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Turkish Press Review, 08-10-31Turkish 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 morning31.10.2008CONTENTS
[01] GUL RECEIVES CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFFPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday received Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug. The weekly meeting at the Cankaya Presidential Palace lasted for a half-hour. /Cumhuriyet/[02] ERDOGAN URGES DEVELOPED COUNTRIES NOT TO EXPLOIT GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISISAddressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) Europe and Central Asia meeting in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that no country or institution should take try to advantage of the global economic crisis, adding that those who do so will pay a steep price. Urging developed countries to lend a helping hand to underdeveloped ones, Erdogan said, "The crisis has many important messages for the world. A boundless lust for profits and lack of satisfaction paved the way for the crisis." Stating that the crisis can be overcome, he added, however, that without important changes, the same may not be true of future crises. All countries should assume responsibility to solve global issues such as income inequality, poverty, and food and water shortages, Erdogan said, adding that otherwise illegal immigration from poor countries to wealthier ones will never end. Stressing the need for a more cooperative approach to knowledge and technology transfers, he also stressed the importance of dialogue for solving regional and global issues. Also speaking at the meeting, WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said, "There is a great possibility that Turkey and its region can get out of the crisis by growing stronger," adding that the crisis could be seen as an opportunity. Stressing that Turkey is successful both economically and diplomatically, Schwab said, "As a secular, majority-Muslim country, Turkey can establish relations with both the West and East. From a geostrategic perspective, Turkey is a bridge. It is situated on the energy and commercial pathway between Europe and Asia." On the sidelines of the forum, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that technical talks on a precautionary standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund are continuing. "Although Turkey doesn't need IMF funds at the moment, we have a constructive approach on a precautionary agreement," he said, stressing that the flexibility of a possible pact is very important for Ankara. /Sabah-Turkiye/[03] ERDOGAN URGES STRONGER ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURES FROM INTL COMMUNITYThe World Economic Forum (WEF) started its three-day Europe and Central Asia meeting in Istanbul yesterday. Speaking at its opening ceremony, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that merely putting terrorist groups on official lists of such groups is not enough, urging the international community to take stronger anti-terrorist measures. He said that countries which fail to stop terrorist groups from fundraising, recruiting and spreading propaganda will one day themselves be damaged by terrorism. "Terrorism is continuing to threaten the entire globalized world, and the era of protecting terrorists and of double standards should end," he added. Erdogan also met with Pakistani President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gillani on the sidelines of the meeting. /Aksam/[04] BABACAN: "TURKEY NEEDS A SWIFT MENTALITY"Turkey has been somewhat cushioned from the global economic crisis by its adoption of European Union criteria, said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. Babacan made the remarks at a ceremony inaugurating a European Union Business Development Center attended by Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan and European Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen. "If the EU criteria aren't applied, whatever program you apply, Turkey can't reach that level," he said. Stressing the importance of implementing the EU criteria, Babacan added that Turkey needs a swift mentality, and has to begin an economic, political and social transformation. Stating that the final stage in the national program has been reached, he urged that the program not be sacrificed to political concerns. /Star/[05] PRIME MINISTRY HOSTS ANTI-TORTURE AND MISTREATMENT SUMMITThe Prime Ministry's Human Rights Chairmanship yesterday held a meeting to assess a recent rise in allegations of torture and mistreatment. Speaking at the gathering, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said that torture and mistreatment are grave human rights violations. Stating that Turkey isn't lagging in accepting human rights but in implementing relevant laws, he underlined the importance of implementation. "Whoever they are, torturers should not be protected," he declared. /Star-Aksam/[06] DEFENSE MINISTER GONUL VISITS ISRAELDefense Minister Vecdi Gonul yesterday arrived in Israel to witness test flights of unmanned aerial vehicles at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak. Stating that the first two of these vehicles will be delivered to Turkey next month, Gonul said that he and his Israeli counterpart discussed projects between the two countries. Gonul also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who reportedly complained about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Turkey in August. /Milliyet/[07] IN WASHINGTON, BARZANI SENDS MESSAGES OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP TO TURKEYMassoud Barzani, the leader of the regional administration in northern Iraq, sent messages of peace and friendship to Turkey at a reception at the administration's Washington office on Wednesday. "All of us should cooperate to stop bloodshed, because it serves no one," he said in a speech. Asked whether he intends to visit Ankara soon, he said, "I can visit Ankara when the time and conditions are right." /Milliyet/[08] TURKISH SHIP HIJACKED OFF SOMALI COASTThe Nasa Yeslihan, a Marshall Islands-flagged ship managed and operated from Turkey, was hijacked yesterday by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The ship with 20 Turkish crew members was carrying iron ore from Canada to China. Turkey asked NATO, which already has ships in the region on anti- piracy patrols, to help resolve the situation safely. /Hurriyet/[09] MILLIONAIRE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBULThe Millionaire Fair, an important ultra-luxury international trade fair, opened yesterday in Istanbul, the first time the city has hosted the event. The fair is expected to draw around 15,000 visitors from countries as varied as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Syria and Ukraine. Speaking at the fair's opening, State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said that global millionaires are beginning to pay more attention to Turkish goods and services. "Istanbul serving as the site of this fair when everyone is talking about financial crisis is very meaningful," he added. "With their quality and the feeling of satisfaction they give to all sophisticated consumers, Turkish goods speak for themselves." Rustu Barkay, the CEO of fair organizer CNR Holding, said several luxury hotels in Istanbul were fully booked due to international visitors at the fair. Barkay said that in addition to famous international brands, the fair also features top Turkish brands that deserve a place in the luxury market. _Turkiye[10] TURKISH FIRMS WIN EXCELLENCE AWARDSTurkey was the recipient of the majority of awards this year given this year by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), which were announced Tuesday. Bosch Sanayi and Ticaret's diesel systems plant in Bursa won the EFQM Excellence Award in the large private industry category. The firm is an important part of the Bosch production network, exporting more than 95 percent of its output, and is a major competency center for Bosch diesel injection systems. In addition, Bursagaz, Turkey's biggest private gas distribution company, won the EFQM Excellence Award in the small- and medium-size private category. The Eskisehir Maternity and Children's Illness Hospital was also awarded for its customer focus. /Turkish Daily News/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [11] FIGHTING TERRORISMBY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Ismet Berkan comments on fighting terrorism. A summary of his column is as follows: "If Turkey has a problem called the 'Kurdish issue,' as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls it, and tens of thousands of people have lost their lives due to this problem, then there should be a person or institution dealing with the security dimension of this problem, right? But unfortunately we have no such person or institution. Most people think that the fight is managed by the General Staff, but this isn't exactly true. If you asked the General Staff, it would say that there since the State of Emergency (OHAL) was lifted from the southeast, there has been lack of coordination in the management of the fight. When I wrote once that civilian governments shy away from commanding this fight, I was criticized for ignoring the military factor, as it would supposedly never want to relinquish this command. I don't know if this is really the case, but if we live in a democratic state of law, this fight should be conducted in line with the rules of democracy and the law. I think it's our duty, that is, Turkish citizens' duty to push our civilian government to undertake this entire responsibility. Not the military, but this country's government is responsible for fighting terrorism. Governments should create an environment to ensure that the military or police provide the rule of law, order and safety in the country, and control and coordinate the daily work for this. As you know, for some time efforts have been underway to establish a sort of 'anti-terrorism undersecretariat,' something the military has long sought for coordination purposes, but which governments aren't so keen on. This undersecretariat would be under the Interior Ministry and probably do what the OHAL governor wanted to do. But this would be no solution. What we need is a state minister to oversee the security dimension and if necessary all dimensions of the fight against terrorism, who takes his authority from the prime minister himself, and who has at least the title of deputy prime minister and a permanent staff which can command all the security forces in charge of fighting terrorism, including the General Staff. The earlier-proposed undersecretariat which has been presented as a solution, in contrast, would have difficulty even providing the desired coordination. Those who know Turkey's administrative structure can immediately see that nobody would take this undersecretariat seriously, so it wouldn't even be able to access the information it would need. In addition, it wouldn't be able to give orders to anybody. But the formula I presented here for a deputy prime minister would put responsibility for the fight under firm civilian control, and this central management would thus solve the need for coordination. I wonder what the government would think of this." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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