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Turkish Press Review, 05-09-14
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
14.09.2005
PREMIER ERDOGAN: “SOME
REFORMS LED TO WEAKNESSES”
ERDOGAN: “THE EU REWARDED
THE GREEK CYPRIOTS”
OZKOK: “TRUE POWER COMES
FROM UNITY”
REHN: “THE PAMUK CASE IS A
PROVOCATION”
SCHROEDER: “TURKEY WILL
SUCCEED IN ITS EU BID”
ATC HEAD SCOWCROFT:
“ARMENIAN RESOLUTIONS WOULD HARM TURKISH-US
RELATIONS”
PAPAL VISIT EXPECTED IN
NOVEMBER
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM
THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS
OPPORTUNITY FOR A REGIONAL
ROLE
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
CONTENTS
[01] PREMIER ERDOGAN: “SOME REFORMS
LED TO WEAKNESSES”
[02] ERDOGAN: “THE EU REWARDED THE
GREEK CYPRIOTS”
[03] OZKOK: “TRUE POWER COMES FROM
UNITY”
[04] REHN: “THE PAMUK CASE IS A
PROVOCATION”
[05] SCHROEDER: “TURKEY WILL SUCCEED
IN ITS EU BID”
[06] ATC HEAD SCOWCROFT: “ARMENIAN
RESOLUTIONS WOULD HARM TURKISH-US RELATIONS”
[07] PAPAL VISIT EXPECTED IN
NOVEMBER
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS
[09] OPPORTUNITY FOR A REGIONAL ROLE
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] PREMIER ERDOGAN: “SOME REFORMS
LED TO WEAKNESSES”
Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said
that there would be important amendments to the
Anti-Terror Law next month. Erdogan gave hints
about the coming amendments to the Anti-Terror
Law to a group of journalists en route to New
York. Erdogan stated that some reforms done for
the sake of democratization had laid the
groundwork for terrorist groups and caused
serious weaknesses, adding that they would
examine the state of liberties in the West and
try to find a balance between freedom and
security. He also said that the Anti-Terror Law
would not lead to any retreat in terms of the
Copenhagen criteria. /Milliyet/
[02] ERDOGAN: “THE EU REWARDED THE
GREEK CYPRIOTS”
As part of his contacts in New York, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday
delivered a speech at a meeting of the Council
on Foreign Relations entitled “Turkish Foreign
Policy in the 21st Century,” saying that Turkey
and the US were close allies sharing common
interests and that they were resolved to further
develop these relations. Commenting on the Iraq
issue, Erdogan underlined that the future of the
oil-rich Iraqi city of Kirkuk was an important
issue for Turkey. Pointing to the presence of
terrorist PKK militants in northern Iraq, the
premier said that the group was a threat to
Turkey’s security. Furthermore, on the Cyprus
issue, Erdogan stated that the Greek Cypriot
administration was responsible for the current
stalemate on the island, but that since it was
rewarded by the European Union through
membership, the administration had hardened its
uncompromising stance. “In addition to the
Turkish Cypriots, Turkey and whole world expect
a fair resolution on the island,” added the
premier. /Turkiye/
[03] OZKOK: “TRUE POWER COMES FROM
UNITY”
Chief
of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok accompanied by
Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit,
Naval Forces Commander Adm. Yener Karahanoglu,
Air Force Commander Gen. Faruk Comert and
Gendarmerie General Commander Fevzi Turkeri
yesterday traveled to the eastern Anatolian city
of Van to meet with local people and introduce
newly appointed forces commanders to the
commanders already serving in the region. During
a visit to Van Governor Niyazi Tanilir at his
office, addressing recent unrest in the country,
Ozkok emphasized the importance of the national
unity. “True power comes from unity,” said the
top commander. He also urged journalist to
report news realistically and avoid public harm.
/Star/
[04] REHN: “THE PAMUK CASE IS A
PROVOCATION”
European
Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn
yesterday characterized the upcoming trial of
famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk as a “road
accident” and reproached the timing of the
trial, set to begin near the anniversary of last
year’s key EU summit where Turkey got a date for
its membership talks. “This has to be a
provocation,” charged Rehn. Speaking at the
European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission,
Rehn said that important improvements had been
seen in terms of human rights in Turkey, but
that the Pamuk case “raises serious questions”
about that progress. /Milliyet/
[05] SCHROEDER: “TURKEY WILL SUCCEED
IN ITS EU BID”
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday
said that Turkey’s negotiations would be long
and difficult for both sides, but that he was
confident that Turkey would succeed, because
Turkey is advancing in terms of reforms.
Visiting Turkish Dogan Media Group facilities in
Frankfurt, Schroeder said, “Turkey is like an
anchor in a problem area.” On Sunday Schroeder
will face closely fought general elections.
/Milliyet/
[06] ATC HEAD SCOWCROFT: “ARMENIAN
RESOLUTIONS WOULD HARM TURKISH-US RELATIONS”
Retired US Gen. Brent Scowcroft, head of the
American-Turkish Council (ATC), yesterday sent a
letter to Dennis Hastert, speaker of the House
of Representatives, warning that pending
resolutions to recognize the so-called Armenian
genocide allegations would harm Turkish-US
relations if they progress to the floor of the
full House. Two resolutions on the matter are
expected to be taken up at the US House of
Representatives Foreign Relations Committee
today or tomorrow. He said that he and other
members of the ATC were opposed to those
resolutions, as they are contrary to US
interests, adding that their passage could have
serious consequences. Scowcroft also urged
Armenian President Robert Kocharian to display a
positive stance towards recent goodwill
initiatives from Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] PAPAL VISIT EXPECTED IN
NOVEMBER
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to come to
Turkey on Nov. 30 at the invitation of Fener
Greek Patriarch Bartolomeos. The pope will come
to Turkey for the St. Andrew’s feast at which
the Patriarchate celebrates its founding. It is
planned that the pope will pay an official visit
to Ankara and then attend a summit of
civilizations in Antioch. (modern-day Antakya)
This possible visit has led to concern in
Ankara, as the Foreign Ministry is worried about
the pope’s weighing in on the “ecumenical”
debate or expressing disapproval for Turkey
joining the European Union. The ministry is
waiting for a supportive message on Turkey’s EU
bid from the pope. If one is received, President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer could officially welcome the
pontiff as the Vatican’s head of state. /Sabah/
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS
[09] OPPORTUNITY FOR A REGIONAL ROLE
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the recent
Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip. A summary
of his column is as follows:
“The new situation which emerged after Israel
pulled its soldiers out of the Gaza Strip raises
Turkey’s chances of playing a more active role
in the region. After the 38-year Israeli
occupation, the Gaza region is now under the
Palestinian government and it’s entering a
process of political restructuring. Establishing
political stability and economic development
will pave the way to return to the roadmap for
peace and establishing an independent
Palestinian state. Turkey might have significant
roles and contributions politically and
economically in this process. Ankara has been
working on this for some time. Ankara has
constant contacts with Israeli and Palestinian
leaders, and it might benefit from the
appropriate atmosphere to help take new steps
necessary for Israeli-Palestinian conciliation.
Ankara created a rapprochement between Israel
and Palestine and it has the capability to
fulfill such a mission. However, it seems
Turkey’s actual contribution and role will be in
the economic field. Ankara hosted a tripartite
(Palestine, Turkey and Israel) meeting about
what it can do for Gaza’s economic development.
This was the first step. Now the stage of
implementing certain important projects is
starting.
One of them is a project to establish an
‘Erez Industrial Zone’ in Gaza. Under the
decision taken in the Ankara meeting, this
project will be helmed by the Turkish Union of
Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). TOBB
Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu is still looking
for support for this project in his contacts in
the US. Turkey spearheading a project will
contribute to the economic development and thus
political stability of Palestine and also
provide Turkish firms with business
opportunities in the new region.
Israel leaving the Gaza Strip creates certain
hopes in terms of the future of the peace
process. This was a bold move by Sharon. Even if
Gaza can’t escape Israeli control of its air,
sea, and borders, new positive developments
might occur in this process, if everything goes
well. For example, by ‘if everything goes well,’
I mean two things, that is, the Abbas
administration’s establishing full authority and
ensuring safety on the Palestinian side, and the
Sharon government showing his determination
about the West Bank’s transfer to the
Palestinians and taking steps towards this end.
Obviously, there are great difficulties in
fulfilling these conditions for both parties.
However, now the important thing is to continue
this momentum. This is an opportunity for
Turkey’s regional role.”
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