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Turkish Press Review, 07-09-05Turkish 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 morning05.09.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] GOVT TO FACE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TODAYTurkey’s 60th government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will face a vote of confidence today in Parliament. Opposition parties, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have announced that they will not give the government their vote of confidence. In addition, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) is also expected to vote against the government. But a vote of confidence victory with and absolute majority of 276 votes is assured, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has 339 seats in Parliament, not including Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. /Milliyet/[02] GUL TO HOST RECEPTION IN CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TODAYPresident Abdullah Gul is set to host a reception this morning at the Cankaya Presidential Palace for top government officials. While the main Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is boycotting the reception, both the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Democratic Society Party (DTP) will attend. Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cabinet ministers and other top government officials will also be present at the gathering. Meanwhile, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and other force commanders announced that they would be unable to attend, as they had a prior commitment to be out of Ankara for inspections. The commanders will be represented by assigned generals. In addition, Gul will host a second reception on Friday for representatives from the worlds of the media, business and art. /Cumhuriyet/[03] ERDOGAN: “THE MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD PRODUCE DEEDS, NOT WORDS”Speaking at his party’s group meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday rebuffed Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir’s recent claims that his city had been shortchanged. “No one should try to exploit the people of any city,” he said. “The municipalities should produce projects instead of words.” Rejecting Baydemir’s charge that Diyarbakir faces discrimination, Erdogan said that they are opposed to politics based on ethnic or religious lines. /Aksam/[04] ERDOGAN TO VISIT THE US IN LATE SEPTEMBERPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to New York on Sept. 24 to attend the United Nations’ annual General Assembly meeting. Erdogan is also set to attend a meeting of the Clinton Foundation and to hold talk with New York Senator and leading presidential contender Hillary Clinton. Then the premier is expected to proceed to Washington to visit his new grandson. /Turkiye/[05] BABACAN FACES BUSY DIPLOMATIC SLATENewly appointed Foreign Minister and chief negotiator for European Union talks Ali Babacan will face a busy diplomatic schedule this month. Babacan is first hosting his British counterpart David Miliband in Ankara. Later this week, Babacan will travel to EU Term President Portugal to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers. In mid-month, Babacan is scheduled to fly to Bulgaria for one day-visit to attend a southeastern European countries’ foreign ministers meeting. Finally, the top diplomat is expected to accompany Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to the US for the UN General Assembly meeting. /Turkiye/[06] TRNC PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH PAPADOPOULOSTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat will meet today with Greek administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos. The two leaders will discuss forming technical committees to start comprehensive meetings towards finding solutions. Talat and Papadopoulos will meet at the residence of Michael Moller, the UN secretary-general's special representative on Cyprus. During the meeting, which will have an open agenda, the two sides will seek ways to get past the current stalemate on the Cyprus issue. /Hurriyet/[07] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY VISITS ANKARABritish Foreign Secretary David Miliband yesterday arrived in Ankara for a two-day official visit. Miliband will today meet with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, and then he will be received by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul. The Cyprus issue, Turkish- European Union relations, and recent regional developments are expected to top the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/[08] TMSF SETS ATV-SABAH GROUP SALE IN MOTIONThe Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and Park Group have signed a protocol to solve disputes arising from the confiscation of ATV-Sabah, with the TMSF putting the media group up for sale for the second time in eight years, an announcement in the government’s Official Gazette said yesterday. The value of the company is estimated at $1.1 billion and to compete in the bid, interested companies must submit applications before Oct. 15. The tender is set to be held on Nov. 6 at Istanbul’s Ahmet Pasa mansion. /Today’s Zaman/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS… [09] RESPECTING THE POSTBY MURAT YETKIN (RADIKAL)Columnist Murat Yetkin comments on developments since Abdullah Gul won the presidency last month. A summary of his column is as follows: “Today President Abdullah Gul will give his first reception at the Presidential Palace. This reception is for officials and politicians. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) announced that it wouldn’t attend. CHP officials said that the party wouldn’t have anything to do with Gul, except for on security issues. The approach of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) isn’t yet clear. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) " brushing off CHP criticisms and pursuing its own course, which it calls legitimate " will be there. The Democratic Society Party (DTP), after its disappointment at not being invited to the recent General Staff reception, is enjoying being invited to this prestigious event. The stance of the General Staff is being closely watched, as usual. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has made clear it isn’t happy with Gul’s election. When Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and other military officials sent out invitations leaving off the names of leaders’ wives, this caused a stir. Some prefer to discuss the issue on the basis of potent symbols such as headscarves or the army’s principles. But there is another dimension, namely showing respect to the president, not only to the post, but also to him personally. Out post of president is a most powerful symbol. Buyukanit and the force commanders won’t be at the reception. According to some sources, a general will represent the General Staff at the reception. One important detail is that attendance at the reception is not mandatory, leaving aside the tradition of not turning down presidential invitations. According to an analyst I spoke with yesterday, the General Staff sending a representative could be seen as a quasi-apology, saying in effect that the General Staff wasn’t protesting the reception. Although the General Staff isn’t pleased with the situation, it still respects the president and the office. Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with new Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay. My first impression is that Gunay has settled in with both his party and ministry and has hit the ground running with a goal in mind already. He has set his policy as culture-based tourism. He believes that Turkey should also open up its history and geography to visitors, along with its geography and sun. He stated that he was impressed by some of the projects of former Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koc and would like to continue these. Protecting the Istanbul peninsula is one such project. I often get mail from unemployed teachers. About 180,000 teachers and education school graduates want the government to provide them with jobs. They want to work and educate people for the future. But this isn’t as easy as it seems, because there are more teachers than are needed right now.” [10] $10,000 PER CAPITA INCOME?BY ABDURRAHMAN YILDIRIM (SABAH)Columnist Abdurrahman Yildirim comments on the government’s target of $10, 000 per capita income by 2013. A summary of his column is as follows: “As stated in its new program, the government has set a target of $10,000 per capita income. Last year’s per capita income was $5,482. So, in five years this figure is set to almost double. $10,000 is of course a bold and attractive target for a country where per capita income in the early ‘90s was only about $1,000. It we reach this goal, it would be great, and not only for the country and our people. The most striking part of the government program is the high rate of growth needed to produce $10,000 per capita. But how will that happen, or what are its prospects? I should say at the beginning that though the government is governing well, its choices or work may not be enough to continue our current high growth or push it up to 7% or more. Because our economy has become integrated with the world through financing and foreign trade. In other words, things in the world at large also have to go well. It’s a prerequisite for our high growth that international markets aren’t on the decline. This would, of course, be a streak of good luck. Such good luck would also include our not being hit by an earthquake, a drought of several years, or getting thrown into war. In fact this is also necessary for the continuation of capital inflow, financing the current account deficit and for keeping the dollar exchange rate, which is very important for reaching the targeted per capita income, stable. Market softening has an important place in boosting the per capita income in dollar terms. High growth will be ensured, but the exchange rate won’t rise. In fact, the government has ensured its $10,000 promise with the correction of national income. The Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) is doing this work. And it will probably announce it next year. National income will presumably rise 25-40%, which means an increase of $1,500-2,000 per capita. In 1990 for instance, an increase of 37% was ensured in per capita income through annual growth. And as there’s a similar increase now, hitting $10, 000 per capita income in 2013 is no pipe dream.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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