Turkish Press Review, 06-09-26

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

26.09.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN TO URGE US OFFICIALS TO ACT AGAINST PKK

[01] ERDOGAN TO URGE US OFFICIALS TO ACT AGAINST PKK

Speaking to French daily Le Monde yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey’s bid to be a European Union member was a result of its closeness with Europe, adding that membership was a guarantee for democracy, the economy, social security, and development. Gul added that there was no choice for Ankara except full membership and called for France to support Turkey’s EU bid. /Sabah/ [03] GEN. BASBUG SAYS ISLAMIST THREAT SERIOUS, HITS BACK AT EUROPE

Speaking at the War Academy yesterday, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said that Turkey was facing a serious threat from religious orders and an Islamist presence that is growing in power in many different walks of life, with both posing a danger to the achievements of Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s revolution, which created a secular Turkey. Hitting back at criticism from European Commission Represenative Hansjoerg Kretschmer that the military was accustomed to expressing views on almost all issues, Basbug said the armed forces had the right to speak up to defend secularism and nationalism. “The Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] has always taken sides and will continue to take sides in protecting the nation- state, the unitary state and the secular state,” he said. “I have to say with regret that the Islamic reactionary threat, even if some don’t want to see this, has reached alarming levels.” /Turkish Daily News/[04] CABINET SETS 4+4% SALARY HIKE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS WITH LOWER SALARIES, AND 3+3 INCREASE FOR OTHERS

Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that the Cabinet had decided on a salary hike for civil servants of 4% in the first half of next year and 4% in the second half for those with lower salaries, while others would get half of that hike. Cicek said that the lowest salary would be YTL 814 in January and YTL 847 in July. /Aksam/ [05] NEW ERA IN TRNC WITHOUT DENKTAS

A new coalition government was established in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. The government made up by the Republican Turkish Party United Forces (CTP-BG) and the Freedom and Reform Party (Ozgur Party) became the 21st government under the Turkish Cypriot state. Under it, for the first time in the political history of the TRNC, the Denktas family and the National Unity Party (UBP) are in the opposition. Meanwhile, Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas and National Unity Party (NUP) leader Huseyin Ozgurgun claimed that this was a stain on democracy and boycotted Parliament yesterday. TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat approved the new Cabinet made up of seven ministers from the CTP-BG and three from the Ozgur Party. Stating that the government was being established at an important time, Talat said that of course he approved the list and hoped it would serve the country well. He also criticized the DP and the NUP, saying that it wouldn’t help anyone to harm the democratic structure that the country deserves. /Sabah/[06] BABACAN TO TOUR EU STATES

State Minister and chief negotiator for Ankara’s EU talks Ali Babacan is scheduled this week to begin a tour of Europe including Italy and Finland to promote Turkey’s efforts on the road to full European Union membership. Babacan is set to meet with Italian Premier Romano Prodi, Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema and EU Minister Emma Bonino on Thursday. He will then proceed to Helsinki to have talks with Finnish officials including Premier Matti Vanhanen and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. /Star/[07] BARROSO SPEAKS ON EU ENLARGEMENT PROCESS

Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin in Brussels yesterday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the enlargement to be done by the EU following Romania and Bulgaria would be conditional. Stating that the EU isn’t ready for new members after this enlargement, Barroso said that the EU couldn’t accept more members due to the Nice Agreement and that both Villepin and he agreed that the EU needs structural reforms. He added that the EU constitution’s future should be determined while membership talks continue with Turkey and Croatia. Diplomatic sources in Turkey said that Barroso was technically correct and added, “According to the Nice Agreement, the EU’s enlargement covers 27 countries, including Bulgaria and Romania. New decision mechanisms have to be determined for the fourth wave of enlargement to include Turkey and Croatia. This is nothing new. Barroso says that the new structuring is a must for this.” /Hurriyet/[08] EP TO DEBATE TURKEY REPORT TODAY

The full European Parliament is due today to debate a Turkey report prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Camiel Eurlings. The report, which is a recommended text, is set to be voted on tomorrow. /Star/[09] EU PREPARES NEW PLAN FOR TURKEY

European Term President Finland has prepared a new plan to prevent a crisis in Turkey’s European Union membership process. The plan proposes the handover of the management of Northern Cyprus’ Magosa Harbor to the EU and the Maras region to the United Nations. The EU expects this step will meet Turkey’s demand to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Ankara will then agree to open its harbors and ports to Greek Cypriots. The proposal, however, doesn’t foresee the opening of the TRNC’s Ercan Airport, which is more important for Turkish Cypriots. Diplomatic sources in Ankara highlighted that TRNC will not accept any settlement proposal not including the opening of Ercan Airport to international flights. /Turkiye/[10] CEVIKOZ: “CLOSING OFFICES DOESN’T PREVENT TERRORISM”

Turkey’s Ambassador to Baghdad Unal Cevikoz said yesterday that Ankara didn’t find Iraq’s steps sufficient to stop the terrorist group PKK’s activities. Stressing that the group cannot be stopped merely by closing its offices in Iraq, Cevikoz said that Mt. Kandil is a shelter for the group and should be cleared out. “Ankara is closely following measures taken by the Iraqi government against the PKK, but the steps taken so far are far from meeting Turkey’s demands,” said the ambassador, adding that there was much work to do. /Turkiye/[11] TALABANI CLAIMS PKK WILL DECLARE A CEASE-FIRE IN A FEW DAYS

Speaking to Newsweek International this week, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani claimed that the Iraqi government had persuaded the terrorist group PKK to halt its attacks, adding that it would declare a cease-fire in a few days. “This will help Iraq open a new chapter in relations with Iraq, ” said Talabani. Asked about Turkish soldiers deployed at the Iraqi border, Talabani said that the soldiers weren’t crossing into Iraq. /Aksam/[12] IMF’S KRUEGER: “TURKEY SHOULD CONTINUE REFORMS TO CUSHION ITSELF FROM FLUCTUATIONS”

International Monetary Fund First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger said yesterday that Turkey should continue its successful reform program to help protect itself from the effects of fluctuations. Speaking after annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, Krueger stated that the floating exchange rate was the most appropriate regime for Turkey, adding that other regimes would not be as helpful. Krueger stressed that the floating exchange rate reduced debt, absorbed shocks, and brought down inflation. “There will be fluctuations in the upcoming period, but if Turkey pursues its reforms it won’t be affected by these,” added Krueger. /Milliyet/[13] 50 GREEK FIRMS EYEING INVESTMENT IN TURKEY

Takis Arapoglou, CEO of the National Bank of Greece (NBG), which in April bought a 46% stake in Finansbank for $2.8 million, said that this operation would improve relations between the two countries. At a press conference in Athens for Turkish reporters, Arapoglou said that a group of nearly 50 countries seeking to invest in Turkey would come to Istanbul in November. Stating that the firms wanting to invest in Turkey were from all sectors, especially the textile sector, Arapoglou said that they want to do production in Turkey and invited Turkish companies making products with high added value to come to Greece. /Star/

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