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Turkish Press Review, 04-11-18
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
18.11.2004
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH LUXEMBOURG PM IN
PUSH FOR EU TALKS NEXT SPRING
BRITISH EUROPEAN MINISTER PREDICTS
DATE FOR TALKS AT DECEMBER’S EU SUMMIT
EP AMENDS EURLINGS’ TURKEY REPORT
GUL CALLS CONDUCT OF AMERICAN
SOLDIERS IN FALLUJAH “UNACCEPTABLE”
FOREIGN MINISTRY DISCUSSES IRAQ
AGAR: “STOP THIS UNLAWFUL WAR”
TWO TURKISH TRUCK DRIVERS KILLED IN
IRAQ
ERDEM ELECTED DEPUTY CHAIR OF NATO
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS
TURKEY
MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSION TO MEET
TUZMEN: “THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ IS
HURTING TURKEY’S EXPORTS”
RESTORED SELJUK SHRINE UNVEILED TO
PUBLIC
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE
COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
FALLUJAH EXECUTION
BY DERYA SAZAK
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH LUXEMBOURG PM IN
PUSH FOR EU TALKS NEXT SPRING
[02] BRITISH EUROPEAN MINISTER PREDICTS DATE
FOR TALKS AT DECEMBER’S EU SUMMIT
[03] EP AMENDS EURLINGS’ TURKEY REPORT
[04] GUL CALLS CONDUCT OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS
IN FALLUJAH “UNACCEPTABLE”
[05] FOREIGN MINISTRY DISCUSSES IRAQ
[06] AGAR: “STOP THIS UNLAWFUL WAR”
[07] TWO TURKISH TRUCK DRIVERS KILLED IN
IRAQ
[08] ERDEM ELECTED DEPUTY CHAIR OF NATO
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
[09] GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
[10] MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSION TO MEET
[11] TUZMEN: “THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ IS
HURTING TURKEY’S EXPORTS”
[12] RESTORED SELJUK SHRINE UNVEILED TO
PUBLIC
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
FROM THE COLUMNS…
[14] FALLUJAH EXECUTION
BY DERYA SAZAK
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH LUXEMBOURG PM IN
PUSH FOR EU TALKS NEXT SPRING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently
in Luxembourg for an official visit, yesterday met with
his Luxembourg counterpart Jean-Claude Juncker to
discuss a number of issues, including Turkey’s European
Union membership bid and bilateral relations. Speaking
at a joint press conference, Erdogan said that next
month’s EU summit would be a test for the EU member
states, adding that Ankara would reject its being
treated differently than other candidates. Erdogan
further stated that he wanted Turkey’s accession talks
to begin next March or April, when Luxembourg holds the
EU presidency. Asked whether Ankara would recognize
Greek Cyprus before the summit, Erdogan said that it had
no plans to revisit the issue. For his part, Juncker
stressed his opposition to holding referendums on
Turkey’s EU membership, adding that proposals for a
“special partnership” were disrespectful. “I believe
that Ankara will get a date at the Dec. 17 EU summit to
start its talks,” said Juncker, and stressed his support
for the talks beginning during Luxembourg’s six-month EU
presidency. Juncker stated, however, that full EU
membership could take 10-15 years. “Our final goal is
Turkey’s full membership,” said Juncker. Later, Erdogan
met with Luxembourg Parliament Speaker Lucien Weiler.
/Milliyet/
[02] BRITISH EUROPEAN MINISTER PREDICTS DATE
FOR TALKS AT DECEMBER’S EU SUMMIT
Denis MacShane, Britain’s minister for European affairs, yesterday
predicted that Turkey would get a date at December’s
European Union summit to begin its accession talks,
adding, however, that the Cyprus issue still remained
unresolved. /Aksam/
[03] EP AMENDS EURLINGS’ TURKEY REPORT
Camiel Eurlings, the European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur, yesterday
amended his recent report on Turkey, which came under
harsh criticism for failing to take into account a host
of reforms in Turkey towards its EU membership. With the
changes, the report now recommends the beginning of
Ankara’s membership negotiations. Eurlings had
previously said that he was ready to change the report
in light of the criticisms. The report will be discussed
by EU leaders before the critical Dec. 17 summit where
the Union is to decide whether to start Ankara’s
membership talks. In related news, EP President Joseph
Borrel is expected to pay an official visit to Turkey on
Dec. 2-5. /Star/
[04] GUL CALLS CONDUCT OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS
IN FALLUJAH “UNACCEPTABLE”
Commenting on the killing of unarmed Iraqis in Fallujah by US soldiers
as shown on TV over the weekend, Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul yesterday criticized such actions as
unacceptable violations of international norms. “The
pictures [on television] had a deep impact on all of
us,” said Gul. “I believe the soldiers who committed
these crimes will face serious punishment.” /Turkiye/
[05] FOREIGN MINISTRY DISCUSSES IRAQ
Foreign Ministry officials yesterday held a meeting under the
chairmanship of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to discuss
recent developments in Iraq. Among the issues on the
table were preparations for next week’s Iraq conference
in Egypt, the latest developments in Fallujah, security
problems of Turkish truck drivers in Iraq, and the
Mideast situation in the wake of the death of
Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] AGAR: “STOP THIS UNLAWFUL WAR”
True Path Party (DYP) Chairman Mehmet Agar yesterday blasted the recent
American military operations in Fallujah, accusing the
US of committing crimes against humanity in Iraq. “Let
me say this to the American people: Stop this unlawful
war,” he stated. “Protest this ugly war against Iraqi
civilians. The US must immediately halt its massacre,
this mass murder of civilians.” /Turkiye/
[07] TWO TURKISH TRUCK DRIVERS KILLED IN
IRAQ
Two Turkish truck drivers were killed in Balad in northern Iraq
yesterday. With their death, the number of Turkish truck
drivers killed in Iraq since July 17 climbed to 31. /All
papers/
[08] ERDEM ELECTED DEPUTY CHAIR OF NATO
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
The 50th Annual Session of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly held in
Venice, Italy concluded yesterday. The meetings focused
on a number of issues, including reconstruction efforts
in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Cyprus issue, the war on
terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and
NATO-European Union relations. In addition, ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Vahit Erdem
was elected the assembly’s deputy chair, while AKP
Deputy Egemen Bagis and main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Inal Batu were elected
chairman of the Trans-Atlantic Relations Commission and
deputy chair of the NATO Allies Committee, respectively.
/Sabah/
[09] GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
In Ankara for an official visit, German Defense Minister Peter Struck
yesterday met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
Following their talks, Struck told reporters that his
trip was not intended to convince Turkish officials to
buy Leopard tanks. Stressing that Turkey should have
modern armaments, Struck said that Germany had good
equipment and weapons on offer. He stated that he had
discussed with Gul the changes of command in Afghanistan
and Bosnia, adding that official is expected to meet
with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul today.
/Turkiye/
[10] MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSION TO MEET
The Minimum Wage Determination Commission is scheduled today to begin
work on setting next year’s minimum wage. During its
first meeting, Labor and Social Security Minister Murat
Basesgioglu will deliver a speech and representatives of
both employees and employers are expected to weigh in on
the matter. The current minimum wage for workers over 16
is TL 444 million per month. /Turkiye/
[11] TUZMEN: “THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ IS
HURTING TURKEY’S EXPORTS”
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that the ongoing violence
in Iraq was hurting Turkey’s economy. “Our annual export
revenue losses due to the Iraq war are running $2-2.5
billion,” said Tuzmen. The minister, accompanied by a
delegation, is in the midst of a four-day visit to
Azerbaijan and Afghanistan in an effort to boost trade
ties. /Turkýye/
[12] RESTORED SELJUK SHRINE UNVEILED TO
PUBLIC
The restored shrine of Sultan Sancar, a 12th century Seljuk ruler, was
unveiled yesterday in Turkmenistan in a ceremony
attended by State Minister Besir Atalay and Turkmen
Deputy Prime Minister Muhammed Gurbangeldiyev. The
shrine’s restoration was carried out by the Turkish
Cooperation and Development administration. Atalay
stated that Turkey places the highest importance on the
cultural unification of different civilizations in the
region. “We put a high premium on the comprehensive
development of our neighbors,” he added. /Turkiye/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
FROM THE COLUMNS…
[14] FALLUJAH EXECUTION
BY DERYA SAZAK
Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the US operation in Fallujah. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“Those fearing the US operation in Iraq would
escalate into uncontrolled violence with the reelection
of US President George W. Bush were proven right when
the scenes of execution in Fallujah were broadcast on
TV. More than 1,500 civilians were killed during the
Fallujah offensive. When a US soldier was shown on TV
killing an unarmed injured Iraqi in a mosque, the
humanitarian dimension of the operation came into focus.
In a country like Turkey, where nearly 80 people died in
traffic accidents during the recent holiday weekend, the
killing merited special news bulletins. The scenes
dispelled any ambivalence on Turks’ part over Iraq. We
shouldn’t forget that if we had sent soldiers there,
probably we would have taken part in the US operation to
break the resistance in the Sunni triangle. I wonder how
these scenes affect those who supported sending Turkish
soldiers to Iraq in the runup to the war last March.
Seeking to end Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship in Iraq,
the US threw Arabs unprotected into the hands of chaos
and banditry. In addition, foreigners are undeservedly
paying the price for this chaos. For example, 31 Turkish
truck drivers have so far lost their lives.
What’s the difference between the operation in
Fallujah and the Crusades? The city’s water and
electricity aren’t working. People are sick. People are
fleeing and leaving the injured behind to die. Certainly
the operation in Fallujah is a war crime under the
Geneva Convention. However, what’s even crueler is that
now the US has set it sights on Mosul and is trying to
erase certain places from the map. We can’t talk about a
war, but rather serial killings. Unfortunately, violence
begets violence, and hopes for stability and peace in
Iraq are fading with each passing day.”
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