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Turkish Press Review, 07-10-02Turkish 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 morning02.10.2007FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT GUL RECEIVES GERMAN GREENS’ ROTHClaudia Roth, co-chair of the German Greens Party, yesterday visited President Abdullah Gul. Afterwards, Roth told reporters that they had had a very open and serious meeting and that she appreciated his being so open about Turkey’s relations with the European Union. /Cumhuriyet/[02] NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR BEGINSThe new legislative year began yesterday in Parliament with an address by President Abdullah Gul. In his speech, Gul stated that efforts to draft a new constitution should seek an inclusive approach which would strengthen national unity and social solidarity, protect basic rights and freedoms, and affirm the democratic, secular and social character of the state. “I am confident that ongoing lively discussions about a new constitution will yield the best constitutional arrangements with the contributions of political parties and every sector of society,” he told the assembled deputies. Following Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said that under Article 4 of the Constitution, the Constitution’s first three articles cannot be altered. “Nobody should doubt that the Republic of Turkey will live forever in glory,” he added, “with the same basic features that enabled its foundation.” At a reception marking the new legislative year held by Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was no need to establish a reconciliation committee for the new constitution, saying it would serve no purpose. /All papers/[03] IN WAKE OF TERRORIST ATTACK, THREE CABINET MINISTERS TO VISIT SOUTHEASTSpeaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that several subjects had been discussed, including political issues, a new anti-terror pact with Iraq, and recent terrorist attacks. Asked about Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit’s remarks about the new draft constitution, Cicek declined to comment. Commenting on Saturday’s PKK attack in the southeastern province of Sirnak, which took 12 lives, Cicek said that Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, and State Minister Mehmet Simsek, along with deputies representing the region, would visit the area. Cicek added that fighting terrorism is always a top issue for Turkey. /Cumhuriyet- Turkiye/[04] BUYUKANIT: “DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS, SOME FRIENDLY COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TERRORISM”Speaking at the War Academy for the opening of the 2007-2008 school year, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit spoke about terrorism, Turkey’s secular system and northern Iraq. Lamenting that some countries continue to support terrorism, Buyukanit stressed that he had urged many friendly countries to change their ways, but in vain. “All the countries we warned continued to directly or indirectly support terror,” said Buyukanit. “In the fight against terrorism, words mean nothing.” Touching on northern Iraq, Buyukanit said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) was closely watching developments there and added that what he saw troubled him. Buyukanit also stated that he was following the drafting of a new draft constitution and would speak to the officials responsible after the draft is finalized. /Sabah/[05] US EMBASSY CONDEMNS PKK ATTACK IN SIRNAKThe US Embassy yesterday issued a statement condemning Saturday’s PKK terrorist attack in Sirnak, which killed 12 civilians. “We were deeply saddened and shocked to learn of Saturday’s bus attack in Sirnak and we categorically condemn the perpetrators of this brutal act of terrorism,” said the statement. “Our sympathies go out to the families and friends of the 12 victims killed in the attack. The United States remains a staunch supporter of Turkey’s efforts to combat the PKK and terrorism in all its forms.” /Turkiye/[06] TOP CHP OFFICIAL STEPS DOWN, REMAINS DEPUTYOguz Oyan, Izmir deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), yesterday resigned from his party posts, deputy secretary-general and Central Executive Board (MYK) member, but retained his seat in Parliament. In a statement, Oyan said that it was time for new things, adding that new words from the mouths of the old were not believable. /Sabah/[07] FORMER HEALTH MINISTER AKTUNA TO BE LAID TO REST TODAYFormer Health Minister Yildirim Aktuna, who lost his life over the weekend to a serious illness, will be laid to rest today in Istanbul’s Zincirlikuyu cemetery. /Cumhuriyet/[08] TEEN CONFESSES IN DINK MURDER TRIALIn the second hearing in the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul yesterday, the primary suspect, a juvenile identified as O.S, confessed to the slaying. Two other suspects, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz and Tuncay Uzundal, also testified. Tight security measures were taken around the courthouse in the Besiktas district where the hearing was held. The next hearing is set for next February. /Turkish Daily News/[09] THREE MONTHS EARLY, EXPORTS BREAK ANNUAL RECORDThree months before the New Year, for the first time ever Turkey’s annual exports rose above the $100 billion mark, setting a new record. According to the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM), exports so far this year total $100 billion, an increase of over 23%. TIM head Oguz Satici and State Minister Kursad Tuzmen yesterday announced the export figures at a ceremony at the old Parliament building. Tuzmen said that when exports hit $200 billion, Turkey’s per capita income would reach $10,000. He added that 16 members of the 27-member European Union would not reach $100 billion in exports. /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [10] BLOODY TERRORISM!BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)Columnist Hasan Cemal comments on a conference in Diyarbakir on the Kurdish issue and the peace process in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: “I went to a conference on ‘Kurds and the Peace Process in Turkey,’ co-organized by the Heinrich Boll Foundation and the local bar association, in Diyarbakir last weekend. I think this was the first ever meeting in Diyarbakir whose title mentions the Kurds by name. People showed great interest in it and filled the convention hall throughout the weekend. The Kurdish issue, the terrorist PKK and weapons were all discussed and probed during the meeting’s formal sessions and also on its sidelines. In the words of one of my colleagues, ‘The Kurds not only talked, but they also started to argue with each other.’ This is partially true. I met two young teachers there. When I said that an atmosphere of free discussion had shown great development and that certain taboos had been broken, one of the teachers said that they had a friend in Iraq’s Kandil mountains (where the terrorist PKK takes shelter) and that they even discuss (convicted PKK terrorist leader) Abdullah Ocalan with him. Even Ocalan, he said! This should be emphasized. So what they were discussing and what were they fighting about? I last visited the region before the general elections this July. Also at that time, I noticed that people had started to discuss certain issues. But this atmosphere of discussion grew stronger after the elections, because the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) got a lot more votes from Kurds, even more than the Democratic Society Party (DTP) got. Now the AKP is getting ready for next year’s local elections and wants to capture cities, especially Diyarbakir. One hotel owner said that if the AKP candidate is good, it would be able to win control of the city government. In short, supporters of the DTP and PKK and Kurdish intellectuals are confused by the rise of the AKP in the southeastern Anatolia. That’s why they talk among themselves and even argue publicly about these issues: the PKK and armed conflict, violence and terrorist tactics, relations with the AKP government, a proposed new civilian constitution, the possibility of the PKK declaring a longer cease-fire, the shadow of Ocalan and Iraq’s Mt. Kandil on the Kurdish political movement, and how to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. It’s good that these issues are being discussed openly. It’s vitally important for this country, in terms of stability, peace and democracy, that people have started to understand that armed conflict is a dead end and the idea of giving up violence has been taking hold. As long as PKK doesn’t lay down its weapons, things will continue to be hard for Turkey. Obviously, the ruling AKP should do something about this. When the issue was being discussed last weekend, the news of the terrible massacre came from Diyarbakir’s Beytussebap district: the PKK opened fire at a minibus and 12 people died. Bloody terrorism! What more can be said?” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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