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Turkish Press Review, 08-08-06
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
06.08.2008
CONTENTS
[01] GUL APPOINTS 21 UNIVERSITY RECTORS
[02] PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SYRIA 'S ASSAD
[03] BABACAN: "THE GOVT WILL SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE EU REFORM PACKAGE"
[04] BAHRAINI KING MEETS WITH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT
[05] LAGENDIJK: "TURKEY AND THE EU SHARE THE SAME LONG TERM INTERESTS"
[06] IRAN SENDS NEW AMBASSADOR AHEAD OF AHMEDINEJAD VISIT
[07] TURKISH CYPRIOT GOVT DECLARES READINESS FOR TALKS
[08] CAGLAYAN URGES BAHRAINI BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TURKEY
[01] GUL APPOINTS 21 UNIVERSITY RECTORS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday appointed 21 universities rectors. Gul
appointed 12 rectorial candidates who won the largest number of votes in
elections at their respective universities, along with six candidates who
got the second-largest number of votes, and three who got the third-largest
number of votes. Afterwards, a Presidential Press Center statement stressed
the importance of Turkish universities competing with scholarly and
scientific work among each other as well as prestigious international
universities. Gul also said that universities play a key role in countries'
economic, political, social and cultural development. He called on Turkish
academics to reach European Union standards in universities, and also
congratulated the new rectors, wishing them the best of luck in their
duties. /Star-Milliyet/
[02] PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SYRIA 'S ASSAD
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Syrian President
Bashar Assad, who is currently vacationing in the Turkish resort town of
Bodrum. During their nearly five-hour meeting, the two discussed bilateral
relations, recent developments in the region, the tension between Tehran
and Washington over Iran's nuclear program, and other international issues.
/Turkiye/
ERDOGAN VISITS AREAS HIT BY FOREST FIRE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday visited areas in the
Mediterranean province of Antalya badly damaged in a recent forest fire.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan said that the entire community
and all state resources had mobilized to put out the fire. Stating that the
Cabinet had discussed the fire at its Monday meeting, he added that the
government will do whatever is necessary. Promising that the government
will rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by the fire, Erdogan said that they
also will continue to help injured people through the governor's office and
local officials. /Turkiye/
[03] BABACAN: "THE GOVT WILL SUBMIT A COMPREHENSIVE EU REFORM PACKAGE"
Speaking to Sabah daily yesterday, Foreign Minister and chief negotiator
for Turkey's EU Talks Ali Babacan said once Parliament reconvenes, the
government will submit a comprehensive European Union reform package
elaborating the country's reform efforts towards EU full membership over
the next four years. To eliminate hurdles to its membership bid, he said
Turkey should reach EU standards in all areas. Babacan also said the
reforms serve to benefit Turkey. Asked about Constitutional Court Chief
Justice Hasim Kilic saying party closures should be made more difficult,
Babacan said the issue would be discussed by both the Cabinet and
Parliament, adding that Turkey should make changes to bring it in line with
EU standards. Babacan said that following the court's decision not to ban
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkey has an important
opportunity to realize new EU reforms. /Sabah/
[04] BAHRAINI KING MEETS WITH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT
During an official visit to Turkey at the invitation of President Abdullah
Gul, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa yesterday met with Chief of
General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Turkey's top military leader welcomed
the monarch with a ceremony at General Staff headquarters. Later they had a
meeting along with Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and Deputy Chief of
General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun. /Aksam-Turkiye/
[05] LAGENDIJK: "TURKEY AND THE EU SHARE THE SAME LONG TERM INTERESTS"
In the end Turkey will join the European Union, because they share the same
long-term interests, said Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-
Chairman Joost Lagendijk yesterday. "In the next 20 or 50 years, the US,
Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa will be the main powers, so
the EU and Turkey will have to join forces in that new order," he said.
"Developments in the Middle East are very important for Europe, and it
needs Turkey's experience and support to play a key role in the region and
to become a global actor." Lagendijk said that after the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) came to power in late 2002, there were initially
many reforms and an optimism in Turkey. But its EU membership process got
harder after 2004, he added, because there were forces in both Turkey and
Europe determined to stop it. Lagendijk said that one of the reasons for
falling Turkish public support for EU membership was the EU's Cyprus policy,
which he called their biggest mistake. Lagendijk decried the EU's accepting
Greek Cyprus as a member in 2004 before the issues of the island were
solved, and in the wake of Greek Cypriots rejecting a UN reunification plan
while the Turkish Cypriots accepted it. This damaged the EU's reputation in
Turkish eyes, he said. Lagendijk added that he thought Turkey might join
the EU in the next seven to 10 years, but that no date was certain. On a
recent top court decision not to close down the ruling AKP, Lagendijk said
that now the EU expects Turkey to resume passing reforms for its
membership. /Aksam/
[06] IRAN SENDS NEW AMBASSADOR AHEAD OF AHMEDINEJAD VISIT
After two years of having representation in Turkey at only the chargé
d'affaires level, Iran finally sent a new ambassador to Ankara yesterday,
just one week ahead of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ambassador Bahman Hussein Pour is expected to present his letter of
credentials to President Abdullah Gul this week. /Today's Zaman/
[07] TURKISH CYPRIOT GOVT DECLARES READINESS FOR TALKS
Turkish Cypriots are prepared for full-fledged negotiations on the future
of the island set to start next month, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) government spokesperson Hasan Ercakica told reporters yesterday.
"The timeline previously set by our president is very realistic," he said.
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat had said a solution could be reached by
next year. /Turkish Daily News/
[08] CAGLAYAN URGES BAHRAINI BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TURKEY
Addressing a Turkish-Bahraini Business Forum in Ankara , Industry and Trade
Minister Zafer Caglayan said yesterday that Turkey would be an important
regional food production center in the years to come. Stating that Turkey's
doors are open wide to Bahraini businessmen, he called on them to invest in
the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Stressing that opportunities for
foreign investors in Turkey abound, Caglayan said Turkey's Investment
Support and Promotion Agency as well as the Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) will help Bahraini businessmen interested in
GAP to invest in the areas of food, livestock breeding, and agriculture.
Referring to an economic cooperation pact signed between the two countries,
Bahrain's Industry and Commerce Minister Abdallah al-Fakhru told the forum
that his country would do its best to improve mutual investments. He said
that it would be helpful to reach stronger agreements in the cement, iron
and steel, and public works sectors to further develop commerce between the
two countries. TOBB head Murat Hisarciklioglu also said that his group
would provide all necessary support to Bahraini businessmen who want to
invest in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) /Sabah/
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