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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-26
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
26.11.2007
CONTENTS
[01] GUL VISITS PARIS TO PUSH EXPO 2015 BID
[02] BABACAN BRIEFS AKP DEPUTIES ON POSSIBLE CROSS-BORDER OP
[03] BABACAN TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK
[04] CHARLES AND CAMILLA IN TURKEY THIS WEEK
[05] LAGENDIJK: “THE EU WON’T CONDEMN A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION IF ITS GOALS ARE WELL DEFINED”
[06] A NEW MODEL FOR ALEVIS?
[01] GUL VISITS PARIS TO PUSH EXPO 2015 BID
President Abdullah Gul yesterday went to France to show his support for
Turkey’s candidacy to host Expo 2015. Gul will attend a meeting today
where Izmir and Milan, the two cities vying to host the gathering, will
make presentations. Some see the right to host Expo 2015 as more important
than the World Cup or even the Olympics. /Turkiye/
[02] BABACAN BRIEFS AKP DEPUTIES ON POSSIBLE CROSS-BORDER OP
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan over the weekend briefed ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) deputies about a possible cross-border operation
into northern Iraq. Stating that the northern Iraqi administration has been
persuaded to take Turkey’s side in the fight against terrorism, Babacan
said, “They will take joint action with Turkey.” At the AKP’s party
retreat in Kizilcahamam, Ankara, deputies asked Babacan whether the
authorization for a cross-border operation would be used and when this
would happen. Babacan stressed that intelligence-sharing with the US was
going well. Stating that they are working in coordination with security
forces on the timing of the operation, Babacan added that speaking now
about its timing and scope would be premature. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] BABACAN TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEK
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is set to pay an official visit to Athens next
week at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis, the
Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. “During the visit, the two foreign
ministers will review Turkish-Greek relations. They will also exchange
views on EU matters, including Turkey’s accession process,” the
statement added. /Turkish Daily News/
[04] CHARLES AND CAMILLA IN TURKEY THIS WEEK
Prince of Wales Charles and his wife Camilla, duchess of Cornwall,
yesterday arrived in Ankara. The couple is set to proceed to Konya and
visit the Mevlana Rumi Museum. They will also visit the Mevlana Rumi
Cultural Center, where they will see a display of whirling dervishes.
Charles is expected to deliver a speech at the center. He will also go to
the prehistoric settlement of Catalhoyuk and view excavations headed by
British archeologist Ian Hodder. Then he will proceed to Ephesus to visit
the legendary House of the Virgin Mary. Charles will also visit Istanbul.
/Sabah/
[05] LAGENDIJK: “THE EU WON’T CONDEMN A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION IF ITS
GOALS ARE WELL DEFINED”
Speaking to Turkey’s Kanal 7 television yesterday, Turkey-EU Joint
Parliamentary Commission Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk said that EU will not
condemn a cross-border operation into northern Iraq if its goals are well
defined. Lagendijk also said that there has been a drastic change in the
European attitude towards terrorism since 9_11 and the Madrid and London
bombings. “Even ordinary people have come to understand that terrorism
constitutes a threat to everyone,” he said. Touching on the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party (DTP), he said he could not understand the wave of
terrorist attacks in the wake of a host of reforms and the DPT winning
seats in Parliament. /Star/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[06] A NEW MODEL FOR ALEVIS?
BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Taha Akyol comments on Turkey’s Alevi and Sunnis. A summary of
her column is as follows:
“Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal recently said that
Turkey’s Alevis have some important proposals and complaints but that
government action on this was only window dressing. Baykal also called the
model proposed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Reha Camuroglu
inadequate. That may well be, but the CHP should put forth its own model on
this issue. A solution can be produced through discussing different models.
What’s strange is that certain Alevi institutions have accused Camuroglu
of being a ‘traitor’ and objected to the state giving religious
services for ‘Alevi Islam’ due to the fear of assimilation. Of course,
there might be different views and models, and a result can be reached
through negotiations. But turning this issue into a fight over a
‘religious community’ would be wrong. The accusation of betrayal shows
a totalitarian mindset which can’t solve the problem but in fact makes
solving it harder. Such harsh stances might even cause polarization among
Alevis, and so we should avoid this.
The model suggested by Camuroglu proposes that senior Alevi dervishes be
classified are listed as permanent religious officials and that services to
be institutionalized. You might find this contrary to secularism, but you
can’t call it betrayal. There are even certain supporters of Islam who
find the state Religious Affairs Directorate to be contrary to secularism.
The issue shouldn’t be put in the straitjacket of betrayal versus
loyalty. What’s more, a great many Alevis want the state to give
religious services in Alevi Islam as well. Personally, Camuroglu wants
Alevi Islamic services to be institutionalized outside the Religious
Affairs Directorate. This issue is open for discussion.
Why would such proposals be ‘betrayal’? They might be found to be
faulty, and different models can be suggested. Anyway, a model will emerge
after discussions. After its implementation begins, certain arrangements
will be made in line with new needs. All institutionalizations happen this
way. The accusation of betrayal is impossible to understand. When seeking a
solution, everybody should watch their words. What’s the reason for this
enmity and anger? It’s not bad that the AKP took the first steps on this.
On the contrary, it’s quite good. We should also dispel the cold feelings
between these two religious sects (Alevis and Sunnis). The language we use
shouldn’t be argumentative, but conciliatory. The first condition for
moving towards a solution is to be flexible in style and behavior. You
can’t talk about freedom and tolerance while showing such a totalitarian
stance on different proposals for solution. Neither Alevis nor Sunnis are
single-minded. In our age particularly such sociological dynamics as
urbanization, education and being middle class make all belief groups
diverse. We shouldn’t use hurtful and divisive words, but unifying and
bridging ones.”
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