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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-20Turkish 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 morning20.12.2006CONTENTS
[01] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEYGeorgian President Mihail Saakashvili yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After visiting Ataturk's mausoleum, Anitkabir, Saakashvili met with Sezer. During their talks the two leaders pointed to developing relations between their countries. Today the Georgian president is expected to meet with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and then travel to Istanbul. /Turkiye/[02] ERDOGAN ADDRESSES MEETING OF ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONSPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in New York to attend a meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, yesterday addressed the gathering, saying that at first no one had believed that the joint Turkish and Spanish efforts for the project would go anywhere, but that two years later these views had changed. Erdogan said that the group formed by outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented their final report at a meeting held in Istanbul last month, adding that the report was very important. "The report, with its proposals for solving problems, is a touchstone document," said Erdogan. "As the report says, the world faces great dilemmas. Dominant culture and faith systems are at loggerheads instead of meeting under common humanitarian values, and this creates polarization between the Islamic world and the West." Later, Erdogan met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Annan, and incoming UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-Moon. /Star/[03] GUL: "EU COUNTRIES ARE SUFFERING AN INTERNAL CRISIS"Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that relations between Turkey and the European Union had entered a new era, and that the bloc was suffering a crisis within itself. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Ministry, Gul said that in the end Europe would realize Turkey's importance. Reiterating Ankara's commitment to its full membership goal, Gul said that this goal was also supported by the Turkish people. Commenting on British Prime Minister Tony Blair's signal that direct flights may start from Britain to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Gul said that Ankara expected that development to be realized soon. /Turkiye/[04] BAYKAL WEIGHS IN ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATESMain opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday commented on recent arguments that if all the CHP deputies were to resign, then the government would have to "turn to the nation" for the presidential election set for next May (meaning hold early general elections beforehand), saying that the CHP would do its best to prevent a negative outlook for the nation's future. "We need to learn what circles who voice their views on all issues think about the election," said Baykal. "If they want anything from us, they should speak up." Baykal further stated that no one wanted tension in the country, adding that the nation was worried that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would declare his candidacy just before the presidential election. He stated that the nation needed to discuss presidential candidates and added that Erdogan should get the approval of the nation. /Cumhuriyet/[05] BAHCELI: "MARCH WOULD BE GOOD FOR HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS"Speaking to reporters yesterday, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that he thought March 11 was a good date to hold early general elections, adding that these could change the makeup of Parliament. Bahceli said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) could again come to power singe-handedly. "Then no one could question the elected president, " he said referring to Parliament's presidential election set for May. Bahceli further confirmed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had told him that early general elections should be held. Also commenting on the possible en masse resignation of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) members to make the AKP "turn to the nation" for the presidential election – meaning hold early general elections beforehand -- Bahceli said that the AKP had the majority in Parliament. /Sabah/[06] OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT AND PM, CALLS FOR PEACE IN MIDEASTOrganization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who is also a Turkish scholar, yesterday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called for peace between the sides. Stressing that there were some ideas that could be used to overcome the crisis, Ihsanoglu stated that he hoped some positive steps would be taken. Later Ihsanoglu proceeded to Gaza to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In related news, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday phoned Haniyeh, saying that he was following developments in the Mideast. /Turkiye/[07] COREPER TO DISCUSS TURKEYDuring a meeting today, the European Union Permanent Representatives' Committee (COREPER) will take up Turkey. The committee will talk about Ankara's EU chapters' screening process and which have been completed and are ready for talks. During the gathering, France and Greek Cyprus are expected to try to block talks from opening on any new chapters. /Turkiye/[08] REHN: "TALKS WITH TURKEY MAY RESUME IN JANUARY"European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that accession talks with Turkey could resume as early as next week. Speaking to the BBC, Rehn said that the first chapter to be taken up was expected to be on enterprises and industrial policy, adding that there were no political criteria for that chapter, and progress could be ensured. Rehn said that Ankara should notice that not fulfilling commitments had consequences. On the other hand, he stated that the bloc favored the continuation of talks with Turkey. /Star/[09] GERMAN FM STEINMEIER VOWS TO WORK ON TALKS, TRNC'S ISOLATIONGerman Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country will assume the term presidency of the European Union next Monday, said yesterday that the opening of new negotiating chapters with Turkey and the adoption of direct trade regulations with the Turkish Cypriots would be among the priorities during Germany's six months at the EU helm. Speaking at a press conference at the EU Council in Brussels, Steinmeier said Germany would exert efforts for the approval of EU-proposed trade regulations aimed at easing the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Turkish Daily News/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS… [10] BAHCELI'S MESSAGESBY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's remarks at a press conference. A summary of his column is as follows: "Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli paints a picture of a leader who doesn't like press coverage very much. This comes from his personality, way of practicing politics and relations between the MHP and the media. Bahceli now makes his critical remarks about important developments during annual press conferences at a breakfast. During this year's meeting, Bahceli sat at a table with a group of journalists at the Sheraton Hotel. At the other tables, there were other journalists, and one MHP general administration board member sat next to each reporter. There were also other columnists and political reporters listening to Bahceli's messages carefully. The hall was decorated with Turkish flags, MHP flags with three crescents, posters of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, former MHP leader Abdullah Turkes and Bahceli. The meeting's timing was important for three reasons. The MHP has just completed its general congress, general administration board elections were held, and 2007, a year of elections, is about to begin. During the meeting, Bahceli chose to voice his views by taking reporters' questions. The first asked if early elections would be held and if deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would defect to the MHP. Bahceli took 23 minutes to answer this question. In sum, he said that early elections should be held before next May's presidential election and a new Parliament should elect the next president. Bahceli again gave the message that democracy is the solution. Bahceli said that if early elections aren't held and the AKP tries to make its own candidate the president, the threat of an interim regime might emerge. After reporters sought to clarify his stance, he said, ‘If the AKP wins again as a result of early elections, then nobody could object to the president that it elects, because it would reflect the nation's will.' Bahceli also voice disapproval for previous coups in certain countries which lack a democratic tradition. As a solution, he stressed democracy. He called on wise men, former presidents and senior statesmen to do their duty. Bahceli also said that secularism was our republic's cornerstone. He also denied claims the MHP would found a coalition with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and said that nobody has the right to present the AKP as something more than it is. As for why Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shouldn't become president, Bahceli brought up certain corruption claims about Erdogan. I think Bahceli should meet with the press more often." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |