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Turkish Press Review, 07-05-07
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
07.05.2007
CONTENTS
[01] GUL WITHDRAWS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
[02] CENTER RIGHT UNITES UNDER DEMOCRAT PARTY TITLE
[03] AGAR SIGNALS OPENNESS TO FURTHER UNITY OF CENTER RIGHT
[04] MUMCU TOUTS PARTY MERGER
[05] CHP, DSP LEADERS SIGNAL ELECTION ALLIANCE
[06] BAHCELI: "THE MHP IS MOBILIZING FOR ELECTIONS"
[07] DANISH EDUCATION MINISTER MEETS WITH CELIK
[08] SARKOZY'S FEAR
[01] GUL WITHDRAWS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday withdraw his candidacy for the
presidency after Parliament failed to convene with 367 deputies, a
formality that the Constitutional Court ruled must be fulfilled for a vote
to elect a new president. Other than ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) deputies, also present at Parliament were independent deputies
Suleyman Bolunmez, Hamza Albayrak, Goksal Kucukali, Ummet Kandogan, Fuat
Gecen, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Hakkari Deputy
Esat Canan, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) Malatya Deputy Mirac Akdogan and
True Path Party (DYP) Hatay Deputy Mehmet Eraslan. After meeting with
officials from the AKP, Gul told a press conference, "I see it is vain to
continue with new rounds of voting. We entrust ourselves to the nation."
Early general elections are set for July. Afterwards either a new
Parliament will elect a president, or if the Constitution is changed, the
choice will go to a popular vote. /All papers/
[02] CENTER RIGHT UNITES UNDER DEMOCRAT PARTY TITLE
The unification of Turkey's two main center-right parties is a "remarkable
achievement" which will undoubtedly serve the nation, said Motherland Party
(ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu following the signing of a weekend protocol
merging the True Path Party (DYP) and ANAVATAN. Speaking after signing the
protocol, Mumcu said he hopes the unification will be good for both parties
as well as the future of the country. Mumcu added that union of the two
parties under the traditional Democrat Party rubric would be a remarkable
achievement. DYP leader Mehmet Agar said that his party had decided to
merge upon the urging of the nation as believers of a Turkish tradition
that calls for brotherhood. Stating that the perception and courage of the
nation have come together, Agar claimed that good days would soon come. The
two parties will gather their general assemblies, make the necessary
modifications to their bylaws and announce the decision for union
simultaneously. Mumcu and Agar's co-chairman status will continue until one
is chosen to take the helm. /The New Anatolian/
[03] AGAR SIGNALS OPENNESS TO FURTHER UNITY OF CENTER RIGHT
Speaking to news channel NTV, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said
that the DYP would warmly welcome parties or people who want to support
unity on the center right and that its door are open to those who want to
join them. Agar said that they have returned to their roots by merging with
the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) and were feeling good about solving an
issue which had seemed insoluble. Saying that he got congratulatory phone
calls after the merger was announced, Agar added that the DYP's party
congress would follow ANAVATAN's. He added that the merger was now set and
had not been imposed. /Turkiye/
[04] MUMCU TOUTS PARTY MERGER
Speaking after news of his party's merger with the True Path Party (DYP),
Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu said that now is a time to
make space for those who are seeking unity. Speaking to a meeting of his
party in Istanbul over the weekend, Mumcu said, "We are adding a new phase
and breakthrough to our distinguished past going back to 1983. Our party
has changed Turkey." Mumcu added that this process was focused on the
future. /Turkiye/
[05] CHP, DSP LEADERS SIGNAL ELECTION ALLIANCE
Meeting on Saturday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer agreed that
the DSP would not be closed, but signaled some sort of alliance would be
reached for July's elections. After the meeting, Sezer said, "We're
determined to join forces and proceed to the elections," adding, "We'll try
to solve the technical and legal details which will put the public at ease
as soon as possible. I believe that we can get an outcome which the public
will take an interest in." Speaking about the meeting, Social Democrat
People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin said, "I welcome this meeting
even though we weren't called," adding, "This was a development which I
have desired since the SHP was founded. It's not just like we wanted it,
but an important step is being taken... But a unification which doesn't
include the SHP isn't a real left." /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/
[06] BAHCELI: "THE MHP IS MOBILIZING FOR ELECTIONS"
Speaking in Erzurum over the weekend, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli said that the MHP has started to mobilize for July's
elections and criticized both the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) and the recent scuttled presidential election. Saying that the MHP is
working to save Turkey from a crisis, Bahceli added, "While other parties
are looking for ways to unite in order to pass the threshold, we
nationalists are getting ready to come to power alone." /Turkiye/
[07] DANISH EDUCATION MINISTER MEETS WITH CELIK
Danish Education Minister Bertel Haader last week toured pilot schools for
Turkey's European Union accession and also met with his Turkish counterpart
Huseyin Celik. During his last night in Istanbul, Haader said that he
respected the secular system in Turkey and that each country has a
different secular tradition. Haader said that he had met with Turkish
groups in Denmark and that Turkish children there can learn about Islam in
school at their families' request. He added that the European Union has
made Turkey a candidate country and that it should keep its promise. Haader
further stated that the Danish government sees Turkey as a rapidly
developing country and that the EU isn't a Christian club where Muslims
aren't allowed. /Sabah/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] SARKOZY'S FEAR
BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on France's weekend presidential election and
its repercussions in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:
"When I wrote these lines, the winner of France's presidential election
wasn't yet clear. But like many observers, I assume that the right's
candidate Nicolas Sarkozy will win. If I'm wrong, this would be a welcome
mistake. Firstly, we should know that Sarkozy being elected doesn't signal
a success, but rather a failure for France. He represents a rough
expression of the French people's basic fears and concerns. European
political commentators have already mentioned that among these fears are
such elements as Muslim minorities in Europe, migrants and Turkey. But
there are bigger problems in the background still.
Things in France aren't like they used to be. It's neither in Europe's
vanguard, nor does it know how to maintain the great advantages it provided
for its people thanks to the EU. For this reason, Sarkozy will try to do
for France what Margret Thatcher did for Britain. Of course, the French
people know this pill will be bitter both socially and economically. But
they cling to it as their last hope and hope their country will return to
its glorious tradition. But the truth is that even this bitter pill won't
be able to save France from being ordinary, because the world has changed
so much. Instead of keeping up with this world, France has alienated even
countries it considered part of its natural cultural backyard. Algerian
President Abdulaziz Bouteflika's comment that it doesn't need France
because it has friends like the US is the most concrete sign of this.
Followers of the European press know that within the EU, Sarkozy's
presidency isn't considered a good development. When I spoke with three EU
ambassadors recently and one of them said that Sarkozy was sure to win the
elections, I said this means the French people deserve him. Then the
ambassador replied, half jokingly and half seriously, yes, but we don't
deserve him. It's clear Sarkozy will be unfavorable for Turkey, because his
anti-Turkey stance was part of his election campaign. When he was accused
of being a supporter of the US, he defended himself by saying that if he
were, he wouldn't object to Turkey, which he called the 'apple of the US'
eye.' Of course, he is pleased that these remarks encouraged anti-
Westernism in Turkey. However, those who look at Sarkozy and say Europe
doesn't want us should know that Sarkozy isn't afraid that Anatolian
villagers will flock to Europe. Old EU members even started to take
measures against new members in this respect. Sarkozy and his compatriots
are actually afraid of Turkey as a developing, competitive country, and
what's more, one strategically more important than France globally. This
development of a country with a Muslim population and its having an equal
say with France within the EU is certainly a truth hard to swallow for
crypto-fascists."
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