Turkish Press Review, 06-09-13

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From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

13.09.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN ATTENDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUPREME COUNCIL MEETING

[01] ERDOGAN ATTENDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUPREME COUNCIL MEETING

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to Paris to attend a conference on dialogue between nations and cultures organized by the French Foreign Ministry. Before his departure from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul told reporters that Turkey was continuing its efforts on the road to European Union membership, adding that Parliament would convene next week before its regular opening date to take up EU harmonization reforms. Concerning Ankara’s appointment of retired Gen. Edip Baser as coordinator for the fight against the terrorist group PKK, Gul said the terror issue was a top priority for the government. Furthermore, Gul added that both Turkey and France had interests in strengthening bilateral relations. /Turkiye/[03] PARLIAMENT SET TO RECONVENE NEXT TUESDAY FOR EU PACKAGE

Parliament is set to reconvene next Tuesday to enact bills as part of Turkey’s efforts to harmonize with European Union norms. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies applied to the Parliament to begin work without waiting for its regular opening on Oct. 1 following the summer recess. The government is aiming at implementing reforms in the ninth harmonization package before the EU’s progress report on Turkey is released next month. /Turkiye/[04] MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS LEBANON

Following passage last week of a bill allowing Turkish troops to go Lebanon as part of United Nations peacekeeping forces to be deployed in the country, a 20-person delegation including military officials and diplomats yesterday arrived in Lebanon. The delegation is expected to carry out inspections in the country to determine details for Turkish troop deployment in the region. /Aksam/[05] US’ ANTI-PKK ENVOY RALSTON VISITS ANKARA

The US’ newly appointed special envoy for the terrorist PKK issue, retired Gen. Joseph Ralston, yesterday arrived in Ankara. As part of his contacts, Ralston is expected to have talks with officials from the Foreign Ministry and other institutions, including Edip Baser, his Turkish counterpart to coordinate the fight against the PKK. /Aksam/[06] BAYKAL CRITICIZES NEW ANTI-PKK MECHANISM

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized the government’s policy on terrorism on an interview on NTV. About the appointment of retired Gen. Edip Baser as a special envoy on the issue of terrorism, Baykal said, “The issue here isn’t who has been appointed, but that appointing an envoy is wrong in itself.” /Cumhuriyet/[07] TRNC’S TALAT TO APPOINT NEW PRIME MINISTER TODAY

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is set to appoint a prime minister today to establish a new government. Following the resignation of the coalition government led by Premier Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Talat carried out talks with political party leaders in Parliament to decide on the assignment. /Turkiye/[08] BABACAN: “OUR ECONOMY WILL GROW MORE THAN 5% THIS YEAR”

State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday said that Turkey understands effective debt management. Speaking at a conference on financial stability and debt management organized by the Turkish Economics Institute at Istanbul’s Sheraton Hotel, Babacan said that the Turkish economy was expected to grow more than the 5% target this year. Noting that the fall in the inflation had slowed down after the currency fluctuation, Babacan said, “The policies we have implemented will help bring inflation onto a path consistent with the target in the medium term. With the strengthening of the finance sector based on structural reforms, the negative impact of the fluctuations has been overcome. The floating FX regime served as a relief valve and helped absorb external stocks.” /Cumhuriyet-Star/[09] BUDGET SHOWS SURPLUS FOR FIRST TIME IN 23 YEARS

In the January-August period, the budget showed a surplus for the first time in 23 years. According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the budget surplus in August was 19 million YTL and the primary surplus stood at 5,517 million YTL. The central administration target surplus in the first eight months was recorded at 474 million YTL, and the primary surplus 34,609 million YTL. The statement said, “The central administration budget showed a deficit of 4,615 million YTL in the first eight months of 2005, and it achieved a significant improvement in the same term this year with a surplus of 474 million YTL. A similar achievement was recorded for the primary surplus, which had stood at 27,746 million YTL in January-August 2005 and rose by 24.7 percent this year to 34,609 million YTL in the same term this year.” /The New Anatolian/[10] DIYARBAKIR BLAST KILLS SEVEN

A bomb blast which took place near an elementary school in Diyarbakir’s Baglar district on Tuesday evening killed seven people and injured 17 others. Officials said the bomb was made from powerful explosives and was set off by a cell phone timer. It was not immediately known who placed it. Tightened security measures were taken in the city after the blast. /All papers/[11] BLAIR: “REJECTING TURKEY WOULD SET OFF AN EARTHQUAKE”

Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday said that objecting to Turkey’s European Union membership would be a grave mistake for Europeans. Speaking at a union meeting in Brighton, Blair said, “Rejecting Turkey’s membership even after it fulfills the criteria would be a decision which would cause an earthquake, and its consequences would spread to the rest of the Europe.” Stating that compromising on Turkey’s membership in Europe was a sensitive issue, Blair said, “If we lose negotiations on the enlargement issue, we would pay for its consequences in the long term.” /Hurriyet/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[00] LESSONS FROM THE SARKOZY INCIDENTBY HALUK SAHIN (RADIKAL)

Columnist Haluk Sahin comments on a speech made by French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy at a think-tank last week. A summary of his column is as follows:

“A small incident which happened last week in Brussels is very important in terms of Turkey’s stance on Europe and the world. French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy, the strongest presidential candidate for next May’s French elections, made a speech at a think-tank called the Friends of Europe and announced his European policy. This French politician on the one hand wants the problem of the EU constitution to be solved immediately so as to provide political unity in Europe, and on the other he wants Europe’s borders to be drawn clearly. According to him, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the Balkan countries should be made EU members but Turkey should certainly be excluded. He even wants our membership talks to be stopped immediately. He’s doing something which has never done before and drawing a clear border for Europe. You can call it a line of defense. His remarks about Turkey are like slogans for an election campaign. Sarkozy wants to take the trump card of enmity towards Islam and racism through Turkey. This is a dirty policy!

What interests me is the incidents which followed his speech. Afterwards, Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association’s (TUSIAD) EU representative Bahadir Kaleagasi told Sarkozy that if he visits Turkey and gets to know the Turkish people better, his views would change. Kaleagasi added that he would then understand that Turkey’s future was in Europe with its deep roots and economic development. Sarkozy replied, ‘I’m a friend of Turkey. My suggestions are to your advantage. You’re right that I should know you better. But you also should tell and show your quality as Europeans in a better way.” Then Kaleagasi said, ‘The process of membership talks aim to solve current problems. When Turkey is ready finally, this will be beneficial not only for Turkey, but also for Europe and world. The Turkish private sector is absolutely determined for this purpose.’ Sarkozy said, ‘However, we put priority on strengthening the EU’s political and institutional structure.’ Kaleagasi said, ‘The situation is the same for us. We want to become a member of the EU, which is strong on the global level. We haven't forgotten that such EU founders as de Gaulle, Adenauer and Schuman opened the way of EU membership for Turkey. We hope that the new generation of European politicians will have the same wisdom and vision. I wish you success for Europe’s future.’

This is important because Sarkozy confessed his lack of knowledge about Turkey and was reminded he needs to study his lessons more. However, most importantly, it showed us what we should do. It showed that our timid, apprehensive stance should be replaced by a bold, self-confident one. In the 21st century, Turkey should overcome its traditional silence and tell about itself to Europe and the world. I’d like to remind the people stuck 90 years ago of the fact that now Turkey’s defense lines pass from the conference halls in Brussels, Washington, and Moscow, and in newspapers and on discussion programs.”

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