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Turkish Press Review, 05-08-10
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
10.08.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] CICEK: “WE’VE TAKEN NECESSARY MEASURES TO FIGHT THE PKK AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO DO SO”
[02] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEETS WITH TALAT, EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ENDING TRNC’S ISOLATION
[03] REHN: “I’M CONFIDENT THAT TURKEY’S TALKS WILL START ON TIME”
[04] SCHROEDER: “TURKEY IS WHERE ISLAMIC AND EUROPEAN VALUES COME TOGETHER”
[05] BELGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VOICES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
[06] TUZMEN TOUTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, PREDICTS $100 BLN IN EXPORTS BY 2008
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] NORTHERN IRAQ’S IMPACT ON SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA BY ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)
[01] CICEK: “WE’VE TAKEN NECESSARY MEASURES TO FIGHT THE PKK AND WE’LL
CONTINUE TO DO SO”
Appearing on television yesterday, Justice Minister and government
spokesman Cemil Cicek said that ending terrorism was a constant priority
for Turkey, adding that the government was determined to counter the
terrorist group PKK. “We’ve taken necessary measures up until now and we’ll
continue to do so,” said Cicek. Asked whether there was a lack of dialogue
between some official institutions in anti-terrorist efforts, Cicek said
that there was no controversy between the institutions, as all had the same
goal, namely to end terrorism. /Aksam/
[02] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEETS WITH TALAT, EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR
ENDING TRNC’S ISOLATION
A delegation of US Congressional staffers, as the guest of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Chamber of Industry, yesterday arrived
in the TRNC and started its official contacts. The delegation first visited
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, then met with Foreign Minister Serdar
Denktas. Before the meeting, Denktas said, “The members of the delegation
provide counsel for members of the Senate and the House. It is important
that they see the reality on Cyprus with their own eyes.” During their
meeting with Talat, the US delegation praised the Turkish Cypriots’ will
for a resolution on the island, adding that by supporting the Annan plan,
the TRNC had proved that it favored peace. The delegation further stressed
that it was very important to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
“This injustice should be brought to an end immediately,” said one member
of the delegation. For his part, Talat briefed the delegation on recent
developments on the island and said that he appreciated their support,
adding that he hoped they could help end the TRNC’s isolation. /Star-
Cumhuriyet/
[03] REHN: “I’M CONFIDENT THAT TURKEY’S TALKS WILL START ON TIME”
Olli Rehn, the European Union’s enlargement commissioner, said yesterday
that he was confident that Turkey would start its European Union accession
talks on Oct. 3, as scheduled. At a speech in Hamburg, Rehn said that the
question of recognition of Greek Cyprus was not a precondition for Ankara’s
negotiations. “Europe needs a stable, democratic and increasingly
prosperous Turkey” he added. “It is in our strategic interest, and the
negotiations are the crucial vehicle for enhancing this objective. The
journey is as important as the destination.” /Star/
[04] SCHROEDER: “TURKEY IS WHERE ISLAMIC AND EUROPEAN VALUES COME TOGETHER”
Speaking at a rally yesterday, ahead of next month’s elections, German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stressed the importance of Turkey for the
European Union. “Iran’s nuclear program has increased the importance of
Turkey’s EU bid,” said Schroeder, adding that Turkey was the place where
Islamic and European values come together. /Turkiye/
[05] BELGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VOICES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
Belgian Parliament speaker Herman De Croo, who is currently in Turkey to
attend the opening ceremony of a culture center, said yesterday that he
supported Turkey’s European Union membership bid, adding that in joining
the EU, Turkey should continue to be officially secular, democratic and
maintain its religion. De Croo further stressed that Europe needed Turkey
in order to be strong. /Turkiye/
[06] TUZMEN TOUTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, PREDICTS $100 BLN IN EXPORTS BY
2008
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday met with Turkish Young Businessmen’s
Confederation head Erhan Ozmen to discuss recent economic developments.
During their meeting, Tuzmen predicted that Turkey’s exports would reach
$100 billion by 2008. Tuzmen spoke of more good economic news, saying that
in 2005, the Turkish economy had scored important successes. Also touching
on the current accounts deficit, Tuzmen said that there was no need to
worry, but that the deficit should be watched closely. /Turkiye/
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] NORTHERN IRAQ’S IMPACT ON SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA BY ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)
Columnist Erdal Safak comments on the relationship between northern Iraq
and southeastern Anatolia. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Northern Iraq is a reminder of the armed presence of the terrorist PKK in
the fight against terrorism. However, developments there have become an
important factor in the southeastern Anatolia issue. One can even say that
these developments might have more impact there than collapse of the PKK.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with a group representing
intellectuals who are calling on the PKK to end its armed attacks
immediately and without preconditions and on the government to make legal
arrangements for a permanent peace. These sorts of civilian initiatives
should be supported, provided that they don’t damage anti-terrorist
efforts. However, we don’t consider this call feasible, because the PKK
spoiled the atmosphere of non-conflict due to one reason: its call to end
the isolation of PKK head Abdullah Ocalan in prison. As independent Kurdish
intellectual Umit Firat said, ‘The PKK’s problem isn’t about the Kurds.
When they hear the word ‘peace,’ they think only of freedom for Ocalan.’
Following the intellectuals’ declaration, the same people said, ‘The
intellectuals can become our envoys of peace. Let’s discuss the issue of a
cease-fire.’ First of all, what they mean by ‘ending isolation’ is removing
legal arrangements which prevent Ocalan’s sending messages to the terrorist
group through his lawyers and then declaring a general amnesty covering the
organization’s leadership. In other words, it means, setting Ocalan free.
Do these so-called conditions have anything to do with the problems of
southeastern Anatolia?
The intellectuals also request that government ‘make legal arrangements so
that permanent peace can be ensured and everybody can participate in the
democratic process.’ What does ‘everybody’ mean here? Does it mean ensuring
the return to civilian life of militants who went into the mountains but
didn’t take part in attacks? If the call’s framework isn’t drawn well, I’m
afraid there would be the risk of this overlapping with the PKK’s requests,
although they have no such intention. In addition, to combat terrorism
determinedly and with the support of the entire nation, the dimensions of
the problem should be discussed in detail, and solutions to meet the
expectations of people living in the region should be created, because the
impact of the developments in northern Iraq must be factored in. Cumhuriyet
daily writer Oral Calislar wrote yesterday that the fact that a Kurdish
leader has become Iraq’s president and the strong autonomy in the Kurdish
region have both affected the people living in southeastern Anatolia. He
added that they feel that they are being ignored, compared to the status
gained by Kurds in Iraq. So this warning should be taken seriously: ‘Turkey
should solve the southeast issue so Turkey can establish healthy relations
with Iraq, and so the people living in the region don’t feel they are being
ignored’.”
ARCHIVE
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