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Turkish Press Review, 07-04-03Turkish 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 morning03.04.2007CONTENTS
[01] TURKISH POLICE CELEBRATES 162ND ANNIVERSARYMarking the 162nd anniversary of the police organization, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received a delegation including Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Security Director General Oguz Kagan Koksal and other top security officials. Pointing to the police organization's prestigious and very special importance among the public, Erdogan expressed the nation's gratitude for the members of the organization, who put their lives at risk every day to keep the public safe. The premier also called on members of the security forces not to damage their positive image by acting improperly. /Cumhuriyet/[02] FM GUL TO VISIT GERMANYForeign Minister Abdullah Gul will go to Germany today and hold a meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. After the meeting, Gul will attend a dinner given by Steinmeier in his honor and tomorrow will proceed to Cologne to hold a press conference for the promotion of a new Turkish e-consulate. Gul will return to Turkey after meeting with representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations. /Star/[03] KUWAITI PREMIER DUE IN ANKARA TODAYKuwaiti Prime Minister Nasir al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah will arrive in Ankara today at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After a meeting between the two premiers, al-Sabah is also expected to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. /Turkiye/[04] ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH PARTY MEMBERS TO SOUND THEM OUT ON PRESIDENTIAL RUNIn the runup to next month's presidential election, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to meet with his Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies in groups and convene the party's Central Executive Board (MGK) next week to exchange views on his possible run for Turkey's top post. The premier is also expected to meet with AKP's provincial leaders and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) before announcing his decision on the matter latter this month. /Sabah/[05] ANAVATAN'S DEPUTY ABUSOGLU DIESMotherland Party (ANAVATAN) Deputy Group Chairman and Gaziantep Deputy Omer Abusoglu died yesterday at the age of 56 due to a car accident. Abusoglu will be laid to rest in Gaziantep today. ANAVATAN leader Erkan Mumcu and fellow deputies are expected to attend the funeral. In related news, ANAVATAN has lost its group in Parliament, as it has only 19 seats now due to the death of Abusoglu. Parliament thereby returned its two-party structure, as following the Nov. 3, 2002 elections. /Turkiye/[06] TURKEY TO ASSUME COMMAND IN KABULThis Saturday Turkey will assume the regional command mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, which rotates between Turkey, France and Italy. A handover ceremony will take place on Friday in Kabul. Gen. Kasim Erden will undertake the regional command for eight months. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will hand over the mission to Italy on Dec. 6. /Star/[07] GERMAN GREENS SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU BIDGerman Greens Party deputies yesterday criticized Turkey not being invited to last month's celebrations in Berlin marking the 50th anniversary of the European Union. Greens Party spokesperson on European Affairs Rainder Steenblock, along with Deputies Ekin Deligoz, Silke Stokar and Silvia Uplegger met with, from Turkey's Parliament, European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis, Foreign Affairs Commission Head Mehmet Dulger and Internal Affairs Commission Head Ziyaettin Akbulut. Stating that they support Turkey's EU membership, Steenblock said, "We approach Turkey's EU bid with sympathy and are making efforts for its integration with the EU. We're here to learn how the integration process will continue and what kind of new steps have been taken recently for the EU." Yakis, for his part said, "We don't want to discriminate by saying that those who are against Turkey's EU entry are our enemies, and those who support us are our friends. We consider all Germans friends." /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS [08] THE KEY TO CANKAYA (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the looming presidential election. A summary of his column is as follows:"Turkey will elect its president starting a few weeks from now, but there aren't any declared candidates yet! Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal says democracy shouldn't be like this; the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) is taking over newspapers, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan doesn't declare he's running in order to prevent others from doing so, and Turkey is going to a presidential election under these conditions. Ankara is curiously waiting for what Erdogan will do. His ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) two-thirds majority in Parliament makes Erdogan calm, but he's hesitant. The possibility of the AKP losing this year's general elections after Erdogan is elected president worries the party. Some in the party believe Erdogan being elected president would create a synergy for the party, but others believe that the party, which was established as an ‘interim party' in the wake of the 1997 ‘postmodern coup' and which won 2002 elections as a result of protest votes, would fall apart without Erdogan. (Note: Turkish presidents normally relinquish their party affiliation upon being elected.) The AKP's recent internal poll over possible presidential candidates is a result of its hopes of keep power. If the party members agree that the party can't win the general elections without Erdogan, it could produce a presidential candidate which the opposition wouldn't oppose. This boosts Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc's chances. Besides Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Arinc is the AKP's top potential candidate. Cankaya is a difficult equation for the AKP which seems easy. Erdogan will face difficulty due to possibility of his party losing power in the general elections if the True Path Party (DYP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) manage to win seats in Parliament. The silence in the AKP before April 16, two weeks before the presidential candidacy procedures begin, is due to this hesitation. Erdogan wants to run, but can't see the picture if he's elected president. The AKP is a young party and if it loses its second general elections, it would be difficult for it to preserve its presence. In fact, this ruling party made its own bed. Millions of young people are hopeless about the future. Turkey's economic balances, which are dependent on foreign debt, could become unbalanced at any time. Maybe Erdogan wants to go to Cankaya to escape from these problems." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |