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Turkish Press Review, 07-07-31
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
31.07.2007
CONTENTS
[01] NEW PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE ON SATURDAY
[02] YSK ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
[03] BUYUKANIT: “THE TSK’S VIEWS DON’T CHANGE OVERNIGHT”
[04] ROBERT NOVAK: “THE US AND TURKEY ARE PLANNING A SECRET OPERATION AGAINST THE PKK”
[05] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO MEET TOMORROW
[06] YAZICIOGLU EXPECTED TO RETAKE BBP HELM
[07] TUZMEN: “EXPORTERS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO SMOOTH ELECTIONS”
[01] NEW PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE ON SATURDAY
After the Supreme Board of Elections yesterday announced the official
results of the July 22 general elections, Parliament is set to convene this
Saturday, August 4. After the deputies finish their swearing-in ceremony,
the process to elect a new Parliament speaker will start. This 10-day
process will be followed by the election of a new president, which should
be completed within one month. Parliament’s General Assembly will convene
on Saturday at 3 p.m. under the chairmanship of the oldest member of
Parliament, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Sukru Elekdag,
who by tradition will lead the opening ceremony. The six youngest deputies
will serve as temporary parliamentary secretaries. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] YSK ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
The Supreme Board of Elections yesterday announced the official results of
the July 22 general elections, after ruling on complaints about the
preliminary results; voter turnout was 84.25%. Under the official results,
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be represented by 341
deputies, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) by 112, and the Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) by 70 deputies. There will also be 26 independent
deputies. Parliament will convene with 549 deputies after the death of
Mehmet Cihat Ozonder, who lost his life in a car crash last week.
/Milliyet/
[03] BUYUKANIT: “THE TSK’S VIEWS DON’T CHANGE OVERNIGHT”
Speaking at a reception yesterday, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar
Buyukanit said that his statements made this April about the later-aborted
presidential election were still valid, adding that the views of the
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) don’t change overnight. Asked if the TSK’s
declaration before the presidential election had led to the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) winning more votes, Buyukanit said that he
couldn’t say without concrete data, but he didn’t think so. The TSK
statement was followed by the presidential election being annulled by a
high court, and then general elections in which the ruling AKP won more
votes than when it first came to power in fall 2002. /Sabah/
[04] ROBERT NOVAK: “THE US AND TURKEY ARE PLANNING A SECRET OPERATION
AGAINST THE PKK”
A prominent newspaper columnist yesterday suggested that the Bush
administration is planning a secret operation against the terrorist PKK
with Turkey. Controversial syndicated writer Robert Novak said that US
Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman had given a briefing about the issue
to select members of Congress. “A Foreign Service officer who once was US
ambassador to Turkey, [Edelman] revealed to lawmakers plans for a covert
operation of U.S. Special Forces helping the Turks neutralize the PKK,”
wrote Novak. “They would behead the guerrilla organization by helping
Turkey get rid of PKK leaders that they have targeted for years.” Kathy
Schallow, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Ankara, yesterday responded,
“We don’t comment on commentaries. We do take the PKK threat very
seriously, and we continue to work with the Turkish and Iraqi authorities
to combat this threat.” /Star/
[05] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO MEET TOMORROW
The promotion and retirement of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel as
well as the situation of personnel who are engaged in reactionaryism,
separatism and corruption will be discussed at the first session of
tomorrow’s Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting. The council is
expected to give a security briefing to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. The General Staff Headquarters has been looking at the situation
of personnel who are involved in criminal organizations. Personnel whose
connection with criminal groups is confirmed will be expelled through YAS
decisions. /Aksam/
[06] YAZICIOGLU EXPECTED TO RETAKE BBP HELM
Muhsin Yazicioglu, former leader of the Great Union Party (BBP) who was
elected an independent deputy a week ago Sunday, is expected to reassume
the party helm next month. An extraordinary general assembly will be held
for Yazicioglu to again become BBP leader. Yazicioglu is expected to be the
only candidate for the post. /Turkiye/
[07] TUZMEN: “EXPORTERS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO SMOOTH ELECTIONS”
Addressing a meeting of the Turkish Exporters’ Union (TIM) General
Assembly, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen yesterday said that Turkey’s
exporters had significantly promoted the smooth conduct of the recent
general elections. Saying that Turkey was growing thanks to the exporters,
Tuzmen stated that achieving this despite the overvalued Turkish lira was a
success. Tuzmen further stated that preferential agreements would be signed
with 18 countries and the difficulties exporters face would be overcome.
/Turkiye/
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