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Turkish Press Review, 06-02-24
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
24.02.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] NSC DISCUSSES HAMAS VISIT, IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
[02] PARLIAMENT SPARES ERBAKAN JAIL TIME
[03] FM DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY DISCUSSES HAMAS VISIT WITH EU TROIKA
[04] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “CORNERED LEADERS SOMETIMES ATTACK THE MEDIA”
[05] PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT: “THE TURKISH GOVT DIDN’T MAKE A MISTAKE WITH THE HAMAS VISIT”
[06] ISRAELI DEPUTY PM: “WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS”
[07] EU WARNS TURKEY OVER HARBOR ISSUE
[08] TOBB HEAD WARNS OF HIGH CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[10] FIGHT AGAINST TERROR AND CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
[01] NSC DISCUSSES HAMAS VISIT, IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
The National Security Council (NSC) yesterday convened under the leadership
of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to discuss a number of issues, including
last week’s visit of a Hamas delegation to Ankara and Iran’s nuclear
program. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed his fellow NSC members on
the details of the visit, adding that government officials had had the
opportunity to convey the international community’s messages to the
delegation. Erdogan also presented to the council a file of relatively
positive foreign news coverage of the visit. Iran’s nuclear program was
discussed in detail at the council, and ongoing work on air defense systems
against a possible missile attack was also reviewed. /Sabah/
[02] PARLIAMENT SPARES ERBAKAN JAIL TIME
Parliament yesterday passed a bill allowing Necmettin Erbakan, the father
of political Islam in Turkey, to serve his prison sentence at home. The
bill was submitted by three ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
deputies. Former Prime Minister and defunct Welfare Party (RP) leader
Erbakan was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars in the “Lost
Trillion” case, but was able to postpone serving his sentence by submitting
medical reports to the court. /The New Anatolian/
[03] FM DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY DISCUSSES HAMAS VISIT WITH EU TROIKA
Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ahmet Acet, accompanied by a group
of officials, yesterday met in Ankara with his Austrian and Finnish
counterparts and officials from the European Union Commission, together
making up the EU Troika, to discuss the recent surprise visit of a Hamas
delegation to Ankara. During the meeting, the Turkish side told the Troika
that Ankara had urged the delegation to meet the expectations of the
international community. Troika officials reportedly said that Hamas was on
their terrorist group lists, adding that possible benefits of the visit
would be seen in the future. /Milliyet/
[04] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “CORNERED LEADERS SOMETIMES ATTACK THE MEDIA”
Responding yesterday to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s claims that “the
Turkish press is open to the manipulation of intelligence agencies and
diplomats,” main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal said, “Cornered leaders sometimes defame the press and make
allegations.” Baykal added, “The foreign minister doesn’t have the right to
criticize publications trying to enlighten the public about the details of
a visit [meaning the recent Hamas visit]. The public has the right to learn
what the US and Israel think about the issue. You can’t hide what you’ve
done with these statements and by blaming the media.” /Hurriyet/
[05] PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT: “THE TURKISH GOVT DIDN’T MAKE A MISTAKE WITH
THE HAMAS VISIT”
Commenting on last week’s Hamas delegation visit to Ankara, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said that the Turkish government had not
made a mistake by hosting the visit. “Ankara receiving the delegation
wasn’t a mistake,” he said. Abbas said that before the visit he had twice
spoken on the phone with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that
Erdogan had told him that he would urge the delegation to accept the world
and Israel’s conditions. Abbas stressed that Palestine wanted to improve
its already-good relations with all Muslim and Arab countries. “I’ve spent
my entire political life working for peace in the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict,” he added. “But Israel should also exert similar efforts for a
resolution.” /Turkiye/
[06] ISRAELI DEPUTY PM: “WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS”
Strained Turkish-Israeli relations after the visit of Hamas political
leader Khaled Mashaal’s visit have begun to mend. Acting Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to tell him that Israel places importance on Turkish-Israeli
relations and so wants to look to the future and strengthened relations.
Premier Erdogan said that his efforts aim at establishing peace and
democracy, and stability and welfare, in the region. /Star/
[07] EU WARNS TURKEY OVER HARBOR ISSUE
Reacting yesterday to Turkey’s refusing permission to a Greek Cypriot-
flagged container ship seeking to enter the port of Mersin, the European
Union stated yesterday that Turkey should implement the additional Customs
Union protocol. “The issue came up at the Troika meeting of political
directors in Ankara” this week, said European Union Commissioner for
Enlargement Olli Rehn. “The EU political directors told Turkish officials
that Ankara should implement the additional protocol and open its harbors
and airports.” /Cumhuriyet/
[08] TOBB HEAD WARNS OF HIGH CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat
Hisarciklioglu yesterday sounded a warning about Turkey’s high current
accounts deficit, adding that this could pose a threat to the economy. Last
year the current accounts deficit rose 46.4% compared to 2004 to reach
$22.85 billion. “The deficit will rise further with our imports,” he said.
“We should immediately take counter-measures. All past economic crises in
Turkey emerged from the balance of payments.” /Milliyet/
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[10] FIGHT AGAINST TERROR AND CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
(AKSAM)
Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on a symposium on terrorism to be held
in Turkey next month. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) success in using arms to defeat a
separatist, ethnic nationalist terrorist organization is one of the few
examples of this in the world. Our army became one of the most experienced
institutions in the world in fighting terrorism. In addition, it did this
without the benefit of international support and in spite of the unfriendly
stance of our so-called Western allies for many years. An atmosphere of
cooperation against international terrorism emerged following the bomb
attacks in London and Madrid. The world started to revolve around the
different conditions of the new period. In such a climate, the General
Staff is preparing to hold an important activity. The General Staff will
pass on its information and experience concerning terrorism to the
intellectual world as well as international civilian and military circles.
This will be one of the most important steps taken against global
terrorism. We can hear the motto ‘both democracy and security’ again.
Considering its historical characteristics, the responsibilities and
advantages of this region can be understood. All the Abrahamic religions
were born in this region. For this reason, an ‘Alliance of Civilizations’
is possible in this region. Europe started to meet with communities from
different religions during the last century. Therefore, the issue of human
rights emerged in the West. However, people living in the Middle East have
always needed to live together.
Global terrorism will be discussed on an international platform during a
symposium to be organized by the General Staff’s Center for Excellence in
the Defense Against Terrorism. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will
make the opening speech of the symposium, to be held in Ankara on March 23-
24. The symposium will be entitled ‘Global Terrorism and International
Cooperation’ with the following slogan: ‘For a World Full of Peace.’ There
will be very important sessions in this symposium, which local and foreign
experts, military and civilian representatives, politicians, statesmen and
journalists all will attend. During the first session, the concept of
terrorism will be discussed in its historical and legal dimensions. In
addition, important sessions will be held on that day on such subjects as
terrorism now, its financial resources and global terrorism. During the
second day, sustainable security measures against terrorism in cities,
effective crisis management, using the lessons from terrorist attacks,
international coordination and cooperation, international terrorism,
separatist terrorist activities and battle methods, radical religious
terrorist activities, NATO’s role in the fight against terrorism and the
importance of international cooperation will be discussed. It’s very
meaningful that Turkey is holding this symposium. Turkey is the only
example of a Muslim society living a modern life under a secular,
democratic and social rule of law. I’m sure that the symposium will help
underline these qualities of our country. We’ll follow it.”
ARCHIVE
The news and articles issued in the Turkish Press Review
may be quoted from provided due acknowledgement is made.
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