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Turkish Press Review, 06-03-29
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
29.03.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN, MERKEL SPEAK ABOUT IRAN
[02] SEZER: “TACKLING EMPLOYMENT, POVERTY, CORRUPTION AND THE INFORMAL ECONOMY CONTINUE TO TAKE PRIORITY”
[03] ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN FIGHTING TERRORISM
[04] BRYZA: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP HAS KEY ROLE IN COUNTERING RADICAL ISLAM”
[05] OLLI REHN: “TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT BRIDGE”
[06] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[07] THAT ERA DESERVES RESPECT BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN, MERKEL SPEAK ABOUT IRAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently had a phone conversation with
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, reportedly to discuss the latest
developments on Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The conversation took
place last week during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP). Prime Ministry spokesperson Akif Beki yesterday said that the
Iran issue hadn’t been discussed during the conversation. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] SEZER: “TACKLING EMPLOYMENT, POVERTY, CORRUPTION AND THE INFORMAL
ECONOMY CONTINUE TO TAKE PRIORITY”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday that the tight monetary and fiscal
policies of Turkey’s economic program had led to improvement in some
economic balances, adding that continuing to take such steps was of great
importance. In a speech at a summit on “Change and Continuity in Family
Companies” sponsored by the Ankara Chamber of Industry, President Sezer
said, “The permanency and continuity of further steps to be taken are of
great significance. The economy shouldn’t be dealt with using short-term
strategies.” He added, “In addition to problems increasing volatility,
troubles such as employment, poverty, corruption and the informal economy
continue to take priority on our economic agenda.” /Hurriyet/
[03] ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN FIGHTING TERRORISM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday delivered a speech entitled
“Dialogue Among Civilizations” at the Arab League summit in Sudan. Erdogan
stressed the historical bonds between Turkey and the Arab world and said,
“Thus, contributing to the stability, security and welfare of the Arab
world has priority in our policies.” Underlining that the world shouldn’t
be deceived by people seeking a “clash of civilizations,” Erdogan also
called for cooperation in fighting terrorism. During his speech, Erdogan
also touched on developments in Iraq, saying, “Turkey wants to see a
democratic Iraq with territorial integrity which can preserve political
unity and stability and establish peaceful relations with its neighbors.”
/Star/
[04] BRYZA: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP HAS KEY ROLE IN COUNTERING RADICAL
ISLAM”
A top US diplomat late Monday stressed democratic, secular Turkey’s crucial
role in countering the rise of radical Islam, and stated that Washington’s
support for its European Union membership stems from Ankara’s stance in the
ideological divide within the Muslim world. US Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs Matt Bryza made the remarks at the 25th
Annual Conference of the Turkish American Business Council (TAIK) and
American Turkish Council (ATC), where Turkey’s EU bid was at the forefront
of the discussions. The conference was held in Washington. Bryza described
Turkey as a “successful country” with its majority-Muslim population but
democratic and secular governmental system. EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Commission Co-President Joost Lagendijk also told the meeting that the
Union has made grave mistakes regarding the Cyprus issue, and this has
resulted in an atmosphere where it is difficult to find common ground on
the dispute over the divided island. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
political advisor and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Deputy
Egemen Bagis expressed Turkish decisiveness on its path to the EU despite
emerging difficulties. /The New Anatolian/
[05] OLLI REHN: “TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT BRIDGE”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, European Union Enlargement Commissioner
Olli Rehn said, “We could face a period of political tension in Turkish-EU
relations,” and added, “Skilful diplomacy is needed in order to prevent a
train accident.” Rehn said that Finland, which will assume the EU term
presidency this July, would need to use all its diplomatic skills to
prevent a derailment at the end of the year. Rehn also said that the
Muhammed cartoon crisis which rocked the Islamic world showed how valuable
a bridge Turkey can be. /Turkiye/
[06] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[07] THAT ERA DESERVES RESPECT BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP). A summary of his column is as follows:
“The appointment that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) wants to make
for the Central Bank head is a dark joke. International financial circles
are surprised that the AKP is trying to appoint an interest-free banking
expert to be Central Bank governor. This ruling party wants to appoint a
person who thinks earning interest is forbidden by religion to head an
institution whose most important duty is setting interest rates. Albaraka
Turk is the leader of interest-free banking in Turkey and Adnan Buyukdeniz,
general director of Albaraka Turk, was educated well, but his world view
isn’t in line with modern banking concepts. Not only Turkey, but also world
financial circles wouldn’t want a person who believes in interest-free
banking heading a country’s central bank. These are the AKP’s obsessions of
creating an Islamic society. These people are also angry with President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, because he ended this comedy with a veto. Instead of
being angry, they should pray for Sezer, as he gave them the chance to turn
back from a mistake. Why is the AKP doing this? The strongest possibility
is they want to apply populist policies with an eye to elections. They want
to appoint a Central Bank governor in accordance with their own views. I
hope this mistaken stance won’t turn Turkey’s economy upside down. Let’s
not go back to that problematic time of crisis.
Actually, developments aren’t so bright. The current account deficit is
inching up, unemployment is rising, people have problems making ends meet
and theft, bad luck, and lack of public order prevail and the rosy picture
in the economy has started to darken. The ruling party doesn’t care about
these things. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan scolds people who
complain to him and insults everybody, mostly the media, and says that this
ruling party is paying the cost created by 80 years of the republic,
pointing to the Republican People’s Party (CHP). However, Erdogan doesn’t
know that when the CHP turned over the political power to the Democrat
Party in 1950, Turkey had no foreign debt left over from the Ottoman
Empire. At that time, the budget was balanced and inflation was zero. The
leadership of the republic created miracles until 1950. However, in three
years Erdogan’s ruling party has racked up foreign debt of $100 billion.
Before mouthing such big words, Mr. Erdogan should look at the conditions
in which the republic took over the country and how a nation was created.
If he learns these things, then he wouldn’t criticize that era but would
respect those leaders.”
ARCHIVE
The news and articles issued in the Turkish Press Review
may be quoted from provided due acknowledgement is made.
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