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Turkish Press Review, 08-05-27Turkish 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 morning27.05.2008FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] GUL RECEIVES SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS CHIEF JUSTICEPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday received Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Hasan Gerceker. In a statement released before the meeting, Gul said that he had been closely following political and legal discussions that have intensified recently within the country.He said, "It is a duty for all individuals and agencies with a sense of responsibility to show the utmost care to prevent these arguments from reaching a level where they run the risk of damaging fundamental principles of our Constitution, our national interests and reputation, solidarity, unity and economic and political stability, and to assume the attitude, manner and sophistication the situation calls for." After the meeting, Gerceker said, "We reached a consensus to ease the tension as soon as possible and that this was important for future of the state." Gul said as it happens in all democracies it was natural and necessary that every segment of the society discuss directly every matter which concerns the nation and the world. "Common sense of public will finally determine the validity and rightfulness of the views in question," he said. /Milliyet/ [02] GUL GIVES AWARDS TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVESAt the Cankaya Presidential Palace yesterday, President Abdullah Gul presented awards to some news speakers and TV program producers from different TV stations, as part of the "Proper and Fine Usage of Turkish Language Awards 2007" held in partnership with Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Board (RÜTÜK) and Turkish Language Foundation (TDK). Speaking at the ceremony, Gul said that the Turkish language was spoken by three hundred million people and added that the Turkish people were responsible for placing great importance on the proper and fine use of the Turkish language. Stressing the high amount of time spent by watching TV in Turkey, Gul underlined the importance of proper use of the Turkish language on the TV programs. Gul also said, "Orhan Pamuk won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his novel in Turkish. This important prize was given to the Turkish language. Today the Turkish language enjoys its strongest period." /Hurriyet/[03] TOPTAN RECEIVES FOREIGN STUDENTSParliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday received foreign students who attended the 6th Turkish Language Olympics in Ankara. During the meeting, stressing that 500 children from 110 countries participated in the Olympics, Toptan said, "I hope you will carry the friendships that you have gained in Turkey to your countries and serve the world peace and reestablishment of the future of humanity." He gave presents to the children and they read out poems in Turkish in the meeting. /Turkiye/[04] ERDOGAN TO VISIT DIYARBAKIRPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to southeastern province of Diyarbakir today. Erdogan will be accompanied by a large group of Cabinet ministers, deputies and bureaucrats. During his visit, Erdogan is expected to release the government's Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) action plan, which includes nine provinces and proposes the transfer of YTL 2.3 billion to the region this year and YTL 3.6 billion next year. The plan also aims a five-fold increase in regional income. /Cumhuriyet/[05] CICEK: "STATE ORGANS AREN'T RIVALS"Speaking to reporters following yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Government Spokesman and State Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters that President Abdullah Gul's meeting with Hasan Gerceker, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals was a worthwhile development. Commenting on the growing tension between the judiciary and the government, Cicek said that state organs were not rivals but complimentary to each other. Stressing that all state institutions' duties, authorities and responsibilities were defined in the Constitution, he said that their work in harmony serves the country's peace and prosperity. Cicek added that the president's efforts to defuse the tension were his own will and that he hoped them to be beneficial. /Turkiye/[06] BABACAN DUE IN BRUSSELSForeign Minister and chief negotiator for Turkey's European Union talks Ali Babacan is today set to visit Brussels to attend Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting, which will announce the EU common position paper on Turkey that was passed yesterday by General Affairs and External Relation Council, composing of Foreign Affair Ministers of the member states of the EU. Speaking to reporters after meeting with his visiting Tunisian counterpart Abdelwaheb Abdallah, Babacan said that when Turkey-EU relations are considered both as part of legal and political framework, it would be natural for the EU to make comments, prepare reports and make statements regarding the developments in Turkey. Stressing that this is a common practice for all candidate countries which will continue until Turkey becomes a full member, he said, "Moreover, there are rules and standards that member countries should obey as a requirement of full membership. What we should do is to make sure that developments in Turkey are understood well in order to provide them with accurate information." He added that after reaching accurate information, it would be up to them to decide on the way of evaluation. Relations between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Tunisia were also taken up during the two top diplomats' talks. /Cumhuriyet/[07] BUYUKANIT MEETS WITH HIS GREEK COUNTERPARTChief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday met with his Greek counterpart Gen. Dimitrios Grapsas, who arrived in Ankara as his official guest. Grapsas said that Turkey and Greece were lucky to have great leaders like Ataturk and Venizelos. Buyukanit said that he totally agree with Grapsas, adding, "If soldiers provide a safe environment, politicians will be able to set up a better dialogue." Grapsas visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, before the meeting. During bilateral meetings, issues such as fight and movement safety in the Aegean Sea and the two countries' joint support to NATO's peace-support operations were discussed. /Aksam/[08] IRAQI RASHID HOLDS TALKS IN ANKARAIraqi Water Resource Minister Latif Rashid yesterday met with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen. Afterwards, Rashid met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Office of the Prime Minister. Erdogan and Rashid discussed cooperation between two countries on water resources and projects on that field during the meeting. The dams, which are planned to be constructed in Iraq and agreements on the use of water from Tigris and Euphrates rivers were on agenda. /Star/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [09] WINDS OF TURKEY IN PRAGUEBY MAHMUT OVUR (SABAH)Columnist Mahmut Ovur comments on Istanbul's Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul's visit to Prague as part of the Turkish Culture Week. A summary of her column is as follows: "We are in Prague, where the political liberalization called the Prague Spring emerged in 1968. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The spring is here now both literally and in terms of liberalization and becoming free. This wind of spring is also reflected on relations between Turkey and the Czech Republic. The Turkish Culture Week, jointly organized by Istanbul's Sisli Municipality and Prague's Slany Municipality, is a product of this reflection. Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul, former Foreign Minister and Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin and Czech Republic's representative in the European Parliament Jan Zahradil met prior to cultural activities. The meeting was beyond Sisli's borders and focused on Turkish-European Union relations. Cetin mentioned the requirement of making Turkey an EU member to Zahradil as follows: 'Imagining an EU without Turkey would cause terrible problems. The EU needs Turkey particularly in terms of terrorism, irresponsible use of nuclear weapons and energy safety.' Zahradil's answer was interesting. He said, 'The reason for not making Turkey an EU member is neither religious, nor cultural difference. The real reason is politics. Turkey can change all balances. It's easy to find small countries, but Turkey is an important country. That's why it's not wanted. The Czech Republic will be next to Turkey today and tomorrow.' Meanwhile, Czech Republic's Parliament foreign relations advisor expressed Turkey's importance as follows: 'We consider Turkey a key country. We aim to create a Europe without barriers.' Sarigul drew their attention to the closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and requested EU members' support. Sarigul said, 'I'm against closing a party with a court decision. A party which came into power through elections should leave the same way. Please support us so that the law on elections and parties is amended.' The visit's appearance in domestic politics was as important as its foreign dimension. When people saw Cetin and Sarigul together, they interpreted it as the first step of getting ready for the new period of cooperation." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |