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Turkish Press Review, 05-08-09Turkish 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 morning09.08.2005FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH US CHARGE D’AFFAIRES IN ANKARAPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with US Embassy Charge d’Affaires in Ankara Nancy McEldowney, who is head of the US Embassy until a new ambassador arrives sometime this fall. McEldowney reportedly said that the US is determined to continue helping Turkey in its fight against PKK terrorism. The American diplomat added that the US was continuing to help Turkish officials with concrete anti-terror measures, and that ways to prevent attacks targeting innocents should be explored further. /Star/[02] ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH GROUP OF INTELLECTUALS TO DISCUSS TERRORISMPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will reportedly meet with a group of intellectuals to discuss ways of countering the terrorist group PKK. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer and Parliament Human Rights Commission Head Mehmet Elkatmis will also be present at the meeting. Prime Ministry spokesman Mehmet Akif Beki said yesterday that Erdogan believed that a social consensus was needed in order to better fight terrorism. The premier is due to travel to Diyarbakir on Friday to brief residents on government plans to raise the socioeconomic level of the city. /Milliyet/[03] CICEK: “THE GOVT IS DETERMINED TO TAKE NEEDED MEASURES TO COUNTER THE PKK”Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government was determined to take effective and needed measures to fight the terrorist group PKK, adding that the government never ceased seeking ways to tackle terrorism. “Security is our priority since we live in a volatile region,” he said. “The entire nation should be mobilized to fight the PKK, since the struggle against terrorism is not the mission of security forces alone.” Cicek further stated that Ankara had urged other countries to stop supporting terrorist groups. /Sabah/[04] TAN: “TURKEY, IRAQ AND THE US HAVE A COMMON STANCE AGAINST THE PKK”Regarding to an official inquiry from a deputy, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan yesterday commented on the just-concluded tripartite security meeting between Turkey, Iraq and the US in Washington. Tan stressed the participants’ political determination to counter the terrorist PKK. Tan also said that consultations between the countries would continue. /Star/[05] DANISH PM: “THE EU SHOULD CONTINUE TO DISCUSS WHETHER TURKEY WILL GET FULL MEMBERSHIP”Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday that the European Union should continue to discuss whether Turkey should be granted full membership, claiming that it would be difficult for Turkey to harmonize with EU traditions. “We need to take the bull by the horns and discuss how big the EU can be,” said Rasmussen. “But the EU favors Turkey’s membership for security reasons. Ankara’s EU bid is a dilemma, but let’s discuss it openly.” In related news, Helle Sjelle, the spokesperson for the Dutch Conservatives, coalition partners with Rasmussen’s Liberals, expressed support for the premier’s comments. “We should discuss how big the EU should be,” said Sjelle, a deputy and spokesperson on EU issues. “We have also said that initiating membership negotiations with Turkey doesn't necessarily mean it will end up a regular member. There is also the possibility for a privileged partnership. And if it ends up as a member, it will be a different Turkey from the one we know today.” The Netherlands held the EU presidency from January to June of this year. /Cumhuriyet/[06] AGAR: “THE NATION WILL NEVER LET TERROR DIVIDE TURKEY”Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said yesterday that though terrorism aimed to divide Turkey, the nation would never let this happen. Agar also criticized the government’s economic and political policies, adding that when DYP comes to power, it would end high unemployment and create jobs. “Our guide is the nation,” added Agar. /Turkiye/[07] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ARRIVES IN TRNCA US Congressional delegation yesterday arrived in the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The seven-member delegation is expected to stay in the TRNC till Sunday. During its stay, the group is expected to meet with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas. /Turkiye/[08] PAPADOPULOS: “I CAN MEET WITH TALAT”Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos yesterday said that he was not averse to a meeting focusing on social issues with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat. But speaking on Greek Cypriot radio, Papadopulos added, “If we are to discuss the Cyprus issue at this meeting, it must be held under UN auspices.” /Star/[09] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[10] A DANGEROUS PATH BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Cyprus issue and Turkish-European Union relations. A summary of his column is as follows:“After Turkey signed the additional Customs Union protocol, relevant parties made their position known, and now it’s uncertain whether or not our membership talks will even start. The fate of these talks and Turkish- European Union relations will be determined during two important foreign ministerial-level meetings within a week of each other, on Aug. 25 and Sept. 1. We can’t predict their outcome. However, there are two possibilities: France, the Greek Cypriot administration and a few member countries which say that membership talks can’t start unless Turkey recognizes the Greek Cypriot administration might change their stance and give up this condition, which is the optimistic scenario, or these countries may insist on this stance and use their veto, which is the pessimistic one. If the former happens, there would be no problem and our membership talks will start on Oct. 3. We don’t know if France and its supporters would show this flexibility and maturity, but we know what might happen if the latter happens. If the precondition of recognizing the Greek Cypriot administration is stipulated in the two meetings, Turkey won’t be able to start its talks on Oct. 3. If there is a formula for postponing or freezing the process, the government is determined not to accept this. In addition, Britain, the EU Commission, Germany and some other member countries say that such a precondition can’t be stipulated for Turkey. Nobody in Turkey would accept such pressure concerning the Cyprus issue. Now the Greek Cypriot administration is using its veto threat. If Turkey tires of this wrangling and gives up its quest for talks and membership, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos should know that this would be against the Greek Cypriots’ interests. If he doesn’t know or foresee this, then he is making some serious miscalculations. However, France’s stance favoring the Greek Cypriots is incomprehensible. This stance is neither rational nor beneficial. What’s more, France has been looking at the Cyprus issue from afar for years, and now is very interested in the issue. Don’t you find this strange? However, at this point, the most important thing is that by championing this position, France is establishing an atmosphere ripe with dangerous possibilities. Paris should understand that failing to start membership talks with the EU due to the Cyprus condition might cut off Turkish-EU relations. It shouldn’t be difficult for French diplomats to gauge the impact of this on bilateral relations and regional strategic interests. In addition, the stance of France and its supporters could plunge the EU towards a deep split and crisis.” 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 |