Turkish Press Review, 06-10-05

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

05.10.2006

CONTENTS

[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY IS DETERMINED FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP”

[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY IS DETERMINED FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP”

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke to reporters on his plane while returning from an official visit to Britain. The premier said that his government didn’t want tension in the country and called for dialogue, adding that there would always be conflicting views. Concerning recent claims that fundamentalist movements were increasing, Erdogan said that claims should be based on hard facts. He stressed that the issue could be discussed by various platforms such as in National Security Council (NSC) meetings rather than in public. He added that his government was tolerant and open to criticisms. “We believe in dealing with issues in harmony,” said the premier. /Turkiye/[03] MERKEL TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAY

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to arrive in Ankara today at the invitation of her Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During her two- day visit, in addition to Erdogan, Merkel will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Turkish-European Union relations are expected to dominate Merkel’s talks with top Turkish officials. A group of 20 businessmen will accompany the German premier to seek ways to strengthen bilateral economic ties. Furthermore, Turkish officials will have the opportunity to tell firsthand of Ankara’s efforts and views on the road to EU membership to Merkel, whose country is set to assume the EU term presidency next January. The German chancellor and Erdogan will also attend a dinner organized by ruling the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to break the Ramadan fast this evening. /Turkiye/[04] SWITZERLAND’S JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS TURKEY

Switzerland’s visiting Justice and Policy Minister Christoph Blocher yesterday met with Justice Minister Cemil Cicek. Speaking to reporters after their talks, Cicek pointed to the importance of international cooperation against terrorism. Stressing that terrorism was a crime against humanity, Cicek called on all countries to do their best and make genuine efforts on the matter. Cicek stated that terrorists were traveling to Europe after committing crimes in Turkey and seeking shelter and in the process violating democratic rights, adding that these demands for asylum had no basis. “This fact should be well understood by Europeans, and we expect them to act on that,” said Cicek. He also said that the so-called Armenian genocide issue was also taken up during their talks. For his part, Blocher said that the law in Switzerland penalizing people who question the Armenian genocide was also giving them trouble, adding that the issue should be left to historians. /Turkiye-Star/[05] GULER: “THERE WILL BE NO TENDER FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY INVESTMENTS”

Nuclear energy investments will not be carried out in the form of tenders but rather like a competition among competent firms, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler yesterday told a meeting organized by the Association of Economic Reporters (EMD) in Istanbul. Asked whether there would be shortages of electricity and natural gas, Guler replied that such shortages were not expected under normal conditions. Commenting on nuclear energy investments, Guler said they would prefer the private sector to undertake contracts, but if the private sector isn't interested, then cooperation between the private and public sectors could be an option. Meanwhile, he said that Turkey would soon hold a tender for providing security to a pipeline bringing gas from Iran. /Turkish Daily News/[06] TUSIAD HEAD SABANCI: “FRANCE’S STANCE SHOWS ITS FEAR”

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci yesterday criticized the French bill proposing punishment for people who question the so-called Armenian genocide, saying that he couldn’t see a French measure restricting expression as suitable while on the contrary Turkey is taking steps to expand freedom of expression. “This stance belongs to societies which are afraid of the truth,” said Sabanci. TUSIAD held a panel called “Europe’s Global Difficulties and Turkey” in Paris as part of Turkish Week, marking the first anniversary of the beginning of Ankara’s European Union membership talks. Taking the floor at the panel, French Trade Minister Christine Lagarde pointed to Turkey’s importance and said, “France trusts in Turkey’s future.” /Sabah/[07] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS…[00] CACOPHONY

Columnist Derya Sazak comments on US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson’s remarks and on Turkey’s foreign and domestic politics. A summary of his column is as follows:

“When reporters asked if he sees the danger of fundamentalism in Turkey, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said that although there is always a certain amount of cacophony in domestic politics and the media in Turkey, there is no reason to be concerned about Turkey’s future as a strong, secular and stable democracy. The debates characterized as ‘cacophony’ by Wilson will be next year’s hot topics following on talks with the EU to seek solutions in such problem areas as the terrorist PKK and from the Kurdish to Cyprus issues. The borders of the debates stretch from Ankara to Brussels. Meanwhile, the General Staff is actively involved in domestic politics. The force commanders and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit all spoke. Military-civilian relations are also on the EU’s plate. During the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation’s (TESEV) presentation on ‘Almanac Turkey: Security Sector and Democratic Oversight,’ EU representative Kretschmer’s criticism led to a harsh backlash from the General Staff. The ‘train crash’ warning given by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn was also important. Rehn came to Turkey before the release of the EU’s November progress report and urged that Turkish Penal Code Article 301 be removed, adding that the reforms had slowed down in the last 12 months and that he would discuss ways to avoid a 'train crash' with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

While Rehn was saying this, Erdogan went to London after his meeting with US President George W. Bush and was welcomed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This activity in foreign and domestic politics will get busier. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will also attend the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) evening iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast. If the recent hijacker doesn’t scare him, the pope will also come to Turkey soon. Instead of considering all the parties’ entering the debate as part of the culture of democracy, Wilson complained about the cacophony, which is an unlucky situation for the Turkish public, who put up with Bush’s absurdities. Wilson is trying to explain his confusion with the ‘cacophony’ in domestic politics and the media and sees the debate over secularism as unimportant. Next year will be difficult. How will the ruling party elect a president without holding general elections?” [08] WHO IS THE CIVILIAN AUTHORITY BOUND TO?

Columnist Orhan Erinc comments on the words of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanýt. A summary of his column is as follows:

“It’s clear that the speech by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the opening of the new legislative year disturbed some in the government and their supporters. Their evaluations, which also contain historical mistakes, are caused by their sensitivity of supporting the government. The front gets broader if we add those who see democracy as meaning giving a free rein to religious orders.

There were also reactions to the speech by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. His speech also brought up the question of who the military is bound to and the judgment that it is bound to the civilian authority. Some also criticized the speech, saying that the military is making policy, but I think they would change their mind if they reviewed historically in which cases the military has spoken up. Another missing part of the debate is to question of who the civilian authority is bound to. Those who say that the military is bound to the civilian authority are somehow reluctant to ask the same question for the civilian authority. One of the questions we should be asking now is who the civilian authority is bound to. There can be various answers to this question and some would be right, but there is only one source telling who the civilian authority should be bound to: the Constitution. The percentage of the votes that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) got (in November 2002) doesn’t reflect the outcome. If we look at the 1982 referendum on the Constitution, which was passed with 90 percent of the votes, then we would see that this is more important.

The Constitution’s principle of secularism has unfortunately been violated. And instead of preventing this, people try to interpret the principle in accordance with the current situation.”

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