezen Aksu will perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, on 7th October 2007. After Zeki Muren, she is the second Turkish artist to perform at RAH, London. New York City based label Breaking Records released Karine Hannah’s debut cd "I'll Be Alright" on July 31, 2007. Hannah collaborated with producers Eve Nelson (Hayley Westenra, Laura Branigan, Chaka Kahn) and Ayhan Sahin (Sandra Bernhard, Beu Sisters, Vonzell Solomon) on an album of English-language covers originally recorded by Turkey’s most-acclaimed female singer/songwriter Sezen Aksu. Recorded in New York, “I’ll Be Alright” recasts some of Turkey’s most memorable songs with English lyrics and contemporary arrangements, conceived, arranged and produced by Nelson and Sahin. Standouts on Hannah’s album include “I’ll Be Alright” inspired by the Vanity Fair article on Jennifer Aniston after the split, “Drink” sure to be a juke box favorite, “Crash & Burn” about where the planet is going if we don’t wake up, and the beautiful “Someday”. 
Myamana, Afghanistan - The Associated Press An Afghan police officer leaned over a tray laden with pistachios and cubes of chilled watermelon to make his point to NATO's supreme commander. "The enemy are attacking with machine guns and rocket launchers, and we can reply only with rifles," complained Col. Sayad Yakub Khan. "We don't have the capacity to respond." The mission to reconstruct the war-shattered country faces a raft of problems, nearly six years after the Taliban regime were toppled. NATO chiefs report progress in combating a resurgent Taliban, yet an ineffective Afghan police force, spiraling drugs production and criticism of the military alliance over rising civilian deaths all present major headaches to the Western-backed mission to stabilize the country. Chess in a dark room: "It's like three-dimensional chess in a dark room, and you have gloves on," is how Gen. John Craddock - the commander of all NATO operations, including the 40,000 allied troops in Afghanistan - described NATO's task during a visit to the country last week. Local officials praise NATO troops for helping open schools, pave roads and boosting the local economy. Yet recent months have seen a resurgence of attacks by insurgents infiltrating from the south. Insurgent violence in Afghanistan is at its highest level since U.S. forces invaded the country in 2001 to oust the hard-line Islamic Taliban rulers, who harbored al-Qaeda leaders blamed for planning the attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The focus of the violence has been in the southern and eastern provinces, but the insurgents are increasingly using Iraq-style tactics, such as roadside bombs, suicide attacks and kidnappings to hit foreign and Afghan targets around the country. Surprised by resistance: Craddock acknowledged NATO was caught by surprise by the strength of Taliban resistance since his troops moved into the south a year ago. "When we took over the south I don't think that we NATO, or the coalition, realized the extent of the Taliban resurgence there," he said. "There weren't many (international) forces there. That became a safe haven. NATO moved in, stirred up a hornets' nest and we're still feeling that." Craddock expressed frustration at the reluctance of some countries, "who want to walk away from what I see to be a commitment." He says failure to commit the necessary forces is jeopardizing the safety of those already in the country. "NATO agreed to this. NATO needs to source this to the fullest extent because, without that, every solder, every marine, every airman that they put there is at greater risk," he said. "We do everything possible to avoid that," Craddock said, adding that NATO was working at tightening procedures and perhaps modifying bomb loads to reduce the risk. However he insisted, "if there is fire coming from a building at our forces, we have to save our forces, we have to take some risks." 
ZONGULDAK - Anatolia News Agency The remains of an ancient city on the Black Sea coast will be unearthed for the first time next month. Archaeologists are beginning excavations and underwater dives with the aim of unveiling the architectural plan of Teion (or Tion), located in Zonguldak's Filyos district. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, archaeologist Sümer Atasoy said the excavation team conducted surface research last year but that the major digging will start in August with a 30-member excavation team. He said they had outlined an aqueduct, a theater, defensive walls, a breakwater, a port and port walls by examining remains close to the surface. “The ancient city hosted many civilizations including Persians, Romans, Genoas and Ottomans. The work, which was carried out for the first time on the Black Sea coast, indicates that the ancient city was an important trade center in the region. Its inhabitants sold forest products and bonitos. We uncovered an ancient Roman theater with a 2,000-person capacity as well as marble and bronze statues.” He also said it was the first time that an ancient city on the Black Sea coast was excavated and its remains unearthed. An excavation team of archaeologists from both Turkey and Australia will conduct the excavations. “We will trace the signs of early settlements in the ancient city,” Atasoy noted. He spoke as well of an 18-meter long structure within the borders of the brick factory in the district. Dubbed the “underground city” among the local people, he said they estimated it to be a huge palace. “We will conduct excavations in this area and unearth the structure. We plan to open this structure to tourism after restoration.” THE ONLY PRESERVED ANCIENT CITY Atasoy said the Black Sea provinces of Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu and Trabzon had all hosted ancient civilizations but that their traces were lost. “The current settlement areas in these provinces have been built on ancient cities. It is only possible to uncover the traces of these ancient cities through excavations,” he explained. “The ancient city in Filyos, on the other hand, is the only place that has been preserved in this regard, and surface studies give an idea about the site and region.” He also said the excavations aimed to fully unveil the ancient theater, as well as some other remains mentioned in a book by German and French travelers who visited the area between 1887 and 1930. “We will try to shed light on the history of the region and that period. Two underwater archaeologists will also join us in our work. I think an interesting ancient city will be unveiled. We plan to utilize the remnants for tourism.”
BBC The Dalyan Newspaper
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