|
|
Turkish Press Review, 07-11-19
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
19.11.2007
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK, TURKISH PMS OPEN TAPS ON EUROPE'S FIRST SUPPLY OF CASPIAN GAS
[02] EU OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS PKK ISSUE
[03] ATALAY HOLDS TALKS WITH REGIONAL OFFICIALS IN DIYARBAKIR
[04] BAYKAL ADVOCATES MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ
[05] IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS: “IF NO CIVILIANS ARE HARMED, WE WON’T INTERFERE WITH CROSS-BORDER OP”
[06] DTP HOLDS RALLY IN BATMAN
[07] IRAN: “WASHINGTON IS AIDING THE PKK”
[08] CLOSING A PARTY, OR GETTING IT CLOSED
[01] GREEK, TURKISH PMS OPEN TAPS ON EUROPE'S FIRST SUPPLY OF CASPIAN GAS
The Turkey-Greece Natural Gas Pipeline, enabling Caspian natural gas to
reach Europe for the first time, was officially opened yesterday with a
ceremony at the Ipsala Customs Area. In attendance were Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler,
Greek Development Minister Christos Folias, Georgian Energy Minister
Alexander Khetaguri and US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. The pipeline is
a landmark, as it is the first concrete step for transferring natural gas
from the resource-rich countries east of Turkey to Europe. Turkey has a
comprehensive energy vision, Erdogan told the ceremony. “Within this
vision, we are working to strengthen Turkey’s position as a transit
country. The foundations for this project were laid on July 3, 2005 and it
was completed in short order. Thanks to it, natural gas resources in the
Middle East and North Africa will be transported to Europe via Turkey and
Greece.” He added, "Turkey aims to become a transit country linking East
and West as well as North and South. Now the Silk Road will become an
energy route linking East and West, through Turkey. There has been great
cooperation between Turkey and Greece, and this has also boosted prosperity
and stability in the region.” Also speaking at the ceremony, Karamanlis
called the pipeline a huge step promoting both cooperation between the two
countries and stability in the region. Expressing Athens’ support for
Ankara's EU membership bid, Karamanlis added that as long as their
countries continue to cooperate, the Turkish and Greek peoples can be
optimistic about the future. /Aksam-Sabah/
[02] EU OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS PKK ISSUE
Top officials from European Union member states will gather in Brussels
today to discuss the PKK issue and a possible Turkish possible military
incursion into northern Iraq. During the two-day General Affairs Council
meeting, member state foreign, interior and defense ministers are expected
to urge the Iraqi and Kurdish regional administrations to prevent
violations of the Turkish-Iraqi border and to take necessary measures
against the terrorist PKK. In related news, a Turkey-EU troika meeting will
be held tomorrow in Brussels. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will represent
Turkey at the meeting. EU Term President Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis
Amado and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will also attend the
gathering. /Star/
[03] ATALAY HOLDS TALKS WITH REGIONAL OFFICIALS IN DIYARBAKIR
Interior Minister Besir Atalay yesterday held a meeting with governors,
police chiefs and gendarmerie commanders from 11 southeastern provinces.
During the three-hour meeting at the Diyarbakir Governor's Office, they
discussed the region’s need for investments and services and the problems
it faces. “We will not sacrifice democracy to terrorism,” Atalay said.
"We are doing our best to promote individual freedom, and we will continue
to do so." /Milliyet/
[04] BAYKAL ADVOCATES MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said
yesterday that Turkey should carry out a cross-border military operation
into northern Iraq. Appearing on TV, Baykal said not taking this action
would harm Turkey’s dignity. Stressing that Ankara should convince the
Iraqis to expel the terrorist PKK from northern Iraq, Baykal said that
everybody favors peaceful diplomatic means, but if they fail to get results,
a military incursion should be taken. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS: “IF NO CIVILIANS ARE HARMED, WE WON’T
INTERFERE WITH CROSS-BORDER OP”
Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani yesterday met with local political
leaders who recently visited Ankara to discuss a possible Turkish cross-
border operation. A statement released after the meeting said that as long
as no civilians are harmed, Iraqi Kurdish leaders will not interfere with
such an operation. “After visiting Ankara, we don’t believe Turkey
wants to launch a large operation,” said Kurdistan Islamic Union
Secretary General Salaheddine Bahaaeddin Mohammed. /Star/
[06] DTP HOLDS RALLY IN BATMAN
The Democratic Society Party (DTP) yesterday held a “Peace, Democracy,
and Freedom” rally in the southeastern city of Batman. Former Democratic
Labor Party (DEP) Deputy Leyla Zana also attended the gathering. Security
forces detained a number of demonstrators who chanted slogans in support of
convicted terrorist PKK head Abdullah Ocalan. In addition, police clashed
with hundreds of supporters of the terrorist PKK in the eastern Anatolian
city of Van over the weekend. /Turkiye/
[07] IRAN: “WASHINGTON IS AIDING THE PKK”
US occupation forces in the region are responsible for the security
problems in northern Iraq besetting Turkey and Iran, alleged Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Huseyni yesterday. Speaking to
reporters at a weekly press conference, Huseyni said that they have
intelligence that occupation forces in Iraq support the terrorist PKK
through providing both weapons and training. He added that regional
cooperation could stop the terrorist PKK’s attacks in the region. /Star/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[08] CLOSING A PARTY, OR GETTING IT CLOSED
BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on prospect of the closure of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP). A summary of her column is as follows:
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a clear stance on the possible
closure of the Democratic Society Party (DTP). He said the government’s
duty is to protect Turkey’s democratic foundations. This remark shows
that Erdogan is against such a closure. In principle, the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) is against closing political parties. It has
experience with this. As the government’s task is to protect democracy,
it’s also responsible for improving and expanding it. But if a party is
determined to get itself closed down, things will get harder for the
government. Speeches made by DTP leaders at its rally in Van over the
weekend show how it sees politics as getting help from tension-raising
tactics. This is what makes recent developments interesting. The government,
some of the opposition and the media are arguing against a DTP closure, but
the DTP itself wants to be closed.
This threatens recent moves by Erdogan. Maybe his call [for Kurds] to lay
down their weapons and enter politics doesn’t reflect just his views. It
seems this is also his party’s stance. I wonder how sincere or determined
the government is about this. In principle, making political room for the
Kurds is the best choice to counter terrorism, but only if there’s follow-
through. If there is none, this will bolster those who believe there is no
political solution. So how should this opportunity be handled? Probably the
first thing to do is take immediate steps to foster the atmosphere of
freedom of thought and expression.
When the DTP opens its mouth, this triggers a mob lynch impulse among some.
So the call for a political solution would be meaningless, wouldn’t it?
When soldiers in Diyarbakir march while chanting about a ‘single language,
’ wouldn’t an invitation to politics be meaningless? This invitation
shouldn’t remain empty words. At this point, the DTP’s deputies in
Parliament have certain duties. The government should take this opportunity
into consideration and work to improve the atmosphere of dialogue.”
|