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Turkish Press Review, 05-10-26Turkish 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 morning26.10.2005ERDOGAN MEETS WITH KUWAITI PM, DISCUSSES BILATERAL RELATIONS, IRAQ, AND REGIONAL ISSUES ERDOGAN: “WE WON’T TAKE SIDES ON RECTOR DISPUTE” GUL ADDRESSES GROUP MEETING ON TURKEY’S EU BID, ECONOMY, AND RECTOR’S ARREST BAYKAL: “THERE WILL BE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, SINCE TURKEY IS PREPARING FOR A NEW ERA” ULTRA-RIGHTISTS REMOVED FROM NATL SECURITY POLICY DOCUMENT ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADMITS “MIXED FEELINGS” ABOUT TURKEY-EU TALKS TRNC’S TALAT TO MEET WITH RICE TODAY IN WASHINGTON IMF, ANKARA REACH AGREEMENT ON DRAFT LOI FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS… THE NAME OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND BARZANI’S TITLE ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH KUWAITI PM, DISCUSSES BILATERAL RELATIONS, IRAQ, AND REGIONAL ISSUESPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in Kuwait for an official visit, yesterday met with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah to discuss a number of issues such as bilateral relations, Iraq’s territorial integrity and stability, and regional issues. Erdogan and Al Sabah stressed the importance of the territorial integrity and stability of Iraq. During their meeting, the two premiers agreed that the volume of trade between Turkey and Kuwait should be increased. Erdogan further invited Al Sabah to visit Turkey. Later, Erdogan and Al Sabah attended a Turkish-Kuwaiti business forum. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that Turkey had become a country of stability and confidence, one attracting foreign capital. “We’ve achieved confidence both in the economy and politics,” he said. Erdogan lamented the low trade volume between the two countries, saying that it should be raised to $1 billion. For his part, Al Sabah said that relations between Kuwait and Turkey should be strengthened and added that new cooperation strategies should be developed. In related news, Kuwait’s finance minister is expected to visit Ankara next month to meet with his Turkish counterpart Kemal Unakitan. /Star/[02] ERDOGAN: “WE WON’T TAKE SIDES ON RECTOR DISPUTE”Speaking to reporters en route to Kuwait about recent developments, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday characterized the visit to Van of Board of Higher Education (YOK) head Erdogan Tezic and university rectors as “ugly behavior.” Erdogan noted that the issue of the arrest of a Van rector wasn’t debated at Monday’s National Security Council (NSC) meeting, and added, “The government is trying to stay out of the issue.” Erdogan also said that a restructuring of YOK wouldn’t be done without help from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and added, “People want this reform done. If we do this by working with the CHP, there won’t be trouble in Parliament.” Asked about the presidency and possible early elections, the premier said, “The elections will be held as scheduled [in 2007]. And this Parliament will choose the president.” /Turkiye/[03] GUL ADDRESSES GROUP MEETING ON TURKEY’S EU BID, ECONOMY, AND RECTOR’S ARRESTSpeaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul commented on a number of issues, including Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Cyprus, the economy, and the recent arrest of Yuzuncu Yil University Rector Yucel Askin on charges of corruption. Gul stated that Turkey’s EU membership process would from now on be technical in nature. “A country needs to be fully democratic in order to begin its accession talks with the Union, and Turkey began its talks since it has achieved full democracy,” said Gul. Touching on recent economic developments, Gul hailed the government’s privatization slate, adding that these privatizations were transparent. “Foreign capital is also very interested in our tenders,” said Gul. Also touching on Askin’s arrest, Gul said that everyone was equal before the law and can be questioned. “Prime ministers, military commanders, deputies, and state ministers have responsibility and are obliged to give account” in court, added Gul. “It is out of the question that academics and rectors would not have to do so.” /Star/[04] BAYKAL: “THERE WILL BE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, SINCE TURKEY IS PREPARING FOR A NEW ERA”Addressing his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized the government, saying that 2006 would be an election year since Turkey was preparing for a new era. Baykal stated that the nation would not benefit from trying to wait until 2007 for elections. “The defeat of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in elections will be Turkey’s greatest democratic step,” said Baykal. Touching on the recent arrest of Yuzuncu Yil University Rector Yucel Askin, Baykal stated that Turkey first needed legal reform to establish an independent judiciary. “The factor harming the judiciary is intervention from outside,” he said. “We need to make regulations which will make the judiciary independent and protect it from interference.” /Cumhuriyet/[05] ULTRA-RIGHTISTS REMOVED FROM NATL SECURITY POLICY DOCUMENTA consensus has been reached on the National Security Policy Document, also known as the “red book,” which had caused disagreement between the government and the military. In the document, separatism and fundamentalism were retained as primary domestic threats, but ultra-rightists movements were removed. The primary role of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in domestic security issues remains the same as in previous documents, and the extension of Greece’s territorial waters to 12 miles was characterized as “unacceptable.” The new 25-page document has subheadings on domestic threats, foreign threats, and defense policy. /Sabah/[06] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADMITS “MIXED FEELINGS” ABOUT TURKEY-EU TALKSSpeaking in a television interview with the Euronews channel, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said that he has mixed feelings about the start of the Turkey-European Union membership talks, adding that even if the negotiations bring reforms to Turkey, it still has an embargo on his nation. Kocharian also repeated the “genocide” allegations and said he was pleased with the European Parliament’s vote to make acceptance of the “genocide” a precondition for Turkey’s membership. /Star/[07] TRNC’S TALAT TO MEET WITH RICE TODAY IN WASHINGTONTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to visit Washington today as the official guest of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He will stress the necessity of new reunification efforts for Cyprus, urging the world to pressure the Greek Cypriots to return to the negotiating table and end the TRNC’s isolation. Before leaving Ankara yesterday, Talat met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and reviewed the messages that he is expected to give to the UN and Washington. Speaking at a joint press conference, Gul said, “It’s time to take new steps for a comprehensive settlement.” Talat added, “The UN has a duty to resume negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.” /Star/[08] IMF, ANKARA REACH AGREEMENT ON DRAFT LOIAn agreement was reached yesterday on the draft letter of intent (LOI) on the first and second review of Turkey’s economic program as result of negotiations with a visiting International Monetary Fund delegation. “We expect the IMF to release $1.6 billion” in loans, said Economy Minister Ali Babacan. “Year-end inflation targets will be easily met. The ratio of the current accounts deficit to gross national product (GNP) is expected to be about 6%, but there is no need for concern. The structural reform program has been reviewed and a new timetable prepared.” The IMF also accepted social security reforms becoming law in the beginning of next year. /Milliyet/[09] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[10] THE NAME OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND BARZANI’S TITLE ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)Columnist Erdal Safak comments on the Iraqi constitution and the situation in northern Iraq. A summary of his columns is as follows:“The timing was fortuitous. The Iraqi constitution was assumed to be approved by the Iraqis, although 55% of the people in Nineveh voted against it. Just a few hours after that announcement, Massoud Barzani was welcomed into the White House with the title of the official prime minister of the Federate of Kurdistan. Constitutions can function as a social agreement only when they are supported and the framework suggested in them is adopted by all groups in society. In this regard, can Iraq’s new Constitution be called approved? Either yes, or no. Yes, because during the Oct. 15 referendum, in which 63% of the eligible voters cast ballots, 78.59% of the voters approved the constitution, while only 21.41 % rejected it. No, because, three of four Sunni provinces said no: Selahaddin, Saddam’s home, by 81%, Al Anbar by 96.9%, and Nineveh by 55%. That means the Sunnis rejected the Constitution. In sum, Iraq has legally fulfilled a constitutional order, but not in actual fact. Well, what has changed with the constitution? A number of things... First, we should get used to saying: our neighbor’s name is no longer the Republic of Iraq, but the Federal Republic of Iraq. Moreover, the situation in northern Iraq has received an official or constitutional basis. It’s now called the Kurdistan Federate State, which has a separate flag, parliament, government, security forces, judicial system, and even a separate economy. Furthermore, its constitution supercedes Iraq’s constitution. Laws adopted in the Kurdish Parliament will be over and above Iraq’s constitution. In other words, the Iraqi government lacks authority and legality in that region (Article 53 in the new constitution). That is to say, Kurdistan is not an Arab territory any more. And also: when the constitution cannot function or is violated, the federate has the right to part and declare its freedom. All this means that the 1916 Sykes-Picot treaty between Britain and France meant to parcel the Ottomans’ inheritance has begun to be breached. The order and countries established in the Middle East in line with this agreement has begun to crack. Observers with common sense or realistic views believe that Iraq will be swept up in a civil war like Lebanon, and then will be divided like Yugoslavia. We should get used to that possibility. In that case, can Ankara’s insistence on not recognizing a country like Kurdistan find any supporters other than Syria and Iran? It is clear that if Turkey maintains that policy, then Federate Kurdistan Prime Minister Massoud Barzani cannot be invited to Ankara. Let him be welcomed and hosted at the White House by George W. Bush, and then in London by British Premier Tony Blair next week... Could Ankara’s “surreal” stance push northern Iraq or Federate Kurdistan into Israel’s arms?” 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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