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Turkish Press Review, 05-06-09Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: 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 morning09.06.2005ERDOGAN, BUSH REAFFIRM, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP ERDOGAN MEETS WITH WOLFOWITZ ERDOGAN SPEAKS TO CNN GUL MEETS WITH RICE BERLUSCONI URGES BUSH TO SUPPORT TURKEY PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT ARMENIA JUDICIAL COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED IN ATHENS VERHEUGEN: “EU MEMBER COUNTRIES SHOULD KEEP THEIR PROMISES” ANNAN SPEAKS ON CYPRUS ISSUE KRETSCHMER: “TURKEY’S EU TALKS MIGHT LAST UNTIL 2014” IN RUNUP TO EU TALKS, EDUCATION MINISTRY LAUNCHES REFORMS AGAR TO VISIT GERMANY DEMOCRACY AND GLOBAL SECURITY CONFERENCE TO BEGIN IN ISTANBUL TODAY TURKISH SOCCER TEAM DEFEATS KAZAKHSTAN FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS… AS A NEW PROCESS BEGINS... BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN, BUSH REAFFIRM, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by a delegation, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, yesterday met with US President George W. Bush in the White House in Washington. During their one-hour plus talks, the two leaders reaffirmed that the two countries’ strategic partnership would continue. Speaking to reporters later, Erdogan said that freedom, democracy, the rule of law, the fight against terrorism, security, and human rights had been taken up at their meeting, and Bush thanked Erdogan for supporting the Greater Middle East Initiative. “Turkey’s democracy is an important example for the people of the broader Middle East... Thank you for your leadership,” Bush said. Later, holding a separate press conference, Erdogan stressed that they had also talked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the issues of Cyprus, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey’s interest in US investment. Bush instructed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to work on ways to start direct flights to Turkish Cyprus from the US, added Erdogan. At the White House, the Turkish premier also met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist and representatives of the Turkish Friendship Group. In addition, he visited monuments dedicated to US Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Erdogan is expected to have talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today in New York on the Cyprus issue. /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH WOLFOWITZOn the second day of his visit to Washington, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a bilateral meeting with former Deputy Defense Secretary and new World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz yesterday. Following the meeting, Wolfowitz told reporters, “I’ve spoken with Erdogan a few times before. He’s an old friend. But back then we had talked about different issues.” Wolfowitz resigned from his old post and officially became the World Bank head last week. He said, “I’m very pleased to hear that the World Bank has good relations with Turkey. In addition, I’m very glad to know that Turkey’s economic reform program has had very good results and continues to bear fruit.” /Sabah/[03] ERDOGAN SPEAKS TO CNNSpeaking to CNN International, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that Turkish-US relations depend on a strategic partnership of 50 years. He added that particularly their partnership in NATO was very important and that Turkey has been doing its best about logistic support for the US concerning Iraq. Stating that the only problem between the two countries about the Iraq issue was Parliament’s rejection of a motion in March 2003 for US soldiers to use Turkey as a base for an offensive into northern Iraq, Erdogan said, “We couldn’t get enough votes in Parliament. These things happen in a democratic system.” Asked about the headscarf issue, Erdogan said, “Not a single law in Turkey prohibits wearing headscarves. There are only different perceptions and interpretations concerning the issue. We’re acting patiently to avoid raising social tensions.” /Turkiye/[04] GUL MEETS WITH RICEForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice in Washington. Following their talks, Gul told reporters that the meeting had been very fruitful and that they had the opportunity to review a number of issues, including Cyprus and the continued presence of the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq. He stated that Rice vowed not to allow any terrorist attack on Turkey through Iraqi territory, adding that Rice had reiterated US support for a settlement on Cyprus led by the UN secretary-general. /Turkiye/[05] BERLUSCONI URGES BUSH TO SUPPORT TURKEYItalian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continued his support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington this week. Italian daily La Repubblica wrote that Berlusconi had telephoned US President George W. Bush the day before and requested his help for Turkey’s full membership to the EU. /Turkiye/[06] PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT ARMENIAWhile a dispute over a recent aborted conference on Armenian issue is still continuing in Turkey, a delegation of four deputies, one from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and three from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), are due to leave for Armenia today to express their views on the genocide allegations at a conference in Yerevan. /Star/[07] JUDICIAL COOPERATION PROTOCOL SIGNED IN ATHENSJustice Minister Cemil Cicek, who is currently paying a visit to Greece, yesterday signed a protocol with his Greek counterpart Anastasios Papaliguras on cooperation in the judiciary, the first one in this area. The two ministers stated that they were pleased to see relations between their countries advancing with each passing day, adding that through the protocol they would be able to pool their knowledge and experience. /Turkiye/[08] VERHEUGEN: “EU MEMBER COUNTRIES SHOULD KEEP THEIR PROMISES”European Union Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Guenter Verheugen warned yesterday that if the EU member countries don’t keep the promises they made to Turkey, the reform process in Turkey would be seriously hindered. Verheugen also conceded that the recent French and Dutch rejection of the EU constitution had contributed to criticism of enlargement. He added, “If Europe takes a stance towards Turkey saying in effect, ‘No matter what you do, we will never accept you,’ why would Erdogan and his government continue the reforms? Those who are doing this should be aware of their responsibilities.” /Milliyet/[09] ANNAN SPEAKS ON CYPRUS ISSUEOne day before his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated in a semiannual report to the UN Security Council that it wasn’t time to appoint a special representative for the Cyprus issue. In the report, he emphasized that the lack of confidence, military situation and the perception of threat between Turkish and Greek Cypriots were continuing. Therefore, Annan recommended that the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus’ term of duty be extended to Dec. 15. /Milliyet/[10] KRETSCHMER: “TURKEY’S EU TALKS MIGHT LAST UNTIL 2014”Speaking at a press conference held by the Trabzon Chamber of Trade and Industry yesterday, European Union Commission Representative to Turkey Hansjoerg Kretschmer said that the process of Turkey’s EU membership negotiations might continue until 2013-14 and that the length of this period depended on Turkey’s speed in implementing reforms. Stating that Turkey is experiencing a historic era concerning its EU bid, Kretschmer said, “Turkey’s EU membership negotiations will start in October. This is the beginning of a new era.” Emphasizing that Turkey has a great opportunity in terms of its bid, he added, “This is difficult but it can be achieved. Turkey should implement reforms towards this end. In addition, the nation should embrace these reforms. Reforms sometimes might not be so popular and some parts of the nation might not be pleased with the changes. However, the important thing is to provide the nation with accurate information.” Milliyet_[11] IN RUNUP TO EU TALKS, EDUCATION MINISTRY LAUNCHES REFORMSEducation Minister Huseyin Celik announced yesterday that high school education would be extended to four years from three. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Celik said that before Ankara begins its European Union accession talks on Oct. 3, Turkey should integrate its education system with those of European countries. Students entering high school for the 2005-2006 term will be required to complete four years of schooling to graduate. /Star/[12] AGAR TO VISIT GERMANYTrue Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar is set to travel to Germany on Saturday to attend the opening of the Turkish Democracy Foundation. His party staff will accompany him during the three-day trip. /Turkiye/[13] DEMOCRACY AND GLOBAL SECURITY CONFERENCE TO BEGIN IN ISTANBUL TODAYA “Democracy and Global Security Conference” will begin in Istanbul today. Many scholars, lawyers, and high-ranking security officials from the US, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Pakistan and Italy will participate in the conference that will continue through this Saturday. During the conference, global terrorism, cooperation against terrorism, international human smuggling, nuclear smuggling, security measures at airports and seaports, world terrorist organizations and their activities, organ smuggling and financial crimes will be discussed. /Aksam/[14] TURKISH SOCCER TEAM DEFEATS KAZAKHSTANIn a match yesterday for 2006 World Cup qualification, the Turkish National Soccer Team defeated the Kazakh team 6-0 in Almaty. Turkey thus rose to the second rank in its second group and is scheduled to face Denmark, Ukraine and Albania on the road to participate in a race for the World Cup this fall. /All Papers/[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS…[16] AS A NEW PROCESS BEGINS... BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on a new process which has started in Turco-American relations. A summary of his column is as follows:“With yesterday’s Bush-Erdogan meeting, a new process has begun which is expected to improve Turco-American relations, which had cooled of late. These kind of visits and summits may not be enough to overcome all of the conflicts facing the relationship. However they may start a new process in which further steps can be taken. The meeting at the White House began a process like this. The political will expressed on subjects which are considered important by the two sides such as Cyprus, the PKK, anti-Americanism, and Middle East policies can be expected to be put into operation in this new process. This may take weeks or perhaps months. Healing strained relations between the states is possible with the leaders’ determination and by taking the necessary steps that require courage. It can be seen that there is such a will and desire between the two countries. However there is a need for public support so relations can develop more easily. For ‘official’ agreements reached on high levels to get a firm footing, a change in the feelings and the attitudes of the public is also necessary. Prime Minister Erdogan told the Turkish press that pronouncements that there is a new anti-Americanism in Turkey are mistaken, but he put the blame on the media and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for some of the recent incidents. Actually this problem cannot just be discussed on the sidelines of a meeting but requires a thorough research and analysis. Both sides are sometimes super sensitive, and they exaggerate things, and misunderstand each other. It’s clear that the negative reactions that come from the Turkish public and political circles and even from government officials to the United States spring from the US policies in Iraq, which means that opposition to the US mainly means opposition to Bush’s policies. And Turkey is not the only country in such a position. Many Western countries, including US allies, have taken similar stances. So the US must not consider this subject a determining factor in our relations.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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