FURTHER NEWS (PAGE 4)

  

VISIT RECORD TO CANAKKALE REGION IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS

It is announced that in the first 10 months of the year 2005, 687.709 tourists have visited Canakkale.  Canakkale Culture and Tourism Director, Ismail KANSIZ, told that they are proud to announce that the amount of the visitors coming to Canakkale is increasing each day. Mr KANSIZ added that they are expecting to reach 700.000 visitors by the end of 2005. Compared to recent year, Mr KANSIZ stated the number of national and international visitors coming to Canakkale in the year 2004 as 546.785. Among the 687.709 visitors in the first 10 months of the year 2005,  German,  British, Australian, New Zealand, French and Japaniese tourists are told to be the top visitors coming to Canakkale. Mr KANSIZ told that Canakkale has a very special place both in the world and national history, therefore it is inevitable to see the rise of the Canakkale Tourism. Mr KANSIZ told that they would continue to promote Canakkale in the International Tourism Fairs in order to sustain and increase the high interets to Canakkale

90 YEARS OLD HISTORY APPEARED

The Tides in Canakkale has uncovered the 90 year old boat remaining from ANZAC landing 90 years ago in the Gallipoli Campaign. It is told that the boat was thought to be used in the ANZAC Landing in April 25 ,1915. The authorities told that these type of boats was used for carrying food and ammunition to the ANZAC Soldiers from the Battleships. It is told that during the eight and half month stay of the ANZAC Soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula, these type of boats had provided logistical support. The tourists who saw the 90 year old boat remainning from ANZAC Landing in April , 1915, told that 'it is very emotional to see the ruins of the unforgettable Gallipoli Campaign, We can feel the sprit lying under those hard days much better'. The 90 year old boat has started to attract huge attention by the tourists in the region.

JUNIOR CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL (JCI),CANAKKALE  IS GOING TO SIGN  TWINNING AGREEMENT WITH JCI'S OF MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

With its worldwide 250.000 members in 120 countries, the Canakkale Branch of JUNIOR CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL (JCI) is going to sign twinning agreement with JCI Melbourne, Australia Branch. In the press meeting of  Cankkale JCI, the Current Canakkale Branch President, Murat OZER, told that they have attended the 60th world congress of JCI in Vienna between September 24th and 29th ,2005. Mr OZER told that in the congress they have performed intensive promotion of Canakkale with several brouchers and documents and sustained strong relationships with the international members all over the world. Mr OZER added that they have also planned to sign a tweening agreement with JCI Melbourne, Australia Branch in the Anzac Day festivies 2006, which will be held in April 25, 2006.

THE ROADS HAS BEEN DEFORMED IN 7 MONTHS

Although huge investments have been made for the reconstruction of roads in the Historical National Gallipoli Peninsula, considerable deformations has occurred. The reconstruction of the roads in the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula was completed in April , 2005 in a very short time. The people around the peninsula told that they are sad about the current condition of the roads in the Historical National Gallipoli Peninsula, and blamed the contracted engineering companies for their improper construction. It is urgently asked the help of the authorities in order to improve the latest faults of the roads in the Historical  National Gallipoli Peninsula.

HEALTH TOURISM PROGRESS FROM CANAKKALE ONSEKIZMART UNIVERSITY

The Dean of Canakkale Onsekizmart University, Ramazan AYDIN, told that health tourism of Canakkale would progress quickly with the establishment of Medical Faculty and University Hospital by 2010. Dean AYDIN added that although the Medical Faculty was launched 4 years ago and accepting students, they can not provide lectures in Canakkale due to insufficient facilities and buildings, and at the moment the Medical Faculty Students of Canakkale Onsekizmart University have been taking their education in cooperation with Istanbul University. Mr AYDIN told that their wish is to open the  Medical Faculty Building and University Hospital as soon as possible. Mr AYDIN stated that the buiding of University Hospital would start in 2008 and is planned to be completed in 2010. Dean AYDIN told that there would be a special emphases on Breast Diseases Department in Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Hospital.  Mr AYDIN stressed the high potential of Canakkale in Health Tourism, which would be improved with the University Hospital.

MEETING AFTER 90 YEARS

The real owner of the 90 year old English Watch from  the Gallipoli Camapign  was found .  After the great efforts of the Owner of Gallipoli Campaign Objects Gallery, Ahmet USLU,  the owner of the 90 Year old watch, who had fought in the Gallipoli Campaign has been identified. Mr Ahmet USLU told that he had asked the help of several authorities in order to find the real owner of the 90 year old watch, which has 'F.G. Gent', '11 September 1914'  writings on it.  H e added that they have identified the real owner of the watch in colobration with British War Museum by tracking the writings on the watch 'F.G. Gent', and '11 September 1914'.  It is identified that  the owner of the watch  is Sergeant Frank George Gentle  from British North Staffordshire Corps. After the clarification, the Grave of F.G. Gent has been found in the '7 th Field Ambulance Cemetery' in the Gallipoli Peninsula. Mr Ahmet USLU told that as the second phase, the British Government has started to search the relatives of F.G. Gent. Ahmet USLU told that he would be very happy to give the 90 year old watch to the relatives of F.G. Gent as a present. Ahmet USLU added that he is waiting the British Government Authorities to find the relatives of F.G. Gent.

CANAKKALE MUNIPLCITY WILL LAUNCH ‘HISTORY, CULTURE HOUSE AND CITY MUSEUM’

Canakkale Muniplicity Representitives have announced that they are going to restorate the 3 floor building in front of the ‘Yali Mosque’ and will launch a ‘History, Culture House and City Museum’.  The Canakkale Muniplicity Representitives told that in 1995, a Master Project had been prepared for the old city center of Canakkale, and in the scope of this Project ‘Historical Envoirement Bureau’ was launched. Furthermore ‘building a city museum’ was decided. Then, the officially registrated 3 floor ‘historical buiding’ in 1988, opposite to ‘Yali Mosque’ have been bought. It is told that this historical Stone building is proposed to be restorated in order to launch ‘History Culture House and City Museum. The restoration work have been planned to be started in March 2006, and it is proposed to be completed in Summer 2006.   

LESSONS IN THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN OBJECTS GALLERY

The Gallipoli Campaign Objects Gallery is attracting increasing attention each day since it was opened several months ago. Ahmet USLU, the owner of the Gallipoli Campaign Objects Gallery, told that he had graduated from the History Department of Istanbul University and since then  has a special interest to the Gallipoli Peninsula.  Mr USLU added that he has been collecting the objects with regards to Gallipoli Campaign since 1985. Mr USLU told that besides the the huge interest of the tourists, there is an emerging interest of schools in Canakkale to his gallery. He stated that, nowawadays some schools have their history lessons with regards to Gallipoli Campaign in his Gallery. Mr Uslu told that this is a very good feeling and he asked the help of the authorities in order to find a larger space in order to exhibite his invaluable collection.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BUILD THE REPLICA OF ANZAC COVE

After the visit of the Parliamentarians from Australian Government to the Historical Gallipoli National Park, they have told that it is not possible to accept the idea of building the replica of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli Peninsula. The idea was raised by an Australian Deputy, who claims to build a replica of Anzac Cove in the Gallipoli Peninsula to Australia. The Head of Australian Foreign Defence and Trade Joint Comittee, Alan Ferguson, told that ‘there is only one Anzac Cove in the world and it is in Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey. It is not possible to build the similar of Anzac Cove in Australia’ The Australian Comittee had emotional moments while visiting the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula.

THE PROMOTION ATTACK OF CATOD

Catod, Canakkale Tourism Companies, Hoteliers and Investors Association, has annouced its mid term targets. The President of Catod, Ali Akol told that they would like to have stronger relations with The Balkan Countries, therefore as a first step, it has been decided to participate the Thesseloniki  Tourism Fair, which will be held between 03-07 November 2005. Mr Akol told that their aim is to attract great interest to Canakkale region. Doing so, effective promotion will be performed. Mr Akol also added that they would like to participate the World Travel Market (WTM) in London between 14 – 17 November, 2005 . It is told that the target  would be the Australian and New Zealand  tourists in order to stimulate the interest to Canakale. Mr Akol also stressed the importance  of WTM for the promotion of Canakkale.

GALLIPOLI PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK

Two investors from USA have launched a company in Canakkale in order to perform investments in the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula National Park.  With regards to the increasing interest to the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula, a company called ‘Marmara International Group’ have been launced by two American investors, Justin Garrett Easy, and James Rober Barham. The begining capital of the company was announced as 50.000 YTL (37.000 USD). It is told that the concept of the investments will be stated in the coming days.

90 YEAR OLD WATCH IS WAITING ITS REAL OWNER

After his visit to the Gallipoli Campaign Objects Gallery in Canakkale, the Consul of Australia, Mr Paul Given, was impressed with about 5000 invaluable pieces that had been found from in the legendary war. Mr Given told that some of the pieces that belongs to the Australian Soldier can not be seen in the Australian War Museum.  Mr  Given added that he has particularly impressed with the watch of an Australian Soldier and told that they would start investigation in order to find the relatives of the owner of the 90 year old watch from the Gallipoli Campaign. The owner of the Gallery, Mr Ahmet USLU, told that he had bought the watch from a villager beside the Historical Gallipoli National Park very long time ago, and he has been searching fort he real owners of the watch since last year. Mr USLU told that 'F.G. GENT' name and '11 September 1914' is written on it, and he would be very glad to give the 90 year old watch to its real owners for free.

ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL VALUE RICHNESS OF CANAKKALE

In the year 2005 excavation period that take place in the Canakkale Region, 310 valueble ancient pieces have been found. The Canakkale Museums Directorship Representitives told that in the excavation period in the ancient Troia, Parion, Assos and Yeni Bademli, Gokceada have beed completed, and 310 ancient work have been found. It is told that after the neccessary adjustments, the ancient pieces found in 2005 excavation period will be exhibited in Canakkale Archeology Museum.

280 STUDENTS FROM 13 COUNTRIES CAME TO CANAKKALE
280 students from 13 countries  who are studying in several Turkish Univesities visited the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula National Park. In the concept of the March 18, Tours orginised by National Education Ministry, the foreign university students visited the impressive sites of the Gallipoli Peninsula and have attended the ceremony. The head of the Canakkale National Education Directorship, Mursel YILMAZ, and National Education Ministry Foreign Education General Manager, Hasan KAPLAN, gave a speech to the students in the historcal peninsula. Mr KAPLAN told that The land becomes a country if lives have been sacrificed in defending it; about 1 milion people had fought in these lands and half of them became martyries. After the ceremonies, the students visited the battlefileds and monuments.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO LAUNCH A CONSULATE IN CANAKKALE

Mr Egemen BAGIS, the foreign affairs advisor of President Recep Tayip ERDOGAN and Istanbul Deputy, told that Australian Government has been planning to launch a consulate in Canakkale. Mr BAGIS explained the reason that motivates the Australian Government to open a consulate in Canakkale as the high interest of Australian Citizens to the Gallipoli Peninsula National Historical Park particularly during the ANZAC day festivies on 25th of April. This good news are also received very well from the Turkish Government. In December 2005, President Recep Tayip ERDOGAN is going to perform an offical visit to Australia and New Zealand. Before the offical visit, Mr BAGIS had performed the neccessary contacts and spoke with Alexander DOWNER , the Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia, and Robert HILL, the Defence Minister of Australia, on Wednesday. Mr BAGIS stated that both Ministers are glad with the planning visit and they state their plan to open a consulate in Canakkale

HEALTH TOURISM PROGRESS IN CANAKKALE

A new project has been launched in the leadership of Canakkale Dialysis Association. In the scope of the project several international kidney illness patients would be invited to Canakkale for 2 weeks period; during their stay, the kidney illness patients would benefit from the facilities of the Canakkale Dialysis Association while travelling the impressive sites of Canakkale. The head of Canakkale Dialysis Assciation, Mr Ismet AKINCI told that their aim is to add value to the health tourism in Canakkale. Mr AKINCI stated that there occures problems for kidney illness patients for travelling abroad, considering this point Mr AKINCI added that they have provided several conveniences for kidney illness patients for their complete programme in Canakkale. In the beginning, Canakkale Dialysis Association has contacted with ‘Kidney Illness Association’ in Duisburg, Germany. As the results of negotiations between two associations, in the first round 5 kidney disease patienys has attended the joint programme in Canakkale. The first group would stay in Canakkale for 2 weeks and have medication twice a week. Several activities will performed for the kidney disease patients. Mr AKINCI told that they are expecting to serve about 1000 kidney illness patients in the short term.

AUSTRALIAN COMITTEE VISITED THE GALLIPOLI MUNIPLICITY
Catherine King, The parliamentarian of Victoria State of Australia, and David Wendy, the chief of Balarat Muniplicity of Australia and the comittee with them visited the Gallipoli Muniplicity. Ms King told that they have come to the Gallipoli town with the invitation of Gallipoli Anatolian High School, and this invitation is so important for theirselves. Ms King added that there have been very good relations between Turkish and Australian Governments, but this good relations should be forged with more intense social relations between people. Doing so, student and teacher exchange programmes should be performed. Mr Wendy told told that they would to be sister cities with Gallipoli town. The chief of Gallipoli Muniplicity, Mr Bingol, told that they are very happy to welcome the Austrlian guests and they would be glad to become sister cities with Balarat.Later, Mr Bingol gave presents to Ms King and Mr Wendy with regards to the memory of the visit of the Australian Comittee.

'VISIT RECORD' IN THE ANCIENT CITY TROIA

The ancient city Troia, one of the most important places to visit in Canakkale, has attracted 336.226 visitors in the 8 months of August, 2005. The head of the Culture and Tourism Directorship, Mr Ismail KANSIZ, told that in the recent years Canakkale is beating records in the visitor numbers to the popular spots. Mr KANSIZ added that particularly the ancient city ' Toria', The Gallipoli Natinal Historical Park, and the ancient city 'Assos' is attarcting increasing attenion each year. Mr KANSIZ stated that in the year 2004, 204.309 tourists had visited the ancient city Troia,; while in the past 8 months of the year 2005, 336.236 visited the ancient Troia. It is told that the Hollywood movie Troia also stimulate the increasing interest to the ancient city Troia. Mr KANSIZ stated that German, and Japanese tourists are leading in the number of visits to Troia.

THE FAMOUS BLIND SWIMMER, JAMES PITTAR, HAS ACHIEVED THE UNBELIEVABLE

The famous Australian blind swimmer, James Pittar, swam 10 km in the Agean sea and the Dardanelles. The hard swim started in the mid point of Gokceada island (the biggest island of Canakkale and Turkey, which is also known as imroz) and Anzac Cove.  The famous blind swimmer, James Pittar, swam the 10 Km distance in 3 hours and 45 minutes. After reaching the Anzac Cove, Mr Pittar told that it was a very emotional experience for him. He told that swimming to the holy lands of Anzacs was one of his dreams, and he is very happy to be on these lands 90 years after the unforgettable Gallipoli Campaign. Mr Pittar added that he had normally planned to swim between the island Gokceada and the Anzac Cove, which is 25 km long but the rough weather conditions particularly the waves up to 2 meters forced him to change the plans and the rough swim had started  10 Km away from the Anzac Cove. During the swim, several security actions was taken by the cost guards and Canakkale swimming associaition. The boat called 'Dardanelles 2'  tracked Mr Pittar during his swim.  The assistances of Mr Pittar, Matthew Logan and William Tricker, used whistle in order to show the directions to James Pittar. Every half hour water supply was provided for James Pittar. After the swim, Mr Pittar performed one minute silence in order to show his deep respect to the Australians, who lost their lives in the Gallipoli Campaign. Mr Pittar claimed that next year he would like to swim the full distance between Gokceada island and Anzac Cove, which is about 25 Km long.

WORLD'S BIGGEST MEVLEVI PLACE IS REOPENED AFTER THE RESTORATION

The world's biggest Mevlevi Place is reopened after the long restoration period. State Minister and Vice Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Sahin, has also atteneded the openning ceremony. In the openning ceremony, Mr SAHIN told that they are proud to open this fantastic building of Mesnevi Place. Known to the west as Whirling Dervishes, the Mevlevi Order was founded by Mevlana Rumi in the 13th century. The Order wrote of tolerance, forgiveness, and enlightenment. They survive today as a cultural brotherhood. They are not theatrical spectacles but sacred rituals. The ritual of the Mevlevi sect, known as the sema, is a serious religious ritual performed by Muslim priests in a prayer trance to Allah. Mevlevi believed that during the sema the soul was released from earthly ties, and able to freely and jubilantly commune with the divine. Dervish literally means "doorway" and is thought to be an entrance from this material world to the spiritual, heavenly world. The Whirling Dervishes played an important part in the evolution of Ottoman high culture. From the fourteenth to the twentieth century, their impact on classical poetry, calligraphy and visual arts was profound. Rumi and his followers integrated music into their rituals as an article of faith. Rumi emphasized that music uplifts our spirit to realms above, and we hear the tunes of the Gates of Paradise. The first part of the ceremony is The Sema, which represents a spiritual journey; the seeker's turning toward God and truth, a maturing through love, the transformation of self as a way of union with God, and the return to life as the servant of all creation. The Semazen (with a camel's-felt hat representing a tombstone of the ego; and a wide, white skirt symbolizing the ego's shroud), upon removing his black cloak, is spiritually reborn to Truth. The semazens stand with their arms crossed, ready to begin their turn. Each rotation takes them past the sheikh. This is the place of Mevlana Rumi, and the sheikh is understood to be a channel for the divine grace. At the start of each of the four movements of the ceremony, the semazens bow to each other honoring the spirit within. As their arms unfold, the right hand opens to the skies in prayer, ready to receive God's beneficence. The left hand, upon which his gaze rests, is turned towards the earth in the gesture of bestowal. Fix-footed, the Semazen provides a point of contact with this earth through which the divine blessings can flow.

HUGE INTEREST TO THE ‘WAR VETERANS FROM 7 FOREHEADS’ EXHIBITION

‘War Veterans from 7 Foreheads’ exhibition, which can be visited in the ‘Turkey Combatant Veterans Society’ Istanbul Branch building, has been attracting huge interest so far. The owner of the exhibition, Journalist Cahit ONDER, told that in the exhibition there are about 90 photographs and impressive stroies of veterans who had fought between 4 and 14 years in several foreheads. Recently, Diplomat Ingred Kohleer from Sweeden Foreign Ministry visited the exhibition and offered a kind invitation to Mr Onder in order to open his exhibition in Sweeden as well.

THE OLD 'TEKEL' BUILDING WOULD SERVE AS 'KORFMANN'S LIBRARY
The search for a suitable place for the huge grant of the Professor Korfmann has come to an end. After the death of Professor KORFMANN, it was announced that the valueble library of Professor KORFMANN with regards to his studies on the ancient Troia would be given to Canakkale Tubingen Troia Association. The vice president of Canakkale Muniplicity, Remzi YIGIT, told they have been searching for a nice place for the valueble library of the Professor KORFMANN, finally the old 'Tekel' building adjacent to the etnographia museum is found suitable. Mr YIGIT told that Canakkale Muniplicity has applied to the associated institutes in order to buy the old 'Tekel' building. Later on, the buiding would be orginised as the museum for the library of the Professor KORFMANN.

THE SUNK BRITISH  BATTLESHIP 'GOLIATH' WAS RECORDED

GOLIATH, One of the sunk battleships in the Dardanelles strait during the Gallipoli Campaign of the first world war, was recorded with the coordination of the diving team from Turkish Underwater Archeology Association, professional seaman 'Enes Ediz' , Mike Fletcher from National Geographic TV, and the documentary producer 'Savaþ Karakaþ'. Besides, the sunk battleship 'Triumph was also recorded in the Kabatepe district of Dardanelles. After the diving, the documentary producer, Savas Karakaþ, performed a press meeting. In the meeting Mr Karakaþ told that the sunk British Battleship 'Goliath' was found in the cool waters of Morto Bay at 75 meters depth. Mr Karakaþ added that Goliath was found in reverse position and, the moth and gunner of Goliath was clearly recorded. Mr KARAKAÞ stressed that it was a great experience and excitement for everyone to record the famous British Battleship after 90 years from the Gallipoli Campaign. 

ADVENTUROUS BOAT TRIP TO GREECE

The adventurous traveller, Huseyin URKMEZ, has started his dream trip by rowing with his boat. The route of the trip would be as Bozcaada, Kavala, Theselonik, Athens, Greek Islands and finally the Gokova Bay of Turkey. It is announced that the trip would take about two and half months. Huseyin URKMEZ with 20 years of rowing experience told that ' My aim is to honour Sadun Boro and all other sailors'. Mr URKMEZ is working for Atlas Travel Magazine as a writer and photographer. Special equipments are used for the construction of the boat by Standard Marine Company. Talay, the oldest wine maker company of Bozcaada has sponsored the adventurous trip to Greece. Mr URKMEZ also rowed between Istanbul and Iskenderun, Istanbul -Gemlik, and Kucukcekmece -Ulubat lake. Mr Huseyin URKMEZ will use 150 photograph rolles. Besides, he will use a special diary with water proof.

GOKCEADA UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPH CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER

In order to promote and inform the people with regards to the underwater biological variety of Gokceada, '2nd Underwater Photograph Contest' will be held  on September 24-25, 2005.  The contest will be orginised in the light of Turkish Sea Research Association (TUDAV) and Gokceada Muniplicity cooperation. It is annouced that the '2nd Underwater Photograph Contest' will take place on the Kalekoy district of Gokceada. High interest is expected for the second year of the contest.  The 2nd underwater photograph contest of Gokceada will start on September 24, at 10.00 a.m. on the underwater park of Kalekoy district.