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Turkish Press Review, 08-04-07
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
07.04.2008
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN ATTENDS YOUTH AND WOMEN BRANCHES CONGRESSES IN MALATYA AND ANKARA
[02] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN VISITS CHINA
[03] CHP’S KOC: “PARTY DELEGATES WILL FAVOR RENEWAL”
[04] LABOR UNIONS PROTEST SOCIAL SECURITY BILL
[05] TUSIAD: “TURKEY LACKS A SERIOUS OPPOSITION”
[06] WHAT WILL THE AKP ARGUE?
[01] ERDOGAN ATTENDS YOUTH AND WOMEN BRANCHES CONGRESSES IN MALATYA AND
ANKARA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended congresses held by
his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) youth and women branches
in both Malatya and Ankara. “The solution to a wide range of problems
lies in democracy,” he said. “We’ll continue striving for Turkey. The
decision belongs to the nation.” He added, “We’ll continue our
struggle for a Turkey without discrimination, and to make Turkey a
democratic, secular and social state ruled by the law.” /Turkiye/
[02] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN VISITS CHINA
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday arrived in China to hold a
number of official contacts. He is being accompanied on his trip by a
delegation including deputy Parliament speakers Nevzat Pakdil and Meral
Aksener, Parliament Council Secretary members Fatma Salman Kotan and Yasar
Tuzun, and Parliament administrative chief Orhan Erdem. Toptan and the
delegation were received in Beijing by Fan Changang, a permanent member of
the Chinese National Congress. /Turkiye/
[03] CHP’S KOC: “PARTY DELEGATES WILL FAVOR RENEWAL”
Delegates of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will
favor change and renewal at the party’s general congress later this month,
said a challenger to take the CHP helm yesterday. Speaking to delegates
from a number of cities, Haluk Koc said that the CHP was facing a serious
test in which it would leave the old way of doing things behind. He added
that Turkey has no time to lose. The CHP congress is set for April 26-27.
/Milliyet/
[04] LABOR UNIONS PROTEST SOCIAL SECURITY BILL
Thousands of members of labor unions, including DISK and KESK, along with
representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations,
gathered yesterday in Istanbul’s Kadikoy Square to protest the
government’s plan to reform social security, which is soon set for a vote
in Parliament. Union leaders said that they had warned the government that
if the bill is not changed, they could call for a general strike.
/Milliyet/
[05] TUSIAD: “TURKEY LACKS A SERIOUS OPPOSITION”
Turkey lacks a serious political opposition, according to Turkish
Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairwoman
Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag. Speaking in the current issue of CNBC-E Business
Magazine, Yalcindag said, “This situation (the lack of opposition) has
resulted in TUSIAD’s statements being seen as more political. I wish
there was a stronger opposition party whose statements were more
constructive.” She added that TUSIAD was neither a political party nor a
political organization, but a voluntary non-governmental organization.
/Star/
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[06] WHAT WILL THE AKP ARGUE?
BY NASUHI GUNGOR (STAR)
Columnist Nasuhi Gungor comments on the closure case against the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP). A summary of his column is as follows:
“The legal process has started. The Justice and Development Party (AKP)
has started to prepare its defense. Since the indictment was filed and
accepted, people have been talking about various arguments. I understand
those who say that there’s no need to even prepare a defense against this
indictment, but I disagree. But I can’t understand people who want a
defense confined to only the law. I wonder what the defense will be based
on, as this is an important issue. Would it be wise to respond with a law-
based defense to an indictment bound up in our recent conflicts, rather
than legal issues alone? Wes should weigh this carefully.
What can be done? Of course, there is a third way. Let’s think back on
important cases and defenses which have left their mark on history. If you
have to present a defense in an environment under pressure from the
opposite side, the end is a foregone conclusion. But one can win with a
historic defense worth remembering, one which is not only legal and
political but one embracing life itself. The power to do this belongs to
AKP leader and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as only one or two
people have a position near his level. This defense should center around
Erdogan and the values he represents. It should also include the nation,
history, aesthetics, imaginative power and literary richness. The AKP
shouldn’t see the issue as one of only defending itself. When our
children read it, they should feel the honor of saying that this is our
history.
Everyone from every stratum of society, from mountain shepherds to
intellectuals in Istanbul, should feel themselves in that defense. This
defense should remind everybody of justice, including those who filed the
indictment, and the defense should never beg for justice. I have an answer
in advance to those who will see this as a challenge or an incitement to
conflict: You can’t understand an honorable stance in history or
representing the nation in defense. This defense means the history and
nation, wounded feelings of injustice, and millions of people who are
viewed with disdain. This defense will also mean Turkey itself. If the AKP
sees its defense from this point of view, it will triumph, no matter what
the verdict is. You can be rest assured that nobody will have the nerve to
treat this nation like a suspect again.”
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