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Turkish Press Review, 04-06-08
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
08.06.2004
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: �TURKEY HAS TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS, NOW THE BALL�S IN THE EU�S COURT�
[02] ERDOGAN APPROVES THIRD ARMY CORPS TO SERVE, COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN
[03] ERDOGAN TO ADDRESS G-8 MEETING IN THE US
[04] GUL MEETS WITH MUBARAK
[05] CABINET RESOLVES TO SPEED UP REFORM PACKAGES
[06] 84TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION MARKED
[07] BROADCASTS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES BEGIN
[08] EU COMMISSION REPORTEDLY URGES ANKARA TO SIGN TRADE PACT WITH GREEK CYPRUS
[09] IMF DELEGATION VISITS TUSIAD, DISCUSSES POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF ANKARA�S DEBTS TO THE FUND
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] TRT HEAD: �REACTIONS HAVE BEEN POSITIVE� BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN: �TURKEY HAS TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS, NOW THE BALL�S IN THE EU�S
COURT�
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a banquet last night in the
honor of the Ankara ambassadors of European Union member and candidate
countries. During the occasion, Erdogan told the gathered ambassadors about
Turkey�s reforms on its road to EU membership. Stressing that though Turkey
had not reached its ultimate goal, it �has taken important steps,� Erdogan
stated that Ankara hoped a decision would be made at the December EU summit
to begin its accession talks in early 2005. Pointing out that certain
states had implemented EU criteria only after joining the pact, Erdogan
said that Turkey had already fulfilled most of them. �Now its the EU�s turn
to take steps,� he added. /Milliyet/
[02] ERDOGAN APPROVES THIRD ARMY CORPS TO SERVE, COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday approved Istanbul�s Third
Army Corps to serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO peacekeeping force
there. After a briefing by bureaucrats on the matter, Erdogan reportedly
gave his permission but asked for a study on how to finance it. Turkey is
expected to announce its decision during this month�s NATO summit in
Istanbul or just afterwards. The army corps is supposed to command the NATO
force in Afghanistan beginning next year. /Turkiye/
[03] ERDOGAN TO ADDRESS G-8 MEETING IN THE US
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to travel today to Sea Island,
Georgia in the US to attend a G-8 meeting expected to focus on the US�
Greater Middle East Initiative. Erdogan is set to address the meeting
tomorrow. /Milliyet/
[04] GUL MEETS WITH MUBARAK
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Gul said that he had conveyed to
Mubarak a message from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Stressing that Egypt
and Turkey were two regional countries with friendly relations, Gul stated
that he had told the Egyptian leader about recent developments on the
Cyprus issue and asked his support both on that matter and on Turkey�s
candidate, Ekmelettin Ihsanoglu, to helm the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC). After completing his contacts in Egypt, Gul returned to
Ankara last night, telling reporters that his meetings with Egyptian
officials had been fruitful. /Turkiye/
[05] CABINET RESOLVES TO SPEED UP REFORM PACKAGES
The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Recp Tayyip Erdogan convened
yesterday. During its three-hour-plus gathering, the implementation of
European Union reforms and the government�s privatization program were both
discussed. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek
said that the government had decided to enact certain European Union
harmonization reforms before the November release of the EU�s progress
report on Turkey and so would speed up work on the measures. /Turkiye/
[06] 84TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION
MARKED
The 84th anniversary of the Office of the Prime Minister Directorate
General of Press and Information was marked yesterday. A delegation led by
Director General Abdurrahman Bilgic visited Anitkabir, Ataturk�s mausoleum.
Bilgic said that the directorate general was continuing to work in
accordance with the principles set out by Turkish Republic founder Ataturk.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc also issued a message marking the occasion,
saying that since its foundation the directorate general had fulfilled its
mission successfully. Later, addressing a reception in Ankara, Bilgic said
that over 500 foreign press members had arrived in Turkey in the first five
months of this year and that this number would soon swell to thousands due
to the month-end NATO summit. Also present at the reception was State
Minister Besir Atalay. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] BROADCASTS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES BEGIN
Broadcasts in local languages and dialects spoken by Turkish citizens
started yesterday morning with Bosnian. During the state-owned TRT
broadcast, domestic and world news as well as sports were aired. There will
also be Arabic, Kirmanchi, Circassian and Zaza broadcasts during the week.
/Hurriyet/
[08] EU COMMISSION REPORTEDLY URGES ANKARA TO SIGN TRADE PACT WITH GREEK
CYPRUS
The European Union Commission yesterday reportedly called on Ankara to sign
a customs union agreement with Greek Cyprus. Diplomatic sources said that
the government was planning to take steps on the issue, adding that
commercial ties with Greek Cypriots would not mean that Ankara was
recognizing the Nicosia administration. The sources added that the issue
would be worked out �technically.� Turkey has a Customs Union agreement
with the EU, and Greek Cyprus joined the Union in May. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] IMF DELEGATION VISITS TUSIAD, DISCUSSES POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF
ANKARA�S DEBTS TO THE FUND
An International Monetary Fund delegation currently in Turkey for the
completion of the eighth review of the nation�s IMF-supported economic
program yesterday visited the Turkish Industrialists� and Businessmen�s
Association (TUSIAD). Speaking afterwards, Omer Sabanci, the head of
TUSIAD�s Board of Directors, said that a number of issues, including
possible postponement of Ankara�s debts to the IMF, ways to boost
investment, and reducing unemployment had been discussed at the meeting.
Sabanci said that it could be beneficial to sign a one- or two-year standby
agreement with the Fund. He also stressed that work was needed to rein in
Turkey�s unregistered economy. Touching on the 6.5%-primary surplus target
for this year, he said that the goal could be reduced. Sabanci also stated
that he had welcomed the recent falls in inflation and interest rates,
adding that their year-end targets were achievable. /Aksam/
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] TRT HEAD: �REACTIONS HAVE BEEN POSITIVE� BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the broadcasts in mother tongues and
dialects other than Turkish begun this week on TRT. A summary of his column
is as follows:
�State broadcast TRT has begun broadcasts in mother tongues and dialects
other than Turkish. Arabic broadcasting will start today, plus Kurdish (the
Kirmanchi dialect) on Wednesday, Circassian on Thursday and Kurdish (the
Zaza dialect) on Friday. When I asked TRT Director General Senol Demiroz
what people are saying about the move, he said reactions so far had been
very positive, adding that he had had no difficulty finding staff for the
programs. Concerning the negative reaction of the Bosnia-Herzegovina
Friends to the program, he said, �We make our decision on the basis of
suitability, not the wishes of any one group.� As for ratings, he said that
TRT 3 where the broadcasts originate wasn�t included in the ratings system.
He stated that the TRT would shape broadcasts according to people�s
responses and decide if they fulfill their purpose.
Demiroz is deviously heartened by the positive reactions so far. Of course
some have criticized the format and length of the programs. Obviously the
TRT has a certain understanding of its broadcasts and duties. It�s
unreasonable to expect anything more. Those criticizing the TRT should
consider the private sector, as the new regulations also let private radio
and television stations make such broadcasts. However, none have shown any
interest yet. I wonder how and on what level the private sector will show
an interest in broadcasts in mother tongues.�
ARCHIVE
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