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Turkish Press Review, 06-05-31
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
31.05.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ANKARA HOSTS SWEDISH KING AND QUEEN
[02] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY’S INTERNATIONAL STANDING IS RISING”
[03] ERDOGAN RECEIVES US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
[04] GUL: “OUR BERLIN AMBASSADOR IS CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES”
[05] RUSSIAN, GERMAN FMS TO VISIT TURKEY
[06] TURKEY’S SPECIAL ENVOY CELIKKOL IN BAGHDAD
[07] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “LET’S COME TOGETHER, WHOEVER YOU ARE”
[08] TURKEY, RUSSIA SIGN NATURAL GAS PACT
[09] ANKARA, TRNC INK PROTOCOL
[10] PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE PRESENTED IN ISTANBUL
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[12] A TWO-STATE SOLUTION FOR THE MIDEAST? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] ANKARA HOSTS SWEDISH KING AND QUEEN
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia yesterday held contacts in
Ankara. The monarchs started their stay in Ankara by visiting Anitkabir,
Ataturk’s mausoleum. Afterwards, Gustaf and Silvia were welcomed by
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace with an
official ceremony. After the ceremony, Sezer and his wife met with the
royal couple. After the meeting, King Gustaf proceeded to a luncheon given
in his honor by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Sezer also gave a banquet
in Gustaf’s honor. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY’S INTERNATIONAL STANDING IS RISING”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey’s
international standing was improving. Addressing the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said that as
the country grows powerful inside, it also gains strength in the
international arena. Erdogan stressed that in line with Turkey’s rising
prestige, its economy is also developing, with exports doubling, going from
$36 billion to $73.4 billion as of the end of last year. Pointing to the
government’s political and economic efforts, Erdogan said his visits to
foreign countries were continuing and would result in major benefits.
Furthermore, the premier yesterday attended the opening of Kanyon Mall in
Istanbul and a ceremony to begin work to strengthen Istanbul’s bridges with
the cooperation of Turkish and Japan firms. /Turkiye/
[03] ERDOGAN RECEIVES US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received a delegation from
the US House of Representatives. During the meeting, Erdogan stated that
the isolation imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
should be ended and emphasized the importance of protecting the status of
Kirkuk, Iraq by providing just representation. The Cyprus issue, Iran, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq and the so-called Armenian genocide were
also discussed at the meeting. /Star/
[04] GUL: “OUR BERLIN AMBASSADOR IS CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES”
Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik is carrying out his
duties and pursuing his mission, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
yesterday after receiving the ambassador. Speaking to reporters, Gul said
that Irtemcelik is currently in Ankara to prepare for German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Turkey this week. Asked whether
Irtemcelik had been offended by a recent incident in Berlin with Turkey’s
prime minister, Gul said, “His appointment to Germany was made by the prime
minister as well as with the approval of the president. There is no
problem.” /Sabah/
[05] RUSSIAN, GERMAN FMS TO VISIT TURKEY
Russian Foreign Minister Sergev Lavrov is set to arrive in Ankara today for
two days of talks with Turkish leaders on bilateral relations. Lavrov will
meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer today. Tomorrow he is expected to have talks with Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc before departing
for Istanbul to visit the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
headquarters. Russia this month took over the rotating BSEC chairmanship
until October. In addition, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
will arrive in Ankara tomorrow evening. Talks with Turkish leaders are
expected to focus on bilateral relations, Turkey’s European Union process
and the Cyprus issue, as well as the Middle East issue and the dispute over
Iran’s nuclear program. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] TURKEY’S SPECIAL ENVOY CELIKKOL IN BAGHDAD
After the establishment of the new government in Iraq, Turkey is again
moving against the terrorist PKK presence in northern Iraq. Turkey’s
Special Representative to Iraq Oquz Celikkkol went to this country and
conveyed Ankara’s requests about the terrorist group. Celikkol also
expressed Ankara’s views on Kirkuk to officials of the new government. A
Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday that Celikkol went to Iraq to
convey Turkey’s support to the new Iraqi government formed on May 20 under
the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Celikkol will convey
written messages from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul to their Iraqi counterparts, the statement said.
Celikkol will be received by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani,
Vice President Tariq-al Hashimi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih
during his stay in Baghdad. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “LET’S COME TOGETHER, WHOEVER YOU ARE”
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday reiterated his call for left- and right-wing proponents of
secularism to join forces under one roof. Echoing the famous words of
mystic Sufi poet Mevlana Rumi, “Come, whoever you are,” Baykal said, “Let’s
come together, whoever you are.” Speaking at CHP group meeting, Baykal said
there were forces trying to alter the secular and democratic republic
system, adding that the task of protecting the republic shouldn’t be left
to the military but rather assumed by all citizens. /Aksam/
[08] TURKEY, RUSSIA SIGN NATURAL GAS PACT
Ankara and Moscow will discuss ways to provide a permanent flow of natural
gas from Russia to Turkey and also to cut natural gas prices, said State
Minister Kursad Tuzmen after a Turkey-Russia Joint Economic Commission
(KEK) meeting in Istanbul yesterday. A protocol was signed at the end of
the meeting by the KEK co-chairs. The protocol was also signed by Tuzmen
and Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko. /Turkiye/
[09] ANKARA, TRNC INK PROTOCOL
An additional protocol was signed yesterday between Turkey and the TRNC
under the economic assistance and cooperation protocol of 2005. Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and
Stata Minister Abdullatif Sener signed the protocol. Speaking at the
signing ceremony, Sener said, “Our cooperation has made valuable
contributions to economic developments in the TRNC. The second additional
protocol will provide the TRNC with a loan of $135 million.” /Turkiye/
[10] PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE PRESENTED IN ISTANBUL
Hyatt Foundation Chairman Thomas J. Pritzker, at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce
Palace, yesterday presented the Pritzker Architecture Award to Brazilian
architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. In addition to a number of distinguished
guests, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Governor Muammer
Guler attended the ceremony. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan pointed out
that Istanbul was overflowing with famous works designed by great
architects from various cultures and civilizations, adding that it had
presented its architectural and cultural richness to the service of the
people. /Turkiye/
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[12] A TWO-STATE SOLUTION FOR THE MIDEAST? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the subjects which were discussed during
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s meetings in Ankara. A summary of his
column is as follows:
“One of the most important issues which emerged during Israeli Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni’s meetings in Ankara was about the solution of the
Palestinian issue on the basis of two states. This method of solution is
generally accepted in principle. The international community, including
Turkey, advocates this idea. Excepting Hamas, which doesn’t accept the
existence of Israel, most Palestinians also favor this. The problem is
about how to implement the concept of two states. What will happen about
the borders of Israel and Palestine, Jerusalem’s status, the future of
refugees, the situation of Israeli settlers, etc.? This question can be
answered only through a process of negotiations. Although the new Israeli
government accepts the idea of a solution on the basis of two states, if
negotiations can’t start on land, borders and other problems, it’s
determined to withdraw from certain sections of the West Bank unilaterally
and draw its own borders. During her meetings with Turkish officials, Livni
said that negotiations were necessary to reach a consensus, and two sides
were necessary for such talks. Israel can’t find a partner. As Hamas hasn’t
changed its old stance, Israel can’t wait forever. In this case, the
Israeli government will implement its disengagement policy out of
necessity. As the Israeli foreign minister said while talking to reporters
from Istanbul, time isn’t on the side of a solution based on two states.
However, such a lack of a solution carries the danger of new frictions and
tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, what’s happening in Palestine isn’t so encouraging either. The
disagreement between Hamas and Fatah even led to firefights. The fact that
both sides have separate armed forces is a very dangerous situation. This
is a potential for a civil war. These frictions are climbing in the
political realm as well. Two separate representatives -- Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Zahar on behalf of Hamas and former Foreign Minister Farouk
Kaddoumi on behalf of Fatah -- participating in the recent Freedom Movement
Conference in Malaysia on behalf of Palestine caused surprise. According to
news agencies, there was a strange battle of words between these two
ministers. Zahar said that he was the actual representative of Palestine,
and Kaddumi said that he came to Malaysia to educate him, as this business
can’t be left to a ‘young amateur.’ Hamas also rejected the idea of holding
a referendum about starting a process of negotiations with Israel. In this
case, starting a new process for a solution is so hard as to almost be
impossible.”
ARCHIVE
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