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Turkish Press Review, 06-11-17
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
17.11.2006
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH IRAQI PM, DISCUSSES MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST PKK
[02] IN COPENHAGEN, BABACAN BOOSTS TURKEY'S EU BID
[03] IN WASHINGTON, SAYGUN PLEDGES TO FIGHT TERRORISTS TO THE END
[04] FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER LEFT OFF GONUL'S DEFENSE FAIR GUEST LIST
[05] KOCHARIAN: "AS AN EU CANDIDATE, TURKEY SHOULD ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH ARMENIA"
[06] SOYER MEETS WITH BRITISH EU MINISTER HOON TO DISCUSS CYPRUS
[07] IRAQI FM: "KIRKUK'S FUTURE WILL BE DETERMINED UNDER IRAQ'S NEW CONSTITUTION"
[08] REHN: "A SOLUTION TO VAROSHA WILL BE FOUND AT THE UN"
[09] ATHENS: "NOBODY IS BEING BLACKMAILED"
[10] US STATE DEPT OFFICIAL: "THE US WANTS TURKEY'S EU PROCESS TO CONTINUE"
[11] ANTALYA TO HOST TURKIC COUNTRIES' LEADERS FOR KEY SUMMIT
[12] TURKISH FIRMS TO ATTEND DEFENSE FAIR IN PAKISTAN
[13] INITIATIVE OF THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH IRAQI PM, DISCUSSES MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST
PKK
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, currently in Ankara for an official
visit, yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a
number of issues, including bilateral relations. During their meeting,
Erdogan warned al-Maliki about the Kirkuk situation and the presence of the
terrorist PKK in northern Iraq. Speaking at a press conference afterwards,
Erdogan said that he had fruitful talks with al-Maliki on military,
political, economic, social, and cultural issues, adding that they had had
the opportunity to review measures to be taken against the PKK. Erdogan
stressed that the territorial integrity of Iraq was very important for the
Iraqi nation, as well as Turkey, and added, "Iraq's territorial integrity
is indispensable. I've briefed al-Maliki on our views about the issue.
There is consensus between the two countries and we're pleased about this."
Stressing that the presence of the PKK in northern Iraq was also discussed,
Erdogan added that cooperation between Turkey and Iraq would determinedly
continue. "Cooperation in this area will also pave the way for improving
economic ties," he added. For his part, al-Maliki stated that he was
accompanied by seven Cabinet ministers to strengthen ties with Ankara. He
further stated that trade ties between the two countries were getting
stronger every day. "Turkish firms are participating in infrastructure work,
and this will boost the trade volume between our countries," added al-
Maliki. /Turkiye/
[02] IN COPENHAGEN, BABACAN BOOSTS TURKEY'S EU BID
Turkey's chief European Union negotiator Ali Babacan, currently in
Copenhagen to promote Turkey's EU bid, yesterday met with Danish
businessmen. Speaking at the meeting, Babacan briefed the participants on
social and economic reforms carried out by Ankara, adding that Turkey was
determined on the nation's EU bid and that all its efforts were directed
towards full membership. He said, however, that EU membership wasn't
guaranteed. "Europe has its own problems such as unemployment," he said.
"New EU members also posed problems for the Union since they weren't ready
for membership. We don't know if we'll join the EU, but our all efforts are
aimed towards this goal." Babacan further stressed that it was natural that
some people didn't favor Turkey's EU bid, but that the Turkish nation
needed to be patient and tolerant. /Sabah/
[03] IN WASHINGTON, SAYGUN PLEDGES TO FIGHT TERRORISTS TO THE END
Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun said yesterday that Turkish
soldiers would continue their fight with terrorists until none are left in
the mountains. Speaking to reporters in Washington during his official
visit to the US at the invitation of Joint Chiefs of Staff Deputy Chairman
Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, Saygun said that the PKK issue was at the top of
his agenda to be discussed with US military officials. Stressing his hope
that a positive outcome come from the joint efforts of the US, Turkish and
Iraqi special envoys on the issue, Saygun said that the Turkish military
was resolved to continue its fight until no militant was left in the
mountains. Meanwhile, the US reportedly warned certain European countries
to cut their financial and moral support for the terrorist PKK. A US
delegation of diplomats and intelligence officials last week visited the
capitals of six European countries -- France, Britain, Belgium, Austria,
Germany and the Netherlands -- on the issue and briefed Turkish officials
on their contacts, said diplomatic sources. /Turkiye/
[04] FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER LEFT OFF GONUL'S DEFENSE FAIR GUEST LIST
Following Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug's announcement on
Wednesday that military ties with France had been suspended, the government
also took a negative stance towards France. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul
said yesterday that he had not invited his French counterpart Michele
Alliot Maire to the Eighth International Defense Fair (IDEF 2007) set for
next May in Ankara. During a promotional meeting, Gonul said that France
had a respected defense minister, but due to the recent developments, he
had not been officially invited to the fair in question. Meanwhile,
commenting on Basbug's announcement, French Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-
Francois Bureau stated that the statement had been made by a military
commander but not by the Turkish government, adding that no practical or
concrete effect of the declaration had been seen so far. In addition,
regarding Basbug's statement, world media outlets interpreted the move as
"Turkey's revenge" following the French Parliament's passage of a bill
criminalizing denial of the alleged Armenian genocide. /Milliyet/
[05] KOCHARIAN: "AS AN EU CANDIDATE, TURKEY SHOULD ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC
TIES WITH ARMENIA"
Speaking at a conference in Berlin yesterday, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian said that as a European Union candidate, Turkey should pursue a
different approach by establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia.
Kocharian further complained that Turkey, an important country in its
region, has closed its border with Armenia, adding that it should take a
different stance. Kocharyan also said that diplomatic ties between the two
countries should be established without any preconditions. /Milliyet/
[06] SOYER MEETS WITH BRITISH EU MINISTER HOON TO DISCUSS CYPRUS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer
yesterday met with Geoff Hoon, the British minister responsible for
European affairs, to discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Soyer said that the
Turkish Cypriots favored a resolution based on political equality.
/Milliyet/
[07] IRAQI FM: "KIRKUK'S FUTURE WILL BE DETERMINED UNDER IRAQ'S NEW
CONSTITUTION"
Speaking on CNN-Turk yesterday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said
that the future of Kirkuk would be determined under Iraq's new constitution,
adding that Kirkuk was an Iraqi province, not a Turkish one. Zebari added
that the Turkish government and nation was expecting concrete steps from
Iraq against the terrorist PKK. Kirkuk has traditionally had a majority
ethnic Turkmen population. /Aksam/
[08] REHN: "A SOLUTION TO VAROSHA WILL BE FOUND AT THE UN"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday said that
the place to find a solution on Varosha, an area closed since 1974, was not
the EU, but the UN. Speaking at the European Parliament, Rehn said, "Trying
to link the restitution of Varosha and ending the isolation of the Turkish
Cypriots was wrong." Stating that the restitution of Varosha was the most
comprehensive item of the UN peace plan which was put to a referendum in
2004, Rehn said that he supported the EU's efforts to find a comprehensive
and lasting solution. /Hurriyet/
[09] ATHENS: "NOBODY IS BEING BLACKMAILED"
Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson George Kumucakos yesterday said that no
one should be optimistic that European Union Term President Finland's
Cyprus plan will come to a positive conclusion. Commenting on Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul's remarks, "Blackmailing Turkey isn't proper,"
Kumucakos said, "The EU has criteria, conditions and policy based on a
certain logic. Candidate countries should harmonize themselves to this
approach. No candidate country is being blackmailed." /Star/
[10] US STATE DEPT OFFICIAL: "THE US WANTS TURKEY'S EU PROCESS TO CONTINUE"
According to Internet news site ABHaber.com, an official from the US State
Department responsible for Southeastern Europe and Turkey held contacts
this week in Brussels. The official said that they all wanted Turkey's EU
process to continue, adding, "All the Europeans, Greek Cypriots and Greeks
I speak with want the process to continue, but the negative statements made
from Europe about the process lead to bad results. They should end." /Star/
[11] ANTALYA TO HOST TURKIC COUNTRIES' LEADERS FOR KEY SUMMIT
The heads of state of Turkic-speaking countries will meet today in the
Mediterranean city of Antalya, where Turkey will have a chance to
strengthen ties with the former Soviet republics at a time when its bid to
join the European Union is picking up pace. The presidents of Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and high-level envoys from Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan will attend the meeting. The last summit between Turkey and
the five Central Asian nations was held in 2001. /The New Anatolian/
[12] TURKISH FIRMS TO ATTEND DEFENSE FAIR IN PAKISTAN
Turkish defense industry firms will participate in the IDEAS 2006 Defense
Fair to start next Tuesday in Karachi, Pakistan. Some 20 Turkish firms will
promote their products at the four-day event. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul
and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) representative Adm. Metin Atac are also
expected to travel to the country to hold contacts with Pakistani officials
during the fair. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] INITIATIVE OF THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
BY BERAT OZIPEK (STAR)
Columnist Berat Ozipek comments on the meeting of the Alliance of
Civilizations initiative held in Istanbul this week. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"Istanbul hosted an important meeting this week. As part of the initiative
of the Alliance of Civilizations conducted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, wise
people from many countries who strive for peace met and searched for an
answer to the question of what should be done. However, the meeting didn't
have the impact that it deserved in Turkey. It seems that the fact that
this initiative wasn't discussed in Turkey sufficiently is related to the
political context. If Erdogan hadn't been connected to the initiative and
the media had better relations with the government these days, maybe the
situation would be different. But it didn't happen. The press even
preferred to underestimate it along with the opposition parties.
Sacrificing peace to political debate isn't peculiar to us. Zapatero's
political rival, the Spanish main opposition party leader, also said that
the only alliance Spain should take part in is NATO. However, this
initiative is worthy due to its aim, whatever its results. It deserves
praise and support like all initiatives which work not to surrender to the
way of the world, challenge those who favor war, and keep hope alive.
This support is perhaps possible through a constructive criticism of the
initiative's name and how it can be filled. For example, a concept such as
‘alliance' taken from the lexicon of war may not be very appropriate. Also
perhaps ‘civilizations' shouldn't be mentioned, because there's only one
civilization, or the United Nations' effectiveness can be questioned.
However, we don't have the luxury to underestimate any initiative which
talks about peace in today's world. Muslim and Catholic clergymen, former
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, who made the UN declare 2001 the ‘Year
of Dialogue between Civilizations,' and such intellectuals as Giandomenico
Picco have all contributed to it. The survival of the edifice built on this
basis can be considered a moral duty for everybody who thinks that peace is
important."
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