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Turkish Press Review, 06-11-20Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning20.11.2006CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN TOUTS HIS PARTY'S RECORD, CRITICIZES PRE-AKP GOVTSpeaking at the opening ceremony for the Derince Tunnel in Kocaeli over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the coalition government which preceded his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) 2002 rise to power. "What did you do for Turkey ?" said Erdogan of the government led by late Premier Bulent Ecevit, adding that they couldn't protect the value of the Turkish lira. "However, we erased six zeroes from our currency," said Erdogan. "Back then the Central Bank had $26 billion in reserves, but now it has $56 billion." He further stressed that Turkey 's debt to the International Monetary Fund was $23.5 billion under that government, but has fallen to $9.7 billion today. "This is our difference," said the premier. Later, Erdogan attended the opening of Seka Park . Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that Turkey was growing stronger every day in competing with world standards. /Aksam-Turkiye/[02] STATE MINISTER ATALAY TAKES PART IN NEW DELHI CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTANThe Second Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan is an important step to show that this nation has become a part of regional cooperation, said State Minister Besir Atalay in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Saturday. "Despite the progress made in the reconstruction of Afghanistan , the integration of this country with regional projects is a must," he told the conference. Stressing the importance of regional cooperation to provide sustainable structuring as well as socioeconomic development, Atalay said that the high turnout at the conference showed the international community's determination to boost regional cooperation for the reconstruction of Afghanistan . /The New Anatolian/[03] BAHCELI REELECTED TO MHP HELM AT WEEKEND CONGRESSDevlet Bahceli was reelected leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) party during its eighth general congress held over the weekend through a unanimous vote. Addressing his party, Bahceli called the gathering a "national unity congress" and criticized the government's policies on the European Union and Cyprus , saying that the MHP placed importance on national unity and territorial integrity and that nothing was more important than these. Bahceli stressed that though the possibility of a cross-border operation in northern Iraq had long been discussed, for now it was out of the question. Commenting on the opposition True Path Party's (DYP) proposal of an amnesty for terrorists, Bahceli predicted a public backlash against the DYP in next year's elections. /Turkiye/[04] EC PRESIDENT BARROSO: "I'M CONCERNED ABOUT TURKEY NOT MEETING ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ANKARA PROTOCOL"In remarks published over the weekend, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that Turkey 's not implementing its obligations coming from the Ankara Protocol would affect all membership negotiations. Speaking to German daily Tagesspiegel, Barroso said, "I am concerned about developments," adding, " Turkey hasn't yet fulfilled its commitments emanating from the Ankara Protocol. The European Union requested this last year. If Turkey doesn't fulfill its commitments, all membership negotiations would be affected." In related news, French daily Le Figaro claimed that there was a conspiracy against Turkey 's EU membership. Writing on "Who's against Turkey 's EU membership?" question Writer Alexandre Adler argued that Turkey 's real enemies lie among the fundamentalist Christians inclined to racism, not Armenians, Greek Cypriots or Greeks. /Star-Cumhuriyet/[05] US SENATOR BIDEN: "THERE CAN BE NO PEACE IN IRAQ WITHOUT TURKEY "Democratic Senator Joseph Biden, the incoming chair of the Foreign Relations Committee after the US midterm elections, yesterday argued that a conference should be held for Iraq . In a guest op-ed published in The Washington Post, Biden said, "There can be no sustainable peace in Iraq without the support of its neighbors, including Iran , Syria and Turkey ." /Hurriyet/[06] TREASURY'S CANAKCI ATTENDS G-20 SUMMIT IN MELBOURNETreasury Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci over the weekend attended the G-20 summit in Melbourne , Australia , where global energy policies, money laundering, and the nuclear armament threat were discussed. Canakci said that G-20 represented two-thirds of the world's population and 85% of the world's gross national product (GNP), adding that it was important for Turkey to be among the G-20 countries. "Global economic and financial outlook were discussed at the summit," said Canakci, adding that Turkey or Russia could host the G-20 meeting due to be held in 2012. /Sabah/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [07] THE MHP'S EFFORTS TO MOVE TO THE CENTER RIGHTBY SUKRU KUCUKSAHIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Sukru Kucuksahin comments on the weekend Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) congress. A summary of his column is as follows: "Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli used the term 'center right' to characterize his party. Slogans were used about the MHP becoming the only leading party after next year's elections. Attendance at the congress was high. Party members believe that the MHP will be one of the most important actors in Parliament after the coming general elections, and Bahceli positioned the party to be at least part of a coalition government. It was interesting that a party whose political vision opposes left-wing parties didn't criticize these parties. However, Bahceli harshly accused the government of destroying the republic's basic values such as the unitary secular structure. Bahceli said that many have tried to destroy the perfect vision of Turkey , which was drawn in 1923, but always faced the necessary resistance. ‘The situation today is worse. They are threatening our basic values with international support,' said Bahceli. It was the first harsh criticism he voiced against the Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Bahceli said that the state had been surrendered, echoing main opposition Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal. Bahceli also said that the European Union is also aiming at splitting Turkey and therefore that Ankara should go somewhere besides the EU. We can't guess whether these words will be supported on the center left. However, there are important figures from center-right parties who have joined the MHP. Bahceli also said that he invites every patriot to the party. This also shows that he aims at winning over the support of the center right." [08] TURKEY IN 2008BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Turkey 's in 2008. A summary of his column is as follows: "I wonder what Turkey 's situation will be at the end of next year. Before we enter 2008, the basic actors of the Turkish state and political life will already have changed to a great extent or at least each of them will have taken a new position. Yesterday many reporters wrote about the presidential election set for next May and the general elections in November. These two upcoming elections cause people in Turkey and abroad to wonder what will happen. The fact that both the new president, new prime minister and new government will be elected in the same year makes the ‘circles who look after balances' cautious. This is important because I'm talking about the government until 2012 and the president until 2014. I'm also talking about a critical timetable in terms of the European Union, the US and the Middle East . Whatever will happen, Turkey will be very different in 2008 than today. But how? We know that the elections to be held will never be only Turkey 's elections. The elections influencing the fate of such a country as Turkey concern not only the Middle East , but also the entire world, as it has a sphere of influence extending to global policies. From the other side, whoever will come into power in Turkey , how the balance will be provided and what the country's stance will be are quite important issues in Turkey , whose national issues have become international issues. The oft-used term ‘the year of fate' certainly applies. Yesterday columnist Enis Berberoglu wrote about a visit of financial analysts from London who were curious about the presidential and general elections. I also learned that the same group visited a political party leader in the opposition. Actors are trying to make projections and take a position at the same time. Meanwhile, columnist Mahir Kaynak did a very good analysis of elections through the lens of the aims of international powers. Many other columnists discuss the issue of elections from various angles. There's no escape. We'll discuss it until May. We'll see how the context of domestic and foreign public opinion and local and global developments come together. Now we're inside this process. I liked it when Mehmet Barlas pointed out how this summer Gen. Yasar Buyukanit was appointed the new chief of general staff through consensus. Barlas asked why wouldn't the president be elected through the same consensus. He's right. Why not? I smell such an air of consensus in Ankara ." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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