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Turkish Press Review, 07-04-26Turkish 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 morning26.04.2007CONTENTS
[01] YOK'S TEZIC FACES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTPresident of Turkey's Higher Education Board (YOK), Erdogan Tezic faced a potential assassination yesterday afternoon. The assailant tried to enter the YOK building in Ankara, but was stopped by security guards. He managed to run away, but also fired three shots into the air. He was seized by security forces late in the afternoon at the rail station. Officials said that investigation was underway. In related news, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Tezic to express their sorrow. In addition, rectors of many universities issued messages condemning the attack. /Turkiye/[02] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CELEBRATES 45TH ANNIVERSARYThe Constitutional Court yesterday celebrated its 45th anniversary. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a written message marking the anniversary. He said that the Constitution, through its binding principles, does not allow any arbitrary practices by the administration and paves the way for the proper functioning and the sustainability of the secular and democratic regime. He also called on all institutions and authorities to bear responsibility to protect the constitutional order and let the rule of law reign in the country more than ever. In addition, the court's President Tulay Tugcu speaking at an international gathering in Ankara pointed to the importance of expression of different views in democracies adding that democracy would get stronger when it allows representation of views as much as possible. Also speaking to reporters how they would decide on a possible case if at least 367 deputies were not present in Parliament during the first round of presidential election voting, the top judge said that they would follow the same procedures as in other cases, adding that they would try to decide before the second round. /Hurriyet-Turkish Daily News/GUL: "I PROVED MY RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY BY MEETING WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS" Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who was declared as ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) presidential candidate earlier this week, yesterday attended a reception marking the foundation anniversary of the Constitutional Court. Speaking to reporters at the reception, Gul said that he had proved his respect for democracy by meeting with opposition party leaders. "These are first signs how I will act if I am elected as president, " said Gul, adding that he would always be in contact with parties which were not represented in Parliament. "This will be a part of my post. I'll embrace the whole nation." In related news, Gul met with True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar, Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin, and independent deputies yesterday to seek their support prior to presidential election. Speaking after his contacts, Gul said that he had told Agar and Karayalcin that he would be the president of the whole nation. /Milliyet/ [03] AGAR, MUMCU CALL FOR EARLY ELECTIONSTrue Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday came together following assassination attempt against the President of the Higher Education Board (YOK). Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Agar said that the government should give up presidential election and immediately make a decision to hold early elections. Stressing that there was still an opportunity for Turkey, Agar added that this opportunity would be the government's decision to hold early elections. For his part, Mumcu said that the attempt of assassination caused concerns, adding that Turkey became open to such provocations. Mumcu further stated that the government should act in a responsible way and hold early elections. "Otherwise, the presidential election, no matter what its result is, will lead to discomfort in the country," added Mumcu. The two leaders further stressed that they would act together in elections, adding that they would declare their final decision today. /Sabah/[04] ANKARA NOT IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH BUSHThe Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday said it did not share in some of the expressions used by US President George W. Bush in his statement of remembrance for the Armenians killed at the end of the Ottoman Empire, reiterating that history should be left to historians. But the ministry welcomed in a statement Bush's reference to a 2005 proposal by the Turkish government to set up a joint committee to study genocide allegations. "We agree with President Bush's view and expect the US president and the administration to continue to encourage Armenia to respond positively to our historic proposal," it said. /Turkish Daily News/[05] SOLANA, LARIJANI MEET IN ANKARAEuropean Union's Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani yesterday met in Ankara to find a peaceful solution to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Larijari told reporters that his country fulfils the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules and their talks with Solana were a good opportunity to exchange views on the issue. Larijani and Solana are expected to meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul today and then to hold a press conference. The two are also scheduled to meet with the Yigit Alpogan, secretary general of the National Security Council (NSC). Larijani and Solana held several rounds of talks last year but failed to find a solution to the crisis. /Star/[06] ANZACS COME TO CANAKKALE TO COMMEMORATE THEIR ANCESTORSSome 10,000 Anzacs yesterday came to Canakkale to commemorate their ancestors, who lost their lives during the Canakkale Battle which was held in Gallipoli Peninsula. The New Zealander and Australian tourists later attended a ceremony to commemorate those who died in the battle. /Aksam/FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [07] TOWARDS THE GENERAL ELECTION?BY GUNGOR MENGI (VATAN)Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the presidential election and the stance of the opposition parties. A summary of his column is as follows: "As you may remember, the New York Times had hit the headline "There are two different Turkey now" about the protest rally on April 14. Members of press are affected the most by the existence of such a society, which has closed its doors to discussions, let alone compromise. I have experienced such a situation yesterday due to the messages I got from my readers. I have been worried that the opposite ideas have locked their doors firmly to each other. As no one can thrust the ruling party with an overwhelming majority from its right to elect the president if there is democracy in that country, what should be done is to encourage it to make the right choice. The most appropriate one out of the three natural candidates of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is Abdullah Gul. Acknowledging that, I wrote in my previous columns that this gives Gul a chance to build himself a new identity based on the values of the Republic. Because using such an opportunity will not only make Gul a good president but also AKP a more trusted party, which is much closer to the centre. It is evident that masses by no means want a person who has filed a lawsuit against Turkey on grounds of headscarf to European Court of Human Rights to be the president. The opposite poles will continue to conflict. The ones who manage to come together and discuss will find a solution. Presidential candidate Gul has been seeking compromise for two days. I wish Prime Minister Erdogan and Gul on condition that his candidacy had been declared in those days had started to do this several months ago. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced that it won't help for providing 367. The opposition True Path Party (DYP) and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) didn't respond but they have given the signals that they want to jam the election. Are the opposing politics playing game or do they have a reliable plan that we don't know? If the public surveys don't deceive us, the efforts to dovetail the presidential election will help AKP inadvertently. Because if the parliament can‘t elect the president in one month, the general elections will follow. What kind of a surprise is the opposition preparing for Prime Minister Erdogan who will market his self-renunciation for becoming the president as a democratic forsake due to the protests of the people? It is not difficult to transfer deputies. Anyone who follows politics in Turkey may reckon that the missing numbers can easily be compensated by guarantying the deputies that they are going to be elected. Thus, the opposition dovetailing the presidential election will multiply AKP's choices. Erdogan will either close the gap by transferring deputies and make Gul the president or intervene in the dovetail and have the general election to be held earlier by accusing his rivals. And there is also the possibility for him to say:' I am going to be the president!' Hence, Turkey's main agenda should be the production of the mentality and understanding which will unite the two different Turkey." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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