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Sunday, 17 November 2024
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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-19Turkish 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 morning19.11.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] GREEK, TURKISH PMS OPEN TAPS ON EUROPE'S FIRST SUPPLY OF CASPIAN GASThe Turkey-Greece Natural Gas Pipeline, enabling Caspian natural gas to reach Europe for the first time, was officially opened yesterday with a ceremony at the Ipsala Customs Area. In attendance were Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, Greek Development Minister Christos Folias, Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri and US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. The pipeline is a landmark, as it is the first concrete step for transferring natural gas from the resource-rich countries east of Turkey to Europe. Turkey has a comprehensive energy vision, Erdogan told the ceremony. “Within this vision, we are working to strengthen Turkey’s position as a transit country. The foundations for this project were laid on July 3, 2005 and it was completed in short order. Thanks to it, natural gas resources in the Middle East and North Africa will be transported to Europe via Turkey and Greece.” He added, "Turkey aims to become a transit country linking East and West as well as North and South. Now the Silk Road will become an energy route linking East and West, through Turkey. There has been great cooperation between Turkey and Greece, and this has also boosted prosperity and stability in the region.” Also speaking at the ceremony, Karamanlis called the pipeline a huge step promoting both cooperation between the two countries and stability in the region. Expressing Athens’ support for Ankara's EU membership bid, Karamanlis added that as long as their countries continue to cooperate, the Turkish and Greek peoples can be optimistic about the future. /Aksam-Sabah/[02] EU OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS PKK ISSUETop officials from European Union member states will gather in Brussels today to discuss the PKK issue and a possible Turkish possible military incursion into northern Iraq. During the two-day General Affairs Council meeting, member state foreign, interior and defense ministers are expected to urge the Iraqi and Kurdish regional administrations to prevent violations of the Turkish-Iraqi border and to take necessary measures against the terrorist PKK. In related news, a Turkey-EU troika meeting will be held tomorrow in Brussels. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will represent Turkey at the meeting. EU Term President Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amado and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will also attend the gathering. /Star/[03] ATALAY HOLDS TALKS WITH REGIONAL OFFICIALS IN DIYARBAKIRInterior Minister Besir Atalay yesterday held a meeting with governors, police chiefs and gendarmerie commanders from 11 southeastern provinces. During the three-hour meeting at the Diyarbakir Governor's Office, they discussed the region’s need for investments and services and the problems it faces. “We will not sacrifice democracy to terrorism,” Atalay said. "We are doing our best to promote individual freedom, and we will continue to do so." /Milliyet/[04] BAYKAL ADVOCATES MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQMain opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Turkey should carry out a cross-border military operation into northern Iraq. Appearing on TV, Baykal said not taking this action would harm Turkey’s dignity. Stressing that Ankara should convince the Iraqis to expel the terrorist PKK from northern Iraq, Baykal said that everybody favors peaceful diplomatic means, but if they fail to get results, a military incursion should be taken. /Cumhuriyet/[05] IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS: “IF NO CIVILIANS ARE HARMED, WE WON’T INTERFERE WITH CROSS-BORDER OP”Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani yesterday met with local political leaders who recently visited Ankara to discuss a possible Turkish cross- border operation. A statement released after the meeting said that as long as no civilians are harmed, Iraqi Kurdish leaders will not interfere with such an operation. “After visiting Ankara, we don’t believe Turkey wants to launch a large operation,” said Kurdistan Islamic Union Secretary General Salaheddine Bahaaeddin Mohammed. /Star/[06] DTP HOLDS RALLY IN BATMANThe Democratic Society Party (DTP) yesterday held a “Peace, Democracy, and Freedom” rally in the southeastern city of Batman. Former Democratic Labor Party (DEP) Deputy Leyla Zana also attended the gathering. Security forces detained a number of demonstrators who chanted slogans in support of convicted terrorist PKK head Abdullah Ocalan. In addition, police clashed with hundreds of supporters of the terrorist PKK in the eastern Anatolian city of Van over the weekend. /Turkiye/[07] IRAN: “WASHINGTON IS AIDING THE PKK”US occupation forces in the region are responsible for the security problems in northern Iraq besetting Turkey and Iran, alleged Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Huseyni yesterday. Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference, Huseyni said that they have intelligence that occupation forces in Iraq support the terrorist PKK through providing both weapons and training. He added that regional cooperation could stop the terrorist PKK’s attacks in the region. /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [08] CLOSING A PARTY, OR GETTING IT CLOSEDBY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on prospect of the closure of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). A summary of her column is as follows: “Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a clear stance on the possible closure of the Democratic Society Party (DTP). He said the government’s duty is to protect Turkey’s democratic foundations. This remark shows that Erdogan is against such a closure. In principle, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is against closing political parties. It has experience with this. As the government’s task is to protect democracy, it’s also responsible for improving and expanding it. But if a party is determined to get itself closed down, things will get harder for the government. Speeches made by DTP leaders at its rally in Van over the weekend show how it sees politics as getting help from tension-raising tactics. This is what makes recent developments interesting. The government, some of the opposition and the media are arguing against a DTP closure, but the DTP itself wants to be closed. This threatens recent moves by Erdogan. Maybe his call [for Kurds] to lay down their weapons and enter politics doesn’t reflect just his views. It seems this is also his party’s stance. I wonder how sincere or determined the government is about this. In principle, making political room for the Kurds is the best choice to counter terrorism, but only if there’s follow- through. If there is none, this will bolster those who believe there is no political solution. So how should this opportunity be handled? Probably the first thing to do is take immediate steps to foster the atmosphere of freedom of thought and expression. When the DTP opens its mouth, this triggers a mob lynch impulse among some. So the call for a political solution would be meaningless, wouldn’t it? When soldiers in Diyarbakir march while chanting about a ‘single language, ’ wouldn’t an invitation to politics be meaningless? This invitation shouldn’t remain empty words. At this point, the DTP’s deputies in Parliament have certain duties. The government should take this opportunity into consideration and work to improve the atmosphere of dialogue.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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