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Turkish Press Review, 05-02-17

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

<LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

17.02.2005

FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS

CONTENTS

  • [01] ERDOGAN PROCEEDS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ON MINI BALKAN TOUR
  • [02] TUSIAD MEMBERS TO MEET OFFICIALS IN ANKARA TODAY
  • [03] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “THE US IS OUR FRIEND AND ALLY”
  • [04] SYRIAN-IRANIAN “UNITED FRONT” IS “THEIR OWN BUSINESS,” SAYS GUL
  • [05] IMF’S DAWSON: “WE EXPECT OFFICIALS TO TAKE STRONG MEASURES TO IMPROVE TURKEY’S INCENTIVES SCHEME”
  • [06] TUZMEN VISITS JORDAN
  • [07] HISTORIC VISIT OF US BUSINESSMEN TO TRNC BEGINS TODAY
  • [08] STUDENT AMNESTY BILL SENT TO PARLIAMENT
  • [09] FT COLUMNIST: “RISING TURKISH POLITICAL STAR QUITS CABINET”
  • [10] HOLBROOKE WARNS OF RUSSIAN “CHARM OFFENSIVE” TOWARDS TURKEY
  • [11] US CONGRESSMAN SPONSORS RESOLUTION PRAISING ISAF COMMAND
  • [12] YILMAZ, TANER BEGIN SUPREME COURT TRIAL
  • [13] LARGEST US PENSION FUND EYES TURKISH INVESTMENTS
  • [14] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
  • [15] FIRST TO FAVOR THE TRNC BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

  • [01] ERDOGAN PROCEEDS TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ON MINI BALKAN TOUR

    On the last day of his two-day mini Balkan tour, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday proceeded to the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo. Before his departure from Albania, he visited Turgut Ozal College, whose foundations were laid by its namesake in 1992, before the Turkish president’s untimely death a year later. In Sarajevo, Erdogan accompanied by a delegation of about 100 businessmen met with Bosnian Prime Minister Adnan Terzic. The two countries’ delegations discussed improving economic ties, an agreement to eliminate double taxation, and a cooperative pact between the Bosnian and Turkish Justice Ministries. “We expect that these agreements will encourage Turkish businessmen to invest in Bosnia,” Erdogan said. He added that Turkey’s introduction of visas for Bosnian citizens was a requirement for it to begin its European Union membership negotiations this fall. “We are obliged to comply,” said Erdogan. The premier also strolled around Sarajevo's so-called “Turkish Quarter,” which was built when Bosnia was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1463 to 1878. /All Papers/

    [02] TUSIAD MEMBERS TO MEET OFFICIALS IN ANKARA TODAY

    A group of businessmen from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) is set to meet with state officials in Ankara today and tomorrow. The group headed by Omer Sabanci will be received by Cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and State Economy Minister Ali Babacan and then President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Turkiye/

    [03] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “THE US IS OUR FRIEND AND ALLY”

    Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan yesterday briefed the press on Ankara’s views of the latest developments in Iraq. Denying a British newspaper report that the US is amassing troops in northern Iraq against the possibility of Turkish intervention in the region, Tan stated that Ankara had no official information on such US military movements. “Let me underline the fact that the US is our friend and ally,” he said. Tan also reiterated Turkey’s call for a sizeable group of international observers to be in Iraq later this year to watch for any irregularities at a referendum on a new constitution. "We hope the deficiencies, disorder and irregularities seen in the Jan. 30 elections will not recur during the constitutional referendum," Tan said. "We believe a comprehensive presence of international observers at this referendum and the elections [that will follow] is an absolute must. It is a fact that the most irregularities occurred in Kirkuk. Kirkuk is an Iraqi city . . . and no single group should establish dominance over it.” /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] SYRIAN-IRANIAN “UNITED FRONT” IS “THEIR OWN BUSINESS,” SAYS GUL

    Responding to yesterday’s declaration by Syrian and Iranian leaders that they would establish a “united front” against threats from abroad, widely interpreted as a reference to the US, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that this was their own choice. “Every country has its own policies, and this is their business,” added Gul. /Sabah/

    [05] IMF’S DAWSON: “WE EXPECT OFFICIALS TO TAKE STRONG MEASURES TO IMPROVE TURKEY’S INCENTIVES SCHEME”

    International Monetary Fund External Relations Director Thomas Dawson yesterday expressed the Fund’s concerns on the Turkish government’s incentive plan, echoing IMF Turkey Representative Hugh Bredenkamp’s statement along these lines earlier in the week. “The issue that has I think gotten most of the attention . . . is plans to extend income tax and Social Security exemptions to firms in the poorer regions, not just those hiring new workers,” he said. “This is a source of concern to us since we think it would increase distortions, weaken the Social Security system and have a significant fiscal cost. We are encouraging the authorities to improve the scheme, in particular, to make it more targeted and to take measures to compensate for any fiscal cost. Clearly, the important targets in the program are the primary surplus, up to 6.5 percent of GDP [gross domestic product], and capping the Social Security deficit at 4.5 percent of GDP. And this regional incentive plan jeopardizes both of these targets, and so we are looking to the authority to take the needed high-quality fiscal measures so that these targets can be achieved, which is necessary before the new program can take effect.” In related news, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that Turkey’s relations with the IMF are on the right track. “The Fund has the right to make statements on the issue, but they’re not binding for us,” he said. “The incentives plan will provide 120,000 citizens with employment opportunities.” Discussion of the plan started yesterday at Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission. /Milliyet/

    [06] TUZMEN VISITS JORDAN

    State Minister Kursat Tuzmen paid a visit to Jordan yesterday. In a seminar on Turkish-Jordanian trade and economic cooperation, Tuzmen proposed a “Special Free Trade Area for Turkey” in Jordan. “I hope that we will be able to reach a free trade agreement with Jordan,” added Tuzmen. /Hurriyet/

    [07] HISTORIC VISIT OF US BUSINESSMEN TO TRNC BEGINS TODAY

    Turkey’s hard work to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has begun to yield fruit. A group of businessmen from leading US companies is set to arrive in the TRNC today to look into business opportunities as part of Washington’s pledge to support ending the TRNC’s isolation following last year’s referendum on the island. The delegation headed by US Commercial Attaché Amer Kayani consists of representatives from 12 US firms operating in the areas of banking, finance, consulting, medicine, communications, software, etc. The US businessmen are expected to hold talks with Turkish Cypriot officials and business representatives to seek avenues of cooperation and investment opportunities. In related news, Turkish Cyprus’ seven political parties are to run in parliamentary elections on Sunday for the 50-seat Parliament. /Turkiye/

    [08] STUDENT AMNESTY BILL SENT TO PARLIAMENT

    Parliament’s Education Commission yesterday approved a controversial bill on student amnesty and sent it to Parliament for debate. Speaking to the commission, Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that the bill covers all students expelled from universities since June 29, 2000, regardless of the reason for dismissal, including the wearing of headscarves. Stressing that some 700,000 students might benefit from the pardon, Celik underlined that such amnesties were only a short-term solution. “Indeed, our main goal is to solve the fundamental problems facing universities, including administrative and financial autonomy,” added the minister. /Turkiye/

    [09] FT COLUMNIST: “RISING TURKISH POLITICAL STAR QUITS CABINET”

    Financial Times columnist Vincent Boland wrote yesterday that this week’s surprise resignation of Tourism and Culture Minister Erkan Mumcu is a blow to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “who has been struggling to freshen a government exhausted by two years of non-stop reforms that earned Turkey a date from the European Union later this year for the start of membership talks.” Calling Mumcu “a rising star of the Turkish political scene,” Boland claimed that his resignation may hasten a Cabinet reshuffle that has been looming for several months. “Mumcu, 41, was among those whose future in the Cabinet was in doubt,” he added. “He was a liberal, secular and independent-minded member of the Islamist-rooted AKP. He was one of several high-profile members who defected from other parties to ride the wave of support for Erdogan.” Boland added that Mumcu’s resignation “betrayed cracks in the AKP,” triggering a possible split between its liberal and conservative factions. /Aksam/

    [10] HOLBROOKE WARNS OF RUSSIAN “CHARM OFFENSIVE” TOWARDS TURKEY

    Writing in the Washington Post yesterday, former US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke commented on Russian foreign policy and Moscow’s relations with Turkey. “Moscow is engaged in a little-noticed charm offensive to woo our all-important (but deeply alienated) ally Turkey into a new special relationship that would extend Russia’s influence in that volatile region,” warned Holbrooke, referring to Russia’s Middle East policy. /Hurriyet/

    [11] US CONGRESSMAN SPONSORS RESOLUTION PRAISING ISAF COMMAND

    US Congressman Ed Whitfield, a Kentucky Republican, yesterday proposed a resolution praising Turkey’s second term commanding the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan. “Turkey has undertaken a leading role for peace and stability in the region,” said Whitfield. Turkey assumed command of the force for six months on Monday, its second turn at the helm. /Star/

    [12] YILMAZ, TANER BEGIN SUPREME COURT TRIAL

    The trial of former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Former State Minister Gunes Taner began at the State Supreme Court yesterday in Ankara. Taner and Yilmaz, the latter the first-ever prime minister to appear before the country’s highest court, defended themselves against charges of irregularities in the allocation of in state tenders, namely the Turkbank tender, during their terms in office. Their next hearing is set to be held on March 24. /Aksam/

    [13] LARGEST US PENSION FUND EYES TURKISH INVESTMENTS

    The United States' biggest pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), disclosed earlier this month that Turkey is now eligible to join the CalPERS’ closely watched list of emerging markets for investment. The fund rates emerging markets according to transparency and fairness. According to a CalPERS report, Turkey has now fulfilled a number of criteria required on such issues as transparency, political stability, proper legal system, and costs of financial transactions as well as protection of investors. /Aksam/

    [14] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS

    [15] FIRST TO FAVOR THE TRNC BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Today will see an event long-anticipated by Turkish Cypriots. A Turkish Cypriot Airways plane will take off from Istanbul carrying an American commercial delegation to Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The US delegation of representatives from large American firms and commerce consultants from Ankara’s US Embassy will hold meetings with Turkish businessmen in the TRNC. Such a visit is a first, and it holds political significance. In other words, the decades-long policy of isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots is being breached, thus sending an important message to the Greek Cypriot Papadopoulos administration. As TRNC Chamber of Commerce head Ali Erel told me yesterday, ‘The message that the TRNC’s isolation is ending will shake Greek Cypriots and remind them that they, too, need a resolution. Greek Cypriot leaders should realize that the TRNC is opening up to the world and starting to stand on its two feet.’ For the first time a delegation from the US is arriving in the TRNC directly, which is raising the Greeks’ hackles. Some people also say that by way of retaliation, the Papadopoulos administration will cooperate with US enemies in the region like Iran and Syria. It’s very unlikely that such threats will work. US officials in Washington say that this visit is consistent with its promise to end the Turkish side’s isolation and a signal this policy will continue. Obviously it is important that the US will stand firm on this, and trade between the TRNC and the US will provide the financial help which it promised. Such certainty will make it easier for other countries to act similarly.

    But for now, no such move is expected from the European Union. Although TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat told EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that he was getting support in ending the isolation, certain hurdles remain in place. As Talat stated, the commission is doing its best, but the TRNC was unable to get what it wanted. This situation springs from the fact that the commission is made up of bureaucrats, while the Council of Europe consists of the ministers of the 25 EU member states. Among these are the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece. A European diplomat told me that the structure of the EU wasn’t suitable for establishing direct ties with the TRNC, as the US is doing. If Papadopoulos feels the obligation to change his policy, a way to make this happen is to support the Turkish Cypriots and place importance on the reality of the TRNC, as the US did.”

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