Turkish Press Review, 06-04-05

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

05.04.2006

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT SEZER VISITS AZERBAIJAN

[01] PRESIDENT SEZER VISITS AZERBAIJAN

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the government would continue its efforts to bring more democracy and prosperity to the country. Speaking to ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies yesterday before a general debate in Parliament over recent unrest in the country, Erdogan said that they would not allow the terrorist PKK to ruin the nation’s peace and stability. Responding to Democratic Society Party (DTP) co-leader Ahmet Turk’s call for a meeting, the premier urged the party first to declare the PKK a terrorist organization. It is not possible for us to meet with individuals who defend terrorists, added Erdogan. /Turkiye/[03] PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES TERROR IN THE COUNTRY

Recently escalating terrorism in the country was taken up by Parliament’s General Assembly yesterday. Addressing the deputies, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu stated that the government was resolved to fight terrorism, adding that Turkey had signed 100 security and cooperation agreements with 53 countries. He stressed that they were carrying out talks with Danish authorities to ban Roj-TV’s broadcasts in that country. Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu and True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar also addressed the assembly, calling on the government to take necessary measures to end unrest in Turkey. /All Papers/[04] FM TO GATHER KEY DIPLOMATS FOR BRAINSTORMING ON IRAN, MIDEAST CYPRUS, EU

The Turkish Foreign Ministry is to hold a high-level meeting with its key diplomats on major issues, ranging from Cyprus to Iran and the Middle East to the European Union, this week. The ministry brainstorming sessions, carried out both regularly and at ad hoc meetings in Ankara’s Balgat district, the seat of the Foreign Ministry, will be reflecting on short- and medium-term strategies on those hot potato issues. So the experience of Turkish diplomats on Iraq will also be assessed in retrospect as a lesson on what to do about the current state of volatile Iran in particular, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul this week, but carefully refrained from drawing comparisons between Iraq and Iran. “We’ll call on our ambassadors and other diplomats who’ve lived through the Iraq experience,” Gul told a group of Turkish journalists yesterday, referring to a chain of events that included Parliament’s March 2003 refusal to allow US troops to use Turkish bases and ports for the Iraq invasion. /The New Anatolian/[05] FM GUL: “THE GOVT WILL DO ITS BEST TO END TERRORISM”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that the government’s first priority was to fight terrorism. During a meeting with reporters and editors in Ankara, Gul said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government would carry out efforts to resolve the Kurdish problem through democratic means, adding that they had certain medium- and long-term plans towards that end. He stated that the terrorist PKK had been disturbed by recent social and democratic progress in the southeastern region of the country. Concerning the Iran issue, Gul said that Turkey favored a solution through diplomatic means. “We don’t want nuclear weapons among our neighbors,” added the foreign minister. Asked about the government strategy on nuclear energy, Gul said Turkey was a developing country which needs to diversify its energy resources, including nuclear energy. He also said that the government did not intend to lower the 10 percent election threshold. “Political stability brings economic development,” said Gul. “Efforts to lower the threshold would not serve the nation’s interests.” /Hurriyet- Turkiye/[06] GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER WARNS OF CRISIS OVER HARBORS, AIRPORTS

Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday said that Turkey would face a crisis this year if it does not open its harbors and airports in accordance with the demands of Brussels. Speaking to Reuters, Papadopoulos said, “If Turkey doesn’t abide by this, there will be a crisis. This isn’t a crisis created by Europe, but Turkey.” In related news, Greek Cyprus vetoed Turkey’s entry to the European Defense Agency (EDA), even while Norway was approved. /Cumhuriyet/[07] US AMBASSADOR: “WE’RE AWARE OF PKK BRUTALITY”

At a Turkish-American Business Association (TABA) luncheon yesterday, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said that following a rough period Turkish- US relations were coming into a good process, adding, “But still there are many steps to be taken.” Asked about violence by the terrorist PKK, Wilson said, “The US does its utmost to fight terrorism. We’re aware of the brutality caused by this organization. We’re working to counter this. Work is underway to establish a strong government to control Iraq.” Touching on the tension caused by a Hamas visit to Ankara in February, Wilson said, “This visit created a question mark in people’s minds.” /Aksam/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[00] WHAT SHOULD WE DO?BY HALUK SAHIN (RADIKAL)

Columnist Haluk Sahin comments on the Kurdish issue in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Following the recent incidents and debates, I saw that everybody, except those on the extremes, is confused concerning the southeastern Anatolia issue. It seems that the issue should be redefined and solutions should be sought in light of this. I’m writing this column before watching the session in Parliament concerning the southeast issue. I don’t know if this kind of definition was presented there. I don’t think that it was, because the government is the most confused. A professor living in one of our eastern cities recently sent me an email and asked if I could tell him what the Kurdish protestors who destroyed everything wanted. He told me that he couldn’t understand why the protestors were serving the aims of ‘Christian_Jewish forces’ with the things they do. I also saw from other mail that those who have always considered the Kurdish issue a cultural rights issue have difficulty understanding them. They ask the reason for this ruckus after almost all the obstacles on such issues as language, music and broadcasting have been removed. They also ask what more the Kurds want, as they organized a demonstration in Kurdish with all the municipalities in their hands. This time they get the answer that the main problem in the region is economic and that poverty and unemployment are endemic and the issue isn’t about politics.

Examples concerning the confusion continue when people talk about who’s behind this. During the Cold War, most people were sure that the communist Russia was behind this is and then the European Union became the most suspected culprit, and now the majority of people who look for a conspiracy are directed towards the US. They say that the US is now looking for a new government for an Iran war in the future, just like it looked for a government for the Iraq war and found the Justice and Development Party (AKP). In other words, the US is undercutting the AKP after the party disappointed it. There are AKP members who believe that this is the situation. So, why doesn’t the government, which has all the intelligence faculties of the state, reveal all the evidence that it has? Why it doesn’t show the internal and external focuses involved in this issue and take steps to end the confusion in the country? Such examples and questions can be extended. This confusion which locks the discussion onto extreme alternatives should be ended immediately. Otherwise, these alternatives will become the most attractive ones. If the government can’t take the initiative on this issue, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will be responsible for taking steps on this national issue. We need to talk. Turkey can never solve an issue that it can’t discuss freely. The new confusing symptoms may require new diagnoses. This is the time for a comprehensive consultation.”

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