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Turkish Press Review, 05-04-04Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning04.04.2005FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] TURKISH LEADERS JOIN WORLD’S MOURNING OVER POPE JOHN PAUL IITurkish leaders yesterday extended condolences to Catholics worldwide for the lost of their spiritual leader Pope John Paul II over the weekend. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul all sent messages to the Vatican expressing grief over the pontiff’s passing. In addition, the Foreign Ministry released a statement offering sympathy to the international Christian community, calling the late pope an exceptional personality who had earned the love and admiration of all peoples for his more than quarter-century of efforts to make a better world. Former President Suleyman Demirel and opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal also released messages of condolences. /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN PRAISES AKP DEPUTIES FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP NATIONSpeaking to ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies over the weekend at a gathering in Kizilcahamam, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the deputies’ great efforts to serve the nation during their term in office. Lamenting how his heavy schedule prevents him from meeting more often with the deputies, Erdogan said that, however, they were always in spiritual contact, adding that future such gatherings would be held every three months rather than six to facilitate exchanges of views on the nation’s problems. Commenting on regional issues, Erdogan said that recently toppled Kyrgyz leader Askar Akayev had asked to come Turkey, adding that officials were working on the matter and an answer would be given to Akayev soon. /Turkiye/[03] GUL TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATESSpeaking before flying to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for official visits, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that he would meet in Jeddah with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, a Turkish scholar serving as secretary- general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), to express support for the OIC’s efforts. “We’ll review the reform efforts at the OIC and try to find ways to boost its efficiency and solve its problems,” he said. Gul stated that after completing his contacts in Saudi Arabia, he would proceed to the UAE and meet with its president, foreign minister and other officials to discuss economic and political ties between the two countries. Also touching on relations with the US, Gul said that Ankara would soon respond to the country’s request for expanded use of Incirlik Airbase, adding that Turkey wanted to strengthen relations with Washington. /Cumhuriyet/[04] GREEK CYPRIOT FM: “TURKEY SIGNING THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL WILL MEAN RECOGNITION OF GREEK CYPRUS”Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said yesterday that Turkey signing the additional protocol of the Ankara agreement would mean recognition of his country. “After signing the protocol, Turkey will have three months to implement it,” he added. In related news, Greek Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said that Ankara cannot avoid recognizing Greek Cyprus, adding that the European Union would turn against it if it refuses to do so. /Cumhuriyet/[05] BAYKAL TO VISIT DENKTAS AND THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS FOR CYPRUSOpposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that he would travel to longtime Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas on Thursday to thank him for his efforts to keep the TRNC a free and independent country. Denktas’s final term as TRNC president is due to end this month. In a written statement, Baykal said that if countries of the region really want a realistic and just balance and peace on the island, then they should support the TRNC, adding that the European Union had made a great mistake by accepting Greek Cyprus into its ranks before a Cyprus resolution was reached. “This won’t serve the cause of peace,” he added. /Cumhuriyet/[06] DYP’S AGAR ACCUSES RULING PARTY OF “IGNORANCE”Speaking at a meeting of his party over the weekend, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar criticized the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, saying that the nation wouldn’t forgive a government which had “betrayed” it. Agar charged that the government was ignorant of the real state of both Turkey and the world. Touching on last month’s attempt to burn the Turkish flag, Agar said that no such attempt had been made during other parties’ time in power. In related news, AKP Erzurum Deputy Ibrahim Ozdogan yesterday resigned from the party and joined the DYP. With Ozdogan, the DYP’s number of deputies in Parliament rose to seven. /Milliyet/[07] MUMCU ELECTED ANAP LEADERErkan Mumcu, a recent defect from both the Cabinet and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was elected the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) at an extraordinary party congress over the weekend. Addressing the congress delegates, Mumcu harshly criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government. Referring to Erdogan’s criticisms of deputies who joined other parties after leaving the AKP, Mumcu cited how since the AKP came to power, other deputies had come to it from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). “My colleagues are coming to ANAP to fight for honorable democracy,” he added. “We’ll not obey those with an inferiority complex and a lack of knowledge who are ordering around others.” /Aksam/[08] EU AMBASSADOR TO GREEK CYPRIOT ADM URGES TURKEY TO ALLOW GREEK CYPRIOT ACCESS TO TURKISH PORTSAdrian Van Der Meer, the European Union’s ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration, over the weekend argued that Turkey might face pressure at the next Turkish-EU Partnership Council meeting to allow Greek Cypriot- flagged ships to enter its ports. Stating that Brussels is warning the Turkish government that it must comply with the provisions of the Ankara Agreement’s additional protocol, Der Meer added that the EU might report the situation to the World Trade Organization if Turkey refuses to fulfill its “legal responsibilities” under the protocol. In related news, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas over the weekend said that no matter which Cyprus policy Turkey is currently pursuing, the underlying principle would always be the TRNC’s independence. “Turkish Cypriots will always defend their independence,” he underlined. /Star/[09] MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS CHINAAir Forces Commander Gen. Ibrahim Firtina accompanied by a delegation yesterday arrived in the People’s Republic of China to pay an official visit. Firtina’s contacts with Chinese military officials are aimed at developing bilateral ties between the two countries. /Turkiye/[10] IMF DELEGATION TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAY TO WORK ON STANDBY AGREEMENTAn International Monetary Fund delegation headed by Turkey desk chief Riza Moghadam is set to arrive in Ankara today to work on recent developments in the Turkish economy. During its one-week stay, the delegation is expected to hold a series of meetings with Turkish officials to revise a draft letter of intent (LOI) prepared in December and to discuss Turkey’s economic targets this year, as well as a new standby agreement. /Turkiye/[11] CRASH IN DARDANELLES KILLS THREE SAILORSYesterday morning a crash in the Dardanelles caused the death of three Indian sailors. The crash of the two ships, one flying the Greek flag and the other Panamanian, delayed ship passages in the Dardanelles until noon. /Sabah/[12] SENER: “THEY DON’T KNOW THE ECONOMY”Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday charged that skeptics of last year’s record growth rate “don’t know the economy,” and denounced their allegations that the figures are inaccurate. Sener explained the growth as the result of increased production and dynamism in the private sector. Sener also predicted that growth this year could reach 5 percent, and repeated that the economy is on the proper course. /Star/[13] TUZMEN: “OUR EXPORTERS ARE WORKING VERY HARD”Turkish exporters were working very hard all around the world, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said over the weekend. “These hard-working people have succeeded in boosting our exports by 25% in the first quarter of this year,” he noted. “We will send delegations of businessmen to Bulgaria on April 11 and Mongolia in May. One of the most effective factors in increasing our exports is attending international trade fairs. This year, our exporters will take part in more than 200 such fairs.” /Star/[14] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[15] DON’T LET ECONOMIC GROWTH BE A FLASH IN THE PAN BY FAIK OZTRAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Faik Oztrak comments on Turkey’s high rate of economic growth. A summary of his column is as follows:“Last year Turkey reached its highest rate of economic growth in 40 years and welcomed its lowest inflation rate in 30. In addition, our gross national product (GNP) per capita rose by 23%, climbing to $4,172. These positive developments are appreciated by everybody. However, we shouldn’t let them take our breath away. We should take a historically informed understanding of the economy. Let’s recall that in 1993 and 2000, Turkey had similar outcomes, but suffered serious crises in the subsequent years, which is why I’d like to underline that economic weaknesses can hide behind such positive outcomes. Let’s try to determine what these weak spots and potential problems could be: Employment: The economy has been growing fast for three years, but the employment rate has failed to keep pace. If we can’t solve this problem of unemployment, it’s quite likely to hobble sustainable growth. Quality of financial harmonization: The real level of public purchasing of goods and services is far below that of 2000, which could end up hampering the economic growth. Furthermore, current delays in social security, personnel and tax reforms might hold back efforts to reduce the deficit. External deficit: The dependence of our economy on imports is rising, and our economic growth is becoming more dependent on foreign debts. Turkey’s economy is contingent on foreign developments. If we look at world history, we can see that many countries have experienced such high growth rates but then failed to sustain it. If our government fails to complement this growth with effective, disciplined monetary and fiscal policies and also with new reforms aimed at reinforcing the economy’s internal solidity, our record growth might end up being a flash in the pan. Sustaining growth is much more difficult than attaining it. If we attend to our weak spots and take the necessary steps to eliminate them, our country may be one of the few countries to succeed in this process.” [16] THE POPE, MUSLIMS, AND AN APOLOGY BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the recent death of Pope John Paul II. A summary of her column is as follows:“While most people ponder who will become the new pope, I wonder if he will finish what John Paul II started. Most people wonder what kind of a Middle East policy the Vatican will adopt, or how this policy will affect us. But I want to discuss an issue that has fallen below most people’s radar. In February, Interfaith Dialogue Committee Chairman Fewzi Zafzaf submitted a written notice demanding that the Vatican apologize to Muslims for the Crusades. Egyptian Islamic writer Mohammed Emara noted how the Vatican has apologized to Jews for its actions during the World War II, and said it should do the same thing now for the Muslims. Pope John Paul II apologized to Greek Orthodox Fener Patriarch Bartholomeos last year. Bartholomeos then visited the Vatican and accepted the apology. This visit was significant, for it helped to melt the ice between the Catholic and Orthodox worlds. In fact, such apologies are political messages that bring nations closer to each other. Now the Muslims are expecting such an apology to put an end to the crusader mentality, which still finds sustenance in Europe’s subconscious mind. I hope the new pope will answer the Muslims’ call, because an apology from the Vatican would be the strongest political message for putting an end to the crusader mentality.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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