Turkish Press Review, 06-09-18

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

18.09.2006

CONTENTS

[01] NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

[01] NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that for the last four years, under his government, Turkey had continued to develop without any slowdown. Erdogan over the weekend attended a series of opening ceremonies in the Aegean region province of Usak. The premier said that the nation wanted prosperity, adding that his government was trying to do its best to serve the citizens. After completing his contacts in Usak, the premier proceeded to Antalya to attend a number of events there today. /Turkiye/[03] GUL: “THE POPE’S REMARKS WERE VERY UNFORTUNATE”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to the US to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings starting tomorrow. Ahead of his departure, Gul told reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport that he would participate in the UN’s meetings in New York, and then accompany Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his upcoming visit to the US. Commenting on Pope Benedict XVI's recent remarks on Islam, Gul said that at a time when many nations are making efforts to develop dialogue between different religions and cultures, the pope's statements were very unfortunate. Concerning the pope’s scheduled visit to Turkey in November, Gul said that for the time being there was no change in plans for the visit. /Turkiye/ [04] PARLIAMENT EYES MORE REFORMS AMID EU STORM CLOUDS

Parliament reconvenes tomorrow, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, to pass fresh reforms that the government hopes will demonstrate its commitment to joining the European Union. But some analysts and diplomats say that laws will fall short of EU requirements and will not avert a looming crisis between the wealthy bloc and Ankara over Cyprus. /Turkish Daily News/[05] FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCES TO ERDOGAN

French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter of condolences and solidarity to Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan over last week's bombing in Diyarbakir which killed 10 people, most of them children. Chirac also reaffirmed that he condemned terrorism. In his letter Chirac also noted that he had orally offered his condolences to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul during his trip to Paris last week. /Aksam/[06] GREEK FM BAKOYANNIS: “TURKEY MUST RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRUS TO GAIN EU MEMBERSHIP”

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said over the weekend that Turkey must recognize Greek Cyprus to gain European Union membership. “The EU criteria apply to Turkey too," said Bakoyannis. "Otherwise, other countries’ hand in objecting to a Muslim country will grow stronger.” /Star/[07] ISTANBUL TO HOST 2009 IMF MEETING

International Monetary Fund Executive Director Willy Kiekens said yesterday that the IMF and World Bank directors had agreed to hold their annual meetings in 2009 in Turkey. Istanbul hosted the gathering in 1955 as well. This year the IMF and WB are convening in Singapore. /Sabah/[08] FOREIGN, TURKISH BUSINESSMEN MEET IN ISTANBUL

Some 550 businessmen from 12 Eurasian countries yesterday met with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul to seek ways to boost cooperation between Turkey and Eurasian countries. During the one-week gathering, hosted by the Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Confederation (TUSKON), 5,000 business meetings will be held, and a $250 million deal is expected to be signed. /Turkiye/[09] BABACAN MEETS WITH IMF DIRECTOR DE RATO

State Economy Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato as part of the annual World Bank-IMF meetings in Singapore. During the meeting, Rato was briefed on Turkey’s latest macroeconomic indicators and efforts in the European Union process. Babacan thanked Rato for the support he gave for the increase in Turkey’s quota in the IMF as well as selecting Turkey to host the 2009 IMF gathering. Also attending the meeting was Turkish Treasury Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci, Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz, other high-ranking Treasury officials, IMF European Department Director Michael Deppler, former Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam, IMF Executive Director Responsible for European Affairs Willy Kiekens, and another former Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli.[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[00] TOUGH TIME FOR EU RELATIONSBY DENIZ ULKE ARIBOGAN (AKSAM)

Columnist Deniz Ulke Aribogan comments on Turkey’s relations with the European Union. A summary of her column is as follows:

“Obviously one doesn't see the same object if one is standing at different angles. Our distance from that object, our angle and direction determines in what way and how much we can see that thing. The other element which affects our vision is the capacity of our eyes. Our political vision is no different. Our angle, the way we stand and the obstacles to our vision shape our stance on political incidents. Interestingly, when our eyes don’t see well, we use glasses or contact lenses, but we have no doubt about the clarity of our political vision. We sometimes have the harshest views about certain issues that we can’t see. Maybe the more information we have and see things from different angles, the harder it is for us to have a firm opinion. However, it’s much easier to have a view before becoming informed. What’s more, those who have a view talk the most. One can feel the same situation in our country and other countries. In the US, politics is talked, thought about and produced in Washington, DC the most. Serious political discussions are held not only at research institutions and universities, but also in restaurants, shopping centers and taxis. The world’s information is compiled there. Therefore, lobbies are very influential. They’re trying to turn the results of research and the way they are interpreted by politicians in their own favor. Particularly ethnic lobbies are working very professionally and tcan have an impact on many decisions.

However, Turkey is very weak on this. We've never managed to get organized and do lobbying. The Greek, Armenian, Jewish, Arab and Hispanic lobbies are very active. They have close contacts with politicians. However, nobody is working in the direction of Turkey’s political strategy, except for a few Turkish researchers and some volunteers. We have no sufficient channel to explain ourselves to the US, market our vision in foreign politics and tell our problems about northern Iraq and the terrorist PKK. These people don’t know us and know little about us, but they know a lot about the issues which concern us. Up to now the Jewish lobby has been able to close the asymmetry which emerged through the Greek and Armenian lobbies and it also succeeded in influencing the Congress on many issues. However, we don’t have such a support following the visit of Hamas officials to Turkey. What’s more, now the Jewish people have to turn back to issues which concern them, because the lobbies think that Israel’s policies are increasing the anger towards the US. In other words, they aren’t as relaxed as they were in the past. They also have an interesting stance about the terrorist PKK. They say that although nearly 3,000 US soldiers have died in Iraq, this news isn’t covered by newspapers and that our nation is very insensitive about our own soldiers, and so why should we be interested in yours? So they’re shortsighted in terms of both time and place. They also can’t see the consequences of an Armenian genocide resolution. The Armenian diaspora turned this bill into a raison d'etre, and it’s using all its power. The timing is also very appropriate. It’s not allowing anybody to know about it, but it can provide everybody with views in the US Congress. After it's passed by the US Congress, it would be no surprise if it creates a domino effect and is adopted by other countries in short order. We should hurry up now, before it’s too late.”[11] THE POPE’S WORDS CONFUSED EVERYONEBY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)

Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the pope’s controversial words. A summary of her column is as follows:

“The reaction of radical Islamists to the pope’s speech justifies claims that Islam is a religion of violence. But if we carefully read the speech by Pope Benedict XVI, we can see that the dialogue between cultures as well as religions will be difficult. The late Pope John Paul II visited a mosque in Damascus and tried to lay a basis for dialogue with the Islamic world. If Pope Benedict XVI had given his speech in Germany as a priest or religious scholar, it would have been seen as comments by a radical Catholic priest. But it's different for the pope and a statesman to deliver this speech. The words of the pope carry a political value.

He mentioned the Byzantine Empire in his speech to say that jihad in Islam is against the nature of Allah. He also drew a distinction between the Christian understanding of God and the Muslim understanding of Allah and called for dialogue between religions on the condition that the Christian understanding of God is accepted.

Neither a world where Catholic belief is the center of life nor a world of violence in the name of Islam is a world in which we can live. A dialogue between cultures can only then be possible if we combat prejudices, and are determined to live together. The pope didn’t apologize yesterday. The Vatican apologized only once, a few years ago. In 1204, Crusaders occupied Istanbul and destroyed the Orthodox Church, and Pope John Paul II apologized to the Orthodox Church, and the Catholic and Orthodox churches made peace. It would also be wrong to demand an apology from the pope. He would say that they were the words of the Byzantine emperor. But that's not the essence of all this. It's important to emphasize the common points in a dialogue between cultures and accepting each other the way we are.”

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