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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-20
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
20.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEY
[02] ERDOGAN ADDRESSES MEETING OF ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
[03] GUL: "EU COUNTRIES ARE SUFFERING AN INTERNAL CRISIS"
[04] BAYKAL WEIGHS IN ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATES
[05] BAHCELI: "MARCH WOULD BE GOOD FOR HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS"
[06] OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT AND PM, CALLS FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST
[07] COREPER TO DISCUSS TURKEY
[08] REHN: "TALKS WITH TURKEY MAY RESUME IN JANUARY"
[09] GERMAN FM STEINMEIER VOWS TO WORK ON TALKS, TRNC'S ISOLATION
[10] BAHCELI'S MESSAGES
[01] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEY
Georgian President Mihail Saakashvili yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay a
three-day official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Necdet Sezer. After visiting Ataturk's mausoleum, Anitkabir, Saakashvili
met with Sezer. During their talks the two leaders pointed to developing
relations between their countries. Today the Georgian president is expected
to meet with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul, and then travel to Istanbul. /Turkiye/
[02] ERDOGAN ADDRESSES MEETING OF ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in New York to attend a
meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, yesterday addressed the gathering,
saying that at first no one had believed that the joint Turkish and Spanish
efforts for the project would go anywhere, but that two years later these
views had changed. Erdogan said that the group formed by outgoing UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented their final report at a meeting held
in Istanbul last month, adding that the report was very important. "The
report, with its proposals for solving problems, is a touchstone document,"
said Erdogan. "As the report says, the world faces great dilemmas. Dominant
culture and faith systems are at loggerheads instead of meeting under
common humanitarian values, and this creates polarization between the
Islamic world and the West." Later, Erdogan met with his Spanish
counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Annan, and incoming UN Secretary-
General Ban Ki-Moon. /Star/
[03] GUL: "EU COUNTRIES ARE SUFFERING AN INTERNAL CRISIS"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that relations between Turkey
and the European Union had entered a new era, and that the bloc was
suffering a crisis within itself. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign
Ministry, Gul said that in the end Europe would realize Turkey's
importance. Reiterating Ankara's commitment to its full membership goal,
Gul said that this goal was also supported by the Turkish people.
Commenting on British Prime Minister Tony Blair's signal that direct
flights may start from Britain to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC), Gul said that Ankara expected that development to be realized soon.
/Turkiye/
[04] BAYKAL WEIGHS IN ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATES
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday commented on recent arguments that if all the CHP deputies were
to resign, then the government would have to "turn to the nation" for the
presidential election set for next May (meaning hold early general
elections beforehand), saying that the CHP would do its best to prevent a
negative outlook for the nation's future. "We need to learn what circles
who voice their views on all issues think about the election," said Baykal.
"If they want anything from us, they should speak up." Baykal further
stated that no one wanted tension in the country, adding that the nation
was worried that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would declare his
candidacy just before the presidential election. He stated that the nation
needed to discuss presidential candidates and added that Erdogan should get
the approval of the nation. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] BAHCELI: "MARCH WOULD BE GOOD FOR HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS"
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli said that he thought March 11 was a good date to hold early
general elections, adding that these could change the makeup of Parliament.
Bahceli said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) could again come
to power singe-handedly. "Then no one could question the elected president,
" he said referring to Parliament's presidential election set for May.
Bahceli further confirmed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had told him
that early general elections should be held. Also commenting on the
possible en masse resignation of main opposition Republican People's Party
(CHP) members to make the AKP "turn to the nation" for the presidential
election – meaning hold early general elections beforehand -- Bahceli said
that the AKP had the majority in Parliament. /Sabah/
[06] OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT AND PM, CALLS
FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST
Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu, who is also a Turkish scholar, yesterday met with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and
called for peace between the sides. Stressing that there were some ideas
that could be used to overcome the crisis, Ihsanoglu stated that he hoped
some positive steps would be taken. Later Ihsanoglu proceeded to Gaza to
meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In related news,
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday phoned Haniyeh, saying that he was
following developments in the Mideast. /Turkiye/
[07] COREPER TO DISCUSS TURKEY
During a meeting today, the European Union Permanent Representatives'
Committee (COREPER) will take up Turkey. The committee will talk about
Ankara's EU chapters' screening process and which have been completed and
are ready for talks. During the gathering, France and Greek Cyprus are
expected to try to block talks from opening on any new chapters. /Turkiye/
[08] REHN: "TALKS WITH TURKEY MAY RESUME IN JANUARY"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that
accession talks with Turkey could resume as early as next week. Speaking to
the BBC, Rehn said that the first chapter to be taken up was expected to be
on enterprises and industrial policy, adding that there were no political
criteria for that chapter, and progress could be ensured. Rehn said that
Ankara should notice that not fulfilling commitments had consequences. On
the other hand, he stated that the bloc favored the continuation of talks
with Turkey. /Star/
[09] GERMAN FM STEINMEIER VOWS TO WORK ON TALKS, TRNC'S ISOLATION
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country will assume
the term presidency of the European Union next Monday, said yesterday that
the opening of new negotiating chapters with Turkey and the adoption of
direct trade regulations with the Turkish Cypriots would be among the
priorities during Germany's six months at the EU helm. Speaking at a press
conference at the EU Council in Brussels, Steinmeier said Germany would
exert efforts for the approval of EU-proposed trade regulations aimed at
easing the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC). /Turkish Daily News/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[10] BAHCELI'S MESSAGES
BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
leader Devlet Bahceli's remarks at a press conference. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli paints a picture of
a leader who doesn't like press coverage very much. This comes from his
personality, way of practicing politics and relations between the MHP and
the media. Bahceli now makes his critical remarks about important
developments during annual press conferences at a breakfast. During this
year's meeting, Bahceli sat at a table with a group of journalists at the
Sheraton Hotel. At the other tables, there were other journalists, and one
MHP general administration board member sat next to each reporter. There
were also other columnists and political reporters listening to Bahceli's
messages carefully. The hall was decorated with Turkish flags, MHP flags
with three crescents, posters of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, former MHP leader
Abdullah Turkes and Bahceli. The meeting's timing was important for three
reasons. The MHP has just completed its general congress, general
administration board elections were held, and 2007, a year of elections, is
about to begin.
During the meeting, Bahceli chose to voice his views by taking reporters'
questions. The first asked if early elections would be held and if deputies
from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would defect to the
MHP. Bahceli took 23 minutes to answer this question. In sum, he said that
early elections should be held before next May's presidential election and
a new Parliament should elect the next president. Bahceli again gave the
message that democracy is the solution. Bahceli said that if early
elections aren't held and the AKP tries to make its own candidate the
president, the threat of an interim regime might emerge. After reporters
sought to clarify his stance, he said, ‘If the AKP wins again as a result
of early elections, then nobody could object to the president that it
elects, because it would reflect the nation's will.' Bahceli also voice
disapproval for previous coups in certain countries which lack a democratic
tradition. As a solution, he stressed democracy. He called on wise men,
former presidents and senior statesmen to do their duty. Bahceli also said
that secularism was our republic's cornerstone. He also denied claims the
MHP would found a coalition with the main opposition Republican People's
Party (CHP) and said that nobody has the right to present the AKP as
something more than it is. As for why Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
shouldn't become president, Bahceli brought up certain corruption claims
about Erdogan. I think Bahceli should meet with the press more often."
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