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Turkish Press Review, 05-04-19Turkish 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 morning19.04.2005FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] NSC CONVENESThe National Security Council chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer convened yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Following the four- and-a-half hour meeting, a statement issued by the council said that the recent presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), local immigration and energy policies had dominated the gathering. /Star/[02] CICEK: “THE OCALAN ISSUE IS A STATE MATTER”Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that the European Court of Human Rights had yet to issue its ruling on the retrial petition filed by terrorist PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, adding that the government would act in line with the nation’s interests when the decision is finally announced. Speaking yesterday after a three-hour Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cicek said that such matters should be handled calmly. “This is a state matter. Let no one confuse governmental and state matters,” said the justice minister. He also refused to comment on what the government would do before the decision was made public. He added that this weekend’s presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had also been taken up at the gathering. Stressing that the elections had been held in line with democratic rules, Cicek said that a new era had begun in the TRNC, adding that both Ankara and Turkish Cypriots would continue to exchange views with veteran leader Rauf Denktas towards settling the island’s issues. /Hurriyet/[03] TALAT TO TAKE OVER TRNC PRESIDENCY ON APRIL 24The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) Supreme Board of Elections Board yesterday decided that President-elect Mehmet Ali Talat will take his office on April 24. Veteran outgoing leader Rauf Denktas’s term in office will end this Saturday, and Talat, the second person to serve as president of the nation, is set to begin his post on Sunday after taking the oath of office in Parliament. /Turkiye/[04] SEZER, ERDOGAN, AND GUL CONGRATULATE TALATPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday released a message congratulating Mehmet Ali Talat’s victory in Sunday’s Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) presidential elections, saying that he hoped Talat would continue efforts to reach a just and permanent peace on the island. Sezer stressed that Ankara would continue to contribute to a TRNC settlement. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday telephoned Talat to congratulate him. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that Turkey will pursue its Cyprus policy in solidarity with Turkish Cypriots. /Milliyet/[05] DENKTAS: “I’LL TURN OVER MY POST TO TALAT WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE”Outgoing Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday visited Mehmet Ali Talat, the winner of Sunday’s presidential elections, to give congratulations on his victory. During their meeting, Denktas said that he would turn over his post to Talat with a clear conscience, adding, however, that Talat would face certain difficulties during his tenure. “I believe that Talat will overcome these difficulties by staying calm,” he said, adding that he would try to help Talat reach a permanent resolution on the island. For his part, Talat said that goal of the Turkish Cypriots would also be his own goal. “I will strive for the integration of Turkish Cypriots with the world,” he added. Talat will take over his post on next Sunday, April 24, one day after Denktas leaves his post. /Milliyet/[06] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “WE’RE PLEASED TO SEE TURKISH CYPRIOTS’ DETERMINATION FOR A RESOLUTION CONFIRMED”The US State Department yesterday released a written message to congratulate Mehmet Ali Talat’s election as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus president, saying that the US was pleased with the confirmation of the Turkish Cypriots’ determination to reach a resolution on the island. In related news, the European Union Commission yesterday also announced that it welcomed Sunday’s outcome, adding that with the election of Talat, who favors Cyprus reunification and the TRNC’s EU membership, an atmosphere to start new Cyprus negotiations could be created. In related news, Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos said that the end of outgoing TRNC President Rauf Denktas’s term was a positive step, adding that a new era could follow Talat’s election. /Star/[07] BAROSSO URGES TURKEY TO FORGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH GREECEEuropean Union Commission head Jose Manuel Barosso, visiting Greece yesterday, said yesterday that Turkey should respect EU principles, values and norms in order to gain full membership. In addition, he urged Turkey to forge good relations with EU member and candidate countries. In related news, Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis called on Ankara to implement its work to harmonize with the EU as part of decisions made at last December’s EU summit. /Sabah/[08] BABACAN: “OUR POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ARE APPRECIATED BY BOTH EU AND US OFFICIALS”State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, who is currently in Washington to attend spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, said yesterday that Turkey’s recent economic developments were clearly appreciated at the gathering. “These meetings are very positive,” he said. “Our positive economic developments are appreciated by the international organizations, and by US and EU officials as well.” Babacan added that he was very pleased with this great interest, adding that the government was implementing its economic policies without deviation and would continue to do so. He further stated that he expected that the IMF would decide to start Turkey’s new standby agreement in the first half of May. /Aksam/[09] IMF’S DEPPLER PREDICTS UNEMPLOYMENT WILL FALL THIS YEARInternational Monetary Fund European Department Director Michael Deppler yesterday predicted that Turkey’s most pressing problem, unemployment, would begin to fall this year. “I’m hopeful about the Turkish economy,” he said, adding that recently Turkey has become a success story. According to news channel NTV, Deppler praised last year’s 8% growth rate, saying it was identical to the rate in the People’s Republic of China. Deppler warned, however, of Turkey’s high debt stock, adding that if global interest rates fall this could harm the Turkish economy. /Cumhuriyet/[10] THE ECONOMIST: “THINGS ARE TOUGH FOR TURKEY”International newsweekly magazine The Economist said this week that referendums to be held in France and the Netherlands were sources of great concern both for Turkey and the European Union. Stressing that Turkey’s position would be more difficult in an EU whose future is unclear, the magazine remarked that if the French public rejects Turkey’s EU membership, this would be a defeat for their President Jacques Chirac as well. Certain circles in Europe, Christian Democrats especially, would prefer to see Ukraine in the EU rather than Turkey, added the magazine. /Sabah/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[12] A NEW BEGINNING WITH TALAT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Mehmet Ali Talat’s responsibilities as the new TRNC president and Rauf Denktas’s contribution to the cause of Turkish Cypriots. A summary of his column is as follows:“Results of Sunday’s presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus show that a majority of the TRNC population still favors uniting with Greek Cyprus and joining the European Union. President-elect Mehmet Ali Talat owes his success to the winds of change in Turkish Cypriots’ stance towards uniting the divided island. Talat will now work for this end as the president and chief negotiator. It’s hard to take over such a responsibility from Rauf Denktas, a man who has left his mark on the history of Northern Cyprus. Even people who have long opposed him and criticized his policies have come to admit that Denktas is a great statesman. There’s no question that he is a competitive, courageous, charismatic and humorous politician who is a good public speaker and an excellent tactician as well. Despite all his virtues, Denktas lost some of his popularity over the last few years, because he failed to stay in tune with the inclinations and expectations of his people, especially when he campaigned against the Annan plan. Denktas even drew some criticism from Turkey on the issue. The only reason why both Ankara and the Northern Cypriots have begun to criticize Denktas’s standpoint is that his ideas seem to be stuck in the past and he hasn’t produced a vision of the future. That’s why he didn’t run for the presidency this time. What keeps Denktas alive is his devotion to the national cause of Turkish Cypriots. His struggle for Turkish Cypriots has become part of his life. Therefore, it would be a mistake to assume that he’s done working for his nation. In fact, he has already begun to offer both advice and warnings. Talat should lend an ear to what Denktas says, and Denktas should take into consideration the Turkish Cypriots’ desire for change and unity. Talat’s first and foremost responsibility is to take the necessary steps towards compromise on the Cyprus issue and set the Turkish Cypriots’ minds at ease. His duty will require hard work and patience.” 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 |