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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-13Turkish 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 morning13.11.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] ISRAEL’S PERES MEETS WITH GULIsraeli President Shimon Peres arrived on Sunday in Ankara amid tight security for a three-day visit, at the invitation of President Abdullah Gul. At a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace, Peres urged Turkey to mediate for the return of two Israeli soldiers abducted last year by Hezbollah. “We will do whatever we can,” said Gul. “But if you urge Turkey to be a mediator, other countries shouldn’t interfere in the process.” Peres offered Turkey cooperation in the fight against terrorism, adding that terrorists hiding in mountainous areas cannot be defeated by F- 16 fighter jets. Peres also stressed the need for using new technology to fight terrorism, particularly nanotechnology. Saying that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to visit Ankara in January, Peres expressed his wish to strengthen strategic relations between Turkey and Israel in combating terrorism. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel is hoping to sell the Arrow ballistic missile defense system and an Ofek spy satellite to Turkey. The two leaders also discussed a US House committee’s passage last month of a resolution on the Armenian allegations. Gul asked Israel to press the US Jewish lobby to oppose such moves and thanked Peres for Israel's previous help regarding the matter. "For the first time in history, a majority-Muslim country has emerged as a mediator accepted by all parties,” said Peres. “Turkey can create a positive atmosphere ahead of the Mideast peace summit to be held (later this month) in Annapolis (the US). Such a contribution is very important for us, due to the respect Arabs and Muslims have for Turkey." The two leaders also highlighted the importance of developing ties in the areas of education and culture. Gul urged Peres to open a cultural or economic center and a representative office in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and start ferry service between the TRNC and the port city of Haifa. Peres also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Aksam/[02] PALESTINE’S ABBAS, ISRAEL’S PERES TO ADDRESS PARLIAMENTPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Ankara yesterday as the official guest of President Abdullah Gul. Abbas met with Gul and is set to participate in the seventh meeting of the Ankara Forum in Ankara today with the participation of Gul and visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres. Gul said he believed they could make important decisions that will promote regional stability and relations between Israel and Palestine. Businessmen from the three countries will sign a framework agreement to establish an industrial zone in the West Bank, with the three leaders attending the signing as observers. Goods produced in this zone will be sold customs free to the EU and US and could provide jobs for thousands of Palestinians. In a historic first, Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Abbas are also set to separately address Parliament. /Aksam-Turkiye/[03] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY IS A LEADING COUNTRY FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN ITS REGION”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that his government’s goal is to further Turkey’s development. Opening the Sixth International Ataturk Congress in Ankara, Erdogan said that the Turkish Republic has the world’s 17th-largest economy and is continuing to develop its democracy and understanding of state under the rule of law in all areas. Stressing that Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, is a symbol of independence and freedom worldwide, the premier said that the country will move forward in line with Ataturk’s principles. Also addressing the gathering, State Minister Mehmet Aydin said that Ataturk’s revolutions brought sweeping changes to both individuals and communal life. /Turkiye/[04] PM ERDOGAN TO VISIT CZECH REPUBLIC THIS WEEKPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Czech Republic starting Thursday. During his two-day stay, Erdogan is expected to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues with top Czech officials. He is also set to address a meeting of Turkish and Czech businessmen. /Turkiye/[05] CICEK: “BABACAN WILL BRIEF THE OPPOSITION ON THE PM’S WASHINGTON VISIT”Government spokesman and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Foreign Minister Ali Babacan would give briefings to opposition parties on Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Washington. Speaking to reporters following a six-hour Cabinet meeting, Cicek said the ministers had discussed in detail Erdogan’s US visit and the terrorism issue. Stressing that the premier had made clear to the US president Turkey’s determination to fight PKK terrorists, Cicek said that Babacan, who accompanied Erdogan, would soon brief opposition parties in Parliament on the visit. “The Turkish public should be sure that the government and all related institutions are working in unison and determination against the terrorist PKK,” added Cicek. /Cumhuriyet/[06] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH GEN. SAYGUNDeputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, who accompanied Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his recent US visit, came to the Prime Ministry yesterday following the Cabinet meeting to meet with Erdogan. Saygun reportedly submitted to the premier a detailed study prepared by the General Staff on a possible military incursion into northern Iraq. /Sabah/[07] ANNAN ATTENDS QUALITY CONGRESS IN ANKARAFormer United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday arrived in Ankara to attend the 16th Quality Congress set to begin today. President Abdullah Gul hosted a luncheon in Annan’s honor. The former secretary- general is expected to deliver a speech to the congress. /Turkiye/[08] AZERBAIJAN INVITES TRNC’S TALAT TO ATTEND TURKIC CONGRESSAzerbaijan, which once took an important step towards ending the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) through a direct flight, yesterday invited TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat to Baku to attend this weekend’s 11th Turkic State and Community Friendship, Fraternity and Cooperation General Assembly. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [09] IF THE MIDEAST EXPLODESBY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)Columnist Hasan Cemal comments on the Middle East issue and Turkey’s role in it. A summary of his column is as follows: “Peace and stability in the Middle East are vital for our region, the world and of course our country. A Mideast lacking peace and stability means trouble for everybody. So we shouldn’t let it explode. All countries should help this process and make serious efforts to establish peace and stability. Turkey is doing this. It has been playing an active role, particularly recently, so the people of the region can enjoy peace and stability. The recent heavy diplomatic traffic and activity in Ankara on the Middle East shows how important regional peace and stability is for Turkey. But there’s also another point. Turkey is becoming a regional power with rising importance for peace and stability in the Middle East. In this respect, obviously, the beginning of President Abdullah Gul’s term will help our foreign policy. Istanbul hosted a broad-based conference about Iraq, the US secretary of state and Iranian foreign minister visited Ankara simultaneously, the Israeli and Palestinian presidents are both in Ankara this week, following visits of the Syrian president and Saudi king to Turkey, and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited all the countries in the region; all this diplomatic activity shows Turkey’s rising importance in the Middle East, where peace and balances are always on the knife’s edge. But establishing peace and stability in the Middle East is no easy task. Towards this end the Palestinian issue, which is seen as the root of all the region’s problems, must be resolved, and the Palestinians should share Jerusalem and have an independent state next to Israel. Unless the Palestinian issue is resolved, peace and stability in the Middle East, the Arab world and even the Islamic world will remain just a dream. The Palestinian issue is feeding Islamic radicalism, terrorism and violence in the name of Islam in Iraq and Afghanistan and creates legitimacy for authoritarian regimes particularly in the Arab world. In addition, it strengthens Iran’s hand. The Palestinian issue also creates pretexts which spread Tehran’s influence both in Palestine and Lebanon. So if we don’t want the Mideast to explode, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process must first be revived, and successful results are needed from the Annapolis summit in the US at the end of this month. Obviously, the US shouldn’t subject the region to another Iraq by, for example, attacking Iran. This is another precondition for the Mideast not exploding. Iran’s not developing nuclear weapons, Syria’s not intervening in Lebanon’s presidential elections this month and putting Iran at a distance; all these issues show how complex the issue of regional peace and stability is. Finally, if Turkey wants to play a more active role for regional peace and stability, it should develop a new strategy on the Kurdish issue and the violence of the terrorist PKK. At the highest level of this new strategy, this should include marginalization of the PKK and opening the doors to dialogue with northern Iraq. In other words, Turkey, which has started to wield influence for peace and stability in the Middle East, must prevent Iraqi and regional policies from being used by the terrorist PKK or those behind it.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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