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Turkish Press Review, 06-07-07
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
07.07.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC: “ANYBODY WHO FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT”
[02] AT ASO MEETING, ERDOGAN COMMENTS ON MARKET FLUCTUATIONS
[03] ELBARADEI LENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EFFORTS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE
[04] ERDOGAN: “LET’S ASK CITIZENS WHETHER HEADSCARVES ARE A PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENCY”
[05] DETAILED SCREENING ON CONSUMER PROTECTION STARTS
[06] GULER: “TURKEY HAS SUFFICIENT ELECTRICITY”
[07] US’ FRIED: “WE’RE PLEASED WITH ANKARA’S INITIATIVES TO HELP SOLVE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT”
[08] TRNC’S TALAT: “RADICAL NATIONALISM IS ON THE RISE IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS”
[09] TURKISH SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP FALLS SHARPLY
[10] IMF’S AHMED: “OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S 2ND AND 3RD REVIEW AT THE END OF THIS MONTH”
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[12] STRATEGIC VISION BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC: “ANYBODY WHO FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS CAN
RUN FOR PRESIDENT”
At a press conference marking the close of Parliament’s legislative term,
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday answered reporters' questions
about next year’s presidential election and if he would run. Stating that
there’s nearly a year until the next presidential election, he said some of
the debates over the issue were politically motivated. Arinc said that he
didn’t think it right to produce domestic policy through the presidency and
that he was uneasy about certain conditions being presented as presidential
criteria although there are absent from the Constitution. When asked
directly whether he harbors any presidential ambitions, Arinc neither
confirmed nor closed the door on the possibility, saying, “You'll have to
wait for April 2007 for that. I can’t say anything definite now.”
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] AT ASO MEETING, ERDOGAN COMMENTS ON MARKET FLUCTUATIONS
Speaking at the Ankara Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan commented on recent fluctuations in the markets, saying that
the government wasn’t only watching global fluctuations. “These
developments concern us greatly,” he said. “The government and the Central
Bank are doing their best. Fortunately our ship is at a safe port.” Erdogan
stated that Turkish industrialists contributed to employment in the country,
adding that they were presenting their products to world markets. Stressing
the importance of taxes, Erdogan said that everyone should pay their fair
share. Also addressing the gathering, Turkish Union of Chambers and
Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the
business world was uncomfortable about the unregistered economy because the
private sector suffered great damage from unfair competition. “We hope that
work on social security reform will be completed as soon as possible,” he
added. For his part, ASO Chairman Zafer Caglayan criticized recent
predictions of a possible crisis, calling them needless. He further said
that the banking sector was acting opportunistically due to recent interest
rate hikes. /Milliyet/
[03] ELBARADEI LENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EFFORTS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF
IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE
United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohamed
ElBaradei, who is currently paying a visit to Turkey, yesterday said that
Turkey’s plans to build nuclear power plants to meet its increasing energy
needs were logical. After having talks with Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Hilmi Guler, ElBaradei met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Following their meeting, ElBaradei told reporters that they had
exchanged views on Turkey’s intent to build nuclear energy plants. He
stressed that his agency would lend support to Turkish officials on the
matter. Commenting on the Iranian nuclear program issue, ElBaradei said
that the Mideast could not bear any more problems, and that they desired a
resolution to the problem through diplomatic means. Pointing out that
Turkey could play a key role, he said he appreciated Turkish officials’
intense efforts towards that aim. /Turkiye/
[04] ERDOGAN: “LET’S ASK CITIZENS WHETHER HEADSCARVES ARE A PROBLEM FOR THE
PRESIDENCY”
Speaking to Reuters this week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
that there should be no obstacles for a man of strong faith running for
president. “We should ask the Turkish people whether the nation is ready
for a president whose wife wears a headscarf,” said the premier. Stressing
that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had the majority in
Parliament which enables them to elect the president of their choice,
Erdogan said the candidate should be approved by the party members and
embrace all people without any discrimination. He stated that they had
swept the votes in the fall 2002 elections with their wives wearing
headscarves. Turkey’s citizens voted for us knowing everything about us,
underlined Erdogan. Commenting on the Cyprus issue, the premier reiterated
that they would not make any initiatives to open Turkey’s ports to Greek
Cypriots before the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is ended. /Turkiye/
[05] DETAILED SCREENING ON CONSUMER PROTECTION STARTS
Officials from Turkey and the European Union Commission started talks
yesterday for the detailed screening on consumer and health protection, one
of the 35 policy chapters on which Turkey and the EU will hold accession
talks. The session in Brussels will end today. The EU acquis in the field
of consumer and health protection covers the safety of consumer goods as
well as the protection of the economic interests of consumers in a number
of specific sectors. Turkey’s screening process will continue with an
exploratory session on the external relations chapter scheduled for Monday.
/Turkish Daily News/
[06] GULER: “TURKEY HAS SUFFICIENT ELECTRICITY”
Commenting yesterday on last weekend’s blackouts, Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that there was no shortfall of
electricity in the nation’s system. “There was disagreement only over rates
between the private and public sector,” he said, adding that they were
trying to solve the problem by looking at the entire public and private
sector. /Milliyet/
[07] US’ FRIED: “WE’RE PLEASED WITH ANKARA’S INITIATIVES TO HELP SOLVE THE
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT”
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried
said yesterday that Washington was pleased with Ankara’s diplomatic
initiatives to help solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Commenting on
possible direct talks of Turkish officials with Hamas’ political leader
Khaled Meshaal, Fried said that this wouldn’t be proper. /Milliyet/
[08] TRNC’S TALAT: “RADICAL NATIONALISM IS ON THE RISE IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat
yesterday said, “Although the Turkish Cypriots live under an embargo, the
TRNC exists and its democratic institutions are working in a way that could
constitute an example for many other countries.” He added that attempts to
lift the embargo are being obstructed by the Greek Cypriots and said that
fanaticism and radical nationalism are on the rise in southern Cyprus.
Talat yesterday met with United Nations Undersecretary General for
Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. Afterwards Talat said that they had
conveyed their will to find an immediate solution, and Gambari said that
they had discussed many issues. /Star/
[09] TURKISH SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP FALLS SHARPLY
A new Eurobarameter poll showed on Wednesday that Turkish support for
European Union membership has fallen sharply from 60% in last winter’s
survey to 43% now. The survey also showed that the Turkish people’s trust
in the EU and its policies has also dropped significantly. According to the
poll, trust fell from 50% last fall to 35% this spring. The poll surveyed
over 1,000 people in Turkey in April. /The New Anatolian/
[10] IMF’S AHMED: “OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S 2ND
AND 3RD REVIEW AT THE END OF THIS MONTH”
International Monetary Fund International Relations Director Masood Ahmed
said yesterday that the IMF Executive Board is expected to convene at the
end of this month to discuss Turkey’s second and third review. Speaking at
a press conference in Washington, Ahmed commented on economic developments
in Turkey, saying that the Central Bank had taken strong steps necessitated
by the developments. “We believe that the CB will continue to take
necessary measures,” he added. The Fund is expected to release a credit
tranche of $1.7 billion after the reviews are completed. /Sabah/
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[12] STRATEGIC VISION BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the Turkish-US shared vision document. A
summary of her column is as follows:
“The ‘Shared Vision and Structural Dialogue to Advance Turkish-US Strategic
Partnership Document’ which was brought up during US Secretary-General
Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Turkey in April was concluded during Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul’s contacts in Washington this week. This document
isn’t an agreement, but an important step aiming to get relations back on
track. Turkish-US relations and the cooperation’s framework during the Cold
War era resulted in the need to lay down new parameters. The threat
perception in a world with two poles, that is, expectations of friends and
enemies from each other, was clear. The crisis stemming from Turkey’s
rejection of US troop deployment for the Iraq war in March 2003 became an
important sign that perceptions and expectations would be different during
this new era. This document aims to make Turkey and the US review their
relations and bring their expectations closer. Before Gul’s visit, US
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Byrza stated that relations
between the two countries were already very close and rich and that
actually such a document wasn’t needed. He added that such initiatives were
sometimes good to show the situation to everybody and that one of its aims
was to underline priorities in bilateral relations.
The document has two parts, namely shared vision and planned dialogue. The
first part states that both Turkey and the US share the same vision in
their regional and global goals, that is, promoting peace, democracy,
freedom and prosperity. Then it concludes that the problems and
opportunities faced by the two countries will be common and that joint
efforts are needed for them. As for common issues, there’s also a consensus
over solving the solution of the Palestinian-Israeli issue. The document
also emphasizes Iraq’s territorial integrity and envisages cooperation for
ensuring stability, democracy and prosperity in Iraq. In addition, it
foresees the development of common policies from the Black Sea, the
Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan. However, the factor of Russia
should be taken into consideration in this region, and a common vision with
the US might not be provided in this region every time. After the Soviets
Union dissolved, cooperation between Russia and the US rose, but energy
supplies became a serious friction point. Similarly, the document also
emphasizes the diversification and security of energy supply lines and
addresses Turkey’s sensitivities on the issues of Cyprus and the terrorist
PKK. The document mentions ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots,
but don’t think that this means recognizing the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), because the document states that the aim is to save
the Turkish Cypriots from isolation with a solution as part of the UN. In
addition, the document mentions the PKK and its ‘extensions,’ which means
groups attached to the PKK established in Iraq. It’s important to determine
a shared vision among the allies. However, the section on consultations in
policy planning says that regular meetings will be held among policy
planning units in order to analyze trends and developments strategically
and provide advice on the tools to be used and policies to be followed, if
necessary. There’s nothing to say about this, so long as the meetings are
held between equal players on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.”
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