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Turkish Press Review, 05-01-10
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
10.01.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO RUSSIA TODAY
[02] ERDOGAN EXHORTS YOUTH TO READY THEMSELVES FOR THE FUTURE
[03] CHP SENDS TWO YDK MEMBERS TO DISCIPLINARY BOARD
[04] ABBAS WINS PALESTINE POLLS, TURKISH OBSERVER LAUDS ELECTIONS AS A SUCCESS
[05] PEPE: “TURKEY WON’T FORSAKE ITS NATIONAL VALUES”
[06] GEN. OZKOK VISITS BRITAIN
[07] TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
[08] EUROPE TO PROPOSE NEW CYPRUS PLAN
[09] ANKARA TO HOST TRIPARTITE MEETING ON IRAQ SECURITY ISSUES
[10] ATO OPPOSES LOWER ELECTION THRESHOLD
[11] REPORT: ANKARA GAVE $3.071 BLN IN CREDITS TO TRNC SINCE 1974
[12] WB DIRECTOR: “TURKEY WON’T NEED MORE IMF SUPPORT FOR ITS EU BID”
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[14] OUR RISING INFLUENCE IN THE REGION BY GUNTAY SIMSEK (SABAH)
[01] ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO RUSSIA TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by five Cabinet ministers,
over 500 businessmen and some 100 journalists, is set to travel to Moscow
today to pay an official visit just one month after Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s historic trip to Turkey. This evening, Putin is expected
to host Erdogan for a dinner. During his three-day stay, Erdogan will meet
with Russian officials to discuss the Cyprus and Middle East issues, as
well as joint energy ventures. Erdogan and Putin are scheduled to attend
the opening of a new Turkish Trade Center in Moscow on Wednesday. /Star/
[02] ERDOGAN EXHORTS YOUTH TO READY THEMSELVES FOR THE FUTURE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the first Youth
Congress of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Istanbul
Province. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and State Ministers Kursad Tuzmen
and Guldal Aksit also were present at the gathering. Addressing the
congress, Erdogan urged the young people to prepare themselves well for the
future. Stressing that a politics is fraught with difficulties, Erdogan
asked the young party members to work hard to understand the day’s
important issues, both domestic and foreign. /Hurriyet/
[03] CHP SENDS TWO YDK MEMBERS TO DISCIPLINARY BOARD
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) party assembly yesterday
decided to send two members of the party’s Supreme Disciplinary Board (YDK),
Cafer Dursun and Engin Baba, to the YDK itself to face disciplinary charges
related to bribery. These two will not vote during the party congress
scheduled for the end of this month. In related news, Istanbul’s Sisli
district Mayor Mustafa Sarigul has opened an office in Ankara expected to
be the headquarters of his campaign for the party leadership in the leadup
to the congress. In addition to Sarigul, Istanbul Deputy Zulfu Livanelli
reportedly is laying the groundwork to announce his candidacy at the coming
congress. /Turkiye/
[04] ABBAS WINS PALESTINE POLLS, TURKISH OBSERVER LAUDS ELECTIONS AS A
SUCCESS
Mahmoud Abbas has claimed victory in the Palestinian presidential elections
held yesterday, dedicating his victory to late leader Yasser Arafat who
passed away late last year. The elections were Palestine’s first since
1996. Following his victory declaration, Abbas pledged that he would end
the suffering of the Palestinian nation. His rival Mustafa Barghouti called
the elections a win for Palestinian democracy. Some 800 international
observers were present to witness the polls, including former US President
Jimmy Carter and former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard. Ethem Tokdemir,
who headed the Turkish delegation of observers, lauded the elections as a
success. /Milliyet/
[05] PEPE: “TURKEY WON’T FORSAKE ITS NATIONAL VALUES”
Turkey will become an EU member without giving up its national values,
including its Muslim and Turkish identity, said Environment and Forestry
Minister Osman Pepe yesterday. Stating that as it stands now the EU cannot
be a global power, Pepe added, “Ankara will join the EU. However, being an
EU member doesn’t mean giving up our national values, because the EU needs
this diversity, cultural richness and dynamism.” /Star/
[06] GEN. OZKOK VISITS BRITAIN
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday flew to Great Britain to
pay an official visit at the invitation of his British counterpart Gen.
Michael Walker. During his three-day stay, Ozkok will hold a series of
contacts with high-level British military officials. /Turkiye/
[07] TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
Under decisions taken at last June’s NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey is due
soon to take over the command of the International Security and Assistance
Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Speaking to Hurriyet, Defense Minister Vecdi
Gonul said yesterday that a ceremony would be held in Ankara to mark the
command, adding that a Turkish division could be initially sent to Kabul.
Turkey also commanded the ISAF three years ago. /Hurriyet/
[08] EUROPE TO PROPOSE NEW CYPRUS PLAN
European constitutional experts have reportedly prepared a new Cyprus plan
as an alternative to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan, and the plan
is expected to be presented in a month’s time to Ankara, Athens, the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot
administration. The experts will then urge the European Parliament and
European Commission to intervene in favor of their plan. /Milliyet/
[09] ANKARA TO HOST TRIPARTITE MEETING ON IRAQ SECURITY ISSUES
A tripartite meeting between Turkey, the US and Iraq will he held in Ankara
tomorrow to discuss security issues, and in particular the PKK terrorist
threat. US sources believe a military operation against the PKK is
impossible right now due to the Iraqi insurgency. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] ATO OPPOSES LOWER ELECTION THRESHOLD
The Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) yesterday issued a report on recent
controversial proposals to lower the nation’s 10% election threshold.
Opposing lowering the current threshold, the report warned that parties
representing ethnic groups would easily win Parliament seats in such a case,
which would lead to coalitions and instability in the country’s political
life. Speaking to reporters, ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun said that current
conditions in Turkey make retaining the 10% level necessary, adding that
the Turkish business world did not wanted to return to the days of ruling
coalition governments. /Turkiye/
[11] REPORT: ANKARA GAVE $3.071 BLN IN CREDITS TO TRNC SINCE 1974
Financial aid from Ankara to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
from 1974 to the present totals $3.071 billion, says a new report prepared
by Turkey’s Embassy in the TRNC. Turkey has supported the Turkish Cypriot
economy through defense expenditures, electricity investments and investor
credit and other projects, and additional credit of $356.9 million is
planned for 2005. /Sabah/
[12] WB DIRECTOR: “TURKEY WON’T NEED MORE IMF SUPPORT FOR ITS EU BID”
World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink said yesterday that as long as
Turkey meets the economic and structural conditions of the European Union,
it won’t need additional IMF support for its accession. “As long as Turkey
meets the economic criteria, it would be subject to only its routine IMF
payments. Budgetary discipline, macroeconomic stability and structural
reforms are needed not only by the IMF, but also the EU. During Turkey’s EU
membership talks, the IMF and the World Bank will serve as institutions in
a secondary role.” /Aksam/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[14] OUR RISING INFLUENCE IN THE REGION BY GUNTAY SIMSEK (SABAH)
Columnist Guntay Simsek comments on Turkish foreign policy. A summary of
his column is as follows:
“The last two years have seen changes in Turkish foreign policy. These
changes have been little noticed inside the country, but countries in the
region where the Ottomans once ruled are feeling their influence and are
even pleased about it. Despite some small crises between Turkey and Israel,
both Israel and Palestine favor Turkey’s solution proposals more than those
of any other country. Many of our Cabinet ministers have been tasked with
improving Ankara’s relations with other countries. That doesn’t mean only
Israel and Palestine, but also Turkey’s relations with its surrounding
neighbors and other countries it’s in contact with.
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim will soon go to Ethiopia for a one-
week official visit. Trade relations between the two countries will be
discussed, and economic meetings held. At the same time Russian President
Vladimir Putin will receive Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow.
Erdogan’s visit to Moscow along with more than 500 Turkish businessmen will
be very fruitful. Russia will become Turkey’s most important ally in the
region. Transportation, energy and tourist relations will be improved, and
investment and cooperation in military areas will spike if the dialogue is
good.”
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