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Turkish Press Review, 07-03-13Turkish 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 morning13.03.2007CONTENTS
[01] SEZER, ERDOGAN MARK 86TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH NATIONAL ANTHEMSpeaking at a ceremony held at Parliament yesterday marking the 86th anniversary of the Turkish national anthem, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the anthem was the nation's common voice and conscience, adding that it holds an important place in history since it shows the ideals which enabled the nation to triumph in the Turkish War of Independence. "The anthem is a document which stresses our necessary national unity," said Erdogan. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and most of the Cabinet ministers were present at the ceremony. In related news, in his message marking the day President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stated that the anthem was a symbol of the Turkish nation's unity together with its independence. Sezer added that the Turkish nation had won great victories in the face of daunting conditions. /Turkiye/CICEK: NOBODY SHOULD BE FOOLED BY FALSE CLAIMS Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday said recent allegations that convicted terrorist group head Abdullah Ocalan had been poisoned were part of a conspiracy. After the Cabinet meeting, Cicek told reporters that there were circles which wanted to exploit this lie. "Following the poisoning allegations, speculations rose," he said. "We appointed three academic experts to get samples in order to make sure people aren't fooled by such false claims. There are people who want to take advantage of this issue to force officials to make certain moves." /Hurriyet-Turkiye/ [02] DYP'S AGAR MEETS WITH BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARAMain opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday received Bulgaria's Ambassador to Turkey Branimir Mladenov. Afterwards, taking reporters' questions about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks that there could be a surprise in May's presidential election, Agar said this nature of this surprise needed to be clarified. "We're in a process when common sense, not surprises, should dominate politics," he added. /Turkiye/[03] US STATE DEPT: "WASHINGTON IS OPPOSED TO A POSSIBLE TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IN NOTHERN IRAQ"US State Department deputy spokesmen Tom Casey said yesterday that Washington was opposed to a possible Turkish military operation being carried out in northern Iraq, adding that the US favored Iraq's territorial integrity. Casey further stated that the US was working with both the Turkish and Iraqi administrations to develop cooperation against the terrorist PKK based in northern Iraq. /Sabah/[04] BRYZA SAYS TURKEY'S REQUESTS THAT THE US ACT AGAINST THE PKK ARE JUSTIFIEDSpeaking to Greek daily Kathimerini, US Deputy Secretary of State Matt Bryza said yesterday that Turkey was justified in its requests that Washington take action to fight the presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq, adding that the US administration needed to show concrete results. "Not only the Turkish government, but also the nation wants concrete results," said Bryza. Stressing that cooperation between the US, Turkey, and Iraq to produce results was needed, Bryza added that Washington was opposed to unilateral action. Commenting on the Kirkuk issue, Bryza said that a decision on the oil-rich Iraqi city would be made by the Iraqi people. /Turkiye/[05] IRAN REJECTS TURKISH PROPOSAL FOR MEETING IN ISTANBULA meeting of countries neighboring Iraq , also attended by permanent members of the UN Security Council, was held in Baghdad over the weekend. After the high-level diplomat's meeting, Turkey 's Special Representative for Iraq Ambassador Oguz Celikkol proposed that a subsequent meeting of foreign ministers be held in Istanbul and that the meeting should be broadened to include D-8 members as well as the present participants. US Ambassador to Baghdad Zalmay Khalilzad, who led the US delegation, supported Turkey 's proposal, but the Iraqi and Iranian delegations rejected it, citing a decision taken at last year's meeting of countries neighboring Iraq held in Tehran saying that the next foreign ministers meeting would be held in Baghdad . In related news, Britain 's Daily Telegraph said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would attend the meeting if it is held in Istanbul . /Cumhuriyet/[06] ISTANBUL TO HOST TURKEY 'S FIRST CLIMATE CHANGE CONGRESSThe First Turkey Climate Change Congress (TIKDEK 2007) organized on the initiative of the Water Foundation is planning to bring together scholars and experts studying climate change from various Turkish institutions. The statements presented at the congress, which will be held at Istanbul Technical University on April 11-13, will be published as a book as a resource on climate change. /Hurriyet/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...A BRAVE CAUSE [07] SABAHAT DEMIR (TURKIYE)Columnist Sabahat Demir comments on the Armenian allegations and Labor Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek's recent initiative in Switzerland . A summary of his column is as follows:"In years past, French historians stated that the so-called Armenian genocide allegations should be discussed between historians by examining documents. But the West, which supposedly prioritizes science, turned its back on science by ignoring the scholars' decision. European Union member states, which are urging Turkey to change Article 301, contrary to their principles, have begun one by one to enact laws to punish denial of the Armenian ‘genocide.' Western countries, which also put into force of laws forbidding denial of the so-called Armenian genocide, have revealed that their loyalty to the principles of European civilization is just a show. Angry at suffering a clear wrong, we have written on the matter and made speeches, while others organized panels. Unfortunately this has accomplished little. Criticisms have been voiced that Turks don't seem very active, as while the Armenian diaspora's efforts in Western countries are heating up, our premier's proposal of a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian historians to discuss the issue in light of documents hasn't gained any ground among Armenians. But everybody has something to do for this cause. Here, Labor Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek blazed a trail by providing an example of how a cause can be defended bravely. What did he do? By traveling to Switzerland -- which has made it a crime to deny the genocide allegations -- with documents in hand, Perincek showed the courage and bravery to say ‘the so-called Armenian genocide is an imperialist lie.' In other words, he showed how to wage a democratic fight by attracting world attention to the issue. He demonstrated to the entire world that Switzerland , which arrogantly calls itself a land of freedom, in reality lacks freedom of speech. Perincek stood in court in Switzerland for his remarks. A prejudiced judge sentenced him to pay 9,000 Swiss franks in lieu of 90 days in prison. Perincek said he would appeal the decision. Perincek was welcomed by his supporters with great enthusiasm when he came back to the country a few days ago. I hope that Perincek's brave stance and cause will be a good example to all those who love their land and want to defend the rights of the public." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |