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Turkish Press Review, 08-11-07Turkish 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 morning07.11.2008CONTENTS
[01] GUL TO VISIT DIYARBAKIRPresident Abdullah Gul will reportedly visit Diyarbakir during next month's Feast of the Sacrifice holiday. The trip would follow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Diyarbakir late last month, which was met by protests. During the trip, Gul is expected to meet with the public and give messages promoting peace. /Milliyet/[02] AZERBAIJAN'S ALIYEV ADDRESSES PARLIAMENTDuring an official visit to Turkey at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Afterwards, Erdogan and his wife Emine hosted a luncheon in honor of Aliyev and his wife Mihriban at the official Prime Ministry residence. Aliyev yesterday also addressed deputies in Parliament, with Erdogan, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, and opposition Nationalist Movement (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli among those in the audience. In his speech, Aliyev said Turkey's initiatives and the good will of countries of the region would help make peace in the region. Saying that this is his first foreign visit since being reelected last month, Aliyev added, "This shows how relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are at the highest level." He called Turkish- Azerbaijani relations unique and exemplary to other countries. Stating that the two countries enjoy good political and economic ties, he said, "We have made great progress in energy with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. We're realizing important energy projects in the region. We made the Shah Sea natural gas pipeline project a reality together with Turkey. Also, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum railway project will happen. Azerbaijan has made its first natural gas exports to Turkey. Many Azerbaijani businessmen are investing in Turkey." He also said that the railway, which was started by the Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian presidents in June, carries great historical, economic and political importance. Praising Turkey's efforts to restore peace and stability to the Caucasus, Aliyev said that those efforts would yield fruit. Touching on the Upper Karabakh issue, Aliyev urged Armenia to end its occupation of Azerbaijani territories in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Saying that the occupation has made nearly one million Azerbaijanis refugees, Aliyev expressed hope that a recent declaration signed by Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia would help restore peace to the region. "The declaration said that the Upper Karabakh issue should be solved in line with international law," he explained. "We want Armenia to halt its occupation of the region to allow our citizens to return to their homes, and to begin discussions of the status of Upper Karabakh." /Sabah-Turkiye/[03] BAYKAL: "THE US NATION PASSED ITS DEMOCRATIC TEST"The US nation has passed its democratic test, and now it's the politicians' turn, said main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. I think that (Barack) Obama will be more sensitive about secularism," he said following Azeri President Ilham Aliyev's address to Parliament. "I think that there will be a serious change in policies towards moderate Islam." Touching on the US presidential election's impact on Turkey, he said, "As US soldiers withdrawal from Iraq, Turkey's sway in the region will rise. We should make good use of this." /Cumhuriyet/[04] EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER: "TURKEY IS KEY FOR EUROPE'S STABILITY"Testifying before the French Senate's Foreign Relations Commission yesterday, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn stressed Turkey's importance for European stability. "Turkey is a very important country for Europe's stability, energy needs, the EU's regional influence, the continent's security, and the dialogue between civilizations," he said. Stating that Turkey offers good opportunities for EU companies, Rehn said that it is a key country for EU energy security and diversity. /Milliyet/[05] EP'S RUIJTEN URGES PARTY DIALOGUE OVER REFORMSIt is uncertain if Ankara intends to continue with its reform process, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament, claimed yesterday. Assessing the European Union Commission's just-released annual progress report on Turkey, she said, "As the commission concludes in its report, progress in the last year has been very limited. Looking back at the developments in Turkey in the last year, I wonder whether the Turkish government is still willing to continue with the reform process. There has been no update of the national reform plan which was adopted several years ago." Urging the leaders of political parties to seek dialogue and to agree, in the spirit of compromise, on a reform agenda for Turkey's modernization, she added, "We need a clear signal from Turkey that it wishes to continue with the integration process to which it committed itself in 2005." /Star/[06] WILSON: "IF TURKEY AND THE US WERE DRIVEN APART, IT WOULD HURT BOTH COUNTRIES"The Turkish American Business Association (TABA_Amcham) yesterday hosted a farewell breakfast for US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, whose tenure in Ankara is set to end soon. Speaking at the gathering, he said, "I would like to think all of you (for) being here today in friendship towards me and toward my country because I think you, too, believe we need to think and act like the allies that we are." Touching on the upcoming Obama administration and what will happen on issues of interest to Turkey, he added, "I will tell you, just like everybody else here, I have no crystal ball. And I am no better at predicting the future, arguably worse, than a lot of you in this room. I don't know what the future holds, but I am quite sure that if the United States and Turkey are apart, it will be to the disadvantage of our countries. If we're together, we will be a force for security, prosperity and freedom. Being together… is not inevitable. It takes work, it takes dedication, it takes leadership, it takes patience and perseverance." /Aksam/[07] IRAQI FM ZEBARI TO VISIT TURKEYIraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is expected to visit to Turkey soon. Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq Derya Kanbay yesterday delivered an invitation from Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The visit will reportedly focus on the details of a strategic cooperation agreement signed during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Iraq, and also talk about a planned Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement between Iraq and the US. /Aksam/[08] TURKEY TO WELCOME PROMINENT BRITISH MUSLIMS NEXT WEEKA delegation of prominent British Muslims will arrive in Turkey next Friday to meet with community representatives, university students, academics and women's leaders, the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced in a statement yesterday. Saying that the two-day visit aims to build partnerships that spotlight modern Islam in Europe, and challenge the extremist narrative, it added, "We're going to Turkey for a dialogue and debate on issues of mutual interest, in particular to voice our support for Turkey's EU accession and our endorsement of the key strategic role Turkey is playing in the region." /Aksam/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [09] THE NEW WORLD AND OBAMABY NASUHI GUNGOR (STAR)Columnist Nasuhi Gungor comments on the US presidential election. A summary of his column is as follows: "When the US was trying to elect a president, the world started to talk more clearly about its 'new order.' Through his political party, the color of his skin, and his messages, President-elect Barack Hussein Obama has already shown how he will be a much talked-about figure. The post-9_11 slogan slogan 'you're either with us or against us' summed up the basic thesis of the US aggression which has spilled so much blood. Let's look at the current situation. We now see a US which is hated by nearly the entire Islamic world and has lost the support of so many governments, with the exception of some hollow kingdoms. What's more, this hatred and hostility isn't limited to the Middle East or the Muslim world, but extends to many other regions, including Latin America. The US name currently stands for a power which pursues only its own interests, intrudes, does mind-boggling things, and has credibility problems even with its own people. So now we're facing a power which hasn't produced solutions anywhere the world but only deepened them with its post-9_11 policies. The current economic crisis and its global impact has served to strengthen the nationalist wave spurred by the US. This shows that a complicated balance of powers is about to emerge. In the last two years of the Bush administration, the world has started to discuss the outlines of this 'new order.' With his symbolic value and transformative identity, Obama will be in the foreground of these discussions. The great interest showed by the world, including Turkey, in the US elections is remarkable. The possibilities of communication are also great, but I think what's really interesting is who will play what role in the new world shaped by Obama. The excitement about the elections and Obama reflects the hunger for a new sharing. In light of its efforts to fight the economic crisis, Britain has a leading role in this. In addition, the interest in Turkey, helped by Queen Elizabeth's visit this summer, should again be stressed. Many are saying that current international organizations and platforms are falling seriously short in addressing our problems â€" the G-8, for instance. Many believe these structures should be reviewed and reshaped in line with the new international balances. We shouldn't be surprised if new and better institutions are established in areas that we never thought about before. Next weekend, Prime Minister Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will sit at the table for a G-20 summit. Turkey's election to a temporary seat on the UN Security Council is of course very important in this equation. In spite of the great problems it has suffered, Turkey will be key whenever the 'new world' is discussed. We should neither exaggerate nor ignore this fact. Turkey gaining such influence nearly 100 years after its founding is very important. We should never forget that many countries, especially ones in our region, place importance on Turkey's role. This is a very important opportunity that shouldn't be squandered due to domestic conflicts." [10] DON'T REND YOUR HEART IN TWOBY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the ethnical separatism. A summary of his column is as follows: "When I once asked former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit his thoughts on the Kurdish issue, he said, 'I can't rend my heart in two,' adding, 'Today, some are trying to do this.' Ecevit, who was remembered this week on the second anniversary of his death, later expressed this same view in a speech. Barak Obama's election as US president reminded me of his words. In Turkey we sometimes hear politicians use phrases like 'White Turk' and 'Black Turk' to decry unjust treatment. But this comparison is unacceptable. No ethnic or social group in Turkey suffered anything like the centuries-long slavery an oppression of black people in America. Obama was elected with a majority of not just black voters, but also white ones. In their election campaigns, neither Obama nor his rival John McCain used racist propaganda. If the US could overcome its long legacy of racism, there is no reason for Turkey can't do the same with its ethnic differences. As blacks and whites come together for their country and society, there is no reason Turks with different ethnic backgrounds can't come together. This should be the most important lesson of the US presidential elections. In his victory speech, Obama said, 'If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.' Obama explained 'the founding philosophy' of the US, declaring that he owed his victory to that philosophy. Separatists in Turkey who use ethnic nationalism and terrorism should also remember Ataturk's founding philosophy. Ataturk founded Turkey with a non-racist understanding, one not dependent on ethnic differences. He aimed to create a nation of common values from the legacy of a multiethnic, multi-faith empire. He taught the Republic of Turkey and its nation the principle of equal citizenship. This is the proper foundation of this nation, for its people and their children, for loyalty, peace and prosperity, so that everyone, whatever their ethnic background, can work together. Turkey should be a country with people who can speak their mother tongues and live their own cultures freely, but who can walk hand in hand for this land and this nation and live in peace, fellowship, and prosperity. We can succeed in this only by not rending our hearts in two." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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