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Turkish Press Review, 07-05-16
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
16.05.2007
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “ISLAM AND SECULARISM CANNOT BE EXPLOITED FOR POLITICAL GAIN”
[02] BAYKAL: “THE LEFT WING SHOULD EMULATE CENTER-RIGHT UNITY EFFORTS”
[03] SHP LEADER URGES BAYKAL, ZEKI SEZER TO JOIN FORCES
[04] TURKISH CYPRIOTS CALL ON EU TO END TRNC’S INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION
[05] WASHINGTON TO URGE SARKOZY NOT TO BLOCK TURKEY’S EU BID
[06] HIGHER ANTI-TERRORISM BOARD TO CONVENE ON FRIDAY
[07] TURKEY-GREECE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE TO BEGIN OPERATIONS NEXT MONTH
[08] SABANCI MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT RARE MUGHAL ART NEXT YEAR
[01] ERDOGAN: “ISLAM AND SECULARISM CANNOT BE EXPLOITED FOR POLITICAL
GAIN”
Neither religion nor secularism should be exploited for political ends,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters yesterday. Erdogan made
the remarks after giving a speech to the International Press Institute
(IPI) World Congress, which ended yesterday. Speaking to International
Herald Tribune Editor in Chief Michael Oreskes, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Editor in Chief Markus Spillman, and Altan Oymen of Turkish daily Radikal,
Erdogan said, “I am secular, but when you pit secularism against Islam,
I’m not secular, because states are secular, not people.” He added,
“We are against exploiting religion for political purposes. In the same
vein, secularism cannot be exploited for political gains either.”
Criticizing some foreign media outlets for saying that Turkey was divided
into two countries, he said no one had suggested that there were two
Frances following demonstrations against President elect Nicolas Sarkozy.
“They immediately started saying, ‘There are two Turkeys.’ This is
unacceptable,” he stated. “The Republic of Turkey is a democratic,
secular and social state of law, and it will stay that way. This is our
common ground. Nobody will compromise on that. This is the common ground
that all demonstrations share. There’s no way we can compromise on any of
this.” /Hurriyet/
[02] BAYKAL: “THE LEFT WING SHOULD EMULATE CENTER-RIGHT UNITY EFFORTS”
No one in Turkey wants the unification of my Republican People’s Party
(CHP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) as much as I do, said CHP leader
Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group
meeting, Baykal congratulated two center-right parties, the Motherland
Party (ANAVATAN) and the True Path Party (DYP), for their recent union
ahead of July’s general elections. The two parties decided not to
collaborate in the elections, but rather to merge, which is a great
achievement to be appreciated, said Baykal, adding that the DSP and CHP
should do the same thing for the sake of Turkey’s future. In related news,
DSP founder Rahsan Ecevit said yesterday that the CHP and DSP joining
forces in the upcoming elections was a must. /Milliyet/
[03] SHP LEADER URGES BAYKAL, ZEKI SEZER TO JOIN FORCES
Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin yesterday
called on main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer to join forces for
the July 22 elections, saying, “Please unite, whether we’re included in
this or not.” Before a meeting at his party’s headquarters, Karayalcin
spoke about efforts to forge unity on the left, lamenting how problems
facing these efforts had led some to disappointment. “If the SHP can make
do something to help this unification, we’re ready to discuss and
consider it,” he said. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] TURKISH CYPRIOTS CALL ON EU TO END TRNC’S INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION
Turkish Cypriots demonstrated yesterday in Brussels’ Schuman Square to
call on the European Union to lift the embargo from the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Demonstration organizers said that even though the
Turkish Cypriots had approved the 2004 Annan plan proposing a settlement on
the island, the Greek Cypriots who opposed the plan were rewarded with EU
membership. Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots were being forced to live
under isolation in all areas of life, the TRNC officials called on the EU
to end the isolation and approve regulations for direct trade. In addition,
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht emphasized that his government
favored easing the TRNC’s international isolation. /Turkiye/
[05] WASHINGTON TO URGE SARKOZY NOT TO BLOCK TURKEY’S EU BID
US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said yesterday that France’s new
President Nicolas Sarkozy would be urged not to block Turkey’s European
Union membership process. Speaking to reporters, Casey said that the US
continues to back Turkey’s joining the club, and had conveyed their
concern over the matter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and would soon
do the same with Sarkozy. Asked about recent developments in Turkey, the
spokesman said that the US administration supports democracy in Turkey and
trusts in its democratic organs. /Turkiye/
[06] HIGHER ANTI-TERRORISM BOARD TO CONVENE ON FRIDAY
The Higher Anti-Terrorism Board will convene on Friday under the
chairmanship of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. During the meeting, on the
agenda will be the activities of the terrorist PKK and operations against
it as well as security measures for general elections set for July 22. The
Cabinet’s two new members, Interior Minister Osman Gunes and Justice
Minister Fahri Kasirga, will be attending a meeting of the body for the
first time. /Aksam/
[07] TURKEY-GREECE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE TO BEGIN OPERATIONS NEXT MONTH
A natural gas pipeline between Turkey and Greece under construction for two
years will open next month with the attendance of the two countries’
premiers, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Costas Karamanlis. Speaking to reporters,
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, who is currently in
Paris to attend a meeting of the National Energy Council Ministers, said
that he had met with his Greek counterpart to review preparations for the
opening set to be held on July 14. The project will enable the
transportation of natural gas from the Caspian region, the Mideast and
neighboring countries to Europe via Turkey and Greece. /Milliyet/
[08] SABANCI MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT RARE MUGHAL ART NEXT YEAR
The Sakip Sabanci Museum is set next year to display 200 pieces of art from
the Mughal Empire period, pieces never before exhibited outside Paris’
Louvre, which is loaning them. The show, sponsored by Turk Telecom, is
scheduled to begin next January. /Cumhuriyet/
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