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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-21
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
21.11.2007
CONTENTS
[01] GUL: “DEMOCRACY STRENGTHENS THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM”
[02] ERDOGAN: “THOSE WHO IGNORE THE CONSTITUTION CAN’T PRACTICE POLITICS WITHIN A CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER”
[03] BABACAN MEETS WITH EU’S REHN AND PORTUGUESE FM AMADA
[04] IRAN, TURKEY SIGN ENERGY PACT
[05] TOP US COMMANDERS VISIT GENERAL STAFF TO DISCUSS PKK
[06] OPENING NOT TO THE MOUNTAINS, BUT TO THE CITIES
[01] GUL: “DEMOCRACY STRENGTHENS THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM”
Prioritizing democracy strengthens the fight against terrorism, said
President Abdullah Gul yesterday. “The more importance we attach to
democracy, the greater our successes will be,” he added. “Democracy
serves to isolate both terrorism and terrorists.” At an Ankara Chamber of
Commerce (ATO) awards ceremony, Gul said, “All citizens living in this
country are equal. We cannot ignore problems. Democracy isolates the ground
where terrorists seek to win over sympathizers.” In related news, before
leaving for a visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, Gul said that the Baku-Tbilisi-
Kars railway would offer new possibilities for passenger and freight travel
between Asia and Europe. Gul said that in bilateral and trilateral meetings
with his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts Mikheil Saakashvili and
Ilham Aliyev, they would discuss recent regional and international
developments as well as issues concerning Turkey. Gul is being accompanied
by State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and Transportation Minister Binali
Yildirim. /Aksam-Turkiye/
[02] ERDOGAN: “THOSE WHO IGNORE THE CONSTITUTION CAN’T PRACTICE
POLITICS WITHIN A CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday criticized recent statements
by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli about
a possible cross-border operation into northern Iraq. Speaking at his
Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) group meeting, Erdogan said that
those who fail to make the proper choice between terrorism and democracy
can’t look to democracy for help, adding, “Those who don’t pay heed
to constitutional provisions cannot practice politics within the
constitutional order.” He said, “The objective of the AKP is to make
everyone who acts in line with democracy and the constitutional order part
of the democratic system. Democracy is a system that tolerates all kinds of
differences.” In related news, chairing a Higher Board of Science and
Technology meeting, Erdogan said, “In international competition,
countries lacking strength will always lag behind.” /Star/
[03] BABACAN MEETS WITH EU’S REHN AND PORTUGUESE FM AMADA
A foreign ministers’ meeting of the Turkish-European Union Troika started
yesterday in Brussels with the participation of Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan. Afterwards, Babacan held a joint press conference with European
Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and Term President
Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amada. Babacan said that they had had a
fruitful and beneficial meeting. Stating that he had stressed Turkey’s
determination in its EU reform process, Babacan said, “What we expect
from the EU is that it not use the negotiation process for political
purposes, not discriminate between chapters in the negotiations, and that
it open the chapters which are technically ready for talks without
delay.” Babacan said that he also spoke about Turkey’s expectations on
the fight against the terrorist PKK and the Cyprus issue. /Turkiye/
[04] IRAN, TURKEY SIGN ENERGY PACT
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and his Iranian counterpart Parviz Fatah signed
yesterday an energy cooperation agreement. Under the pact, three thermal
power plants, one in Turkey and two in Iran, each with a 2,000 megawatt
capacity, are set to be built. In addition, a hydroelectric power which
will generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity will be constructed in Iran.
Guler said that the two countries will continue to sign similar agreements.
/Sabah/
[05] TOP US COMMANDERS VISIT GENERAL STAFF TO DISCUSS PKK
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and
Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq, yesterday
arrived in Ankara. The generals visited General Staff headquarters to
discuss the fight against terrorism with Gen. Ergin Saygun, deputy chief of
General Staff. In statements after the meeting, the PKK was described as a
common enemy of Turkey and the US. In related news, US Chief of General
Staff Adm. Mike Mullen yesterday said that Turkish-US relations carry a
vital importance, adding that the two countries’ armies have always
enjoyed strong relations. Stressing that the PKK is a terrorist group, he
denied that the US had in any way supported the PKK or its actions. In
another related story, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit today at the Prime Ministry. A
possible cross-border operation into northern Iraq and counter-terror
measures are expected to dominate the talks. /Milliyet- Cumhuriyet/
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[06] OPENING NOT TO THE MOUNTAINS, BUT TO THE CITIES
BY MUHARREM SARIKAYA (SABAH)
Columnist Muharrem Sarikaya comments on political parties debating how best
to fight terrorism. A summary of her column is as follows:
“Parliament saw harsh exchanges between party leaders yesterday. This
heated debate centered on methods for fighting terrorism. As Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli told his party’s group meeting
yesterday, disagreement over these methods is continuing in both the ruling
party and the main opposition. Bahceli’s criticism of the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) sprung from the possibility of a terrorists
being granted a general amnesty for. An answer to Bahceli was not long in
coming. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his own party’s group
meeting that they had no intention of issuing an amnesty. He also didn’t
retreat from his stance of ‘you must choose either weapons or
democracy.’ So when a terrorist who lives in the mountains lays his down
his arms and comes to a city, what will clear him? A general amnesty? AKP
deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat answered this by saying that
Erdogan’s call was not directed towards those in the mountains, but those
who live in cities and that the armed terrorists in the mountains and those
who foment terrorism in the cities with their words are the same.
Firat added that these words were being addressed to people who support the
(pro-Kurdish) Democratic Society Party (DTP) or the PKK and that they will
either live in cities and not support terrorism and exercise their
democratic rights, or they will suffer the consequences. When I asked him
about their plans for bringing terrorist group members who were never
involved in attacks down from the mountains, Firat said that as a result of
diplomatic contacts with the US and other relevant parties, a decision was
reached that the PKK would be unable to make a life in Iraq. He added that
those who live in the mountains will either lay down their arms and
surrender or suffer the consequences there. He added that they will first
lay down their arms and surrender, and then things will go from there.
Actually what he means about the next stop is clear: a judicial process.
What about the MHP proposal for a constitutional amendment to lift the
immunity of deputies who have committed crimes against the state? As
Erdogan said yesterday that the AKP wouldn’t carry out a political
lynching, the ruling party is closed to this initiative. In addition, the
view of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has become the target
of MHP criticism, differs from that of the AKP. CHP group deputy leader
Kemal Anadol said that an amendment wouldn’t cover current deputies and
asked, ‘So are we going to do this soon? Then what’s the use of doing
it? When all the immunities are lifted, the problem will be solved.’
Anadol added that there was another method, that is, if a report on a
deputy who has committed crimes against the state is submitted to
Parliament, then the Joint Commission on Immunities could convene and
address the issue. Then Anadol said in reproach that they haven’t been
able to convene the commission of late but hope they can this time.
Parliament started this week in tension, but I hope it will end this week
with a solution.”
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