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Turkish Press Review, 05-12-26
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
26.12.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT SEZER DUE IN EGYPT FOR VISIT
[02] FM GUL: “A STRONG ARMY AND DEMOCRACY AREN’T ENOUGH”
[03] CHP LEADER APPEALS FOR UNITY
[04] AGAR: “WITH THE DYP IN POWER, ISTANBUL WILL BE A SAFE PLACE IN A MONTH”
[05] MARATHON BUDGET TALKS END THIS WEEK
[06] NEW US AMBASSADOR WILSON: “AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY WILL CONTINUE”
[07] TURKEY’S 2nd PRESIDENT INONU COMMEMORATED
[08] US SEC’Y OF STATE RICE TO VISIT ANKARA EARLY NEXT YEAR
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[10] CAN ERDOGAN COOL THINGS DOWN? BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
[01] PRESIDENT SEZER DUE IN EGYPT FOR VISIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is going to Egypt today for a working visit.
According to a Presidential Press Center statement, Sezer’s visit will last
for two days. During talks between Sezer and Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak, bilateral relations and current international and regional
developments are expected to be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] FM GUL: “A STRONG ARMY AND DEMOCRACY AREN’T ENOUGH”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that no matter how strong
the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and economy are, Turkey cannot be a powerful
country unless its democracy reaches world standards. Speaking at an awards
ceremony held by the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (MUSIAD) in Bursa, Gul said that Turkey has assumed an active
role in foreign policy and has become a prominent country in the world.
“Turkey hosts the world’s biggest meetings,” he added. “It’s very important
that the recent NATO meeting was here. Turkey has a truly active foreign
policy. On one hand it puts its economic house in order, and on the other
it strengthens its democracy and raises its human rights standards. Now
Turkey has become a country whose friendship everyone seeks and whose
hostility is feared.” Gul also said that Turkey has taken historic steps
for its European Union bid, but that these reforms weren’t carried out in
order to make Turkey acceptable to the EU. /Milliyet/
[03] CHP LEADER APPEALS FOR UNITY
Speaking at a gathering to officially open his party’s new office in
Sishane, Istanbul, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal said that the CHP would establish a policy with a new understanding
beginning with Istanbul. Stressing that his party was seeing rooted
innovation and renovation, Baykal said his party’s program included
comprehensive solutions to the Turkish people’s problems. “We’ve got
capable staff and policy to further develop the country, and all we need is
to work hand in hand with the people,” said the CHP leader. He added that
all citizens, whatever their language or belief, are equal and a part of
the nation. /Turkiye/
[04] AGAR: “WITH THE DYP IN POWER, ISTANBUL WILL BE A SAFE PLACE IN A
MONTH”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar over the weekend claimed that his
party would make Istanbul a safe and peaceful city in only one month once
it comes to power. Addressing a meeting of his party in Istanbul, Agar said
that bag-snatching crimes had become an “economic sector” in Turkey’s
largest city. Charging that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
had not found solutions to people’s problems, including joblessness, Agar
said that his party was ready to support the government for the sake of the
people. DYP founder Husamettin Cindoruk, former State Minister Ismet Sezgin
and Necdet Menzir were also present at the meeting. /Sabah/
[05] MARATHON BUDGET TALKS END THIS WEEK
Deliberations on next year’s budget will wrap up today, with final debates
to be held at Parliament’s General Assembly. All political parties with
parliamentary groups will comment on the budget as a whole before the
legislation is passed. After approval of the budget, the General Assembly
will turn its attention to a government proposal to open 15 new
universities and the allocation of 2,000 staff members to these
institutions. Furthermore, a Parliament commission probing the incidents in
Hakkari, Semdinli, and Yuksekova will hear from the former governor of
Hakkari and former local administrator of Semdinli this week to uncover the
truth behind the incidents. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] NEW US AMBASSADOR WILSON: “AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY WILL
CONTINUE”
New US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said over the weekend, “One cannot
help but be impressed by the economic growth in Turkey. Turkey is Europe’s
fastest-growing country and one of the world’s foremost developing
countries.” Wilson stressed that investment opportunities in Turkey have
become attractive for international investors and that foreign direct
investment (FDI) in recent months has been impressive. Wilson pointed out
that one of the US’ giant corporations, General Electric, is in the midst
of investing in Turkey with $1.8 billion. “GE’s investment in Turkey is a
reflection of its confidence in the Turkish economy and its future,” said
Wilson. Wilson said that American companies would continue to invest in the
Turkish market in the coming days. /Milliyet/
[07] TURKEY’S 2nd PRESIDENT INONU COMMEMORATED
The 32nd anniversary of the death of the architect of Treaty of Lausanne,
second president of the Turkish Republic and Ataturk’s brother in arms
Ismet Inonu was commemorated in an official ceremony at his graveside at
Anitkabir, Ataturk’s mausoleum, in Ankara yesterday. The ceremony in
Anitkabir was attended by Presidential General Secretary Kemal Nehrozoglu
representing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, State Minister Ali Babacan, and
Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner, as well as Inonu’s
relatives including his son Dr. Erdal Inonu and daughter Ozden Toker.
Meanwhile, a group of Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies and
administrators, led by CHP Secretary General Onder Sav, observed a minute
of silence before Ataturk and Inonu’s graveside in Anitkabir. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] US SEC’Y OF STATE RICE TO VISIT ANKARA EARLY NEXT YEAR
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reportedly scheduled to visit
Ankara at the beginning of next year. Her talks with Turkish officials are
expected to focus on the US hope that Ankara will increase its dialogue
with Shiites and take a harsher stand against Iran’s nuclear program.
Sources stated that the US had begun to meet Turkey’s expectations for the
PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, and that the issue was taken up during the
FBI director’s recent visit to the country. After taking her post in
January, Rice visited Turkey in February. /Sabah/
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[10] CAN ERDOGAN COOL THINGS DOWN? BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on the Justice and Development Party
(AKP) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A summary of his column is
as follows:
“Things are heating up and the political tension is mounting. The
opposition parties’ remarks, the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (TUSIAD) statements, debates over the judicial branch, even
operations at customs… A period of great strife is starting. The opposition
party will try to make Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan angry so he’ll
act out of control after the New Year. Its first aim is certainly to spur
early elections before the 2007 presidential elections, ensure that the
next president is elected by a new Parliament, and stop the Justice and
Development Party’s (AKP) political rule. However, those who consider the
situation realistically say that this can’t happen. They think that at
least the ruling party’s power should be weakened and its political power
shouldn’t continue its rule. They project that even if the True Path Party
(DYP) and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) get into Parliament while the AKP
wins the elections, the arithmetical picture would be very different.
Those trying to have a controlled relationship with the ruling party are
creating a rapprochement with this and even benefiting from it, and think
that such a great power isn’t good. As far as I can see, some people are
trying to play around inside the AKP as well. I consider a Cabinet
reshuffle from this point of view. Even ex-Cabinet ministers can
immediately see the government’s poor report card. In such a context, it’s
not realistic to think that Erdogan will do a Cabinet reshuffle. What about
Erdogan’s stance on the TUSIAD issue? Clearly, Erdogan is playing politics.
If someone were to say ‘cooling,’ should we see such a stance as remaining
silent and accepting everything? No. In my eyes, the AKP has started to
give messages to its grassroots for elections. While doing this, it’s
carrying out a policy of ‘controlled tension.’ Erdogan has an emotional and
angry character and it’s time for him to have steady nerves. He should
learn to put up with criticisms. I wonder if he can succeed.”
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