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Turkish Press Review, 07-07-24Turkish 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 morning24.07.2007CONTENTS
[01] SIGNALING CONCILIATION, ERDOGAN HANDS IN RESIGNATION TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW AKP ADMINISTRATIONFollowing his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) resounding victory in Sunday’s general elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip yesterday presented the resignation of the current government to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The Cabinet will stay in office till the new government is established. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan gave signals of conciliation, saying that the harsh words of the just-concluded campaign should be left behind. “I believe that Turkey will grow stronger after these elections,” he said. “Under the new government, our nation will see the country improve. Together we’ll take necessary steps to benefit our nation and democracy.” Asked if Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had spoken to him about the forthcoming presidential election, Erdogan said that Gul’s views on the issue carry great importance for him. A crisis over Gul’s aborted presidential candidacy in May triggered Sunday’s early elections. In related news, Erdogan yesterday made separate telephone calls to his main election rivals: main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, just-resigned Democrat Party (DP) leader Mehmet Agar, and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. Erdogan told Baykal that they should meet to talk about what steps are needed on certain issues, including the presidential election, and Baykal agreed. /Turkiye-Sabah/[02] WORLD LEADERS CONGRATULATE ERDOGAN ON ELECTION VICTORYGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying, “The outcome of this election is also your personal achievement. I wish you success in the coming days full of responsibility.” Also following Sunday’s election victory for the government, European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn issued a statement urging Turkey to open its harbors and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels. Saying that this problem has slowed down Turkey’s EU negotiations, Rehn added that it was very important for the new government to reinvigorate economic and legal reforms. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday telephoned Erdogan to congratulate him. Alan Makovsky, a senior staff member of the US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday described the victory of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a “tsunami.” Other world leaders yesterday also telephoned Erdogan to congratulate him on his victory, including Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Saudi King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. /Hurriyet/[03] BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL FULFILL ITS DUTY OF OPPOSITION”In a statement on Sunday’s elections, where the ruling party’s victory left the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) a distant third, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday attributed the victory to factors outside Parliament. He claimed that while recent months saw the ruling Justice and Development Party losing ground, extra-parliamentary factors had led the AKP to attract support which it didn’t deserve. The statement further stressed that the nation had given the MHP the duty of opposition and that his party would do its utmost to fulfill it. In related news, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer issued a statement saying that he respected the election outcome and expressed hope that the AKP would try to solve the nation’s most pressing problems such as unemployment, poverty, and terrorism. /Sabah-Turkiye/[04] PACE DELEGATION: “TURKEY HELD MODEL GENERAL ELECTIONS”Luc Van den Brande, Belgian parliamentarian and head of a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) delegation which observed Sunday’s general elections, yesterday said that Turkey’s Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) as well as provincial and local election boards had fulfilled their duties honestly and effectively. At a press conference after the 36-member delegation finished its work, it said that Turkey has a democratic election tradition and that high voter turnout showed the people’s confidence in the democratic process. /Star/[05] BUSINESS FIGURES SEE OPPORTUNITY IN AKP VICTORYTop Turkish business figures yesterday hailed the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) historic second-term election victory. Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag issued a statement saying that the peaceful atmosphere during the elections showed the success of democracy. Yalcindag further stressed that in the months and years to come, Parliament should work to promote reconciliation within the country. In addition, Sabanci Holding Chairwoman Guler Sabanci said that a second AKP single-party government presented a great opportunity. /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [06] THE ELECTION OUTCOMEBY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the outcome of Sunday’s general elections. A summary of his column is as follows: “Post-election commentaries aren’t well liked. Just like sports writers lambaste the losing team after football matches, political commentators do nearly the same after the results of elections are announced. These same people generously praise the winning political party. Let me tell you, there’s nothing to be ashamed of it, because the situation requires it. It’s clear that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and even Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a greater than expected victory in these elections. Now, just like in mature democracies, our duty is to leave the ruling party, which is entitled to govern the country for the next four or five years, alone, as long as it doesn’t tamper with the basic values of the country and regime. However, leaving the ruling party alone doesn’t mean not criticizing it or ignoring its mistakes, but avoiding acting destructively or obstructively towards it. So the messages Erdogan made yesterday at AKP headquarters as the winning party’s leader are very encouraging, because Erdogan said that there are common values and goals which unite us all. He added that he would carry the republic, which is a democratic, secular state under the rule of law, to a higher level and never make concessions from the nation’s values or the republic’s fundamental characteristics. Thus, he made a commitment. But at this point let me remind you of something. We still remember very similar remarks Erdogan made after his first victory back in November 2002. In addition, it’s also clear that after capturing all the votes of the True Path Party (DYP) and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) back in 2002 and becoming the center of the right in Turkey, this weekend the AKP strengthened its position. Through its messages and remarks, it signaled that it has no intention to move from the center right to the far right. Over the coming months we’ll see if I’m wrong or not. But if I’m not, we can say beforehand that this will be an encouraging situation for our republic’s basic values. Since 1950 our political life has showed that it’s not easy to oust a party which is settled on the center right. But this chance was missed when Turgut Ozal left ANAVATAN and then Suleyman Demirel left the DYP to become president. As long as the AKP retains its position as the ‘party of the masses’ which it strengthened during these elections, ANAVATAN and Democrat Party members will face tough times.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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