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Turkish Press Review, 04-05-31Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning31.05.2004FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO VISIT POLANDPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to travel to Warsaw today to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski. During their meetings, bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues will be taken up. /Hurrriyet/[02] AKP EXECUTIVE BOARD TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS ON VETOED YOK LAWThe ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) is due to discuss today the Board of Higher Education (YOK) Law which was vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer late on Friday. The law is expected to be brought to Parliament’s Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Commission after the board’s decision and will also be discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek reportedly believe that there is no need to press further on the law. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to announce the MYK’s decision at the AKP’s group meeting scheduled for tomorrow. /Aksam/[03] ERDOGAN ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONY OF ISTANBUL CITY FORESTSpeaking at the ribbon-cutting of the City Forest in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the new green area would let Istanbulites breathe more fresh air. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Erdogan stated that whether or not Turkey would join the EU or not was no longer an issue, rather the only question was how its negotiations would proceed. Also present at the ceremony were Forest Minister Osman Pepe, Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu and other officials. /Turkiye/[04] GUL TO TRAVEL TO SAUDI ARABIAForeign Minister Abdullah Gul is set today to travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to pay a one-day official visit. Gul is expected to meet with his Saudi counterpart Saud al-Faisal as well as Crown Prince Abdullah. Their meetings will focus on next month’s Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Istanbul, where it will select a new secretary-general, as well as the Cyprus, Middle East and Iraq issues. /Turkiye/[05] SERDAR DENKTAS SEEKS ISLAMIC COUNTRIES’ SUPPORTAs part of his tour of Islamic countries seeking support for an end to the international isolation of his country, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas yesterday proceeded to Dhaka, Bangladesh after completing his contacts in Pakistan. Denktas met with his Bangladeshi counterpart M. Mursid Han. In related news, the Pakistani government pledged to Denktas continued support for the Turkish Cypriots’ just cause. /Turkiye/[06] TURKEY SENDS MORE HELP TO AFGHAN PEACEKEEPING FORCEAdditional forces and equipment sent by Turkey to help Afghanistan’s International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) arrived in Kabul yesterday. Three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters accompanied by 60 military personnel were welcomed by NATO Higher Representative for Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin and other officials at Kabul International Airport. Speaking at the reception ceremony, Cetin said that Turkey had done its utmost to support to the ISAF in Afghanistan and called on other NATO member countries to do the same. /Turkiye/[07] CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU WELCOMES MEDIA CONVENTION TO ISTANBULCulture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu yesterday hosted a welcoming reception in Istanbul for delegates attending the 57th World Association of Newspapers Congress (WAN) and the 11th World Editors Forum (WEF). Speaking to the delegates, Mumcu stressed the importance of holding the congress in Istanbul at a critical period for Turkey’s EU bid, mere months ahead of a decision on beginning Ankara’s membership negotiations. “We are facing challenges due to globalization,” said Mumcu. “I believe that the media will play an important role in tackling these challenges.” More than 1,400 CEOs and other newspaper officials from 88 countries are participating in the congress. A total of 72 national newspaper unions, individual newspapers directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and 10 regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN. The congress is expected to end on Wednesday. /Milliyet/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[09] TURKEY’S NEW FOREIGN POLICY GOALS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on Turkey’s new foreign policy goals. A summary of her column is as follows:“The Sept. 11 attacks affected the entire world and damaged the international system. The Western world, which spent most of the 20th century fighting communism, was affected the most. Disagreements between the US and European countries, who before now have usually acted together in international crises, are greater than ever now. Their disagreement over Afghanistan used to be bigger but has since been solved. However, when it came to Iraq, things have become complicated. Many European countries, in particular France and Germany, opposed Washington’s decision to invade Iraq. In the beginning, Spain’s leadership stood with the US, and this caused a great split in Europe. However, Spain’s change of power changed its stance to that of other Europeans. The US-European disagreement on the Middle East seems to have deepened. Europe views the Palestinians sympathetically, whereas Washington has never swayed from its support for Ariel Sharon’s administration due to the US’ powerful Jewish lobby and its upcoming presidential elections. There differences recently began to show up in NATO. Obviously Turkey is one country which was felt these US-Europe disputes. Turkey is on the frontlines of all these areas of crisis. The three big crises – Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East – are felt more in Turkey as instability or terrorism before Europe or the US. Ankara thinks joint efforts would solve these crises. Thus, the ever-present split between the US and Europe makes things harder for Turkish leaders. But Turkey has determined the basic element of its post-Sept. 11 foreign policy as ‘encouraging rapprochement between the US and Europe and fighting crises together.’ This policy had been considered, calculated and discussed, and agreement on it was reached by the military and civilian leaderships. This policy had previously been signalled by our prime minister and foreign minister but was also mentioned openly last week at a symposium held by the General Staff in Istanbul. Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug stated that the US and Europe have to act together in order to solve crises which make the world unstable. Turkey not only mentioned this strategy, but also took certain concrete steps coming from its hosting next month’s NATO summit. For example, Ankara suggested holding a NATO-European Union summit in Istanbul. This suggestion went nowhere, but Ankara didn’t give up. Now the Foreign Ministry is working on a ‘common strategy document’ whose aim is to identify crises and make a declaration of intent so Europe and the US will work in common. We will see the results of our efforts.” [10] LET’S BE PART OF IT BY GUNGOR MENGI (BY VATAN)Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative and upcoming summits in Istanbul. A summary of his column is as follows:“The US’ Greater Middle East Initiative (GME) is a beautiful dream, like all projects. The Middle East has suffered under the greatest injustices of our age and the feelings of revolt and revenge of its people oppressed by these injustices. Now everybody sees that if this region cannot have a humane order based of justice and peace, not a single region worldwide will be secure. Washington says that through this project it wants to structure democracy in the region and support nations which want to expand their freedoms. The worst luck of the GME is US President George W. Bush. Everybody is suspicious of the fact that Bush, an ally of despots in the region, now is championing a democracy campaign in the same area. Considering the things the US has done to Iraq and its close relations with despotic regimes in the region, those who ask if the GME is a new example of diplomatic hypocrisy have good reason. However, none of these doubts are sufficient reason to oppose the initiative, because the US’ intentions and actions in the region don’t contradict its goals. The GME will also add new dimensions to our relations with the US. Following the G-8 summit in the US, the subsequent EU-US summit and the NATO summit will be held in Istanbul in June. These three summits will make the Greater Middle East Initiative concrete. President Bush wanted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be prepared for the G-8 summit on June 10. Erdogan is expected to bring a proposal on Turkey’s concrete contributions to the project. However, a circle influenced by prejudices about the Middle East and suspicions about Bush opposes this cooperation. This opposition is growing. But Turkey must be part of the GME. We can’t be just an onlooker to this project. Such a stance would mean surrender. On the contrary, being part of it would be a step to boost the value of Turkey’s EU membership. Erdogan should stress our presence at the G-8 summit and then give the message that EU membership would give Turkey the opportunity to strengthen its role. Those who call the GME a dream may be right in the end. However, dreaming is better than fearing ghosts and growing isolated.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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