Turkish PM’s chief advisor detained over suspected Gulen links

June 3, 2017 By administrator

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s chief advisor was detained over his suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have been masterminded the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Yildirim’s chief advisor Birol Erdem, who was a justice ministry undersecretary previously, and his wife Gülümser Erdem were detained early on June 3 in Ankara as part of an investigation carried out by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Erdem testified as witness as part of an investigation launched for the followers of the US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen last year.

Armenian Culture Minister has new advisor

May 22, 2017 By administrator

Armenia Arsen GrigoryanArmenia

YEREVAN. – Distinguished artist of ArmeniaArsen Grigoryan will regulate the sphere of folk music on public basis as an advisor to the Armenian Minister of Culture, the Facebook page of the ministry reads.

Introducing the newly-appointed advisor to the ministry staff, acting Minister Armen Amiryan noted: “I have great expectations and hope that he will regulate the sphere very fast and we will achieve new success there in the nearest future.”

Arsen Grogoryan, for his part, assured that the result of the cooperation will be noticeable very soon.

“This is a great responsibility for me. I am very grateful for confidence. We should clearly distinguish between what should be preserved, cherished and popularized. We should present ourselves to the world with the best values, groups and individuals. Not every zurna player plays Armenian folk music. The same is true for duduk, songs and dance. Not every group wearing costumes represents the folk costume and has a right to represent our state abroad. There is a need to regulate all this,” the advisor said.

Trump’s ex-adviser Flynn admits Turkey lobbying

March 10, 2017 By administrator

U.S. President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who was fired from his prominent White House job last month, has registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for $530,000 worth of lobbying work before Election Day that may have aided the Turkish government, AP reported.

Paperwork filed Tuesday with the Justice Department’s Foreign Agent Registration Unit said Flynn and his firm were voluntarily registering for lobbying from August through November that “could be construed to have principally benefited Turkey.”

In February Flynn left the post and admitted that he gave the White House incomplete information on contacts with the Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the end of December.

Flynn was known to have spoken with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak several times by phone in December. Flynn denied that he and Kislyak had discussed U.S. sanctions and Vice-President Mike Pence also denied the claims on his behalf. Later, Flynn told the White House that the topic of sanctions could be discussed.

Erdoğan’s advisor kicking Soma mourner leads to outrage

May 15, 2014 By administrator

May 15, 2014, Thursday/ 10:37:36/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL

Yusuf Yerkel, an adviser of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sparked massive outrage after being photographed while kicking a mourner in Manisa’s Soma on Tuesday in the wake of the previous day’s mining disaster that killed at least 282 people.

Tension rose as the anger in Soma, which went through the worst mining tragedy in Turkey’s history. PM Erdoğan faced boos and calls for his resignation as his bodyguards had allegedly tried to suppress any attempt at protest.

Yerkel, one of Erdoğan’s advisers, was captured delivering an enraged kick at a prone protester who was being held down by two soldiers. Turkish media reported that according to witness accounts, special forces were interrogating the protester after the latter kicked an official car belonging to the convoy of the prime minister. Yerkel, who saw the scene as he was preparing to take a seat in the car assigned to him, ran at the protester, kicking him three or four times.

His act has caused fury on social media, with the picture being shared widely. Yerkel later spoke to BBC Turkish, confirming that he was the one in the picture and that he would soon make a public statement regarding the incident.