Turkey Bids Farewell to Former FM Ismail Cem

Istanbul. Former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who died of lung cancer at 67 on Wednesday, was laid to rest on Thursday following a state ceremony held after Friday prayers, Cihan news agency reports.

The funeral was held at Istanbul's Tesvikiye Mosque. Cem's wife, son and daughter accepted condolences from numerous visitors. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, main opposition Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal, former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, former ministers and other state officials attended the funeral.

Former Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreou was also in Istanbul for his close friend's funeral. Papandreou was reported to have postponed his visit to India to attend the funeral. After the religious ceremony, a state ceremony was performed for former foreign minister. He was then taken to Zincirlikuyu Cemetery and laid to rest.

Read the rest of the story on Focus News Agency

See also:

• İsmail Cem laid to rest in state ceremony (Today's Zaman)
• Cem laid to rest with state funeral (Turkish Daily News)
• Yorgo's last duty for his friend Cem (Sabah)
• İsmail Cem leaves a gentleman's legacy (Turkish Daily News)
• An interview with Ismail Cem (The New Anatolian)

Mega-flags to adorn Turkey for Republic Day ceremonies

Cities nationwide will be hanging over 3 million flags in the honor of the Turkish Republic's 83rd anniversary this weekend.

Especially the Istanbul Greater Municipality, which once adorned the highest hills of the city with 10 flags -- each weighing nearly 50 kilos -- will hang 120 posters of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on traffic crossovers bearing his saying, "Saving the republic is your sacred duty" to mark this Sunday, Oct. 29, Republic Day.

Several observers had criticized the huge flags of Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas, saying they could fuel nationalism by manipulating public sentiments.

Full article (The New Anatolian)