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Turkish Press Review, 05-06-17
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
17.06.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN ARAB COUNTRIES
[02] ERDOGAN, PUTIN WORK TO RESOLVE VEGETABLE IMPORT BAN
[03] GUL: “TURKISH-US RELATIONS ARE BASED ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS”
[04] GERMAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN MASSACRE
[05] SCHROEDER DEFENDS TURKEY’S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP TRACK
[06] BABACAN TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS FOR EU SUMMIT
[07] TRNC’S TALAT: “IT’S HIGH TIME THE EU MADE A DECISION”
[08] FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO TRAVEL TO BULGARIA
[09] OECD’S COTIS: “FOREIGN INVESTORS’ CONFIDENCE IN TURKEY IS GROWING”
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] SEZER IS RIGHT AGAIN BY HALUK SAHIN (RADIKAL)
[01] ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN ARAB COUNTRIES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday delivered an opening speech
at the Arab Economic Forum in Beirut, Lebanon, as an honorary guest and the
sole premier from a non-Arab country invited to the 25-nation gathering.
Stressing that regional countries should implement reforms and encourage
development and progress, Erdogan called for more economic cooperation and
investment between Turkey and Arab countries. In addition, he called on the
leaders to cooperate for the sake of regional stability and peace. Erdogan
also had talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Mikati. After completing his contacts,
Erdogan returned to Turkey last evening. /Turkiye/
[02] ERDOGAN, PUTIN WORK TO RESOLVE VEGETABLE IMPORT BAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Beirut for the Arab Economic Forum,
yesterday spoke on the telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin
about Russia’s recent temporary ban on imported Turkish fruits and
vegetables. The two leaders agreed that ministers from both countries would
meet to resolve the issue. Erdogan reportedly told Putin that the problem
stemmed from discrepancies in plant health certificates and asked for his
efforts to end the ban. /Star/
[03] GUL: “TURKISH-US RELATIONS ARE BASED ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS”
Soon-to-depart US Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman yesterday hosted an
early reception marking July Fourth, the United States’ Independence Day.
Hailing Turkey as a "source of inspiration,” Edelman said that Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk had created a modern Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman
Empire. The US will always support Turkey’s democratization efforts, he
added. For his part, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the countries’
bilateral relations were based on common values such as democracy, the rule
of law and human rights. Gul thanked Edelman for all his contributions
during his tenure in Ankara to strengthening relations between Turkey and
the US. State Ministers Besir Atalay and Mehmet Aydin, Justice Minister
Cemil Cicek, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, National
Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan, Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk
and Motherland Party leader Erkan Mumcu also attended the reception.
/Hurriyet/
[04] GERMAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN MASSACRE
The German Parliament yesterday adopted a resolution denouncing the so-
called massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire
era. The Bundestag unanimously called for the "sincere reappraisal" of what
happened in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and adopted a joint
motion by all parliamentary groups to recognize the incidents. The
resolution charged that the Turkish government had neglected to address the
issue and called on the German government to ensure that the Turkish
Parliament, government, and society reappraise their role towards the
Armenian people without prejudice. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denounced the resolution as "irresponsible,
appalling and injurious.” "We note this decision with regret and we
strongly condemn it," said a Foreign Ministry statement. “The text is
biased, contains serious errors and misinformation, and its approval will
deeply wound the Turkish people." The statement also added that Turkey "has
opened up its archives to all researchers, including Germans and Armenians,
on the premise that historical events can only be assessed by historians,
not by parliaments." /All Papers/
[05] SCHROEDER DEFENDS TURKEY’S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP TRACK
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday argued that a Muslim but
secular country like Turkey should absolutely join the camp of the Western
Enlightenment. Addressing Germany’s Parliament, Schroeder underscored the
importance of Turkey’s membership, arguing that concerns about Turkey’s
upcoming membership talks are baseless. “Turkey might become a full EU
member if it fulfills all of the required criteria and overcomes the Cyprus
problem,” he added. “Risks pertaining to Ankara’s talks might be controlled,
and negotiations might be suspended whenever necessary.” For her part,
opposition Christian Democratic Union head Angela Merker reiterated her
party’s well-known position that Turkey should be offered a “privileged
partnership” rather full membership. Merkel called on Turkey to solve its
problems concerning Cyprus and Armenia by Oct. 3, when the country’s
membership negotiations are expected to begin. In addition, Ulrike Hauer,
head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey for the Economy,
said that Turkey had recently shown great progress both in its macro-
economic stability program and structural reforms. /Aksam/
[06] BABACAN TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS FOR EU SUMMIT
State Minister Ali Babacan, who was recently appointed as Turkey’s chief
negotiator for its European Union talks, yesterday traveled to Brussels to
hold contacts with EU officials as part of this week’s EU summit. After
meeting with EU commissioners Margot Wallstroem and Jose Manuel Barbaso,
Babacan told reporters that their talks had focused on Turkey’s political
and economic reforms. He further stressed that all the needed reforms had
been enacted since last December’s summit and that Ankara would be ready
for its talks by Oct. 3. /Star/
[07] TRNC’S TALAT: “IT’S HIGH TIME THE EU MADE A DECISION”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat
stated yesterday that the negotiations in Brussels over financial aid and
direct trade with his country had yet to show any positive results. “The
Greek Cypriots still oppose direct EU trade with Turkish Cypriots and don’t
want us to use our ports for international commerce,” he said. “It’s now
high time for Brussels to decide whether or not it will submit all of its
decisions to Greek Cyprus for approval. That’s the point.” /Cumhuriyet/
[08] FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO TRAVEL TO BULGARIA
Former President Suleyman Demirel is set to fly to Bulgaria today to attend
a Balkans Political Club meeting in Sofia. He will address the meeting
concerning infrastructure in the Balkans and integration into the European
Union. In addition, during his two-day stay, Demirel is expected to have
talks with high-level officials of Balkan countries, including Bulgaria.
/Turkiye/
[09] OECD’S COTIS: “FOREIGN INVESTORS’ CONFIDENCE IN TURKEY IS GROWING”
Owing to Turkey’s success at meeting its fiscal targets, foreign investors’
confidence in the Turkish economy is growing, OECD Chief Economist Jean-
Philippe Cotis said yesterday. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul
prior to the general council meeting of the OECD Industry and Business
World Consultation Committee, Cotis remarked that a 6 percent growth rate
was both realistic and sustainable for Turkey. For his part, OECD Secretary
General Donald Johnston praised Turkey’s successful reforms and fiscal
policy. Both Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB)
head Rifat Hisarciklioglu and Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’
Association (TUSIAD) head Omer Sabanci emphasized that the European Union
needs to include Turkey to increase its own economic strength. /Hurriyet/
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] SEZER IS RIGHT AGAIN BY HALUK SAHIN (RADIKAL)
Columnist Haluk Sahin comments on a constitutional amendment for the
Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK). A summary of his column is as
follows:
“President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is right again, because he is prioritizing
not political interests, but the law. This time Sezer is right on the
constitutional amendment for the Supreme Board of Radio and Television
(RTUK). Under the amendment, the RTUK would from now on consist of members
selected by political parties. The ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) would name six members and the opposition Republican People’s People
(CHP) would chose three. In other words, members elected by the ruling
party would be in they majority and they would be able to impose their
ideological views on TV programs. However, the Constitution stipulates that
the RTUK must be autonomous and impartial. For this reason, the European
Union criteria stipulate the autonomy and impartiality of such
institutions. If our membership negotiations with the EU start and the
issue is discussed, there might be requests from the Turkish government on
the subject. Sezer, defending the rule of law, vetoed the amendment for
just this reason. Parliament then debated the issue again and made a
decision. Now Sezer has no other choice but to put the issue before the
public. I think Sezer should ask the public if they want politicians to
decide what they will watch on television. When Sezer was vetoing it, he
stated in his justification, ‘This is opening the way for political
partisans to be able to become RTUK members, because it is known that
generally such partisans are preferred in elections in Parliament’s General
Assembly. Obviously, a method ensuring the election of politically biased
figures to RTUK wouldn’t be appropriate.’
Any citizen knowing just a little about the law and the history of radio
and television in Turkey would agree with Sezer. However, following Sezer’s
veto, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said, ‘We don’t agree with
justification. The president was elected by this Parliament as well. If you
don’t trust the politicians and the Parliament of this country, how can you
hold up our democracy?’ Isn’t it demagoguery to consider the selection of
experts outside politics for autonomous institutions as a lack of
confidence in Parliament? Turkey’s history of radio and television shows
that our politicians can’t resist trying to influence communications
institutions. They can’t help themselves and so they intervene. Our
tradition of respecting autonomous institutions is very weak. You will see
that Sezer is right again.”
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