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Turkish Press Review, 07-01-26
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
26.01.2007
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN HOSTS EU AMBASSADORS, ATTENDS SPK MEETING
[02] ISMAIL CEM'S FUNERAL SET FOR TODAY
[03] GONUL VISITS THE US FOR F-35 PROJECT
[04] US AMBASSADOR WILSON: "TURKEY SHOULD COOPERATE WITH THE KURDISH ADMINISTRATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
[05] TURKEY TO SEND $20 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL AID TO LEBANON
[06] BABACAN: "RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE DOESN'T RISK INFLATION"
[07] YALCINDAG ELECTED TUSIAD'S FIRST WOMAN CHAIR
[08] ISMAIL CEM AND THE ROAD AHEAD
[01] ERDOGAN HOSTS EU AMBASSADORS, ATTENDS SPK MEETING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last night hosted a dinner for European
Union member states' ambassadors in Ankara. Speaking to the diplomats,
Erdogan said that he believed that during its term presidency, Germany,
like its predecessor Finland, would do its best to further develop
relations between Turkey and the bloc. The premier reiterated that Ankara
would continue its reforms to raise the standards of living of the Turkish
people, adding that the Cyprus issue should not be linked to the ongoing
process. Also addressing the gathering, German Ambassador Eckart Cuntz said
that Erdogan had come together for the first time with representatives of
the EU from 27 countries with a total population of 500 million, including
new members Bulgaria and Romania. He stated that although there were
certain outstanding issues, a "train crash" had been prevented and the
Union would be pleased to continue talks with Turkey. In addition,
yesterday Erdogan attended a meeting of the Capital Markets Board (SPK) in
Ankara. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan touted the achievements of his
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government during its rule. Stressing
that they would continue efforts to ensure ongoing progress and bring down
inflation, the premier said that the country had a stronger and healthier
economic structure than in previous years. /Turkiye/
[02] ISMAIL CEM'S FUNERAL SET FOR TODAY
Former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who died on Wednesday at the age of 67,
will be laid to rest today in Istanbul after a state ceremony. Parliament
Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposition
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and several state
ministers are expected to attend the funeral. Furthermore, former Greek
Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Deputy Foreign Minister Kassimis are
expected to represent Athens in bidding farewell to Cem, the architect of
Turkish-Greek rapprochement during the late 1990s. /Milliyet/
[03] GONUL VISITS THE US FOR F-35 PROJECT
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul arrived in Washington yesterday for talks with
US officials on an F-35 project and other matters. Gonul signed the F-35's
memorandum of understanding with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England.
He is expected to meet with his US counterpart Robert Gates today at the
Pentagon during a lunch. Turkey expects to obtain a work share worth more
than $5 billion for its local defense industry for the manufacture of the
US-led, next generation F-35 fighter aircraft, offsetting nearly half of
the program's planned $11 billion cost for Ankara. In addition, Turkey
plans to buy 100 F-35s over the next 15 to 20 years. /Turkiye/
[04] US AMBASSADOR WILSON: "TURKEY SHOULD COOPERATE WITH THE KURDISH
ADMINISTRATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
Speaking at a panel entitled "US and Turkey: Democratic Partners of 2007"
organized by the Eurasia Strategic Research Center (ASAM), US Ambassador to
Turkey Ross Wilson yesterday spoke on the US, Turkey and Iraq. "So what do
we do now?" he asked. "We believe that the US-Turkish alliance and Turkish-
Iraqi friendship and partnership are a means to address the [terrorist] PKK
problem collaboratively. We believe that successful work in this way would
not just relieve frustrations or set the PKK back a few years, but would
fundamentally end the problem, or at least its international aspects in the
region. This requires a combination of tough measures against PKK
terrorists; stopping the financial and other support that comes to the PKK
from its criminal networks in Europe; and cooperative actions by Turkey and
Iraq, including the Kurdistan regional government authorities in the north,
to better secure the border… We are listening to Turkey on this issue. We
agree Kirkuk is sensitive; many in Iraq think so, too. We also believe that
no outside power, including the United States, should dictate to the Iraqis
how to deal with their internal issues." /Hurriyet/
[05] TURKEY TO SEND $20 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL AID TO LEBANON
The Third International Donors Conference for the reconstruction of Lebanon
organized by France with 40 countries and 14 international organizations in
attendance was held in Paris yesterday. At the gathering, aid pledges for
Lebanon reached a total of $7.6 billion. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul,
representing Ankara at the conference, said that Turkey would extend $20
million in additional aid to Lebanon. Gul said that Ankara had previously
sent $30 million to Lebanon and that the new aid will be allocated for
Lebanon's social and economic development. Reiterating that Turkey attaches
importance to the stability, territorial integrity and independence of
Lebanon, Gul called for peaceful solutions in the country, saying that all
groups in Lebanon should steer clear of provocations. /Turkiye/
[06] BABACAN: "RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE DOESN'T RISK INFLATION"
Speaking to news channel CNBC-e in Davos, Switzerland, State Minister for
the Economy Ali Babacan said that raising the minimum wage has no effect on
inflation on the economy's demand side but could affect the supply side
since boosting wages would cost industrialists. Pointing to the experience
of past years, Babacan said, "You may remember that although we raised the
minimum wage 34 percent in 2005, inflation remained below the target. Last
year the minimum wage rose 8.5%, and inflation was 9.65%. Because of this,
we borrowed some 1.5 points of inflation from the previous year. So wage
increases for this year can be accepted as the inflation difference from
last year." He said that the Central Bank wouldn't want any hike in the
minimum wage, noting that it had to evaluate the subject from all sides. He
also emphasized that both the Central Bank and the government were
carefully following inflation developments. /Star/
[07] YALCINDAG ELECTED TUSIAD'S FIRST WOMAN CHAIR
At the 37th General Assembly of the Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) held in Istanbul yesterday, Arzuhan
Dogan Yalcindag was elected the new chair of the influential business
group. As the first woman to head the association since its foundation,
Yalcindag said that it was an honor to be chosen and that being the first
female chair adds to the responsibilities of the position. She stated that
TUSIAD has always been a pioneer in Turkey. Yalcindag also pointed to the
need for increased representation of women nationally for Turkey to rise to
a desired level. /The New Anatolian/
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] ISMAIL CEM AND THE ROAD AHEAD
Columnist Hikmet Bila comments on former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and
Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian origin, both recently
deceased. A summary of his column is as follows:
"How many politicians deserve such high praise? Have you noticed what
everybody's been saying after the passing of former Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem? Everybody said he was a gentlemanly politician. In President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer's words, ‘His versatile personality, conciliatory attitude and
democratic stance won the nation's appreciation and respect.' When the work
of the journalist, author, reader, broadcaster, photographer, and
administrator were fused with delicacy, love and respect, Cem was born. Cem
lived and died without compromising from these qualities. I believe that
the seed of courtesy and elegance planted by Cem will one day flower.
People are confused in the Turkey Cem left behind. The country of people
who want to develop is being pulled in all directions. Maybe you've seen on
nature TV shows how hyenas attack an injured lion. As he tries to fend off
an attack on his head, another hyena bites his tail. Then when he turns
around to ward this off, another one bites him on the stomach. When he
tries to claw one, another attacks his neck. And so it goes. Turkey has two
large tendencies, that is, getting along well with both the US and the
European Union. It has established its commerce, politics and strategy on
the basis of cooperation with these two powers for at least 60 years. Now
let's see where we've gotten to in these 60 years. The EU has suspended its
membership talks with Turkey and it wants Cyprus. The US supports the armed
or political terrorism targeting Turkey and puts sacks on Turkish soldiers'
heads [the July 2003 Sulaimaniyah incident], its allies of 60 years.
According to surveys, fewer than 50% of the Turkish people support the EU
and nine out of 10 Turks don't like the US. So what's interesting is that
relations built over six decades have lost ground over the last few years.
It's terrifying to even think how such a big change in such a short period
of time can change the fate of a country.
Let's not forget the funeral of Hrant Dink, a prominent Turkish journalist
of
Armenian descent. What was the meaning of tens of thousands of people
marching in unison to his funeral? Was it only the expression of the wish
to live on this territory in fellowship without any ethnic discrimination?
Why was the word ‘peace' stressed after Dink was killed? There was no war
between Turks and Armenians living in Turkey. Don't you think that that act
of coming together was the show of a deep instinct against larger fears?"
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