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Turkish Press Review, 08-02-25Turkish 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 morning25.02.2008CONTENTS
[01] GROUND FORCES CONTINUE CROSS-BORDER OP IN N.IRAQThe General Staff yesterday stated that 33 PKK terrorists had been killed on the third day of the current cross-border operation including land forces into northern Iraq. The latest numbers put the number of terrorists killed from the beginning of the operation at 112. Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug on Saturday went to the border region for inspections, and is commanding the operation from there. In related news, a delegation headed by Turkey’s Special Representative to Iraq Oguz Celikkol will travel to Iraq this Wednesday. The trip follows President Abdullah Gul’s invitation to his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani to visit Ankara, and is set to discuss details of the invitation and the current operation. /Turkiye-Aksam/[02] SOLDIERS FALLEN IN CROSS-BORDER OP LAID TO RESTFive soldiers killed during the current cross-border operation against the terrorist PKK were laid to rest in their hometowns yesterday. The funeral of Pvt. Erkan Aslan was held in Diyarbakir, and the funeral of Commando Pvt. Ibrahim Gedik was held in Trabzon. Petty Officer Emre Bolat, who lost his life in a land mine explosion in Bingol, was laid to rest in Eskisehir. Finally Pvt. Gokhan Ozkan was laid to rest in Canakkale, and Commando Pvt. Ibrahim Ulger was laid to rest in Kirikkale. /Cumhuriyet/[03] GUL’S FOUR-DAY AFRICAN TOUR AIMS AT STRONGER TIESPresident Abdullah Gul tomorrow will begin a three-nation African tour aimed at stronger ties in the continent. In Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Gul will hold talks in preparation for the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit, set to be held in Istanbul this August. /Today’s Zaman/[04] ERDOGAN: “CIVILIANS IN IRAQ CAN REST EASY, AS OUR TARGET IS THE TERRORIST CAMPS”Addressing his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Youth Branches Congress yesterday in Istanbul, Prime Minister Erdogan spoke about the current anti-terrorist operation including land forces in northern Iraq. “Our armed forces are displaying heroism in spite of the harsh winter conditions and difficult geographical circumstances.” he said. Stating that the army’s targets are terrorist PKK camps in northern Iraq, he added, “We are continuing our efforts to isolate the terrorist organization from society. Everyone should be aware that our only aim is to protect our people, our borders, integrity and unity, and preserve the safety of our people. This is just a cleansing operation against terrorists. Our brothers in Iraq can be relieved, as they are not the target of our armed forces. Our target is the terrorist camps.” /Sabah/[05] CHP SET TO CHALLENGE END TO UNIVERSITY HEADSCARF BANPresident Abdullah Gul on Friday signed constitutional amendments to lift the headscarf ban at universities. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has prepared a legal petition to challenge the changes, arguing that they would violate the Constitution’s unalterable principle of secularism. CHP deputy group leader Hakki Suha Okay said yesterday that the amendments should be ignored and that the party would apply to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday to have them overturned. /Hurriyet/[06] US DEFENSE SEC’Y URGES QUICK END TO N.IRAQ OPS AFTER MISSION COMPLETIONUS Defense Secretary Robert Gates over the weekend urged a quick end to the current Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) cross-border operation into northern Iraq, once they accomplish their mission, as well as non-military methods to help end terrorism. “I would hope that it (the operation) would be short, that it would be precise and avoid the loss of innocent life, and that they leave as quickly as they can accomplish their mission,” Gates said during an official visit to Australia. “I think that all of our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan shows us that, while dealing with a terrorist problem does require security operations, it also requires economic and political initiatives.” He added, “This is a difficult, long-term problem, and … it needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way. Just using the military techniques are not going to be sufficient to solve the problem for the Turks. I think Turkish concern will only be allayed when there is a significant diminution in PKK activity in Turkey.” /Cumhuriyet/[07] ANKARA TO RECEIVE YEMENI PRESIDENT TODAYYemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is scheduled to arrive in Ankara today for an official two-day stay, marking the first presidential-level visit between the two countries. Saleh will meet with President Abdullah Gul and also Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today. The visiting leader will also attend a business forum of Turkish and Yemeni business representatives tomorrow. /Today’s Zaman/[08] COMMUNIST CANDIDATE WINS SOUTHERN CYPRIOT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONCommunist Akel Party leader Dimitris Hristofyas’ unofficial win in yesterday’s presidential election in Southern Cyprus is expected to strengthen hopes for a solution to the Cyprus issue. During his campaign, Hristofyas, known to have a softer stance on the issue than his predecessor Tassos Papadopoulos, pledged to meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat with an eye to restarting talks. Talat telephoned Hristofyas to congratulate him, and both reiterated their willingness to meet as soon as possible. Hristofyas is set to be the first communist president in European Union history. /Sabah/[09] EXPORTERS SOUND WARNING ON INFORMAL ECONOMYExporters yesterday warned the government that its current measures to combat the informal economy are ineffective and others are needed. During a meeting of top Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) officials, TIM head Oguz Satici told government officials present, including State Minister for foreign trade Kursad Tuzmen and Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Erken, that jail sentences for violators don’t work. Encouraging businesses to regularly pay their taxes would be better, he suggested. The exporters also urged a 5% cut in employers’ social security premiums, new investment tax credits, incentives for key sectors (rather than regions), and changes to Eximbank loans. /Milliyet/.FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [10] HOW IS THIS LAND OPERATION DIFFERENT?BY NASUHI GUNGOR (STAR)Columnist Nasuhi Gungor comments on the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) cross- border operation into northern Iraq which begn last week. A summary of his column is as follows: “People are divided over what the current TSK cross-border operation into northern Iraq will bring in the short term. First we must carefully weigh recent developments. Before and after the motion authorizing cross-border operations, which Parliament passed overwhelmingly, many people thought that this government wouldn’t take such an operation. Both the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), as well as all other opposition elements, thought this. They claimed the motion had been deliberately delayed and would never be acted on, as the weather would get worse, and the government was stalling However, there were other developments back then which got little notice. For example, the premier’s speeches to his parliamentary group meetings about a year ago. He said in them that Ankara would not allow tricks in Kirkuk, or one ethnic group to take power in the Iraqi region (near northern Iraq). Let’s review other developments as well as Turkey’s diplomatic successes. Plans for a referendum in Kirkuk urged on by Kurds were postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, Sunni groups, which had been marginalized, are again gaining influence through Ankara’s efforts. All these were critical steps by Turkey for Iraq’s future and having a say for peace in the region. In line with this process, the government then started airstrikes in the region. This disproved naysayers who predicted no operation could take place during the winter. In addition, it ensured an important psychological advantage. People closely following developments could see that a land operation would definitely follow the airstrikes. But nobody had expected it before March. This land operation has important differences from other recent ones. The first and most important difference is the government’s domination of the topic. Thus, the roles and places of all institutions are in line. The time when the political power had to follow the lead of security officials is gone. The government is the one setting and applying policy. The second difference is the timing. Ankara recently underlined its role in the region by recognizing Kosovo and holding high-level contacts in Moscow. In addition, in a critical period due to petroleum agreements, it clearly announced its presence. Third, Turkey made clear any political balance in the region not including it will be short-lived. This, at the same time, points to the resetting of power balances in northern Iraq and a more active period for Turkey. Fourth, the military forces for the first time have ever been put into action in harmony with other tools. Of course Turkey doesn’t hold all the cards. But some circles that see this move as a matter of domestic politics are underestimating certain issues.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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