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Turkish Press Review, 05-04-11Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning11.04.2005FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT SEZER TO VISIT SYRIA TO DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL ISSUES WITH ASSADPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer is due to travel to Damascus on Wednesday to pay a two-day official visit. During his short stay in Syria, Sezer is expected to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations and regional issues. Sezer is expected to tell Assad that Ankara wants to continue its close dialogue with Damascus in the interest of stability and reduced tensions in the region. Sezer will also reportedly tell Assad that Ankara is pleased with Syria’s beginning its withdrawal from Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. /Cumhuriyet/[02] SEZER ISSUES MESSAGE TO MARK 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLICE DIRECTORATEPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message to mark the 160th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Police Directorate, saying that he was confident the police would refrain from actions that could harm the people’s overwhelming trust in the police force. “Police have been contributing to the public peace with their self-sacrifice,” he said. “I believe they will continue providing the best service to the nation.” /Sabah/[03] ARINC VISITS LUXEMBOURGParliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday flew to Luxembourg at the invitation of his Luxembourg counterpart Lucien Weiler to hold a series of contacts with the nation’s officials. /Star/[04] ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO NORWAYPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to Norway to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Norwegian counterpart Kjell Magne. Before his departure, Erdogan told reporters that Turkey and Norway had friendly relations and shared similar views on a number of international issues. During his two-day stay, the premier, accompanied by his wife as well as Transportation Minister Banali Yildirim and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, is also expected to meet with top Norwegian officials including the Parliament speaker, Foreign Affairs Commission head and foreign minister in a bid to seek ways to develop bilateral ties. /Turkiye/[05] ERDOGAN CALLS ON SECURITY FORCES TO LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU BIDPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony at the Police Academy marking the 160th anniversary of the Turkish Police Directorate. Speaking at the gathering, the premier remarked that Turkey had been taking important steps on the road to peace as it enters a very significant process in its European Union membership bid. He called on all police officers and citizens to contribute to the peace of the country. Erdogan yesterday also attended the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) First Ordinary Youth Congress in Ankara. Addressing young party members, Erdogan stated that from the very beginning he had worked hard in youth organizations before rising to the nation’s top post. He also urged the young people, the future of the nation, to think and take a serious interest in national issues. /Star-Turkiye/[06] GUL VISITS ALGERIAForeign Minister Abdullah Gul, on a two-day visit to Algeria, yesterday met with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Belkhadem. Their talks focused on the problems of Turkish businessmen seeking to invest in this country. Gul attended a Turkish-Algerian businessmen’s meeting on the last day of his stay. Addressing the gathering, Gul said the two countries were working to strengthen cooperation in all fields. Then Gul was received by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. After completing his contacts in Algeria, Gul returned to Turkey. /Hurriyet/[07] AGAR VISITS MALATYA, ELAZIGOpposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday attended meetings of his party in Malatya and Elazig. Criticizing the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s policies, Agar said that the nation’s real growth was closer to 2.2% rather than the 9.9% official figure. “A growth which doesn’t create jobs is something that the world has never seen, ” said Agar. He added that the DYP’s struggle was a noble one based upon on defending the citizens’ rights. /Turkiye/[08] STRAW: “ANKARA WITHDRAWING ITS TROOPS FROM CYPRUS WOULD HELP REACH A RESOLUTION”Addressing Britain’s House of Commons, Foreign Minister Jack Straw briefed the assembled MPs on the Cyprus issue, saying that Ankara withdrawing its troops from the island would be helpful for efforts to reach a resolution. “We believe that the Turkish government could contribute to a resolution,” he said, adding that it should withdraw its troops from the island. Straw further signalled that direct trade with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) could begin soon. “It’s embarrassing that direct trade hasn’t yet begun with the TRNC,” he said. “This is hindering the reunification of the island.” Straw stated that he was discussing the issue with officials of EU Term President Luxembourg who have pledged to do their best to bring the TRNC’s isolation to an end. Straw further stated that if the two sides fail to reach a Cyprus resolution, this wouldn’t prevent Ankara’s accession talks. Britain will take over the EU’s term presidency from Luxembourg in July. /Turkiye/[09] IMF’S KRUEGER PRAISES TURKEY’S REFORMS, BUT WARNS OF HIGH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DEBT STOCKAnne Krueger, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, yesterday praised Turkey’s successful reforms, but warned that both the domestic and foreign debt stock of the country were still too high. “Ankara should continue to pursue its disciplined policies,” she said, adding that the country had faced crises in the past due to governments not fully implementing economic programs. She said that primary surplus last year was above the Turkish government’s expectations. Krueger further praised the high growth rate and falling inflation, adding however, that it was more important to follow up on these positive developments. /Milliyet/[10] WB OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BIDA delegation from the World Bank currently visiting Ankara yesterday met with Turkish officials to discuss recent economic developments and the nation’s European Union membership bid. During the meeting, the bank’s officials expressed support for Turkey’s EU bid, adding that the WB wanted to work with Ankara to prevent possible adverse effects of the EU process on Turkey’s growth. /Aksam/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[12] FRIENDLY COUNTRY ALGERIA BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on Turkey’s relations with Algeria. A summary of his column is as follows:“Algeria is your second homeland, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz Balkhadem told our Foreign Minister Abdullal Gul at a banquet in Gul’s honor. As both countries support each other on many significant issues, there are no problems between us. Furthermore, both foreign ministers stressed that their countries attach the highest importance to improving relations with the European Union. Stating that his country shares Turkey’s happiness at finally getting a date from the EU to start its membership talks, Balkhadem said that his country had also signed a partnership agreement with Brussels. The more Turkey improves its relations with the West, the stronger its position grows in the Islamic world and Eurasia. The term ‘homeland’ implies not only current relations but also a common history between the two countries. The Ottoman Empire played a significant role in the formation of Algeria’s national identity. Gul’s warm, transparent disposition allows him to establish friendly and sincere relations with other diplomats. Algerians welcomed him as if he were a president. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika hosted Gul for two hours and held a banquet in his honor. There is a huge Ottoman palace and mosque in Algeria, and Bouteflika asked Turkey to restore them. Gul said that Turkey would restore the two while preserving their Ottoman character. Furthermore, Algeria is planning to invest $50 billion in infrastructure in the coming five years. ‘If Turkey gets 10% [of these contracts], this would total $5 billion,’ said Gul. Although Chinese businessmen currently dominate the Algerian infrastructure market, Gul made sure during his visit that Turkish construction firms would be given priority for new investments. And here are some impressions from the Algerian streets… It’s a poor country. Its entrepreneurial middle class and market economy are still nascent. There is no headscarf ban in this country, neither in the private sphere nor in the public. There are many women wearing headscarves on the streets, and many too who are not. It’s a moderate, willing-to-develop and friendly country…” [13] DENKTAS’S HEARTBROKEN FAREWELL BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’ retirement and his great contributions to the cause of Turkish Cypriots. A summary of his column is as follows:“What Rauf Denktas said during his farewell visits as TRNC president was remarkable: ‘In no other place in the world is a president criticized or insulted for defending his own nation’s rights. But somehow I am.’ These are the words of a heartbroken leader in his eighties who has devoted his entire life to a cause but hasn’t received as much support as he expected. Although he tried hard to conceal it, anyone could sense Denktas’s sorrow. Not that he cared about the disloyalty he’s had to face after devoting all his life to his nation, but there was something else that bothered him very much. He couldn’t bear the loss of his people’s cause, which he values more than anything. ‘I can’t understand how I was proven wrong in such a righteous cause,’ he said. Now he is preparing for a new struggle for his people. In his new office he will continue to keep a close eye on the cause of Turkish Cypriots and try to warn both Turkey and the TRNC off mistakes. I myself can’t imagine Denktas give up his elixir of life, which is the struggle for Turkish Cypriots. As long as he lives, no one can make hurried decisions on the Cyprus issue. Oktay Eksi and I went to visit Denktas last Saturday. Ours was a visit of faithfulness by two journalists who have long followed his struggle closely. He received us in his study. As I mentioned earlier, he was still heartbroken, but a bit more relaxed than before. With an air of evident determination, he said, ‘Now that my burden is lighter, I will travel a little. I will visit some villages. I will talk to villagers. I will listen to what they say.’ He also said he has been receiving countless invitations from all around Turkey, but that it’s impossible for him to accept all of them. I sensed that he’s also worried about the rising wave of nationalism in Turkey that’s turning into a huge reaction due to provocations. Therefore, he is answering these invitations cautiously. Next week, the Denktas era in Cyprus will be over. From then on, he will work for the cause of his people as a wise statesman and will always have our respect and gratitude.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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