Eastern Turkey's ancient wonders

Kevin Rushby

Pillars at the temple of Göbekli Tepe.
(Photograph by Vincent J Musi
National Geographic Society)

Urfa, in eastern Turkey, is, at 11,000 years old, the oldest monument ever found, yet was only discovered a decade ago. It is the site of man's first efforts at farming and is also said to be the birthplace of Abraham.

Given the power to travel in time, which period would you choose for your tour? Well, here's one to consider: the early Holocene. Not grabbing you? Well, to be more precise 9,600BC in what is now eastern Turkey. That period and place are known to have been pivotal in human prehistory, although they left precious few traces.

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Disarming America's Gun Culture

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.*

The horrific massacre of 26 people, including 20 young children, inside a Connecticut elementary school was an act so evil, so vile, so unconscionable, and so shocking, that it is hard to believe it could have happened. Coming less than two weeks before Christmas, the rampage is one of the world's worst mass shootings and the nation's second-deadliest school shooting. Coping with the tragedy of losing a child, let alone in such a tragic and unthinkable way, is an unspeakable heartbreak. Like you, my heart and prayers go out to the victims, their families and other loved ones.

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Book Review: Pearls of Wisdom

Michael Starzinski

This work by M. Fethullah Gülen is a continuation of a long tradition of books and articles promoting the cause of serving society through the advancement of universal education. Fethullah Gülen is a widely known and respected Turkish scholar, religious leader, educator, and social reformer, whose values stem from his Islamic faith, and whose overriding interest is in the well-being of Muslims as well as all of mankind.

Fethullah Gülen's many life experiences including a teaching post in Edirne Turkey, and those acquired throughout his life within his faith, have contributed to his understanding of the role of education in shaping the world we live in. His corresponding beliefs that tyranny can be eliminated and justice achieved through education for all mankind are copiously illustrated in this and all of his former works.

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Turkish, Armenian students foster coexistence with exemplary project

Putting aside all their prejudices and what their course books taught them, a group of students from a Turkish high school and an Armenian high school have joined hands to get to know each other and develop bonds of brotherhood among different religious and ethnic groups in the country with a joint project, which has resulted in a prominent award from the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV).

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Rasmussen: Turkey ‘matters’ in NATO

Turkey has a major role within the NATO in shaping policies and Ankara’s views are heard across in all allied capitals, NATO chief Rasmussen says.

NATO chief Rasmussen (L) with
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.
(Daily Photo: Selahattin Sonmez)

In this exclusive interview with TPQ, the honorable secretary-general provides an overview of the major developments of the past two years in Turkey’s neighborhood, including the Libya operation and crisis in Syria, and assesses NATO’s stance thereof. He points out that unlike in the Libya case, there has not been a united response from the international community or a UNSC mandate in the case of Syria. Emphasizing NATO’s open door policy, he commends Georgia for its commitment to a vision of NATO membership and underlines the democratic success marked by the recent elections in this country. The secretary-general also notes NATO’s decision to enhance cooperation with partners and include partners that contribute to NATO operations into relevant decision-shaping processes.

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