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Turkish Press Review, 05-02-14
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
14.02.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN RECEIVES GREEK CYPRIOT OPPOSITION LEADER
[02] GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER ANASTASIADES BACKS TURKEY’S EU BID
[03] ERDOGAN TO VISIT ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
[04] ARINC: “TURKEY IS DETERMINED TO FIGHT CORRUPTION TO THE VERY END”
[05] IN PUSH TO END ISOLATION, TRNC PM TALAT TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS
[06] GUL: “THE EU WILL SUPPORT 72 PROJECTS”
[07] TURKEY AGAIN ASSUMES ISAF COMMAND
[08] FRENCH EU MINISTER HAIGNERE VISITS TURKEY
[09] WASHINGTON UPS PRESSURE ON TURKEY OVER INCIRLIK
[10] CONCERNED OVER ELECTIONS RESULTS, ANKARA URGES “MORE ACTIVE” UNITED NATIONS ROLE IN IRAQ
[11] IRAQI TURKMEN DEMONSTRATE FOLLOWING RELEASE OF ELECTION RESULTS
[12] WASHINGTON PLAN TO HELP TRNC BUSINESSMEN DRAWS GREEK CYPRIOT PROTEST
[13] EU COMMISSIONER SCHROEDER: “EU FINANCIAL AID TO TURKEY WILL RISE”
[14] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT EGYPT
[15] TURKEY TO REQUIRE VISAS FROM SIX COUNTRIES
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[17] IRAQ’S MOST CRITICAL ERA BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN RECEIVES GREEK CYPRIOT OPPOSITION LEADER
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend received Greek Cypriot
opposition Greek Cypriot Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI) leader Nicos
Anastassiades. “I understand that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulous
wants to meet with me,” said Erdogan in his talks with Anastassiades. “I’m
ready to talk.” Criticizing Papadopulous, Erdogan charged that the Greek
leader is dragging his feet in seeking a solution for the island.
/Hurriyet/
[02] GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER ANASTASIADES BACKS TURKEY’S EU BID
Visiting main opposition Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades yesterday
met with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos in Istanbul. Speaking
afterwards to reporters, Anastasiades, head of the Democratic Mobilization
Party (DISI), the second-largest in Greek Cyprus, stated that his visit had
succeeded in expressing Greek Cypriots’ expectations and sensitivities.
Voicing backing for Turkey’s EU membership bid, he said, “EU members,
Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and candidate Turkey form a
network of cooperation to resolve the long-running division of Cyprus amid
expectations for the revival of peace efforts for the island.” /Turkiye/
[03] ERDOGAN TO VISIT ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to leave tomorrow for a three-
day trip to visit Albania as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. He will expect
to meet with Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, Parliament Speaker Servet
Pellumbi and Premier Fatos Nano and then to attend a meeting of Turkish-
Albanian businessmen. After completing his contacts in Albania, Erdogan is
scheduled to proceed to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday to hold talks
with the country’s top leaders and attend a business meeting. /Turkish
Daily News/
[04] ARINC: “TURKEY IS DETERMINED TO FIGHT CORRUPTION TO THE VERY END”
Commenting on an ongoing crackdown on energy sector corruption, Parliament
Speaker Bulent Arinc said yesterday that Turkey was resolved to tackle the
scourge of corruption through to the very end. “Regardless of where it
should lead, Turkey has set up a mechanism to root out corruption and force
the perpetrators to stand trial,” said Arinc. Addressing the recent
controversial student amnesty issue, the speaker said that there was great
public pressure on the subject, adding that Parliament would decide on the
matter after debate. /Turkiye/
[05] IN PUSH TO END ISOLATION, TRNC PM TALAT TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat
flew to Brussels yesterday for talks with European Union Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso on measures to end the Turkish Cypriots’
international isolation. Last year the commission proposed a set of
measures for financial assistance to Turkish Cypriots and to allow direct
trade between Turkish Cyprus and EU countries, but their implementation has
so far been blocked by EU member Greek Cyprus. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] GUL: “THE EU WILL SUPPORT 72 PROJECTS”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that the European Union had
decided to support 72 projects in Turkey within the EU’s sixth framework
program. “A total of 72 projects were accepted out of 540,” added Gul.
/Hurriyet/
[07] TURKEY AGAIN ASSUMES ISAF COMMAND
Turkey took command of NATO’s peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan yesterday
for a second round since the multinational force was established following
the overthrow of the Taliban regime in late 2001. At a ceremony in the
Afghan capital Kabul, German commander Gen. Gerhard W. Back handed over the
International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) command to Lt. Gen.
Ethem Erdagý for the next six months. The ISAF currently includes troops
from 37 countries. /Turkish Daily News/
[08] FRENCH EU MINISTER HAIGNERE VISITS TURKEY
French Minister for European Union Affairs Claudie Haignere yesterday
arrived in Ankara to discuss Turkey’s EU membership bid with Turkish
officials. Haignere will meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, State
Minister Ali Babacan and Parliament Harmonization Commission head Yasar
Yakýs as well as Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and Ambassador
Murat Sungar, Turkey’s secretary-general for EU affairs. Gul is to discuss
with Haignere possible joint projects to be developed with France within
the framework of Turkey's EU bid. A recent survey showed 57% of the French
public opposed to Turkey's EU membership. /Aksam/
[09] WASHINGTON UPS PRESSURE ON TURKEY OVER INCIRLIK
Gen. Burwell Bell, commander of the US Army in Europe (USAREUR), is set to
visit Ankara this week to discuss issues of bilateral defense cooperation.
In particular, Bell is expected to discuss with Turkish military officials
Washington’s hopes to make more extensive use of Incirlik Airbase, near the
southern city of Adana, as a logistic military center. The US is reportedly
planning to use the base as a “transportation hub” for the shipment of
supplies to US forces in regional countries, including Iraq and
Afghanistan. In related news, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan is
set to travel to Washington next week. Tuygan will meet with US State
Department officials to discuss joint defense projects, including a new
coordination mechanism that Washington is reportedly planning to form with
Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] CONCERNED OVER ELECTIONS RESULTS, ANKARA URGES “MORE ACTIVE” UNITED
NATIONS ROLE IN IRAQ
According to official results released yesterday, Iraq's majority Shiite
Muslims won nearly half the votes in last month’s elections. However, the
Shiites' 48% of the vote falls far short of the two-thirds majority needed
to control the 275-member National Assembly, or interim Parliament. The
results threw immediate focus on efforts to create a new coalition
government, possibly in an alliance with the Kurds. In contrast, Iraqi
Turkmen groups won only three seats in the interim Parliament. In related
news, Turkey urged Iraqi electoral officials and the United Nations to
examine the elections results, saying Ankara was particularly concerned
about vote tallies in the oil-rich and ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk. A
Foreign Ministry statement charged that there were "imbalanced results" in
several regions. “It has emerged that certain elements tried to influence
the voting and made unfair gains from this," the statement added. “As a
result the Iraqi interim Parliament won't reflect the true proportions of
Iraqi society. The flaws . . . lead to serious doubts as to whether the
goal of an interim Parliament can be achieved." The ministry urged the UN
to take a "more active role" to ensure that "the flaws, disorder and
irregularities" of the poll are not repeated when Iraqis vote on a new
constitution later this year. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] IRAQI TURKMEN DEMONSTRATE FOLLOWING RELEASE OF ELECTION RESULTS
After yesterday’s announcement of the results of Iraq’s Jan. 30 elections,
a crowd gathered in Baghdad to protest pressure on Turkmen during the
elections as well as Kurdish policy in northern Iraq. Gathering outside
Iraq’s Supreme Board of Elections building, Turkmen chanted slogans
demanding rectification of the injustice done to them. In related news, a
curfew was declared in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk following the
announcement of the results, and the Turkish Foreign ministry expressed
concerns about “unbalanced results” in several regions, including Kirkuk.
Kurds in the city celebrated success of a joint list of two Kurdish parties
in the elections. /Turkiye/
[12] WASHINGTON PLAN TO HELP TRNC BUSINESSMEN DRAWS GREEK CYPRIOT PROTEST
A group of representatives of top US firms is set to fly to the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) this week on a mission to forge links
with Turkish Cypriot businessmen. The move is part of the US new policy on
Cyprus, which aims to reward Turkish Cypriots for their “yes” vote in last
April’s referendum to reunify the island. Under the US initiative,
Washington will provide expertise and technical assistance to Turkish
Cypriot entrepreneurs to help them find new markets and identify new
business opportunities. In related news, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos
Papadopulous reacted strongly against the US plans to aid the TRNC. His
protest was conveyed to Michael Klosson, the US Ambassador to southern
Cyprus, who was summoned to the Greek presidency building. “The Greek
Cypriot administration is threatening to boycott American products and
exclude US companies from public tenders,” said Klosson. /Aksam/
[13] EU COMMISSIONER SCHROEDER: “EU FINANCIAL AID TO TURKEY WILL RISE”
Holger Schroeder, head of the European Commission Delegation to Turkey’s
Financial Cooperation and Coordination of Investment Section, over the
weekend said that the amount of financial aid extended to Turkey for its
membership bid would be increased considerably in the pre-accession period.
“Turkey must boost its self-capacity to take advantage of this aid and
develop responsible and accountable methods of using it,“ Schroeder added.
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT EGYPT
At the invitation of Egyptian Defense Minister Huseyin Tantavi, Chief of
General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is set to visit Egypt next week. Ozkok will
also meet with his Egyptian counterpart Hamdi Vehibe. /Star/
[15] TURKEY TO REQUIRE VISAS FROM SIX COUNTRIES
As part of its European Union harmonization, Turkey will soon require visas
from citizens of six additional countries. In a recent development report
on Turkey, the EU Commission urged this move in order to stem the flow of
illegal immigrants to Europe. The six countries in question are Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Macedonia, Tunisia, Iran, Morocco and Kyrgyzstan. /Hurriyet/
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[17] IRAQ’S MOST CRITICAL ERA BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on post-election Iraq. A summary of her
column is as follows:
“Yesterday’s announcement of election results ushered in a third era for
Iraq. The first was the Gulf War, the second was the US invasion, and the
third will see the search for Iraq’s new political fate. The election
results showed that the United Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite group, got nearly
half of the votes. However, it didn’t win a two-thirds majority. The next-
biggest vote winner for the Iraqi interim Parliament was the Kurds. For the
first time in Iraqi history, Shiites and Kurds constitute a majority. This
will cause problems in an era in which consensus is badly needed. Iraqi
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s list including Shiite candidates has a better
position than other lists. Allawi even sought alliances a few days ago by
meeting with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq. However, the real struggle
will start today.
The post-election era is full of obstacles, both predictable and
unexpected. The first step will be finding a president and his two
deputies. Talabani is one candidate. However, the Shiites previously spoke
about making a Sunni the president, making a Shiite the prime minister and
making a Kurd the Parliament speaker. However, their latest remarks signal
that they will insist on the presidency. A two-thirds majority in
Parliament is needed to elect the head of state and his deputies.
Bargaining for alliances will start with this and never end. After naming a
president and his deputies, the prime minister will be appointed and the
Parliament established. In addition, the Parliament speaker will have a
very important position because he will liaison with the committee
preparing the constitution. The second most important stage is drawing up
the constitution. There are four important issues which might cause
conflict. Kurds favor a federal Iraq, while all other groups, including the
Shiites, want a unitary state. In addition, the Kurds don’t want to give up
their right to veto. How to solve the Kirkuk issue is unclear. There is
also the problem of the regime. Will Iraq become an Islamic republic, as
the Shiites want? The next eight months will be difficult. In addition,
even when the constitution is ready, the problems won’t end. The Parliament
will vote on the constitution in October. If it’s accepted, general
elections will be held. Otherwise, it’s back to square one. Iraq’s
neighbors and the entire world will intervene in this process. Thus, this
is the most critical era for Iraq, that is, the third act.”
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