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Turkish Press Review, 03-12-09
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
09.12.2003
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER, ERDOGAN SPEAK AT 5TH INTERNATIONAL ATATURK CONGRESS
[02] SEZER APPOINTS HEAD OF HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD
[03] GUL: “WE’VE TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING REFORMS”
[04] CICEK: “EU MEMBERSHIP IS TURKEY’S MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT”
[05] FRATTINI: “TURKEY WILL GET ENCOURAGING MESSAGE AT EU SUMMIT”
[06] SYRIA VOWS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY IN FIGHTING TERRORISM
[07] PUTIN: “RUSSIA IS READY TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY IN FIGHTING TERRORISM”
[08] LIFE SENTENCES EXPECTED FOR NOV. 17 TERRORISTS
[09] CHIEF OF STAFF OZKOK VISITS KOSOVO
[10] DENKTAS: “TRNC ELECTIONS WILL MARK A TURNING POINT”
[11] YILMAZ FACES SUPREME COURT CORRUPTION PROBE
[12] ATHENS HOSTS REGIONAL ENERGY MEETING
[13] IMF DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ANKARA
[14] WORLD BANK POWER PROJECTS OFFICIAL DUE IN ANKARA
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[16] TRNC POLARIZATION BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] SEZER, ERDOGAN SPEAK AT 5TH INTERNATIONAL ATATURK CONGRESS
Speaking at the Fifth International Ataturk Congress yesterday, President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
had waged a struggle against opponents of change and modernism, adding that
the leader’s tolerant and peaceful nature had been respected by all. He
also stated that Ataturk had placed great importance on peace and that his
principles served as shining beacons for the nation. For his part, Erdogan
called the republic “a project of modernization and civilization” supported
by the three pillars of democracy, the rule of law, and secularism. “We can
solve our nation’s challenges by maintaining an atmosphere of freedom and
democracy,” added the premier. /Aksam/
[02] SEZER APPOINTS HEAD OF HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday appointed Professor Erdogan Tezic as
the new head of the Higher Education Board (YOK). Tezic is currently rector
of Isatnbul’s Galatasaray University and has also served as guest professor
at Paris’ Sorbonne University and the University of Rennes, also in France.
After his meeting with Sezer, Tezic said, “I met the president and have
accepted the duty he assigned me.” /Star/
[03] GUL: “WE’VE TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING REFORMS”
Speaking at a Prime Ministry meeting yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had taken
important steps to begin implementing recently passed European Union
reforms, adding that criticisms of the government over this issue were
unfair. Later Gul met with Hasan Onal, a Turkish engineer who was recently
freed after a month’s captivity in Afghanistan. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] CICEK: “EU MEMBERSHIP IS TURKEY’S MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT”
Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Justice Minister and government
spokesman Cemil Cicek said that Turkey’s European Union membership was the
nation’s most important project, adding that he believed Turkey would
contribute much to the EU. Also touching on the aftermath of last month’s
terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Cicek charged that the action of some
countries advising their citizens to avoid Turkey was tantamount to
supporting terrorism. /Aksam/
[05] FRATTINI: “TURKEY WILL GET ENCOURAGING MESSAGE AT EU SUMMIT”
An encouraging message will be given to Turkey at the European Union summit
later this month, said Term President Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco
Frattini at a press conference in Brussels yesterday. Frattini noted that
the agenda for the EU summit had been set, adding that “an encouraging
message” would be given to member candidates such as Turkey, Bulgaria and
Romania. /Sabah/
[06] SYRIA VOWS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY IN FIGHTING TERRORISM
During a meeting with the Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Group, Syrian
Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass said yesterday that his country was ready to
cooperate with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. After completing its
contacts in Syria, the Turkish-Syrian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group
delegation led by Yuksel Cavusoglu returned to Ankara. Cavusoglu visited
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and briefed him about the delegations’
meetings with Syrian officials. During the four-day visit, the delegations
met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Mohammed Naji
Otri, and Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass as well as the nation’s health,
foreign and trade ministers. Expressing his sympathy over the recent
terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Tlass vowed to cooperate with Turkey in the
fight against terrorism. Following the attacks, Syria handed over to Turkey
22 terror suspects. In related news, al-Assad is expected to visit Turkey
next month. /Turkiye/
[07] PUTIN: “RUSSIA IS READY TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY IN FIGHTING
TERRORISM”
Russia is ready to cooperate with Turkey in fighting terrorism, said
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. Putin condemned last month’s
terrorist attacks in Istanbul, adding that international cooperation was
needed to eliminate terrorism. “We will stand by Turkey,” he added.
/Milliyet/
[08] LIFE SENTENCES EXPECTED FOR NOV. 17 TERRORISTS
A Greek court announced yesterday its decision on convicted members of the
Nov. 17 terrorist organization. Sentences regarding the members are set to
be announced this week. Three of the suspects – Savas Ksiros, Dimitris
Kufodinas and Vasilis Corcatos – in addition to other attacks, were also
accused of attacks which took the life of Turkey’s Press Attache Cetin
Gorgu in Athens in 1991 and Turkish Embassy Undersecretary Haluk Sipahioglu
in Paris in 1994. Undersecretary Deniz Bolukbasi was also targeted in a
1991 Nov. 17 assasination attempt. Most of the suspects are expected to be
sentenced to be life in prison. _Cumhuriyet)
[09] CHIEF OF STAFF OZKOK VISITS KOSOVO
On his first stop in a tour of Balkan countries, Chief of General Staff
Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday visited the province of Kosovo. After meeting
with Gen. Holger Kammerhoff, the German commander of the region’s NATO-led
international peacekeeping force (KFOR), Ozkok visited the town of Prizren
where a Turkish battalion is deployed. Addressing a crowd, Ozkok stated
that Turkey’s support for Kosovo and its people have been steadfast. Ozkok
added that terrorism threatened all nations and should be fought
comprehensively. After completing his contacts in Kosovo, Ozkok proceeded
to Bosnia. As part of his tour, Ozkok is also expected to visit Albania.
/Turkiye/
[10] DENKTAS: “TRNC ELECTIONS WILL MARK A TURNING POINT”
Speaking at Istanbul University yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that TRNC general elections
scheduled for this Sunday would be a turning point, adding that he would
never forsake his struggle. Also speaking, Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Deputy Leader Sukru Sina Gurel said that Turkey shouldn’t forsake its
defense of Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] YILMAZ FACES SUPREME COURT CORRUPTION PROBE
The process of the Supreme Court investigating six former ministers,
including former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, is due to begin today. The
ministers are to be investigated over allegations of corruption in bids for
energy concerns and Turkbank and in the management of Halk Bank. /Hurriyet/
[12] ATHENS HOSTS REGIONAL ENERGY MEETING
Athens yesterday began hosting a Southern Europe Regional Energy Market
(SEEREM) meeting. During the gathering, chaired by Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, the issues of setting up a power and
natural gas market and integrating it with the European Union were
discussed. In addition to Turkey, also attending the gathering were Albania,
Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia,
Romania, Serbia-Montenegro and Greece. Following talks with Greek
Development Minister Akis Cohacopulos, Guler is set to return to Turkey
today. /Turkiye/
[13] IMF DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ANKARA
An International Monetary Fund delegation arrived yesterday in Ankara to
complete meetings regarding the sixth review of Turkey’s economic program.
During the meetings, reforms of social security institutions and the tax
system as well as banking regulations are set to be discussed. Following
the implementation of reforms, the IMF is expected to release a $500
million loan tranche. Meanwhile, the IMF delegation yesterday met with
State Minister Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan./Turkiye/
[14] WORLD BANK POWER PROJECTS OFFICIAL DUE IN ANKARA
James Moose, the World Bank coordinator for Turkish power projects, is
scheduled to visit Ankara next week to meet with officials in public
institutions. During their talks, Moose is expected to discuss developments
in electricity sector reform programs and their future progress. /Turkiye/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[16] TRNC POLARIZATION BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila comments on polarization in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) before the upcoming elections. A summary of his
column is as follows:
“Polarization in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has reached
a boiling point in the countdown to this weekend’s elections. The campaigns
are revolving around Annan’s plan for the island, and this lies behind the
polarization. For example, if the parties supporting TRNC President Rauf
Denktas win, the doors will be closed completely but if Republican Turkish
Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat wins, Annan’s plan will be signed.
Actually, this isn’t the whole truth. If the current TRNC coalition
partners can win enough seats to form another government, Denktas won’t
burn his bridges with the United Nations, the European Union and the Greek
Cypriot administration. Denktas will request proximity talks following the
elections and propose a plan to be prepared with Ankara, using Annan’s plan
as a starting point. The basis of this plan will consist of two states, two
sectors, two nations and two democracies, and an umbrella state to be
founded on this basis.
Another necessary condition in Denktas’s plan will be Turkey as guarantor.
It would be hard for the current opposition to oppose this framework.
Likewise, if Talat forms a government, he won’t sign onto Annan’s plan.
It’s impossible for Talat to ignore the Cyprus problem’s national character
and accept the requests of the EU and Greek Cypriot administration. Even if
there is such an atmosphere in the elections, neither Talat nor any other
politician can follow a policy of protecting not Ankara, but Athens and
Brussels without guaranteeing the Turkish Cypriots’ security. A policy
depicting the Greek Cypriot administration as peacemakers favoring just
resolution but Turkey and the TRNC as blameworthy obstructionists will go
nowhere. Whoever wins the elections, we shouldn’t forget that Cyprus is a
national problem and that polarization here would be a grave mistake.”
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