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Turkish Press Review, 07-02-19
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
19.02.2007
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: "OUR GOVT IS DEVELOPING ALL OF TURKEY 'S PROVINCES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION"
[02] FM GUL: "THE GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED"
[03] OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL IHSANOGLU MEETS WITH TALAT
[04] BAYKAL: "ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH NORTHERN IRAQ MEANS ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PKK"
[05] TURKISH-ORIGIN EUROPEAN LAWMAKERS INVITED FOR VISIT
[06] MERKEL: "CLOSE INVOLVEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU BENEFITS EVERYONE"
[07] BABACAN BRIEFS AKP ON TURKEY 'S EU PROCESS
[08] CANKAYA, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY
[01] ERDOGAN: "OUR GOVT IS DEVELOPING ALL OF TURKEY 'S PROVINCES WITHOUT
DISCRIMINATION"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) government has been making efforts to further
develop all of Turkey 's provinces without any discrimination. Visiting
Erzincan over the weekend to attend ceremonies marking the city's 89th
anniversary of salvation, Erdogan spoke to assembled crowds. Pointing to
the KOYDES rural development project, the premier said that it was one of
Turkey 's most important projects, adding that by the end of this year, no
villages in the country will lack water or electricity. Furthermore, he
said that Erzincan has become an attractive province for investors.
"Industrial investments mean development, employment, peace and prosperity,
" said Erdogan. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival to Istanbul ,
Erdogan said that for the now his government is determined to hold general
elections in November, as scheduled previously. But the premier added that
following developments in the months to come, including the May
presidential election, a new evaluation might be possible. Meanwhile, State
Minister and Turkey 's chief negotiator for European Union talks Ali
Babacan last week reportedly told EU officials that the government was
planning to hold general elections in September, three months early.
/Turkiye-Sabah/
[02] FM GUL: "THE GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD AS SCHEDULED"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Turkey after a visit to
Saudi Arabia . Holding a press conference at Ankara 's Esenboga Airport
after his arrival, Gul spoke about news reports saying that Ali Babacan,
Turkey 's chief European Union negotiator, had told EU officials that
general elections would be moved forward one or two months, saying, "This
is out of the question. Babacan told them there's stability in Turkey and
the timetable is working. The elections will be held as scheduled. No one
should doubt this." Commenting on whether Ankara officials would meet with
Kurdish administration officials in northern Iraq , Gul said that sowing a
crisis-like atmosphere in the wake of statements by various officials was
very wrong, adding, "All of these remarks complement each other. The
premier's and the chief of General Staff's remarks complement each other. I
said if you try to create arguments out of this, it would be very wrong. I
especially underlined this. So such an stance isn't comprehensible." /Star/
[03] OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL IHSANOGLU MEETS WITH TALAT
Organization of the Islamic Conference Secretary-General Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu yesterday met with Mehmet Ali Talat, the president of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Stating that last week's ninth session
of the council of the parliamentary union of the OIC member states held in
Malaysia had given full support to the TRNC, Ihsanoglu added, "Our goal is
acceptance of a political solution of the Cyprus problem in the
international community, our kin gaining all of their rights, and the
ending of the unfair isolation imposed on the TRNC." Ihsanoglu is a Turkish
scholar by profession. /Star/
[04] BAYKAL: "ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH NORTHERN IRAQ MEANS
ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PKK"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal over
the weekend spoke about debates over Turkish officials meeting with Kurdish
groups in northern Iraq , saying, "Politicians and soldiers can't have
different security policies." He added, "Northern Iraq is making efforts
not only to force itself but also the terrorist PKK on Turkey . Because
northern Iraq also owns the PKK. It gives all kinds of support to the PKK.
When you establish a relationship with northern Iraq , you also establish a
relationship with the PKK." Commenting on proposals to hold the general
elections ahead of November, when they are scheduled, Baykal said, "Let's
move the general elections forward to April instead of September. This way
the (May) presidential election would be held under a new Parliament." In
Turkey the president is elected by Parliament. /Hurriyet/
[05] TURKISH-ORIGIN EUROPEAN LAWMAKERS INVITED FOR VISIT
The Turkish government has invited Turkish-origin European lawmakers to
attend a special meeting in Ankara and Istanbul slated for this weekend.
Some 25 parliamentarians are expected to participate in the gathering
hosted by the Turkish-based European Union Communication group. The meeting
will create an atmosphere of dialogue between the Turkish government and
the European parliamentarians and help to solve the problems faced by Turks
in Europe as well as seek ways to help their integration and to improve
Turkey 's image in the West. On the other hand, the presence of deputies on
the guest list alleged to have close ties to the terrorist PKK is stirring
controversy. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] MERKEL: "CLOSE INVOLVEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU BENEFITS
EVERYONE"
Angela Merkel, the chancellor of European Union Term President Germany,
said over the weekend that close involvement between Turkey and the EU was
to everyone's benefit. Speaking to Greek daily Kathimerini, Merkel said
that the EU was implementing agreements which it had signed previously, and
that Turkey should also fulfill its obligations in order to make progress.
/Cumhuriyet/
[07] BABACAN BRIEFS AKP ON TURKEY 'S EU PROCESS
State Minister and Turkey 's chief negotiator for European Union talks Ali
Babacan said yesterday that the EU accession process had made important
contributions to Turkey 's development. Speaking at a ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) meeting in Ankara , Babacan said that the country
had made serious strides on the economy, social security, health, education
and democracy as well as other areas under AKP rule. Stressing that Turkey
should prepare itself for international competition, Babacan said that the
country can only be successful if it integrates with the world. In addition,
commenting on May's presidential election, AKP group Deputy Chair Salih
Kapusuz said that in April, his party would consult with the people and the
party members, and then in May an AKP member would become president.
/Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] CANKAYA, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY
Columnist Taha Akyol comments on differing stances by the Presidential
Palace, the government and the military in Turkey . A summary of his column
is as follows:
"There are different messages from the government, the military and the
Presidential Palace concerning the Iraq issue. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said that talks can be held with the northern Iraqi Kurdish
administration. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, in contrast,
asked what we could discuss with supporters of the terrorist PKK. Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul said that the military speaks with its weapons, but
before that, there are certain things which must be done by through
politics. The diplomats want Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to be invited
to visit Ankara , but President Ahmet Necdet Sezer rejects the idea. This
picture shows that there are disagreements at the top of the state and how
complex and complicated the Iraq issue is. Indeed, except for emotional
responses, Turkey has difficulty establishing a rational foreign policy and
applying it in a unitary way.
Following the 1991 Gulf War, Kurds migrated to Turkey in great numbers.
Operation Poised Hammer was meant to ensure their safe return. Thus Turkey
solved the problem of migration. Poised Hammer also helped Turkey 's
efforts against the PKK. At that time, Poised Hammer supplied intelligence
and the Turkish army carried out comprehensive cross-border operations.
Turkey gave red passports and weapons to Talabani Massoud and Barzani and
invited them to Ankara . Then they fought the PKK. Turkey made peace
between these two Kurdish leaders so this Talabani-Barzani front against
the PKK couldn't be damaged. Even if Turkey hadn't benefited from Poised
Hammer this way, the Iraqi Kurds established their own public bodies under
its umbrella and turned into an undeclared state. Governments which focused
on fighting the PKK in the ‘90s couldn't see today's autonomous Kurdish
‘state' as an ‘urgent and immediate' problem. After Turkey refused to allow
the deployment of US soldiers for the imminent Iraq invasion in March 2003,
the gave Kurds the opportunity to become US allies and made it difficult
for Turkey to carry out comprehensive, long-term operations in northern
Iraq. And today we're confused to see this complicated picture. The same
holds for the Kirkuk issue.
The worst thing is this confusion, not only due to hesitation, but also
because we seem to be a ‘risky' country, where it's uncertain who will do
what. Official discussions should be done only in official institutions,
for example, the National Security Council (MNK). Statements and authority
should come from politicians and diplomats, and politicians should speak
with the delicacy of ‘diplomatic language.' Yes, Kirkuk is a historical
Turkish city, but when we consider it with its villages, the number of
Kurds was greater than Turks, even in the numbers given by Ismet Pasha in
the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. The lonelier Turkey gets concerning the issues
of Kirkuk and northern Iraq , the weaker it gets too. The more world
partners it finds, the stronger it will be. As Gul said, the right policy
for Kirkuk is that it belongs to the Iraqi people. This is the only policy
which would be supported by the Iraqi people, the region and the world.
Ankara should work hard, be active politically and speak with one voice.
And everybody should read the history of Mosul from the Treaty of Lausanne
to 1926."
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