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Turkish Press Review, 09-02-05
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
05.02.2009
CONTENTS
[01] GUL WARNS OF SECRET EFFORTS TO SPREAD ISLAMOPHOBIA
[02] ERDOGAN RECEIVES VISITING QATARI PM
[03] ANTI-TERRORISM BOARD CONVENES
[04] NEW PLAN SET TO MAKE ISTANBUL INTO GLOBAL FINANCIAL CENTER
[01] GUL WARNS OF SECRET EFFORTS TO SPREAD ISLAMOPHOBIA
On the second day of his official visit to Saudi Arabia, President Abdullah
Gul yesterday addressed the Saudi Consultative Council, making him the
first-ever foreign Muslim leader to do so. "Islamophobia has recently been
spread secretly," said Gul. Stating that trying to link Islam and terrorism
is a grave mistake, Gul added, "Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey try to promote
peace and stability in the region." Touching on the Arab peace initiative
to end the Arab-Israeli conflict, he said that the divide between
Palestinians should be bridged. He also expressed support for Saudi King
Abdullah's plan to bring together the conflicting Palestinian sides to make
peace. "If promises had been kept and the Palestinians had embraced each
other, the Palestinians would be better off, and recent developments would
never have happened," he said. Calling the Palestinian divide the chief
hurdle to an independent Palestinian state, he expressed his sorrow at the
recent Israeli attacks in Gaza. Later, speaking to the Turkish-Saudi
Business Council in Riyadh, Gul said that the Turkish banking system was
well prepared for the global financial crisis. "You can trust in Turkish
banks," he added. Afterwards, Gul met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Saud Al-Faisal. Gul also visited the King Saud University and the King
Abdulaziz Science and Technology Center. /Aksam-Star/
[02] ERDOGAN RECEIVES VISITING QATARI PM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received his Qatari
counterpart Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani. During their meeting, al-
Thani praised Turkey's work on the Gaza issue and efforts for regional
peace. Stating that Qatar wants to host an international conference on the
reconstruction of Gaza, al-Thani asked for Ankara's support. For his part,
Erdogan said that Turkey will continue its efforts to promote regional
peace, adding, "We approve of the conference on the reconstruction of Gaza.
Turkey will do its part." /Sabah/
Speaking at a meeting promoting Ankara candidates from the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) for next month's local elections, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey isn't a country controlled by
developments but instead one that controls them. Stating that over 80 years
ago the Turkish people rose to the unavoidable challenge of winning the War
of Independence, Erdogan added, "Today we have no choice but to win our
struggle for development. We will finally reach the level of modern
civilizations which Ataturk set a goal for us." Alluding to criticisms of
his walkoff from a panel in Davos last week, Erdogan said, "With the spirit
we inherited from our history, we will always protect the honor of the
Turkish nation and state, just as we have done so far." He added, "Turkey
is no ordinary country, although some media figures fail to understand
this." Erdogan also pledged major improvements to Ankara's subway network
in the years to come to reach such areas of the city as Cayyolu, Kecioren
and Sincan, saying that cooperation between the Transportation Ministry and
Ankara Greater Municipality will make this possible. During the meeting, AK
Party Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek, who is running for
reelection, touted his projects for the city. /Turkiye/
[03] ANTI-TERRORISM BOARD CONVENES
The Higher Anti-Terrorism Board chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan convened yesterday. During the meeting, which Chief of General
Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug also attended, a planned coordination
undersecretariat under the Interior Ministry was discussed. A resolution to
set up the unit will soon reach the Cabinet, and then is expected to be
sent to Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] NEW PLAN SET TO MAKE ISTANBUL INTO GLOBAL FINANCIAL CENTER
A new project is set to make Istanbul a regional financial center within 10
years and a global one in just a few decades, Deputy Prime Minister Nazim
Ekren said yesterday. Ekren touted the project at a joint press conference
alongside Istanbul Governor Muharrem Guler, Istanbul Greater Municipality
Mayor Kadir Topbas, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD) head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, IsBank CEO Erdin Ozince, and
Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) head
Omer Vardan. Stating that a strategy document for the project will be
finalized by June, he said if the project is well planned its goals could
be reached earlier. For her part, Yalcindag said that much needs to be done
to make Istanbul a financial capital like London, Hong Kong or New York,
adding that the project would benefit Turkey's overall economy. She said
that the project could create jobs for tens of thousand of peoples and add
$20 billion to Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025. Also speaking
at the conference, Ozince said the ongoing global economic crisis had
underlined the importance of the project, and added, "If Turkey is to be
one of the world's top 10 economies by 2023, the centenary of the Turkish
Republic, then the country will need not less than $300-500 billion of
financial capital." Also, Vardan said that Gulf capital has begun to see
Turkey as a safe haven for investment in the midst of the crisis, adding
that this project would bolster Turkey's appeal for foreign investors.
/Turkiye/
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