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Tajikistan Ambassador

President of Turks and Related Communities Abroad Administration

Kemal Yurtnaç

H.E. Mr. F. Homiddinoviç Şaripov

Turkish Shadow Theatre

I do remember too...

My id made me do it !

Oslo:The Need to End 9.11 Paradigm or “What Went Right “

KARAGOZ and HACIVAT

When International Interaction Society’s Board of Trusties decided to publish a magazine two years ago, we were really excited and consultation took couple of weeks in order to set the content and theme of the magazine. When I opened the first page of IIS Rainbow, I felt honored on behalf of magazine team. We had six issues of IIS Rainbow and it has been guide for diplomats and foreigners living in Ankara with its cultural and social content. The Board of Trusties decided to rename the magazine as a result of advice and critics.

IIS Interview will have same content but you will see more cultural and intercultural articles and columns about daily, cultural life and soft politics. Beside the frames in our minds the new magazine will have a global view in terms of multi-culturalism. One of the main goals is to give a chance to mutual understanding, as it is really high time to stop misunderstandings which cause conflicts in many regions in the world. You will find a bit of everything about Turkey and Turkish culture as well as global world and culture.

After a joyful summer and relaxing holiday the new season will begin with many new projects, hard and busy works and fruitful collaborations. We hope that, despite the difficult times, you can still find time for social and cultural events organized by IIS. On behalf of vigorous and hardworking INTERVIEW team wish you all the best.

DITORIAL

A. Murat FATSAPublishing Manager and Editor in Chief

[email protected]

Issue. 1 September/October 2011Owner

on behalf of International Interaction Society Mesut Gümüşdoğrayan

Editor in ChiefA. Murat Fatsa

EditorYuzbeny Escobar Altunay

Associate EditorsEmel Arslan Deniz

Sefa DenizoğluCreative & Art Director

Zelkif Çavuş KandemirGraphic

Timuçun İpekTranslationsMesut Temiz

Public Relations Sefa Denizoğlu

Production

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IIS InterviewUğur Mumcunun Sokağı No: 44/1

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www.intersociety.net • [email protected]@intersociety.net

‘‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world’’- (Mahatma Gandhi)

The end of the year is just around the corner. To some of us, this year has sure flown by and many of our goals perhaps have gone unaccomplished, while some have surpassed our expectations. Approaching the last months of this year is a good time to rethink where we stand. What are we doing with our lives? Are we doing what we really want? Have we achieved anything major to move us forward?

Whatever it is, it is never too late to change. To many, change may be unnecessary or even detrimental, perhaps even scary. However, in the overall sense, change is good. No matter how unfortunate some may be, we have the ability and inner strength to change to a better person. While it is almost impossible to change the world, we can definitely change what we do and how we see things. Change is that little grain of salt needed to be part of an ocean of good things. We cannot expect the world to change if we continue with our own ways that may not be all that positive. As John F. Kennedy once said, ‘‘Change is the law of life...and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.’’

DITORIAL

Yuzbeny Escobar Altunay Editor

[email protected]

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TRABZON hosted the 11th European Youth Olympic Festival

RİZE

INTERVIEW

WE ASKED

INTERVIEW

Who isAHMET CEVDET PASHA

PROSTATE

9.11 “I do remember too”

Hacı Bayram

OSLO: The Need to End9.11 Paradigma or “What Went Right“

MY ID made me do it !

SOMALI FAMINETurks and Related Communities Abroad Administration

Kemal YURTNAÇ

Turkish Shadow TheatreKARAGOZ and HACIVAT

Tajikistan AmbassadorH.E. Mr. F. Homiddinoviç Şaripov

Riding a bike for world peace or “Why are motorcyclists better people?“

2011-2012 IIS International Football Tournament

Eirich FUCHS

The Magnificence of the past:

NACRE INLAYING

Note: This article was written right after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack by Barbaros Sarici, who by then was working and living in New York and had volunteered to work in the engineering squad at ground zero in the aftermath of this unfortunate event.

9/11 was the day when the world changed irreversibly when the second airplane hit the towers. Not the first airplane, but the second one changed the definition of terrorism in the world’s history when it crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 A.M. Until then, everybody including myself, was thinking of it as an unfortunate accident.

I remember every minute of 9/11’s morning.

I was sipping my coffee in my office at One Penn Plaza, and checking my emails when my older brother from Turkey called to give me the bad news. My immediate and most natural response was, “OK, but nothing to worry about, it must be an accident,” then we hung up. Within seconds, before stepping out of my office, I heard a colleague in the isle breathing heavily and saying, “Did you guys hear? An airplane hit the World Trade Center towers.” By that time, I assumed everybody in New York City had heard about the incident.

After a few seconds of silence, everybody in the office started talking about how sad they were, and whoever was responsible for this mess should be punished, etc. But no one, literally no one, had thought of the possibility of a terrorist attack. That changed when we heard another colleague say that another plane crashed into the south tower. This time, not only were people angry and upset, but also scared. One Penn Plaza, known to be in the black list of terrorists, as it is standing above Penn station where a couple millions of commuters arrive at every morning. While we were arguing if we should evacuate the building or not, we heard building management on the speakers say, “Please stand still till the next announcement.” We waited for some time, but surely not long enough to hear the second announcement.

The scene outside of the building was unforgettable; panicked people were flooding the streets, vehicle traffic was not moving at all, there was no signal on the cell phones, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, Grand Central, subway lines and all tunnels were shut down. There was no way out of New York City, except one thing that I could not think of, until the moment I noticed people

I do remember too…

by Barbaros Sarıcı[email protected]

rushing towards it…the Ferry Terminal! The ferry service across the river was still operating.

By the time I reached the end of the ferry line, it was at around 42nd street – the port is at 34th street. It took me six hours to reach my apartment in Jersey, and I considered myself lucky, as the end of the line was at 70s even after seven hours.

In the aftermath of 9/11, I volunteered for the engineering squad, commissioned to work at ground zero, to supervise the debris removal. I do not think I would ever be able to describe how I felt when for the first time I entered the site at around midnight. Till the end of my shift at 8 a.m., I thought of a lot of things that I can’t remember right now, except for one thing:

“This should have never happened...”

I worked at ground zero for about two months. I was the only Turkish and only Muslim person on the site. Although my service in the field was

related with my profession (structural engineering and safety), I never saw it as a job. I rather wanted to see it as an expression of respect

to those who had lost their lives at he World Trade Center.

I can write about 9/11

and its

aftermath for several pages long, but I would like to conclude with some remarks about how this day changed our world.

• With the attack on the World Trade Center, the majority of the people in the world started seeing terrorism as a global problem, rather than a regional issue frequently associated with the Middle East.

• People started thinking that, if this could happen in the U.S., the most powerful country in the world, it could happen anywhere.

• Americans for the first time in their history felt how it is like to live with the fear of terrorism.

• Americans came out of 9/11 as a stronger nation.

• Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, two names few had ever heard of prior to 9/11, started to be known as the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization.

• Last but not the least, what we know or have been told about the attacks is just the tip of the iceberg. Stand by for more facts and speculation in the next five to ten years.

September / October 2011 7

Let me begin by extending my heartfelt sympathies for the victims and their families. The zealously brutal massacre in Norway shocked the world twice. The graphic violence of the incident was followed by an aftershock when the identity of the terrorist was revealed. It turned out that a rather unexpected successor had taken up from where Bin Laden had left.

The real strength of societies and especially their leaders is correlated with their ability to make a sense of the events. Simple explanations to highly complicated matters have always attracted undeserved human attention. We are Adam and they are the apple. The end of the story is well known to all. By the moment we realize that the apple does not bring eternal happiness, it is way too late; the

Paradise is lost. This horrific attack is by no means a mere security issue. The whole world has to engage in an in depth reading and come up with a shared definition of what happened and why, a task that was terribly neglected in the aftermath of 9/11.

First of all, it is essential to describe the global terrain accurately. The fear posed by the Cold War was due to the risk of a nuclear end to our world. Few could have imagined anything worse. Unfortunately, the new paradigm that the whole world has been stuck in since 9/11 has been that “worse”. This new paradigm replaced the risk of international politics with a ghost like asymmetric uncertainty. In his book “The Black Swan”, Naseem Taleb argues that risk is calculable but uncertainty is not. With its ability to calculate becoming irrelevant, the world

Oslo: The Need to End 9.11 Paradigm

or “What Went Right?”

by Emre Gö[email protected]


was deceived by the apple of a solidly securitized and definition of the challenge. Overinvestment in this outlook allowed many grave dangers like climate change, economic crisis and humanitarian emergencies to go undetected and do their utmost harm. Furthermore, an even deeper and more dangerous current was Islamophobia. It ran so deep that, according to Norwegian daily Dagbladet, Breivik was able to Google bomb making techniques for 200 days without anyone realizing. What was some manageable ignorance about Muslims ten years ago eventually grew into prejudice first and explosive hatred later. Unfortunately, we were all too busy to deal with that. The official acknowledgement during the emergency EU meeting in Brussels attests to that fact by admitting being over focused on “Islamist” terror and not monitoring rightist extremism enough.

9.11 of the Media

No other story could reveal some media outlets’ preoccupation with certain stereotypes as did the Oslo attack. It was both sad and frightening to see how the worlds’ largest TV stations and dailies hastened with their lists of usual suspects without any concrete evidence. What is even worse is that none apologized after the perpetrator was identified. This is not because these enterprises are unaware of universal journalistic principles. It is because Islamophobic rhetoric is the given and socially acceptable “official” language of the 9/11 paradigm. The Swedish EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström described the situation rather honestly in an interview with European Voice weekly: “Blaming Islam or immigration for all sorts of problems has become normal”. Mentioning the permissive climate for such views, Malmström warns that they “are no longer seen as extreme”.

9.11 of Cooperation

A related problem is the lack of a universal definition and effective monitoring of Islamophobia. What, according to some, was an innocent intellectual

challenge towards Islamic principles has proven to be just another version of anti-Semitism with the attacks. However, the term Islamophobia is still highly contested. Lack of consensus on its definition will make it impossible to monitor hate speech and crimes towards Muslims. It is so unfortunate that even the cartoon crisis experience in 2005 was not enough to push us to give an answer to “What is Islamophobia?” Moreover, lack of an effective Islamophobia Watch is causing many hate attacks to be recorded as individual incidents and giving the false image that there is no significant anti-Muslim violence. The recent call by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to nations to reconcile freedom of speech and freedom of religion can be considered as a late but promising attempt to solve the problem.

9.11 of Leadership

Leadership is a phenomenon of difficult moments and there seems to be a serious shortage of men

and women to steer the European masses through the chaos. European leaders have preferred the populist shortcut by joining the anti-immigrant chorus. It has also been tempting for some figures from the political center to blame the economic decline on immigration. Besides legitimating xenophobic rhetoric, such attitude has resulted in a political environment that allows paramilitary groups to be formed or politicians like Wilders to call the Koran “Islamic Mein Kampf” and get away with it. European politicians must understand this incident as a wake-up call and express their outright rejection of all sorts of discrimination. In fact, if an entire spectrum of civic leaders, intellectuals and academics is warning you that this might only be the tip of the iceberg, better listen to them.

So…

Given all that background, one can claim that Breivik is not that surprising. Please imagine for a moment that you were a non-Muslim teenager living in the Western hemisphere on the day of 9/11. What are mostly on the news have you been watching for the last ten years that shaped your personality? Which movies and TV series have you seen? What do you know about Islam? What do you think about Islam?

Come on, say it! My point is that there is a whole “9/11 generation” whose minds have been hijacked by the 9/11 paradigm and who need urgent social rehabilitation before they initiate their mass crusade.

Finally, the overall response of Norwegian officials proved the whole world how mature and consolidated democracy is in that wonderful country. One can infer from their statements that Norwegian leadership has already taken up the challenge of self-criticism and embarked on an endeavor to scrutinize the incident in a holistic manner. Let’s face it: No matter how sophisticated, well organized and comprehensive the “security measures” are, there is no way for us to overcome the problem without meaningful people-to-people interaction. With all due respect to legislative efforts to build and secure multiculturalism, we have to keep in mind that it has to be owned and embraced by the very people. The breeding ground of Breiviks is the gap between communities who live only 20 minutes from each other but never meet.


“By the moment we realize that the

apple does not bring eternal happiness, it

is way too late; the Paradise is lost.”

It has become a common excuse to simply blame ‘‘the voices in my head,’’ or that ‘‘other me’’ when justifying a criminal act. While many criminals may attempt to cheat the system by blaming their mental illness, it is not that easy or simple to get away with crime on the basis of a mental illness. In the era we currently live in, and with such medical advances, diagnosing and labeling has become a common medical practice. However, the range of mental illnesses that exist encompass many different symptoms, and not all are psychotic. If we are to blame or justify a criminal behavior based on a mental illness, then what symptoms are those that can drive an individual to engage in such behaviors?

The father of psychology, Sigmund Freud, theorized that all human beings are driven by aggression and sexual urges. Regardless of the age, Freud believed that these urges drive an individual into doing what they do. Freud described the human personality as consisting of the Id, Ego, and Superego. The Id is that part of the human personality that functions only on the pleasure principle. The Id is that part that is only concerned with matters that bring us pleasure and fulfills our desires without caring, or measuring the consequences regardless of any harm they may cause. The Superego is that part that lets us know right from wrong (something like our mothers), it instills guilt in what we do and makes us think twice. The Ego reasons between the Id and the Superego about how and what we should do. While many psychologists contradict Freud’s theories, and many schools of psychology exist in opposition to Freud’s theories, a common held belief among all is that indeed human beings are able and capable of doing harm. What may differ among all is their explanations about human deviations. However, in general, mental illnesses’ descriptions and symptoms are accepted world wide according to the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-last version).

‘‘My Id made me

do it!’’

It is important to clarify that just because an individual suffers from a mental illness it does not mean that they are more prone or at risk of committing or engaging in criminal behaviors. Justifying wrongful acts on the basis of a mental illness is very difficult because a person’s personality is very complex. Just because a person may suffer from schizophrenia and may have auditory hallucinations, it does not mean that he or she will do harm to another just because he or she hears voices saying to do bad. What drives an individual to do harm could be very many different reasons and none have to do with a mental illness. If we are to generalize, yes, serial murderers are psychopaths. Out of all the personality disorders and mental illnesses, psychopaths are the ones that describe our typical murderers. Psychopaths are also known as antisocials or sociopaths. In a nutshell, the personality of an antisocial as defined by the DSM-IV-TR can be described as follows:

Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal. The causes of antisocial personality disorder are unknown. Genetic factors and child abuse are believed to contribute to the development of this condition. People with an antisocial or alcoholic parent are at increased risk. Far more men than women are affected. The condition is common in people who are in prison. Fire-setting and cruelty to animals during childhood are highly linked to the development of antisocial personality.

Furthermore, as defined by the DSM-IV-TR, the symptoms for antisocial personality disorder are:

• Be able to act witty and charming

• Be good at flattery and manipulating other people’s emotions

• Break the law repeatedly

• Disregard the safety of self and others

• Have problems with substance abuse

• Lie, steal, and fight often

• Not show guilt or remorse

• Often be angry or arrogant

The general population tends to think that only those individuals who experience psychotic symptoms such as: delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, disordered thinking and behavior, etc are the ones who commit crimes. However, one can see that psychopaths do not display such symptoms and they are the ones that mostly account for the world’s serious crimes.

There is not one sole explanation to deviant criminal behavior, but in general, serious crimes are committed by psychopaths. However, crimes can be committed by everyday normal people who perhaps experienced a very distressful moment that caused them to snap. Whatever the case, criminal behaviors are inevitable in today’s world. Unfortunately, we continue to face horrendous attacks. Worst of all, often times we do not even know the reason for such violent acts. It is very unfortunate that instead of moving forward in a peaceful manner, violence has taken reign at a world wide level. While we cannot change those individuals who commit harm be it due to a mental illnes or not, we can change our own ways and perspective in life.

Peace starts within your own self. We cannot accomplish world wide peace if we continue having our own inner battles and conflicts. Indeed we cannot change the world, but we can very well change our selves. The way you talk to others, the way you drive, the way you carry yourself is subject to change if you so want to. A change to a better world starts with yourself, your home, and that little step is significant enough for everyone.

“Peace starts within your own self. We cannot accomplish world wide peace if we continue having our own inner battles and conflicts.”

Yuzbeny Escobar Altunay [email protected]


As many as 3.2 million people are estimated to be on the brink of starvation in Somalia, where persistent drought and ongoing conflict have led to famine being recently declared by the UN in five regions in the south of the country, including the area in and around Mogadishu.Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, the

United Nations relief chief described the scenes she witnessed in the hospital as heartbreaking. “The children are so weak they can’t lift their heads, while their mothers are in despair” Amos stated. The situation is compounded by a deadly outbreak of cholera, while the number of cases of acute watery diarrhea has also spiked in the past two months.

Somalia FAMINE“Every day of delay in assistance is literally a matter of life or death for children”

by Serhat [email protected]


The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Ms. Amos heads, has warned that the famine is likely to get worse in the coming weeks. The number of acutely malnourished children in Somalia, currently at 390,000 could double within the next year. While Somalia is the worst affected country, neighbouring Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti are

also suffering. More than 12 million people across the Horn of Africa now face severe food shortages and require international assistance. In recent weeks, at least 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled other famine-stricken areas. Dadaab is now home to more than 400,000 registered refugees, nearly all of them Somali, with an estimated 70,000 people having arrived in the past two months as conditions in their homeland rapidly deteriorate. Amos stated, “We can save the lives of these children if we can treat them early enough, but we also need to get aid to areas outside Mogadishu where most of the people in desperate need are” followed by, ‘‘That is why I am here. I want to make sure everyone understands the depth of this crisis.” (1)

In southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle, acute malnutrition rates exceeded 30 percent, with deaths among children under 5 years old topping 6 per 10,000 a day in some areas. In the last few months, tens of thousands of Somalis have died — the majority, children — from malnutrition and related causes. Consecutive droughts had affected the country in the last few years, while the ongoing conflict had made it difficult for agencies to operate and access communities in the south of the country. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden explained, “If we don’t act now, famine will spread to all eight regions of southern Somalia within two months, due to poor harvests and infectious disease outbreaks.” Further more he declared, “We still do not have all the resources for food, clean water, shelter and health services to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need.”He estimated that $300 million were needed in the next two months to face the famine, and said that meanwhile, the lack of resources was alarming. “Every day of delay in assistance is literally a matter of life or death for children and their families in the famine-affected areas” he warned.(2)

Resources1)http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39292&Cr=Somali&Cr1

2) http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2011/110720_Somalia.doc.htm

IIS has been accepted by the president of Turks and Related Communities Abroad Administration (TYB), Kemal Yurtnaç.

In April 2011, State Minister Faruk Çelik stated that Turkish people who are residing and working in foreign countries will be resolved through a single state organ, Turks and Related Communities Abroad (YTB), that was formally established on 25 March 2010. Among the activities the Administration is planned to conduct are, promoting social, cultural and economic relations between Turks and relative communities in the world. The presidency is also involved in activities that protect Turks and relative communities fromdiscrimination, assimilation, and xenophobia

Kemal Yurtnaç


Mr. Yurtnaç is the founding administrator of the office and has kindly accepted our visit for both the presentation of our society, new magazine IIS Interview, which was formerly known as IIS Rainbow, and our other projects including but not limited to the forthcoming fifth year of IIS – Turkish Airlines International Football League and social responsibility projects.

IIS - What is the objective and mission of your Directorate?

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for giving me this opportunity to inform your readers about our institution.

As you know, recently, Turkey is gaining new grounds in the world with its new multidimensional and

rhythmic foreign policy. In the words of our Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu, this new Foreign Policy is based on the principles of regional economic interdependence, spreading peace and stability in the world and having zero problems with its neighbours. We believe everyone ranging from government institutions to private individuals, has a role in the fulfilment of these principles.

Turks Abroad and Related Communities Directorate was established in April 2010 with the goals set forth in the Act No. 5978. According to our Establishment Act, there are three main objectives that we need to fulfil, first of which is to find solutions to the problems of more than 5 million Turkish citizens living in over 193 countries around the world. Our citizens were for a long time expecting to have an institution only to deal with their problems from immigration to integration, education to citizenship. If you think that the first immigration from Turkey to Germany started 50 years ago, you will easily realize that we are in fact a little late in establishing this institution.

In addition, there are almost 120 million people who are related to us either by blood, race, history and/or culture living in Central Asia, Balkans and the Middle East. It is important that we strengthen the economic, political and cultural bonds with related communities as well as among themselves in these regions.

The third mission is to help foreign students - we prefer to call them our “guest students” - to finish their studies successfully in our country. If these students leave Turkey with enjoyable memories of great hospitality, experiencing rich culture and having good education, they will become our voluntary ambassadors in their country.

“At that point we have an obligation to help those non-governmental organizations

to reach their maximum potential.”

IIS - There are almost 5 million Turkish citizens living abroad. What kind of efforts will be done for them and what is new about those efforts?

We have almost 5 million citizens in 155 countries. Prior governments had one of the ministries work as a coordinator for the Turks abroad. As you would agree, when there is more than one institution with a power to effect in the coordination process, it can’t work efficiently. Therefore ‘coordination’ should be described, and its frame work should be given correctly. We described ‘coordination’ as: we coordinate related works done by other institutions; we decide on priorities with the representatives of those institutions and try to figure out the ways to

reach expected results. We have something different: we have three advisory boards. One is for the Turks abroad, the other is for students, and the last one is for the related communities. Our deputy prime minister is the natural member of all those boards. Therefore, the decisions made by those boards have the power of the government. This power gives us the opportunity to do what is supposed to be done in a timely and applicable manner. All the related institutions’ representatives would be in the decision making process. We watch over the work, and report the results to the board. That is the main structure of our work.

We will focus on problems with general structure, but not the daily problems. We have state and region desks. Problems of the people abroad are going to be considered by those related tables desks. When we sent our citizens as immigrants to Germany, I don’t recall any institution caring for their long-term challenges and/or needs there, in a country with a totally different culture and social structure. No institution has cared about where and how we would like to see our citizens in the following 50 years. Only our citizens’ daily problems had been cared for. Now, what we are going to do is to have a strategy document for all Turks abroad, related communities and students. Therefore, we are going to be able to analyze, plan and coordinate the works that need to be handled, and oversee the results.

When a Turkish citizen has a problem abroad he/she can go to the Turkish Embassy, and whatever the problem is, they can get it fixed by the related Attaché there. Before, when they had come to Turkey and when they had a problem, they had 30 different institutions not only one to get their needs cared for. And now, they have only one place to get together and have their problems resolved and instructed- that is our institution. We are going to be a meeting point for all the Turks abroad.

IIS - Empowering the relations with the Turks abroad and related communities is one of the basic duties of your institution. In this context what will be your objectives and priorities?

As I mentioned before, there are almost 120 million people who are related to us either by blood, race, history and/or culture living in Central Asia, Balkans and the Middle East. We are talking about a very large population living in a very big geography. We find it our duty to strengthen our ties between us as The Republic of Turkey, and those communities. We owe this to our history. Some of those communities have recently established themselves as independent states. Since it is a challenge for them to be recognized as strong and influential states in the international arena, they need our support in any area such as economic, social and cultural issue.


We have been tied to those communities and we always will be. Therefore our biggest responsibility is to help them when they need it, plan and analyze their needs, work with all other institutional players on possible solutions and coordinate all works done and oversee the results. Only by then we can figure out if all our efforts have directed to the right point and reached the results desired.

IIS - Do you have any aim to open a representative office abroad, if any, what kind of works will be performed there?

When we designed our system, we focused on being result oriented and we are doing it through with our senior specialists. If we have representative offices abroad, then we would again need to hire public officials and have them serve for one or two years abroad. We want to analyze the area. Instead of sending them away for two years and telling them ‘‘ok, now we are sending you abroad, go learn about the area there,’’ and have them relocated in two years, we prefer to send them abroad for shorter periods to study the area. Therefore, they learn the area, come back to Turkey and we plan and coordinate policies according to their experience and the knowledge they grasped during their time there. If there is going to be a service needed to be fulfilled abroad, -as Ministry of Foreign Affairs being the first- there are different governmental institutions that can provide that service. Our embassies represent our government. If, for example there is an issue regarding the Ministry of Education, we are going to work that issue with the Turkish Educational Attaché in that country. Additionally, if we need it, our institutional partner is going to be a non-governmental organization.

One of the most important responsibilities of your institution abroad is to have more international students in bachelor, masters and doctorate levels in Turkey. What will you do regarding this issue?

Turkey is a base for the Turkish World, Balkans, Middle East and now for Africa. It is a base for both

in areas of trade and education. Our universities are now among the best ones in the world.

Let me share with you statistical information: In the 1950s, 48 people became a public figure who participated in leadership educations in the U.S. Since 1922, we have a ‘Great Student Project’, created by the Act of 2922. 30 thousand students have come to Turkey, since. Unfortunately, the percentage of graduation among those students is only 28 percent. As a country that is a candidate to become a leader in its region, this 28 percent result, is not satisfactory at all. That is what we are focusing on. We are going to figure out how we are going to attract and engage those international students and have Turkey become a center for international education. Otherwise, Turkey would only cater to relatively weak international students and this is unacceptable.

Turkey has international students and offers them scholarships. Scholarship management is done by a committee within the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education is a huge institution with

many departments. Therefore sometimes, some relatively important issues might have been skipped or overlooked. Now, we have the minister himself as the head of the decision-making department. Therefore, we have the time frame shorter and got the decision making process faster.

Those students sent to Turkey for their education have all entrusted to our care. We are going to enhance our counseling services and get it to the international levels.

We also would like to stay connected to students who get back to their countries following their graduation. They are certainly going to be our voluntary ambassadors in their native countries.

What is the level of interaction between your institution and non-governmental organizations both within and out of Turkey?

Non-governmental organizations are the center of the ideas ‘social dialog’ and ‘participatory democracy,’ which are the focus of the 21st century. A number of non-governmental organizations, their effectiveness in the decision making process, their activities and outcome of those organizations’ efforts are the signs of the standards of the democratic system

in any country. Some way or another most of the international foundations, governmental and public institutions are in contact with non-governmental organizations to be able to benefit from their influence. Therefore, it is inevitable to avoid partnership with non-governmental organizations within our area of work.

We work as partners and use non-governmental organizations’ advantage in costs and personnel, the functions that they undertake and their influence in a certain area of geography. To us, a non-governmental organization should reach the capacity that fulfills its effectiveness of its works and efforts. At that point, we have an obligation to help those non-governmental organizations to reach their maximum potential. In order for a non-governmental organization to become fully effective, it needs to be strong enough to affect the decision making processes in targeted areas. There is an Institutional Relations and Communication Department in our institution and this department’s main focus is to support desired improvements necessary for those organizations’ effectiveness and to provide needed training and education, within our area of work and within the power given us by the law.

Non-governmental organizations are

the center of the ideas ‘social dialog’

and ‘participatory democracy’ which are the focuses of

the 21st century.


The province of Trabzon hosted the 11th European Youth Olympic Festival (RYOF) held between the dates 24-29 July. In nine branches of sports and from a total of 49 countries, about 2,500 athletes competed in the Festival. Although Turkey did not achieved the success level it desired by having the 20th place in the medal order, organization of the event received full marks from the participants.

Within the framework of the European Youth Olympic Festival, an investment of nearly 500 million TL was made to Trabzon, providing many new facilities to the region. It could be clearly seen from the beginning of the Festival that the city embraced this sports event. The fact that they handled many aspects – from transportation to food and accommodation – of such an organization, including very distinct nine branches was proof that officials had done their homework well. Van Rijssen, the Coordinator for the 2013 Utrecht European Youth Olympic Festival, who came from Utrecht where the Festival took place, said that Trabzon had greatly raised the bar for organizational standards of the Festival, and especially the opening ceremony was magnificent and that it would be rather difficult for them to show the same performance during the Festival organized by them.

The European Youth Olympic Festival was also the first sports event held in Turkey that included the word “Olympics” in its name. The messages of peace and fraternity, which constitute the universal

language of sports, were sent all around the world with the warmth and cordiality of the people of the Black Sea region. The Minister of Sports Suat Kılıç, who attended the event just after he was appointed as the minister, congratulated the city and stated

that, “Trabzon exhibited an enthusiastic hosting reflecting the profound love for humanity in the hearts of the people of the region.’’ The EYOF Coordination Chairman Guido de Bondt, stated that Trabzon had made them experience pleasant and exciting moments during the games and expressed his satisfaction for the organization.

Although many visual materials were prepared and published in newspapers and broadcasted in televisions, the number of domestic and foreign attendants and foreign press members were not as much as expected. Perhaps the reason

for this was because the event was considered to be a modest one among the sports events, or because the contestants were of the 14-17 age group.

With the EYOF Trabzon, Turkey added another example to the sports events it has successfully organized in recent years. The aim now should be to use those facilities in the best way possible by training young athletes in order to heighten the level of our country in terms of the achievements in sports. Our country, which is rather successful in building facilities, hopefully will be successful in managing these facilities in the most efficient way in order to attain the expected success level in sports.

TRABZON hosted the 11th European Youth Olympic Festival

Karagoz, literally Black-Eye, is

the hero of the

Turkish shadow play or theatre.

Uneducated but with plenty of native wit,

he inevitably gets the better of his gentle friend Hacivat, who

is no match for Karagoz despite

his education. For centuries, the zill-i

hayal (imaginary shadow), as the

shadow play was called in the past,

entertained Turkish audiences. It is

believed by some that the play was first

performed for the Ottoman Sultan Selim I (1512-1520) in

Egypt following his conquest of the Mamelukes. According to

the 17th century Turkish chronicler Evliya Celebi; however, Karagoz was

first performed at the Ottoman palace during the reign of Bayezid I (1389-

1402). Shadow play is known to have been widely performed for the public and in

private houses between the 17th and 19th centuries, particularly during the month of

Ramadan

when there were nightly performances (except on the 27th night of Ramadan, the most sacred night of the year for Muslims) in the coffee houses. Legend attributes the character of Karagoz to a real person who lived during the reign of Orhan Bey (1324-1360).

Karagoz derives its name from its principal player. The story is that a mosque was being built in the then Ottoman capital of Bursa, and among the laborers were Karagoz and Hacivat, who kept distracting the others from their work with their humorous repartee. As a result, construction of the mosque took longer than expected, and when the angry sultan heard about their antics he had them both executed. However, the pair of comedians was so sorely missed by the townsfolk that a man named Seyh Kusteri made images of Karagoz and Hacivat from camel hide and began to give puppet shows. Karagoz came to represent the ordinary man in the street forthright and trustworthy. He is virtually illiterate, usually unemployed, and embarks on money earning ventures which never work. He is nosy, tactless, often deceitful and inclined to lewd talk. Like his European counterpart Punch, he frequently resorts to violence, beating Hacivat and other characters in the play. Shadow play puppets are colored and semi-transparent, with jointed limbs. Light from a lamp behind the stage reflects their images onto a muslin curtain, around which is a border of floral material. This curtain is known as the ayna (mirror) and the light as a sem’a (candle). The latter consists of an oil lamp with a wick of cotton or string soaked in beeswax. The puppets are made from camel or water buffalo hide. Worked until it is semi-transparent, the hide is cut into the desired shape with a special knife and painted with vegetable pigments. The joints are made by threading strings of gut through perforations

KARAGOZ and HACIVAT

TURKISH SHADOW THEATRE


made with a needle. Some of the puppets have many joints, and are usually 35-40 centimeters high.

Karagoz plays consist of four parts, the mukaddime, muhavere, fasil and bitis. The mukaddime or introduction always begins with Hacivat’s entry, the puppet moving to the rhythm of the tambourine. He sings a song known as the semai, which is different at each performance. After reciting a prayer he declares that he is searching for a friend, and noisily calls Karagoz to the stage with a speech which always ends with the words: “Oh, for some amusement”. Karagoz enters on the opposite side and the story begins. There is always a fight at some point in the play. The other characters are the drunkard Tuzsuz Deli Bekir carrying a wine bottle, Uzun Efe with his long neck, Kanbur Tiryaki the opium addict with his pipe, Alti Karis Beberuhi the eccentric dwarf, the half-witted Denyo, the spendthrift Civan, and Nigar, who spends her time chasing men. The cast of some plays may also include dancers, djins, witches, and monsters, as well as nameless characters such as the Arab (a sweet-seller or beggar who knows no Turkish), a black servant woman, a Circasian servant girl, an Albanian watchman (who is noisy and insolent), a Greek (usually a doctor), an Armenian (a footman or money changer), a Jew (a goldsmith or scrap dealer), a Laz (a boatman) and a Persian (who recites poetry with an Azeri accent).

There is just one puppeteer, known variously as Karagozcu, Hayali or Hayalbaz, assisted by an apprentice, who installs the curtain and brings the puppets in order of appearance. The apprentice learns the craft from his master, and eventually sets up on his own. In the past, the apprentice was assisted by the sandikkar, responsible for the chest or sandik holding the equipment. Another member of the team known as the yardak sings the songs, and the tambourine is played by the dairezen. Before the advent of cinema and radio, the Karagoz shadow play was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Turkey. The conclusion of each play is short and

customarily consists of an argument between Karagoz and Hacivat, the latter finally shouting: “You have brought the curtain down, you have ruined it!” -to which Karagoz replies, “May my transgressions be forgiven”.

TRADITIONAL THEATRE , ORTAOYUNU

Not based on a written text, ‘ortaoyunu’, with Kavuklu and Pisekâr in the lead roles, is one of the fundamental genres of traditional Turkish theater. Besides the other forms of traveling theater, such as the Karagöz or shadow theater which uses puppets and the coffeehouse stories told by a single narrator, Ortaoyunu is staged with live players without relying on a written text. There are different views concerning the origin of ortaoyunu, which dates back to the 13th century. In content, this theater resembles the Italian Commedia dell’Arte, a theatrical genre which was followed by Turks who traded with Venice and Genova and which they called ‘Arte Oyunu’, a term that may have become corrupted over time to ‘ortaoyunu’. Similarly, the one-act ‘Auto Oyunu’

by A. Murat Fatsa

[email protected]

on religious and pedagogical themes that were performed in Spain, may also

have been modified to ‘ortaoyunu’ by the Turks. Still another theory is that ortaoyunu is connected with the ‘Yeniçeri Ortalari’ or Janissary Divisions. If we consider that the ortaoyunu was indeed performed among Janissary troops, this view does not appear all that far-fetched. Furthermore, by an interesting coincidence the Janissary divisions were also called ‘Orta’. But since it would appear impossible to arrive at definite proof of any of these theories, it is of course better to limit the meaning of ortaoyunu to ‘a play performed in the open’.

Ortaoyunu begins with raucous Curcunabaz dances and again ends with dances, the actual play taking place between these two dances. The main parts of the performance are: Prologue, Dialogue, Play and Ending. Staged in a circular arena, ortaoyunu is a theatrical genre that is shaped by a continuous exchange between the playing area and the spectators and their reactions. Since the stage is round, the players change place and direction frequently, enabling all the spectators to see them with great frequency. Nor do players who have completed their roles feel any need to conceal themselves from the

spectators. Consequently, ortaoyunu is very different from Western theater, which works by awakening a sense of illusion. We said at the beginning that ortaoyunu was performed as improvisation. In the process of westernization that followed the Reform Decree issued in 1839; however, the texts of these plays were written down. The performance of such texts on stage gave rise to the ‘Tuluât’ tradition of popular, improvisational theater in Turkey.

Parallel with the types of Karagöz and Hacivat in Turkish shadow theater, the two main characters in ortaoyunu are the types known as Kavuklu and Pisekâr. The play revolves around the conflict between these two. While Kavuklu is a type who represents the common people, Pisekâr fits the definition more of a semi-educated type. Pisekâr is a flexible character who tells everybody what they want to hear, knows how to make people smile, is a mediator who can quell disagreements and reconcile the estranged, is moderate, fits into any mold, is ready to overlook people’s faults, and knows how to keep quiet when it is in his interest. He always puts a positive spin on other people’s evil words and intentions, as well as doling out advice and acting as a counselor. He is well-spoken, listens attentively to what others say, and earns the confidence and affection of one and all. Although his knowledge is superficial, he has a definite opinion


on every subject. In the play, he is the first to appear on stage to greet the spectators. Kavuklu follows in his wake and is followed in turn by the Dwarf or Hunchback type, who is dressed in a costume exactly like Kavuklu’s and mimics all his actions, which gives rise to comic situations. A musical ensemble, consisting generally of a zurna (double-reed pipe), a tambourine and a kudüm (small double drum), accompanies the action from beginning to end.

Like Kavuklu and Pisekâr, the other characters in ortaoyunu are also fixed types. One group among them is the ‘Zenne’, men with their faces half veiled who act out the female roles. The ortaoyunu types are divided up into various groups based on the characteristics of the social class they represent. They include: Çelebi, Tiryaki, Beberuhi, who speak with an Istanbul accent; the Black Sea Laz, the natives of Kastamonu, Kayseri, Egin and Harput, and the Kurd, who represent people from Anatolia; the Muhacir (the immigrant, from Rumelia), the Albanian, the Persian and the Arab, who represent people coming from outside Anatolia; the Greek, the Frank, the Armenian and the Jew, who represent the non-Muslims; the types with defects such as the Stutterer, the Hunchback, the Himhim (who speaks through his nose), the Cripple, the Madman, the Cannabis Addict, the Deaf Man, and the Idiot (also known as Denyo); the bullies and drunks who include Efe, Zeybek, Matiz, Tuzsuz, Sarhos and Külhanbeyi; the entertainers who include the Köçek dancer (male), the çengi dancer (female), the Singer, the Magician, the Acrobat, the Reveller, the Daydreamer, and the Musician; and the supernatural characters such as the Sorcerer, the Witches and the Djinn types. Apart from these groups, minor characters and children also take part in the play.

The main characters in ortaoyunu always dress in a certain way. Their outfit exhibits the characteristic features of the social class to which they belong and the region from which they come. It also determines that character’s style, habits and profession. Kavuklu, for example, is dressed as follows: on his head a white turban with many folds, on his back a white shirt

unbuttoned at the neck, a three-piece robe, the two front skirts of which are joined together, a shawl-like sash fastened around his waist with a big button, and a long, loose-fitting red cloak with wide sleeves with ‘salvar’ or baggy pants under it, and on his feet a pair of yellow ‘morocco’ slippers.Another salient feature of the characters is that they represent types that neither change themselves nor are able to alter the course of the action. Such types, which have neither past nor future, are also found in the Commedia dell’Arte tradition. At this point it is appropriate to ask whether the ortaoyunu tradition could be revived in our day. The

Italian playwright and Nobel laureate Dario Fo has used plays from the Commedia dell’Arte tradition as material, re-working them to produce important new works for the theater. If our ortaoyunu, which is on the verge of being forgotten today, were also to be used by Turkish writers, clearly our ties to our past traditions would be further strengthened.

Reference: Prof. Dr. Metin And/SKYLIFE

Newspot/BYEGM

There is an overlooked aspect in the research of the Ottoman history: the biographies of the bureaucrats who administered the Ottoman State that has been greatly influential in world history…

One of these Ottoman bureaucrats, Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, constitutes the subject of our article. In the words of the famous Turkish historian Ilber Ortaylı, “Ahmet Cevdet Pasha, who is the last sun who has risen on the Ottoman Empire,” was born in 1823 in Lovech, which is within the borders of Bulgaria today. At the beginning of 1839 he was sent to Istanbul by his grandfather for his education. He soon distinguished himself with his skills in Istanbul and took lessons from significant scientists of that time on mathematics, astronomy, history, literature and geography. However, his real area of expertise was law. Ahmed Cevdet Pasha was promoted in 1845 as a professor. After that, he began to work in the law department of the Court and was appointed as the Cadi (Islamic Magistrate) of Istanbul. He served as the Governor of Aleppo province for a while after 1866, and then was appointed in Istanbul to serve in the Ministry of Justice where he served for many years.

Remarkable Services and Achievements

Following, we will list some of the remarkable services and achievements of Ahmed Cevdet Pasha:

• Ahmed Cevdet Pasha was a proponent of the idea of the systematization and enactment of the Hanafi jurisprudence, which is a branch of the Islamic canonical law. For the implementation of the ideas of Ahmed Cevdet Pasha and his friends, a scientific delegation called “Majalla Council” was convened.

This delegation, which was chaired by Ahmet Cevdet Pasha, turned the Hanafi jurisprudence into a law, under the name “Majalla,” which could meet the requirements of the 19th century.

• He played an active role during the reign of Abdulhamid II. Until his death in 1895, he was an advisor to the Sultan, being one of the people shaping his ideas. He was the name under the farsighted actions of the Sultan and also the person directing the Islamic modernism. He had a key position in the interaction between the Islamic World and the rest of the world in the 19th century. He was the founder of the intellectual basis of the Islamist policies of Abdulhamid II, which can be defined as Pan-Islamism.

• By means of the document he wrote during the Tanzimat Reform Era, when he was the Minister of Justice of the Empire, he questioned the reliability of the justice system and made statements regarding how the law to be applied should be and put these ideas into practice. According to this approach, the trust of the people to the law should be ensured and this trust should be maintained. And to attain this, the justice system should be based on the principle of equality. Besides, in order to be able to develop trust among people about the judges, first it is necessary to provide self-security and independence of the judges. Judges should be able to decide without being subject to any influence or pressure. Thus, they cannot be dismissed unless they are on trial for another crime. Hence, independent courts can be established without being subjected to influence in making decisions.

• Ahmed Cevdet Pasha made great effort for disseminating the science in the country and for

Who is Ahmet Cevdet Pasha

1 Majalla: Ottoman Code of Civil Law

by Ferhat [email protected]


increasing the level of general knowledge and thus supported the establishment of an academy similar to the French Academy of Sciences. He prepared a report concerning the benefits such an academy would provide and presented this report to the Sultan. He was selected as a founding member to the Encümen-i Dani (The Ottoman Academy), which was founded with the consent of the Sultan.

• He was the person who translated the Mukaddime (The Introduction) of Ibn Khaldun into Turkish for the first time. He was the author of the first book of logic in Turkish and the first grammar book on Ottoman Turkish. He thought that the reason for the decline of the Ottoman Empire was the decline in the sciences. He also developed projects for the

settlement of the migrant tribes in the Southern regions.

• In addition to his countless services for the state, Ahmed Cevdet Pasha also made contributions to the field of literature. He proved his knowledge in literature by writing Belâgat-ı Osmaniye (Ottoman Eloquence). He prepared his literary works in accordance with the demands from placed on him. His achievement in literature is an indicator that he was a distinguished talent who could be successful in any field he tried.

Ahmed Cevdet Pasha died on March 26 1895 in Istanbul. His body was buried in the graveyard of the Fatih Mosque.

First pages from his famous book Tarih-i Cevdet (History of Cevdet)

Tajikistan Ambassador H.E. Mr. Farruh Homiddinoviç ŞARIPOV

INTERVIEW


IIS - How would you describe Turkey and Turk-ish people?F.H.Şaripov - Turkey is a great country. The first thing you see while staying in this amazing country is the combination of European and Asian colors in all its most pretty respects. It is an ancient country and a cradle of civilizations. You can feel the spirit of Lidia, lands of Hittites and Troy and many other famous cultures that made an invaluable contribu-tion to the establishment and development of human civilization.

I feel free and convenient here as I see Tajik and Turkish peoples share a lot in terms of appearance, behavior, way of life and culture. We have many out-standing personalities who lived and worked here along with our Turkish brothers. Therefore, I am very happy being the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan, having an opportunity to promote further establishing and closer relations between our two brotherly nations. Thus, I follow the saying by our common great grandfather who said:

We have come to unite,But, not to divide.

IIS - What are your favorite Turkish word(s)? It means words or expressions that you remember. F.H.Şaripov - Actually, there is plenty of such words, as «dust», «javanmard», «vatan», «vahdat» and so on that are common for our two languages and demon-strate both spirit and intentions of our peoples.I am studying Turkish and hope I will be able to talk to you in Turkish soon. Since knowledge and skills are reliable remedies of establishing good relations at individual and particularly inter-state levels.

IIS - What are the similarities between Tajikistan and Turkey in culture, art and perhaps in daily life?F.H.Şaripov - I have already mentioned the love of the people towards poetry and got evidence how re-ally Turkish people respect literature, arts, as well as spiritual values of the nation and how it seeks safe-

“Turkey is our largest partner in terms of investment and trade. But this is not the limit, and we have to do much more in order to effectively use existing opportunities in this field.”

guarding, developing and enriching these values. I also observed that we share a lot in terms of music, national ceremonies and traditions. There is almost no difference in the way people cook in Turkey and Tajikistan. Spirit of hospitality that can be felt in all Turkish houses looks similar to the one among people in my country. Immortal works done by Mawlavi that we in Tajikistan used to read in original language at home and public places, and that we often refer to while talking to our friends is another factor of our unity. I see in Turkey people are treated with respect and admiration for him.

IIS - What are the most surprising experiences of yours in Turkey so far?F.H.Şaripov - Almost everything in Turkey is amaz-ing: wonderful cities with plenty of masterpieces of the world architecture, selfless and determined peo-ple aimed at national development and prosperity, competent utilization of wonderful climatic condi-tions for development of tourism and so on. IIS - What important points are shared in the history of Turkey and Tajikistan, and recent pro-gress in relations between our countries?F.H.Şaripov - Tajikistan got its independence in September 1991 and in early 1992 had established diplomatic relations with Turkey. Following that, the Embassy of the Turkish Republic began to function in Dushanbe and later the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan was opened in Ankara. The Trade Mission of Tajikistan also functions in Turkey. We always keep in mind with gratitude that the Turk-ish Republic has been among the first in the world which officially recognized the independence and sovereignty of our state and set up efficient econom-ic, political, social and cultural ties that are of vital importance for our country today.

The official visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon to Turkey in January 2006 gave a fresh impetus to the Tajik-Turkish relations, where the Agreement on the basic principles of friendly relations between the Repub-lic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Turkey has been signed, which laid the basis for further development of trade and economic cooperation between the countries.

The First Tajik-Turkish Business Forum was conduct-ed on May 29, 2009 in “Hyatt Regency” Hotel in Du-shanbe in the margins of the official visit of Turkish President His Excellency Abdullah Gul to Tajikistan. On December 22, 2010 in the course of the meet-ing of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon with the President of brotherly Turkey His Excellency Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of the ECO Summit, both parties raised and successfully resolved many socio-economic issues, which ultimately gave an impact and efficient result.At the same day the Tajik-Turkish Business Forum was held with the participation of the Presidents of Tajikistan and Turkey, Emomali Rahmon and Abdullah Gul. While addressing participants, they pointed out that bilateral cooperation is developing dynamically. It was stated, Turkey will help Tajikistan in the es-tablishment of Free Economic Zones (FEZ), construc-tion of hydroelectric power stations, joint ventures in agro-processing, infrastructure development, tour-ism and etc. Heads of states called on businessmen to strengthen business cooperation for the benefit of both countries.

At present, with the aim of an implementation of the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation of 1993, the Tajik-Turkish Joint Economic Commission was established, which has held seven joint meet-ings hitherto.


IIS - What is the image of Turkey in Tajikistan?F.H.Şaripov - Turkey has a positive image in our country, which is the result of continuous contact, the work of our diplomats, journalists, students and other populations that have some relations with Turkey. Moreover, Turkey is another reliable trade partner. Turkish products and Turkish companies op-erating in Tajikistan are creating a positive image of your country.

IIS - What are your key priorities in making Tajikistan better known in Turkey?F.H.Şaripov - Priority areas in this respect I would say are investment to the construction of hydro-power facilities, road construction, tourism and development of tourism infrastructure. Based on its geographic location and the overall situation in Central Asia, Tajikistan has to overcome the state of

comparative communication deadlock. A way out of this situation is the construction of roads via other countries. It will also allow our partners to have a more convenient way of road transit traffic from all countries of the region.Due to climatic conditions and the nature of its ter-rain, with its many ethnic and historical features, Tajikistan is a unique country for the development of tourism and mountaineering. But it now needs investments, particularly for building infrastructures that could yield dividends in the near future.

IIS - What is your evaluation of the current in-vestment climate and trade relations between Tajikistan and Turkey?F.H.Şaripov - There is a vivid breakthrough and serious progress in bilateral relations between our countries.

Due to climatic conditions and the nature of its terrain, with its many ethnic and historical features, Tajikistan is a unique country for the development of tourism and mountaineering.

According to the State Committee on Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan for the past 5 months of 2011, bilateral trade between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Turkey made up 280.4 million U.S. Dollars. Trade turnover for Janu-ary - April 2011 has increased by 177.7% (1.7%) compared to January - April 2010. The total export of the Republic of Tajikistan in Turkey over the pe-riod of January-May 2011 amounted to 249.0 mil-lion U.S. Dollars. Imports of the country to Turkey for the period January-May 2011 amounted to 31.5 million. According to the Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, major partners on exports of goods in Tajikistan for January - April 2011 was Turkey with 39.1% of total exports. In this regard, Turkey is our larg-est partner in terms of investment and trade. With the view to facilitate the development of the Re-public of Tajikistan for the time being, the Turkish government has provided assistance through TICA amounting to more than forty million dollars of aid.

IIS - What can you say about the future inter-national energy policies of states in our com-mon region?F.H.Şaripov - The situation in the world associated with rising in price of energy, the need for greater and more systematic approach to addressing envi-ronmental challenges and prevention of impending environmental disaster forces us to seriously ap-proach the issue on production and use of energy.

The main way to solve the situation, of course, is the use of environmentally friendly energy sources and energy. In this regard, the use of huge water power resources of Tajikistan promises tremendous ben-efits throughout the region and safe future.

Besides, extensive use of oil and gas reserves, as well as their waste causing irreparable damage to the environmental situation across the globe. Under such situation, one of the most reliable and safest ways out of this situation is the use of wa-

ter resources, which, moreover, are lasting and are absolutely environmentally safe.

Tajikistan is ready to cooperate in this area with countries and companies concerned based on mutu-ally beneficial principles.Tajikistan has been consist-ently and systematically developing its energy po-tential, based on exploitation of renewable sources of energy. Along with the construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants we do also intend to build large-scale projects of regional importance and study the possibilities of setting wind and solar energy.

Hydropower facilities which are under construction are important not only for Tajikistan, but also for the development of water and energy, socio-economic sectors and environmental protection in entire Central Asian region. In our view, it is unfairly, that Tajikistan, having a rich hydropower potential, uses only 3% of this stock over the past 15 years, annually experiencing additional difficulties, which often put the country on the brink of an energy crisis, espe-cially in the winter-spring period.

Tajikistan sees the way exit of this situation through the development of its own hydroelectric power po-tential, taking into account the potential needs of the region in water resources and environmental conservation. Development of hydropower sector in Tajikistan in the future will enable the country to export electricity to the region, particularly to Af-ghanistan and Pakistan. I am convinced that only an integrated and mutually beneficial approach in the region towards effective water and energy resources and other natural resources management can ensure sustainable development of all countries and help address energy, food and environmental challenges.

IIS - What can Turkish culture offer to Tajiks and to the world at large?F.H.Şaripov - In my view, the humanistic and ethi-cal aspects, laid on the basis of the Turkish culture

(cinema, theater, music, sculpture, architecture and etc.) contribute this culture in seeking many admirers among the various peoples of our planet.

IIS - In this context, what do you think of the cultural institutions’ effect on relations between two countries? F.H.Şaripov - Since very early days of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, citizens of both countries have sought to better knowledge each other. And, of course, the Turkish Embassy in Tajikistan and the Embassy of our coun-try in Turkey played an important role in this process.

They have done a lot for the intensification of the relationship between the two countries and broth-erly nations in all directions. They have applied all facilities of their disposal. It resulted in the estab-lishment of a permanent cultural exchange, student and staff exchange and visits with the purpose of di-rect familiarization with life, customs and traditions of each other. But there are huge opportunities and resources that remain untapped in this direction. For example, it would be appropriate to establish cultur-al representation offices of each other in the biggest cities of our two countries and make together films, particularly about spiritual and moral subjects, to im-plement joint research projects on topical issues of common history and culture and etc.

IIS - If you had a chance to change something in the world what would that be and why?F.H.Şaripov - If you’re referring to relations be-tween our two countries, then there is no need to fundamentally alter or change anything. The course which we have chosen is the right way.

We should only more efficiently use funds that would contribute to a closer and mutually beneficial rela-tionship between our countries for the benefit of the Tajik and Turkish nations. To this end, we do possess all necessary facilities and resources for cooperation in all areas of economic, social and cultural life.


by Emel Arslan Deniz

[email protected]

The city is built around a small bay on the Black Sea coast, on a narrow strip of flat land between the sea and the mountains behind. The coastal strip is being expanded with landfill and the city is growing up the steep hillsides away from the coast. Rize enjoys a mild, extremely wet climate, vulnerable to storms coming off the Black Sea and therefore, the surrounding countryside is rich with vegetation and attracts more and more visitors every year.

Rize is a center for processing and shipping the tea grown in the surrounding area. Tea was introduced in the region in the 1940s and 1950s, changing the region’s destiny, which was desperately poor until then. The city has a tea research institute founded in 1958 and tea gardens are the main sight in the town’s

panoramic view. Tea and kiwi fruit plants are even planted in gardens around the town. The secondary activity is fishing. Rize is linked by road with Trabzon (41 miles/66 km west), Hopa (55 miles/88 km] east, on the Georgian border, and Erzurum (north). The nearest airport is in Trabzon.

The border with Georgia has been opened since the early 90’s. The Black Sea coast road has been widened and Rize is now wealthier than in previous decades. There are more cars in the streets, higher buildings on the sea front, and some places for young people to go are opening up now. The visitors to the surrounding countryside also contribute to the economy of the town.


This is a hilly district and the main economic activity is tea growing, plus some fishing, trade and light industry (tea processing) in the town of Pazar. Tea was first planted here in 1944 and there are now three factories in Pazar for processing the crop. 65% of arable land in Pazar is used for growing tea. Before tea was planted, citrus fruits and apples were grown here, but this has mostly ceased now, apart from trees in family gardens, where people grow vegetables and keep poultry. There are small areas of tobacco, corn, potatoes and beans. Pazar has plenty of grazing land, including summer grazing in

the high mountain pastures (yayla in Turkish) further up the Fırtına River. At even higher altitudes, efforts are being made to plant trees but it is hard to put roads through and manage a forest in these steep, high mountains.

Today, Pazar is a market town and the center of the local tea trade. Fishing was once a major activity, and Pazar still has a fleet of small fishing boats, although this is in decline as the Black Sea has become polluted and the traditional anchovies, flathead mullet, red mullet and other species are all in decline.

Until tea was planted, these districts at the far end of Turkey were all impoverished, losing generation after generation as migrant workers left to Europe or Istanbul. Life is still a struggle and people still leave, although now many return for the tea harvest in the summer.

Local handicrafts include basket weaving and the hand-woven linen Rize bezi. As in much of rural Tur-key, women traditionally cover their heads, partly out of tradition, partly from practical necessity as they are outside in the wind and rain.

FIRTINA VALLEY and HIGHLANDS

Çamlıhemşin is high in the Fırtına Valley, which leads down to the Black Sea coast, and is an important access point to the Kaçkar mountains. This is a hilly area surrounded by very high mountains that poke up into the clouds, and watered by the Fırtına River and other streams running down the Black Sea. It rains here all year round, temperatures drop to minus 7°C in winter and reach 25°C in summer.


The Fırtına Valley, which runs through the heart of Çamlıhemşin, and is spanned by the Ottoman-era Fırtına River bridges. You should try rafting on Fırtına river when you have a chance to go there.

In Çamlıhemşin, the countryside is a gorgeous mix of meadows and valleys and in recent years the district has begun to attract tourists, and people on trek-king holidays in the Kaçkar. Ayder yaylsı( Highland) is just 19 Km from Çamlıhemşin and 67 Km from Rize and there are really good hotels and guest houses

throughout the district. The hot spring bath in the center of Ayder highland is really amazing.

You can stay in a hotel or a local guesthouse in the highland. If you like trekking, you should try to climb up Kaçkar Mountains (3937 m). You can go up from six km of earth road from Ayder to Kavrun Highland by minibus or Jeep. There are 12 lakes at the top of the mountain. You can see seven of them after a 2-hour walk from Kavrun Highland. If you want to climb up to the top, it will take three and half-hours. When you come back to Kavrun after at least 4 hours you will feel very hungry and the best thing to eat is muhlama, the local cuisine which includes the fon-due-type hot cheese, butter and flour pudding. You can get as a souvenir Rize cloth for your friends.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Zilkale: Zilkale is a medieval castle located in the Fırtına Valley and is one of the most important his-torical works in the Çamlıhemşin. The castle is built at an altitude of 750 meters, and sits at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Fırtina river approximately 100 meters below. The castle consists of outer walls, middle walls and inner castle.

Anzer Highland: Anzer is 54 km far from Rize and 35 km far from İkizdere town. The highland is famous for flowers and honey. A kilo of Anzer honey is aproxi-mately 700 Turkish Liras.

LOCAL COUSINE

Muhlama is a local cuisine which includes the fon-due-type hot cheese, butter and flour pudding. Laz böreği is an unbelievable local dessert. Normally, börek is not a dessert but laz böreği is different like many other things in the region.

Anchovy is very popular in the region and very impor-tant for the local cusine. You should taste anchovy pilaff, soup, bread, dolması, meatball and the most amazing one: anchovy dessert.

Collard soup and collard sarma are also very popular in the Black sea region. You should also taste corn bread in Rize.

Remember the day you’ve graduated from college/university? Then you’ve landed yourself to your not-so-dreamt-about job, preferably 9-5, and it seems you’re one-in-a-million (or worse, among-a-million) trying to find your own way to work every other day in the rush hour. Well, some take a different path..

Why to ride, but not drive?

The idealist in me says I should write about cycling as a means of commuting to work, but since I’m in Ankara and would better keep myself busy ON the road rather than trying to make one for myself out of pavements, I’ll stick to motorbikes. I still strongly suggest cycling in the weekends as Ankara’s steep roads provide a really challenging cardio exercise for your body.

Though one might see people cycling for world peace, it’s my shameless guilt that I favor those people riding motorcycles to scratch their itch and find their very own Neverlands via “I wonder where that goes?” paths. And thank Goodness, there is also a number of people working for humanitarian foundations and missions to help those in need while following their heart beats and aspiration on two-wheels.

Why do people take the hard way and make it so for themselves? The first and foremost reason is that clearly they have the fun. They say it is a joy to shift gears

onto an open road, lean into twisty corners. It is a sensory delight to ride to the top of a hill and then scoot down it again. It is pleasurable to flick gears, tap the throttle, twitch a knee and have the bike obey like a trained quarter horse. Itís variously exciting, relaxing, enlightening and ennobling to ride. Also not to forget is raise oneself above the crowd; fashion and individuality. Riding is also about pleasure, awakened and heightened sensation, making the adrenaline flow, and to make short of the list, it’s about passion; whereas driving is, well, only driving unless you’ve got a sumptuous machine to cost you a six-figure check. It’s about the sheer excitement both before and after a lean further than you feel you could. It’s about.. ah, you would know the feeling once you tried it for

yourself and have the itch for the rest of your life. And it is about interaction, social acceptance and feeling you belong to something. Because enlightened motorcyclists are

more aware of their surroundings,

they ride

Riding a bike for world peace, or

by Sefa Denizoğ[email protected]


through their communities with more respect for the others who share the road. They also watch for others because of the threat collisions pose to both parties. A healthy sense of paranoia never hurt a motorcycle rider. Itís far safer to slow down, far safer to stop than run the risk of an accident. A good rider knows this.

You see riders wave and nod at one another, greeting strangers simply because they also share the passion. You donít see drivers wave at one another because that violates the personal space idiom. In essence all other drivers are competitors, where most motorcyclists treat one another like companions. The rare time you will see a motorcyclist gesture rudely is usually at a driver who has performed a stupid, inconsiderate or dangerous (sometimes all three) act and threatened the safety of the rider.

Any gathering of riders is generally sociable and more friendly, a place where strangers talk animatedly about their interests and their bikes. Drawn together because of one common interest, motorcyclists have a basic underlying respect for anyone else who rides. Sure there are brand and style loyalties among riders, but the fact that you ride makes you welcome at almost any motorcycle event. And you never have to defend your passion among riders. They already know.

The reasons why people love their bikesA $15K bike will outperform a $70K sportscar

You can fill up for $10-15 in Turkey, cheaper anywhere else in the world.

No one almost never walk away from their car backwards.

One can park almost anywhere.

You are a part of the scenery, not just passively watching it.

Rat bikes are cool, rat cars are not.

You’re the most maneuverable thing in the traffic.

And the cycle of happiness: Downshift, throttle.. By-bye!

and the reasons it’s great to be a woman motorcyclist:You become a role model for adventurous girls.

The “Oh my God, that’s a girl!” look!

You’re just one of the guys

At the same time, you’re a member of a very exclusive club.

Men want to know you, whilst women want to be you!

Breaking stereotypes is fun.

Saying “Actually, it IS mine”

“Why are Motorcyclists better people?”

IIS International Football

Tournament

2011-2012by IIS Football [email protected]


An open invitation to join the fun!

Football is the most beautiful game... not only it plays a role in improving the lives of individuals, but also whole communities. It brings people together across religious, geographic and political

divides, no matter of age, gender, or race.

Football also serves as a tool to teach many important life skills, including respect, communication, inclusion, sharing and teamwork. By that, it has the potential to cross

boundaries, establish better social relationships, and ultimately make the world a better place for everyone.

The International Interaction Society is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the fifth season of the International Football League. In the run-up to start of the 2011-2012 season, all

foreigners living in Ankara are invited to come join the fun taking their place in the league.

You can register your team if you are the captain, or register yourself individually. Contact [email protected] today for registration and any further information.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

The invitation is directed first and foremost at non-Turkish citizens who live in Ankara and want to experience the integrative power of football.

A committee will select teams from among all the entries received.

The following key criteria will be taken into consideration:

• Participation fee: 500 euros per team.

• Uniforms: team jersey kit, bearing tournament’s official sponsors logo, are mandatory at all games.

• Commitment of the team to the tournament schedule.

• At least 4 of the players on the field of each team should be non-Turkish.

• Player should be at least 16 years old.

8 players per each team on the field (the goalkeeper and 7 more). If team captains agree, the match can be played 7 vs 7 or 9 vs 9.

At any time during a game, at least 4 of the players on the field of every team should be non-Turkish. Double passports count as non-Turkish for that purpose.

All matches will be scheduled to start on time if both teams have at least five players present. If only one team has a minimum of five players, the opposition captain can decide whether they wish to reduce the number of players they have on the field from the normal eight players as in rule 1. If the Captain with only five players does not wish to play, then they may concede the game and a 3-0 loss will be recorded.

If a team does not have five players present then a period of 10 minutes will be allowed for more players to arrive at the pitch. If a team does not have five players at the end of that time then the match has to be conceded with a 3-0 loss.

The same player will not be allowed to be a member of more than one team.

Players should be at least 16 years old.

In order for a new player to join a team, the organization will have to be informed one week beforehand.

Mixed teams (men and women together) are welcomed.

Every match will have 2 periods of 25 minutes each, and a rest time of 5 minutes. İf the game starts ten minutes late, rest time will be reduced to one minute.

GAMEPLAY RULES


The matches will start at the scheduled time and will end just one hour later (including any stoppage time). It won’t be allowed to go on playing after the time is over, even if the match has started with delay.

There is no offside rule.

Goalkeeper cannot hold the ball by hand in backpasses.

The number of changes during the game is unlimited if they have to be done when the referee allows it (the ball stopped). Captain should advise referee for the substitution.

There will be referees in every match and a representative of the organization.

The player who is shown the red card cannot play the rest of the match, and also the next match in the schedule.

The team who is shown 3 red cards throughout a half season of the tournament will also be subject to 3 points deduction!

FAIR-PLAY IS THE ESSENCE OF THE TOURNAMENT!A Discipline Committee consisting of delegated team captains and chaired by an IIS representative will determine matters related to intentional, dangerous physical contact by any player inside or outside of the field or insulting/offending and racist discourse. Discipline committee’s decisions may vary from disqualification of this player from the league to suspension from a number of matches.

(*subject to change in the Team Captains pre-season meeting)


2008 the beginning…

International Football League was organized by International Interaction Society for the first time back in September 2008 under the name Ankara International League. First, the organization was a league that lasted three months with the participation of nine teams including AMAC (military attaches), Greece, UK, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Nordics (scandinavian countries), Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IIS.

The tournament organized in 2008 was a great social activity which provided the foreigners living in Ankara with the opportunity to do regular exercise, to enjoy their free time, and to establish new friendships. The enthusiasm of the players and the success of the event left a lasting impression and IIS decided to make the event an annual one. The first champion of the tournament was UK who left its mark on the tournaments’ history in the following years.

2009 first All-star match & award ceremony

The second tournament organized between March 2009 - June 2009 brought together over 100 players from 24 different countries in 13 teams, including IIS, USA, AMAC, Azerbaijan, UK, Spain, Italy, Kazakhistan, Nordics, Portugal, Russia, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Greece.

After a marathon of 90 tough matches, the tournament closed with a glorious award ceremony which took place the last week of June 2009 at the Gençlerbirliği Sports Club’s facilities.

Following the final game between AMAC and Greece teams to claim the second rank in the league, a show match between All-Star teams composed of IIS International Football League Players versus Famous Former Professional Players was played. Then the ceremony began with an opening speech by IIS Vice President Barbaros Sarıcı, who remarked the unifying potential and universality of football.

The ceremony, emceed by Mr. Johann Hornung, the legendary captain of AMAC team, was attended

by many distinguished guests including Greek Ambassador to Ankara, His Excellency Mr. Fotios-Jean XYDAS, Turkish and foreign diplomats playing in the league, present and former sportsmen including professional football players from prominent clubs such as Beşiktaş, Gençlerbirliği, Trabzon and European Taekwando Champion Mr. Ertan Baştuğ.

Vice President of International Interaction Society, Mr. Sarıcı, stated that the International Football Tournament would continue with larger participation and even more professional organization.

2009-2010 introduction of two groups & two halves system

The third IIS International Football Tournament took place between October 2009 – May 2010 with the participation of 14 teams played under two groups of 7 teams in two seasons. The success of the previous tournaments doubled the participation and over 200 players coming from 40 countries participated in the league.

UK/Ireland team became the champion of 2009-2010 season, like the previous two seasons. The captain of the champion team, UK Embassy Diplomat, Mr. Dan Wilson, received their cup by the hand of Mr. Bülent Uygun, famous veteran star of Fenerbahçe Football Club.

The tournament came to and official closing with an All-Star match played after the glorious award ceremony emceed by Mr. Jose Tavares, the captain of the Portugal team, and the previous tournament’s MVP, on May 15 at Gençlerbirliği Sport Clubs facilities.

The promise made by Sarıcı in the former season was met, and the tournament deserved praise by all the participants and followers. The award ceremony was attended by players, famous faces of sports along with media and distinguished invitees. Attendants included eminent characters such as His Excellency Mr. Tom Russell, Ambassador of Ireland, former Fenerbahçe Player Mr. Bülent Uygun, Bolton Wanderers player Mr. Bülent Akın, former captain of Gençlerbirliği Football Club Mr. Erkan Özbey; former referee and the Manager of Gençlerbirliği Sport Facilities Mr. Zafer Önder İpek,

HISTORY of IIS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

World and European Wrestling Champion Mr. Şeref Eroğlu, Director General of Press and Information Mr. Arif Gülen and as well as the league players. The media including the TRT and Kanal A was also there.

Two groups & two halves system: There are two groups in the tournament. Group A and Group B. The groups are set transparently in kick-off meetings with Captains. After the end of the first season, the top teams from both groups forms a new Pool A, and the rest the new pool B so that the strength of the teams will be equal to each other. Pool A leader becomes the champion of the tournament. Second and third teams and also Pool B leader is also presented a cup. The first season continues from October to December. And the second season is played between March to April.

2010-2011 sponsors and TFF referees add to quality The fourth season of IIS –Turkish Airlines International Football League was even a bigger success. 266 players from 44 different countries took part in the league this year. At its fourth year, the sponsors including Turkish Airlines who gave its name to the league as the main sponsor, health sponsors Medicana and Koru hospitals which made ready physicians and an ambulance on match days, beverage sponsor Coca-Cola which provided products such as Powerade and water, jersey sponsor Altunay Spor and Onural Turizm added to the quality of the league.

This was a season which will be remembered with the tough matches’ scores that changed at the very last minutes. At its fourth year, the league was more competitive than ever. Who was the favorite to take the League Championship title was very hard to tell. As UK-IRELAND have a tradition to be the champion in the league, other teams gave the signal that things might change. France looked like they had all the necessary tools to break the tradition, yet IIS Football Team obtained the championship at the end. All in all, it was a great season and great fun. At the very last game of the season, All-star A vs. All-star B teams played a match full of excitement.

The fourth season of IIS International Football League’s Award Ceremony took place on May 8, 2011 at the Swiss Hotel. The award ceremony was a truly memorable event recognizing the winners for their performance.

Attendants included eminent characters such as Mr. Sergiy Korsunsky, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ankara, H.E Mr. Mark E. Bailey, Canadian Ambassador to Ankara, H.E. Mr. Luis Kenneth Palma Castillo, Ambassador of Chile to Ankara, H.E. Mr. Goran Taskovski, Ambassador of Macedonia to Ankara, and former and current Turkish football stars including Mr. Abdulkadir Demirci, prominent stars of Gençlerbirliği Football Club Mr. Orhan Şam, Mr. Ante Kulusic, Mr. Ermin Zec, and the Manager of Kasımpaşa Sport Club Mr. Fuat Çapa, as well as the league players.

The master of ceremony was Portugal’s captain Ms. Fulya Akbuga and Mr. Jose Tavares. The new champion, IIS Football Team, which won the championship with a five star performance, received their championship cup from the hand of H.E Mr. Mark Bailey.

Regardless of who became the champion, these games allowed all to establish new connections, and to become close friends. We thank all the embassies that give their support to this event, all the sponsors, all members, volunteers, Turkish Football Federation, referees, and the team captains who collectively make this organization unique.

As the IIS Football Group we excitedly wait to see you in the new season. Our wish is to positively add to your Türkiye experience!


Yes, of course because you can get in touch with other people and as everybody knows, people are con-nected by sports.(Robby Kramer, Diplomat in German Embassy, former player of Germany Team)

I would recommend all to find a team and play. There is nothing better than being part of an organization that is well run and professional at the same time. (Erich Fusch, Diplomat in USA Embassy, captain of USA Team)

I have given lots of people advice to join the league and many of them are playing now. I also tell all my visitors about the league as an example of the community spirit that there is here in Ankara. (Steve Ben-nett, Diplomat in UK Embassy, captain of UK Team)

Absolutely! It`s a great way to make friends and the league is very well organized.(Eirik Nestas Mathisen, Diplomat in Royal Norwegian Embassy, second captain of Nordics Team)

Anybody who is Italian is invited to join the Italian team!!! (Fabio Cortese, captain of Italy Team)

Would you advice an expat to participate in the IIS International Football League?

*In the following questions, IISFL refers to the International Interaction Society’s Football League

IIS - Who was your favorite player when you first became inter-ested in football? Who is your current favorite player, if any?

When I was growing up, there were so many truly great soccer players. My heros at that time were Ernst Happel from the Austrian National Team, Pele from Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer from Germany. Now there are so many more nations playing soccer, and I think my favorite player at the moment is Lionel Messi – FC Barcelona and Michael Owen of Manchester United.

IIS - Can you name any Turkish professional football players? Do you follow any Turkish football teams? I haven’t had much chance to watch much of the Turkish teams and don’t know who most of the really good players are. However, I do know of the teams and have watched Fenerbahce on TV. I’d like to see them play live. That would be great!

IIS - Were you playing football regularly before IISFL?

From 1965 – 1968 I played semi-professional as a goal keeper for Austria so I think I can say I’ve spend most of my life playing soccer.

Eirich FUCHS


IIS - When/How did you hear about the IISFL?

I heard about the IIS Football League soon after we arrived in Ankara from our captain Liz LeDuc

IIS - How do you feel when you’re in the football pitch? What makes you feel that way?

I love playing soccer even at my age, and it is always exciting to be part of a team who not only plays for the excitment of the game whether we win or lose, but also with good sportsmanship.

IIS - Who are other players in your team or rival teams that you find skillful with the ball?

Those who I find quite skillful on my team are Bulent Temel who is tough with good football techniques, Liz LeDuc who is quick and follows the ball, Omer Turgut, Engin Demirkaya, and Taner Anda who are quick, fast and scorers and Tolga Barut, our goal keeper, who tries not to let too many goals get past him. One of the best players on a rival team is Ab-dulkadir Demirci who I played with indoors during the winter months. He plays with IIS.

IIS - Have you made any new friends through IISFL? Do you see them outside the pitch?

Lots of new friends. All the members from my team have become great friends and we are playing soc-cer more often together. The individuals associated with IIS have all been so friendly, helpful and have pulled together a great football tournament. It is great to know all of them.

IIS - How do you rate IISFL overall?

The IIS Football League is quite well-organized and very professionally run. It has been great to play with my team in this league.

IIS - Would you advice an expat to participate in the IIS-TA Football League?

Of course, I would recommend all to find a team and play. There is nothing better than being part of an organization that is well run and professional at the same time.

IIS - Are there any other sports activities that you are interested in and would like IIS to or-ganize in the future?

Yes – bowling, tennis and basketball.

IIS - Lastly, what was your idea about Turkey before coming, and has your experience in Tur-key changed/affected your thoughts about Tur-key, Turkish people and culture?

I didn’t have many preconceived ideas about Turkey before coming here to live because I had previously traveled many times to various areas of Turkey and found it to be a truly fascinating country. Everything about Turkey is exotic from the culture, to the peo-ples, and naturally to the ancient sights. In the re-maining time that I have left here in Turkey, I know that I will not be able to see everything.

Thank you for answering our questions! (c) 2011 By IIS Football Group.

Hacı Bayram Quarter has a deep history starting with the early settlement in Anatolia, when the city was conquered by Augustus in 25 BC and passed under the control of the Roman Empire. After the capital city of the Roman province of Galatia, Ancyra continued to be a center of great commercial importance. Ankara is also famous for the Monumental Ancyranum (Temple of Augustus and Rome), which contains the official record of the Acts of Augustus, known as the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, an inscription cut in marble on the walls of this temple. The ruins of Ancyra still furnish today valuable bas-reliefs, inscriptions and other architectural fragments. Augustus decided to make Ancyra one of the three main administrative centers in central Anatolia.

In 1071, the Turkish Seljuq Sultan Alp Arslan conquered much of eastern and central Anatolia after his victory at the Battle of Manzikert. He then annexed Ankara, an important location for military transportation and natural resources, to his territory in 1073

The first construction of Hacı Bayram Veli Mosque started in 1428 next to the Augustus Temple. Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque was built two years before the death of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli in 1427/28. This structure has had several restorations until now. The open space of this mosque is 437 square meters on the first floor and 263 square meters at the second floor. There is the historical August Temple at the east side of this mosque.

Hacı Bayram-ı Veli was a prominent person in the Turkish Islamic history. He lived between 1352-1430. His real name was Numan. He was born in a small village of Ankara, and after completing his education he began to study as a professor at a university. His life changed after having received an invitation from Somuncu Baba who was from Kayseri. Somuncu Baba told him about Sufism. Upon this, Hacı Bayram-ı Veli decided to study sufism with Somuncu Baba. Owing to this, he and Somuncu Baba met on the day of Kurban Bayramı (Muslim Festival of Sacrifices), and Somuncu Baba called him Bayram. After that day, he used Bayram as his name throughout his whole life.

During the early Turkish Republic days, the Hacı Bayram quarter was an important part of the city, not only religiously, but also commercially and administratively. There are many Roman ruins and early republican constructions in the quarter such as, the Roman column in front of the Ankara Governorship, the Roman bath ruin and traditional old Ankara houses, many of which have been restorated by the Ankara Municipality in order to uplift the touristic side of the quarter.

HACI BAYRAM


by A. Murat [email protected]

Nacre is the phosphoric substance forming the inside layer of mussels and oysters. It is a hard and iridescent substance. Nacre inlaying is performed by placing this substance obtained from mussels and oysters into wooden surfaces by carving and gluing or fixing with wires.

The craftsmen performing the art of nacre inlaying are called “nacre inlayer” and the work produced is called “nacre inlay”.

Today, the number of nacre inlayers has decreased dramatically and the art cannot draw the interest it enjoyed once in the past. In our history, the art of woodcarving began with the Seljuk State. And the meeting of nacre and wood took place during the Ottoman reign. Some sources trace the origin of the art back to the Sumerians, though we encounter the first examples of it in the late 15th century. Today, we can see in museums the unique examples of the art of nacre inlaying produced by the craftsmen trained

in Enderun (The Ottoman Royal School).

The art of nacre inlaying, which enjoyed its heydays in the

16th century, is an eye-catching art with the iridescence of the

nacres inlayed in the wood. The inlayer can use whatever technique

or pattern he wishes while producing his work. In time, new techniques began to be used and geometrical patterns began to be connected in new compositions. Bending, tying with main and auxiliary ties, cutting each other and knotting are among these styles and compositions. Furthermore, the geometrical patterns began to be integrated with the flower patterns we see in nature such as, tulips, roses and carnations, and the nacre inlaying we see today emerged.

Like all arts of craftsmanship, the nacre inlaying also carries the experiences of the past to the future, having many traces of history and a number of cultures among them. The nacre inlaying performed in our country today was influenced and enriched by the Far East and Indian cultures. Isn’t the influence of each new culture and of each new individual a new dynamic and richness for society? And, as a result of these influences, we have today the different styles in nacre inlaying such as the Far East work, Damascus work, Vienna work and Jerusalem work.

In history, nacre inlaying ornamented the palaces, mansions, weapons, swords, thrones, coffee tables, rostrums, jewelry boxes, walls, doors and windows, giving a unique magnificence to the spaces and furniture it was applied on.

The nacre inlaying continued to be performed in the17th and 18th century. According to the accounts of Evliya Çelebi, there were 100 nacre inlaying workshops and about 5,000 nacre inlayers in Istanbul alone.

The Magnificence

of the Past: NACRE INLAYING

by Emel Arslan [email protected]


During the reign of Abdulhamid II, efforts were made to protect the royal nacre inlaying department, especially in order to be able to present nacre inlay gifts to the foreign rulers and diplomats. Vasif Hodja, the most famous nacre inlayer of the last century, continued to perform his craftsmanship until his death in 1940. Hodja gave lectures about nacre inlaying in the Nacre Inlaying department of the Academy of Fine Arts, which was founded in 1936, in order to transfer his accumulation of knowledge to the new generations.

As well as its historical depth, the art of nacre inlaying carries also deep emotions and a great deal of effort in itself. In regards to the wood on which the inlaying is applied, hard woods such as walnut or rose are generally preferred. The prepared wood first is left to dry. As we have already mentioned above, nacre is obtained from mussels and oysters. Sometimes ivory and bones have also been used alongside the nacre. Metals, such as silver and copper, ornament the nacres placed in the carved holes on the wood. While crafting the nacre, first the motif is drawn on the wood and it is carved with a fine-pointed steel awl. A silver, golden, brass or aluminum wire is placed on the carved hole and then fixed with glue and left to dry. With the help of sandpaper, the nacre is shaped to fit into the carved

hole and fixed into it with a special kind of glue. It is then left for drying for at least one day. If the work is to be colored, it is turned into brown by using acids, and then it is oiled with olive oil and left to dry. If the desired color of the product is black, then it is burnt after the acid is applied on it, and then oiled and left to dry. Then the product is sanded. And, after that, using some cotton, it is polished with a kind of varnish dissolved in alcohol until the varnish is absorbed by the surface.

Today, the art of nacre inlaying is kept alive by a few craftsmen in the provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep. The works produced in Gaziantep has dominantly bear the traces of Seljuk and Ottoman styles. In the region, where some rather successful examples of the art are produced today, the styles of the past are integrated with new designs. If you intend to have fine nacre inlay works, such as mirror frames, jewelry boxes, armchairs or chests, you can visit Gaziantep to choose among the finest examples of this art.

In regards to the wood on which the inlaying is applied,

hard woods such as walnut or rose are

generally preferred.

PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Prostate cancer is generally seen on men in their mid-late ages. The disease can progress slowly and show symptoms late. It may reveal itself as advanced or metastatic when findings appear. Among the findings of the disease are frequent urination (polyuria), urination late at night, dysuria (painful urination) and difficulty in urination. Advanced disease may cause waist and joint pains, exhaustion

and weight loss. The disease may sometimes be discovered coincidentally or in a biopsy for high PSA on checkups. Basic methods for diagnosis are finger rectal examination, blood PSA value measurement and prostate biopsy with ultrasound. Enlarged prostate, hard and unmoving mass in finger rectal examination may show prostate cancer. PSA, another method for diagnosis is a hormone and it is secreted from the prostate gland. It is important for diagnosis as it is secreted from cancer tissues.

Concurrent Diagnoses and Treatment Methods

Prostate cancer is one of the most important problems aging men face. 2.6 million new cancer cases have been spotted in Europe in 2009, 11% of all cancer cases and 9% of cancer deaths were prostate cancer. Genetics is the most important risk factor known for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer family history poses a risk for prostate cancer. Changing nutritional habits is also thought to have an effect on prostate cancer development.

PROSTATE:

by Prof.Dr. Hasan [email protected]


Biopsy with ultrasound: this is a process used in order to put a definitive diagnosis for prostate cancer. 10 pieces are taken from the rectum with a needle, accompanied by an ultrasound probe after applying local anesthetic material on the prostate. Cancer tissue can be detected after the assessment of the pieces is taken. Positive biopsy means definitive diagnosis and the biopsy should be repeated if the patient has the same risk factors. Studies conducted show that the cancer rate for repeated biopsies are between 30 – 50%.

Tumor type and grade can be determined by pathologically examining the pieces. Most prostate cancers are adenocancers pathologically. Rarely, may other pathological types can be seen (sarcoma, lymphoma etc). The pathological grading system used is the Gleason system. According to this system, information regarding prevalence, progress and method of treatment of the disease can be gathered with tumor grading. Gleason score is shown with numbers such as 1+2 and the total score is assessed.

STAGING OF THE DISEASE

Staging and grading system required for the treatment of prostate cancer should be done after pathological diagnosis. After the diagnosis, bone scanning is done if PSA value is over 20 ng/ml in order to determine whether the disease is spread to the bones. Disease spread to the bones is advanced and should be treated by completely different methods.

TREATMENT

Treatment should be chosen according to its grade. Treatment options such as careful observation, surgical treatment, radiotherapy, HIFU, Hormonotherapy, and Chemotherapy are present. Surgical treatment can be open surgery, closed surgery (laparoscopic) and robotic surgery.

How to have careful monitoring for prostate cancer?

A patient group that is slowly progressing and untreatable because of its side

effects can be taken into this protocol. Serum PSA

measurement of the patient group in the

monitoring protocol has regular disease specific

querying and finger rectal examination.

Progress of the disease is

checked with PSA

measurements taken once every 3 months and other biochemical tests, prostate needle biopsy once every year. Imaging methods like bone scanning is done if deemed necessary.

Radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer

This is the standard treatment method for disease that is localized, not having distant spreading. Radical prostatectomy is the method for extraction of prostate with seminal vesicles and surrounding lipid tissues. It can be done in 3 different ways. Open surgery (perinal or retropubic) laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery.

Which patients does radical prostatectomy get applied to?

Patients with:

1. Tumor limited with prostate tissue (T1, T2 and chosen T3a)

2. No lymph node involvement

3. No distant metastasis

4. Younger than 75.

Risks of radical prostatectomy

This surgery is an invasive process used for cancer treatment. Anesthesia of approximately 2-5 hours is required depending on the surgery type. So, this situation may bring risks involved with anesthesia. The two biggest risks of the surgery are urinary incontinence and erection problems. Surgeries done in the light of recent technical advancements has decreased these risks considerably, especially on nerve preserving surgeries. Studies conducted show that urinary incontinence and erection problems are between 9-27% and 13-49%, respectively.

Radiotherapy in prostate cancer (BRACHYTHERAPY)

Radiotherapy also known as brachytherapy is based on applying large doses of radiation on the prostate gland. Radiotherapy has two application methods. The first is external involving radiotherapy applied


from outside and the other is interstitial or internal radiotherapy. This interstitial radiotherapy is called brachytherapy. The goal here is to prevent the development of cancer tissue by damaging its DNA with radiation. Brachytherapy is a different method using special tissue applicators (special tools placed by radioactive sources doing the irradiation), plastic tubes placed inside the prostate tissue or body spaces.

Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer

This is a widely used method as prostate cancer is a type of cancer sensitive to a hormone called testosterone. Testosterone is a male hormone and it is not required in prostate cancer. Removing testosterone from circulation or halting its secretion is the main principle of the hormonal therapy. Methods used in the hormonal therapy are orchiectomy (removing testicles), antiandrogen therapy, LHRH analogues, LHRH antagonists, and estrogen treatment and combined hormonal therapies. The side effects of hormonal therapy are sexual problems resulting from repressing testosterone on circulation, breast enlargement, nausea, stomach problems and vertigo.

Chemotherapy in prostate cancer

Used as recovery treatment for cancers resistant to hormone or in advanced cancers. Drugs such as mizantrone, doksarubicin, paclitaksel and estramustine are used for this. Chemotherapy is a method of treatment that is different and has more side effects on the patient.

Cryotherapy in prostate cancer

Meaning treatment by freezing the prostate, cryotherapy is cooling of the prostate with needles assisted by ultrasonography and freezing it. Being a new method of treatment, cryotherapy is a method minimally invasive. However, its use as a starting treatment is still discussed. Gleason score after other initial treatment or as initial treatment is <6, PSA value is <10, it is used in patients with cancer that has not spread outside the prostate or with a

prostate with 50 cc volume or less. Swelling, pain in genital area, bleeding in urine and sexual problems may be experienced with this therapy.

HIFU

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound), an alternative treatment method for prostate cancer, is a method that does not involve surgery. It is based on the principle of placing an ultrasound probe to the rectum with the help of a computer and focusing it on cancer tissue and treating with sound waves. The most important advantage of this treatment is that it does not include surgery and does not impose risks related with anesthesia. Ultrasound probe is placed inside the rectum with local anesthesia without the patient noticing during the process and prostate cancer is completely healed with ultrasound waves. The process may last for approximately 1.5-2.5 hours depending on the volume of the prostate. The effect of the ultrasound focused on cancer tissue is that it disrupts the tissue with the heat effect known as coagulation necrosis. Tissue in necrosis is removed from the body gradually; healing the tissue that we call scar tissue is placed instead. Prostate tissue will become atrophied after the process by lowering its volume and no problem related to the process will be experienced. Another advantage of HIFU treatment is that it can be applied again if the disease recurs or can be applied again if other treatment methods fail.

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