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Turkish Press Review, 07-08-27
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
27.08.2007
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY TO ELECT, SWEAR IN NEW PRESIDENT TOMORROW
[02] IN RIZE, ERDOGAN SAYS GOVT WILL WORK TO DESERVE ITS MANDATE
[03] NATION CELEBRATES VICTORY WEEK
[04] WORK TO PREPARE NEW CONSTITUTION SPARKS CRITICISM
[05] REHN: “THE FENER GREEK PATRIARCH SHOULD BE FREE TO CALL HIMSELF ECUMENICAL”
[06] FIRE-PLAGUED GREECE SET TO GET AID FROM TURKISH RED CRESCENT
[07] GOVT TO MAKE OFFER TODAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS’ PAY RAISES
[08] TURKISH FILM WINS TOP NOD AT SARAJEVO FESTIVAL
[09] FERRARI’S MASSA TOPS TURKISH GRAND PRIX
[10] RUNNER ABEYLEGESSE SCORES SILVER IN JAPAN
[01] TURKEY TO ELECT, SWEAR IN NEW PRESIDENT TOMORROW
Foreign Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
presidential candidate Abdullah Gul is expected tomorrow to be elected by
Parliament the next president of the Republic of Turkey. He will be sworn
in on the same day. In tomorrow’s third round of voting, 276 votes will
be enough for Gul to become the 11th president. Anticipating Gul’s
victory, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) announced
that it would not attend the swearing-in ceremony, but nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that his deputies would be present.
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] IN RIZE, ERDOGAN SAYS GOVT WILL WORK TO DESERVE ITS MANDATE
Speaking at a ceremony in Rize over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said that the government would work to deserve the mandate
the people had given it, adding that he hoped the government’s second
term in office would be a successful one. He stressed that he was the prime
minister of 70 million people and would not play favorites. “My duty is
to provide the same service to everyone,” said Erdogan. Stressing that
preparations should begin for the republic’s centenary in 2023, the
premier added that his party doesn’t want to be at odds with the
political opposition, because it should earn the nation’s trust. /Aksam/
Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that boycotting the current
presidential vote in Parliament was the only possible sanction which could
be taken against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). “The CHP
has done this,” said Baykal. “This wasn’t meant to trigger a crisis
or hinder Parliament.” Baykal stated that the CHP respects the
Constitution and there was no conflict in this. “We’re carrying out our
duty,” he said, adding that he knew Abdullah Gul would be elected
Turkey’s next president. However, Baykal added that the CHP would keep a
close eye on Gul during his term in office, due to his past stances. /Star/
[03] NATION CELEBRATES VICTORY WEEK
Victory Week celebrations of the 85th anniversary of a massive offensive of
Turkish troops during the War of Independence began yesterday on Mt.
Kocatepe, Afyonkarahisar. Marking the week, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan both issued messages. In possibly his last
statement as president, Sezer called on the Turkish people to maintain the
principles and revolutions of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the
Republic of Turkey, to ensure the country’s continued progress. /Turkiye/
[04] WORK TO PREPARE NEW CONSTITUTION SPARKS CRITICISM
Criticism of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) push to
prepare a new Constitution seems to be rising. Constitutional Law professor
Mumtaz Soysal yesterday charged that the AKP was trying to make improper
changes to the Constitution. Criticizing the AKP’s work, Soysal said that
Turkey has no urgent need for a new Constitution. In addition, former
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that the government was drawing up a
new Constitution in order to allow the wearing of headscarves in
institutions of higher learning. “There’s no need to change the
Constitution in a rush,” said Turk, adding, “We’ve no right to change
the entire Constitution when there’s no real need. It can only be changed
in response to pressing social needs.” /Cumhuriyet/
[05] REHN: “THE FENER GREEK PATRIARCH SHOULD BE FREE TO CALL HIMSELF
ECUMENICAL”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that
the Fener Greek patriarch should be free to use the title “ecumenical.”
Rehn expressed this view while answering a motion in the European
Parliament. He added that Turkey should make sure non-Muslim religious
communities are on equal legal footing as Muslims and that Turkish and
foreign individuals are treated equally. /Milliyet/
[06] FIRE-PLAGUED GREECE SET TO GET AID FROM TURKISH RED CRESCENT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday sent a message of condolences
to his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis over the loss of several people
in a wave of forest fires over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Turkish Red
Crescent (Kizilay) stated that it had completed its preparations to send
aid to Greece. /Turkiye/
[07] GOVT TO MAKE OFFER TODAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS’ PAY RAISES
The fifth round of collective bargaining between the government and
representatives of civil servants’ unions will be held this morning.
State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin is expected to make the government’s
offer for a hike in civil servants’ salaries next year. /Star/
[08] TURKISH FILM WINS TOP NOD AT SARAJEVO FESTIVAL
A Turkish film about fear overwhelming a true believer when he is caught up
in religious corruption has been chosen as the best movie at the 13th
Sarajevo Film Festival. The jury headed by British actor Jeremy Irons,
awarded director Ozer Kiziltan’s “Takva” (A Man’s Fear of God) with
the 25,000-euro Heart of Sarajevo prize at the closing ceremony on Saturday
night.
[09] FERRARI’S MASSA TOPS TURKISH GRAND PRIX
Ferrari’s Brazilian driver Felipe Massa emerged victorious in Sunday’s
Formula One Grand Prix at Istanbul Park. It was his second consecutive
Turkish Grand Prix title and third victory in the 12 races this season.
Fellow Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen finished second after a dominant
performance in the race. Fernando Alonso came in a distant third for
McLaren Mercedes, cutting teammate Lewis Hamilton’s championships lead to
just 5 points. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] RUNNER ABEYLEGESSE SCORES SILVER IN JAPAN
Turkish runner Elvan Abeylegesse won a silver medal in Osaka, Japan over
the weekend in the women’s 10,000-meter race at the World Athletics
Championship. Elvan grabbed the silver in 31:59.40 in the race, just behind
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, who made an astonishing recovery to become
the first woman to defend her championship, with a time of 31:55.41. /All
papers/
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