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Turkish Press Review, 05-08-10Turkish 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 : [email protected] <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning10.08.2005FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...CONTENTS
[01] CICEK: �WE�VE TAKEN NECESSARY MEASURES TO FIGHT THE PKK AND WE�LL CONTINUE TO DO SO�Appearing on television yesterday, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that ending terrorism was a constant priority for Turkey, adding that the government was determined to counter the terrorist group PKK. �We�ve taken necessary measures up until now and we�ll continue to do so,� said Cicek. Asked whether there was a lack of dialogue between some official institutions in anti-terrorist efforts, Cicek said that there was no controversy between the institutions, as all had the same goal, namely to end terrorism. /Aksam/[02] US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEETS WITH TALAT, EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ENDING TRNC�S ISOLATIONA delegation of US Congressional staffers, as the guest of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Chamber of Industry, yesterday arrived in the TRNC and started its official contacts. The delegation first visited TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, then met with Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas. Before the meeting, Denktas said, �The members of the delegation provide counsel for members of the Senate and the House. It is important that they see the reality on Cyprus with their own eyes.� During their meeting with Talat, the US delegation praised the Turkish Cypriots� will for a resolution on the island, adding that by supporting the Annan plan, the TRNC had proved that it favored peace. The delegation further stressed that it was very important to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. �This injustice should be brought to an end immediately,� said one member of the delegation. For his part, Talat briefed the delegation on recent developments on the island and said that he appreciated their support, adding that he hoped they could help end the TRNC�s isolation. /Star- Cumhuriyet/[03] REHN: �I�M CONFIDENT THAT TURKEY�S TALKS WILL START ON TIME�Olli Rehn, the European Union�s enlargement commissioner, said yesterday that he was confident that Turkey would start its European Union accession talks on Oct. 3, as scheduled. At a speech in Hamburg, Rehn said that the question of recognition of Greek Cyprus was not a precondition for Ankara�s negotiations. �Europe needs a stable, democratic and increasingly prosperous Turkey� he added. �It is in our strategic interest, and the negotiations are the crucial vehicle for enhancing this objective. The journey is as important as the destination.� /Star/[04] SCHROEDER: �TURKEY IS WHERE ISLAMIC AND EUROPEAN VALUES COME TOGETHER�Speaking at a rally yesterday, ahead of next month�s elections, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stressed the importance of Turkey for the European Union. �Iran�s nuclear program has increased the importance of Turkey�s EU bid,� said Schroeder, adding that Turkey was the place where Islamic and European values come together. /Turkiye/[05] BELGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VOICES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY�S EU BIDBelgian Parliament speaker Herman De Croo, who is currently in Turkey to attend the opening ceremony of a culture center, said yesterday that he supported Turkey�s European Union membership bid, adding that in joining the EU, Turkey should continue to be officially secular, democratic and maintain its religion. De Croo further stressed that Europe needed Turkey in order to be strong. /Turkiye/[06] TUZMEN TOUTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, PREDICTS $100 BLN IN EXPORTS BY 2008State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday met with Turkish Young Businessmen�s Confederation head Erhan Ozmen to discuss recent economic developments. During their meeting, Tuzmen predicted that Turkey�s exports would reach $100 billion by 2008. Tuzmen spoke of more good economic news, saying that in 2005, the Turkish economy had scored important successes. Also touching on the current accounts deficit, Tuzmen said that there was no need to worry, but that the deficit should be watched closely. /Turkiye/[07] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[08] NORTHERN IRAQ�S IMPACT ON SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA BY ERDAL SAFAK (SABAH)Columnist Erdal Safak comments on the relationship between northern Iraq and southeastern Anatolia. A summary of his column is as follows:�Northern Iraq is a reminder of the armed presence of the terrorist PKK in the fight against terrorism. However, developments there have become an important factor in the southeastern Anatolia issue. One can even say that these developments might have more impact there than collapse of the PKK. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with a group representing intellectuals who are calling on the PKK to end its armed attacks immediately and without preconditions and on the government to make legal arrangements for a permanent peace. These sorts of civilian initiatives should be supported, provided that they don�t damage anti-terrorist efforts. However, we don�t consider this call feasible, because the PKK spoiled the atmosphere of non-conflict due to one reason: its call to end the isolation of PKK head Abdullah Ocalan in prison. As independent Kurdish intellectual Umit Firat said, �The PKK�s problem isn�t about the Kurds. When they hear the word �peace,� they think only of freedom for Ocalan.� Following the intellectuals� declaration, the same people said, �The intellectuals can become our envoys of peace. Let�s discuss the issue of a cease-fire.� First of all, what they mean by �ending isolation� is removing legal arrangements which prevent Ocalan�s sending messages to the terrorist group through his lawyers and then declaring a general amnesty covering the organization�s leadership. In other words, it means, setting Ocalan free. Do these so-called conditions have anything to do with the problems of southeastern Anatolia? The intellectuals also request that government �make legal arrangements so that permanent peace can be ensured and everybody can participate in the democratic process.� What does �everybody� mean here? Does it mean ensuring the return to civilian life of militants who went into the mountains but didn�t take part in attacks? If the call�s framework isn�t drawn well, I�m afraid there would be the risk of this overlapping with the PKK�s requests, although they have no such intention. In addition, to combat terrorism determinedly and with the support of the entire nation, the dimensions of the problem should be discussed in detail, and solutions to meet the expectations of people living in the region should be created, because the impact of the developments in northern Iraq must be factored in. Cumhuriyet daily writer Oral Calislar wrote yesterday that the fact that a Kurdish leader has become Iraq�s president and the strong autonomy in the Kurdish region have both affected the people living in southeastern Anatolia. He added that they feel that they are being ignored, compared to the status gained by Kurds in Iraq. So this warning should be taken seriously: �Turkey should solve the southeast issue so Turkey can establish healthy relations with Iraq, and so the people living in the region don�t feel they are being ignored�.� 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 |