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Turkish Press Review, 07-06-05Turkish 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 morning05.06.2007CONTENTS
[01] SEVEN KILLED IN TERRORIST ATTACK IN TUNCELISeven soldiers were killed and seven others were injured yesterday in a terrorist attack on a gendarmerie station 30 kilometers from the Pulumur district of the eastern province of Tunceli. After the attack, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a telegraph to Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit expressing his sorrow. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer also released messages condemning the attack. In related news, Turkish police arrested a PKK terrorist believed to be behind a bombing last month in the Aegean coast city of Izmir that killed one person and injured 17. /Hurriyet/[02] TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING HELD IN ANKARAA Turkey-European Union Troika foreign ministers’ meeting was held yesterday in Ankara under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Present at the gathering were EU Term President Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, next term president Portugal’s Foreign Minister Jaoa Cravinho, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. During the meeting, a number of subjects were discussed, including Turkey’s EU reforms, issues in Ankara’s accession talks, and regional political developments. Speaking at a joint conference afterwards, Gul said that the talks had been fruitful and beneficial, adding that many issues had been discussed with good will and frankness. “The meeting was satisfactory,” said Gul. For his part, Steinmeier said that Germany, during its term presidency set to end this month, had done its best to continue and accelerate Turkey’s EU accession process, while Cravinho said that Turkey would be a priority of Portugal. For his part, Rehn said that the EU would stand by Turkey in its fight against terrorism. /Turkiye/[03] PARTIES SUBMIT CANDIDATE LISTS TO YSKPolitical parties that will compete in the July 22 general elections submitted candidates list to the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) yesterday. The first party to submit its list was the Turkish Communist Party (TKP), which presented 550 candidates to compete in 85 electoral districts. Just an hour before the close of the business day, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Felicity Party (SP), Labor Party (EMEK), Young Party (GP), People’s Ascent Party (HYP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Democrat Party (DP) submitted their candidates list to YSK. All other parties submitted their lists at the very last minute, with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) getting its list in just before the deadline. /The New Anatolian/[04] BASBUG VISITS CHINAThe views of Turkey and the People’s Republic of China on world matters have much in common, said Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday. At a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan in Beijing, Basbug expressed admiration for China’s economic progress, adding that there were similarities in the threats faced by the two countries. /Turkish Daily News/[05] SENER RECEIVES CASTRO’S SONDeputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday received Fidel Castro Diaz Balart, Cuba’s nuclear energy minister and the son of leader Fidel Castro. During their meeting, Balart said that the Turkish and Cuban nations were alike, praising Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. For his part, Sener said that Cuba had successfully overcome discrimination based on race. /Milliyet/[06] MAY INFLATION FIGURES RELEASEDThe Turkish Institute of Statistics (TUIK) yesterday released monthly inflation figures for May. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.50%, while the producer price index (PPI) rose by 0.39%. These figures pushed yearly CPI to 9.23% and PPI to 7.14%. /Aksam/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [07] CYPRUS HAS BEEN FORGOTTENBY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on recent developments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows: “It seems as if we’ve forgotten the Cyprus İssue. This has several reasons: Turkey has focused on next month’s general elections in domestic policy and northern Iraq in foreign policy. Moreover, no important developments have been seen on Cyprus recently. Neither the UN nor the US or EU is showing any sign of activity towards launching a new negotiating process. What’s more, the Greek Cypriot administration is preparing for presidential election set for next February. Taking into consideration all these factors, it is any surprise that the Cyprus issue has fallen off both Turkey’s and the world’s radar. But is that something good or bad for the Turkish Cypriots? According to Mehmet Ali Talat, the president of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), it’s not good. Because deadlock doesn’t suit the Turkish Cypriots. For instance, the isolation of the TRNC is continuing, as the restrictions haven’t been lifted. Thus Turkish Cypriots can’t integrate with the world. Pointing to especially economic developments, TRNC leader Talat indicates that on the other hand the status quo isn’t completely against the Turkish Cypriots. For instance, the per capita gross domestic national product (GNP) is more than $10,000. In tourism and the building sector property sales to foreigners are on the rise. The vitality of the TRNC’s economy in Cyprus was proven by the opening of Hotel Artemis in Bafra on Saturday, which showed what the Turkish side can manage despite the sanctions. Talat says that Cyprus İssue has been left to languish as the Greek side doesn’t show any willingness and the international community is uninterested. The İssue has, in fact, entered a period of stagnancy. And there’s no hope of vitality or compromise in the near future. So the Turkish side should make good use of this period by consolidating its institutions, strengthening its internal structure and promoting its economic and social standards. It’s high time to ask why serious delays haven’t been addressed and why administrative arrangements related to daily life have yet to be made. Of course, if a solution is reached, this work will be done more quickly and in a more coordinated way, but even Talat, who has always favored solution and a compromise, seems to have lost hope. Although he hasn’t given up his vision of a united state based on equality of the two sides, he acknowledges that it is difficult. As the status quo continues and the world, including Turkey, is preoccupied with different issues, Turkish Cypriots should take the necessary steps to stand on their own two feet.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |