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Turkish Press Review, 08-09-22Turkish 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 morning22.09.2008FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] GUL TO ATTEND 63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSIONPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to New York to attend 63rd UN General Assembly session. During the assembly, Gul is expected to hold bilateral talks with fellow UN members to promote Turkey's bid for a non- permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. Speaking to reporters en route to New York, Gul stated that he will highlight the importance of Turkey's European Union membership in his speech on the occasion of new legislative session. Touching on the significance of cooperation between ruling and opposition parties during Turkey's full membership process, Gul said that many radical changes will be done in areas such as education and economy. Pointing to his recent visit to Yerevan, Gul noted that a bilateral meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian can be held in New York. Expressing his hopes for solving the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Gul stated that he will visit to Russia to help solving problems in the Caucasus. He added that trust is very important element to solve the disagreements and that the dialogue is a must to build an atmosphere of trust. Gul yesterday had a meeting with UN Development Program head Kemal Dervis, at Turkish House in New York, with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan also in attendance. /Turkiye/[02] IN ISTANBUL, PM ERDOGAN LAMBASTES CHPSpeaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regular congress yesterday in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticized main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. "They slander my name and my deputy Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat," said Erdogan. "Mr. Firat pledged to resign if the CHP proves its allegations. But there is no answer yet. This is the CHP's character. They slander first and taint a person." He said, "Those who don't believe in Turkey and trust in the nation see our goals as a vain dream," adding, "This isn't a vain dream." Calling on the CHP not to harm confidence in the country, the premier said, "Don't cast a shadow on the country's stability. If the confidence and stability is damaged, not the ruling party, but the country will lose." /Milliyet/[03] BABACAN TO MEET WITH RICEForeign Minister Ali Babacan is expected today to have a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in New York, where the two are attending the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. Babacan will also have bilateral talks with a number of foreign ministers attending the gathering. In addition, a landmark trilateral meeting among the top diplomats of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey is also expected to take place in New York this week. /Today's Zaman/[04] ERGENEKON SUSPECT ERUYGUR RELEASED FOR HEALTH REASONSOne of the Ergenekon probe suspects, retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, who has been kept in a hospital for the last five days due to a hemorrhage in his brain was released yesterday in line with the decision of the Istanbul's 9th High Criminal Court for health reasons. Eruygur's condition is reported to be stable. Eruygur, the retired head of the Gendarmerie General Command and the chairman of the Kemalist Thought Association, was arrested in Istanbul in early July as part of a probe into the Ergenekon criminal network, which is believed to aim to overthrow the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). /Hurriyet/[05] TUZMEN: "TURKEY WILL BE A SAFE HARBOR FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL AT A TIME OF GLOBAL CRISIS"Commenting on the impacts of the recent global economic crisis that had originated in the US and spread to the world markets, State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen yesterday said, "If it maintains economic stability, Turkey will be a safe haven for foreign capital at a time of the US-originated global economic crisis." Stressing that a cloud of foreign capital is wandering all around the world at the moment to find safe and reliable places, Tuzmen said, "Turkey is currently one of the safest havens for foreign capital. As long as we preserve our economic stability, we can draw more foreign capital and use this capital inflow to boost Turkey's exports and production." Pointing to the importance of human resources and brain power, the state minister added, "These powers are of great importance in our time. With these powers, we can considerably improve Turkey's exports." /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [06] UNDERSTANDING THE ANTI-ISLAM RALLY IN COLOGNEBY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on a planned anti-Islam movement by Neo-Nazis, which was then banned. A summary of her column is as follows: "Actually I curiously waited to see what would happen last Saturday. The Neo-Nazis planned to organize an anti-Muslim rally in Cologne. They weren't alone. Such far-right and racialist groups as Europe's Le Pen also supported this rally. A far-right group Pro-Cologne had been stimulated by a decision made by local authorities in Cologne to allow the construction of a mosque with a high dome and minarets. While the racism increases in Europe, the extent of the freedom of thought became a current agenda again. The camps became sharper due to the cartoon crisis. Neo-liberals argue that the Neo-Nazi organizations also have the right to spread their ideas, based on the understanding that everybody has the right to announce his thoughts. On the other hand, those who oppose them argue that insulting and offending views which target holy values should be prohibited. The Iranian administration requested the German government to ban the rally in Cologne, but it was refused, because everybody had the right to freedom of assembly. But the rally wasn't made, because the German government banned it and a strong voice was heard from the democrats against Neo-Nazis. In addition, many bartenders refused to serve drinks to racists, some drivers didn't allow them to get in their cars and even a hotel cancelled their reservations. Thousands of people went out to streets to make their voices heard. The clashes between the parties had an impact on the decision of ban as well, but the main reason was the determined stance of anti-Nazi organizations, defenders of human rights and progressive parties and movements. I wonder in which Muslim country a rally against minorities could be stopped by the wide and effective participation of the people in a similar way. Would the administrations turn a blind eye to racists or those who are against them? So the culture of democracy is the ability of being sensitive to others' rights as much as your own freedoms. The xenophobia is rising in Europe. The racism isn't only against the Jewish and Muslim people. The situation in women rights is also deteriorating. Feminist organizations have been announcing that there was deterioration in women rights due to the rise in conservatism and religiousness in Europe. Sweden, which is the most egalitarian country, ranks the first in terms of the domestic violence. But what's most striking is the women poverty. The economic crisis hits the women first. European democrats prevented this hideous situation in time. But the Neo- Nazi movement is now so high in Europe that it can't be degraded immediately. This clash won't end here. The example of Cologne lays a burden on the Muslim people living in Europe. Muslims should also object to fundamentalist movements and reject certain tendencies feeding racism in order to protect their own culture. Reactionary attitudes should never be tolerated." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |