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Turkish Press Review, 05-12-16
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
16.12.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “COMPETITION HAS BROUGHT DOWN AIR FARES”
[02] PREMIER RECEIVES MARTYRS’ FAMILIES
[03] GEN. BUYUKANIT: “NATO SHOULD PUT THE PKK ON ITS TERRORIST LIST”
[04] EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER: “IT’S NOT PAMUK ON TRIAL, BUT TURKEY”
[05] BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT, CLAIMS IT WON’T SURVIVE ELECTIONS
[06] DYP LEADER AGAR: “IDENTITY DEBATES ENDED WITH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC”
[07] ASKIN CLEARED OF ANTIQUITIES SMUGGLING CHARGES
[08] ARMENIAN FM: “I WON’T MEET WITH GUL IN THE NEAR FUTURE”
[09] AKSU VISITS ATHENS FOR TALKS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
[10] UN EXTENDS CYPRUS MISSION FOR SIX MONTHS
[11] TUSIAD HEAD PREDICTS GROWTH OF 6% DURING EU TALKS
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] NATO’S CYPRUS MESSAGE TO THE EU BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN: “COMPETITION HAS BROUGHT DOWN AIR FARES”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that competition among
airlines had brought down ticket prices and improved quality. Speaking at a
ceremony at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport marking the purchase of three new
planes by Turkish Airlines (THY), Erdogan touted recent developments in the
Turkish aviation sector. Stressing that after it acquires 59 new planes by
2008, THY would be able to compete with other leading airlines in the world,
Erdogan said Turkish aviation had entered a new era. Finance Minister Kemal
Unakitan and Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim also addressed the
gathering. Pointing to a recent increase in passengers on domestic flights,
Yildirim stated that the sector aimed for safe flights at low prices.
/Turkiye/
[02] PREMIER RECEIVES MARTYRS’ FAMILIES
Prime Minister Recp Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received representatives of
families of martyrs from a number of provinces. Speaking at the gathering,
Erdogan said that nobody could cast a shadow over the future of the Turkish
nation. Expressing the Turkish people’s gratitude to the martyrs who gave
their lives to protect the country, the premier added that the government
would make necessary regulations to better conditions of the families.
/Turkiye/
[03] GEN. BUYUKANIT: “NATO SHOULD PUT THE PKK ON ITS TERRORIST LIST”
Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, currently visiting
Washington, yesterday said that Turkish authorities are working to get the
terrorist PKK added to the NATO’s list of terrorist groups. Buyukanit said
that terrorism had been discussed during his contacts in Washington, adding,
“Military authorities understand our concerns, but the decision isn’t
theirs.” Citing how NATO invoked Article 5 of its charter on collective
self-defense after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Buyukanit said that it was
necessary to eliminate the double standard on the terrorist PKK. When asked
about allegations that the judiciary was being interfered with in probing
the Semdinli incidents, Buyukanit said, “I wonder which investigation is
being done after the incidents?” /Aksam/
[04] EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER: “IT’S NOT PAMUK ON TRIAL, BUT TURKEY”
The trial of novelist Orhan Pamuk, accused of insulting his country, is
starting today. The trial is being closely followed by the European Union,
and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said, “It is not Pamuk who will
stand trial but Turkey,” adding, “the trial is a litmus test for Turkey’s
commitment to freedom of speech.” European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur
Camiel Eurlings, who is in Turkey with a delegation to observe the trial,
said that such cases violate the European Convention of Human Rights, to
which Turkey is a signatory, and also have a negative impact on Turkey’s
image in Europe. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT, CLAIMS IT WON’T SURVIVE ELECTIONS
Addressing a ceremony in Bakirkoy yesterday, opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) government, saying that it won’t stay in power after the next
elections. “They came to power with the nation’s votes, and will go out
with the same votes,” said Baykal. Commenting on Yuzuncu Yil University
Rector Yucal Askin, who was cleared of one set of charges facing him this
week, Baykal said that he had been falsely accused. Also commenting on the
government’s reported alcohol restriction plans, Baykal said that the
government aimed to divide the nation. /Milliyet/
[06] DYP LEADER AGAR: “IDENTITY DEBATES ENDED WITH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE
REPUBLIC”
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday met with
former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva and main opposition Asaba
leader Azimbek Beknazarov. “Identity debates ended with the proclamation of
the republic,” said Agar. “Turkey lives in unity and integrity, and will
continue to do so. There were some who had separatist aims, but this era
passed with the common sense of the nation.” Agar also accused the prime
minister of demagoguery about elections and being unable to respond to
criticisms. /Star/
[07] ASKIN CLEARED OF ANTIQUITIES SMUGGLING CHARGES
Van Yuzuncu Yil University Rector Yucel Askin was not found guilty
yesterday of charges of illegally possessing historic artifacts that were
seized by the police at his home in July. Askin was facing a up to a year
in prison for violating the law on the protection of cultural assets. Askin
said that he had been a registered collector since 1997 and that all of the
seized artifacts were either registered at the local museum or would be
registered after being sorted out. Askin remains in custody due to
corruption charges still pending. Speaking at a press conference, Board of
Higher Education (YOK) head Erdogan Tezic said that keeping Askin in
custody wasn’t fair. /Sabah/
[08] ARMENIAN FM: “I WON’T MEET WITH GUL IN THE NEAR FUTURE”
Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Yereven, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanyan commented on relations between Turkey and Armenia,
saying that there were no plans for a meeting with Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul in the near future, calling such contacts “meaningless.”
Oskanyan claimed that the latest contacts proved that Ankara was using
these as diversionary tactics and added, “So we have no plan to hold such a
meeting. First we have to see that Ankara is ready to take concrete steps
on the issue.” /Hurriyet/
[09] AKSU VISITS ATHENS FOR TALKS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu along with Iranian and Pakistani
government ministers, all in Athens for a meeting on immigration and human
trafficking, yesterday were received by Greek President Karolos Papoulias.
The visiting officials reportedly briefed Papoulias about the meeting,
during which efforts to fight illegal immigration, human trafficking, drugs
and organized crime were discussed. A concluding statement is expected to
be made at the end of gathering today. Aksu is set to return Turkey this
evening. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] UN EXTENDS CYPRUS MISSION FOR SIX MONTHS
The UN Security Council has extended the United Nations Peacekeeping Force
in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for six more months and expressed regret that progress
towards a political solution on the divided island “has been negligible at
best.” A resolution adopted unanimously on Wednesday by the 15-nation
Security Council urged Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots “to work towards
the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement.” The
council’s decision extends the UN mission’s mandate to June 15, 2006.
/Turkish Daily News/
[11] TUSIAD HEAD PREDICTS GROWTH OF 6% DURING EU TALKS
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) head Omer
Sabanci yesterday predicted that Turkey could grow 6% during its current
negotiating process with the European Union. Addressing a conference to
introduce capital accumulation in Turkey, Sabanci predicted that Turkey’s
per capita income would be nearly $12,000 by 2014. Sabanci also hailed
recent economic developments, but warned of the high current accounts
deficit. /Sabah/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] NATO’S CYPRUS MESSAGE TO THE EU BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on relations between NATO, the European Union
and Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows.
“There’s a common saying among diplomats about solutions to international
disagreements: ‘It takes two to tango.’ In Brussels yesterday we heard this
from NATO Secretary-General Jaop de Hopp Scheffer on the Cyprus issue and
in favor of Turkey. Scheffer, who will visit Ankara next Monday, talked
about the Cyprus issue as part of the dialogue between NATO and the
European Union during his meeting with a group of Turkish reporters at NATO
headquarters. Interestingly, he said the Greek Cypriot administration and
the EU have the responsibility to solve the problem. ‘I’ll explain it like
this: It takes two to tango,’ he said. In other words, both parties must
make efforts for a solution. We know the result of the [failed April 2004]
referendum. Now the solution depends on the Greek Cypriot administration
and the EU. I believe that NATO and the EU should work together and
complement each other in many fields. I’m worried that the Cyprus issue is
a problem. However, I repeat that it takes two to tango. Both the Greek
Cypriot administration and EU have responsibility to find a solution. I
hope this problem will be solved soon.’ Scheffer considers this obligatory
for the NATO-EU partnership. There’s another thing which makes him hopeful:
Turkey and the Greek Cypriot administration came together during certain
‘unofficial meetings’ held by the representatives from NATO and EU member
countries.
As a NATO member, Turkey faces the Cyprus issue in the joint work of this
organization with the EU. The Greek Cypriot administration participates in
these meetings as an EU member. However, Turkey doesn’t want to take part
in these meetings with the Greek Cypriot representatives, whom it doesn’t
recognize. Luckily, now diplomacy has found a practical solution. If
meetings have an ‘unofficial’ character, for example, a dinner, Turkey will
sit at the table under this formula. According to Scheffer, this formula
will be applied during a joint meeting to be held in Sofia in April. This
is one of the issues to be discussed by Scheffer during the meetings in
Ankara. The Turkish side will hear encouraging words from the NATO
secretary general. Scheffer considers Turkey’s importance for NATO and its
role – from training Iraqi army officers to its contribution to Afghanistan
– in various fields ‘vital.’ In its own words, NATO constitutes a channel
for Turkey’s EU membership. Obviously, the main factor that brought
Scheffer to Ankara is political. However, there’s also a personal reason,
that is, a visit to a relative. The Dutch Embassy’s undersecretary to
Ankara is his brother-in-law!”
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