|
|
|
Turkish Press Review, 08-07-10
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
10.07.2008
CONTENTS
[01] IN BID TO DEFUSE TENSION, GUL TO MEET WITH FORMER CHIEF OF GEN. STAFF OZKOK
[02] ERDOGAN TO ATTEND WEEKEND MEDITERRANEAN UNION SUMMIT IN FRANCE
[03] TERRORISTS ATTACK POLICE POINT OUTSIDE US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
[04] WHITE HOUSE, EU CONDEMN ATTACK ON US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
[05] US AMBASSADOR WILSON: "WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT TURKISH POLICE OFFICERS DO"
[06] PKK KIDNAPS 3 GERMAN MOUNTAINEERS IN AGRI
[07] NEW COMMANDER FOR KFOR'S TURKISH BATTALION
[01] IN BID TO DEFUSE TENSION, GUL TO MEET WITH FORMER CHIEF OF GEN. STAFF
OZKOK
President Abdullah Gul will meet today with former Chief of General Staff
retired Gen. Hilmi Ozkok at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to help defuse
political tension amid the ongoing Ergenekon probe into an alleged plot to
overthrow the government. Ozkok has recently warned that the country is in
a very dangerous political crisis and suggested that an official actor with
the support of the people should act to ease the tension. Implying that Gul
should intercede in the dispute over Ergenekon, Ozkok had said that the
Constitution makes it clear which figure bears responsibility for
coordinating various state institutions. Gul has already held a number of
meetings with civil groups and political party leaders in an effort to halt
worsening political polarization. As part of these efforts, next week he
will also meet with former European Court of Human Rights Judge Rıza
Turmen. /Sabah/
[02] ERDOGAN TO ATTEND WEEKEND MEDITERRANEAN UNION SUMMIT IN FRANCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Paris this weekend to
attend the Mediterranean union summit to officially launch the union
project, at the invitation of French President Nicola Sarkozy. The French
leader telephoned Erdogan on Tuesday to invite him to the meeting. Ankara
has been hesitant to embrace the union, an initiative spearheaded by
Sarkozy, known for his strong opposition to Turkey's EU accession bid, over
suspicions that it may be an attempt to deflect Turkey's full EU membership
goal. Erdogan has said that Turkey won't take part in the proposed union
without assurances that it isn't meant as an alternative to EU membership.
In related news, French Ambassador to Ankara Bernard Jean Maurice said that
France has no plans to suggest an alternative to Turkey's EU accession,
adding that the project aims to boost cooperation among Mediterranean
countries. "Turkey is a key country in the region, and that's why France
wants Turkey to be a part of the Union," he added. Maurice also said that
France will take a very objective approach to Turkey's EU accession talks
during its six-month term presidency which began on July 1. /Star/
[03] TERRORISTS ATTACK POLICE POINT OUTSIDE US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
Four gunmen attacked a police outpost in front of the US Consulate
yesterday around 11:00 am in Istanbul's Istinye district, killing three
policemen and injuring two others. Three attackers died in the assault and
one fled. No one inside the consulate was injured in the assault, described
by the authorities as a terrorist attack. Speaking to reporters, Istanbul
Governor Muammer Guler said that security forces had identified the
assailants and were trying to learn about their connections. In messages
issued after the incident, President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip
Erdogan stated that Turkey will fight terrorism resolutely, adding that
terrorists will never achieve their goals through attacks against security
forces. /All Papers/
[04] WHITE HOUSE, EU CONDEMN ATTACK ON US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
The White House yesterday condemned the attack on the US Consulate in
Istanbul. "We strongly condemn the attack," said White House spokesperson
Tony Fratto. Asked whether the US sees it as a terrorist attack, Fratto
said, "I'm not yet in a position to comment on the facts or nature of the
attack." In related news, en route to Tbilisi, Georgia, US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said that she appreciated the quick official
response to the attack, and thanked the Turkish government. "The US
expresses sorrow about the loss of lives, and it expresses its deepest
condolences to the families of the three Turkish police officers killed,"
she added. European Union Term President France stated that the EU firmly
condemns the attack and that they stand in full solidarity with the Turkish
and US governments. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, the European Parliament's rapporteur
for Turkey, also expressed her indignation and strongly condemned the
attack. The attack underlines the necessity to be vigilant and to stand
together with Turkey in the fight against international terrorism, she
added. She also expressed her deepest sympathy to the families of the
victims. /Milliyet/
[05] US AMBASSADOR WILSON: "WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT
TURKISH POLICE OFFICERS DO"
After yesterday's attack on the US Consulate in Istanbul, US Ambassador to
Ankara Ross Wilson said, "First, I want to express my condolences and those
of the US government to the families of three Turkish police personnel who
were killed in the attack that took place earlier today on our consulate
general in Istanbul. I understand there may be an additional two Turkish
police who are wounded, and they and their families and all of their loved
ones are very much in our thoughts and prayers." He added, "The police
responded effectively and quickly. We are deeply grateful for the work that
they do to protect our official US government establishments here. We are
of course cooperating closely with them now." He also said, "I spoke with
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary (Ertugrul) Apakan very shortly after the
attack earlier today, (and) he conveyed the government’s condolences and
commitment to protect our embassy, our consulates, and our official
establishments here and their personnel, for which I’m very grateful." He
added, "It is, of course, inappropriate now to speculate on who is
responsible for this or why they carried out this action. It is an obvious
act of terrorism. Our countries will stand together to confront this, as we
have confronted similar problems in the past." /Milliyet/
[06] PKK KIDNAPS 3 GERMAN MOUNTAINEERS IN AGRI
Three members of a 13-person mountaineering team were kidnapped late
Tuesday by five PKK terrorists from a camp on Mt. Agri (Ararat) at an
elevation of 3,200 meters. The terrorists reportedly said that the
kidnapping was in response to recent action taken by the German government
against PKK sympathizers and associations linked to the group. Agri
Governor Mehmet Cetin said that the gendarmerie had launched a sweeping
search and rescue operation, and that the other mountaineers had been
safely brought to the town of Dogubayazit. /All papers/
[07] NEW COMMANDER FOR KFOR'S TURKISH BATTALION
Command of the Turkish battalion serving as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR)
changed hands yesterday at a ceremony held in Prizren. Lt. Col. Kerim Acar
handed the helm of the Turkish troops over to Lt. Col. Mehmet Nail Yigit.
"The services offered by the Turkish battalion are an indication of the
Turkish nation's love for the people of Kosovo," Acar said. The Turkish
battalion has served in Kosovo since 1999. /Turkiye/
|
