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Turkish Press Review, 07-09-17
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
17.09.2007
CONTENTS
[01] IN FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS PRESIDENT, GUL SET TO VISIT TRNC TOMORROW
[02] GUL TO ADDRESS COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY
[03] ERDOGAN TO FACE BUSY SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT MONTH
[04] AKP COMMISSION COMPLETES WORK ON NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION
[05] 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
[06] TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING TO BE HELD IN PORTUGAL
[07] TOBB DELEGATION LEAVES FOR THE US
[08] WHERE GUL WANTS TO STAY ONE MORE NIGHT
[01] IN FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS PRESIDENT, GUL SET TO VISIT TRNC TOMORROW
In his first visit abroad in his current office, President Abdullah Gul is
set tomorrow to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
During his stay, Gul will meet with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and
receive various Cabinet members. Later, Gul will attend a dinner hosted by
Talat. Gul is also expected to meet with former TRNC President Rauf
Denktas. After addressing the Turkish Cypriot Parliament, Gul will leave
the country on Wednesday. /Sabah/
[02] GUL TO ADDRESS COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY
President Abdullah Gul will address the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) during PACE’s fall session in Strasbourg early
next month. His participation in the session, set to be held on Oct. 1-5,
will be the president’s first international public appearance since being
elected last month. According to the draft program, Gul will deliver his
speech on Oct. 3. /Today’s Zaman/
[03] ERDOGAN TO FACE BUSY SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT MONTH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to face a busy schedule after
returning to Ankara from Denizli, where he took a short vacation. Erdogan
is expected today to open the 2007-2008 school year, and later will
assemble the new Cabinet. On Thursday, Erdogan will travel to New York to
pay a one-week official visit for the UN General Assembly. The premier is
also expected to visit Britain on Oct. 10-12. /Star/
[04] AKP COMMISSION COMPLETES WORK ON NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION
A commission of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies
yesterday completed its work on a new draft Constitution. The head of the
18-member commission, AKP deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, told
reporters that they had put together a new civilian draft constitution
which focuses on the individual and will meet all the requirements of
society. The draft will be taken up on Wednesday at an AKP Central
Executive Board (MYK) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, where it will be finalized. Then it will be presented for public
discussion and debate for three months before being presented to
Parliament. /Milliyet/
[05] 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
After the three-month summer holiday, the 2007-2008 school year will start
in elementary and high schools today. Throughout Turkey nearly 15 million
students and 600,000 teachers will begin the new year, which will end next
June. Meanwhile, approximately 122 million textbooks for elementary schools
and 35 million for high schools will be distributed free. /Aksam/
[06] TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING TO BE HELD IN PORTUGAL
A meeting between Turkey and the European Union Troika is set to be held
tomorrow in Portugal , which is now serving as the EU term president.
During the meeting, a Turkish delegation is expected to brief the Troika on
its work on Turkey ’s new civilian draft Constitution. The EU side is
expected to express its expectations for revisions to Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK). On the same day, Justice and Development Party
(AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat will meet with EU ambassadors
and tell them in detail about the draft Constitution. /Star/
[07] TOBB DELEGATION LEAVES FOR THE US
A delegation led by Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu left for the United States yesterday
to hold meetings in Chicago and Washington. The delegation will meet with
business leaders and then proceed to Washington to have talks with World
Bank President Robert Zoellick, IMF Vice President John Lipsky and US
Assistant Secretary of State Dan Sullivan. Hisarciklioglu will also deliver
a speech on the Turkish economy to the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) think-tank. After meeting with US congressmen,
the TOBB delegation will return to Turkey next Thursday. /The New
Anatolian/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[08] WHERE GUL WANTS TO STAY ONE MORE NIGHT
BY SUKRU KUCUKSAHIN (HURRIYET)
Columnist Sukru Kucuksahin comments on President Abdullah Gul’s recent
visit to the southeast. A summary of his column is as follows:
“In his first domestic visit as president, Abdullah Gul traveled to the
southeast, and in so doing attracted a great deal of attention. People
asked why and when Gul decided to make the trip, and what impact it will
have. As far as I can tell, the visit was entirely Gul’s idea, and he
made the decision before being elected. Three days before the final
presidential vote, Gul explained the decision by saying that terrorism is
the most pressing problem facing Turkey and that if elected, he would visit
the places hurt the most by terrorism. He stated that the soldiers serving
in the region and its residents, who have nothing to do with terrorism, are
suffering the most from terrorism. He added that he would visit to
understand their feelings and experiences and express his solidarity. In
writing about July’s general elections, I also noted how the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) got more votes from the southeast and
what this means, so I place great importance on Gul’s visit to the
southeast.
During his visit Gul made sure to visit the garrisons that have lost the
most soldiers. This was meant to show how he places importance on the
military’s fight with terrorism and express his support. Gul took pains
to talk with a lot of soldiers in each military unit and listened to them
carefully and even delayed his program. But the biggest delay took place at
units along the border hills. In Karakas he lost track of the time. He was
touched the most there during his tour and really felt what the soldiers
are going through. He even said he wished he could stay for one more night.
I got the impression Gul will pay more such visits to the region and I
won’t be surprise if he spends one night at one of those hill units.
From what he said after the visit, it seems Gul thinks he can reach his
goals and that the people have placed their hopes in him. Now he will do
what he must in line with what they asked and what he learned. They gave
him many requests, and Presidential Palace officials have already started
to sort through them. Afterwards, Gul will take action on the things he can
do himself and forward the other requests to the proper institutions. For
now, I want to address the people who expect a conflict between Gul and
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Solidarity among leaders is something
Turkey ’s center-right and left-wing parties are poor at, but the AKP
excels at this. So these expectations are misplaced; these people are close
to each other will take care not to have problems among themselves. Even if
there are some, they will be discussed and resolved in unity.”
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