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Turkish Press Review, 06-08-18Turkish 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> <style type="text_css"> <!-- .baslik { margin-right:0cm; margin-left:0cm; margin-top:1cm; font-size:12.0pt; color:#000099; text-align: justify; } --> <_style> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning18.08.2006CONTENTS
[01] TAN: “TURKEY HASN’T DECIDED YET ON SENDING TROOPS TO LEBANON”Speaking at a weekly press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that Ankara has been closely following developments before making a final decision on whether or not to send troops to Lebanon. Stressing that if Turkey sends troops to Lebanon they will not be combat forces, Tan said they would be deployed with a peacekeeping mission and have a role in humanitarian aid and logistical assistance. He stated that Ankara was conducting intense contacts with regional countries on the issue, adding that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would leave for Israel this Sunday as part of Ankara’s efforts to forge a settlement in the region. Concerning the terrorist group PKK, Tan said that Turkey would not be in any way involved in contacts or talks with the PKK. Commenting on the US’ recent proposal to appoint coordinators for the issue, Tan said that the US decision had been in line with Turkey’s expectations, adding that no appointment had yet been made. Characterizing the US’ recent call for the PKK to lay down its arms as “odd,” the spokesman said that Ankara had expected more concrete steps than that. Stressing that Ankara was carrying out tripartite work on the issue with Iraqi and US officials, Tan said, however, that those efforts were far from meeting Turkey’s expectations. He also denied reports that Turkey and Iran were carrying joint crackdowns against the PKK, but added that the two countries’ security forces are cooperating on border crossing and security. /Turkiye/[02] TURKEY DENIES REPORT OF TRNC TRADING UNDER UNThe Foreign Ministry yesterday criticized an article in a British daily saying ports in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) could be opened to international trade under United Nations auspices, saying that those concerned should concentrate on the Cyprus peace negotiations instead. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan said, “The article is unfounded,” referring to a piece in British daily the Independent on Wednesday. Tan instead suggested those concerned focus on the ongoing peace talks between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administration. “That would mean that reports based on the Greek Cypriot administration’s bias won’t be considered credible,” he said. /The New Anatolian/[03] ISRAEL ASKS ANKARA TO IMPOSE EMBARGO ON IRAN, SYRIA Israel is asking for Turkey’s help in blocking weapon shipments from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah, which it hurt logistically through its offensive on Lebanon. Speaking to Reuters, Israeli security sources said they had asked the Turkish Army to impose a land and air embargo on artillery sent from Iran to Lebanon. Israel intelligence sources think that arms sent by Teheran to Hezbollah pass through Turkish airspace and territory to Syria and from there to Lebanon. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mark Regev said, “Successful implementation of the international arms embargo is the litmus test of the success of the UN effort in Lebanon.” Turkish diplomatic sources said that imposing an embargo on Iran just because Israel asked for it is out of the question. /Aksam/[04] BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT OVER ISSUE OF SENDING SOLDIERS TO LEBANON Speaking in Aydin yesterday, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized the government for its plans to possibly send Turkish soldiers to Lebanon. Baykal stated that he wanted peace and stability in the Mideast, but that Ankara’s priority should be to counter the terrorist PKK in Turkey. “Sending soldiers to Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah under these conditions isn’t rational,” he said. "We should first cripple the PKK. We should first solve our own problems.” /Milliyet/[05] AGAR: “THE GOVT DIDN’T BRIEF THE DYP ON PLANS TO SEND SOLDIERS TO LEBANON” Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday criticized the government, saying that it had only briefed the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on developments in the Mideast and plans to send soldiers to Lebanon, but not the DYP. Commenting on the possibility of sending soldiers to Lebanon, Agar said that the government shouldn’t rush on the issue, adding that it should make a decision by considering the interests of the nation. /Sabah/ [06] UN: “TURKEY IS WILLING TO SEND SOLDIERS TO LEBANON” UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown said yesterday that Turkey was willing to send soldiers to Lebanon, adding that the peacekeeping force would be composed of Muslim and European soldiers. Appearing on television, Brown stated that Indonesia and Turkey were willing to join the peacekeeping force to be deployed in Lebanon. In related news, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David L. Mack said that Turkey could play a key role in the success of the peacekeeping force. /Star/[07] GERMAN FM EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier yesterday expressed support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid, saying that Turkey wants to show that democracy, human rights, and the rule of law can exist together in a Muslim country. “Ankara will prove this,” said Steinmeier. “The process will last for a long time, and there can be retreats and pauses during it. These won’t come as any surprise.” Steinmeier stressed that Turkey had the right to protect itself from terrorist threats and added, “The latest terrorist attacks show the importance of the issue.” /Milliyet/[08] GEN. BASBUG HANDS OVER FIRST ARMY COMMAND TO GEN. TUNCEL Gen. Ilker Basbug, who is set to become the Land Forces commander on Aug. 30, yesterday handed over the First Army command to Gen Fethi Tuncel. Addressing distinguished guests at a ceremony in Selimiye in Istanbul, Basbug said that the Turkish Army has always been ready to defend the nation and the country against all threats facing them. /Turkiye/ 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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