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Turkish Press Review, 03-09-11
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
11.09.2003
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] AT RACETRACK GROUNDBREAKING, ERDOGAN HAILS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF FORMULA ONE
[02] GUL: “THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRACK AND PROMOTE OUR EU REFORMS”
[03] EDELMAN: “THE US WILL RID NORTHERN IRAQ OF THE PKK_KADEK THREAT”
[04] TURKISH-US DEPLOYMENT TALKS DECIDE FIVE HEADQUARTERS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN IRAQ
[05] GOVERNING COUNCIL HEAD CHALABI REVERSES COURSE, CALLS MORE FOREIGN TROOPS IN IRAQ “UNWELCOME”
[06] PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT SAMPAIO DUE IN ANKARA
[07] STATE MINISTER AKSIT TO ATTEND WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN ITALY
[08] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER GULIYEV TO VISIT ANKARA
[09] PAPANDREOU: “ANNAN’S PLAN IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR CYPRUS”
[10] WILLIAM SAFIRE: “IRAQ’S FM SHOULD REQUEST PEACEKEEPING TROOPS FROM TURKEY”
[11] IN BOSTON, STATE MINISTER BABACAN TOUTS TURKEY’S ECONOMIC SUCCESS
[12] IMF’S DAWSON: “WE WELCOME TURKEY’S CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM”
[13] GONUL MEETS BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY HOON
[14] AKDAG MEETS WITH AUSTRIAN HEALTH MINISTER RAUCH-KALLAT
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[16] WE CANNOT FORGET SEPTEMBER 11 BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] AT RACETRACK GROUNDBREAKING, ERDOGAN HAILS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF
FORMULA ONE
Speaking yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new $100 million
Formula One Grand Prix racetrack in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said that while the government had laid out $27 million to bring
the circuit to Turkey, it expected this economic investment to be returned
many times over. “This track should be completed by March 2005,” said
Erdogan. He recounted how since 1950, Formula One racing had turned into a
giant, multi-nation dollar industry, with over 200 countries broadcasting
the popular competitions. “These widely-watched shows could greatly bolster
Turkey’s image and its drawing power as a tourist destination,” said the
premier. “If only 0.2 percent of Formula One’s 1.5 billion fans decide to
holiday in Turkey, this means a boost of 3 million tourists, which would
send our tourism revenues soaring 30%.” Also speaking at the ceremony,
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said he looked forward to Istanbul
hosting an F1 race in 2005, adding that the races should help Turkey’s
economy. The new track, designed to hold 60,00 spectators, came after years
of talks between F1 and the Turkish Automobile and Motor Sports Federation.
/All papers/
[02] GUL: “THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRACK AND PROMOTE OUR EU REFORMS”
Speaking at an Ankara press conference yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul said that the government would establish two new task forces on
Turkey’s European Union membership bid, one to monitor EU reforms and the
other for public relations. Stressing that this fall Turkey was in a
critical period in the runup to its latest European Union Progress Report,
Gul said that one of the task forces would track the implementation of the
EU accession reforms while the other would promote Turkey to the general
public of EU member countries. “Parliament has fulfilled its duty,” said
Gul. “Now it’s the government’s turn to implement these reforms. If this
progress report is positive, the EU will likely decide in favor of
beginning accession talks with Turkey at the end of 2004. Our government
will strive towards this end.” After the press conference, Gul hosted a
luncheon of the ambassadors of EU member countries serving in Ankara.
/Turkiye/
[03] EDELMAN: “THE US WILL RID NORTHERN IRAQ OF THE PKK_KADEK THREAT”
A US delegation will arrive in Turkey this week to discuss all aspects of
terrorism in northern Iraq with Turkish officials, said US Ambassador in
Ankara Eric Edelman yesterday. After visiting Parliament Speaker Bulent
Arinc, Edelman spoke to reporters about the continued presence of the
PKK_KADEK terrorist group in northern Iraq. “President George W. Bush has
clearly stated that the terrorist threat in northern Iraq needs to be
quickly eliminated,” said Edelman. “The coming delegation will discuss with
Turkish officials how to fight this threat.” The delegation headed by Lynn
Pascoe from the US State Department is also expected to include officials
from the Pentagon. /Turkiye/
[04] TURKISH-US DEPLOYMENT TALKS DECIDE FIVE HEADQUARTERS TO BE ESTABLISHED
IN IRAQ
During recent talks between Turkish and US officials over a possible troop
deployment in Iraq, a plan was reportedly reached entailing the
establishment of five military headquarters for Turkish troops there.
Sources stated that four of them would satellite HQs, while one would be a
central HQ to ensure coordination among the others. Regarding the number of
soldiers in the possible deployment, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul recently
spoke of some 10,000 troops, a number also heard elsewhere, at a cost of
$20 million a month. Meanwhile, Ankara has stressed it doesn’t want its
presence in Iraq to be only military in nature, but should also be in order
to improve living conditions there. Turkish troops will undertake the job
of renovating hospitals, schools, public buildings, etc. which were damaged
or destroyed during the war, as well as work to ensure a steady water and
power supply for the Iraqi people. /Turkiye/
[05] GOVERNING COUNCIL HEAD CHALABI REVERSES COURSE, CALLS MORE FOREIGN
TROOPS IN IRAQ “UNWELCOME”
Ahmad Chalabi, the current president of Iraq’s Governing Council, yesterday
told a press conference that the council was unhappy about the possible
arrival of more foreign troops in the country. On Tuesday, however,
Chalabi's spokesman had told reporters that the president would welcome
“the participation of Turkish forces under the [proposed] United Nations
resolution… in the western area in Iraq under the condition that this force
should not exceed 10,000.” But Chalabi himself had this to say: “Our
council does not welcome receiving any troops but rather their departure…
We will not invite any troops. Our ultimate aim is to restore sovereignty
to our land.” At the invitation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Chalabi is set to pay a visit to Turkey today to discuss Kurdish concerns
about a possible Turkish troop deployment in Iraq. Chalabi said that during
the visit he would not request that Turkey deploy its troops in Iraq.
Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, “If
Ankara decided to offer troops, a way would be found to skirt the various
obstacles,” adding that if “they wish to participate, I am quite certain
that we can work out ways … in which Turkish forces can participate.”
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT SAMPAIO DUE IN ANKARA
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio is due to arrive in Ankara on Sunday for
an official visit. Sampaio is expected to be received by President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations.
Sampaio will also be received by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. Sampaio is
expected to leave Turkey on next Friday, Sept. 19. /Anatolia News Agency/
[07] STATE MINISTER AKSIT TO ATTEND WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN ITALY
State Minister Guldal Aksit is set to travel to Italy today to attend a two-
day conference on “Women in the Decision-Making Process.” The conference
will be a forum for women holding top decision-making positions in both the
public and private sector to exchange views. In an address to the gathering,
Aksit will tell her fellow participants about the social, political and
economic status of Turkish women. /Anatolia News Agency/
[08] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER GULIYEV TO VISIT ANKARA
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayet Guliyev is due to arrive in Ankara
today for a two-day official visit. Guliyev is expected to be received by
his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul to discuss bilateral relations and
international issues. Later, Guliyev will meet separately with President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Anatolia News
Agency/
[09] PAPANDREOU: “ANNAN’S PLAN IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR CYPRUS”
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday met in the Cyprus buffer
zone with representatives of Turkish Cypriot opposition parties. He said
that the plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was a historic
opportunity to reach a permanent and sustainable solution for the island.
/Sabah/
[10] WILLIAM SAFIRE: “IRAQ’S FM SHOULD REQUEST PEACEKEEPING TROOPS FROM
TURKEY”
Iraq should invite some 10,000 Turkish troops for a peacekeeping mission
well outside the majority-Kurdish north, urged influential New York Times
columnist William Safire yesterday. Writing from Milan, Italy, where he
attended this week’s Ambrosetti conference, Safire told of his conversation
with Turkey’s premier about reaction to Ankara’s stance during the Iraq
war. “Because Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, knocked media
types for our criticism of Turkey's noncooperation in the war against
Saddam,” wrote Safire, “I asked the first victorious Islamist party leader
why he thought I had been ‘aggressive’. He replied that Turkey had helped
in the war by permitting overflights and the use of bases for medical
treatment, and that Turks took offense at our failure to report their
humanitarian aid. So, was he prepared to send troops to join the coalition
to help pacify Iraq now? He said Turkey would help with natural gas and
with doctors, but there were ‘ethnic issues that the US does not understand
as we do.’ Erdogan was apparently irritated by the statement of Iraqi
Foreign Minister [Hoshyar] Zebari that nations bordering Iraq should not
send troops.” Safire added, “My advice to Hoshyar: go see your counterpart
in Ankara and say that Iraq would welcome a peacekeeping force of 10,000 or
so Turks, stationed far south of Kurdish areas to avert any friction. To
show suspicious Turks that Kurds are Iraqi nationalists, bring along your
economics sidekick to discuss Turkish investment in Iraqi industry,
including pipelines.” /Hurriyet/
[11] IN BOSTON, STATE MINISTER BABACAN TOUTS TURKEY’S ECONOMIC SUCCESS
State Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with representatives of a number
of international finance organizations in Boston. “The nation’s
macroeconomic indicators are pointing upwards,” Babacan told the gathering.
“The government is determined to continue to implement our economic
programs. Our policies have so far yielded positive results.” Later, at a
luncheon, Babacan told a group of US businessmen that Turkey was reaching
its economic targets one after another thanks to the stable atmosphere
since last fall’s elections, which ushered in the current single-party
government. Touting recent rapid falls in inflation, Babacan added that the
Turkish economy was growing and that the government would reach its primary
surplus target. New legal arrangements have made it easier than ever to
make investments in Turkey, the minister said. /Anatolia News Agency/
[12] IMF’S DAWSON: “WE WELCOME TURKEY’S CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ECONOMIC PROGRAM”
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomes Turkey’s continuing to fully
implement the nation’s IMF-backed economic program, Tom Dawson, the Fund’s
external affairs director, told a Washington press conference yesterday.
“The program remains on track,” said Dawson. “The next review mission is
likely to take place toward the end of this month or the beginning of
October.” /Milliyet/
[13] GONUL MEETS BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY HOON
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, currently in Britain to attend an
international weapons fair, yesterday met with his British counterpart
Geoff Hoon. Later, at a press conference, Gonul said that Hoon had told him
about the situation of British troops currently serving in Iraq. Gonul said
that such fairs were important for Turkey to see new products and
technological developments. He added that preparations were underway for a
weapons fair to be held in Turkey later this month. /Anatolia News Agency/
[14] AKDAG MEETS WITH AUSTRIAN HEALTH MINISTER RAUCH-KALLAT
Health Minister Recep Akdag, who is currently in Vienna, Austria to attend
the World Health Organization's (WHO) 53rd European Committee, met on
Wednesday with his Austrian counterpart Maria Rauch-Kallat. During meetings
between delegations from the two countries, Turkey’s Quality System
Laboratory (KSL) and the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)
Laboratory signed a cooperation agreement. After the signing ceremony,
Akdag said that it was important that KSL had signed the agreement not only
with AGES but also with the Austrian government. He added, “I believe that
we will develop a good cooperation between our respective governments and
the private sector.” For his part, Rauch-Kallat said, “The state used to
handle food quality control, but then we turned it over to the private
sector. We are very pleased with this model and I hope this cooperation
agreement will be beneficial.” /Anatolia News Agency/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[16] WE CANNOT FORGET SEPTEMBER 11 BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the
problem of terrorism. A summary of his column is as follows:
“According to the calendar, the 20th century encompassed the years 1900-
1999. However, according to history, the heart of the 20th century lies
between 1918 and 1990, from the Bolshevik revolution to the collapse of the
Soviet Union. Our third millennium (between the years 2000 and 2099)
started two years ago with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York’s
Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Obviously, this action will be pivotal in
world policy in the 21st century, and actually is already. Nobody guessed
that terrorism would reach such an unbelievable stage and strike at the US’
heart and soul.
If the attacks two years ago had never happened, the Pax Americana would
have felt secure. However, this terrorist act dealt the US a political ace,
that is, the right and mission to fight terrorism in order to destroy it.
Terrorism can be a job, the way for many ‘professionals’ and their families
to earn a living, and an illegal war. It’s the transformation of political
failure into despotism. We find terrorism not just in poor nations, but
also in prosperous ones. A great many countries support terrorism against
their rivals or enemies. This way huge geographies and millions of people
are threatened. Billions of dollars are spent both for terrorism and the
fight against it.
Today the US considers itself the champion of the war against terrorism. It
will take revenge for the Sept. 11 attacks throughout the 21st century. As
for Turkey, we denounce all forms of terrorism.”
ARCHIVE
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