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Turkish Press Review, 06-01-05
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
05.01.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] TOP OFFICIALS DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES
[02] ERDOGAN TO ATTEND DUBAI EMIR�S FUNERAL
[03] GUL, PALESTINIAN FM SIGN DEAL TO REOPEN INDUSTRIAL ZONE IN GAZA
[04] GULER TOUTS NATURAL GAS DEAL WITH RUSSIA
[05] AKDAG CONFIRMS AVIAN INFLUENZA IN AGRI
[06] CHP�S BAYKAL: �ISTANBUL CHOOSES THE RULING PARTY�
[07] ANAVATAN LEADER MUMCU: �IT�S TIME FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PAKISTAN�
[08] KARZAI ARRIVES IN ANKARA
[09] FRENCH �GENOCIDE� LAW TO BE REVIEWED
[10] ANOTHER SEPARATIST TV STATION BEGINS BROADCASTING IN SWEDEN
[11] PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS VISITS US FOR EPIPHANY SERVICE
[12] SENER HAILS MARKETS, SAYS THEY ARE ENTERING 2006 WITH CONFIDENCE
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] THE US AND THE MIDDLE EAST BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)
[01] TOP OFFICIALS DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES
A meeting of top state officials chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan yesterday met in Ankara to take up security issues, including
efforts to fight terrorism. Present at the three-and-a-half-hour gathering
were State Ministers Abdullatif Sener and Mehmet Ali Sahin, Justice
Minister Cemil Cicek, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Interior Minister
Abdulkadir Aksu, Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Naval Forces
Commander Adm. Yener Karahanoglu, Air Forces Commander Gen. Faruk Comert
and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Fevzi Turkeri. A statement issued following
the meeting said that the state, in cooperation with all state institution,
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as all individuals, was
resolved to continue to fight terrorism and to take necessary measures to
ensure peace in the country. /Sabah/
[02] ERDOGAN TO ATTEND DUBAI EMIR�S FUNERAL
The ruler of the Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-
Maktoum, died yesterday during a private visit to Australia. Maktoum, who
was also vice president and prime minister of the seven-member United Arab
Emirates, had suffered heart problems and was in his mid sixties. Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Dubai this morning to
represent Turkey at Maktoum�s funeral. /Hurriyet/
[03] GUL, PALESTINIAN FM SIGN DEAL TO REOPEN INDUSTRIAL ZONE IN GAZA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday signed a deal with Palestinian
officials for reopening an industrial zone in the Gaza Strip. �In addition
to political efforts to ensure a settlement, we also place great importance
on the economic development of the region,� said Gul, on the first day of a
two-day visit to Israel and Palestinian territories, accompanied by his
Palestinian counterpart Naser al-Qidwa at a press conference. Gul will sign
a similar agreement today with Israeli officials in Jerusalem. Stressing
that reopening the Erez industrial zone under the management of Turkey�s
Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) would help the
Palestinians rebuild their economy after several years of violence, Gul
stated that new job opportunities would emerge. Gul also held talks with
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, who said after meeting with Gul
that economic cooperation with Turkey was �greatly needed.� /Turkiye/
[04] GULER TOUTS NATURAL GAS DEAL WITH RUSSIA
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said yesterday that as a
result of Turkey�s negotiations with Russia in 2003, its natural gas prices
taken from three different routes are fixed and adjustments are in favor of
Turkey. �The two countries we buy natural gas from are selling us back the
cheap gas that they buy from Turkmenistan,� he told a press conference on
the recent Russian-Ukrainian gas deal. �If this adjustment had not been
made in 2003, our conditions today would be problematic.�
[05] AKDAG CONFIRMS AVIAN INFLUENZA IN AGRI
Speaking at a press conference alongside 13 health experts yesterday,
Health Minister Recep Akdag said that recent events in the Dogubayazit
province of Agri had shown the presence of avian influenza. Akdag stated
that tissue tests of 10-year-old Mehmet Ali Kocyigit, who died earlier this
week, and Fatma Kocyigit, who passed away after the press conference, and
Sema Topcu had been analyzed at the Refik Saydam Hifzisihha Institute and
Medical School. �We�ve found avian influenza in the tissue of Ali and Fatma
Kocyigit, but haven�t found any viral infection in the tissue of Topcu,� he
said. Akdag stressed that there was no need to make too much of this news,
adding that the threat was confined to Dogubayazit. Akdag said that the
samples have also been sent to the World Health Organization�s London lab
to be confirmed. In related news, an official from the United Nations said
that there was no need for worry over the recent events in Turkey, adding
that it wasn�t the beginning of an epidemic. /Milliyet/
[06] CHP�S BAYKAL: �ISTANBUL CHOOSES THE RULING PARTY�
Speaking at his party�s Central Executive Committee (MYK) meeting, main
opposition Republican People�s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said
yesterday, �Whoever wins Istanbul during the elections wins Turkey,� adding,
�Istanbul is Turkey. Parties can�t be successful without capturing
Istanbul. Istanbul chooses the ruling party and also throws it out of
power. Istanbul brought this government in and will take it away.� Baykal
criticized the Greater Istanbul Municipality and said that both central and
local governments fail to govern the city properly. In related news,
Istanbul�s Sisli district Mayor Mustafa Sarigul criticized his not being
invited to the CHP�s MYK meeting, saying, �This is a clear indicator of how
far the Baykal administration�s intolerance of diverse voices and democracy
has gone.� /Aksam/
[07] ANAVATAN LEADER MUMCU: �IT�S TIME FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PAKISTAN�
Speaking at a party group meeting yesterday, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN)
leader Erkan Mumcu called on people to help earth-quake-stricken Pakistan
fight starvation, saying that lambs sacrificed over the upcoming holiday
should go to the Pakistani people. Mumcu said that Pakistan has always
stood by Turkey, especially during the War of Independence, and added,
�Here we have a tremendous opportunity to show our solidarity with the
Pakistani people. The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) has started a support
campaign for Pakistan. Our poverty isn�t worse than Pakistan�s.� In his
speech, Mumcu also touched on the primary and sub-identity debates.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] KARZAI ARRIVES IN ANKARA
Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an
official visit. Karzai is expected to meet today with President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok to discuss bilateral
relations and seek Ankara�s support in such areas as security, education,
and health. Sezer and Karzai are expected to address a joint press
conference following their meeting. /Milliyet/
[09] FRENCH �GENOCIDE� LAW TO BE REVIEWED
Jean-Louis Debre, the president of the French Assembly who is entrusted
with investigating laws concerning colonialism and historical issues, said
yesterday that the law concerning the so-called Armenian genocide will be
looked at again. Speaking to radio Europe-1, Debre said that he would
report on the matter to President Jacques Chirac, adding, �I don�t have a
preference on this issue. Writing history is not the assembly�s duty. The
best solution for the freedom of the assembly and French history will be
offered to Chirac.� Nineteen prominent French historians last month called
for annulment of the laws urging recognition of the so-called Armenian
genocide and the like. (Aksam)
[10] ANOTHER SEPARATIST TV STATION BEGINS BROADCASTING IN SWEDEN
While Turkey�s efforts to ensure the closure of Roj-TV in Denmark continue,
another pro-Kurdish TV station in Sweden has begun test broadcasts.
Rojhelat TV is known as a broadcasting organ of a separatist Kurdish group
called Rizgari. /Turkiye/
[11] PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS VISITS US FOR EPIPHANY SERVICE
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos flew to the US on Wednesday to
attend a traditional ceremony. Bartholomeos is scheduled to attend the
Epiphany ceremony of the Blessing of the Waters, symbolizing the baptism of
Jesus. Bartholomeos will attend the ceremony, during which young men jump
into the sea to retrieve a wooden cross, in Florida tomorrow, the
patriarchate said. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Bartholomeos said
his visit was purely for religious purposes, the Anatolia news agency
reported. /The New Anatolian/
[12] SENER HAILS MARKETS, SAYS THEY ARE ENTERING 2006 WITH CONFIDENCE
Speaking at a meeting of the Independent Industrialists� and Businessmen�s
Association yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener hailed
positive developments in Turkey�s financial markets, adding that this year
promises to be much better than 2005. �The markets entered 2006 with
confidence,� he said. Sener stated that the government would continue to
work hard in order to maintain positive developments in the macro economy.
Sener said that the government did better than its inflation target last
year, adding that it recorded the lowest inflation since 1970. Touching on
growth, Sener predicted that last year�s growth would exceed 5%, adding
that the total growth of the last four years would amount to 32%. Also
addressing the gathering, MUSIAD Chairman Omer Bolat lamented that
unemployment hasn�t gone down, though 2 million jobs were created over the
last three years. Bolat further said that the economy needed �fine tuning�
in order to expand positive macroeconomic developments. Touching on
privatization, Bolat said that MUSIAD supported Turkish companies in
tenders. /Star/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] THE US AND THE MIDDLE EAST BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)
Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on the US, the Middle East and Turkey. A
summary of his column is as follows:
�It would be good for the people who make arguments on certain issues
before the public and track developments to look back and see what they
wrote before. Thus the author settles old scores with both himself and the
readers. Last year I focused on the US� Middle East policies the most,
because I think World War III came following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and
this war will determine the fate of the 21st century. I wrote 25-30 pieces
on the issue, and today I will quote two of them. After George W. Bush was
reelected US president, I wrote in November 2004 that Bush and his new
comrades were drawing protests due to their hostile foreign policies and
that the US foreign policy will grow even more hostile during this period.
During a period when Turkish-US relations were stumbling, I wrote that as
Turkey was its most reliable ally in the Middle East, Washington will try
to win Turkey�s assent by supporting it concerning its EU bid and giving it
a great role in the Greater Middle East Initiative (GME). The latest visits
� the FBI and CIA heads, etc. � confirm this judgement, don�t they?
I�ve been arguing the following since the beginning last year: �The new
devil will appear from Iran. I don�t think that Bush will leave the White
House before he believes he has Iran under control. He will certainly
convince Iran concerning nuclear weapons.� As part of the Bilderberg
meetings last May, I wrote the following: �US officials think that all
sorts of international aid should be given so 70% of the (Iranian) nation
rebels against a regime that they don�t want. Material contributions, radio
broadcasts for propaganda and establishing a communication network for
insurgents are all planned. If the regime doesn�t collapse by itself, it
will change! An influential American person said that the US wasn�t
planning a land operation. Readers can read this sentence as they like.�
Today, isn�t almost everybody wondering when the air attack will start?
Nobody should try to fool us. Lately the agenda has centered around the US
and the Iraq-Syria-Iranian circle, no?�
ARCHIVE
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