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Turkish Press Review, 07-04-24Turkish 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 morning24.04.2007FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY MARKS NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND CHILDREN'S DAYTurkey celebrated yesterday the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day. State officials headed by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener, some ministers, deputy parliament speakers, and deputies were among the delegation that visited Anitkabir. Arınç laid a wreath on the Mausoleum, and the delegation observed a minute of silence. Later, Arinc signed the mausoleum's ceremonial guest book. Education Minister Huseyin Celik and some teachers and students also visited Ataturk's mausoleum. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar attended the ceremony to inaugurate the National Anthem Monument in Parliament along with ministers, opposition party members and deputies. Following the ceremony, which was held at the first Parliament building in Ankara's Ulus district, the parliament speaker accepted the congratulatory messages in Parliament. The Parliament convened at a special session on the occasion of the 87th anniversary of its establishment and April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, force commanders, head of constitutional court and top judges as well as the diplomatic corps were all present at the special session which was chaired by Arinc. The parliament speaker stated that the Parliament, which was opened with great enthusiasm and hopes on April 23, 1920, has been experiencing the same enthusiasm for 87 years. Speaking at the special session Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "What we expect from children is to be committed to the target set by Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to go beyond the level of contemporary civilizations, protect the fundamental principles of the Republic, and believe in Turkey's bright future." The special session ended after the speeches of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar and People's Ascent Party (HYP) leader Yasar Nuri Ozturk. National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated across the country, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and at the Turkish embassies around the world. /All papers/[02] TURKEY AWAITS ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATEPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday completed his series of tours in the process of nominating a candidate for presidency by meeting with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Arinc also met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Friday. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group is expected to convene today and tomorrow. Erdogan, reportedly will announce the decision on the matter tomorrow, during the AKP group meeting in Parliament, or later in the day. The application for presidential candidacy will end midnight April 25. The election rounds would start either on April 26 or May 3. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will leave his office on May 16. /Milliyet/[03] IRAN, EU TO MEET IN ANKARA TOMORROWIran's National Security Council Secretary General and nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union's Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana will meet tomorrow in Ankara to discuss whether the talks for Iran's nuclear program can resume. During Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's visit to Ankara last week, he signaled that his country was ready to resume the talks with the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany. Reportedly, following Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's initiatives, Solana and Larijani decided to meet in Ankara tomorrow to discuss the issue. Through the two resolutions on December 2006 and March 2007, the UN Security Council decided to impose sanctions on Iran. /Turkiye/[04] 'STOP ARMENIANS LIES' RALLY HELD IN NEW YORKOver the weekend New York's famous Time Square became a platform for both Turks and Armenians, of course at different times, to express them over the "genocide" issue. On Saturday, the Turkish American Associations Federation (TAAF) organized the third annual "Stop Armenian Lies!" demonstration. As April 24th, the Memorial Day for the 1915 events for Armenians approaches many Turks feel very uncomfortable with the fact that there is still a resolution pending in the US House of Representatives to accept those events as genocide. On Sunday, it was the Armenians who gathered in Times Square to remember their lost ones with the hope that this year the genocide resolution could pass. In related news, Ankara expected support for its call to establish 'a joint history commission' from US President George W. Bush, who will release a message today to mark the Armenian's Memorial Day. Furthermore, Turkey's Embassy in Washington put full-page adverts in the US' leading dailies expressing Turkish view on the issue and calling on Armenians to face with their history by examining archives together with Turkish historians. /Turkish Daily News-Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS [05] NOT ELECTION, APPOINTMENT (CUMHURIYET)BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREKColumnist Cuneyt Arcayurek comments on upcoming presidential election. A summary of his column is as follows: "The message issued by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer marking the April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, included significant messages for adults besides children. Why Sezer said that today Parliament needs to prove that it deserves its supreme statute and reforms? To whom does this sentence pertain and which politicians does it recall? The goal of this remark isn't probably the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) which defends the Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's reforms. It doesn't also aim at the True Path Party (DYP) or the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN). There is no doubt that the target of this sentence is the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its leader. During his post of seven years, Sezer struggled with AKP's efforts against Ataturk's reforms. Although he doesn't have much hope, Sezer urges the AKP to send a president to Cankaya Palace who will defend the Republic's principles. It's difficult even impossible for AKP to give a positive response to this because it believes that its leader by itself represent the whole nation. They think that the nation elected the AKP so they gave the duty to elect the president. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will declare Turkey's 11th president! Erdogan will "appoint" a person as president on behalf of the Parliament. The person who will be appointed by Erdogan will serve the goals of Erdogan. The media is trying to learn who will be sent to Cankaya by Erdogan. It doesn't matter whether Erdogan goes to Cankaya or a person who will be appointed by him." [06] COUNTRY OF STRANGENESS (HURRIYET)BY CUNEYT ULSEVERColumnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on April 14 Republic rally and upcoming presidential election. A summary of his column is as follows: "11 million people vote for a party, that party comes to power alone, and there is possibility for its leader to be the president. According to recent figures, one million people held a rally to protest this situation by using their democratic rights. However, it was stated that the nation said its last word. On the other hand, the Central Decision Board (MKYK) of the party, which received 11 million votes from the nation convened and unanimously gave the authority to the party's leader to elect the president! The members of MKYK who aren't deputies gave a decision on behalf of the nation. Now there is a "sole elector," who would elect or appoint the president. Deputies will vote for the candidate who is designated by the sole elector. The strangeness doesn't end here. The "sole elector" has the authority to appoint the president, but he wouldn't elect himself! Otherwise, the country will become confused! There is no problem with "sole elector" electing the president, but there is a problem in electing himself as president! The country will be in peace if he appoints another person as president, but it wouldn't be so if he elects himself. The businessmen put forth genius views on the issue. The "sole elector" needs to stay at the helm of his party in order to protect stability, but he shouldn't be president to maintain peace. Turkey will live in peace and stability if the "sole elector" stays as prime minister, but peace and stability will leave Turkey if he is elected as president. The "sole elector" will be a statesman if he elects another person as president, but won't be a "statesman" if he appoints himself as president." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |