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Turkish Press Review, 05-11-29
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
29.11.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE MUST OBJECT TO EVERY KIND OF TERROR WITHOUT EXCEPTION”
[02] SENER: “THE $22 BLN CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT SHOULDN’T BE A THREAT TO THE ECONOMY”
[03] MUMCU: “TURKEY WON’T BENEFIT FROM ‘PRIMARY IDENTITY’ ARGUMENTS”
[04] EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT: “THE PARTY’S OVER”
[05] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COULD TRY TO BLOCK PROCESS ON CYPRUS
[06] RAUF DENKTAS: “PARLIAMENT SHOULD REJECT THE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS UNION PROTOCOL”
[07] FRENCH SENATE HOSTS MEETING ON TURKEY
[08] BABACAN: “OUR TOTAL DEBT TO THE IMF FELL TO $13.5 BLN THIS MONTH”
[09] CREDIT CARD, MORTGAGE BILLS SENT TO PARLIAMENT
[10] DISBANK BECOMES FORTIS
[11] FIFA BEGINS TURKISH-SWISS INQUIRY
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] ALLIANCE OF PRETTY WORDS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE MUST OBJECT TO EVERY KIND OF TERROR WITHOUT EXCEPTION”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday served warning to European
countries which support press enterprises spreading terrorist groups’
propaganda. Speaking at the EuroMed summit in Spain, Erdogan said that
citing “freedom of expression” to justify tolerance to those who spread
terrorist propaganda constituted a crime against humanity. “We have to
object to every kind of terror without exception,” said Erdogan. “Looking
for different standards won’t help to solve the problem. I am speaking as
the prime minister of a country which lost more than 40,000 people to
terrorism. Freedom of speech and the press cannot be a shield for terrorist
groups which take the blood of innocents without discrimination, whether
young or old, men or women. The smallest tolerance for terror or its
supporters is a fatal mistake which can cost the lives of many innocent
people.” /Star/
[02] SENER: “THE $22 BLN CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT SHOULDN’T BE A THREAT TO
THE ECONOMY”
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said yesterday that the current
accounts deficit was expected to reach $22 billion by year’s-end, adding
that this figure didn’t pose a threat to the economy. Sener stated that as
a result of the 2005 program, Turkey’s economic targets would be largely
achieved. “We’ll even surpass some of our targets,” he said. Sener stressed
that one of the reasons for the high current accounts deficit was the high
foreign trade deficit, adding that rising oil prices had led to the latter.
/Star/
[03] MUMCU: “TURKEY WON’T BENEFIT FROM ‘PRIMARY IDENTITY’ ARGUMENTS”
Speaking at a meeting of his party yesterday, Motherland Party (ANAP)
leader Erkan Mumcu commented on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
recent remarks on “primary identity,” saying that Turkey would not benefit
from such arguments. “If you try to divide the Turkish nation into groups,
groups which have coexisted for more than 1,000 years, then you’ll betray
the nation,” he said. Mumcu stated further that Turkey wasn’t a mosaic.
/Aksam/
[04] EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT: “THE PARTY’S OVER”
After toughening his tone against Turkey last week, European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday warned Ankara once again.
Speaking at the 20th meeting of the European Union-Turkey Joint
Consultative Committee Rehn said, “The negotiation process with the
European Union will lose its importance and significance if the reforms
don’t continue,” adding, “There is no shortcut to Europe.” Rehn said, “The
party’s over” and added that the recent EU progress report on Turkey
included serious concerns. “We can’t make the same evaluation in 2006
without it leading to serious damage to the negotiating process,” Rehn
said. He also criticized the attitude of Turkish police at the weekend
Egitim-Sen demonstration. Rehn said that Turkey must take a line in
accordance with the EU on union rights, and added, “The Egitim-Sen case is
a litmus test. An evaluation should be done according to this.” /Milliyet/
[05] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COULD TRY TO BLOCK PROCESS ON CYPRUS
The European Parliament is set to declare its attitude on Cyprus through a
report prepared by Elmar Brok, chairman of its Committee on Foreign
Affairs. The report will be discussed today by the committee. If the report
is passed, the EP’s stance on Cyprus will become definite and difficult to
change. If Turkey doesn’t approve the additional Customs Union protocol in
its Parliament without the supplementary declaration, the EP will not
approve the report. Thus Turkey would not begin its EU negotiations
chapters on the free circulation of goods and services and the Customs
Union. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] RAUF DENKTAS: “PARLIAMENT SHOULD REJECT THE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS UNION
PROTOCOL”
Speaking yesterday at a conference in Manisa, former Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that Ankara’s Parliament
should reject the additional Customs Union protocol, adding that its
passage would mean failure of the Cyprus cause. Denktas stressed that he
needed to tell the Turkish nation the truth about the Cyprus issue. “The
nation is unaware of the grim realities,” said Denktas. He added that the
UN Cyprus plan shouldn’t be discussed again since it was dangerous and
unnecessary. “Sitting at the negotiating table over the Annan plan wouldn’t
be appropriate,” added Denktas. /Star/
[07] FRENCH SENATE HOSTS MEETING ON TURKEY
The French Senate is set today to host a conference on Turkey’s relations
with both the European Union and France. The conference organized by
UBIFRANCE, the French agency for international business development, is to
be opened with a keynote speech by Christian Poncelet, president of the
French Senate. Diplomats, businessmen and scholars from Turkey are expected
to discuss the banking and financial sectors in Turkey and investments
between Turkey and France, as well as the political situation in Turkey.
/Turkish Daily News/
[08] BABACAN: “OUR TOTAL DEBT TO THE IMF FELL TO $13.5 BLN THIS MONTH”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said yesterday that Turkey’s
total debt to the International Monetary Fund had fallen, adding that $22
billion in debt dropped to $13.5 billion by the end of this month. Babacan
stated that by implementing disciplined and consistent monetary policies,
the government had ushered in a new era in the Turkish economy. He said
that interest rates had fallen to 8%, adding that the risk premium of
Turkey was lower than other countries with the same credit note. /Star/
[09] CREDIT CARD, MORTGAGE BILLS SENT TO PARLIAMENT
A bill setting new regulations for bankcards and credit cards was submitted
to the Parliament Speaker’s Office yesterday. Under the bill, interest
rates on late payment fees could not be more than 30 percent of the real
interest rate, and the card owner must agree to and approve any increase of
the upper credit limit. Meanwhile, another bill to begin the mortgage era
in Turkey was also submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s Office. The system
will allow people to buy houses by paying small installments over a long
period of time. The bill is expected to be passed within the next few
weeks. /Turkiye/
[10] DISBANK BECOMES FORTIS
Turkey’s Disbank, which this April was bought by Fortis, Belgium’s biggest
banking group, yesterday began to welcome its clients under the name
Fortis. Speaking at a press conference, Fortis Bank Chairman Karel De Boeck
said that they were pleased to invest in a dynamic country such as Turkey,
adding that Disbank had been adapted to the structure of Fortis. Stressing
that they hoped to boost their number of branches from 183 to 300 within
five years, Boeck added that 1,700 new employees would also be hired.
/Aksam/
[11] FIFA BEGINS TURKISH-SWISS INQUIRY
FIFA, world football’s governing body, yesterday began an investigation of
the violent aftermath of the World Cup playoff-qualifying match between
Turkey and Switzerland earlier this month. Turkish Football Federation
(TFF) Chairman Levent Bicakci as well as Fatih Terim, Mehmet Ozdilek, Emre
Belozoglu and Davut Disli testified at a hearing at FIFA headquarters in
Zurich, Switzerland. A FIFA spokesman called the inquiry the biggest
disciplinary one in its history. A decision is expected in February.
/Hurriyet/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] ALLIANCE OF PRETTY WORDS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Alliance of Civilizations summit in
Mallorca and the EU-Mediterranean summit in Barcelona this week in Spain. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“The Alliance of Civilizations project summit in Mallorca and the EU-
Mediterranean summit in Barcelona this week in Spain showed how far we are
from the much-sought after realization of the ideal of ‘rapprochement of
civilizations.’ The former gave certain pleasing messages about ensuring a
new understanding between the Islamic world and the West, but it was felt
openly that there were still disagreements standing in the way. The latter
produced a general consensus, but, in fact, the depth of separation between
two sides of the Mediterranean became clear. The meeting on Mallorca is the
fruit of an idea put forth by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero a year ago. This idea was turned into a project with the support
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan along with the international
community. Here, the aim is to dispel the prejudice and hostility of
nations from different cultures, religions and races and make them unite in
common values. Everybody would agree that it’s a great idea. However, when
it comes to actually doing this, difficulties and obstacles become clear.
Not only nations from different cultures, religions and races, but even
many countries have difficulties implementing such a unity and harmony
within their own borders. I think it was an impatient move to show such an
assertive target as ‘alliance’ for the project in Mallorca. When an
understanding between civilizations and cultures is reached, then an
alliance can be thought about. In spite of all the pretty words which were
said at this meeting, even the leaders couldn’t reach a consensus on such
basis issues as terrorism.
Despite everything, the devotion and determination for the ideal of
bringing together different civilizations give hope for the future. The
EuroMed meeting in Barcelona is the product of a process which was started
10 years ago at Spain’s initiative. At that time, the aim was to bring EU
members, non-EU members and all Mediterranean countries (a total of 38
countries) together and ensure rapprochement and cooperation in the
economic, cultural and social fields. Certain improvements were made
towards this end in the ‘process of Barcelona.’ Actually, it was hoped that
the summit would be a turning point on its 10th anniversary. However, the
leaders of most of Mediterranean countries didn’t participate in the summit,
and this damaged the hopes. In addition, there were serious disagreements
over basic issues. The definition of terrorism is one of them. In addition,
there were different approaches between the two sides of the Mediterranean
on such issues as democracy, political reforms and the role of civil
society. Even the Spanish daily La Vanguardia called the summit the
‘bankruptcy of the Barcelona summit.’ Maybe this is an exaggeration, but
the meetings in Mallorca and Barcelona reminded everybody that such a
process requires great patience.”
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