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Turkish Press Review, 05-02-11
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
11.02.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMSN…
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN VISITS TSUNAMI-HIT REGIONS IN SRI LANKA
[02] ARINC RECEIVES GREEK JUSTICE MINISTER
[03] GUL TO WITNESS ISAF HANDOVER IN KABUL
[04] GUL MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER
[05] GREEK CYPRIOT PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH GUL
[06] PACKAGE CAUSES PANIC AT ANKARA’S ESENBOGA AIRPORT
[07] TURKISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP HOLDS INAUGURAL RECEPTION IN WASHINGTON
[08] BAHCELI CRITICIZES US POLICY IN IRAQ
[09] ENERGY CORRUPTION PROBE BEGINS
[10] TRNC FOREIGN MINISTER: “TURKISH TROOPS WON’T WITHDRAW WITHOUT A JUST SOLUTION”
[11] IN JERUSALEM, AMBASSADOR OZER TO BECOME TOP ENVOY TO PALESTINIANS
[12] PROPOSAL FOR STUDENT PARDONS SENT TO PARLIAMENT
[13] IMF, GOVT SPAR OVER EXPANDED INCENTIVE SCHEME
[14] BANK PROJECTS TURKEY AS TOP DEVELOPING COUNTRY IN 2006-2020
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMSN…
[16] POST-ELECTION IRAQ BY M. ALI KISLALI (RADIKAL)
[01] ERDOGAN VISITS TSUNAMI-HIT REGIONS IN SRI LANKA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to the tsunami-hit
regions in Sri Lanka, first visiting the capital, Colombo, and then
proceeding to the region of Matara together with an accompanying
delegation. The group was welcomed by a group of parents and children
affected by the tsunami. “Turks share the grief of Sri Lankans and want to
help them reconstruct their country,” said Erdogan in Matara. The premier
also laid the foundation of a $5 million, 500-unit Thewatta housing project
to be constructed by the Turkish government. Erdogan also had dinner with
Maldives President Abdul Gayoom, who expressed his concerns about the
island nation’s future in the face of global warming. For his part, Erdogan
proposed the establishment of high-elevation areas on the islands for use
in building housing projects safe from rising waters. /Aksam/
[02] ARINC RECEIVES GREEK JUSTICE MINISTER
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday received Greek Justice Minister
Anastasios Papaligouras. Arinc said that he was pleased about improved
relations between Turkey and Greece. For his part, Papaligouras reaffirmed
Athens’ support for Ankara’s EU membership. /Star/
[03] GUL TO WITNESS ISAF HANDOVER IN KABUL
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to Kabul today to attend the
ceremony transferring command of the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) to Turkey for six months. While in Afghanistan, Gul is
expected to meet with President Hamid Kharzai and former King Mohammed
Zahir Shah. Beside Gul, First Army Commander Gen. Hursit Tolon, high-level
diplomats and military officials will also attend the ceremony. In related
news, Gul yesterday announced that as part of Turkey’s harmonization with
the European Union, henceforth Iranian, Bosnia-Herzegovinian, Macedonian,
Kyrgyz, Moroccan and Tunisian citizens will need visas to enter Turkey. “We
need to impose visa regulations on these six countries,” said Gul. “Trade
and tourism won’t be affected, because we’re working to establish a
streamlined, red-tape free system.” /Cumhuriyet / Aksam/
[04] GUL MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov in Ankara. The Azerbaijan-Armenian dispute
over the latter’s occupation of upper Karabakh dominated the two top
diplomats’ talks. Gul pledged that the Turkish-Armenian border gate would
remain closed until Armenia ends its occupation, adding, “Our bilateral
ties with Armenia can be normalized when the occupation ends.” Bilateral
economic relations, including energy ventures, were also taken up. In
addition, Gul sought Baku’s backing for ending the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) international isolation. He urged Mammedyarov to
become a model for other countries to take steps towards that end. /Star/
[05] GREEK CYPRIOT PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH GUL
Nikos Anastasiadis, visiting leader of the Greek Cypriot Democratic
Mobilization Party (DISI), met yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul. “In our talks, we resolved to strengthen our relations,” added
Anastasiadis. “Steps should be taken to encourage Creek Cypriots, and the
UN plan should clearly state Turkey’s rights as a guarantor.” Gul, for his
part, said, “Firstly Turkish and Greek Cypriots must both show their
willingness to reach a solution.” /Cumhuriyet/
[06] PACKAGE CAUSES PANIC AT ANKARA’S ESENBOGA AIRPORT
Yesterday a suspicious package from China addressed to the Chinese Embassy
led to a panic at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. Some 40 people were
hospitalized and quarantined after the package leaked gas, but were later
discharged from the hospital. Officials stated that leaks were not of any
hazardous gas, but rather from a garlic concentrate in the plane’s cargo
hold. An investigation of the incident is underway. /Turkiye/
[07] TURKISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP HOLDS INAUGURAL RECEPTION IN WASHINGTON
A Congress Work Group on Turkey founded to develop close relations with US
Congressmen and Turkish parliamentarians yesterday officially began its
operations after a reception at the US Capitol building. Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent the ceremony a congratulatory message expressing
his confidence that the group would make substantial contributions to
improving cooperation towards both nations’ shared interests and goals.
/Turkiye/
[08] BAHCELI CRITICIZES US POLICY IN IRAQ
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticized
the US administration’s policy in Iraq. Speaking to reporters before an MHP
Central Executive Council meeting, Bahceli charged that the US is
collaborating with Iraqi Kurdish groups as a strategic partner in the
region. “Instead of telling Kurdish leaders [Jalaal] Talabani and [Massoud]
Barzani their place, a decision was made to begin talks with Turkey to use
Incirlik Airbase more often and for many purposes,” added Bahceli.
/Turkiye/
[09] ENERGY CORRUPTION PROBE BEGINS
The biggest corruption and bribery probe since the “White Energy” case has
begun with the approval of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi
Guler. Under the investigation, an Energy and Natural Resources Ministry
Review Committee and security officials are working together to examine all
tenders from the last two years. Guler told reporters yesterday that some
20 high-level bureaucrats and businessmen have been taken into custody over
corruption allegations. /Turkiye/
[10] TRNC FOREIGN MINISTER: “TURKISH TROOPS WON’T WITHDRAW WITHOUT A JUST
SOLUTION”
Turkish troops won’t withdraw before a just solution is reached on Cyprus,
said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar
Denktas yesterday. Rejecting Greek Cypriot Democratic Mobilization Party
(DISI) leader Nikos Anastasiadis’ call for Turkish troops to withdraw as a
“gesture,” Denktas charged that the Greek Cypriot administration is
avoiding dialogue and thus frustrating efforts to find a solution. /Sabah/
[11] IN JERUSALEM, AMBASSADOR OZER TO BECOME TOP ENVOY TO PALESTINIANS
Ercan Ozer is set to soon take the helm of the Turkish Consulate-General in
Jerusalem with the rank of ambassador. The appointment of a diplomat with
ambassadorial rank follows Ankara’s decision last year to upgrade the level
of its diplomatic representation in the Palestinian territories, in an
effort to boost solidarity with the Palestinians. /Hurriyet/
[12] PROPOSAL FOR STUDENT PARDONS SENT TO PARLIAMENT
The Parliament Chairmanship yesterday received a proposal for student
pardons, a bill to reverse all the dismissals of students from universities
since 2000, no matter the reason. Parliament Education, Culture and Sports
Commission head Tayyar Altikulac yesterday said that the measure would
reverse some 667,000 dismissals. In related news, main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Deniz Baykal criticized the proposal,
branding it irresponsible populism. Fierce debate is expected over the
issue, as female students dismissed for refusing to take off their
headscarves would be among those covered. /Aksam/
[13] IMF, GOVT SPAR OVER EXPANDED INCENTIVE SCHEME
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday expressed concern over a
Turkish government proposal to expand its incentives program to the
enterprises doing business in underdeveloped regions. IMF representative in
Turkey Hugh Bredenkamp earlier this week said that the Fund was worried
about legislation to expand the incentive scheme. Under the initial version,
assistance would be given to enterprises operating in provinces where the
per capita income is below $1,500. However, the new legislation would
increase the number of regions eligible to benefit from the incentives from
36 to 49. “In most of the countries we have worked with, such programs are
rarely successful,” Bredenkamp said. “We believe that Turkey will have to
pay high costs to afford this program.” Responding to Bredenkamp, Finance
Minister Kemal Unakitan said that it was up to Ankara to decide the scope
and operation of the incentives. “This is our decision to make,” he added.
“We’re not being reckless, the necessary funds are there in our budget.”
/Milliyet/
[14] BANK PROJECTS TURKEY AS TOP DEVELOPING COUNTRY IN 2006-2020
International development bank Deutsche Bank yesterday released projections
saying that in 2006-2020, Turkey’s would be the world’s fifth-fastest
developing economy. According to a report prepared by the bank, if Ankara
can sustain its reforms on its path towards European Union membership,
Turkey will then undergo a radical transformation during which its economy
will stabilize. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMSN…
[16] POST-ELECTION IRAQ BY M. ALI KISLALI (RADIKAL)
Communist M. Ali Kislali comments on Iraq in the wake of last month’s
elections. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Following last week’s elections, with more than 80 political parties and
nearly 30 independent candidates, Iraq’s insurgency seems to be continuing.
The Shiite slate of 169 candidates apparently won the most votes. Kurdish
votes were captured by the Barzani-Talabani alliance. Iraqi Prime Minister
Iyad Allawi’s secular Shiite party also found favor. A simple election
system was used in the polls. As the official results emerge, under the
temporary Constitution, the government should be established within one
week. First, the Parliament will elect a speaker and two deputy speakers
for the Chairmanship Council, and the council will appoint a prime
minister. He will establish the government, which should have a simple
majority.
Female candidates should constitute one-third of the list of each party
participating in the elections. Parliament’s most important task will be
preparing a new constitution by mid-August. The constitution will be
submitted to a referendum, followed by general elections. If the assembly
works hard to prepare the constitution, they can extend the period by six
months. If two-thirds of voters in three provinces reject the constitution,
they will have to go back to the drawing board. Kurds, who now control
three provinces, have the right to veto. Sunni Arabs also have this right.
Iraq’s future depends on the cooperation of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish
groups. For now, prospects of this seem slim. If Sunnis aren’t involved in
preparing the new constitution, ending the violence will be difficult. In
addition, it’s thought that if the Kurds take Kirkuk, other groups will
reject this. For this reason, the US is staying mum in order not to rile
Kurds about Turkey’s concerns over Kirkuk. Attacks against local Iraqi
police are continuing. Iraqi intelligence estimates that there are nearly
40,000 insurgents, with 160,000 Iraqis helping them. Thus, the US can’t
stop the insurgents, as they have the support of the people. Last week US
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld blamed the current situation in Iraq
on Turkey’s refusal to let US soldiers invade from the north, and this
brought a smile to Ankara’s face. The US never thought it would face such a
war after its invasion. Even now it seems the US hasn’t come to terms with
this insurgency. Thus, Iraq’s future following the elections doesn’t seem
promising.”
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