Portal:Current events/Turkey/2007 August 11


 * Turkey has been closely following the tragedy in Sudan's Darfur region, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Bilman said in a weekly press conference Thursday. When asked whether Turkey would participate in a peace force in Darfur, he said they were still assessing Turkey's contribution to such a force. (Turkish Daily News)
 * Reigning champions Fenerbahçe armed with international stars like Roberto Carlos started the soccer season Friday with a major upset as it went down to İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor 2-0. (The New Anatolian)
 * We have a Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for August 13. We will have a Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting on the same day as well. We will assess the presidential election calendar altogether", said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday, when commenting on the presidential election process. (The New Anatolian)
 * Turkey has formed a technical delegation in order to iron out the details of the "Memorandum of Understanding on Energy" signed between Turkey and Iran, on July 13 in Ankara. (The New Anatolian)
 * Presidential election process has begun in Turkish parliament on Friday. According to the new Speaker of the parliament Köksal Toptan, any deputy aspiring to run for the president can do so until Sunday midnight, August 19, 2007. Voting rounds to elect the new president would be completed within 20 days. First round of the voting will be held in August 20. If they fail on the first round, the second round will be held on August 24. If the new president cannot be elected in the second round, the third round will take place on August 28 and the last round on September 1. (The New Anatolian), (CNN)
 * Turkish Airlines (THY) and THY Technic workers have cast their votes, 5,115 in favor and 4,555 against a strike, poll results showed on Thursday, tossing the ball into the union's court. (Today's Zaman)
 * The public that left the fuel distribution business by selling Petrol Office (PO) is coming back with the Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC). (Today's Zaman)


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