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Turkish Press Review, 05-04-18Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning18.04.2005FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE RULE ON THE PEOPLE’S BEHALF”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony to mark the opening of Antalya Airport’s second departure terminal constructed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan expressed his wishes for a great tourism season ahead for Turkey. He stated that the state and people would work hand in hand on the road to development. Pointing to recent positive figures in the economy, the premier vowed to carry Turkey even further. Stressing that Turkey is among the world’s 20 countries largest economies, Erdogan said his government was ruling on behalf of the nation. After completing his contacts in Antalya, Erdogan returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/[02] NSC TO CONVENE TODAY TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS AT HOME AND ABROADThe National Security Council (NSC) is due to convene today to discuss developments both at home and abroad. The meeting will be chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu will also be present at the meeting. /Turkish Daily News/[03] TALAT ELECTED TRNC PRESIDENTTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday was elected the new president of his nation with 55.6% of some 150,000 votes in the first round. Talat will serve for five years, as the successor to veteran politician Rauf Denktas. Following the announcement of results, Talat hailed the election as a historic one, adding that he would serve with a great sense of responsibility and protect the rights of all Turkish Cypriots. He urged Greek leader Tassos Papadopulos to act with common sense and answer United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s calls to begin dialogue. “Papadopulos should convey his views and proposals to Annan,” said Talat. Stressing that he would also express his views on the issue to the UN secretary-general, the newly elected president said he would begin a new process to resolve the Cyprus issue as soon as possible. In related news, US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli congratulated Talat and welcomed his renewed commitment to work for a settlement on the island. In addition, outgoing President Denktas and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed their congratulations to Talat. TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Serdar Denktas stated that he would carry out work with the new president in harmony and cooperation. /Turkiye/[04] PAPADOPOULOS: “I’M PLEASED DENKTAS DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN”Speaking before yesterday’s presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said that he was pleased that longtime TRNC President Rauf Denktas had decided not to run for reelection. Touching on the matter of the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement, Papadopoulos said that the protocol was being prepared and that there was consensus with Ankara concerning the issue. “The protocol will be submitted to the EU General Council and after being endorsed by the council, Ankara will sign it,” he said, adding that just signing the protocol wasn’t enough, that implementation was also very important. /Cumhuriyet/[05] GREEK CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: “I HOPE TALAT WILL WORK FOR A REUNIFIED CYPRUS”Greek Cyprus Parliament Speaker and AKEL party General-Secretary Dimitris Hristofyas said yesterday that he hoped Mehmet Ali Talat, who was elected the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) new president over the weekend, would work for a reunified island. He stated that the Turkish Cypriots had elected their new leader and Cyprus negotiator. He further called for Talat to act on the basis of a “leftist vision.” /Cumhuriyet/[06] GREEK OFFICIALS APOLOGIZE FOR FLAG DESECRATION INCIDENTGreek military officials have vowed to launch an investigation into a desecration of the Turkish flag during a goodwill visit by Turkish officers and military students to the Greek War College last week. Two officers and five students from the Turkish Military Academy were sent to the Greek War College last Monday as part of confidence-building measures between Ankara and Athens. The students discovered a Turkish flag defaced with inflammatory remarks written in English in their guest room. Following the incident, the Greek Land Forces commander called his Turkish counterpart Gen. Yasar Buyukanit to express his great regret at the incident. Then upon the General Staff and Foreign Ministry’s request for an official apology, Greek officials made statements condemning the incident and pledging to find and punish the perpetrators. /Hurriyet/[07] BAYKAL: “THE VILLAGE INSTITUTES WERE A GREAT VENTURE”Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP leader Deniz Baykal yesterday attended a festival in Hasanoglu, Ankara, marking the 65th Anniversary of the Village Institutes. Speaking at the opening of the ceremonies, Baykal said that the project of ‘village institutes’ was still a valuable idea even after the passage of some 65 years. Stressing that the project was an original venture of the Turkish nation, the CHP leader stated that it had also drawn attention also from academics abroad. The project, which began to be carried out in 1940, was ended by a law in 1954. /Turkiye/[08] AGAR: “THE AKP DIDN’T KEEP THE PROMISES IT MADE BEFORE COMING TO POWER”Speaking at a meeting of his party in Hatay over the weekend, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar charged that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had failed to keep the promises it made before coming to power. “The AKP can no longer hold onto the reins of power in this country,” said Agar, adding that production was stalled and unemployment was rising throughout Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[09] GONUL: “THE TSK ISN’T CONSIDERING PAYMENT IN LIEU OF MILITARY SERVICE”Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that for the time being, payment in lieu of obligatory military service was not being considered by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), since the current manpower meets the needs of the TSK. Responding to a question posed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Trabzon Deputy Asim Aykan, Gonul said, “This question depends on the TSK’s need for manpower, which is determined by the General Staff.” /Cumhuriyet/[10] GREEK PUBLIC FAVORS “TOUGHER” STANCE AGAINST TURKEYA public survey conducted in Greece by To Paron daily in the wake of last week’s dispute between Ankara and Athens over Kardak revealed that 79.9 percent of the Greek population is in favor of pursuing a “tougher” policy against Turkey. The survey also showed that the Greek public is overwhelmingly against Turkey’s European Union membership. According to the survey, only 16.8 percent of Greeks favor Turkey’s EU aspirations. /Star/[11] BABACAN TO MEET WITH WB’S WOLFENSON IN WASHINGTON TODAYState Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, who is currently in Washington to attend the World Bank’s spring meetings, said yesterday that he will meet on Monday with WB President James Wolfenson, who will turn over his post to former US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in July. Babacan said that Wolfowitz had undertaken important duties in various positions, adding that he was pleased to see Wolfowitz win the top WB post. Babacan also touted recent positive economic developments in the country, adding, however that some circles were ignoring these developments. “Our economy’s power to withstand adverse developments both at home and abroad has risen,” said Babacan, adding that economic policies were being implemented determinedly and consciously. /Milliyet/[12] SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT VISITS HYUNDAI FACTORY IN IZMITSouth Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, visiting Turkey, yesterday visited the Hyundai automotive factory in Izmit. Stressing that Hyundai was one of his country’s sources of pride, Roh said that success of the factory would also serve the Turkish economy. He also expressed his pleasure to hear that the factory would double its capacity in the coming days. After completing his contacts in Turkey, the president and his companying delegation returned to South Korea. /Sabah/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[14] TRANSFORMATION DIPLOMACY AND PARTNERSHIP IN DEMOCRACY BY YASEMIN CONGAR (MILLIYET)Columnist Yasemin Congar comments on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s visit to Syria last week, Turkish-US relations and Washington’s foreign policy in the Mideast. A summary of her column is as follows:“Please read the title of this column one more time. These two concepts will shape US President George W. Bush’s foreign policy in the future, as two US criteria to evaluate its bilateral and multilateral relations and measure the functionality of its cooperation with other countries. In other words, the US is planning to engage in ‘transformation diplomacy,’ particularly in the Middle East. Last week Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan was asked a significant question at a think-thank called the Washington Institute: ‘Allies might of course pursue different policies to serve interests in common. However, this still doesn’t explain President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s recent visit to Syria. Can you explain what his visit meant to Damascus, and what kind of messages do you think the opposition groups in Syria and Lebanon got from Sezer’s visit?’ The question was asked by the Czech Republic’s number two diplomat in Washington, Ambassador Vratislav Janda. We can answer his question by looking at the two concepts above. Sezer visited Syria and came back. The Assad administration used his visit to boost its position in the eyes of the international community. ‘The question isn’t the message, but whether Syria received it and will act in line with it,’ said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. In other words, while Ankara believes that Sezer’s visit was useful because he conveyed important messages to Damascus, Washington argues that this doesn’t mean anything. The reason I quoted Janda’s question is that Syria and Lebanon are the two countries where the transatlantic alliance is currently pursuing transformation diplomacy. The measure of success will depend on Syria’s possible withdrawal from Lebanon and Damascus’ possible transformation towards a democratic system. Syria’s relations with the European Union must also be evaluated in the same context. Damascus could sign a trade agreement with Brussels if and only if it withdraws from Lebanon. Syria is only one example. The transatlantic alliance will pursue this policy based on the two concepts above in a wider region ranging from the Middle East to the Black Sea basin and Gibraltar. Turkey might join the alliance as long as it considers democracy a criterion in its foreign policy. ‘Tens of million more human beings live on that right side of freedom, and all citizens of the community of democracies have a solemn obligation to help those who still do not,’ said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a speech on Saturday. ‘This time of global transformation calls for transformational diplomacy. More than ever, the United States is active with our partners in democracy in building a safer and better and freer world.’ These words could be seen as meaningless propaganda. However, we can also evaluate the steps that Washington takes in line with these words and join the common efforts for democratization. I believe that the latter will be a democrat one.” [15] A NEW “MAN OF CAUSE” FOR THE TRNC BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Týnc comments on Mehmet Ali Talat’s election yesterday as president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and his political stance on the Cyprus issue. A summary of her column is as follows:“Turkish Cypriots are still weary after a tiring election day. But they are also happy because they believe that they have fulfilled their duty by electing Mehmet Ali Talat their next president. What will happen next is unclear. But predictions aren’t as optimistic as they were before. Talat began to speak of ‘a new cause’ in his election campaign. What does this new cause include exactly? His own explanation is as follows: ‘During Rauf Denktas’s presidency, the case of Cyprus was founded on avoiding a solution. Now, we will establish a new cause based on reaching a compromise.’ Talat’s statement signals that from now on, Turkish Cypriots will work against whoever is resisting reaching a compromise. For the time being, the uncompromising Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos is the main target for the Turkish Cypriots. But for a comprehensive solution, the Greek Cypriots must cease seeing Turkish Cypriots as a minority. ‘We will let the world know their actual plans,’ Talat said. ‘We will explain why their fanatical approach towards the issue fails to comply with European standards.’ However, diplomatic methods and negotiations with the European Union won’t be enough to succeed. The Greek Cypriot Republic is already a member of the EU, which means that they can easily make their voice heard. We should also make our voice heard. But this is possible only if we use all possible means of communication to win the support of a multitude. In accordance with this brand new national policy, everyone expects Talat to become a ‘man of cause.’ If he fails to do so, Denktas and the diehard partisans will unite to build a new front against compromise on the issue.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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