The new Chief of Staff has added two new newspapers to the list of the allowable media organs in the meetings of the Armed Forces. Previously unwanted Yeni Şafak and Star were the new newspapers in the introductory meeting of the new Chief of Staff on September 16.

The ban continues for the newspapers Zaman, Vakit, Taraf and the STV channel. They wil not be able to be part of the meeting at the General Staff for the media institutions and their Ankara representatives.

Birgün, Evrensel and Hayat TV were not invited

Birgün’s Anakra representative Nuri Kayış said, “It may be helpful to be at the sources of the news and to aske question, but since these discussions will not stay hidden, I do not think it is a big loss.”

Director of Hayat TV Aydın Çubukçu and the bureaucracy reporter of daily Evrensel’s Ankara bureau Sultan Özer told bianet that they did not receive any invitation.

The General Staff has been continuing with its accreditation practice since 1999s. It had first started as a practice of the individuals. After February 28, it was turned into an institutional practice.

Chief of Staff İlker Başbuğ had turned the pro-Kurdish newspaper Ülkede Özgür Gündem into a target in a meeting given to the newspaper and television representatives on July 18, 2005. Following this, the prosecutor had closed down the newspaper. (EÖ/TB)