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Turkish Press Review, 07-10-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning23.10.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] NSC TO DISCUSS SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTHERN IRAQThe National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Abdullah Gul, is set to convene tomorrow. The council is expected to focus on possible sanctions against the Iraqi regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq in order to pressure it to stop backing the terrorist PKK. /Hurriyet/[02] GUL BRIEFS PARTY LEADERS ON ANTI-TERROR SUMMITPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday received leader of opposition political parties to brief them about a meeting at the Presidential Palace on the recent terrorist attacks. He first received main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) Devlet Bahceli, Democratic Society Party’s (DTP) Ahmet Turk, Democratic Left Party’s (DSP) Zeki Sezer, Grand Unity Party’s (BBP) Muhsin Yazicioglu and Freedom and Democracy Party’s (ODP) Ufuk Uras. After speaking with Gul, Baykal said that the problem of terrorism will not be solved by neutralizing the terrorists one by one. The swamp which feeds and supports terrorist activities must be drained, he added. /Aksam-Star/[03] IN BRITAIN, ERDOGAN WARNS, “TURKEY IS READY TO TAKE ITS OWN MEASURES AGAINST PKK”Visiting Britain, Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan last evening delivered a speech at the Oxford Union. Speaking on the PKK terrorism threatening Turkey, Erdogan said that if the US and the Iraqi government fail to take necessary steps within a matter of days, Turkey will take its own measures. As part of his contacts in London, Erdogan is set to hold a meeting with Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert. During their talks, Erdogan is expected to urge Olmert to call on US Jewish groups to help block a House vote on an Armenian resolution. /Milliyet/[04] CICEK: “THE GOVT, SECURITY FORCES AND ALL RELATED INSTITUTIONS ARE FULLY DETERMINED TO FIGHT TERRORISM"The Turkish Republic has the ability and power to preserve its national unity, unitary structure and territorial integrity, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters yesterday following a Cabinet meeting. “The government, security forces and all related institutions have full determination and firmness in dealing with terrorism,” Cicek said. “All related institutions of the state, presidency, government and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are in full consensus about the timing and methods of the measures to be taken.” /Aksam/[05] EIGHT SOLDIERS MISSING IN THE WAKE OF DEADLY PKK ATTACKMilitary officials yesterday confirmed that eight soldiers were missing after Sunday’s clash with PKK terrorists in which 12 other soldiers were killed. They said that 34 terrorists had been killed in an offensive launched in retaliation for the attack. “Despite all search efforts, no contact has been established with the eight missing personnel,” said a statement posted on the military’s website. /Hurriyet/[06] BUSH AGAIN PLEDGES TO WORK WITH TURKEY AGAINST TERRORISTSIn a telephone conversation yesterday, US President George W. Bush told his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul said that the US is committed to work with Turkey to deal with terrorists. White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that Bush had expressed his deep concern about the recent attacks by PKK terrorists against Turkish soldiers and civilians. Jondroe also said that Bush had reaffirmed his commitment to work with Turkey and Iraq to combat PKK terrorists operating out of northern Iraq, telling Gul that the US would continue to urge the Iraqis to take action against the PKK. /Turkiye/[07] US’ RICE URGES BARZANI TO TAKE MEASURES AGAINST PKKState Department spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had telephoned Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani to urge him to take urgent steps against the terrorist PKK. McCormack reiterated the US doesn’t believe a unilateral cross-border operation would be the best way to handle the issue. /Sabah/[08] IRAQI PRESIDENT TALABANI: “THE PKK WILL DECLARE A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE”The PKK will declare a unilateral ceasefire, said Iraqi President Jalal Talabani yesterday. Talabani told reporters at Sulaimaniyah Airport that the Iraqi administration would continue its efforts to solve the problem of PKK in northern Iraq. Talabani added that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is expected to visit Baghdad soon and that they would have the opportunity to discuss recent developments. /Milliyet/[09] EU WARNS IRAQ, KURDISH LEADERSThe European Union has for the first time released a statement calling the terrorist PKK a threat to Turkey’s peace along with warnings to the Iraqi administration, regional Kurdish administration and international community. Speaking in the name of all EU members, Term President Portugal yesterday urged a halt to violations of Turkey’s borders and the use of northern Iraqi territories as a base for attacks on Turkey. The statement also called on the international community to support Turkey’s fight against terrorism. In related news, leaders of a number of countries issued statements condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, urging it to act calmly and try to solve the issue through diplomatic means. /Milliyet/[10] BABACAN MEETS WITH KUWAITI OFFICIALSFollowing his visit to Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday proceeded to Kuwait to hold a series of talks with officials there. Meeting with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Navaf El Sabah, Babacan presented a letter from President Abdullah Gul. He also met with Prime Minister Sheikh Nasir el Sabah to discuss recent developments in the region. After completing his contacts, Babacan returned to Turkey. /Turkish Daily News/[11] KILIC ELECTED NEW CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HEADThe Constitutional Court yesterday elected Hasim Kilic, its current deputy chief justice, as the new head of Turkey’s top court, following Tulay Tugcu’s retirement after reaching mandatory retirement age. Kilic was appointed to the court by then President Turgut Ozal in 1990 and reached the position of deputy chief justice in 1999. He will head the court for four years. His votes carry the same weight as those of his colleagues on the 11-member court. Speaking after being elected, Kilic said that the top court will continue to advocate a secular and democratic Turkey, as well as national independence and the country’s modernism. /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [12] OPPOSITION COMPLAINTSBY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on opposition leaders’ views on the government’s and president’s handling of the terrorism issue. A summary of his column is as follows: “President Abdullah Gul yesterday met separately with opposition party leaders yesterday, and later, these leaders voiced their complaints. Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the time Gul set aside for the meetings was too short and what was said was lacking in substance. Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer argued that it would have made more sense to hold a leaders’ summit with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, instead of Gul meeting briefly with opposition leaders one by one. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized the government’s stance and presented his own plan to Gul. Baykal said that there was no way a half-hour meeting could be productive and criticized Gul. He added that the gravity of the situation was clear and that such an issue could not be addressed in just 30 minutes. He added that from his meeting, he didn’t get the impression that serious preparations were being made or that a national policy was being drawn up. ‘We now think Turkey is facing not mere terrorist attacks, but what amounts to a war,’ said Baykal. ‘In line with the scope of this threat, there should be a national platform and policy with contributions from the opposition. The government doesn’t seem to have grasped the seriousness of the issue.’ Baykal added that Turkey can’t tolerate the PKK attacks or the stance of Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, saying that a cross-border operation was definitely needed. Among the opposition leaders, Bahceli made the toughest suggestions for responses in the wake of the recent attacks. Bahceli told Gul that the government is unaware of its responsibility and that Turkey is facing a large-scale declaration of a war, not just terrorist attacks. Bahceli added that Barzani should also be included in the government’s recent motion (authorizing a cross-border operation) and that his support for the terrorist PKK can be considered a casus belli and that the US should be told about this. He added that although the motion was passed, the government hasn’t understood the meaning of this authority and its responsibility. DSP leader Sezer also seemed dissatisfied by Gul. Sezer told me that Gul should meet with Erdogan and that a holding leaders’ summit would have been more useful. Sezer told Gul that a cross-border operation should be carried out in northern Iraq but that it was very wrong to give the impression that Turkey needed US permission for this. So just like Bahceli, he stressed that it would be better if Erdogan took action before visiting the US on Nov. 5. These three opposition leaders agree that a cross-border operation is necessary and argue that Gul and the government should draw up a policy of national consensus with opposition leaders.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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