Turkish Forum

Category: Belgium

  • Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    British citizens publish a magazine on Turkey

    Anatolia News Agency

    LONDON – A new magazine that aims to better acquaint Europe with Turkey was introduced Monday at the House of Commons in London. The magazine is run by a group of British citizens who support Turkey’s accession into the European Union.

    Speaking at the introductory reception, the editor in chief of “Turkey in Europe,” Osman Streater, said more and more people in Europe were finally understanding Turkey’s significance. Another speaker, Edward Davey, shadow foreign secretary and a Liberal Democrat Parliament member, said he hoped the magazine would reach its goal of helping Turkey gain full membership in the EU.

    According to Davey, the launch of the magazine was a key step in Turkey’s membership campaign. He added that Turkey was important for Europe in terms of economic, political and strategic reasons, and that its membership would send a clear message with historical significance that the EU is open to all religions.

    The magazine’s first issue contains articles in support of Turkey’s EU membership by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Shadow Secretary of State for Defense Liam Fox of the Conservative Party and Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Caroline Flint.

    Turkish Ambassador to London Yiğit Alpogan, Turkish Consul General in London Bahadır Kaleli, former British Ambassador to Ankara David Logan attended the gathering.

    Source: www.hurriyet.com.tr, May 16, 2009

    Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    by Fatih Cansiz

    "Turkey In Europe"
    "Turkey In Europe"

    A NEW magazine aimed at promoting Turkey’s application to the EU was launched on Monday at a reception at the Houses of Parliament.

    It was launched on behalf of the patrons of Turkey in Europe who are Michael Gove MP, Dr Denis MacShane MP and Graham Watson MEP.

    Editor Osman Streater spoke about the first issue of the magazine which was established to bring international business together and to promote Turkish membership of the European Union. He added that Turkey in Europe magazine is independent of the Turkish and UK governments and funded by its members, allowing it to be an independent business-focused voice in support of Turkish membership.

    Turkish Ambassador Mr Yigit Alpogan and Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey were special guests at the event.

    Mr  Davey spoke briefly about relations between Turkey and the European Union.

    The magazine includes messages from politicians and will be published as a quarterly magazine to promote Turkey to key stakeholders in the EU, organise events in the UK, Brussels and Turkey, to promote Turkey’s EU membership and lobby for Turkish membership more generally.

    Source:  www.londragazete.com, 14 May 2009

  • 2009 ANNUAL DUES, DONATIONS and Book Sales

    2009 ANNUAL DUES, DONATIONS and Book Sales

    2009 MEMBERSHIP DUES AND YOUR DONATIONS ARE NEEDED TO CONTINUE OUR POSTED PROGRAMS WITH OUT INTERUPTION

    THE FOLLOWING LINKS WILL TAKE YOU TO THE DUES AND DONATIONS PAGE

    ÜYE AİDATLARI, BAĞIŞLAR VE KİTAP SATIŞLARI

    Dear Friends,

    The Turkish Forum (TF) is the GLOBAL organization with branches and working groups COVERING 5 CONTINENTS, working with many regional Organizations in the America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Turkey.  TF’s mission is to represent the Turkish Community in in the best way possible, to empower the people of Turkish origin and friends of Turkey to be active and assertive in the political and civic arenas, to educate the political establishments, media and the public on issues important to Turks, and cultivate the relations between the working groups located an five continents, serving the Turkish Communities needs.

    In order to achieve these goals we have performed many activities and completed many projects, THEY ARE ALL LISTED IN THE WEB PAGES OF TF, . You have been informed about these activities and projects, many of you participated voluntarily and contributed heavily and still contributing to these activates and projects. As the events happen and the major steps taken the information always reaches to you  by the TF Grassroots DAILY NEWS Distribution Service.  Needless to say, each activity and project requires a large amount of human and financial resources. TF has a  completely volunteer board, none of the board members receives any compensation or salary or even a small reimbursement. TF also has many volunteer committee members, WELL ESTABLISHED ADVISORY BOARD and project leaders. In addition to our large volunteer pool, please see them an https://www.turkishnews.com/tr/content/turkish-forum/ TF sustains Permanent Offices in New England, Germany and in Turkey and has a number of professional staff to upgrade its systems, and to solve the technical problems.  Please check our website at https://www.turkishnews.com/tr/content/turkish-forum/

    As the 2009 did begin we kindly ask you to support TF by becoming a member, if you are not already one.  You can also contribute a donation if you wish to upgrade your regular membership  to a higher level. Your financial support is critical to TF in order to pursue its mission in a professional manner. Needless to say, it is the financial support that we receive from our members and Friends of Turkey  is the backbone of our organization. As long as this support is continuous we can achieve our objectives and work for the communities across the globe.  Your contribution is tax-exempt under the full extent of the law allowed under Internal Revenue Code 501(c) (3).

    Becoming a member and making an additional contribution are easy: You may become a member online at http://www.turkishnews.com/dagitim/lists/?p=subscribe&id=3

    I thank you for your belief in TF, and look forward to another successful year with your uninterrupted support.

    Sincerely,
    Kayaalp Büyükataman

    Dr. Kayaalp Büyükataman, President CEO
    Turkish Forum- World Turkish Coalition

  • Khojaly Genocide commemorated in EP

    Khojaly Genocide commemorated in EP

     
     

    Brussels. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. Event on the 17th anniversary of Khojaly Genocide was held with support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the European Parliament on March 3.

    Members of the European Parliament, representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in the European Union, mass media, research centers in Brussels, nongovernmental organizations and Azerbaijani community attended the event.

    Press service of Azerbaijani embassy in Belgium told APA that the participants of the event familiarized themselves with the photo exhibition on Khojaly Genocide prepared by Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Head of Azerbaijani representation to the European Union, Ambassador Emin Eyyubov made a keynote speech at the event.

    Following this, member of the European Parliament Gisela Kallenbach called the participants to commemorate the Khojaly victims with a minute silence. Senior Fellow of Jamestown Foundation Vladimir Socor shared his views on Khojaly genocide.

    The participants were informed about the international campaign “Justice for Khojaly” initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Coordinator on Intercultural Dialogue of OIC Youth Forum, the campaign was supported with signatures.

    The event finished with the screen showing the names of Khojaly Genocide victims.

  • Friends of Turkey group founded in EP

    Friends of Turkey group founded in EP

    BRUSSELS – Members of the European Parliament from the Labor Party of Britain have established a Friends of Turkey group in parliament. Speaking at the reception held to welcome the new group, the chairman of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Deniz Baykal said everyone should preserve optimism at a time when Turkey was also experiencing difficulties.

    “The Friends of Turkey Group will contribute to this optimism,” Baykal said.

    Source:  www.hurriyet.com.tr, February 13, 2009

  • Banking crisis claims Belgo-Dutch giant

    Banking crisis claims Belgo-Dutch giant

    LEIGH PHILLIPS

    Today @ 09:27 CET

    The global banking crisis, born across the Atlantic, again sent waves crashing into Europe on Sunday (29 September) as the Belgian, Dutch and Luxemburg governments partly nationalised Belgo-Dutch banking and insurance giant Fortis in an €11.2 billion bailout.

    The move was announced on Sunday evening by Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, following a marathon weekend of talks between the three governments and European Central Bank chair Jean-Claude Trichet.

       

    Belgo-Dutch bank Fortis is the latest recipient of tax-payer bailouts in the financial sector (Photo: Wikipedia)

    “We have taken up our responsibility, we did not abandon the savers,” Mr Trichet told reporters.

    The deal will see the Benelux governments purchase 49 percent of the bank’s operations in each of the three countries. Belgium is to take on the biggest load, offering €4.7 billion towards the acquisition, with the Netherlands paying €4 billion and Luxembourg €2.5 billion.

    The move comes after shares in Fortis plunged sharply in the last two weeks, losing more than a third of their value. Over the past year, shares in the bank – whose assets are many times larger than Belgium’s GDP – have lost some three quarters of their value.

    The Belgian and Dutch governments have also said they will guarantee 100 percent the deposits of clients. Normally in the two countries, only an initial €20,000 is guaranteed by the state.

    The governments had hoped to avoid any moves towards nationalisation of the bank and were attempting to piece together a purchase of Fortis – or at least part of it – by Dutch bank ING or BNP Paribas in France.

    Negotiations broke off with the two banking groups when the Benelux governments refused to accede to demands that they offer guarantees against future losses.

    Trouble at mill

    Meanwhile in the UK, the government is set to nationalise troubled West Yorkshire-based bank Bradford & Bingley, according to British press reports.

    The UK’s finance minister, Alistair Darling, has convinced Spanish bank Santander to purchase some 200 of Bradford & Bingley’s branches and €28 billion (£22 billion) in savings, while the UK government is take over €52 billion (£41 billion) of the bank’s mortgages, according to UK daily the Guardian.

    The move significantly expands Santander’s presence in the UK, as it already owns Abbey and is in the process of purchasing Alliance & Leicester.

    In Germany, troubles at lender Hypo Real Estate are also the subject of emergency talks between German banks and domestic authorities.

    A possible rescue of the Munich-based bank is under consideration, while Reuters – quoting an unnamed source close to the discussions – is reporting that the group has received a credit line of some €35 billion from a consortium of private and public-sector banks in the country.