Portal:Current events/Turkey/2007 August 15


 * Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gül, the AK Party's presidential candidate, presented a formal application for his candidacy to Parliament’s newly elected Speaker Köksal Toptan yesterday. (Today's Zaman)
 * The headscarf worn by the wife of Abdullah Gül, the presidential candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), should not be a problem when he accedes to presidency because "she won't join all the events, in the end," Gül himself reportedly told the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Tuesday. (Today's Zaman)
 * After re-nominating FM Abdullah Gül as the presidential candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has turned all his attention to the formation of his new Cabinet, likely to be announced this Friday. (Today's Zaman)
 * While European Union term president Portugal and the European Commission declined to comment on the re-nomination of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül for the presidency, several members of the European Parliament (EP) hailed the announcement. (Today's Zaman)
 * Turkey’s UEFA Champions League representatives, the Fenerbahçe Yellow Canaries and the Beşiktaş Black Eagles, embark upon their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round campaign this evening. (Today's Zaman)
 * Right and left-wing intellectuals have slammed the Republican People's Party's (CHP) "closed-door" policy against Abdullah Gül's presidential candidacy, with the CHP's refusal to engage in dialogue with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) presidential candidate Gül seen as a self-marginalizing act that will further decrease the party's public support. (Today's Zaman)
 * The Culture and Tourism Ministry has designated new strategies for Turkey's oversees promotion in 2008. The ministry has divided the world into 10 regions to conduct different promotion campaigns peculiar to each culture. (The New Anatolian)
 * The naval and air forces of Israel, Turkey and the United States will stage joint search and rescue exercises in late August south of the Turkish coast, the Israeli army announced yesterday. (The New Anatolian)
 * Austria is standing behind its controversial decision to release Rıza Altun, chieftain of the outlawed PKK. (The New Anatolian)
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