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Turkish Press Review, 07-05-24Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning24.05.2007CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY SHOULD CONDUCT A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION TO PROTECT THE PEACE”Stating that Turkey should conduct a military operation in northern Iraq to protect the peace, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said, “We cannot think differently about this issue than the Turkish military.” Erdogan also stated that if the military seeks authorization for an operation, he would definitely give it legal support. Speaking to ATV, Erdogan said, “We do whatever is necessary for the peace and well- being of our country. Whatever should be done, either across the border or within our country, will be done. We have already made preliminary preparations. The steps will be taken whenever they are necessary.” Also speaking about Tuesday’s deadly bomb attack in Ankara, Erdogan said, “Precautions are now being taken throughout Turkey.” /Cumhuriyet/[02] SECURITY SUMMIT GATHERS IN ANKARAA security summit chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was held yesterday at the Prime Ministry. Also attending were Deputy Prime Ministers Abdullatif Sener and Mehmet Ali Sahin, Interior Minister Osman Gunes, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner, National Intelligence Agency (MIT) Undersecretary Emre Taner, Security Directorate General head Oguz Kagan and Ankara Governor Kemal Onal. /Hurriyet/Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday condemned the explosion in Ankara’s Ulus district, saying “Now is the time for unity, not for pointing fingers with political arguments.” Asked by reporters whether he had been a target of the bombing, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that he had no such knowledge. In related news, Buyukanit discussed the attack with Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner. Opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer said that no one could ever damage the nation’s unity. /Aksam/ [03] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TUSIADPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with representatives of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD). Erdogan began by condemning Tuesday’s bomb attack in Ankara. Erdogan also criticized a recent top court ruling annulling the first round of the presidential election, saying, “The Constitutional Court made a decision. We have to respect it, but we can discuss it. It’s a decision that has already been made, and its authors will be judged by history.” He also criticized President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s handling of a recent constitutional amendment package. TUSIAD Chairwoman Arzuhan Yalcindag also condemned the deadly bomb attack, saying, “The best answer to terrorist attacks would be a quick return to normal daily life.” Addressing proposals to change the presidential election system, she said, “Preparations for popular election of the president are being rushed. We believe that the issue should have a wider political discussion.” /Star/[04] INTL LEADERS CONDEMN TERRORIST ATTACKUS State Department spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday spoke on the deadly bomb attack in Ankara’s Ulus district, saying, “We reach out in sympathy and solidarity to the victims of this heinous crime and stand ready to provide every possible assistance.” He added that the United States commiserates with people who lost their loved ones in the explosion. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Scheffer also released a statement condemning the attack, adding that the world stood in solidarity with the Turkish nation. European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that the EU would stand by Turkey in its efforts to combat terrorism. Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary-General Terry Davis branded the bombing’s perpetrators “murderers” no matter their aim. British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the attack “mean and fearful.” /Cumhuriyet/[05] PUTIN SENDS CONDOLENCES TO ERDOGANRussian President Vladimir Putin yesterday sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Tuesday’s deadly bomb attack in Ankara. In his message, Putin said that the incident again demonstrated that international efforts against terrorism need to be strengthened. /Aksam/[06] TURKISH DELEGATION TO VISIT IRAQ THIS WEEKENDIn the wake of Turkey’s bomb attack in Ankara, which bore the hallmarks of a PKK attack, there is renewed focus on the continued terrorist PKK presence in northern Iraq. A delegation from the Foreign Ministry led by Turkey’s Special Envoy to Iraq Oguz Celikkol will travel to Baghdad this weekend and urge the Iraqi government to end the PKK presence in the country. The delegation is expected to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [07] TERRORISMBY TURKER ALKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Turker Alkan comments on Turkey’s bomb attack in Ankara. A summary of his column is as follows: “Tuesday’s bomb blast in Ankara came as no surprise. Such a thing had been expected. The terrorist PKK long ago threatened to move its attacks from outlying areas to cities, and security forces have been working to prevent this. Many PKK terrorists have been captured with explosives in recent months, but unfortunately such attacks are not always preventable. As of this writing, the attack’s perpetrator hasn’t been identified yet, but like many, I think the attack was carried out by the terrorist PKK. Similar attacks will follow. This is one of the characteristics of terrorist groups; they don’t provide clues about where, when and what sort of attack they will launch. In this way, they ensure the spread of terror, or great fear. Firstly, when faced with such attacks, we shouldn’t lose our heads. If we aren’t terrorized, terrorist groups can’t accomplish their goals. Secondly, such attacks shouldn’t be blamed on masses of people, and there shouldn’t be enmity between nations. Turks and Kurds have lived in peace for 1,000 years. One of the goals of such horrible attacks is to spoil this fellowship and sow enmity between nations. If a terrorist group succeeds in this, then it achieves its goal. On the contrary, we should seek and find ways of fostering fellowship. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit touched upon a very important point, when he said that many European countries, and even our allies within NATO, support the terrorist PKK and don’t listen to us. He added that 30 percent of the PKK lies within our borders and the remainder is in northern Iraq, and that this is a unique international situation! But, after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the US, NATO declared that a member of the alliance had been attacked. But Turkey has been unable to convey to its allies the danger it faces. We should use this terrorist attack in Ankara to help explain the gravity of the situation to the EU and the US. If they protect the PKK even in such a situation, Turkey should say that a new world is needed in which Turkey will take its place. We’re moving towards a multi-polar world, and Turkey might have to rework its location and situation in this world. Along with these, developments, it should be noted that the Democratic Society Party (DTP) withdrew from July’s elections, criticizing the 10% threshold. Actually they will compete in the elections as independent candidates and probably establish a group in Parliament, but it would be better if the threshold were not so high, so they could compete as a party and be represented in Parliament this way. The fact that a party like the DTP won’t be represented in Parliament is detrimental to democracy and efforts to ensure national unity and integration, supposing they don’t again take up provocative stances.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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