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Turkish Press Review, 06-03-16Turkish 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 morning16.03.2006FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN LISTENS TO TOURISM SECTOR REPS TELL OF THEIR PROBLEMSPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with representatives from the tourism sector to discuss the problems they face. Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koc, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) Chairman Basaran Ulusoy and a number of businessmen were present at the meeting. Speaking afterwards, Hisarciklioglu said that the representatives of the sector had briefed Erdogan on the problems they face and steps needed to overcome these. He added that he hoped the relevant Cabinet ministers would work on the issue and take concrete steps as soon as possible. The representatives of the sector urged a cut of value-added taxes (VAT) in the sector, saying that they wanted to be on equal footing with their international rivals. /Star/[02] GUL SIGNS PACT WITH VISITING PARAGUAYAN FM TO DEVELOP BILATERAL POLITICAL MECHANISMSForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with visiting Paraguayan Foreign Minister Leila Rachid to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. During their meeting, the two ministers signed a protocol to develop political mechanisms between Turkey and Paraguay. Speaking at a press conference following their meeting, Gul said that their commercial and economic ties should be further strengthened. Gul further stressed that they had discussed the Cyprus issue and that he had briefed Rachid on Ankara’s recent Cyprus action plan. For her part, Rachid said that she was opposed to all embargos, adding that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots should be brought to an end. Rachid stressed that the trade volume between the two countries should be boosted. In related news, speaking at a reception yesterday, Gul said that Ankara was determined to establish a nuclear power plant, adding that a plan for this would be announced by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler in the coming days. /Turkiye/[03] HIGH ANTI-TEROR COUNCIL CONVENESThe High Anti-Terrorism Council, chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, yesterday convened to discuss measures to be taken during next week’s Nevruz celebrations. The council also made several decisions to give psychological warfare a new priority in fighting terrorism. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner were also present at the meeting. /Aksam/[04] SECOND ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OPENS IN ISTANBULA number of Turkish and foreign academics gathered at a state university in Istanbul yesterday for a three-day conference to discuss whether the killing of Armenians during World War I amounted to a “genocide” or not, six months after an earlier conference that convened under severe criticism, including from a Cabinet minister. In a rare move, the gathering, organized by Istanbul University, offered the floor to academics of all convictions even though it was largely dominated by historians and officials who defended Turkey’s official position on the “genocide” allegations at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the last century. /Turkish Daily News/[05] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “WE STILL NEED ANSWERS ABOUT UNAKITAN”Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday said that the government had not given a satisfactory explanation or response to the recent third failed censure motion against Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan. After touring flood-stricken areas in Edirne, Baykal told a press conference at the Edirne Municipality Council Hall, “We were all waiting for a serious response because very concrete questions were put forth. None was answered. But Parliament is a political institution. Decisions are taken according to political instructions and solidarity in this institution, not (always) according to the justness of a motion. If the premier continues to keep the finance minister in the Cabinet while aware of his situation, this means that prime minister has accepted responsibility for this issue.” /Cumhuriyet/[06] AGAR CRITICIZES GOVT’S CYPRUS POLICYOpposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday criticized the government’s Cyprus policy, saying that due to the wrongheaded policies of the government, Ankara was weak and passive on the issue. Commenting on recent accusations against Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Agar said that the nation had acted with common sense against actions aiming to hurt the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). /Turkiye/[07] ANAVATAN LEADER MUMCU CRITICIZES AKP GOVTAddressing himself to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday said at his party’s group meeting, “If you want something to be proven, appear on television with me. I will prove what you want me to. I dare you.” Mumcu also criticized some government privatization tenders, saying, “This was highway robbery, ambushing the country. If you have the courage, put me on trial. Don’t speak about ‘honor,’ it doesn’t suit you.” /Cumhuriyet/[08] ACTING GOVERNOR HOLDS REINS OF CBState Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan has submitted the name of Erdem Basci, the acting governor of the Central Bank, since Tuesday morning, as the government’s nominee to take the post permanently, but has failed to get an immediate presidential green light. In a move to persuade President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who appoints the CB governor under the Constitution, Babacan paid a one-hour visit to the Presidential Palace yesterday afternoon. He left, however, without a clear response from the president, said well-placed sources. In related news, speaking to reporters yesterday morning, Basci indicated that the nation’s economy had taken giant strides in recent years, citing the striking of six zeros from the Turkish lira, transparent monetary policy, and keeping inflation low. “I can say that Turkey’s CB has reached a higher level by international standards and the final goal is to ensure price stability,” emphasized Basci. /The New Anatolian/ [09] SERDENGECTI PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO BABACANFormer Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, who stepped down earlier this week, yesterday paid a farewell visit to State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan. During their meeting, Babacan praised Serdengecti, saying that his experience had contributed to the government’s economic successes. “We had a very positive and intense working period with him,” said Babacan. “I thank him for his hard work and hope that his successes will continue.” /Sabah/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[11] WHAT’S A CIVILIAN, DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION? BY HASAN CELAL GUZEL (RADIKAL)Columnist Hasan Celal Guzel comments on the Kurdish issue and Turkey’s stance. A summary of his column is as follows:“Following the Armenian conference financed by the Soros Foundation, a conference on ‘Turkey’s Kurdish Issue – Civilian and Democratic Searches for Solution’ was organized by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and Empathy Group at Bilgi University last weekend. The supporters of Kurds with known strategies and tactics were well intentioned, but unrealistic intellectuals, some of whom only accepted the Western thesis, revealed their thoughts without any pressure. Then they ended the meeting without finding a civilian, democratic solution. Certain mistaken policies have been followed since the early years of the republic on the Kurdish issue. The realistic policies followed by Ataturk during the years of national struggle couldn’t be continued, the meaning of Turkish citizenship and Turkish identity – the upper identity – weren’t explained well, sub-ethnic identity wasn’t accepted under the policy of ‘homogeneity,’ and until recently prohibitions dominated the issue of mother tongues. However, everybody who has reason, mind and conscience should see that Kurds have never been treated like second-class citizens or minorities but have always enjoyed all the rights and possibilities of Turkish citizens. The poverty and underdevelopment which has nothing to do with ethnic differences isn’t seen only in southeastern Anatolia. It should be stressed that the mistakes which were made in the past aren’t continuing anymore. The mistakes of certain intellectuals, malevolent separatists and the West derive from the fact that they consider Turkey a country where conditions from a quarter-century ago still exist. It’s easy to talk about a civilian, democratic solution and it sounds nice. Who would want armed conflicts and war? So we should ask how a civilian, democratic solution would work. Those who claim to seek this kind of solution have never made a concrete suggestion which wouldn’t harm Turkey’s integrity and unity. The aims of the Kurdish separatist movement, supported by the terrorist PKK, are known: 1. Firstly, paint the separatist Kurdish movement in Turkey as a ‘peaceful’ movement seeking a civilian, democratic solution 2. Pressure the political rulers by accelerating the PKK’s terrorist activities 3. Ensue an amnesty for the end of terrorist activities 4. Try to establish an ‘autonomous administration’ in the political field 5. Establish a ‘federative administration’ 6. Finally, establish Kurdistan with the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq Those who make these calculations depend on the PKK’s terrorist actions, the appeasement of populist politicians, the support of intellectual dreamers, the protection of European Union circles and the expectation that US forces in Iraq will act in their favor. These are all mistaken calculations. The public knows the actual wishes of the people. The government and state cannot make any more concessions over Kurdish separatism, which has turned into terrorism. Our nation would never let someone make concessions from sovereignty or territory – not even under the threat of being excluded from the EU or the Western world completely. If a civilian, democratic solution is expected on the Kurdish issue, firstly, the terrorist PKK should disband, and such political movements as the Democratic Society Movement (DTH) should be cleansed of terrorist elements and put on the political platform. It’s a must for the PKK to be disarmed towards this end. Only then we can talk about such formulas as amnesty and political representation.” 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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