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Turkish Press Review, 05-12-19
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
19.12.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS� FROM THE COLUMNS�FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN OPENS 27 FACILITIES BUILT BY STATE WATERWORKS
[02] FM GUL: �WE AREN�T AGAINST REOPENING THE ORTHODOX SEMINARY�
[03] PARLIAMENT CONTINUES BUDGET DEBATES
[04] CHP LEADER PRESSES FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
[05] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SCHEFFER VISITS ANKARA
[06] NEW US AMBASSADOR WILSON: �TURKEY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE US�
[07] CABINET TO DISCUSS PAMUK CASE TODAY
[08] SNOW PARALYZES LIFE IN MARMARA REGION
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS� FROM THE COLUMNS�FROM THE COLUMNS
[10] 2006: AN EQUATION WITH MULTIPLE UNKNOWNS BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN OPENS 27 FACILITIES BUILT BY STATE WATERWORKS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by Parliament Speaker
Bulent Arinc and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler
yesterday attended a ceremony in Izmir opening 27 facilities including five
dams, five small lakes and 13 irrigation facilities built by the State
Waterworks Authority (DSI) in various regions of the country. Speaking at
the gathering, the premier said that the facilities represented an
investment of TL 1.5 quadrillion and would allow some 210,000 hectares to
be irrigated. Stressing that Turkey was seeing a great improvement, Erdogan
said that his government was resolved to do its best to ensure a bright
future for the Turkish people. Furthermore, at a meeting at his party�s
Izmir provincial heads, regarding the cases of Van Yuzuncu Yil Rector Yucel
Askin and novelist Orhan Pamuk, Erdogan called on European Union MEPs not
to interfere in Turkey�s judicial process. �No one has the right to put
pressure on the judiciary,� said the premier. In addition, Erdogan and main
opposition Republican People�s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal attended Seb-
i Arus ceremonies in Konya over the weekend to commemorate the poet and
mystic Mevlana Rumi. /Sabah/
[02] FM GUL: �WE AREN�T AGAINST REOPENING THE ORTHODOX SEMINARY�
In a statement to Greek daily Kathimerini, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
yesterday argued that there are people encouraging provocations in both
Turkey and Greece, and said, �We aren�t against reopening the Orthodox
seminary� on Heybeli island. �The Cyprus issue cannot be solved with (Greek
Cypriot leader Tassos) Papadopulos,� said Gul, and added, �Turks in
Northern Cyprus declared that they want reconciliation, but Papadopulos
championed rejection, he himself doesn�t want reconciliation.� Gul said,
�We�re not against the Orthodox seminary being active. The Fener Greek
patriarch is the leader of the Greek Orthodox population in line with the
Treaty of Lausanne.� /Cumhuriyet/
[03] PARLIAMENT CONTINUES BUDGET DEBATES
Debates on the 2006 budget will continue in the full Parliament this week.
The sessions are set to start every day at 11 a.m., including the weekend.
On Tuesday Parliament�s Justice Commission will debate an amendment to the
Land Registry Law, which controls the property rights of foreigners in
Turkey. In addition, a commission set up to investigate the recent
incidents in Semdinli, Yuksekova and Hakkari will convene on Wednesday to
hear two deputies from Hakkari. /The New Anatolian/
[04] CHP LEADER PRESSES FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
Main opposition Republican People�s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said
yesterday that every year in Turkey one million young people gain the right
to vote and that they must be given a chance to exercise this right, and
added, �In no other country are elections held only every five years.� On
Saturday, Baykal attended ceremonies in Konya to commemorate Mevlana Rumi
and yesterday had breakfast at the historical Sille Mansion, and said,
�Four years is enough time for people to review their decision. The ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) is already seeking a change to the
Constitution to hold elections every four years instead of five. We aren�t
forcing elections before the period given to the government has ended.� The
next general elections are scheduled for fall 2007. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SCHEFFER VISITS ANKARA
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer yesterday came to Ankara. Scheffer is expected to meet with Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and Defense
Minister Vecdi Gonul. During the meetings, issues which were debated during
the NATO foreign ministers meeting are expected to be evaluated. /Aksam/
[06] NEW US AMBASSADOR WILSON: �TURKEY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE US�
New US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson yesterday visited Topkapi Palace in
Istanbul guided by museum Director Ilber Ortayli. During the visit, Wilson
gave his impressions of Turkey, saying that obvious progress is clear to
see. Wilson said that he liked the friendly and positive attitude of people
in Turkey, and added, �Frankly, Turkey is a difficult country like every
prestigious and important country. Relations with Turkey are really very
important for the US. So I was pleased when I learned that I had the chance
to serve in Turkey.� /Milliyet/
[07] CABINET TO DISCUSS PAMUK CASE TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that at its meeting
today the Cabinet will discuss the charges against novelist Orhan Pamuk to
decide whether to press ahead with the trial under the old penal code or
drop the case. Analysts say the government is likely to recommend that the
case be dropped. Pamuk is being tried for insulting the Turkish Republic
and Turkishness in an interview with a Swiss newspaper. /The New Anatolian/
[08] SNOW PARALYZES LIFE IN MARMARA REGION
Snowfall which began over the weekend in Thrace last night reached
Istanbul. Primary and secondary schools will be closed today in the city,
and citizens are being warned about traffic problems. Starting today and
through Thursday, temperatures will fall all across the country. /Star/
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS� FROM THE COLUMNS�FROM THE COLUMNS
[10] 2006: AN EQUATION WITH MULTIPLE UNKNOWNS BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A summary of his column is
as follows:
�Could one possibly not be disturbed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan�s remarks in Parliament? He says that he came from the streets,
forgets that he�s prime minister and speaks in the language of the streets.
If I were leader of the opposition, I would distribute tapes of his remarks
to the entire nation. In addition, somebody should remind him of certain
facts, because he�s the leader of a movement which started to initiate
alcohol restrictions. Over 20 million tourists visited our country so far
this year. Tourism experts say that this figure could surpass 21 million.
Turkey could double this figure in five years when investments are
completed. However, if these restrictions continue, not a single tourist
will visit Turkey. Germans constitute 4.1% of tourists visiting Turkey, but
they won�t come here if we don�t serve beer. Some 1.8 million Russian
wouldn�t visit our country if we have no vodka or beer, and 1.7 million
British wouldn�t come if we have no beer or whisky. In addition, not a
single tourist would visit our country if they can�t drink wine during
dinner, especially the French. Erdogan and his colleagues and those who
agree with them might not drink or support alcohol, but tourists would
neither understand this nor visit a country where they�re not free to
imbibe spirits.
I don�t know if Erdogan and his friends are aware that they�re fighting
Turkey�s bread and butter. It�s not reasonable to cut the jugular vein of a
sector in which 11 million people earn their living. Erdogan also knows
that the balances in Turkey hang by a single thread. Twenty million people
are below the poverty line and 1 million below the hunger line. We�re still
trying to handle the economy by borrowing money, so our debt is rising
every day. Now we owe for $255 billion, and the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) borrowed $100 billion of this amount over its three years in
power. This is less than our gross domestic product (GDP). This ruling
party should know that Turkey can�t be administered by covering the heads
of women, putting rectors into prisons and planning to turn universities
into madrasahs (religious schools), attempting to make modern education
look like religious education, imposing restrictions on alcohol, deciding
to construct mosques in parks and green fields, shaping freedoms and
democracies according to their own decisions, seizing positions in the
public sector and trying to make Islam a way of life in Turkey.�
ARCHIVE
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