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Turkish Press Review, 07-09-21
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
21.09.2007
CONTENTS
[01] GUL VISITS CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT
[02] GUL ISSUES MESSAGE MARKING INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY
[03] ERDOGAN FLIES TO THE US TO ATTEND UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
[04] ERDOGAN: “ISLAM PROMOTES PEACE”
[05] ADDRESSING TOP CHP COMMITTEE, BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT’S DRAFT CONSTITUTION
[06] UNIVERSITY RECTORS: “IT’S OUR DUTY TO WARN THE NATION OF POSSIBLE THREATS TO ITS FUTURE”
[07] CHP DISSIDENT SARIGUL AGAIN FACES POSSIBLE EXPULSION
[08] ELECTRICITY PRICES COULD RISE SOME 15 PCT
[09] HABUR BORDER GATE TO BE REOPENED
[10] NORTH
[01] GUL VISITS CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT
President Abdullah Gul yesterday visited Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar
Buyukanit, who recently congratulated him on his new post. At General Staff
headquarters, Gul was received by Buyukanit, Deputy Chief of General Staff
Gen. Ergun Saygun, and Secretary-General Gen. Salih Zeki Colak. Later, Gul
received Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their ordinary weekly
meeting, which was closed to the press. /Milliyet/
[02] GUL ISSUES MESSAGE MARKING INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY
President Abdullah Gul yesterday issued a message marking Sept. 21,
International Peace Day. Stressing that terrorism is a crime against
humanity which violates basic human rights, as well as the right to life,
Gul said that it can in no way be justified. Stating that terrorism takes
aims at democracy, economic and social development, Gul stressed the
importance of international cooperation against terrorism. /Hurriyet/
[03] ERDOGAN FLIES TO THE US TO ATTEND UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday flew to the US to attend a
meeting of the UN General Assembly, which is due to begin on Monday.
Erdogan is also expected to hold several contacts in the country. Speaking
at a press conference before leaving, Erdogan said that during his stay in
the US he would meet with 25 heads of state or government and on next
Friday address the General Assembly. “I will seek support for Turkey to
be a temporary member of the UN Security Council,” he added. Asked if US
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, who visited
Turkey this week, had asked it to cancel its natural gas agreement with
Iran, Erdogan said Burns had not. /Star/
[04] ERDOGAN: “ISLAM PROMOTES PEACE”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hosted an iftar dinner,
the fast-breaking meal for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, for a group of
foreign diplomats serving in Ankara. Addressing the ambassadors, Erdogan
said that Islam is a religion which encourages peace. “Islam cannot be
blamed for the wrongdoing of some,” said Erdogan. “Our goal is to
create a regional and international atmosphere that will ensure stable and
humanitarian development in peace and prosperity.” He added that his
government was determined to take all necessary steps to make Turkey a more
modern country. /The New Anatolian/
[05] ADDRESSING TOP CHP COMMITTEE, BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT’S DRAFT
CONSTITUTION
Speaking at his party’s Central Executive Board (MYK) yesterday, main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized
the government’s draft constitution, saying that its proposed changes
threaten Turkey’s unitary structure. Baykal stressed that although the
government says it wants to produce a civilian constitution, it is taking
no steps to ensure an independent judiciary. He added that the CHP would
later discuss the issue with non-governmental organizations and carry out
its duty effectively and responsibly. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] UNIVERSITY RECTORS: “IT’S OUR DUTY TO WARN THE NATION OF POSSIBLE
THREATS TO ITS FUTURE”
Rectors of several universities yesterday rebuffed Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s statement telling them to “mind their own business”
over efforts to draw up a new constitution, saying that it was their basic
mission to enlighten the nation and warn it of elements which could
threaten its future. Middle East Technical University (METU) Rector Ural
Akbulut said that they had spoken out on vital issues directly related to
their institutions. “We didn’t do anything unrelated to our mission,”
he added. Akdeniz University Rector Mustafa Akaydin said that it was
natural for rectors to comment on the draft constitution, which has topped
the news in recent weeks. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] CHP DISSIDENT SARIGUL AGAIN FACES POSSIBLE EXPULSION
The administration of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)
yesterday decided the popular mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district must
again face the party’s disciplinary board. Over two years ago, Mayor
Mustafa Sarigul was dismissed from the CHP over alleged violations of party
rules, but later rejoined it by court order. The disciplinary board is
expected to dismiss Sarigul from the party, and Sarigul is expected to once
again contest the decision. During the dismissal process, Sarigul, an
outspoken opponent of party leader Deniz Baykal and his administration,
cannot be a delegate or candidate for party leadership at a possible party
convention. /Hurriyet/
[08] ELECTRICITY PRICES COULD RISE SOME 15 PCT
Following Wednesday’s energy summit, a group of bureaucrats will meet
today to determine how much electricity prices will rise. The Cabinet will
then take up the group’s proposal and make the final decision. Officials
from Turkey’s Electricity Distribution Corporation (TEDAS) state that
they expect a price hike of some 14-15% in order to avoid a deficit next
year. /Turkiye/
[09] HABUR BORDER GATE TO BE REOPENED
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that the Habur border gate
between Turkey and Iraq, recently closed for extensive renovation, will
soon reopen. Speaking to reporters in Mersin, Tuzmen said the modernization
of the gate is almost completed, adding that trade between Turkey and Iraq
will continue without any interruption. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
BY ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)
Columnist Erdal Safak comments on Ankara’s stance on the Cyprus issue. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“I don’t know if it was inspired by the example of Czechoslovakia or
encouraged by Kosovo, but Ankara’s policy on the Cyprus issue is clearly
changing. The first clues or hints of this came during President Abdullah
Gul’s recent visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Speaking to the TRNC Parliament, Gul listed the sine qua non parameters of
a solution to the Cyprus issue, saying that there are two separate nations,
two separate democracies, two separate religions and two separate states on
Cyprus and that a solution is possible only in light of these. My Turkish
Cypriot colleagues say that Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, who visited
the island ahead of Gul, said that a solution to the Cyprus issue should be
based on the reality of two nations, two democracies and two states. Can
this be a coincidence? A solution to the Cyprus issue has always been
dependent on a federation based on two parts and two nations. Former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan also proposed a partnership based on a single
federal state, two nations, two equal founding states and unitary
citizenship. Turkey approved and supported this formula for a new
‘Federal Republic of Cyprus’ based on this status. But the new
parameters mentioned first by Toptan and then Gul change the previous
status of the island. The concept of ‘people,’ instead of ‘nation,’
is being mentioned, and ‘two separate states’ instead of
‘federation.’ Gul also brought a completely different dimension to the
issue by airing the concept of two separate religions instead of unitary
citizenship. Only one thing can be concluded from these new parameters: a
solution based on a federation has been abandoned and is no longer valid.
So how did this happen? Although nobody says so, this may be in line with a
model of a confederation. What will happen if this proves unachievable? I
think then it would be possible firstly to separate and then become united
within the European Union. Obviously, certain sentiments heard more and
more on the island had an impact on Ankara’s change in stance. For
example, Greek Cypriot Dimitris Hristofyas, leader of the communist AKEL
party, said that there was a tendency towards division. Meanwhile, Greek
Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis stated that there was no solution on the
horizon and that accepting the two-state formula was the best answer now.
In addition, Greek Cypriot parliamentarian Serge Perdikis said that the
island was moving towards permanent division. Journalist Hasan Hasturer
once wrote that the two nations have even lost their desire for good
neighborly relations and that not even 10% of Greek Cypriots favor a
solution based on equality. He also wrote that after the border gates were
opened a few years ago, the two nations saw clearly how they are alienated
from each other, adding that although the gates are now open, the
psychological walls got higher. The US, the world’s only superpower,
should make sure this is seen as an international problem so efforts for a
solution can be initiated, just like in Kosovo. When I was about to finish
this article, the Devil whispered in my ear, ‘Kosovo, or northern
Iraq?’ Even former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has started to
favor splitting Iraq into three. Please consider the Devil’s warning.”
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