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Turkish Press Review, 07-06-15Turkish 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 morning15.06.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO ANNOUNCE DECISION ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE TODAYPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer will announce his decision on a once-vetoed Constitutional amendment package today, as the period for examining the package is expiring. If Sezer approves it, provisions will go into effect for shorter five-year terms for presidents with the possibility of reelection, holding general elections every five years rather than four, and a parliamentary quorum of 184 deputies. The president cannot issue a second veto and send it back to Parliament; he will either approve the package or call for a public referendum. /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN: “THE NATION WILL ANSWER BAYKAL AT THE BALLOT BOX”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday was named “Leader of the Year” for 2006 by news website IMEDYA. Accepting the honor, Erdogan said that Turkey is in an age where it is determinedly moving forward to a better future. Speaking about a recent attack on the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) former headquarters, Erdogan said, “I consider such attacks normal at a time when the opposition parties makes provocations.” Erdogan also rebuffed main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal’s recent criticisms, saying Baykal will get his answer from the nation on July 22, the day of Turkey’s general elections. /Sabah-Aksam/[03] GUL CRITICIZES IRAQI GOVT FOR FAILING TO COMBAT PKK TERRORForeign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that the fight with PKK terrorism would continue. Speaking at the opening of the second Democracy and Security Meeting in Istanbul, Gul criticized the Iraqi government. Stressing that the Iraqi administration had failed to combat the PKK, Gul said that there are some 3,500 PKK militants taking shelter in northern Iraq and getting logistical support. He decried how after years of Turkey opening its arms to people fleeing Saddam Hussein’s cruelty and trying to ensure Iraq’s unity, now PKK terrorists attack Turkey and the Iraqi government does nothing to stop them. Gul added that the Turkish government was resolved to take all measures to ensure the nation’s security. /Milliyet/[04] WILSON: “THE PKK’S FINANCIAL RESOURCES SHOULD BE CUT OFF”US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said yesterday that his country’s position on a possible cross-border military operation into northern Iraq by Turkey had not changed. Speaking at a conference in Istanbul, Wilson said that in Turkey’s fight against the PKK, the US wants to work with Ankara to cut off the terrorist group’s financial resources and seek other ways to end its ability to launch attacks. He also expressed the US administration’s trust that Turkey’s officials would find the most effective way to protect its people from PKK attacks. /Turkiye/[05] PUTIN TO ATTEND BSEC SUMMIT IN ISTANBULRussian President Vladimir Putin will attend the summit of heads of state and government of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) to be held on June 25 in Istanbul, an event carrying great importance for Turkey’s Black Sea and Caucasian policies. The presidents of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Georgia and the prime minister of Greece will attend the summit, which will be hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. On Wednesday Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Putin spoke on the telephone about recent developments concerning the summit. /Cumhuriyet/[06] TWO FALLEN SOLDIERS TO BE LAID TO REST IN ISTANBUL TODAYIstanbul will bid two fallen soldiers farewell today. Cpl. Cihan Kiziltas, who died during a clash with PKK militants in Elazig, and Maj. Murat Ozyalcin, who passed away due to an explosion of a roadside mine in Hakkari, will be laid to rest after military ceremonies. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [07] TURKEY’S CHOICEBY ERGUN BABAHAN (SABAH)Columnist Ergun Babahan comments on the tension between democracy and authoritarian regimes and Turkey’s choice. A summary of his column is as follows: “When the United States invaded Iraq, it claimed to be bringing democracy to the Middle East. Today no one seems to talk about democracy. Democracy isn’t just losing importance in the Mideast. Authoritarian tendencies are gaining strength in Russia, while China isn’t willing to give up its repressive regime. Today’s world is witnessing tension between democracy and authoritarian regimes. Turkey is situated in a region straddling democracies and autocracies, and between the peaceful West and the hell of the Mideast. Our general elections scheduled for July 22 are significant from this perspective. Turkey will make a big choice in these elections. Will we choose a system in which differences coexist peacefully, or will we choose tension and a radical authoritarian nationalist structure? After the Cold War balances collapsed, a brand new system arose. Some generals claimed there were forces pushing Turkey to join the authoritarian group, as led by Russia and China. This would have been a departure from the path drawn by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish Republic’s founder, and a split from the Western world. Political scientists are interested in the link between democracy and a free market economy. My personal view is that Turkey chose the way of democracy and then made great progress in terms of both its industrial power and the welfare of its people. Over the last five decades, Turkey has seen momentous developments in basic rights and freedoms. The people of Anatolia have gotten used to these freedoms. Those who want to ignore our half-century heritage are blind to this.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |