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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-22
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
22.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: "OUR PATIENCE ON THE PKK HAS LIMITS"
[02] ARINC COMMENTS ON NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND POSSIBLE RESIGNATION OF DEPUTIES
[03] IN ISTANBUL, GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
[04] GUL: "TURKEY WON'T GIVE UP ON EU MEMBERSHIP"
[05] TOP TURKISH LEADERS TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF TURKMEN PRESIDENT
[06] BAYKAL: "ERDOGAN IS WORRIED ABOUT DEPUTIES RESIGNING"
[07] BRITAIN'S INDEPENDENT: "TURKEY HAS THE WORLD'S EIGHTH-LARGEST ARMY"
[08] BABACAN HOLDS CONTACTS IN DUBAI FOR TWIN TOWERS PROJECT
[09] TURKISH BUSINESS DELEGATION HOLDS CONTACTS IN AZERBAIJAN
[10] MARCH OR JULY
[01] ERDOGAN: "OUR PATIENCE ON THE PKK HAS LIMITS"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the process of
fighting the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq, which began with the
appointment of special envoys, should achieve concrete results, or the
limits of Turkey's patience will be reached. Speaking to public broadcaster
PBS on the sidelines of his contacts in the US, Erdogan said Ankara needed
to see the results of these efforts. Underlining the importance of the
territorial integrity of Iraq for Turkey, Erdogan stated that northern Iraq
is not at peace as has been claimed, since the terrorist PKK is launching
attacks against Turkey from that region. He also stressed that the oil-rich
northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk should have a special status. /Sabah/
[02] ARINC COMMENTS ON NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND POSSIBLE
RESIGNATION OF DEPUTIES
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday attended the Science, Service,
and Encouragement Awards Ceremony at the Turkish Scientific and
Technological Research Council (TUBITAK). Speaking after the ceremony,
Arinc commented on next May's presidential election and the possible
resignation of deputies to force early general elections, saying that under
the Constitution the resignation of deputies requires Parliament's
approval. "The approval of Parliament is necessary for the resignation of
one deputy or 100," added Arinc. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] IN ISTANBUL, GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
Georgian President Mihail Saakashvili, in Ankara for an official visit,
yesterday proceeded to Istanbul and met with Turkish businessmen and
investors in the province under the auspices of the Turkish Exporters'
Association (TIM). Addressing the gathering, Saakashvili said that a new
visa-free regime was starting between Turkey and Georgia. Saying that his
mother was a Turcologist and he had grown up with Turkish culture,
Sakashvili added that his country's Muslim population made up its hardest
workers. "Muslims are part of our identity." Later, Saakashvili met with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler also
participated in the meeting. /Milliyet/
[04] GUL: "TURKEY WON'T GIVE UP ON EU MEMBERSHIP"
Debates on the 2007 budget continued this week in Parliament. During
yesterday's debates, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul addressed the deputies
to ease their anxieties over recent developments in Turkey's European Union
membership process. Stressing that the government would never give up its
goal of becoming a full EU member, Gul said Turkey would not sacrifice its
rights and assets just because hurdles have been put before the country. He
stated that no concessions have been made on Cyprus, adding that the
government was pursuing its Cyprus policy with the future of 73 million
people in mind. /Star/
[05] TOP TURKISH LEADERS TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF TURKMEN PRESIDENT
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov died yesterday morning at the
age of 66 due to heart failure, said an official report. President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer sent a message of condolences to acting President Kurbanguli
Berdymukhamedov expressing his sorrow over the death of Turkmenistan's
leader, who had led the country for more than two decades. In addition,
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters that he and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan would attend the funeral to be held on Sunday.
/Turkiye/
[06] BAYKAL: "ERDOGAN IS WORRIED ABOUT DEPUTIES RESIGNING"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday commented on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent remarks
on next May's presidential election, saying that they showed Erdogan is
concerned about the possible resignation of CHP deputies. "He's worrying
about the possible resignation of deputies and saying that he won't allow
this," said Baykal. "How can't you allow this? The deputies are putting
their stance forward." Baykal said that Erdogan had stressed that the
deputies couldn't resign without the approval of Parliament. "I don't see
how this is possible," said Baykal. "Erdogan says that according to the
latest polls, his party would get 30% of the votes. Then they can hold
early elections before the presidential election." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] BRITAIN'S INDEPENDENT: "TURKEY HAS THE WORLD'S EIGHTH-LARGEST ARMY"
British daily The Independent yesterday published a list of the 10 largest
armies in the world. On the list, Turkey is the country with the eighth-
largest army, with nearly 515,000 soldiers. China placed first with 2.23
million soldiers, while the US was number two with 1.43 million. /Sabah/
[08] BABACAN HOLDS CONTACTS IN DUBAI FOR TWIN TOWERS PROJECT
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday held a series of
contacts in Dubai for the Twin Towers project in Istanbul's Levent
district. Babacan attended a conference in Dubai and later met with United
Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-
Maktoum. Dubai Holding officials held contacts with Istanbul Greater
Municipality officials to carry out the project without holding a tender.
/Milliyet/
[09] TURKISH BUSINESS DELEGATION HOLDS CONTACTS IN AZERBAIJAN
Visiting Azerbaijan as part of Turkey-Azerbaijan Business Council meetings,
a delegation of Turkish businessmen led by Industry and Trade Minister Ali
Coskun was received yesterday by President Haydar Aliyev. Pointing to good
relations between the two countries, Aliyev said that cooperation would
continue in various areas to boost bilateral ties. The delegation also met
with Economic Development Minister Haydar Babayev and Industry and Energy
Minister Natig Aliyev. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[10] MARCH OR JULY
BY MUHARREM SARIKAYA (SABAH)
Columnist Muharrem Sarikaya comments on next year's presidential election
set for May and general elections currently set for November. A summary of
his column is as follows:
"Although the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) seems to be trying
to stop it, debates over early elections tied to the presidency won't end.
The opposition's game plan is also tied to early elections before the
presidential election set for May. The opposition aims to force the AKP to
call for early general elections by Jan. 20 with the support of non-
governmental organizations and certain other institutions. When I spoke
with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday, he said, ‘Everybody, including NGOs, businessmen, tradesmen,
industrialists, etc., must understand that the first quarter of 2007 would
be lost and the rest would be catch-up for the economy if early elections
are held. Otherwise, we could lose the first quarter of 2008 as well.'
Baykal added that when their views reach a certain maturity, they would
propose that Parliament hold early elections. He said, ‘It's easy to make
the suggestion to hold early elections. But we want this idea to become
mature with the public, and the ruling party can make a decision with the
opposition party.' Based on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarks
after he got back from New York saying that the AKP's votes are above 30%,
Baykal said, ‘Seeing that its votes are very high, I dare him to hold
elections in March or April. But he can't do it, because he's scared and
playing to win the presidential election.'
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar's views are in line with Baykal's.
Agar believes that civil society must also voice its wish for early
elections aloud. Agar thinks that unless early elections are called for by
Jan. 15-20, the new Parliament's chance to elect the president will be
exhausted. Meanwhile, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu is
angry with the CHP. He said, ‘If the CHP were to support our proposal for a
Constitutional amendment for popular election of the president, the problem
would be solved. Otherwise, according to the Constitution, Erdogan would be
elected president and this would be legitimate. However, the CHP made
Erdogan prime minister and now it's opening the way for him again.'
It seems that the parliamentary opposition's views concerning early
elections are different from each other. The AKP also knows this. It's
determined to make efforts so the current Parliament can elect the
president on May 16. It has also found the formula for overcoming possible
tensions following the presidential election, that is, holding general
elections in July. A key person from the ruling party explained their
decision as follows: ‘If elections are held in 2007, there will be no
election earlier than this date. We'll elect the president in May and then
hold general elections in July. There are two methods for solving the
problem of presidential elections. One of them is a semi-presidential
system, and the other is giving the powers indicated in the 1961
Constitution to the president.' Everybody has a common candidate within the
AKP, that is, Erdogan. Nobody can guess what will happen if he decides not
to run. Maybe that's why some of them propose holding general elections in
July, ahead of November, their scheduled date."
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