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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning22.12.2006CONTENTS
[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 DEPUTIESParliament 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 BUSINESSMENGeorgian 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 PRESIDENTTurkmenistan'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 PROJECTState 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 AZERBAIJANVisiting 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 JULYBY 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." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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