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Turkish Press Review, 06-07-20Turkish 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 morning20.07.2006IN TRNC, ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TALAT, SOYER TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD SEEKS ERDOGAN’S SUPPORT FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST GUL: “TURKEY WILL USE ALL OF ITS RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW TO PROTECT THE NATION” CHP’S TOPUZ CALLS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF PARLIAMENT ANAVATAN LEADER MUMCU: “TURKEY DOESN’T NEED PERMISSION FROM OTHERS TO PROTECT ITSELF” US’ BRYZA WELCOMES DECISION OF TALAT, PAPADOPOLULOS TO MEET TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE US EMBASSY: “TURKEY HAS A RIGHT AND OBLIGATION TO DEFEND ITSELF” FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET) CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ON CYPRUS BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] IN TRNC, ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TALAT, SOYER TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUEPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend ceremonies marking the 32nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, yesterday met with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat to discuss the Cyprus issue. During their meeting, Erdogan assured Talat that Turkish ports wouldn’t be opened to Greek Cypriots. “Don’t worry about that,” he said. “We won’t open our ports before your isolation ends. We won’t retreat on this point.” For his part, Talat said that a Cyprus resolution with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was difficult. “He’s trying to buy time in order to overcome the pressure of the US and the European Union,” said Talat. “There can be no progress with him.” Later, Erdogan met with TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer. Speaking later at a joint press conference, Erdogan said that the TRNC was putting forth a positive approach on the issue, adding that it would continue to do so. “We hope that this problem will be solved as soon as possible,” said Erdogan. He added that a new process would begin on Cyprus, adding that the isolation of the TRNC should be brought to an end. /Milliyet/[02] SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD SEEKS ERDOGAN’S SUPPORT FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN THE MIDDLE EASTSyrian President Bashar Assad yesterday telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and sought his support for a cease-fire in the Middle East. Assad called Erdogan during the premier's visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and told him about the current situation in the region, asking for diplomatic efforts to continue for a cease-fire. Erdogan, for his part, stated that he would continue to do his utmost in order to reach a cease-fire, and said, “Our diplomatic efforts will continue.” /Hurriyet/[03] GUL: “TURKEY WILL USE ALL OF ITS RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW TO PROTECT THE NATION”Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, currently in London for an official meeting, met with his British counterpart Margaret Beckett to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral ties. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Gul commented on the terrorist group PKK, saying that Turkey would use all of its rights under international law to protect the nation’s security. Gul stressed that Turkey didn’t want to exercise its power blindly, but did want to cooperate with its neighbors against the terrorist PKK. “Turkey is an important country in the region,” said Gul, adding that it contributed to the region’s stability. Commenting on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Gul stated that the Turkish nation was proud of the reform process and that they support the government and political parties in this process. /Turkiye/[04] CHP’S TOPUZ CALLS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF PARLIAMENTSpeaking at a press conference yesterday, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Ali Topuz said that the Turkish nation had no more patience in waiting for results in the fight against terrorism, adding that the government should carry out a cross-border operation through its own power and decision. He said that Parliament should hold an extraordinary session, adding that he had briefed Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Salih Kapusuz on the CHP’s request for such a session. Topuz added that the opposition parties could do so themselves, but they wanted to accomplish this together with the government. /Aksam/[05] ANAVATAN LEADER MUMCU: “TURKEY DOESN’T NEED PERMISSION FROM OTHERS TO PROTECT ITSELF”Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday backed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rejection of the US ambassador’s discouraging any cross-border operation, saying, “Turkey doesn’t need permission from others to protect its national security. We can’t continue to lose our people because somebody thinks that it isn’t appropriate. I support the premier’s stance within this context.” Mumcu also said that the government’s attitude should continue with determination and seriousness. /Hurriyet/[06] US’ BRYZA WELCOMES DECISION OF TALAT, PAPADOPOLULOS TO MEET TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUEUS Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza yesterday praised as “a good development” the decision of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to meet to discuss the Cyprus issue. Saying that aim of his visit was to get the views of both sides on the island, Bryza added that he wanted to develop ties with the administrations of both sides and to get more information on the issue. /Milliyet/[07] US EMBASSY: “TURKEY HAS A RIGHT AND OBLIGATION TO DEFEND ITSELF”The US Embassy in Ankara yesterday issued written response to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s criticism of recent remarks by US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson. The statement said that the comments had been misinterpreted to suggest that Turkey has no right to defend itself in the face of threats. “Of course, Turkey, like every country, has a right and an obligation to defend itself and its people,” the statement continued. “For over 50 years, we [the US and Turkey] have stood together as members of an alliance dedicated to collective defense and security [i.e. NATO]. We recently pledged ourselves to work together on all issues of common concern, including counter-terrorism and the fight against the PKK and its affiliates. Working together with the United States and the government of Iraq can be an essential part of advancing Turkish security.” /Hurriyet/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[09] SHEER HYPOCRISY[10] BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on current Turkish-US relations. A summary of his column is as follows:“As US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said yesterday, Turkey has the right and responsibility to defend itself and its nation like all countries. He did us a favor by showing his unparalleled understanding (!). However, we thought that this right only belonged to the US and Israel. Actually, when we look at the policies which have been followed by US President George W. Bush, who violates international law every day, we see that no country except the US and Israel has the right to defend itself. No matter how much we thank Mr. Wilson, it would never be enough (!). Wilson also said that while our countries combat the terrorist PKK and other security threats that we face, the US is willing to continue its close cooperation with Turkey and its government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They must have gotten the impression that not only Erdogan, but also the general public has run out of patience. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the US supports intelligence sharing among multinational forces in Iraq, the Iraqi government and the Turkish government in fighting the terrorist PKK. If the ‘close cooperation’ mentioned by Mr. Wilson and the above-mentioned ‘intelligence sharing’ are the same things, there’s a problem because they have no meaning in practice. They’re either openly mocking us, or our officials are pretending that they don’t understand. Similarly, McCormack continued his fun by saying that the US has always spoken openly about the PKK’s being a terrorist group. Then he added that the US is concerned about Turkish soldiers losing their lives. So, since you know the location of the PKK that you consider a terrorist group in northern Iraq, what have you done to counter these terrorists? Didn’t you say that the fight against terrorism is a human duty? For example, have you prevented any weapons or bullets being brought to the PKK? Have you seized even a single bag of supplies sent to the PKK? If you’re not the dominant power in northern Iraq, then who is? If you’re not dominant there, why are you rejecting Turkey using its right to protect itself? Can you tell us? Actually, why am I explaining this in such a long-winded way? Our experience shows that we’re the US’ strategic partner when it suits them, but it hems and haws when we ask for its support. It’s also strange that they’re polling the public to find the reasons why Turks don’t like it anymore. The reason is quite clear.” [11] CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ON CYPRUS BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows:“Today is the 32nd anniversary of the peacekeeping operation on Cyprus. It’s a national holiday for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for ‘Peace and Freedom.’ Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to the TRNC with six state ministers to join in the celebrations. No doubt that this visit shows a change in attitude if we look at Erdogan’s policies since 2003. Erdogan, who had a cold stance towards then TRNC President Rauf Denktas, gives the impression that he’s moving closer to Ankara’s earlier policies about Cyprus. His recent statements support this view. The most important reason why Erdogan and Ankara moved closer to Turkey’s previous stance is the Cyprus policy of the European Union. The EU gave some promises to the Turkish side before the Annan plan was voted on two years ago, but didn’t respond to the Turkish expectations afterwards. It even rewarded the Greek Cypriots instead of punishing them, and now it’s moving in concert with them. One can say that the reason for the signs of a change in Ankara's attitude is the unfair and contradictory policy of the EU. From the Greek Cypriot point of view, it isn’t easy to say that there’s a problem. From their view, the essence of the problem is solved. As long as they don’t feel pressure from the US and the EU, the Greek Cypriots won’t search for a comprehensive solution. As a matter of fact they aren’t trying for one but are making things even harder. The Greek Cypriots are calculating to have the Turkish Cypriots under their thumb as a minority. The policy it is following shows that they are planning to reach this goal over time. There is no serious progress for a solution. Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos has put forth the Magusa port, Maras region and withdrawal of the Turkish troops as a condition, which shows that he favors no solution at all.” 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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