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Turkish Press Review, 06-01-03
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
03.01.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] CABINET DISCUSSES THE EU
[02] TURKISH AMBASSADOR ATTACKED IN BAGHDAD
[03] GUL TO TRAVEL TO THE MIDEAST FOR PACT ON INDUSTRIAL ZONE
[04] OZKOK CRITICIZES RECENT CHANGES TO ANTI-TERROR LAW
[05] TRNC COURT RELEASES MATSAKIS
[06] STRAW TO VISIT, WILL DISCUSS CYPRUS, EU, IRAN
[07] TIMES OF LONDON: “VIENNESE SET TO REPEL TURKS’ NEW ADVANCE ON THE WEST”
[08] AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR: “CROATIA AND MACEDONIA WILL JOIN THE EU, BUT TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IS UNCERTAIN”
[09] EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S MIREL: “TURKEY DID ITS HOMEWORK WELL”
[10] RUSSIA-UKRAINE NATURAL GAS DISPUTE THREATENS TURKEY, EUROPE
[11] TUZMEN: “WE BROKE RECORDS WITH $7.3 BLN IN EXPORTS IN DECEMBER, AND 2005 EXPORTS REACHED $73.4 BLN”
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] IS THE PRESIDENT SOWING ETHNIC NATIONALISM? BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)
[01] CABINET DISCUSSES THE EU
The first Cabinet meeting of the year was held yesterday chaired by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, developments on Turkey’s
European Union bid in line with Austria’s taking over the EU’s term
presidency, the possible effects of the Russian-Ukrainian natural gas
dispute on Turkey, and Monday’s attack on the convoy of Turkish Ambassador
to Iraq Unal Cevikoz were discussed. Afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek told a press conference that he condemned the attack, and he also
criticized speculative news reports after recent top-level visits of
foreign officials. “These were routine visits, but it was groundlessly
reported that the US asked Turkey for military bases,” said Cicek. “Turkey
has become a target of violence due to this news. And our officials abroad
pay for it.” Cicek added, “Parliament passed 165 laws last year. We will
continue our efforts to enact and institutionalize per the EU progress
report to the last. The government isn’t resting on its laurels. Our
determination continues.” /Star/
[02] TURKISH AMBASSADOR ATTACKED IN BAGHDAD
A convoy carrying Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Unal Cevikoz was attacked
yesterday in Baghdad, damaging vehicles but causing no causalities. Cevikoz
reportedly had met with Sheikh Harith al-Dhari, the head of the influential
Sunni Arab Association of Muslim Scholars, which is headquartered in the
mosque compound, and was coming back to his office. A Turkish Foreign
Ministry statement said that the ambush was a professional job. “We
strongly condemn this attack on our staff and ambassador, and we expect the
attackers will be captured as soon as possible,” said the statement. It
also noted that such attacks would not affect Ankara’s determination to
support Iraqis in building a democratic country and preserving its
political unity and territorial integrity in peace with its people and
neighbors. /Hurriyet/
[03] GUL TO TRAVEL TO THE MIDEAST FOR PACT ON INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to the Middle East on
Thursday to have talks with his Palestinian and Israeli counterparts as
part of a signing ceremony of agreements for reopening an industrial zone
in the Gaza Strip. The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges
(TOBB) will manage the Erez Industrial Zone. The region is expected to
house some 250 workplaces and employ 10,000 Palestinians. /Turkiye/
[04] OZKOK CRITICIZES RECENT CHANGES TO ANTI-TERROR LAW
Speaking to a magazine yesterday, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok
criticized recent changes to the Anti-Terror Law, warning that terrorists
would benefit from these changes. Ozkok stated that these changes would
provide opportunities for the terrorist PKK, adding that Turkey should
adopt a law in accordance with European Union legislation. “Turkey needs to
determine and implement its measures according to its own conditions,” he
said, adding that the Anti-Terror Law should be updated as soon as possible
and that Ankara needs to have the will to implement the law. “If we have
this will, then it will be easy to fight terrorists,” added Ozkok. “Some
circles are supporting terrorism.” Ozkok further stressed that terrorism
was the chief enemy of democracy. In related news, speaking after
yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the
issue had been discussed at the gathering. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] TRNC COURT RELEASES MATSAKIS
A military court in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
yesterday decided to release Marios Matsakis, a Greek Cypriot member of the
European Union Parliament, as the immunity of the European parliamentarian
was valid in the TRNC. The trial will be suspended until Matsakis’s term of
office expires. He was arrested on Saturday in Nicosia after a November
incident when he stole a Turkish flag from a TRNC military outpost along
the buffer zone. /Hurriyet/
[06] STRAW TO VISIT, WILL DISCUSS CYPRUS, EU, IRAN
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will visit Turkey later this month.
Cyprus, the European Union and Iran are the foremost subjects that Straw is
set to discuss. After the transfer of Britain’s EU presidency to Austria on
Jan. 1, Straw will primarily evaluate the UK’s six months at the helm. The
Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Cyprus, one of Turkey’s most
critical issues, will have priority for Straw. Wrangling between Iran and
the European Union over Tehran’s nuclear program and recent developments in
Iraq will also be up for discussion. /Star/
[07] TIMES OF LONDON: “VIENNESE SET TO REPEL TURKS’ NEW ADVANCE ON THE
WEST”
The transfer of the EU presidency form Britain to Austria is being
interpreted in the British press as “Viennese set to repel Turks' new
advance on the West.” The Times of London, in an article about the subject,
cited the 1683 Siege of Vienna, adding, “A little over three centuries ago
Austrian forces, reinforced by their Polish allies, dashed the Ottoman
Empire’s aggressive ambitions for Western Europe when they defeated the
Turkish army at the second siege of Vienna. Ironically, having been the
bulwark against Turkish military expansion in 1683, Austria now finds
itself representing its 24 EU allies in handling Ankara’s diplomatic
campaign to win a place at the European Union’s top table.” The Times
interpreted the Viennese presidency as a repetition of history. /Hurriyet/
[08] AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR: “CROATIA AND MACEDONIA WILL JOIN THE EU, BUT
TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IS UNCERTAIN”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, new European Union term President
Austria’s Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel said that Croatia and Macedonia
would join the EU, but characterized Turkey’s membership prospects as
uncertain. Schussel said that Turkey deserved EU membership, but it was
difficult to predict the outcome of negotiations. “No one can decide now
whether full membership is the only choice for Turkey,” added Schussel.
/Milliyet/
[09] EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S MIREL: “TURKEY DID ITS HOMEWORK WELL”
Supportive messages from the European Union to Turkey are continuing.
“Turkey started the screening process well and continues to do so,”
yesterday said Pierre Mirel, director of the Candidate Countries’
Directorate of the European Commission. Mirel spoke about the actual
negotiations following the screening expected to begin in March, and said,
“The screening process shows that Turkey did its homework well.” He also
said that the actual negotiations between Turkey and the EU will also be
successful. Underlining that there’s not just one ideal negotiations
structure looked at from the perspective of past experiences, Mirel said
that different countries had accession talks with different structures in
the negotiations process. “There are three different structures pertaining
to talks. The best one will become clear after six months,” he added.
/Star/
[10] RUSSIA-UKRAINE NATURAL GAS DISPUTE THREATENS TURKEY, EUROPE
The crisis between Russia and Ukraine on the price of natural gas is also
threatening Turkey, which is a major buyer of Russian natural gas, as well
as European countries. Officials from state gas and oil company BOTAS said
yesterday that Turkey had purchased large amounts of gas before Russia’s
cutoff. But experts warned that negative effects of the crisis could be
felt in the country soon. Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria could start
stocking gas, leaving Turkey with a smaller supply. /Sabah/
[11] TUZMEN: “WE BROKE RECORDS WITH $7.3 BLN IN EXPORTS IN DECEMBER, AND
2005 EXPORTS REACHED $73.4 BLN”
Speaking at a meeting to evaluate exports yesterday, State Minister Kursat
Tuzmen said that with $7.3 billion in exports in December, Turkey had
broken a record in the republic’s history. Tuzmen stated that despite a
slowdown in 2005, last year’s exports reached a total of $73.4 billion.
Touching on the current account deficit, Tuzmen said that the deficit was a
top issue for Turkey, adding that since goods and service imports rose more
than exports, the current account deficit had increased. Tuzmen added that
the slowdown in last year’s exports was due to a worldwide slowdown. Also
addressing the gathering, Turkish Exporters’ Union (TIM) Chairman Oguz
Satici said that foreign trade deficit was expected to reach $42 billion by
the end of this year. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] IS THE PRESIDENT SOWING ETHNIC NATIONALISM? BY CUNEYT ULSEVER
(HURRIYET)
Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on discussions on primary and sub-
identity. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Extraordinary developments which will occur close to Turkey (Iraq, Iran
and Syria) will determine our fate in 2006. The main axis of the discussion
in the Kurdish issue was set by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as
‘identity’ during the second half of 2005. He opened the discussion of
primary and sub-identity. However, he couldn’t give a satisfactory answer
to this discussion and produced contradictory solutions every day. Thus,
the discussion expanded every day and everybody said different things about
it. In the end, the public got tired of this and wanted to end the
discussions. When President Ahmet Necdet Sezer weighed in as part of his
New Year’s Day message, newspapers wrote that Sezer had had the final word
about the discussion of primary and sub-identity. We thought that after
Sezer made these remarks, Erdogan would close the subject and relieve both
himself and the public. However, Erdogan can’t control himself and quit a
topic when necessary. One day after Sezer’s remarks, Erdogan made another
statement about primary identity which conflicted with that of Sezer. I’m
afraid we will grow more confused as long as these two top state officials
make contradictory statements.
Sezer said that the name of the nation was defined by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
and that the Turkish public which established the Turkish Republic is
called the Turkish nation. Sezer added that one cannot maintain the
singular state structure without settling the national identity awareness.
Only one day after this statement, Erdogan said that the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) had three red lines. Erdogan said that one of them
was ethnic nationalism and that it wouldn’t allow this. Erdogan said that
the only primary link that connects us was Turkish Republic citizenship.
Sezer said that a (primary) identity should exist other than the law which
connects a nation in joy and sorrow and that this was being Turkish.
Meanwhile, Erdogan said that along with other sub identities, he considered
being Kurdish and Turkish as sub identities and announced ethnic
nationalism as his party’s red line. According to Erdogan, if we insist on
a national identity as a primary identity (being Kurdish_Turkish) for any
reason, then we would be sowing ethic nationalism. When we follow Erdogan’s
reasoning, we see that being Turkish is also within the category of sub
identity just like being Kurdish, and insisting on one of them creates
ethnic nationalism. According to Erdogan, is Sezer sowing ethnic
nationalism? I couldn’t understand this. With Erdogan’s latest remarks
we’re back at square one.”
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