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Turkish Press Review, 08-08-07Turkish 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 morning07.08.2008FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] GUL AND MILITARY REBUFF CHP ALLEGATIONSThe main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) yesterday criticized the recent lack of Supreme Military Council (YAS) dismissals of officers for engaging in anti-secular activities, claiming this resulted from a deal between the army and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). But the military rebuffed the CHP allegations, dismissing them as a "figment of their imagination." The Presidential Press Center also denied the allegations, saying in a statement that it is "incomprehensible why a representative of a political party should feel regret over the lack of expulsions by the YAS, [and why] good relations between the organs of the state should be criticized, ignoring the general public interest and the necessities of service." /Milliyet/[02] BABACAN STRESSES ROLE OF AHMEDINEJAD'S VISIT IN EFFORTS TO SOLVE NUCLEAR DISPUTECommenting on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's upcoming visit to Turkey, Foreign Minister Babacan yesterday stressed again that people should focus on the visit's importance in terms of the current international situation. Saying that the visit comes amid a tense international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, he said, "Turkey is playing a key role in solving the issue through dialogue, and Ahmedinejad's visit carries great importance towards this end. An important issue which the whole world is focused on will be discussed in Turkey. That's the main thing we should pay attention to." Babacan also said that during the visit, Ahmedinejad would hear the expectations of Turkey and the international community on the issue. Babacan also touched on the Foreign Ministry's drive to hire more young staffers, saying these young people would be trained to become skilled diplomats through such initiatives as foreign language and master's programs. /Sabah/[03] LANDMARK BATTLE OF SAKARYA MONUMENT DEDICATED IN POLATLIA monument to the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Sakarya, during the Turkish War of Independence, was dedicated yesterday in Kartaltepe, Polatli, with the attendance of Ankara Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, Koc Group Chairman Mustafa Koc, and a host of other guests. The 32-meter-high monument, Turkey's tallest ever, was made through cooperation with the General Staff, Transportation Ministry and Koc Holding. A groundbreaking ceremony was also held nearby for a planned museum focusing on the battle. Speaking at the dedication, Buyukanit said that after a valiant struggle lasting 22 days and nights, Turkey's brave army made its mark on the epic rebirth of a nation which some believed had already ended. Stating that the monument and the museum would enrich understanding of Turkish history and culture, he said they would educate Turkey's youth and visitors from abroad about the Battle of Sakarya. /Turkiye/[04] TUZMEN: "STRUCTURAL MEASURES, NOT AN OVERVALUED YTL, WILL BRING DOWN INFLATION"State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that Turkey should use structural instruments to curb inflation instead of depending on an overvalued New Turkish Lira (YTL). Stressing that countries following a development policy based on export gains don't let their currencies become overvalued, he said Turkey should do the same. Decrying how inflation has soared despite the overvalued YTL, he said, "This shows that a country's inflation can't be brought down by making its currency overvalued." /Sabah/[05] IMF: "WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN CONSOLIDATING TURKEY'S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS"Concluding its evaluation of the outcome of the three standby agreements with Turkey since 1999, the International Monetary Fund Executive Board yesterday said in a written statement, "The IMF executive directors agreed that the Fund can continue to play an effective role in supporting Turkey's efforts to entrench economic stability and tackle its remaining vulnerabilities." The statement added that by the conclusion of the last standby arrangement this May, Turkey's economy had been transformed by a significant drop in inflation, a sharp decline in public debt rations, an overhauled banking system, and a prolonged economic expansion. "The review of the agreements has shown that Turkey still faces challenges to entrench macroeconomic stability, and that disciplined macroeconomic policies will be needed to continue reducing public debt ratios and restart disinflation trend," the statement said. Referring to instability and risks in the world economy today, the statement said that the Fund should sign a new agreement with Turkey. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that the technical talks with the Fund would be concluded within a month. /Star/[06] ACADEMICS STEP DOWN IN PROTEST OF GUL'S RECTORIAL CHOICESMore than a dozen senior Turkish academics resigned yesterday in protest of President Abdullah Gul's choice earlier this week of 21 university rectors. /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [07] NO NEED TO WORRYBY TURKER ALKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Turker Alkan comments on concerns about Turkey's future. A summary of his column is as follows: "Recently this country's president and prime minister reportedly met one night like a couple of criminals and spoke for hours, and no efforts were made to inform the public afterwards. I have two questions about this. First, why did they hold a meeting secretly, instead of meeting in their offices, like normal? Were they afraid of being watched or listened to? If yes, then this should make us ashamed! Second, the people governing the country made no attempt to inform the public after they talked for hours. As far as I know, we have a democratic government. If the nation doesn't know what's going on, how can it control those ruling the country? On the one hand, there is the Constitutional Court, and on the other, there is the Ergenekon probe. So we're moving swiftly towards unknown outcomes. We see news stories and articles asking, 'What will become of Turkey?,' or 'We're sinking,' or, 'Talk about sinking is useless, because actually we'll get through. The period of the republic (meaning Ataturk's era) caused our ruin, but now, thank God, things are getting better.' They have an incomprehensible hatred and enmity towards Ataturk's era, as if he has been governing the country for the last 50 years. But we shouldn't let this chaos make us pessimistic. The Turkish people have a great power to change and evolve. No matter how they show their various faces, long for Islamic law, or become separatist, nationalist or liberal, we have the potential to overcome all these problems. In a recent report, US international investment bank Goldman Sachs predicted that in 42 years, we will have the world's ninth-largest economy and our gross national product will grow nine or tenfold. The report also stated that at that time China will be have the world's largest economy, followed by the US, India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico, Great Britain and Turkey, and our per capital income will reach as high as $65,000. Of course this is a forecast, and it may or may not true. A possible war in the Middle East, which Turkey might get involved in, or the continuation of domestic conflict and terrorist attacks would hinder this growth. But these goals might be reached, and a nation which reaches them would also solve a great many problems very easily. When I hear people ask what will become of Turkey, I tell them don't worry, it will be fine. Ataturk laid its foundations very well, so it can't collapse that easily. If you don't believe me, I'll see you in 40 years!" Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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