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Turkish Press Review, 06-06-01Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <style type="text_css"> <!-- .baslik { margin-right:0cm; margin-left:0cm; margin-top:1cm; font-size:12.0pt; color:#000099; text-align: justify; } --> <_style> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning01.06.2006STEPHANOPOULOS’ SUGGESTION SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WON’T GO BACK TO THE OLD DAYS”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday visited the central Anatolian province of Sivas to attend a series of openings. Addressing crowds, the premier said that Turkey was on a good level in democratization, human rights and the road to join the European Union, adding that no one would be able to send Turkey back to days of conflict. Calling on people to preserve the country’s atmosphere of trust and stability, Erdogan said everyone should act together to further develop Turkey. The premier also attended his Justice and Development Party (AKP) Sivas Provincial Congress. Stressing that the AKP was a party focused on the people, not religion, Erdogan expressed his hope for overwhelming success in the general elections set to be held in the fall of next year. Furthermore, appearing on TV yesterday Erdogan addressed the nation, saying that the Turkish economy was strong enough to overcome possible crises. Pointing to improving economic figures, Erdogan said that volatility in the markets was normal in a functioning market economy. Commenting on last month’s attack on Council of State judges, the premier stated that the attack targeted Turkey’s peace and stability as well as the bodies and principles of the republic. /Turkiye/[02] JUSTICE COMMISSION DISCUSSES NEW ANTI-TERROR LAWParliament’s Justice Subcommission yesterday discussed the controversial Article 6 of the proposed new Anti-Terror Law. During the three-hour meeting, without representatives from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies decided to amend the article. It reportedly will be given its final form today after an exchange of views with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. There are claims Article 6 could allow jailed head of terrorist group PKK Abdullah Ocalan to be freed. /Aksam/Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday came to Turkey as the guest of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Gul said, “The Russian Federation is a neighbor which has strategic importance, and we attach great importance to its friendship and cooperation.” He added, “We’re happy to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments within this framework. It was a very beneficial meeting. We have common views on many issues. We will continue to discuss our bilateral relations.” Lavrov said he shares Gul’s views and, when asked about the Iranian nuclear crisis, further said that both countries “stand side by side” and share the same ideas on Iran. /Star- Cumhuriyet/ [03] RUSSIAN FM LAVROV: “TURKEY AND RUSSIA STAND SIDE BY SIDE”Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday came to Turkey as the guest of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Gul said, “The Russian Federation is a neighbor which has strategic importance, and we attach great importance to its friendship and cooperation.” He added, “We’re happy to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments within this framework. It was a very beneficial meeting. We have common views on many issues. We will continue to discuss our bilateral relations.” Lavrov said he shares Gul’s views and, when asked about the Iranian nuclear crisis, further said that both countries “stand side by side” and share the same ideas on Iran. /Star- Cumhuriyet/[04] IRAQI FM, ECONOMY MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYForeign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan yesterday said that Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Economy Minister Behram Salih are expected to visit Turkey in the near future. During his weekly press conference, Tan spoke about Turkey’s Special Envoy to Iraq Oguz Celikkol’s contacts in Iraq. Tan said that Celikkol had invited Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Economy Minister Behram Salih to Turkey. Zebari and Salih are expected to visit Ankara this month. /Cumhuriyet/[05] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “A PRESIDENT IN THE AKP’S POLITICAL CAMP WOULD POSE A THREAT TO SECULARISM”Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday said, “The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) choosing the next president along its political line would threaten secularism in Turkey,” and that they were trying to prevent this. In a media interview, Baykal also called on the AKP to work together with the opposition parties in Parliament to choose a presidential candidate. /Hurriyet/[06] GERMAN FM TO DISCUSS IRANIAN NUKE ISSUE IN ANKARAGermany’s foreign minister is paying an official visit to Turkey starting tomorrow mainly to discuss the Iranian nuclear dispute following today’s crucial meeting in Vienna where major world powers are expected to approve an incentive package for Iran. Following the crucial EU debate on Iran and his bilateral talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to give a joint message with Turkish officials to divert Iran from its nuclear ambitions. The German foreign minister will meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erogan to search for a solution to the Iranian nuclear standoff. /The New Anatolian/[07] 2 SOLDIERS, 3 VILLAGE GUARDS KILLED IN SIRNAKTwo soldiers and three village guards were killed yesterday during conflicts with PKK terrorists in Sirnak. According to initial reports, Gendarmerie Cpl. Mustafa Nane, Gendarmerie soldier Muzaffer Ardic, and village guards Yunus, Nurettin, and Faysal Yildirim were killed, while five village guards were wounded. In related news, two soldiers who stepped on a mine in Bingol were wounded. /Milliyet/[08] IMF’S TURKEY REPRESENTATIVE: “INFLATION IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW DUE TO HIGH APRIL INFLATION AND THE WEAK LIRA”International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Hugh Bredenkamp yesterday said that inflation had taken on more importance due to April’s high inflation and recent weakness in the lira. “We agree with predictions that inflation will exceed the 2006 target of 5%,” said Bredenkamp. Saying that they expected very strong growth in the gross national product (GNP) of 6%, Bredenkamp added, “Adjustments to the exchange rate and interest will have an effect on the real economy, but this will be compensated by increases in exports and a slowdown in domestic demand. These adjustments are beneficial.” Saying that difficulties in financial markets would continue, Bredenkamp added that this would pose problem for countries with high current account deficits such as Turkey. /Sabah/[09] SATICI: “RECENT EXCHANGE RATE IS A PLUS FOR TURKISH INDUSTRY”Turkish Exporters’ Union (TIM) Chairman Oguz Satici said yesterday that recent increases in the exchange rate were positive for Turkish industry, adding that he thought that there could be a further slight increase by the end of the year. /Sabah/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[11] THE NET GOT STUCK ON THE ROCKBY ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)Columnist Erdal Safak comments on this week’s Kardak crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:“Three elements of both countries should reach a consensus in order to improve relations between Turkey and Greece. These elements are: The governments and the politicians, the militaries, and the people of both sides. We can also add the media. These elements are powerful in both countries, but despite these elements, a fishing boat coming to Kardak was enough to create a ‘mini-crisis,’ as the Western press stated. Especially Turkey wouldn’t want both countries’ warplanes to come up against each other. The number of tourists coming to Turkey has fallen. The same goes for the Greek islands, according to the Greek press. There is no need to drive more away. Is the Turkish-Greek friendship so weak? Kardak was added to the list of the problems between Turkey and Greece back in 1995 when a Turkish cargo ship ran ashore the desolate islet and was saved by a Greek rescue boat. The ship went back to Turkey, and suddenly there arose the question of who this little rock belongs to. Turkey and Greece came to the brink of war, and it would have come to war if the US hadn’t intervened. Since then, Kardak is a typical Aegean problem. If a fishing boat goes there, then the coast guards of both countries come to the rocks. Isn’t there a solution to this problem? However, who knows how many fishing boats of both countries since 1995 went there fishing and it was nobody’s problem? Moreover there are 155 desolate islets and rocks in the Aegean. Fishing boats of both sides are fishing at the 154 islets and nobody cares. Why Kardak? It’s a sacred symbol for both sides. For some it’s a symbol of the islets in the Aegean whose ownership is in dispute, and for others it’s the symbol of rocks whose ownership is uncertain. I wonder why there is no agreement on this issue after so many talks between the two countries. How then will they solve the problems of the continental shelf, airspace and territorial waters? But according to experts, it isn’t difficult to resolve this problem. For example they can agree on a joint sovereignty. The Aegean people are waiting for such a solution, and especially fishermen.” [12] STEPHANOPOULOS’ SUGGESTION SHOULD BE EVALUATEDBY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)Columnist Semih Idiz comments on former Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos’ suggestions and the Aegean issue. A summary of his column is as follows: “It’s a positive development that former Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos, who is known for his harsh stance towards Turkey, has started to see the truth about the Aegean. Greece also understood that the Aegean issue is something more than the continental shelf. That Stephanopoulos came close to the idea of a ‘package solution’ can’t be ignored. Turkey has always urged Greece to discuss the problems in the Aegean as a package. However, Athens rejected this and said that there was only the issue of the continental shelf, which should be solved at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hauge. Athens also couldn’t stand mentioning the issue of arming the Greek islands contrary to the law. However, according to Stephanopoulos, this is among the issues to be mentioned over the Aegean. In addition, during the 1999 Helsinki summit where Turkey’s European Union candidacy was confirmed, Ankara accepted in principle that recourse would be sought at The Hague if bilateral meetings don’t yield results about the Aegean issue. However, the meetings which created a rapprochement between the two countries concerning the Aegean issue didn’t yield results, either. The latest dogfight over the Aegean which resulted in a tragic death already showed that a dangerous atmosphere has persisted. Of course, the ambush in Stephanopoulos’ words should be seen. After all, he says that bilateral meetings didn’t yield results, so the parties should go to the ICJ. However, the meetings that he’s talking about didn’t happen as part of the understanding of a package solution. The new way shown by Stephanopoulos changes the framework of bilateral meetings. In this case, a new process is necessary. Only then can we see if bilateral meetings can be successful or not. After Turkey accepted the alternative of The Hague as a principle, we’ll see if Athens will accept the alternative of discussing the package solution on the bilateral level. If it does, of course, it would be an important development. It could also remove the alternative of The Hague, because meetings to be conducted as part of the understanding of a package solution would activate a process of give and take which would favor the interests of both sides. If it doesn’t yield results either, then, the road to The Hague would be opened. In this case, Ankara should overcome its antipathy against this court. However, then conditions would have been developed to overcome this antipathy, because, not only one issue, but also all the problems would be taken to The Hague. In this case, what would happen? Obviously, both sides would have certain gains and losses. Here, I’m not talking about a zero sum game. In other words, I’m not talking about a situation in which one side gains everything and the other loses all. I’m talking about a situation in which both sides will benefit from the gains of peace in Aegean.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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