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Turkish Press Review, 06-06-09Turkish 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> <style type="text_css"> <!-- .baslik { margin-right:0cm; margin-left:0cm; margin-top:1cm; font-size:12.0pt; color:#000099; text-align: justify; } --> <_style> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning09.06.2006FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS..CONTENTS
[01] IN PALESTINE, SEZER CALLS FOR HAMAS TO BE REALISTIC AND OPEN TO DIALOGUEAfter completing his contacts in Israel, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer proceeded to Palestine yesterday. Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sezer said that Ankara hoped that an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel would be established. He further called for Hamas to be “realistic” and open to dialogue, adding that Turkey believed all political groups in Palestine should cooperate for peace. “We also believe that a realistic stance opening the way for dialogue will help a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian dispute,” he said. For his part, Abbas said that he appreciated Ankara’s support for an independent Palestinian state. “We appreciate Turkey’s efforts for a solution to the dispute,” he said. Abbas stressed that the living conditions of the Palestinian people were bad, adding that international assistance was necessary. /Sabah/[02] ISTANBUL HOSTS TURKISH-ARAB ECONOMIC FORUMIstanbul is hosting a Turkish-Arab Economic Forum to pave the way for stronger economic ties. As part of the gathering, some 700 businessmen from both Turkey and Arab countries will hold a host of discussions on a wide variety of subjects. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora yesterday participated in the opening session of the meeting. Arab League head Amr Mussa and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, as well as representatives from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar, were present. Delivering an opening speech, Erdogan said that relations between Turkey and Arab countries were developing with an understanding of reciprocal reliance, adding that appropriate grounds existed to further develop ties in all areas. Concerning the Iraq issue, Erdogan expressed Ankara’s welcome for the new Iraqi government and called on neighboring countries to back the country resolving its issues. Pointing to recent conflicts in the region, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey desired a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear program issue. “Of course, no one in the region will approve of any development to use nuclear energy as weapons of mass destruction,” said the Turkish premier. Stressing that Turkey would do its best to help to ensure peace in the Mideast, Erdogan said that the Palestine’s ruling Hamas party should reform itself away from its extremes. Furthermore, calling called on Arab countries to invest in Turkey, Erdogan said developing economic ties would serve regional stability, development and prosperity. /Turkiye/[03] ERDOGAN: “KIRKUK SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL STATUS”During a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh yesterday in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Kirkuk should have a special status. Expressing Turkey’s hope that stability in Iraq can be ensured after the recent establishment of a government in the country, Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s concern over Kirkuk, adding that that the northern Iraqi city should have a special position. The talks also focused on bilateral trade ties and border gate issues between the two countries. For his part, Saleh pledged that a just and appropriate resolution would be reached on Kirkuk, adding that necessary measures would taken against the terrorist PKK, also a threat to Iraq itself. In addition, Erdogan yesterday met with visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas. The premier talked with him about Ankara’s initiatives and efforts to end the TRNC’s international isolation. /Turkiye/[04] GUL DISCUSSES IRAN WITH GERMAN, EU COUNTERPARTSForeign Minister Abdullah Gul has reportedly spoken with his German and European Union colleagues about Iran’s nuclear program. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana yesterday telephoned Gul about the matter. Solana, accompanied by representatives from Britain, France, Germany and Russia, recently paid a visit to Tehran to present a new package on the issue to Iranian officials. In addition, after the talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kisylak called Ankara to exchange views with Turkish officials regarding recent developments. /Turkiye/[05] CHIEF EU NEGOTIATOR BABACAN: “THERE MIGHT BE A PAUSE IN THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS”Turkey’s chief European Union negotiator Ali Babacan said yesterday that everybody should be ready for a possible slower pace or even a pause in the European Union accession process. Speaking at a press conference held at the Treasury Undersecretariat, Babacan argued that the detailed screening has ended in 18 areas, with no problems encountered. He also said that they had established a Monitoring and Orientation Committee and have been preparing an Acquis Harmonization Program for 17 chapters. When asked about statements from EU officials that Turkey has to open its ports to the Greek Cypriots this year, Babacan reiterated that Ankara has a different interpretation of the situation and a very clear position. /Cumhuriyet/[06] EU COMPROMISES ON COMMON POSITION PAPERThe European Union yesterday compromised on the common position paper to be submitted to Turkey before the Turkey-EU Association Council meeting set to begin on Monday. During the EU Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) meeting, the Greek Cypriot administration tried to add the ports issue to the document but it was unsuccessful. The common position paper was approved with Greek Cyprus’ reservation, while the position paper on which the EU has to reach a settlement in order to start actual negotiations on the science and research chapter was left to today. Turkish sources said that these documents were one-sided papers prepared by the EU and that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul might have issues ahead of him in Luxembourg on Monday. /Hurriyet/[07] TURKISH-GREEK MEDIA CONFERENCE STARTS TODAYThe Fourth Turkish-Greek Media Conference held by the Turkish Press Council will start today. A council statement said that the conference, which was organized by the Contact Group, would last until Monday and that its official opening will be done by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis. The statement also said that cooperation between both countries’ media was aimed at strengthening peace and that rapprochement to avoid mutual provocations by establishing a Turkish-Greek Journalists Association would be discussed. /Hurriyet/[08] GREEK FM: “WE CAN GO TO THE HAGUE FOR THE AEGEAN PROBLEMS”Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanis yesterday said that mutual relations and Turkey’s EU perspective would be up for discussion during her meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. In written responses to questions from the Anatolia news agency prior to her visit to Turkey set to begin today, Bakoyannis said, “It might be beneficial to go to The Hague to determine the continental shelf problem in the Aegean Sea. The Hague tribunal is a globally respected institution which has contributed to the peaceful solution of many problems within the context of international law. We believe that The Hague might be a beneficial instrument.” /Cumhuriyet/[09] IMF CALLS CENTRAL BANK’S INTEREST RATE HIKE “POSITIVE SIGNAL”International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Hugh Bredenkamp yesterday called the Central Bank’s decision to raise short-term interest rates from 13.25% to 15% a “positive signal.” Saying that this week’s hike proved the determination of the government to achieve the inflation target for this year, he added, “These are very positive political signals with the government’s commitments to strengthen the fiscal position last month.” /Milliyet/[10] UNAKITAN: “I APPRECIATE THE CB’S INTEREST DECISION”Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said yesterday that he appreciated the Central Bank’s decision to raise short-term interest from 13.25% to 15%. Calling the decision appropriate, Unakitan added that the CB and Finance Ministry are taking a number of measures and implementing these. “This interest hike won’t affect the 2006 budget,” he said. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that he hoped the decision would be positive for the economy, but declined to comment further on the issue. /Milliyet/[11] CB HEAD: “WE’LL INTERVENE IN THE EXCHANGE RATE IF NECESSARY”Speaking at a conference yesterday, Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz said that interest pressure would continue as long as interest rates continue to rise in the international markets. Saying that the CB would watch the results of its interest hike decision, Yilmaz stressed that it would intervene in the exchange rate if necessary. Yilmaz stated that inflation target was determined with the government and that the implementation of inflation targeting was under the government’s control. “A revision in the inflation target is out of the question for now,” he said. “With our interest hike decision, we’re trying to get closer to the target.” Commenting on the current account deficit, Yilmaz predicted that as long as the economic program continues the deficit couldn’t possibly pose any risk. /Aksam/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS..[13] IRAQ AFTER ZARQAWI BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Iraq. A summary of her column is as follows:“Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi wasn’t only against establishing a democratic Iraq, he wanted the death of Iraqi Shiites and even all Iraqi Muslims who wanted to take responsibility for the establishment of Iraq. Zarqawi was killed in an operation this week. While telling that Zarqawi had been killed, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared that an agreement was reached on three key Cabinet ministers. All of them have served in Saddam’s army: Defense Minister Abdul Qader Mohammed Jassim, Interior Minister Jawad al- Bolani, and National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waeli. The death of Zarqawi doesn’t mean that terrorism in Iraq will come to an end. Also we shouldn’t expect a radical change in the short term. Of course this is an important development in countering al-Qaeda’s expansion in the Middle East. It strengthened the hand of the government. But there are two important problems for the stability of Iraq. A solution for the status of Kirkuk and the sharing of oil are the most important problems for the government. These two problems are actually a guarantee of Iraq’s integrity. Stability in Iraq depends on strengthening the structure which secures the integrity of Iraq. The killing of Zarqawi and an agreement on the three important ministries are positive developments. During his last visit to Iraq, Turkey’s Special Representative to Iraq Oguz Celikkol told officials that they are expected to decide on the related ministers to put an end to the presence of the terrorist PKK in Iraq. Developments on this issue could take place in the coming days. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is expected to visit Turkey soon. We’ll see what his messages will be.” [14] AKP DECLINING, CHP RISING BY TURKER ALKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Turker Alkan comments on the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). A summary of his column is as follows:“According to a survey done this week by Sonar Research and Marketing for Aksam daily, 29% of people asked who they would vote for if elections were held today said that it would be the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), 19% the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), 12% the True Path Party (DYP), 8% the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), 7% the Democratic Left Party (DSP), 5% the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), and the remainder for small parties. Do these rates show a trend? This is the important question. If we compare these survey results, we can see a very clear picture. Support for the AKP peaked at 43% in January, but this rate fell to 33% in April and 29% in June. However, there’s a steady and considerable rise in support for the CHP, that is, 13%, 15% and 19%. The DYP is slightly above the threshold of 10%, but it doesn’t have a regular trend. This shows that the AKP is falling, but the CHP rising. Why? The reason for this can be found in another question. Asked what Turkey’s most important problem is, 57% said unemployment, 15% the high cost of living and 3% the International Monetary Fund and foreign debt. In other words, three-fourths of the public are complaining about the economy. As far as ideological issues are concerned, 2.5% of the people consider attacks against secularism a problem and 1.7% said that they considered the headscarf a problem. We can see that the economy is a more important factor than ideology. These findings are important, because they show a trend. The ruling party lost 13 percentage points in six months, whereas the main opposition party gained 7 points. We’re facing a rapid trend of declining and strengthening. It wouldn’t be right to expect this trend to change overnight. It will continue for some time. The decline of the AKP was influenced by constant debates over the headscarf issue and employing religious staff for public institutions instead of dealing with such serious issues as unemployment and the high cost of living. The military was recently included in these discussions, which caused concerns about the regime. Nobody wants to have an administration at odds with its army. Another factor is that the AKP started its rule by working on the ‘European Union dream’ and gave hopes to the public as part of this and boosted its support by making progress. But of late it started to cease being a hope which excited the people about the EU issue. People even wondered if it favored Turkey’s EU membership any more. A party involving in corruption and the nervous stance of its leaders… All these things came together to form the picture you see. The AKP will try to change this trend in a short period of time. If it can’t do so, early elections could happen. There must be a logic for holding elections every four years.” 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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