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Turkish Press Review, 04-09-16Turkish 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 morning16.09.2004FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES CHANGES TO PENAL CODEParliament continued debate yesterday on proposed sweeping revisions to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). A total of 218 articles were passed yesterday. Articles on punishments for offenses such as genocide and crimes against humanity were amended by a joint proposal of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Article 312 was altered to expand freedom of thought. Also under the articles passed yesterday, perpetrators of genocide or homicide will be sentenced to life in prison. Conducting scientific trials on humans without the subject’s consent will carry a penalty of one to three years in prison, and stealing human organs will net five to nine years. Three to 12 years will be the penalty for torture by a public official. /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN: “EVERYONE MUST CONDEMN TERRORISM”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated yesterday that terrorism was not particular to any religion, nationality or race. Speaking at the Eighth International Labor Forum in Istanbul, Erdogan said that everyone must condemn terrorism, no matter its origin. Lamenting that Iraq was currently one of the centers of terrorism, the premier pointed out that 30 Turkish citizens had been killed in this country since last year’s Iraq war. Commenting on the recent school terrorist siege in North Ossetia, Erdogan branded it an act of fundamentalist terrorism. /Sabah/[03] GUL, POWELL TO MEET DURING UN MEETING IN NEW YORKForeign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to New York on Friday to attend the opening of the United Nations General Assembly meeting. During his 10-day visit, Gul will meet with his US counterpart Colin Powell. Their talks are expected to focus on US forces’ recent crackdown in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar as well as insufficient efforts to fight the terrorist group PKK_Kongra-Gel in northern Iraq. The embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be another topic of discussion with US officials. /Turkiye/[04] POWELL PRAISES TURKEY’S RELIGIOUS TOLERANCEIn a statement yesterday marking the release of the US State Department’s annual report on religious freedom, US Secretary of State Colin Powell singled out Turkey for praise of its tolerant environment. "We are always eager to commend nations that have made progress over the past year," said Powell, "and the report ... acknowledges countries, such as ... Turkey, that have adopted good practices or have taken steps to promote greater tolerance for all religious faiths." The report itself noted that Turkey's Constitution "provides for freedom of religion." /Turkiye/[05] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “TAL AFAR’S SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO ITS TURKMEN”Foreign Ministry spokesmen Namik Tan said yesterday that the security and administration of the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, the scene of fierce fighting before its recent capitulation to US forces, should be turned over to its ethnic Turkmen. Speaking at a weekly briefing, Tan said that the administration of the city had belonged to the Turkmen before the US operation in the city and now should be turned over to them again. Touching on a recent telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Tan said that Gul had spoken of Turkey’s sensitivities concerning the Turkmen’s situation and that in response, Powell had given assurances that the US would keep these considerations in mind. Tan added that tomorrow Ankara would send its first delivery of humanitarian aid to Tal Afar. “We decided to deliver urgent humanitarian aid there through the Turkish Red Crescent [Kizilay] via the Habur border crossing,” he added. /Aksam/[06] BOUCHER: “TURKEY WANTS TO CONTINUE ITS COOPERATION WITH THE US IN IRAQ”Speaking at a press conference yesterday, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the recent US military operation in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar was aimed against domestic and foreign terrorist elements in the region. Asked about Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s recent remarks warning Turkey could cease cooperation with the US in Iraq if the Tal Afar operation continues, Boucher said, “We’re working very closely with Turkey on all issues concerning Iraq, and the Turkish government has reiterated that it wanted to continue its cooperation with us in Iraq.” He further added that Ankara attached great importance to its cooperation with Washington. /Aksam/[07] GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SERVANTS BEGIN COLLECTIVE BARGAININGAt a meeting yesterday chaired by State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, representatives of civil servants’ unions and government officials began to discuss wage increases and fringe benefits for next year. During the five- hour talks, union representatives proposed a 17% wage hike and a base salary of TL 870 million. The next meeting is set to be held next Thursday. If no agreement is made after 15 days of talks, then an arbitration board will step in. Otherwise, the Cabinet will have the last word. /Turkiye/[08] TRNC’S TALAT: “ANNAN WILL LAUNCH A NEW CYPRUS INITIATIVE WHEN PAPADOPOULOS BECOMES MORE COOPERATIVE”Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would launch a new initiative on Cyprus when Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos ceases to “avoid meetings.” Speaking before yesterday’s TRNC Cabinet meeting, Talat said that Annan had requested that the Greek Cypriot side make clear their views on the Annan plan for the island. “When the Greek Cypriot side clarifies its views, then Annan will launch a new mission concerning Cyprus, ” added Talat. /Cumhuriyet/[09] RAILWAYS HEAD TO LEAVE POSTFollowing a spate of recent deadly railway mishaps, Turkish State Railways Director General Suleyman Karaman and his deputy Ali Kemal Ergulec are being removed from their posts. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim has reportedly signed a decree to that effect and sent it to the Prime Ministry for approval. /Turkiye/[10] IMF DELEGATION TO MEET WITH TUSIAD, TIM OFFICIALS IN ISTANBULA delegation from the International Monetary Fund headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam yesterday arrived in Istanbul. The delegation is expected to meet today with representatives of private sector and non- governmental organizations (NGOs). The delegation is also expected to meet with officials from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) and the Turkish Exporters’ Union (TIM). /Turkiye/[11] FENERBAHCE DEFEATS SPARTA PRAGUEIn Fenerbahce’s football match against Czech side Sparta Prague in Istanbul yesterday. Pierre van Hooijdonk’s goal delivered the Yellow Canaries a 1-0 win. /Star/[12] TURKEY BEATS THE NETHERLANDS AT BASKETBALLIn the 34th European Championship yesterday, the Turkish National Basketball team defeated the Netherlands, 83-59. /Hurriyet/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[14] STRONG ARMY: A DEALMAKER FOR TURKEY BY MURAT YETKIN (RADIKAL)Columnist Murat Yetkin comments on Turkey’s European Union membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:“Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari this week defended Turkey’s European Union membership on the BBC interview program ‘Hardtalk.’ One of the questions asked of her was if the EU is ready to accept Turkey, why won’t it then also accept Ukraine and Israel into its ranks ‘You can’t compare those countries to Turkey,’ said Ahtisaari. ‘The EU has to be loyal to the promises it has made on Turkey’s membership bid. Let’s remember that both sides have been in contact with each other for 40 years and there’s been the Customs Union since 1995.’ Ahtisaari also criticized Fritz Bolkestein, the EU single market commissioner and a former leader of the Dutch liberals, who recently argued that Turkey’s acceptance to the EU would spell the end of the pact. As you may know, Ahtisaari is the chairman of the Independent Commission on Turkey, which recently issued a report recommending that the EU start Ankara’s membership negotiations as soon as possible. The report contends that Turkey will add new dimensions to the EU’s foreign policy, as it is located in a very strategic geography. Moreover, Turkey’s presence will increase Europe’s power and credibility in the Middle East, a region currently dominated by the United States. Finally, it argues that Turkey’s strong army will greatly contribute to the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) as the country will inevitably become a cornerstone of European defense system. In brief, Turkey’s strong army is seen as a dealmaker, not an obstacle to its membership bid. Improving our military capabilities will strengthen our hand. The EU wants the Turkish military to be dependent on and controlled by the civilian administration, a development which can only take place in the course of time. I believe this will happen simultaneously with Turkey’s gradual integration to the Union.” [15] BECOMING VIETNAM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the US’ intentions in Iraq and its relations with Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:“Some people think that Iraq has become a new Vietnam for the US because over 1,000 US soldiers have died in combat there. Almost 50,000 US soldiers died in the Vietnam War. Actually this isn’t a good comparison. However, I’m not the one comparing the two conflicts. US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently characterized the 1,000 slain soldiers as not ‘ranking up’ when compared to victims of terrorism and vowed that the US would never give up even in the face of great losses. Of course the US has done stupid things and continues to do so in Iraq. Among the Iraqi nation, it trusts only the Kurds. Except for Britain and Israel, it also hasn’t gotten as much support as it hoped. For example, it had great faith in us but its confidence was shaken. Many people are proud that we didn’t send our soldiers to Iraq. But if we had, today we could be fighting PKK terrorists there and defending Turkmen. Of course the US can’t democratize the Middle East. Democracy isn’t a form of government that should be implemented everywhere worldwide. This is a regime accepted by certain countries as a lifestyle. It’s not appropriate for every nation. Democracy would mean anarchy for most Middle Eastern countries because historical developments and realpolitik won’t bear fantasies and idealism. In addition, now everybody knows that the US is really aiming to control energy resources, and the fight against terrorism comes in a distant second. 2005 will be a year of surprises. The entire world should get ready.” 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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