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Turkish Press Review, 09-05-20Turkish 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 morning20.05.2009FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] DAVUTOGLU: "TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS IS A ONE-WAY ROAD WITH NO TURNING BACK""Turkey's EU membership process is a one-way road with no turning back," said yesterday Foreign Minister Ali Davutoglu. Davutoglu, currently in Brussels together with chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis attended the 47th session of the EC-Turkey Association Council, with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, Jan Kohout, Foreign Minister of Czech Republic, which holds the EU term presidency, and Sweden Foreign Minister Carl Bildt whose country set to assume the rotating term presidency on June 1 also in attendance. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's determination to speed up the EU reform efforts. Rehn praised Davutoglu's constructive role in Turkey's relation with neighbors. For his part, touching on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent remarks of "privileged partnership" offer, Kohout said that the EU decided to hold membership negotiations with Turkey, scheduled to start in 2005, and the negotiation process will continue in that way. /Star/[02] CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTER GUNAY: "TURKEY WILL TRAIN SYRIAN TOURISM TRAINERS"Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay stated over the weekend that the trade between Turkey and Syria increased after a free-trade agreement and said that this revival reflected in tourism. Speaking to reporters at the opening of Dedeman Hotel in Damascus, Gunay said that many Turkish groups visit Syria. "There's a common project between Gaziantep and Aleppo, " he added. "Syrian Culture Ministry is conducting work on the issue. Syria was the guest country at the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT) 2099. We have a common destination project. We'll support them on education. We'll educate their trainers. We'll send trainers from the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) and ministry." /Milliyet/[03] ISTANBUL HOSTS LAST UEFA CUP FINAL GAMEUkrainian and German football teams Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen will clash at the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul this evening in the last final of the UEFA Cup, which will be known as the Europa League from the 2009-2010 season on. Consequently, Sukru Saracoglu Stadium will not only be honored but will also go into the soccer record books as the last host of the UEFA Cup. The idea behind the establishment of the UEFA Cup was to organize a tournament for European cities in which fairs were regularly organized. The competition began in 1971 and replaced the Inter- Cities Fairs Cup. Then in 1999, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was abolished and merged with the UEFA Cup. English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur was the first winner of the UEFA Cup competition, beating the Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in an all-English final in 1971-72. Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg, with Turkey striker Fatih Tekke, who was acquired from Trabzonspor for 7.5 million euros in 2006, in its lineup, clinched the UEFA Cup last season after beating Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Rangers 2-0 in the final in the City of Manchester Stadium. Turkey will always be remembered whenever and wherever the UEFA Cup is mentioned in the decades or centuries ahead because Istanbul giant Galatasaray brought home the coveted trophy in 2000. Wednesday, May 17, 2000 is a day Turkish soccer lovers will never ever forget. That was the day the Galatasaray Lions won the UEFA Cup after beating English Premier League side Arsenal of England, 4-1, in a penalty shootout in Copenhagen after the game ended 0-0 in regulation and extra time. /Today's Zaman/[04] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[05] A DIFFERENT CELEBRATION OF MAY 19 BY BASBUGColumnist Fikret Bila comments on yesterday's May 19, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day celebrations at the General Staff Headquarters yesterday. A summary of his column is as follows:"Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug has been attracting attentions since he has taken over the general staff duty. A different celebration of May 19 was added to them. Gen. Basbug was an active panel participant at the General Staff Headquarters yesterday. This time May 19 was celebrated in an international panel for the first time. The panel, 'Ataturk, as a Soldier and Statesman, on his 128th Anniversary,' was moderated by Prof. Ilber Ortayli. The speakers were Prof. George W. Gawrych, Prof. Andrew Mango, Prof. Utkan Kocaturk, Prof. Serafettin Turan, Prof. Justin McCarthy and Prof. Salahi R. Sonyel. Thus six academics talked about various characteristics of Ataturk and Gen. Basbug was the most active participant with three questions he asked to panelists. As is known, Gen. Baţbug places importance on academic studies and thus he commemorates May 19 with scientific declarations. Gen. Basbug loved the definition of Ataturk as the 'thinking soldier' which was made by a panelist. He stressed that this definition expressed it very well that soldiers should place importance on academic studies and the scientific thinking habits. His celebration of May 19 in a academic meeting at the General Staff Headquarters was also a message for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) members. The break which was taken at the end of the first panel coincided with the funeral service for Prof. Turkan Saylan, the head of Support for Contemporary Living Association who passed away last week. I said to Gen. Basbug that he had gave the message about Saylan, reminding him of the message of respect which was sent by the colonel who made the opening speech of the panel. In turn, he said that the TSK owes Saylan not only a message, but also commemoration. Gen. Basbug's wife Sevil Basbug was very sad that she couldn't have attended the funeral service for Saylan. She said that she was planning to attend the funeral service, but it was postponed to May 19 and thus she couldn't go there due to the celebration of May 19 and that this situation had made her very sad. When I asked her if she had met Saylan, she said no, but added that she has been following her efforts very closely and that she has respected and admired her very much, because she was an exemplary Turkish woman, just like Ataturk wanted all the Turkish women to become. This panel which aims at commemorating Ataturk is the first work that Basbug plans to organize as a serial. Furthermore, commemoration panels will be held for Marshal Fevzi Cakmak, Ismet Inonu and Kazim Karabekir as part of the same understanding. Cakmak will be commemorated at the headquarters in April and Inonu in December this year, and Karabekir in 2010. It is known that Karabekir, one of the leading figures in our War of Independence, has been contradictory to Ataturk. He was Ataturk's opponent in the process of testing the Progressive Republican Party. He was also tried due to the assassination against Ataturk in Izmir. Although he was acquitted later, he could have never got along with Ataturk. The involvement of Karabekir in these national independence heroes to be commemorated attracted my attention. I asked Gen. Basbug if this could be considered as a reestablishment in terms of Karabekir. He said that this wasn't a matter of reestablishment, because if they had attempted at commemorating a great many commanders who have been next to Ataturk in our War of Independence, they would have had to hold a meeting everyday. He added that there were three leading figures next to Ataturk, namely, Inonu, Cakmak and Karabekir and that they have chosen them, as they aren't interested in the political period following the War of Independence, but in their functions in the war. Gen. Basbug added that this wasn't made with a political consideration, as this would be held for the first time for Inonu and Cakmak as well. Gen. Basbug displays the picture of an innovative commander who is able to carry out different openings and place importance on academic studies. The celebration of May 19 that we followed yesterday was one of the reflections of this situation." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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