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Turkish Press Review, 07-08-22
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
22.08.2007
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER ATTENDS HIS FINAL NSC MEETING
[02] GENERAL STAFF: “THE TSK BARGAINING WITH ANY PERSON OR INSTITUTION IS OUT OF THE QUESTION”
[03] PM ERDOGAN: “THE AKP IS ACTING IN LINE WITH THE NATION’S WILL”
[04] BAYKAL: “THE NEXT PRESIDENT SHOULD ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION’S BASIC PRINCIPLES”
[05] TRNC’S TALAT TO MEET NEXT MONTH WITH PAPADOPOULOS
[06] EP VICE PRESIDENT: “IF TURKEY FACES A REGIME ISSUE, THE EU COULD SUSPEND TIES”
[01] SEZER ATTENDS HIS FINAL NSC MEETING
Outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday attended his final National
Security Council (NSC) meeting. After he made a short farewell speech,
council members thanked Sezer for his service and work. Abdullah Gul, the
ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) presidential candidate, will
chair the next NSC meeting if he wins the post in the current election. A
statement said that both domestic and foreign developments had been
discussed at the meeting, while reiterating Turkey’s determination to
continue the fight against the PKK. It also said that recent developments
in Iraq had been covered, again stressing the importance of protecting
Iraq’s territorial integrity. /Milliyet/
[02] GENERAL STAFF: “THE TSK BARGAINING WITH ANY PERSON OR INSTITUTION IS
OUT OF THE QUESTION”
The General Staff yesterday denied news reports that it had reached an
agreement with the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP)
presidential candidate Abdullah Gul, saying that it was out of the question
for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to “bargain” with any person or
institution. In an official statement, it stressed that Chief of General
Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit has no “secret schedule,” adding that any
talks he holds are conducted according to established rules between state
institutions. /Aksam/
[03] PM ERDOGAN: “THE AKP IS ACTING IN LINE WITH THE NATION’S WILL”
In a televised interview on Monday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said that his Justice and Development Party (AKP) is acting in line with
the nation’s will as expressed in last month’s general elections.
Stressing that provinces throughout Turkey gave full support to the AKP in
the elections, which produced a resounding win for the ruling party,
Erdogan said that he couldn’t simply ignore this. Commenting on ongoing
work to draft a new Constitution, Erdogan said the results of this work
would soon be released to allow a wider public discussion, adding that the
first four articles of the Constitution would be left unchanged. Later,
Erdogan’s controversial statements about a popular newspaper columnist
during the interview drew fire from both his political rivals and non-
governmental organizations. Concerning Hurriyet columnist Bekir Coskun’s
recent statement that he couldn’t see Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as
his president, Erdogan said that someone who couldn’t accept Gul’s
presidency should leave the country. Speaking to reporters, main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Mustafa Ozyurek said that
such a proposal belongs to a fascist country, urging Erdogan to offer an
apology to Coskun as well as millions of loyal Turks who oppose AKP rule.
Also weighing in on the issue, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Group
Deputy Chairman Mehmet Sandir called the premier’s statements unfortunate
and inappropriate. Furthermore, the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC)
criticized the remarks, saying that the premier should act with tolerance
and respect for views at odds with those of his party. /Turkiye-Cumhuriyet/
[04] BAYKAL: “THE NEXT PRESIDENT SHOULD ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CONSTITUTION’S BASIC PRINCIPLES”
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said
yesterday that the CHP believes the next president should act in accordance
with the Constitution’s basic principles as well as republicanism.
Addressing his group meeting, which was closed to the press, Baykal said
that the choice of president is the most concrete example of a nation’s
basic values and worldview. /Milliyet/
[05] TRNC’S TALAT TO MEET NEXT MONTH WITH PAPADOPOULOS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos will meet early next month in a
bid to revive the stalled peace process on the island. The Sept. 5 meeting
will be the first between the two leaders in more than a year. /Turkiye/
[06] EP VICE PRESIDENT: “IF TURKEY FACES A REGIME ISSUE, THE EU COULD
SUSPEND TIES”
Recent developments in Turkish politics were taken up at a panel this week
in Nurernberg, Germany. Speaking at the gathering, regarding allegations
that political developments could put Turkey’s regime in doubt, European
Parliament Vice President Ingo Friedrich said that such debates would badly
affect ties between Turkey and the European Union and could even lead to
their suspension. Also addressing the meeting, German Social Democrat Party
(SDP) Deputy Angelika Weikart said that the outcome of last month’s
general elections demonstrated that the Turkish people favor the likely
presidency of current Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. /Star/
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