Turkish Press Review, 06-10-03

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

03.10.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH BUSH IN WASHINGTON

[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH BUSH IN WASHINGTON

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday joined the growing chorus of generals and top officials in warning against the threat of fundamentalism faced by the country, and accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of encouraging such efforts. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new academic year for the Turkish War Academy, Buyukanit said, “The Islamic reactionary danger is one of the threats to our internal security. Those who have a hard time understanding the Islamic reactionary threat in Turkey should analyze developments in Turkey over the past 20 years and see how social and personal life has evolved.” The chief of General Staff said the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) previously announced that it fully supports Turkey’s European Union membership. “However, the TSK has right to defend itself against criticism leveled against it using EU membership,” said Gen. Buyukanit. He also stressed that the military wasn’t involved in politics but was only fulfilling the duties assigned to it under the law. Referring to a recent speech of European Commission representative in Turkey Hansjoerg Kretschmer, in which he said the TSK makes remarks on religious education, cultural rights and universities and that those remarks have a great influence on Turkish society, Gen. Buyukanit asked what was disturbing Kretschmer. “Is he disturbed because the TSK’s remarks influence the public? Has the TSK ever expressed any anti- democratic sentiments?” asked the top commander, adding that Turkey's war academies didn’t train just commanders but also strong guardians of the republic. /All Papers/[03] ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH VISITING MERKEL

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who flew to Britain yesterday after his meeting with US President George W. Bush, will host German Prime Minister Angela Merkel upon his return to Turkey. Turkey’s EU membership process and the Cyprus issue will top the talks during Merkel’s visit. Merkel will hold contacts in Turkey on Thursday and Friday. This will also be Merkel’s first official visit to Turkey. Merkel will spend the first day of her visit in Ankara, and the second in Istanbul. /Aksam/[04] CICEK URGES PROSPECTIVE JUDGES AND PUBLIC PROSECUTORS TO TAKE CARE

Addressing prospective judges and public prosecutors yesterday, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that country’s civil judicial system was among the top items looked at by international institutions and that there was a direct link between Turkey’s foreign policy and the judiciary. Stating that efforts are being made for the local and foreign capital investment for Turkey’s improvement, Cicek said that foreign investors who want to invest in Turkey place prime importance on a well-functioning judiciary. “A judiciary which operates well in terms of safe investment is the most important guarantee,” Cicek said. Cicek added that dignitaries from the European Union would visit Turkey soon and urged judges and public prosecutors to be more careful, in an implicit reference to the controversial Turkish Penal Code (TSK) Article 301. /Sabah/[05] BARDAKCIOGLU RESPONDS TO SEZER’S WARNINGS

Speaking after the opening ceremony of the 21st Mosques and Imams Week, Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakcioglu yesterday replied to warnings made by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit against the threat of fundamentalism. “We place importance on all the warnings and determinations made by our president, officials, statesmen, other institutions and organizations about our field of study,” he said. Bardakcioglu added that the directorate was trying to provide service in the best way. /Cumhuriyet/[06] EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER REHN VISITS ANKARA

European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday arrived in Ankara for talks with top Turkish officials, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport, Rehn pointed to the first anniversary of Turkey’s beginning talks with the EU, and said that during his contacts he would discuss Turkey’s EU accession process and the Cyprus issue. /Turkiye/[07] LINDEN: “THE ARMENIA ISSUE CANNOT BE A PRECONDITION”

Rene Van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said yesterday that Armenian issue could not be a precondition for Turkey’s European Union membership. Criticizing French President Jacques Chirac’s recent remarks that Turkey should recognize so- called Armenian genocide in order to access the EU, Linden said that his statements were political. Stressing that the remarks had been made as Turkey was implementing a number of reforms and had kept its promises to the bloc, the president said that new conditions could not be put before Ankara as it implemented the others. The EU and the Council of Europe are separate institutions. /Star/[08] IRAQ APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR PKK ISSUE

Following the US and Turkey, Iraq's government last week also appointed a special envoy for the fight against the terrorist group PKK. Iraq's ambassador to Turkey last Friday notified the Turkish Foreign Ministry that State Minister for Security Shirwan would assume the duty. Like his Turkish and US counterparts, al-Waili is also a former general./Turkiye/[09] SEMINAR ON BIDDING IN IRAQ TO BE HELD

Turkish firms are set to learn more about the contractual procedures and conditions of US military bids in Iraq. The contract training seminars will be given by the US Land Forces Command, US Embassy to Ankara, Undersecretariat of Trade and US Military Contract Command with the support by the Turkish Union of Contractors on Oct. 16-17 in Ankara and Oct. 19-20 in Istanbul. Detailed information on the seminars can be found at www.tmb.org.tr and www.csturkey.com. /Sabah/[10] TUSIAD CELEBRATES TURKEY WEEK IN EUROPE

The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) will hold “Turkey@Europe Week” celebrations in three capital cities of Europe with the participation of three state ministers, namely, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister responsible for foreign trade Kursad Tuzmen and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek. Turkey will celebrate the anniversary of starting membership talks with the European Union through Thursday with the Turkey Week activities in Brussels, Paris and Berlin respectively. The aim of activities is to dispel prejudices in the publics of France, Germany and Brussels and to promote Turkey well. /Hurriyet/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[00] SEZER AND BUYUKANITBY YAVUZ DONAT (SABAH)

Columnist Yavuz Donat comments on the words of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanýt. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Their words were hard, but their style didn't weaken the hand of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in the US. Their speeches should be seen as a whole. They should be interpreted well and shouldn’t be regarded as unimportant. This much is clear: The military is sensitive about the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. This sensitivity rises on some issues like the threat of reactionaryism and giving AKP supporters permanent positions in government organizations. It's obvious that the president feels the same way.

Buyukanit’s words are also defending the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The military is uncomfortable about some statements and activities against it. In Buyukanit’s speech, I saw a reflection of this discomfort. If politicians would act on issues which disturb the military, then the military wouldn’t need to talk.

It's clear that the government is getting into an argument with the military. This is wrong from every aspect. The government’s response from various levels and the prime minister’s talks about this in public are also wrong.

There are other facts: Presidential elections and general elections are coming up next year, and Erdogan wants to become president. It is certain that politics will heat up. The recent speeches also brought up the question of who will have the last word -- the chosen ones or the appointed ones. This is useless and brings nothing more than tension. The system rests on rules and organizations, and therefore we should study the Constitution. What’s happening is pure politics.”

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