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Turkish Press Review, 07-12-28Turkish 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 morning28.12.2007FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY CONDEMNS BHUTTO ASSASSINATIONPakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated yesterday, just two months after the former premier returned from exile, in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally. Nearly 20 people were also killed in the blast. President Abdullah Gul expressed Turkey’s sorrow at the attack, and said he hoped peace would be restored in Pakistan as soon as possible. “Everyone should be helpful, as Pakistan is our sister country,” said Gul. The premier also sent a message of condolences to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also telephoned Musharraf to give his condolences. In addition, the Foreign Ministry and Parliament both issued statements condemning the assassination. /All Papers/[02] NSC TO DISCUSS FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISMThe National Security Council (NSC) will convene today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. During the meeting, chaired by President Abdullah Gul, top officials will take up the terrorism issue and measures to counter terrorism. Turkish-European Union relations are also expected to be discussed at the gathering. /Turkiye/[03] ANKARA CELEBRATES 88TH ANNIVERSARY OF ATATURK'S ARRIVALStudents of Ankara’s Land Forces School yesterday held a traditional march to Anitkabir to mark the December 27, 1919 arrival in Ankara of Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the runup to the War of Independence. A commemorative run was also held as part of the celebrations. /Sabah/[04] PARLIAMENT PASSES WITNESS PROTECTION LAWParliament yesterday adopted a new law to guarantee the safety and confidentiality of the identity of witnesses who testify against criminals and terrorist groups. The law pledges to protect people who serve as witnesses in cases that call for sentences of at least 10 years, as well as terrorism and certain organized crime cases. / Today’s Zaman/[05] POET MEHMET AKIF ERSOY COMMEMORATEDEminent Turkish poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who wrote the lyrics to the national anthem, was commemorated yesterday on the 71st anniversary of his death. /Sabah/[06] NEW MINIMUM WAGE SET FOR 2008Following a series of meetings between government officials and labor representatives, the Minimum Wage Determination Commission yesterday announced the new minimum wage for next year. The current gross wage of YTL 585 for workers over 16 will be increased 4 percent in the first six months of 2008, and 5 percent in the second half. /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [07] EXPECTED ASSASSINATION AND PAKISTANI-TURKISH RELATIONSBY HASAN KANBOLAT (TODAY’S ZAMAN)“Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan People's Party leader who became the Muslim world's first female prime minister when she was elected in 1988, was killed Thursday in a suicide attack as she left an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi. During an earlier rally held by Nawaz Sharif, Bhutto's main rival in the election who also recently returned from exile, four people were killed in an armed attack as well. Bhutto, 54, returned to Pakistan in October following an eight-year exile in Dubai and London. Her homecoming parade in Karachi was also targeted by a suicide bomber, killing more than 140 people. On that occasion she narrowly escaped injury. Bhutto had returned following a deal with current President Pervez Musharraf on sharing power. However, relations between the two leaders soon took a turn for the worse. Bhutto was critical of Musharraf for not taking adequate measures against Islamic militants. Musharraf, on the other hand, asserted that he was fighting extremism with ‘enlightened moderation.’ Al-Qaeda has declared war on both Musharraf and the parliamentary elections set to be held on Jan. 8. The US believed that cooperation between Musharraf and Bhutto would be the best way to fight terrorism, and Bhutto had declared that if she came to power, she would allow the US to hit al- Qaeda targets within Pakistan's borders. It is quite certain that Bhutto's death will profoundly worsen Pakistan's political crisis. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, aware that Pakistan is going through critical days, paid an official visit to this country on Dec. 3 to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Pakistan. During his visit, Gul emphasized the war on terrorism and extremism and the importance of trilateral summit meetings between Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan. For Pakistan, a country used to the frequent assassinations of political leaders, 2007 was a year in which both political crises escalated and terrorist attacks climbed. Instability in Pakistan, the sole Muslim country possessing nuclear weapons, is not a desirable situation. Pakistan also shares a border with Afghanistan, a country that exerts considerable influence on Pakistan due to religious, linguistic and ethnic ties. Pakistan's democracy may be suspended in the name of stability for more time to come. For this reason, if Musharraf, who represents the military, the most important power in Pakistani politics and the economy, fails to maintain order in the country, the military might produce a new leader from among its ranks. Musharraf’s efforts to render the Supreme Court ineffective, his reelection on Oct. 6, and the declaration of emergency rule on Nov. 3 " all eight years after Musharraf seized power through a bloodless coup " heightened the political tension in the country. Musharraf, after a great deal of international pressure, lifted the emergency rule on Dec. 15. Political and military relations between Turkey and Pakistan have been characterized by a very positive and friendly atmosphere since Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, took Turkey as a role model. But economic ties between the two countries are at a very low point, considering their potential. In 1985 the bilateral trade volume totaled only $20 million before rising to over $300 million in the 1990s, and, as of this year, $600 million. The trade balance is against us, with only one-third of that amount going to Turkey. Contracting services are currently the most dynamic sector between the two countries.” [08] BHUTTO’S DEATH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SECULARISMBY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. A summary of his column is as follows: “A plan which was developed and supported by the US to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan might be scuttled by yesterday’s assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Under the plan, Pervez Musharraf, now no longer head of the military, would have remained Pakistan’s president, and based on the outcome of the planned Jan. 8 elections, Nawaz Sharif or Bhutto would have established a government. The plan’s goal was to keep fundamentalists out of power. Although she provided powerful opposition to Musharraf, Bhutto was seen as accepting a formula including Musharraf towards that aim. Bhutto convinced the other opposition parties, including Sharif’s, to take part in the upcoming elections. Bhutto’s assassination has thrown this plan into disorder. Signals that Pakistan, already in confusion, is teetering towards deeper chaos were in evidence yesterday. Under such conditions, holding elections anytime soon seems unworkable. The US’ main reason for keeping Mussarraf on top as a civilian, and urging cooperation with a government of either Bhutto or Sharif, was to prevent fundamentalists from coming to power and taking control of the country’s nuclear arsenal … It’s difficult to say that the US wasn’t responsible for this possibility, which it saw as a great danger. Its onetime ‘Green Belt Project’ to strengthen the Taliban against Russia resulted in an uncontrollable radical power, and this power has become a thorn in the side of the US, both in Pakistan and Afghanistan… The situation in Pakistan shows us the importance of secularism as a sine qua non for democracies. Of course, it also shows the greatness of Ataturk and how was a huge windfall for Turkey…” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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