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Turkish Press Review, 08-01-16Turkish 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 morning16.01.2008CONTENTS
[01] GUL: “THE ARAB WORLD SUPPORTS TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP”President Abdullah Gul yesterday was received by his counterpart Hosni Mubarak in an official ceremony at Cairo’s Presidential Palace. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gul said that there are no problems in Turkish-Egyptian relations. Saying that Turkey’s dialogue with the Arab world has shown steady development, Gul stated these ties strengthen Turkey and that the Arab world supports Turkey’s EU membership. Afterwards, Gul attended a luncheon hosted by Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Safak Gokturk. Later, at a Turkish-Egypt Business Forum, Gul said that the two countries have a great potential for energy cooperation. Saying that Egyptian natural gas will be transported to Europe via Turkey, Gul added that work on a pipeline for this is moving forward rapidly. /Hurriyet-Turkiye/[02] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP WOULD REBUFF THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday stated that Turkey’s European Union membership will be an opportunity to promote an alliance of civilizations and warned, “Every hurdle put before Turkey out of religious and cultural motives will be stones in a wall blocking the way to daylight, harmony and tolerance.” The first Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative yesterday started in Madrid with speeches by Erdogan, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and the UN’s high representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio. In his speech, Erdogan said that Turkey, a member of both NATO and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), is the only country currently in membership negotiations with the EU. He said that with such characteristics, Turkey effectively rebuffs the idea of a clash of civilizations. Erdogan said that Turkey remains willing to fulfill its responsibilities for harmonization with the EU. In related news, Erdogan separately met with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Spanish opposition leader Mariano Rajoy, and OIC Secretary-General and Turkish scholar Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. /Milliyet/[03] SPANISH PRESS COVERS ZAPATERO’S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIPPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero yesterday got extensive coverage in the Spanish media. “Zapatero supported Turkey’s accession to European Union without hesitation,” reported El Pais daily. “In spite of France and Germany’s doubts, Zapatero gave his support to Turkey’s EU membership.” In related news, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel yesterday told reporters in Berlin that Erdogan would visit Germany next month for an official visit set to focus on Ankara’s EU bid. She also said that the exact date for the visit was still being decided. /Milliyet/[04] DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SAYGUN VISITS BAGHDADDeputy Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Saygun yesterday paid a surprise visit to Baghdad at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Gen. Naseer al- Abadi. The two top commanders discussed the terrorism issue and long-term military cooperation between the two countries. Saygun also met with US Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of the multinational force in Iraq, to talk about anti-terror efforts. /Star/[05] OPPOSITION LEADERS CRTICIZE ERDOGAN’S REMARKS ON HEADSCARF ISSUEMain opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent remark saying that wearing a headscarf shouldn’t be considered a crime even if it’s a political symbol. “He has always said it wasn’t a political symbol,” said Baykal. “Now he admits it.” Baykal added that Turkey doesn’t have a problem with “normal people” covering their heads, adding, “The problem in Turkey isn’t the traditional way of covering the head, but the Islamic headscarf.” In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized Erdogan’s remarks as being insincere. He urged Erdogan to stop making statements about Turkey’s national and spiritual values in foreign countries. /All papers/[06] PACE’S LINDEN VISITS KONYARene Van der Linden, head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), yesterday visited Konya. Speaking to reporters, Linden said that Turkey should be a full member of the European Union. Pointing to Turkey’s important role in NATO and as a founding member of the Council of Europe, Linden added that Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities admirably. /Turkiye/[07] REHN: “THE EU IS SET TO OPEN TWO MORE CHAPTERS FOR NEGOTIATION”In Brussels yesterday, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn announced that EU is set to open two more chapters of Turkey’s accession talks by the end of the July. The chapters on taxation and the free moment of goods will be opened, he said, adding that he was pushing for the energy chapter to follow suit soon as possible. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [08] “NO ONE WAS FORCED TO COME TO EGYPT”BY VAHAP MUNYAR (HURRIYET)Columnist Vahap Munyar comments on President Abdullah Gul’s current visit to Egypt. A summary of his column is as follows: “I’ve been to Cairo three times over the last year. This time I was with the reporters covering President Abdullah Gul, who’s in Egypt as the guest of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The plane carrying Gul along with 173 businessmen reached Cairo yesterday. We went directly to the residence of Safak Gokturk, Turkey’s ambassador to Cairo. Following a dinner, we talked with Gul about such issues as Turkish-Egyptian relations and political developments in the region. Besides political issues, I was able to ask Gul a few questions about the economy. I said that Egypt was expecting to attract investment totaling $2 billion from Turkey in a few years and that the textile and ready-wear sector were moving towards making investments in Egypt. Bringing up his ground-breaking for the new Turkish Industrial Zone in Egypt this week, I asked him if it’s right for him to seen playing the leading role encouraging investors to invest in Egypt. In reply, Gul stressed that Turkey should take such steps to become a great economic power and global player and that nobody’s being faced to come to Egypt. He added that being a global player requires putting such investment opportunities to good use and that we shouldn’t fear competition. Then he spoke more about the new industrial zone, co-organized by Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) head Oguz Satici and Tunc Ozkan along with their Egyptian partners, which is located in an area covering over 2 million square meters in the October 6 City. He said that when investments there are completed, jobs for 20,000 people will be created and that the positive political impact on Turkey will be immense. Gul also replied to Turkish Clothing Manufacturers (TGSD) head Ahmet Nakkas, who said Anatolia should be promoted first, saying that everywhere in Turkey is already being promoted. He cited how he was asked to support a cement investment in the eastern province of Sirnak, saying that he was closely involved in the issue and worked on it when he was recently in the US. There’s been a controversy over Satici’s partnership in the industrial zone and how a preliminary contract was signed during a visit to Egypt by State Minister responsible for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen. Now Gul is voicing the same global perspective. I wonder if he will face the same criticism. Gul also told reporters that an investment was being initiated by Temsa, which is attached to Sabanci Holding, to make buses in Egypt. Gul said that it would start to make buses in Egypt and sell them to countries in the region, which is a very important development. Touting big steps taken by the Turkish businessmen in Egypt, Gul brought up how TAV Airports Holding won a contract to build the new Cairo Airport. I guess the business world will feel the support of the Cankaya Presidential Palace during the years to come as well. When I brought up how there were 173 exporters on his plane, but how his predecessor Ahmet Necdet Sezer had not traveled with such huge business delegations, Gul just said that their styles might be different and this is his style.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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