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Turkish Press Review, 06-02-09Turkish 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 morning09.02.2006FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] GUL MEETS WITH MOLDOVAN DEPUTY PM, SIGNS PACT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKINGForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday discussed bilateral relations with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, who is currently in Ankara for an official visit. During their meeting, Gul and Andrei signed a protocol to advance the fight against human trafficking. Speaking afterwards, Andrei said that he had told Gul that Moldova needs Ankara’s support for its relations with the European Union. “Turkey is experienced in its relations with the EU, especially on political dialogue,” said Andrei. “Ankara has accomplished important reforms. Moldova will benefit from Turkey’s experience in its integration with the EU.” /Milliyet/[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “JOINT MILITARY MANEUVERS AREN’T AIMED AT IRAN”During a weekly press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that the UN Security Council had granted time to Iran until March 6 to solve the nuclear program crisis, and added, “Turkey wants the issue to be solved through diplomacy. We believe that Iran will take the necessary steps.” Tan stated that Turkish and US military maneuvers set for in May under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) have nothing to do with Iran. Tan said that the PSI is a legitimate legal institution, adding, “Maneuvers to be hosted by Turkey don’t target any third country.” /Cumhuriyet/[03] PARLIAMENT COMMISSION CONVENES OVER CARTOON FURORA Parliament commission yesterday held an extraordinary meeting in order to discuss the furor over published of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed. During the meeting, which was chaired by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Nevsehir Deputy Mehmet Elkatmis, members decided to set up a subcommission to deal with the issue. /Turkiye/[04] DYP LEADER AGAR: “ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD THIS YEAR”Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday said that since the 1950s Turkey has consistently held national elections before completion of the five-year standard term, adding that there would be national elections this year, not in 2007 when scheduled. Speaking at DYP headquarters, Agar said no matter what happens, elections would be held this year. “Right now the government has a say on when to hold the elections. Burt if it waits any longer, it will lose this right,” he added. /The New Anatolian/[05] BABACAN: “THE PUBLICATION OF MUHAMMED CARTOONS CAN’T BE CALLED FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION”Delivering the opening speech at a seminar organized by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that the recent publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed in European newspapers couldn’t be described as freedom of expression. “The cartoons of the prophet have led to indignation,” said Babacan. “Insulting the prophet of the Muslim world can’t be excused by freedom of expression. We respect the prophets of all religions and don’t tolerate their being insulted.” Babacan further said that in democratic regimes, people should know how to properly express their indignation. /Turkiye/[06] IN BID TO DEFUSE CARTOON CRISIS, EU TO SEND SOLANA TO MUSLIM COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS ISSUE WITH OFFICIALSThe European Union is taking steps to defuse the crisis over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed in European newspapers. EU Term President Austria’s Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would travel to and meet with officials from Muslim countries. Plassnik said that Solana would first visit Saudi Arabia. “We need a consensus of opinion in order to overcome this crisis and end the violence,” said Plassnik. In related news, the Norwegian government decided to send a delegation to Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, and Syria, to evaluate the issue. /Turkiye/[07] EU COMMISSION: “TURKEY’S OFFICIAL NEGOTIATIONS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CAN BEGIN”The European Union Commission yesterday announced that negotiations with Turkey on the chapter on science and technology could officially begin. The EU Commission sent a communique to all EU member states saying that the Union could begin official negotiations with Ankara on that chapter. Stressing that Turkey was in accordance with the EU acquis, it said that there was no need for Ankara to fulfill additional conditions. /Sabah/[08] ITALIAN PAPERS ADVANCE CONSPIRACY THEORYItalian papers yesterday implied a connection between the murder Sunday in Trabzon of Italian priest Andrea Santoro and the Tuesday crash in Italy of a bus carrying Turks. Papers reported that both cases were being investigated by the same prosecutor, Leonardo Frisani. Italian daily La Repubblica touched on the conspiracy theory with the headline: “Is this retaliation for the murder of Father Santoro?” /Aksam/[09] DEMIRALP: “INSULTING A RELIGION IS A CRIME IN DENMARK”Oguz Demiralp, the head of Turkey’s Secretariat-General for the European Union, said on Tuesday that insulting a religion was a crime under the Danish penal code. Speaking about Turkish-EU relations and the cartoon crisis, Demiralp said that Turkey was doing its utmost within the framework of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, and was a model for the coexistence of different cultures. He further underlined that Denmark’s intolerant attitude had no place in EU law. /Star/[10] KOIZUMI’S VISIT LEADS TO STRONGER BANKING TIESJapanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s official visit to Turkey last month has opened the way for Japanese loans to Turkish banks. His visit could lead to years of cooperation between Turkish and Japanese banks. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on Tuesday made a framework agreement for credit with Finansbank and Denizbank. These banks signed the agreement for loans of $50 million each with maturity in seven years. JBIC made a similar agreement with Isbank in exchange for 8 billion Japanese yen. /Star/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[12] CIVILIZATION, CONFLICT AND TURKEY’S RESPONSIBILITIES BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)Columnist Semih Idiz comments on Turkey’s responsibilities in an atmosphere of conflict. A summary of his column is as follows:“I ended my last piece by asking what will secular Turkey’s place be in a world when the gulf between the secular West and the Muslim world is growing. The ‘Call for respect and calm’ written jointly by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodirquez Zapatero actually answers this question. It’s understood that Ankara’s international responsibility and importance in the world will rise with the travails of the ‘conflict of civilizations.’ Turkey’s character as a secular, democratic country will especially attract the attention of the West following the cartoon crisis. Turkey will also come up as a model for the elite circle of the Middle East, which doesn’t know what to do against the rise of radical Islam. This general situation gives Ankara an important opportunity to put itself forth as an international actor with a positive role to play at a critical stage. Actually, this should be considered not an opportunity, but an obligation, because Turkey has to play this role. The reason for this is evident: If it can’t succeed in doing so, this will have negative repercussions in the country. In short, considering the West’s helplessness against rising Islamic fanaticism, Turkey’s acting as a bridge between civilizations will bring respect as long as it contributes to the international stability. This success will also contribute to domestic stability. However, there’s a precondition for this success, that is, Turkey should both maintain its Muslim character and prove that it’s not an obstacle to democracy and human rights. Otherwise, this will benefit neither the East nor the West. In addition, there’s another important element which makes the issue very critical for Turkey and which can’t be ignored. Secularism is one of the key elements of the ‘Westernization’ route which was drawn by the Republic’s founders 80 years ago. In other words, Turkey should follow this route to maintain its secular character over the long term. It would be hard for a Turkey which has gone astray from this route to continue its secularism both politically and sociologically, because if Turkey loses the West as a reference point, there will be no other reference point left. Therefore, the joint call by Erdogan and Zapatero is very important, because it indicates the direction Turkey should follow in this dangerous atmosphere. If we squander this important opportunity, it would be a shame not only for the world, but also for ourselves.” ARCHIVE The news and articles issued in the Turkish Press Review may be quoted from provided due acknowledgement is made. <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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