http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-17365.html
AKP dissident unleashes question motion salvo The New Anatolian with Anka / Ankara One of the most outspoken ruling party deputies yesterday exposed 11 Cabinet members to a barrage of question motions. Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Balikesir Deputy Turhan Comez, famous for his unexpected moves against the party's central administration, submitted 11 question motions to the Parliament Speaker's Office, questioning the government on a series of crucial issues ranging from energy policies to social concerns. The move, a first in Parliament's history, is viewed by politicians close to Comez as an attempt to encourage ministers from his party through probing them individually. Will Turkey send note to Iraq? Comez's first motion focused on the chaotic atmosphere of the Middle East and his government's stance towards the new Iraqi government, which is claimed to be overlooking the activities of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the region. The motion targeting Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul asked about recent news stories saying that Murat Karayilan, a senior PKK member, appeared on Kurdistan TV, which is owned by the Barzani family. "Will Turkey send a note to Iraq asking for the handing over of Karayilan?" asked Comez, who also sought to learn whether Turkey's anti-terror bodies would weigh in and deal with the matter. He expanded the boundaries of the motion by asking about the details and purpose of the Greater Middle East Initiative (GME), led by the United States and supported by Turkey. Price of Russian natural gas Another motion about natural gas prices targeted Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler. Comez asked the minister how much and from whom Turkey imported natural gas this year. He also noted that the Russian natural gas price to Ukraine was set at $135 per 1,000 cubic meters, adding that it was $95 last year, and asked whether the prices to Turkey are favorable or not. "How much do we pay for 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas?" he asked. Look at radioactive threat Another question motion put the Lebanon peacekeeping mission in the spotlight, where it has been said radioactive material remaining from weapons used by Israel is a threat to health. Comez asked Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul whether Turkey has examined samples from Lebanese soil bombarded by Israelis for radioactivity or whether the ministry has plans to do so. "Is there any risk for the Turkish troops sent to the country under the international peacekeeping force?" he asked. Unlicensed guns He also touched on a very serious social problem that has been making headlines for some time, asking Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu if he has any data on the number of licensed and unlicensed guns in the country. "Do you have estimated figures on unlicensed guns in Turkey?" he asked while stressing the risks of individual armament. According to several reports, individual armament is on the rise. The latest figures made available by Comez in his question motion show a rise of 358 percent in the last eight years. Comez also asked about the spread of child pornography, which is said to be another problem threatening society. The rise in news articles on the matter shows the issue is fast becoming a serious problem for the country, according to the deputy. According to recent reports, child pornography, which is common in major western cities as well as some eastern cities, is a business run by organized crime groups and exploits the children of impoverished families, especially those living in southeastern cities and ghettoes in major cities. "What is your ministry doing to combat child pornography," asked the deputy. Traditional murders Another target for the deputy was Nimet Cubukcu, state minister responsible for the family and children, who has been subjected to several other motions on issues related to the marital problems. Citing recent news reports about "honor" killings and another tradition called "berdel" (arranged marriages where brides are exchange between families), which is common in eastern parts of the country, Comez asked the minister whether she views the tradition as a social problem and whether the ministry is working on policies to reduce the influence of such traditions. Deluge continues The deputy further asked State Minister Kursad Tuzmen about the closure of the Habur Border Gate, which was recently flooded by torrential rain, while another motion asked Education Minister Education Huseyin Celik about money paid for special pre-entrance exam training courses. The deputy asked whether the minister wants to abolish the private college preparation school system. State Minister Besir Atalay also got his share from the questions with a motion about advertisements claimed to misinform the public. He was asked whether he has plans to cancel such advertisements, especially those related to health issues. The other motions were to Environment Minister Osman Pepe on the environment and the economy and Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker about banana imports, estimated to cost YTL 350 million annually. The final motion asked Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koc about work on the country's contribution to the United Nation's world heritage project. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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