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Turkish Press Review, 07-04-02
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
02.04.2007
ERDOGAN AND
RISK
[00]
IN ESKISEHIR, ERDOGAN CRITICIZES YOK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a series of opening ceremonies
over the weekend. Addressing one such gathering, Erdogan criticized the
Higher Board of Education (YOK) citing a shortage of instructors in its
opposition to a government plan to open new universities. "They say that
there aren't enough teachers for new universities and that founding
universities isn't as important as sending teachers there," said Erdogan.
"The government's mission is to found universities, and YOK needs to train
new teachers." Stressing that some regions in Turkey have been forsaken,
Erdogan added that his government doesn't discriminate among the regions.
He further stated that the largest chunk of the government's budget goes to
education. /Sabah/
CONTENTS
[00]
[01] FM GUL: "WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN AT THE EU ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS"
[02] AGAR: "THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T ACTING TO COUNTER SECURITY PROBLEMS"
[03] BAYKAL: "WE'RE TRYING TO FORM AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AKP FOR THE FALL ELECTIONS"
[04] TURKMEN MEMBER OF IRAQI PARLIAMENT: "WE EXPECT HELP FROM TURKEY"
[05] TUZMEN TOUTS PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS TO CHINA
[06] ITALIAN FIRM WINS MAJOR HELICOPTER TENDER
[07] ERDOGAN AND RISK
[01] FM GUL: "WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN AT THE EU ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS"
In an interview with German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung yesterday,
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul spoke on Turkey not being invited to last
month's celebrations in Berlin marking the 50th anniversary of the European
Union, saying, "Needless to say, we would have liked to have been there.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and I were invited to Rome for the
signing ceremony of the European constitution. We would have liked to have
been invited to Berlin." In related news, Gul will go to Germany for a two-
day visit. He is expected to meet with his German counterpart Frank-Walter
Steinmeier and discuss bilateral relations as well as Turkish-EU ties.
/Hurriyet-Turkiye/
[02] AGAR: "THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T ACTING TO COUNTER SECURITY PROBLEMS"
Speaking at a meeting of his party over the weekend, opposition True Path
Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said that an amnesty several years ago had
led to a burst of crimes in Turkey, saying that if his party comes to power
in November's general elections this security problem would be solved. "The
amnesty law is the reason for the spike in crime," he said. Agar further
criticized the government on security issues, saying it has failed to take
measures against worsening security problems. /Milliyet/
[03] BAYKAL: "WE'RE TRYING TO FORM AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AKP FOR THE FALL
ELECTIONS"
Appearing on television yesterday, main opposition Republican People's
Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that for November's general elections,
his party was working to form an alternative to the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP), adding that he was aware that they needed to bring
reluctant voters and ones on the center-right and left wings under the roof
of the CHP. Baykal further said that next month's presidential election
should be held without creating a crisis in the country. /Turkiye/
[04] TURKMEN MEMBER OF IRAQI PARLIAMENT: "WE EXPECT HELP FROM TURKEY"
Fevzi Ekrem, a Turkmen member of a Shiite Party in Iraq's Parliament, said
yesterday that he opposed current developments in Kirkuk, a northern Iraqi
city which could join Iraq's Kurdish administrative region in a referendum
later this year. He said many efforts were being made to wipe out Iraqi
Turkmen in Kirkuk. Ekrem said that the Turkmen expect Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and other Turkic republics to give them a helping hand.
/Turkiye/
[05] TUZMEN TOUTS PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS TO CHINA
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday touted government plans to increase
exports to China, saying that a Chinese delegation which visited Turkey
last week signed an export agreement worth $300 million. The agreement
includes iron and steel, chrome, and marble. Tuzmen further stated that
they had discussed olive oil as well as hazelnuts, adding that intense
efforts were being made to export these strong Turkish products to China.
/Turkiye/
[06] ITALIAN FIRM WINS MAJOR HELICOPTER TENDER
A major defense industry tender 12 years in the making was won by Italy's
Agusta Westland on Friday, reports said over the weekend. The Italian firm
will supply Turkey with combat helicopters as part of a military
modernization program. Following Friday's meeting of the Defense Industry
Executive Committee under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul stated that the project envisaged the
initial purchase of 50 ATAK helicopters but stressed that Mangusta A-129
attack helicopters would be produced in Turkey. /The New Anatolian/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[07] ERDOGAN AND RISK
Columnist Nasuhi Gungor comments on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and next month's presidential
election. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The countdown to next month's presidential election is ticking. Efforts to
exacerbate an emerging political crisis are also continuing. Everybody has
different expectations, which is natural. So they're putting their cards on
the table in line with their expectations. But those who expect that
developments will lead to a bigger crisis will be disappointed. We always
confuse certain things with each other. Debates over the presidential
election have nothing to do with the person to be elected, his wife's
headscarf or the policy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Everybody is trying to ensure his position in the months to come. Let me
say at once to avoid misunderstanding that I'm not talking about an inner-
party debate. All of Turkey's sectors, groups and power centers are trying
to see what role they will have and are angling themselves. We're
overlooking many important meetings amidst the whirling debate. But Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently held a very risky and important
meeting. He met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Now, we say very tough
words about the Iraq issue and make impassioned speeches. Nobody can
dispute the rightness of our position, but it's not enough to be right. As
the most important country in the region, we must produce a solution.
Erdogan has been laying out Turkey's position on this issue, particularly
during his group speeches, since the beginning of the year. He warned
everyone that we should avoid certain steps which could bring conflict,
instead of looking for reconciliation. The US administration is emphasizing
choices which would increase Ankara's concerns, instead of removing these
concerns concerning this issue. Similarly, Kurdish groups and Kurdish
leader Massoud Barzani are also continuing to make certain speeches which
could worsen tension. In such an atmosphere, it would be easy to voice
ineffectual words and threats, like certain Turks are doing. But let's not
be unfair. By meeting with Talabani, Erdogan chose perhaps the most
difficult alternative. This was also Turkey's highest-level contact to date
with Talabani, who hasn't been invited to Turkey due to President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer's opposition. Some people stress that the meeting was held
outside the territory of these two countries (at an Arab summit in Saudi
Arabia). Talabani's proposal that a Turkish delegation can come to Kirkuk
to examine public records concerning the issue might not produce a solution
in the short term. However, the important thing is that such risks which
are vitally important for Turkey have been taken at such a time. Those who
want to squeeze Turkey in their borders are either unaware of the upcoming
danger, or they're working for those trying to corner us."
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