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Turkish Press Review, 07-10-10
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
10.10.2007
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY MOVES CLOSER TO CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
[02] GUL SENDS LETTER TO US’ BUSH WARNING AGAINST PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
[03] PRESIDENT GUL VISITS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
[04] ERDOGAN BREAKS RAMADAN FAST WITH THRACIAN GREEK MUFTIS
[05] TOPTAN RECEIVES BASKENT UNIVERSITY DELEGATION
[06] BABACAN REITERATES TURKEY ’S DETERMINATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM
[07] CICEK MEETS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES
[08] AKP’S BAGIS: “ARMENIAN RESOLUTION BELONGS IN THE GARBAGE CAN”
[09] OPPOSITION LEADERS CRITICIZES RULING AKP’S ANTI-TERROR POLICY
[10] NATO CONDEMNS PKK ATTACKS
[11] US: “WE’RE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH TURKEY AND IRAQ TO FIGHT THE PKK”
[12] ARMENIAN FM: “ARTICLE 301 IS A BARRIER TO DEBATE ON GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS”
[13] DEPUTY PM EKREN: “ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL PROMOTE STABILITY”
[14] A CRITICAL CROSSROADS
[01] TURKEY MOVES CLOSER TO CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
The Supreme Anti-Terror Board yesterday gathered under the chairmanship of
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss measures to combat the
terrorist PKK. “The order has been given to take every kind of measure -
legal, economic and political - also including a cross-border operation, if
necessary,” said Erdogan's office in a statement afterwards. Parliament
would have to authorize any large-scale military operation into Iraq . In
related news, marches were held in many cities in Turkey to protest the
latest deadly attacks of the terrorist group. Two thousand people took part
in a march organized by Ankara ’s Hacettepe University . /Aksam/
[02] GUL SENDS LETTER TO US’ BUSH WARNING AGAINST PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN
RESOLUTION
President Abdullah Gul yesterday sent a letter to US President George W.
Bush arguing against passage of a resolution on the so-called Armenian
genocide allegations set to be debated today by a key US House of
Representatives committee. In the letter, Gul warned that passage of the
resolution would create problems in Turkish-US relations. Gul also thanked
Bush for his efforts to date to block the resolution. Yesterday Gul also
received Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists’
and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), together with Gerardo Diaz Ferran,
head of the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations (CEOE), at
the Cankaya Presidential Palace. /Sabah-Hurriyet/
[03] PRESIDENT GUL VISITS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
President Abdullah Gul yesterday visited the Constitutional Court and met
with its members. Afterwards, Gul urged the Turkish people not to let
recent terrorist attacks deject them, and added, “We’ll determinedly
continue the fight against terrorism. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has
the situation in hand.” In related news, Gul received Fener Greek
Patriarch Bartholomeos and an accompanying delegation at the Cankaya
Presidential Palace. /Sabah/
[04] ERDOGAN BREAKS RAMADAN FAST WITH THRACIAN GREEK MUFTIS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with muftis from Greece
’s Western Thrace region during a fast-breaking iftar meal given by the
Prime Ministry’s Official Residence. State Minister Said Yazicioglu was
also at the meal. The Higher Planning Board (YPK) also convened yesterday
under Erdogan’s chairmanship. The meeting addressed next year’s budget
and resources to be allocated for future investments. /Turkiye/
[05] TOPTAN RECEIVES BASKENT UNIVERSITY DELEGATION
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday received Baskent University
Rector Mehmet Haberal and members of the University Senate. During the
meeting, Toptan said that Parliament was ready to do all it can to help
combat terrorism. He added that parliamentary deputies of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP) had taken an oath to protect the basic
features and unity of the Turkish Republic . /Hurriyet/
[06] BABACAN REITERATES TURKEY ’S DETERMINATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said yesterday that Turkey would do everything
necessary to fight terrorism. Speaking to CNN Türk from Jordan , where he
was on an official visit, Babacan said that Turkey was determined in its
fight against the terrorist PKK. Stressing that Turkey is in close contact
with both the Iraqi administration and the US over the presence of the
terrorist group in northern Iraq , Babacan said that this week the Supreme
Anti-Terror Board met in the wake of a recent string of deadly attacks. He
added that all state institutions have been ordered to take necessary
measures and preparations for possible action. Babacan also said that
Turkey has issued warnings against an Armenian resolution before the US
House of Representatives, saying its passage carries considerable risks. As
part of his tour of Middle Eastern countries, Babacan visited Palestine and
met with Palestinian Prime Minister Selam Feyyad. Then Babacan and his
delegation went to Jordan , where he met with Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah
Al Khatib, King Abdullah and Prime Minister Maruf Bahit before returning to
Turkey . /Turkiye/
[07] CICEK MEETS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday had a meeting regarding the new
draft constitution with representatives of non-governmental organizations
at Ankara ’s TOBB Economics and Technology University . After the meeting,
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat
Hisarciklioglu said, “First of all, the Republic of Turkey ’s status as
a democratic, secular and social state under the rule of law will be the
basis of the (new) constitution.” He added, “These principles have been
the foundation of the Turkish Republic for 80 years. Any step giving the
impression of retreating from these principles would only sow tension and
polarization.” Cicek admitted that the method of drafting a new
constitution had led to concern in some quarters, and added, “I am here
to say this: If our method is deficient or wrong, let’s reach this goal
with your method.” /Cumhuriyet/
[08] AKP’S BAGIS: “ARMENIAN RESOLUTION BELONGS IN THE GARBAGE CAN”
In Washington , visiting parliamentary deputies yesterday met with members
of a US House of Representatives committee set to vote today on a
resolution on the Armenian genocide allegations. Speaking about the
resolution, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair Egemen Bagis
said, “The resolution before the US Congress on the Armenian allegations
about incidents of 1915 belongs in the garbage can.” /Star/
[09] OPPOSITION LEADERS CRITICIZES RULING AKP’S ANTI-TERROR POLICY
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday visited soldiers at Ankara ’s GATA Hospital who suffered wounds
in a recent terrorist attack in the southeast. Afterwards, at his party’s
group meeting, he criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party’s
(AKP) performance in fighting the terrorist PKK. In related news,
opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also
criticized the premier’s recent remarks about the terrorist attacks. At
the MHP’s group meeting, Bahceli also suggested that the prime minister
should hold a referendum on taking a cross-border operation into northern
Iraq . /Hurriyet/
[10] NATO CONDEMNS PKK ATTACKS
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer yesterday said that he was
deeply saddened to have learned of the death of 13 Turkish soldiers in
recent terrorist attacks and offered his condolences to the Turkish army
and nation. In a statement, de Hoop Scheffer said that he condemned this
attack in the strongest terms and that Turkey deserved its allies’ full
support. /Turkiye/
[11] US: “WE’RE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH TURKEY AND IRAQ TO FIGHT THE
PKK”
As Parliament moves towards a possible authorization of a large-scale
military operation into Iraq, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe
yesterday said that the United States is committed to working with Turkey
and Iraq to fight the PKK. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
also spoke on developments in the wake of recent PKK attacks. “The US has
counseled both Iraq as well as Turkey that the way to address the issue is
to work
cooperatively,” said McCormack. “In our view, it is not going to lead
to a long-term, durable solution to have significant incursions from Turkey
into Iraq . We've said this for some time. It's not new. So our focus is
going to be working with each side, with the Turks, with the Iraqis, and
encouraging them to work together on what is a very difficult and
persistent problem.” /Aksam/
[12] ARMENIAN FM: “ARTICLE 301 IS A BARRIER TO DEBATE ON GENOCIDE
ALLEGATIONS”
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian yesterday called on Turkey to
abolish controversial Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301. Speaking to the
European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Oskanian said the
article is a barrier to open debate on the so-called Armenian genocide
issue. Referring to Turkey ’s proposal to set up a commission of
historians to discuss the events of 1915, Oskanian said this offer has been
used by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to put Armenia in a
difficult position. /Milliyet/
[13] DEPUTY PM EKREN: “ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL PROMOTE STABILITY”
Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren yesterday outlined the government’s
economic program for its second term. Speaking at a press conference at the
Prime Ministry, Ekren said that an era of transition to stability had
begun. Ekren said this new era would be characterized by more jobs,
stronger industry, technological advances, stronger human resources and
macroeconomic stability. He said these factors would help boost per capita
income to $10,000. Ekren added that the government’s five-year
development plan covering 2008-2011 would be announced at the end of this
month or the beginning of November. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] A CRITICAL CROSSROADS
BY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)
Columnist Ismet Berkan comments Turkey ’s stance on the Kurdish issue. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“The death of 13 soldiers on Sunday in the southeastern province of
Sirnak deeply saddened Turkey. Actually, the (pro-Kurdish) Democratic
Society Party’s (DTP) inability to win a victory (in Turkey’s
southeast) and even its defeat by the ruling Justice and Development Party
(DTP) in many places in the July general elections were signs that the
terrorist PKK would end its ‘inactivity,’ because the PKK might stand
to lose members in these attacks, but it can’t accept a drop in its
regional support. If there is a ‘red line’ for the terrorist PKK, it is
the danger of losing mass support. Now it’s clear that this support
started to erode during the recent time of peace. The PKK has always
attracted mass support in its region by sowing terror and giving the
impression of strength. Unfortunately, this is continuing today. In other
words, peace doesn’t benefit the PKK. But, as you see, the paradox is
just this: Politics in the region should seek a solution of the Kurdish
issue that’s not under the shadow of guns. Whenever gun-free politics
stands in the forefront, the PKK feels disturbed, because then it faces
competition and loses ground. So the PKK is the biggest obstacle to solving
the Kurdish issue. PKK attacks mean that the security and military
dimensions of the problem now stand in the forefront. When guns speak,
everything and everybody else is silent. PKK attacks aim to expand the
problem beyond the Turkish border. This way it tries to push Turkey to
launch a cross-border operation and set off an international conflict. It
seems that the government has issued an order to the military and other
public institutions which excludes none of these possibilities. At this
stage, Turkey will think that the ‘autonomous Kurdish administration’
in northern Iraq and actually Massoud Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP) are responsible for PKK terrorism, because all of the group’s
logistics and training headquarters are in northern Iraq, as militants
enter Turkey via Iraq, launch attacks and then go back to Iraq. Turkey has
always held the occupying US and the central Iraqi government responsible
for this. But actually the control is in Barzani’s hands. If somebody is
held responsible, it should be Barzani. Firstly a message can be sent to
his administration asking that they not allow PKK attacks. He can also be
told that if the attacks continue, they will pay the price. If this message
reaches northern Iraq , nobody should be surprised. Actually, Barzani’s
northern Iraq administration should rein in the PKK. Barzani and his team
actually talk about this, but these are empty words. Turkey wants to see
action, not words. As we said above, the PKK continues to lose ground. A
statement made by non-governmental organizations yesterday in Diyarbakir
was very meaningful. Interestingly, these remarks are driving the terrorist
PKK into a corner and putting it at odds with Turkish Kurds. Now Turkey
stands at a very critical crossroads on the Kurdish issue. If we play our
cards right and make our moves wisely, the PKK can be soon be
marginalized.”
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