WORLD PRESS DISCUSSES TRABZON

Sabah, Turkey
Feb 8 2007

World press is discussing Trabzon; a city which came up with the Dink
killing. Two giant newspapers of the West; Financial Times and New
York Times have published long articles that explicate Trabzon.

Using expressions such as ‘fading giant of Turkish football’,
Financial Times wrote: "Since the murder in Istanbul on January 19 of
Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist, and of Andrea Santoro, an
Italian Roman Catholic priest, at his church not far from the Trabzon
stadium a year ago this week, Turkey’s gaze has turned on this city
as never before. Anguished that the chief suspect in each case was
a teenage boy from this city, Turks have only one question: what is
the matter with Trabzon? In their search for answers, experts have
seized on the city’s alleged status as a hotbed of ultra-nationalism
and ultra-Islamism, the fiery nature of Black Sea Turks, the rise
of organized crime and gun culture (a sign in the arrivals hall at
the airport reminds people to collect their guns), and educational
under-achievement.There is substance to these arguments, but anecdotal
evidence suggests Trabzon is no more nationalist or conservative than
other Turkish cities. And these are symptoms, not causes. Trabzon’s
problem, many here say, is economic decline and social stagnation."

British newspaper also indicated that other cities in Anatolia –
especially Ankara, Kayseri and Konya – are booming and vibrant places
where people are flocking to live. But the economic revival that
Turkey has enjoyed since 2002 seems to have passed Trabzon by.

New York Times: "A hotbed of Turkish Ultranationalist Sentiment"
Publishing a Trabzon source news, New York Times has emphasized
the fact that suspcts of the Dink killing have grown up in Trabzon;
a hotbed of Turkish ultranationalist sentiment.

New York Times wrote "With fishing boats pouring in and out of a busy
harbor, white minibuses crisscrossing in all directions and shopping
streets bustling, this regional capital nestled on the Black Sea
appears to be a vibrant city. But beneath the colorful shopping malls
filled with trendy clothes and chic cafes, the poverty, unemployment
and lack of opportunity that afflicts many of Turkey’s cities is
crushing here – especially for young people."