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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-14Turkish 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 morning14.11.2007FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] ISRAEL’S PERES, PALESTINE’S ABBAS ADDRESS HISTORIC SESSION OF PARLIAMENTParliament yesterday held a historic session. Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, both visiting Ankara, addressed the assembled deputies. Peres, the first Israeli president to speak before the legislature of a majority-Muslim country, expressed Israel’s gratitude to the Turkish people for opening their doors to Jews in 1492 when they were expelled from Spain. “Here, they found a home of tolerance where they could freely practice their religion,” said Peres in his speech in Hebrew to 550 lawmakers and Palestinian President Abbas, as well as Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also addressing Parliament, Abbas became the first Palestinian leader to take the floor there. He thanked Turkey for its support to the Palestinian cause. Stating that the Israeli occupation doesn’t “bind with any religious or humanitarian views,” Abbas added that it also doesn’t contribute to an atmosphere of trust. The Palestinian leader said his administration was preparing for an upcoming Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland aimed at reviving peace talks between the two sides after they broke down amid violence seven years ago. “We’re doing all we can to ensure that the meeting in Annapolis is a success,” he said. The two leaders’ visit to Parliament was marked by tight security. /Turkiye/[02] FRANCE’S SARKOZY: “TURKEY’S EU BID ISN’T AN URGENT ISSUE”At a private meeting this week at the European Parliament before addressing the full body, French President Nicholas Sarkozy reportedly said that the issue of Turkey’s European Union membership isn’t an urgent issue but should be dealt with in about 15 years. “Sarkozy said that for the last 20 years nobody took an open, honest stance against Turkey, everybody promised it full membership, but this never happened and now it’s time to be honest,” according to French MEP Joseph Daul, who heads the European People’s Party-European Democrats (EPP-ED) group in the EP. “And Sarkozy said France doesn’t see any problems on opening 30 out of 35 chapters (of its membership talks), which won’t bring Turkey to full membership.” /Aksam/[03] ANNAN PREDICTS “VERY BRIGHT” FUTURE FOR TURKEYSpeaking at the 16th Quality Congress co-hosted by the Turkish Society for Quality (KalDer) and the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that he sees Turkey’s future as being “very bright.” “Geography is one of Turkey’s biggest advantages,” he said. “Besides, you’re very close to the European Union. There’s also the Russian Federation. You’re also very close to Asia. Consequently, I see a very bright future for Turkey.” Touching on the Cyprus issue, Annan said that the matter would eventually be solved. In related news, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) head and former Turkish Economy Minister Kemal Dervis also addressed the congress, saying that Turkey’s global importance is on the rise and its economy is also growing rapidly. /Aksam/[04] ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN LEADERS AGREE ON TURKISH-SPONSORED INDUSTRIAL PARK IN WEST BANKAs part of the Ankara Forum, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, held a meeting yesterday to establish a Turkish-sponsored industrial park in the West Bank. The project is expected to generate jobs for thousands of Palestinians and build confidence between Israelis and Palestinians. Following the signing of a declaration for the venture, Gul stressed that peace and stability should be ensured in the region for the sake of prosperity in the Mideast. Also speaking to the gathering, Peres and Abbas expressed their hope for peace in the Mideast and that the venture would aid such efforts. /Milliyet/[05] TALABANI: “IRAQ OPPOSES ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST TURKEY”Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said yesterday that Iraq is opposed to all forms of violence against Turkey. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa in Cairo, Talabani said that he views any kind of armed attack on Turkey as an attack on Iraq itself. Stressing that his administration recently began to focus on ending the terrorism which threatens both Turkey and Iraq, Talabani added that most effective way to do this is to urge the terrorists to lay down their arms through media and political pressure. /Sabah/[06] JUSTICE MINISTER SAHIN: “ARTICLE 301 WILL BE REVISED”Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday said that a review of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was continuing and that the article will be revised, not abolished. “I expect Parliament to take steps to revise this article before year’s end,” he added. /Cumhuriyet/[07] BAYKAL: “THE GOVT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT ACTING ON TERRORIST ATTACKS FROM N.IRAQ”The government is guilty of inaction in the face of terrorist attacks from northern Iraq, charged main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday, “Even though the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is said to be awaiting direction for a (cross-border) operation, the consequences of just watching this situation passively belong to the government,” he told a party group meeting. “Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not taking action, despite his calling a cross-border operation ‘inevitable,’ is sad. What is needed now is a national policy developed by cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. The TSK said that it had completed all preparations for a military operation. The government hasn’t taken the necessary decision concerning this issue, and the conflict rages on. Turkey is at a sensitive point, and we need to take critical decisions. If the government has a project in mind, we’re ready to support it.” In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticized the government’s terrorism policy. Bahceli also lashed out at Baykal, saying, “His stance is like an insurance policy that paves the way for (Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud) Barzani and his peshmerga soldiers to found an independent state.”/Hurriyet/[08] TOBB’S HISARCIKLIOGLU RECEIVES ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN BUSINESSMENTurkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, organizer of the Ankara Forum, said yesterday that they hope to implement a new industrial park project in the West Bank as soon as possible. Receiving Israeli and Palestinian businessmen who accompanied their presidents during their visit to Turkey, Hisarciklioglu urged both sides to do their best to make the venture a reality. Israeli Union of Industrialists head Shraga Brosh said that the project would help promote peace in the region, while Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Trade, Industry and Agriculture head Ahmet Hashem Elzogheir expressed his hope that the embargo on the Palestinian people would soon be lifted. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [09] ARE NEW ROLES BEING ASSIGNED?BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on the Iranian issue and the terrorist PKK. A summary of his column is as follows: “Firstly, let me go through some thoughts and questions on my mind: 1. The most concrete result of the recent meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President George W. Bush was quick intelligence sharing. So the US will tell Turkey, and we will strike. The meeting about a limited operation came to nothing. What’s more, according to the chief of General Staff, this intelligence sharing hasn’t started yet. It can be seen as a mark of friendship, but it could also be seen as meaning, ‘You can strike to the extent that I allow you.’ As I wrote earlier, one could also question why our ally didn’t share intelligence up to now about our ‘common enemy.’ 2. The PKK is our ‘common enemy,’ but the US is acting together with the PKK-connected PJAK in Iran, and certain terrorists who work on PJAK’s behalf are of Turkish origin. How will the US be able to distinguish between members of the PKK and PJAK, who live on the same mountains and in the same camps? 3. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) suddenly started to produce softer, reasonable suggestions on the Iraq issue. Also it’s not putting pressure on the government for a cross-border operation. Is it mere coincidence that this sudden change of heart came right after the Bush meeting? 4. Is it also a coincidence that following the Erdogan-Bush meeting, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) left behind its role as PKK sympathizer and turned into the PKK’s bona fide political wing, all but officially, by clearly defending the PKK’s policies? Do you remember any other period in which Kurdish elements argued so fearlessly for a federation on official platforms? Some reporters think that considering the DTP’s toughened stance and official_unofficial reactions to it, convicted PKK terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan is working to get the DTP closed, because he doesn’t want the PKK to become a political group. This is possible, but another scenario occurs to me: 1. How Turkey will be able to politically digest PKK politicization and debate over a ‘democratic republic consisting of two separate elements’ will be tested. If it can stomach it enough, PKK elements controlled by the US will give up terrorism. 2. PKK elements which the US has lost control over and which are now even under the control of other countries will be hit jointly. 3. The government will show a warm new stance on northern Iraq with the support of the opposition. The US will finally reach a position where it can entrust northern Iraq to Turkey. In sum, the more the PKK can politicize its own separatist policies, the further it will move away from terrorism! Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday shook hands in Ankara and showed the entire world that they stand with Turkey and the US on solving the Israeli-Palestinian issue. But Turkey’s stances on issues like Hamas and Iran are still murky, and so it can’t please the US or Israel. It seems to me that Turkey is expected to be able to stomach PKK politicization and take a clear stand next to the US on the Iran issue, so that the above deal can go through. We’ll soon see what kind of a stance our government will take on the Iranian issue and how far it can sell these deals with the US to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)!” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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