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Turkish Press Review, 05-07-19Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning19.07.2005ERDOGAN, PUTIN HAIL STRENGTHENING BILATERAL RELATIONS STRAW: “WE’LL STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH TURKEY TO FIGHT TERRORISM” BABACAN: “HISTORIC STEPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TAKEN IN TURKISH-EU RELATIONS” TALAT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS WANT OUR ISOLATION TO BE BROUGHT TO AN END” IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER: “ANY TRANS-BORDER OPERATION NEEDS BAGHDAD’S PERMISSION” TOP US DIPLOMAT: “THE PKK IS OUR PROBLEM TOO” BELGIUM TOUTS TURKEY AS VACATION DESTINATION FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… PLANS TO CROSS THE BORDER? TALK TO US FIRST BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN, PUTIN HAIL STRENGTHENING BILATERAL RELATIONSPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Russia for an official visit, yesterday attended a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that recent visits between the two countries proved that Turkish-Russian relations were strengthening. Later, speaking at a joint press conference, Putin said that they had exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues. He stressed that he and Erdogan had met four times in the last seven months, which proved that relations between the two countries were rapidly developing. “Last year our trade volume with Ankara reached $11 billion and we expect this figure will reach $25 billion by the end of next year,” said the Russian leader, adding that the two countries were also cooperating in the energy field and that Russia would continue to meet its obligations to export natural gas to Turkey. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Putin reiterated his support for a resolution, saying that the isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be brought to an end. For his part, Erdogan said that Ankara was determined to take steps to further develop economic and trade ties between Turkey and Russia. “We also discussed cultural relations between our countries,” added Erdogan. /All Papers/[02] STRAW: “WE’LL STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH TURKEY TO FIGHT TERRORISM”British Foreign Minister Jack Straw yesterday firmly condemned the weekend terrorist bombing in Turkey, saying that Britain would stand side by side with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. “All countries need to cooperate for a peaceful world,” said Straw, adding that the recent attacks in both Turkey and London proved this. Straw also rejected claims that countries which support the US’ Iraq operation were more subject to terrorist attacks, adding that terrorists had also attacked Turkey, which didn’t participate in the operation. “We’ll never let any terrorist group harm our values,” added Straw. /Turkiye/[03] BABACAN: “HISTORIC STEPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN TAKEN IN TURKISH-EU RELATIONS”Speaking at an economic conference yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan predicted that Turkey would soon meet the European Union’s Maastricht criteria. “Recently, historic steps have been taken in Turkish-EU relations,” said Babacan, adding however that there was still much to do to change the perspective of both the Turkish nation and those of EU member states. “Today nations need to know, understand each other, and have dialogue with each other,” said Babacan, adding that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) would play an important role in this. Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu also briefed the gathering on Ankara’s efforts to join the EU and on its harmonization with EU legislation. /Turkiye/[04] TALAT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS WANT OUR ISOLATION TO BE BROUGHT TO AN END”Speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the 1974 Peace Operation yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Turkish Cypriots wanted their isolation to be brought to an end. Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriots shouldn’t be punished after supporting the UN’s Cyprus plan last year. “I believe that if our isolation ends, the Greek Cypriots will also seek ways for a resolution,” added Talat. /Cumhuriyet/[05] IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER: “ANY TRANS-BORDER OPERATION NEEDS BAGHDAD’S PERMISSION”It will be the Iraqi Parliament which decides whether or not Turkey can conduct a cross-border operation into northern Iraq, Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr (El Zubeydi) said yesterday. Jabr remarked that although his country was ready to cooperate with Turkey against the PKK or any other terrorist organization, its Parliament had the right to approve or block any move by Turkey into its territory. “There is an elected government and Parliament in Iraq,” he said. “It is up to the [Iraqi] Parliament to decide on a possible cross-border operation by Turkey.” /Aksam/[06] TOP US DIPLOMAT: “THE PKK IS OUR PROBLEM TOO”US Undersecretary of State Responsible for European Affairs Dan Fried yesterday argued that a trans-border operation by Turkey against the terrorist PKK into northern Iraq would not be the best move to make. “The PKK isn’t only Turkey’s problem but also ours,” Fried said in response to questions after he delivered a speech at the US Washington Institute of Near East Policy. “We are cooperating with Turkey to fight this terrorist group. However, I don’t believe that a military operation would solve the problem. Washington is resolved to continue its fight against terrorists. Thus, Ankara and Washington should develop a joint plan on the issue.” /Sabah/[07] BELGIUM TOUTS TURKEY AS VACATION DESTINATIONThe Belgian Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a written statement touting Turkey as a vacation destination, adding that no place in the world was totally safe from the threat of terrorism. “There is no reason for us to tell our citizens not to go to Turkey,” said the statement, adding that recent bombings in Turkey and London proved that terrorist groups were active not only outside the borders of Europe, but also inside. /Turkiye/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[09] PLANS TO CROSS THE BORDER? TALK TO US FIRST BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Turkish-Iraqi relations. A summary of his column is as follows:“Following Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent remark that Turkey could launch a cross-border operation into northern Iraq if necessary, US Chief of General Staff Gen. Myers responded that Turkey would first have to discuss the issue with the Iraqi government. Although Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr (El Zubeydi) recently echoed Myers’ words, he also pointed to elsewhere: ‘It will be the Iraqi Parliament which will decide whether or not Turkey can conduct a cross-border operation into northern Iraq,’ he said. ‘The security forces of the central government are insufficient. Peshmerga are currently protecting the northern borders.’ In other words, according to US and Iraqi officials, Turkey will have to debate the issue with both the Iraqi Parliament and Massoud Barzani, who controls the Kurdish peshmerga in northern Iraq. El Zubeydi also seconded Myers’ sentiment that a trans-border move by Turkey would not be welcomed. It wouldn’t be realistic to expect either Washington or Barzani to support a cross-border operation of Turkish military forces. Both Barzani and Jalal Talabani have always opposed the presence of the Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. After our Parliament rejected a bill authorizing the deployment of the US troops on our soil prior to the Iraq war, Washington also clarified its policy on this issue, underlining that Turkish troops would not be welcome in northern Iraq. Turkey is currently striving to protect Iraq’s territorial integrity. However, the leaders of Iraq are warning of a looming civil war. Turkey will be on tenterhooks until stability is established in neighboring Iraq. However, with the triangle of the US, Barzani and Talabani, it is quite doubtful whether this will ever happen.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |