Turkish Press Review, 06-08-10

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From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

10.08.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN HOSTS A BANQUET FOR KING ABDULLAH

[01] ERDOGAN HOSTS A BANQUET FOR KING ABDULLAH

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that northern Iraq shouldn’t be a safe heaven for the terrorist PKK and it should be declared as a terrorist organization and added, “We are waiting for satisfactory steps to be taken.” During the meeting at Prime Ministry, Iraqi Vice President Tariq Al Hashimi thanked Premier Erdogan for his support. Speaking about the terrorist PKK, Hashimi said, “We won’t allow activities that would disturb Turkey. I pledge to exert all kinds of efforts.” Erdogan also expressed Turkey’s views on Kirkuk. “Kirkuk should have a special status quo,” said Erdogan, adding that this was important for the unity of Iraq. “An acceptable administration model should come into existence in Kirkuk. This is important. We support your views,” said Hashimi. After the meeting with Hashimi, Erdogan received seven Iraqi Turkmen deputies. /Star/

GEN. BUYUKANIT: “LAND FORCES TO BE SHRUNK BY 30%”

Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, who takes over helm of Turkish Armed Forces at the end of this month, stated that the army could shrink 30% within the context of modernization. In an interview with Defense and Aerospace Magazine, Gen. Buyukanit said, “The targets for our land forces are to be realized through ‘Forces 2014’ project. This project aims to shrink the forces without undermining its combat capabilities. On the contrary, under the plan the efficiency of the force will increase.” /Star/

[03] CICEK: “SEVERAL STEPS ARE TAKEN AGAINST PKK, BUT THEY AREN’T SUFFICIENT”

Outgoing Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is expected to pay farewell visits to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. In related news, speaking at his party’s meeting, Baykal evaluated recently rising terrorist attacks. Baykal said that a cross-border operation was possible, but that this wasn’t the only solution to the issue. /Sabah/ [05] TURKEY TO BUY 50 SLAM-ER MISSILES FROM US

Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul yesterday stated that Turkey would buy 50 SLAM- ER missiles in return for $139 million from the US through the Foreign Military Sale program. Gonul confirmed that the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has asked for Congress’ approval to sell the missiles to Turkey. Gonul indicated that Turkey and the US have reached an agreement on the sale of missiles, adding that talks are yet to be concluded on the conditions of payment. /Milliyet/[06] LEBANESE AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA VISITS RED CRESCENT, THANKS FOR ITS ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON UNDER ISRAEL’S BOMBINGS

Lebanese Ambassador to Ankara George Siam yesterday visited Red Crescent Chairman Tekin Kucukali to thank for the assistance provided for the Lebanese nation under Israel’s bombings. During their meeting, Siam said that the war should be between the soldiers of two countries, but that innocent children were also been killed in the war. “Almost 1,000 Lebanese people lost their lives in Israel’s bombings and 350 of them are children,” said Siam. Siam stressed that atmosphere of peace and tranquility couldn’t be ensured in the region due to Israel, adding that Israel was against peace and rejected all efforts for peace. Siam said that the Lebanese nation was grateful to Turkey, adding that he was pleased with the sensitivity of the Turkish government. For his part, Kucukali said that Red Crescent helped people all over the world, adding that misfortune was being observed in Lebanon. /Turkiye/[07] BILGIN: “BDDK NOT IN THE BAG TO MOVE TO ISTANBUL”

Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) Chairman Tevfik Bilgin criticized the tendency to view the BDDK and other institutions apart from the Central Bank “in the bag” on the issue about moving to Istanbul and said, “If half the financial and social rights offered to the Central Bank regarding staff are provided to us, we’ll move to Istanbul right away.” On a live interview on CNN Turk, Bilgin assessed the impact of the market fluctuations on the banking sector and the debates on moving to Istanbul. Bilgin said on the possibility of BDDK to move to Istanbul: “We’re following the debates as well. We have not yet exchanged ideas with the Minister that we are associated with. There’s no decision made at our Board either.” /The New Anatolian/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[00] LESSON FOR THE EU BY SUKRU KUCUKSAHIN (HURRIYET)

Columnist Sukru Kucuksahin comments on National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Ambassador Yigit Alpogan’s speech during the traditional EU ambassadors’ dinner. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Relations with the EU which are conducted in an atmosphere cause both sides to question each other. As part of it, an important questioning happened on July 20. Finnish Ambassador Maria Serenius invited National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Ambassador Yigit Alpogan as a speaker at the traditional EU ambassadors’ dinner. I heard from a few diplomats whom I spoke to lately that the ambassadors listened to Alpogan very carefully due to his duty as an ambassador and his relation with the NSC. Stating that the public’s support for the EU fell and that he believed that it was temporary, Alpogan said, ‘While sending reports to your country, please emphasize that both sides need this project. Write that this project shouldn’t be reduced to the problem of a little harbor and that a lesson shouldn’t be given.’ Alpogan stressed Turkey’s lack of confidence and said that an appropriate basis was formed so the EU can end the relations. He added, ‘I should say it openly that you can make a train accident with Turkey immediately. If you give preference to the headlines of free movement of goods, customs union and transportation, this accident would occur soon.’ Alpogan suggested that these three headlines should be left to the final stage and added, ‘We admit that we can’t be an EU member without solving the Cyprus issue. However, if you discuss a problem now that we should solve in 2004, the accident would occur.’

Alpogan said it would be impossible to open the harbors as long as the isolation lasts and added, ‘We don’t feel safe on our path to the EU. Such concepts as open-ended negotiations and the capacity of digestion cause the public to be doubtful. In other words, will you separate yourself from us only because one person from Austria rejects our membership? Stating that the EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the EU, Alpogan made suggestions to EU ambassadors. Firstly, he suggested that we develop a new strategy of communication and tell the people the characteristics of the EU. He also wanted them to tell their public how Turkey will contribute to the EU and added, ‘There’s an atmosphere as if we’ll be a burden on your shoulders. We won’t be a burden on your shoulders. If you see and tell this, there won’t be the problem of the EU public opinion anymore.’ Finally, traces of Alpogan’s remarks were seen in some of the activities of these ambassadors and our representative to Brussels announced the news that the issue of harbor was postponed. However, we’ll see the actual result in the Progress Report.”

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