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Turkish Press Review, 05-08-08
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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e-mail :
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
08.08.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] US, TURKEY, IRAQ HOLD SECURITY MEETING IN WASHINGTON
[02] SOYER: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE DETERMINED TO REACH THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THEY DESERVE”
[03] GERMAN FM: “MERKEL CLOSING THE EU DOOR TO TURKEY WOULD BE A GREAT MISTAKE”
[04] REHN: “THE EU SHOULD KEEP ITS PROMISE TO TURKEY FOR ITS ACCESSION TALKS”
[05] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO VISIT TRNC THROUGH ERCAN AIRPORT
[06] SWISS SENATE: “DEBATING GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS ISN’T OUR JOB”
[07] TURKEY SEES JUMP IN ARAB INVESTMENT
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[09] THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] US, TURKEY, IRAQ HOLD SECURITY MEETING IN WASHINGTON
The US, Turkey, and Iraq yesterday held a second tripartite security
meeting in Washington. The Turkish delegation was led by Turkish Foreign
Ministry Security Affairs Director Hayati Guven, and the US group was
headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza. The
extradition of members of the terrorist group PKK was discussed at the
meeting. The Turkish delegation then returned to Ankara. /Star/
[02] SOYER: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE DETERMINED TO REACH THE ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY THEY DESERVE”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer
said yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots are determined to reach the
economic prosperity they deserve. Speaking at a press briefing on the
government’s performance, Soyer said that owing to the Turkish Cypriots’
acceptance of the Annan reunification plan last year, a number of positive
developments had come about, including direct flights from Azerbaijan. “If
we maintain our faith and determination in a Cyprus resolution, we’ll reach
a happy ending,” said Soyer, adding that the government and TRNC President
Mehmet Ali Talat were as one in seeking a resolution based on the equality
of the two nations on the island. /Turkiye/
[03] GERMAN FM: “MERKEL CLOSING THE EU DOOR TO TURKEY WOULD BE A GREAT
MISTAKE”
Speaking over the weekend, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer
criticized main opposition Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel’s stance
against Turkey’s European Union membership, adding that several German
governments had supported Turkey’s EU bid since they knew Germany would
benefit. “Merkel wants to close the EU door to the Turkey, which I consider
a great mistake,” said Fischer. “They are ignoring Germany’s own security.”
Fischer further stated that Turkey, a majority-Muslim, democratic country
with a liberal economy, would contribute to the Union. Merkel’s party is
due to face off with Fischer’s coalition partners in elections next month.
/Turkiye/
[04] REHN: “THE EU SHOULD KEEP ITS PROMISE TO TURKEY FOR ITS ACCESSION
TALKS”
Speaking to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag yesterday, European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that the European Union should
keep its promise to Turkey on its EU accession talks. “We’ll begin Ankara’s
accession talks since it has signed the additional Customs Union protocol,”
he said, adding that recognition of Greek Cyprus was not a precondition for
beginning accession talks. “If all EU member states stick to their
commitments given at last December’s EU summit, then we’ll begin Ankara’s
EU talks on Oct. 3 as scheduled,” he stressed. “The EU needs a stable,
democratic, and prosperous Turkey. This is in our strategic interest.”
/Milliyet/
[05] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO VISIT TRNC THROUGH ERCAN AIRPORT
A US congressional delegation is reportedly soon expected to arrive in the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) through Ercan Airport. The Greek
Cypriot lobby opposes such a visit. Washington has criticized the Greek
Cypriots’ rejection of the Annan reunification plan in a referendum last
year. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] SWISS SENATE: “DEBATING GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS ISN’T OUR JOB”
The Swiss Senate decided over the weekend not to debate the so-called
Armenian genocide issue. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted
against considering the issue in the full Senate, saying that the issue
should instead be discussed between Turkey and Armenia. Peter Briner, head
of the committee, said that the third countries should not point the finger
at Turkey 90 years after the events. Briner also said that Turkey has to
look into the Armenian issue if it wants to join the European Union, though
Switzerland itself is not a member of the bloc. Under Swiss law, denying
any genocide is a crime. Ankara recently criticized the Swiss canton of
Vaud for recognizing the so-called genocide and cancelled a planned visit
by Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey. /Aksam/
[07] TURKEY SEES JUMP IN ARAB INVESTMENT
Since last year, a great increase has been seen in capital flow of Middle
East origin into Turkey. Through the end of 2004, approximately 200
companies of Middle East origin began to operate in Turkey. Last year,
companies of Middle East origin invested a total of $42 million in Turkey.
Companies backed by Arab capital have invested mainly in telecommunications,
tourism, infrastructure and finance. Factors behind this investment spike
include a less-friendly atmosphere in the US and European Union countries
since Sept. 11, 2001, capital restrictions on Arabs, Turkey’s accelerated
privatization process, and strengthened relations between Turkey and Arab
countries. But in Turkey’s foreign investment pie, European Union countries
still take first place, with 72% of investments. /Aksam/
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[09] THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on Turkey’s fight against terrorism. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok recently decried the Turkish Armed
Forces’ (TSK) lacking sufficient authority to fight terrorism effectively,
and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said legal arrangements would be made.
Indeed, legal arrangements should be made immediately and complaints about
this issue should be addressed. However, nothing contradicting the European
Union should be done. Certain Europeans who are trying to put off Turkey
with empty promises, without bringing discredit on their states due to the
agreements they signed, shouldn’t be able to confront us with claims of
human rights violations.
As a solution, we should adopt European anti-terrorism legislation exactly
as it is, without altering a comma, so they won’t tell us that we put the
comma in the wrong place and so our laws are invalid. Years ago PKK
terrorism emerged to hold back the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Now,
the PKK is rising again with other names, obviously in order to block
Turkey’s EU bid. Our rejecting a motion on deploying US soldiers back in
March 2003 before the war in Iraq and thus the US’ casualties and
disappointment had an impact on the PKK’s development. In sum, mistakes in
foreign policy are being reflected in the domestic political scene. Those
who fail to understand this are fooling themselves with flawed analyses and
can never solve these problems.”
ARCHIVE
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