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Monday, 18 November 2024
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Turkish Press Review, 08-04-07Turkish 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 morning07.04.2008CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN ATTENDS YOUTH AND WOMEN BRANCHES CONGRESSES IN MALATYA AND ANKARAPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended congresses held by his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) youth and women branches in both Malatya and Ankara. “The solution to a wide range of problems lies in democracy,” he said. “We’ll continue striving for Turkey. The decision belongs to the nation.” He added, “We’ll continue our struggle for a Turkey without discrimination, and to make Turkey a democratic, secular and social state ruled by the law.” /Turkiye/[02] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN VISITS CHINAParliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday arrived in China to hold a number of official contacts. He is being accompanied on his trip by a delegation including deputy Parliament speakers Nevzat Pakdil and Meral Aksener, Parliament Council Secretary members Fatma Salman Kotan and Yasar Tuzun, and Parliament administrative chief Orhan Erdem. Toptan and the delegation were received in Beijing by Fan Changang, a permanent member of the Chinese National Congress. /Turkiye/[03] CHP’S KOC: “PARTY DELEGATES WILL FAVOR RENEWAL”Delegates of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will favor change and renewal at the party’s general congress later this month, said a challenger to take the CHP helm yesterday. Speaking to delegates from a number of cities, Haluk Koc said that the CHP was facing a serious test in which it would leave the old way of doing things behind. He added that Turkey has no time to lose. The CHP congress is set for April 26-27. /Milliyet/[04] LABOR UNIONS PROTEST SOCIAL SECURITY BILLThousands of members of labor unions, including DISK and KESK, along with representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations, gathered yesterday in Istanbul’s Kadikoy Square to protest the government’s plan to reform social security, which is soon set for a vote in Parliament. Union leaders said that they had warned the government that if the bill is not changed, they could call for a general strike. /Milliyet/[05] TUSIAD: “TURKEY LACKS A SERIOUS OPPOSITION”Turkey lacks a serious political opposition, according to Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag. Speaking in the current issue of CNBC-E Business Magazine, Yalcindag said, “This situation (the lack of opposition) has resulted in TUSIAD’s statements being seen as more political. I wish there was a stronger opposition party whose statements were more constructive.” She added that TUSIAD was neither a political party nor a political organization, but a voluntary non-governmental organization. /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [06] WHAT WILL THE AKP ARGUE?BY NASUHI GUNGOR (STAR)Columnist Nasuhi Gungor comments on the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). A summary of his column is as follows: “The legal process has started. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has started to prepare its defense. Since the indictment was filed and accepted, people have been talking about various arguments. I understand those who say that there’s no need to even prepare a defense against this indictment, but I disagree. But I can’t understand people who want a defense confined to only the law. I wonder what the defense will be based on, as this is an important issue. Would it be wise to respond with a law- based defense to an indictment bound up in our recent conflicts, rather than legal issues alone? Wes should weigh this carefully. What can be done? Of course, there is a third way. Let’s think back on important cases and defenses which have left their mark on history. If you have to present a defense in an environment under pressure from the opposite side, the end is a foregone conclusion. But one can win with a historic defense worth remembering, one which is not only legal and political but one embracing life itself. The power to do this belongs to AKP leader and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as only one or two people have a position near his level. This defense should center around Erdogan and the values he represents. It should also include the nation, history, aesthetics, imaginative power and literary richness. The AKP shouldn’t see the issue as one of only defending itself. When our children read it, they should feel the honor of saying that this is our history. Everyone from every stratum of society, from mountain shepherds to intellectuals in Istanbul, should feel themselves in that defense. This defense should remind everybody of justice, including those who filed the indictment, and the defense should never beg for justice. I have an answer in advance to those who will see this as a challenge or an incitement to conflict: You can’t understand an honorable stance in history or representing the nation in defense. This defense means the history and nation, wounded feelings of injustice, and millions of people who are viewed with disdain. This defense will also mean Turkey itself. If the AKP sees its defense from this point of view, it will triumph, no matter what the verdict is. You can be rest assured that nobody will have the nerve to treat this nation like a suspect again.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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