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Turkish Press Review, 01-09-17
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
17.09.01
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning
CONTENTS
[01] TGNA CONVENES
[02] AZNAR IN ISTANBUL
[03] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT
[04] THANKS FOR TURKEY
[05] KUTAN: "TERROR AND WAR ARE DIFFERENT THINGS"
[06] TURKISH ACADEMICIANS' STATEMENTS ON US RETALIATION
[07] ATTACK PROMPTS EU TO REVISE ITS ANTI-TERROR POLICY
[08] BAYKAL: "IT IS WRONG TO EQUATE TERROR WITH A RELIGION"
[09] MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IN PARIS
[10] ISO CHAIRMAN: "A NEW PROGRAM IS NECESSARY"
[11] ORAL: " WE WILL OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES"
[12] AGRICULTURE MINISTERS OF BALKAN STATES AT YALOVA
[13] TARUTINO COMPRESSOR STATION OPENS IN UKRAINE
[14] DENKTAS TO OPEN EXHIBITION IN GAZIANTEP
[15] TOBB SUPPORTS CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
[16] DERVIS TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS IN LONDON
[17] THE GREATEST EXPORT INCREASE WAS TO ITALY
[18] TURKEY DONATES 80 MILITARY VEHICLES TO AZERBAIJAN
[19] CLEANING PROCESS TO START ON BOSPHORUS
[20] TURKISH PHOTOGRAPHERS' EXHIBITION IN GERMANY
[21] TURKISH AIRLINES FLIGHTS RESTARTED
[22] GOLDEN ORANGE FILM FESTIVAL OPENS TO THE WORLD
[23] THE NEW YORK TIMES PRAISES ISTANBUL
[24] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM TH ECOLUMNS
[25] WHY? BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
[01] TGNA CONVENES
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) will convene today to debate the
proposal for Constitutional amendments on 37 articles. During the Plenary
Session, which will be chaired by the Speaker of the TGNA, Omer Izgi, a new
Deputy Speaker of the TGNA, as well as, new members from Felicity Party
(SP) and the Justice and Progress Party (AKP) for the Constitutional
Commission will be elected. /Hurriyet/
[02] AZNAR IN ISTANBUL
Spain Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar arrived in Istanbul yesterday to
attend the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Cervantes Institute and to hold
meetings with Turkish authorities. Premier Bulent Ecevit hosted a dinner
last night at the Cıragan Palace in the honour of Spanish Premier. Both
Prime Ministers will open the Institute following a press conference.
/Turkiye/
[03] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit left for Istanbul yesterday to hold a meeting
with Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar and to attend the opening ceremony
of the Cervantes Institute. Before leaving, upon a question posed by
journalists at the Esenboga Airport, regarding the threat of a nuclear war,
Ecevit said, " God save the world from a kind of nuclear war. It will a
disaster for the humanity." /Turkiye/
[04] THANKS FOR TURKEY
The US Secretary of State Colin Powell thanked Turkey for her support
against terrorism. Calling Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem last
night, Powell expressed his pleasure for Turkey's share in the grief of the
US nation for the recent terrorist attack and support. /Turkiye/
[05] KUTAN: "TERROR AND WAR ARE DIFFERENT THINGS"
The leader of the Felicity Party (SP) Recai Kutan said terror and war are
different concepts. Addressing a party meeting, regarding the terrorist
attack in the US, Kutan said, "Terrorism is not related to any religion.
Some circles try to establish a connection between terrorism and Islam.
This is completely wrong. Islam is a religion of peace and friendship." He
said struggle with terrorism is necessary. However, innocent people should
not be harmed." /Turkiye/
[06] TURKISH ACADEMICIANS' STATEMENTS ON US RETALIATION
Stating that international law recognized "retaliation" Prof. Rona Aybay at
Istanbul Bilgi University said, "Retaliation is in compliance with
international law. However, the problem is that US retaliation has no
specific target." Aybay said that the recent terrorist attacks on the US
led the world into a new period. Aybay added, "The current data is not
enough for taking a decision to attack a country. However, if the US
carries out an operation, they will have to explain their legal basis."
Meanwhile, Chairwoman of the Sociology Department at Marmara University
Prof. Nilufer Narli warned that if the US retaliated without any specific
targets, this would increase anti-American and anti-Western views in the
Eastern world and more people in the region would begin to label Americans
as "enemies" which might result in polarization and struggles between the
two cultures. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] ATTACK PROMPTS EU TO REVISE ITS ANTI-TERROR POLICY
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in new York City and the
Pentagon outside Washington on Sept 11, which prompted the US to prepare
retaliatory action at various points in the world has also brought to the
forefront a debate over an effective fight against acts of international
terrorism and terrorists. For the first time in its history NATO decided to
invoke Article V. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit expressed his desire that
some of Turkey's allies change the way they treat terrorists such as the
DHKP_C and PKK militants. The members of the European Union are expected to
definitely change their anti-terrorism policy, which is based, in the words
of a senior EU diplomat on the tolerance of dissidents residing in many
European countries. /Turkish Daily News/
[08] BAYKAL: "IT IS WRONG TO EQUATE TERROR WITH A RELIGION"
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal said it was wrong to
define terrorism by religion. Interpreting the terrorist attacks against
the US, Baykal said terrorism can affect a whole society and it has changed
its quality. He said, "Relating terrorism to a religion is a terrible
mistake. Terrorism has no religion. You can't define any religion as a
supporter of terrorism. Every religion accepts the importance of justice,
respect and care for human life. These events showed how important a
country Turkey is. Turkey, as a Muslim country, has always fought against
terrorism." /Turkish Daily News/
[09] MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IN PARIS
A delegation including Constitutional Court members traveled to Paris. The
delegation will make some official visits in several cities of Europe as
guests of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)Chief Luzuis Wildhaber, the
European Council and German Foreign Affairs Minister. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] ISO CHAIRMAN: "A NEW PROGRAM IS NECESSARY"
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ISO) Chairman Husamettin Kavi said that the
recent terrorist attacks on the US could be considered as the consequence
of the extreme social inequalities in the world. Emphasizing that Turkey
was one of the countries who were affected mostly by the attacks, Kavi said,
"IMF's and World Bank's current loans to be delivered to Turkey will not be
enough under these new conditions. We cannot talk about a sustainable
economic program based on tourism and exports revenues any longer. We need
to discuss the new conditions and their effects on Turkey as soon as
possible." /Hurriyet/
[11] ORAL: " WE WILL OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES"
Attending a ceremony in Karaburun, Izmir, Minister of Finance Sumer Oral
said Turkey is passing from a hard and difficult period , however, all
difficulties will be surmounted. Oral said, "Turkey is one of the great
countries in the world. She is 17th
with respect to the Gross National Income figure. We have the power and
potential to
overcome the difficulties. "Regarding the terrorist attack in the US, he
said, "This incident shows us how terrorism reached dangerous dimensions."
/Turkiye/
[12] AGRICULTURE MINISTERS OF BALKAN STATES AT YALOVA
At the "Balkan States Agriculture Ministers Meeting," which is being held
in Istanbul, ministers from eight countries met with Turkish Agriculture
Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp in Yalova. Gokalp said that they were working
on establishing a secretariat for the meeting and their aim was to carry
out any kind of collaboration between the states and coordinate the
marketing of agricultural products, and integration of agricultural
activities with the environment. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] TARUTINO COMPRESSOR STATION OPENS IN UKRAINE
The Turkish construction company, Transbalkan, has built a natural gas
compressor station in the Ukraine and has opened it. The construction of
the Ukraine Tarutino compressor station, which will increase the capacity
of the pipeline transporting natural gas from the Russian Federation to
Turkey by 3,9 billion cubic meters, costs 78 million US dollars. During the
opening of the compressor station, Member of the Executive Board of
Transbalkan and the General Director of Tekfen Construction, Umit Ozdemir,
said for the first time they worked without the partnership of a foreign
company. He added, "We have signed an agreement to implement the second
stage of the project. This is an important advantage for us." /Sabah/
[14] DENKTAS TO OPEN EXHIBITION IN GAZIANTEP
President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Rauf Denktas, will
go to Gaziantep today to open his personal photography exhibition called
"Through Denktas' Camera" and to maintain contacts. After the opening of
his exhibition in Gaziantep, Denktas will give a conference titled "Cyprus
Yesterday and Today." /Sabah/
[15] TOBB SUPPORTS CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commoditites Exchanges (TOBB) has stated
that it supports the changes to the Constitution. In a written statement it
said, "Our union hopes that the agreement will be protected by the
Parliamentary Committee and that constitutional amendments will be
implemented as soon as possible." The statement said changing the
constitution was necessary to move with the times. The TOBB has dealt with
this subject before, and called in a number of academicians to prepare a
constitutional change in 2000. It was stated that Turkey, whose aim is to
become a member of the European Union in this age of globalization,
accepted the results of the Copenhagen Summit in 1993 and announced its
Internal Program. The TOBB statement continued: "The TOBB supports the
changes to make individuals stronger in the state-individual relationship,
to improve human rights and the powers that protect human rights, and to
better local government foundations." /Turkish News/
[16] DERVIS TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS IN LONDON
State Minister Kemal Dervis began his visit to London. After having a
breakfast with a correspondent of Financial Times, Dervis will later have
an interview with the Trade Minister Baroness Symons in the Foreign
Ministry. It is also stated that Kemal Dervis will visit the central office
of Standart and Poors, which is an international rating organization, in
London. In the second day of his visit Dervis will join the Foreign
Economic Relations Council. He will explain the improvements in the Turkish
economy to the international finance circle and bankers. Dervis is also
expected to meet the President of the English Industrialists and
Businessman Confederation Digby Jones. /Milliyet/
[17] THE GREATEST EXPORT INCREASE WAS TO ITALY
In the first eight months of the year the export made to the European Union
Countries increased by 14% and reached 10 billion 722 million U.S. Dollars.
According to the data of the Export Associations, Turkey's export increase
to Italy took the lead by 36.1% increase. $1.5 billion export was made to
Italy. The export made to Germany increased 8.3% and reached $3.6 billion.
The export to Central and Eastern European countries increased by 23.3%.
/Milliyet/
[18] TURKEY DONATES 80 MILITARY VEHICLES TO AZERBAIJAN
Under a military training, technical and scientific cooperation agreement
signed with Azerbaijan, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has donated 80
military vehicles and four construction machines to the Nahkchevan's 5th
Army Corps Command, Anatolia news agency reported over the weekend. The
ceremony in Nakhchevan started with the playing of the national anthems of
both Turkey and Nakhchevan. The TSK's representative, 1st Mechanized
Infantry Brigade Commander General Necmettin Baykul, said that the ceremony
was one of the most beautiful tributes to Turkic unity and cooperation. Due
to Nakhchevan's geopolitical location, it needed motorized combat units
more than ever. /Turkish News/
[19] CLEANING PROCESS TO START ON BOSPHORUS
Deniztemiz (TURMEPA) Association has started a five-day-long clean up
campaign for the Bosphorus, Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday. The
campaign aims to collect solid garbage from the sea surface with the
participation of five ships. Three of them will sail between Beylerbeyi and
Kanlica, and two of them between Ortakoy and Bebek. Deniztemiz Association
Chairman Levent Lacin said that the Bosphorus would be cleared from top to
bottom and added: "We will collect all solid garbage in the Bosphorus for
five days. We have been carrying out such campaigns for the past two years,
and each year we collect some 500 tons of garbage." /Turkish News/
[20] TURKISH PHOTOGRAPHERS' EXHIBITION IN GERMANY
The photographs of three Turkish photographers, Isa Celik, Huseyin Ozdemir
and Tahsin Aydogmus, are being exhibited in Cologne, Germany. The main
theme of the exhibition is man. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] TURKISH AIRLINES FLIGHTS RESTARTED
Following the terrorist attack in the US, Turkish Airlines (THY)'s New York
flights were restarted. The plane, "Izmir", landed on Istanbul Ataturk
Airport yesterday with its 231 passengers. /Turkiye/
[22] GOLDEN ORANGE FILM FESTIVAL OPENS TO THE WORLD
The Chairman of Antalya Golden Orange Culture and Art Foundation Bekir
Kumbul attended the conference "7th Europe- Mediterranean Cinema" organized
by OCCAM (The Observatory for Culture, Communications and Audiovisual in
the Mediterranean) between September 6th-8th. OCCAM's Chairman Pierpaolo
Saporito said that OCCAM would give its full support to promote Antalya and
Golden Orange Film Festival to the world. /Cumhuriyet/
[23] THE NEW YORK TIMES PRAISES ISTANBUL
The New York Times, one of the influential newspapers in the US, has showed
that it ignores the nationalist reaction against Muslim countries that has
occurred due to the terrorist attack. In its tourism supplement titled "The
Sophisticated Traveler", which is published four times a year, Istanbul was
covered in seven pages. By writing on a Muslim country, even in an
atmosphere of chaos, the article has informed its readers that Turkey is an
important part of the free world. Thus, the newspaper gave the American
people the message that "Turkey is not dangerous for the American
citizens." /Sabah/
[24] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM TH ECOLUMNS
[25] WHY? BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the decisions Turkey must make regarding
terrorist actions. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Turkey must make certain hard but necessary decisions regarding what she
should do. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave certain clues as to what
these may be. He did not answer questions which could have led to
speculations. First of all, Turkey will act together with the US. She will
give full support to armed and unarmed US diplomacy to eradicate
international terrorism. Secondly, she will review her relations with
Europe while making these decisions. There are some problems in these
relations... For years Turkey was troubled by the tolerance shown towards
the terrorist groups working against Turkey.. European Security and Defense
Identity (ESDI) is another problem... However, none of these will hamper
Turkey's fight against terrorism together with the US. Bringing those
issues to the table during or at the end of the war may be a more rational
policy.. As we have seen that timing is of utmost importance in diplomatic
initiatives, and is of great significance in achieving success, we believe
we have to keep calm. Thirdly, Turkey does not have enough money to spare
for a military operation because of the economic crisis she suffers.
Everyone and mainly the US is aware of the situation. Washington says that
Turkey's stance has comforted ant pleased the US Administration. The
dialogue between Washington and Ankara is going on and the US defines
Turkish policy followed as rational and she is certain that Ankara will do
whatever is expected of her when the time comes . A country like Turkey who
suffered the pains of terrorism for long cannot remain outside this war or
passive. The second important name in the US Department of State, Richard
Armitage may stop by Turkey during his visit to Moscow. Ankara will receive
information concerning the recent events, the US plans and her expectations
from Turkey directly from Mr. Armitage in detail. She will have the
opportunity to ask questions in her mind. We hope Turkey will be able to
benefit from this new situation which brings many problems and advantages
together."
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