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Turkish Press Review, 07-11-26Turkish 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 morning26.11.2007CONTENTS
[01] GUL VISITS PARIS TO PUSH EXPO 2015 BIDPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday went to France to show his support for Turkey’s candidacy to host Expo 2015. Gul will attend a meeting today where Izmir and Milan, the two cities vying to host the gathering, will make presentations. Some see the right to host Expo 2015 as more important than the World Cup or even the Olympics. /Turkiye/[02] BABACAN BRIEFS AKP DEPUTIES ON POSSIBLE CROSS-BORDER OPForeign Minister Ali Babacan over the weekend briefed ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies about a possible cross-border operation into northern Iraq. Stating that the northern Iraqi administration has been persuaded to take Turkey’s side in the fight against terrorism, Babacan said, “They will take joint action with Turkey.” At the AKP’s party retreat in Kizilcahamam, Ankara, deputies asked Babacan whether the authorization for a cross-border operation would be used and when this would happen. Babacan stressed that intelligence-sharing with the US was going well. Stating that they are working in coordination with security forces on the timing of the operation, Babacan added that speaking now about its timing and scope would be premature. /Cumhuriyet/[03] BABACAN TO VISIT GREECE NEXT WEEKForeign Minister Ali Babacan is set to pay an official visit to Athens next week at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. “During the visit, the two foreign ministers will review Turkish-Greek relations. They will also exchange views on EU matters, including Turkey’s accession process,” the statement added. /Turkish Daily News/[04] CHARLES AND CAMILLA IN TURKEY THIS WEEKPrince of Wales Charles and his wife Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, yesterday arrived in Ankara. The couple is set to proceed to Konya and visit the Mevlana Rumi Museum. They will also visit the Mevlana Rumi Cultural Center, where they will see a display of whirling dervishes. Charles is expected to deliver a speech at the center. He will also go to the prehistoric settlement of Catalhoyuk and view excavations headed by British archeologist Ian Hodder. Then he will proceed to Ephesus to visit the legendary House of the Virgin Mary. Charles will also visit Istanbul. /Sabah/[05] LAGENDIJK: “THE EU WON’T CONDEMN A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION IF ITS GOALS ARE WELL DEFINED”Speaking to Turkey’s Kanal 7 television yesterday, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk said that EU will not condemn a cross-border operation into northern Iraq if its goals are well defined. Lagendijk also said that there has been a drastic change in the European attitude towards terrorism since 9_11 and the Madrid and London bombings. “Even ordinary people have come to understand that terrorism constitutes a threat to everyone,” he said. Touching on the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), he said he could not understand the wave of terrorist attacks in the wake of a host of reforms and the DPT winning seats in Parliament. /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [06] A NEW MODEL FOR ALEVIS?BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on Turkey’s Alevi and Sunnis. A summary of her column is as follows: “Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal recently said that Turkey’s Alevis have some important proposals and complaints but that government action on this was only window dressing. Baykal also called the model proposed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Reha Camuroglu inadequate. That may well be, but the CHP should put forth its own model on this issue. A solution can be produced through discussing different models. What’s strange is that certain Alevi institutions have accused Camuroglu of being a ‘traitor’ and objected to the state giving religious services for ‘Alevi Islam’ due to the fear of assimilation. Of course, there might be different views and models, and a result can be reached through negotiations. But turning this issue into a fight over a ‘religious community’ would be wrong. The accusation of betrayal shows a totalitarian mindset which can’t solve the problem but in fact makes solving it harder. Such harsh stances might even cause polarization among Alevis, and so we should avoid this. The model suggested by Camuroglu proposes that senior Alevi dervishes be classified are listed as permanent religious officials and that services to be institutionalized. You might find this contrary to secularism, but you can’t call it betrayal. There are even certain supporters of Islam who find the state Religious Affairs Directorate to be contrary to secularism. The issue shouldn’t be put in the straitjacket of betrayal versus loyalty. What’s more, a great many Alevis want the state to give religious services in Alevi Islam as well. Personally, Camuroglu wants Alevi Islamic services to be institutionalized outside the Religious Affairs Directorate. This issue is open for discussion. Why would such proposals be ‘betrayal’? They might be found to be faulty, and different models can be suggested. Anyway, a model will emerge after discussions. After its implementation begins, certain arrangements will be made in line with new needs. All institutionalizations happen this way. The accusation of betrayal is impossible to understand. When seeking a solution, everybody should watch their words. What’s the reason for this enmity and anger? It’s not bad that the AKP took the first steps on this. On the contrary, it’s quite good. We should also dispel the cold feelings between these two religious sects (Alevis and Sunnis). The language we use shouldn’t be argumentative, but conciliatory. The first condition for moving towards a solution is to be flexible in style and behavior. You can’t talk about freedom and tolerance while showing such a totalitarian stance on different proposals for solution. Neither Alevis nor Sunnis are single-minded. In our age particularly such sociological dynamics as urbanization, education and being middle class make all belief groups diverse. We shouldn’t use hurtful and divisive words, but unifying and bridging ones.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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