Turkish Press Review, 06-09-14

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From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

14.09.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BUSH

[01] ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BUSH

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently paying a visit to Paris, yesterday attended a conference on dialogue between nations and cultures. Addressing the gathering, Gul said that Turkey was making intense efforts to establish a real dialogue between cultures. Stressing that nobody should be afraid of differences, but rather embrace them as cultural richness, Gul pointed to the importance of tolerance to prevent conflict between civilizations. As part of the three-day conference, Gul met with French President Jacques Chirac and his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy. Following his meeting with Blazy, Gul told reporters that Ankara was resolved to continue reforms on the road to European Union membership. Emphasizing that the Cyprus issue should not affect Turkey’s EU membership process, Gul stated that Ankara would continue its efforts to resolve the issue. For his part, France’s top diplomat said that the EU was expecting Turkey to fulfill its commitments made in the additional protocol, adding that there would be consequences if Ankara fails to implement them. Furthermore, Blazy said that France was in full cooperation with Turkey regarding the fight against terrorism. /Star-Sabah/[03] TRNC’S SOYER ASSIGNED TO ESTABLISH GOVT

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday assigned Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer the task of establishing a new government. Pointing to the current tense public atmosphere, Talat said that steps should be taken soon to defuse that situation, adding that the country needed a strong government to ensure stability and confidence, as well as boost the TRNC’s international profile. Soyer told reporters that he would try to form a coalition government in light of his experiences. Soyer is supposed to complete his work on a new government within 15 days, and if he fails, he will hand back the assignment. /Turkiye/[04] PARLIAMENT DELEGATION PUSHES FOR CHANGES TO EP REPORT

A delegation of Turkish lawmakers is making efforts in Brussels to push through changes to the European Parliament’s recent report on Turkey before its debate in the full EP. Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the delegation members, led by Murat Mercan, said that they were seeking support for changes in the report in favor of Turkey, and they were holding talks with EP members including EP Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings and EP Foreign Affairs Commission head Elmar Brok. The delegation will continue its contacts next week in Strasbourg. /Turkiye/[05] US SPECIAL ENVOY RALSTON: “A MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST THE PKK SHOULD BE THE LAST OPTION”

Retired US Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston, the US' special envoy for countering the terrorist PKK, yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Turkish counterpart retired Gen. Edip Baser. The message that Turkey has no patience left in combating PKK terrorism was conveyed to Ralston. Ralston said that a military operation against the terrorist PKK should be the option of last resort, adding, “Meeting with the PKK is out of the question.” He also said that the PKK’s financial resources should be cut off. /Cumhuriyet/[06] TUSIAD SPONSORS TURKISH WEEK IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS

Within the context of its foreign promotional activities, the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) will organize Turkish Week in European capitals on Oct. 3, the first anniversary of Turkey beginning negotiations with the European Union. A TUSIAD statement yesterday said that activities will be held in Brussels, Paris and Berlin on Oct. 3-5 in order to dispel public prejudices in Brussels, France and Germany, which all have an big say in Turkey’s EU membership hopes. /Aksam/[07] MUSEUM OF TV & RADIO INTL BOARD TO GATHER IN ISTANBUL

The International Counseling Board of the Museum of Television & Radio, which is based in New York and brings together prominent representatives of the biggest broadcasting firms of the US and Europe, will hold its three- day annual meeting in Istanbul starting tomorrow. During panels to be held as part of the meeting, the problems and future of world media will be discussed. The Turkish economy and situation of the Turkish media will also be discussed. /Milliyet/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[00] WHAT THE DTP'S CALL MEANSBY ASLI AYDINTASBAS (SABAH)

Columnist Asli Aydintasbas comments on the terrorist PKK and its attacks. A summary of her column is as follows:

“The terrorist PKK is preparing to declare a sort of cease-fire, because the group isn’t in a good situation. It increased its terrorist attacks recently, caused people to hate it more and attacked such tourist meccas as Antalya and thus lost points in Europe. These were bad strategies even in terms of its own interests. It disgusted not only Turkey and Europe, but also certain circles sympathetic to the PKK. People living in the southeast also got fed up with it, which has raised tensions since the Nevruz celebrations. Even the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), which can’t get out from under the PKK’s shadow but is still trying to get the nationalist Kurdish movement on a more political platform, started to be less tolerant of PKK attacks. The people are still asking why the attacks keep coming. Kurdish parties in northern Iraq are adding to the political pressure against the organization. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani gave a message both to the commanders in the mountains and the PKK leaders who were taken into custody. He said that if the attacks in Turkey continue, he would ruin their lives. So the PKK needs to declare a cease-fire to buy time.

Two recent incidents opened the way for this. Firstly, a group of intellectuals called on the PKK to declare a unilateral ceasefire. Among those people was Osman Kavala. He said that this declaration was different from the call which was made last year, because many Kurds and a bar association head were among the signers. In addition, DTP leader Ahmet Turk, former Co-Chair Aysel Tugluk and Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir called on the PKK to publicly declare an unconditional cease-fire for the first time. Obviously, this is important. However, if the PKK declares a cease-fire, it would be just because the PKK wanted it. In other words, Turk may have good intentions, but the DTP couldn’t make such a call without getting a green light from the PKK. This call was made because the PKK wants it. According to the sources within the state, the PKK declared a cease-fire in the past for public relations purposes in order to soften Kurdish public opinion. What’s really important is how long this cease-fire will be last and if the organization really intends to lay down its arms. There is also a critical detail: The DTP didn’t call on it to stop its operations. What’s the meaning of associating the DTP’s cease-fire request and the operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) which aren’t envisaged to be completed at this stage? Are they really trying to soften things up? Will the PKK continue the cease-fire, or increase its terrorist campaign? If it declares a cease-fire, will it be able to block the provocative hawks within its ranks? We’ll learn all of this soon.”[09] A NEW START?

Columnist Orhan Erinc comments on the visit by the US special coordinator for countering the PKK. A summary of his column is as follows:

“US Special Envoy for countering the PKK Joseph Ralson visited Ankara. We are watching his meetings with officials. If we listen to the comments by Turkish officials, we can say that Ralson knows little about the PKK. As if the visit by the US coordinator was rushed. The fact that the mutual initiative will begin after he is better informed about the PKK is disturbing. One gets more confused if we add the position of the newly appointed Turkish coordinator, retired Gen. Edip Baser, whose appointment is still not approved as of this writing [it later was]. The result is then the following: The fight against the PKK was almost successful and could have eliminated the PKK's activities, but is now going to a waning phase. It seems that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lacks a clear view on the fight against the PKK. While our politicians are appointing a coordinator so soon, Iraq, which is the third country set to appoint a coordinator, hasn't appointed anyone but it is bargaining with the US on the duty and authority of the coordinator. It is hard for me to compare such a state, which was formed artificially, to the Turkish state, which has a tradition of more than 1,000 years.

On the one hand we have our politicians who leave the job to a coordinator and on the other our people who repeatedly call for a cease-fire. The media is also facing the anguished protests of the families who have lost their sons, brothers and husbands. The number of deaths in the Diyarbakir bombings has risen to 10, seven of them children. The double-faced attitude of the EU and others is again clear. While initiatives were taken to open the way for the PKK, its attacks were condemned. Making a new start for the fight against terror won’t be successful. Time is passing by, which is disadvantageous for us. What a shame…”

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