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Turkish Press Review, 06-04-20
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
20.04.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] FM GUL: �THE STATE�S WINNING THE TRUST OF PEOPLE LIVING IN TERROR-STRICKEN REGIONS DISTURBS THE PKK�
[02] CICEK: �DANISH OFFICIALS HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CLOSE DOWN ROJ-TV�
[03] TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN TO COOPERATE IN ANTI-CRIME EFFORTS
[04] EDUCATION MINISTER CELIK: �THE AKP IS THE ANTIDOTE TO THE PKK�
[05] MUMCU: �GOVT IS PREPARING FOR EARLY POLLS IN NOVEMBER�
[06] RICE TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK
[07] PAKISTANI FM IN TURKEY TO BOOST BILATERAL TIES
[08] GREEK CYPRIOT FM: �I EXPECT TURKEY TO APPLY TO WTO OVER PORTS AND AIRSPACE ISSUE�
[09] PARLIAMENT PASSES SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM BILL
[10] KLAUS. �TURKEY�S ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IS IMPRESSIVE�
[11] SENER, TUSIAD�S SABANCI ADDRESS ENTREPRENEUR CONGRESS
[12] IMF PREDICTS 6% GROWTH FOR TURKEY, WARNS ABOUT CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] ARE FREEDOM AND SECURITY BALANCED? BY TURGUT TARHANLI (RADIKAL)
[01] FM GUL: �THE STATE�S WINNING THE TRUST OF PEOPLE LIVING IN TERROR-
STRICKEN REGIONS DISTURBS THE PKK�
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday spoke on the government�s terrorism
policies in a televised interview on CNN-Turk. Explaining proposed changes
to the Anti-Terror Law, he said, �Tightening some articles of the current
law will enable security forces to fight terrorism more effectively.� Gul
said that the state had won the confidence of people living in terror-
stricken regions and that the terrorist Kurdistan Workers� Party (PKK) is
highly disturbed by these developments. In related news, in Ankara
yesterday Gul asked representatives of United Nations Security Council
member states to support Turkey�s temporary membership candidacy for the
council for the 2009-2010 period. During a luncheon held in Ankara as part
of promotional activities for Turkish membership, Gul told the 77
representatives that Turkey�s presence on the Security Council would
facilitate the prominent UN body�s efforts to cope with various regional
and international problems and threats. /Star-The New Anatolian/
[02] CICEK: �DANISH OFFICIALS HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CLOSE DOWN ROJ-TV�
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Danish authorities
currently have sufficient evidence to close down Copenhagen-based Roj-TV,
which Turkey says has been provoking deadly street clashes in southeastern
Anatolia. Commenting on Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen�s
recent remarks that Denmark expected new evidence of the ties between Roj-
TV and the outlaw PKK, Cicek told reporters, �If Denmark wants to make a
decision to close Roj-TV, then it has sufficient evidence to do so.� He
added that Turkey�s request for the closure of the station had been
conveyed to that country by the Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, speaking on
the new Anti-Terror Law, the justice minister said the new law didn�t
intend to limit people�s rights and freedoms, adding that in order to avoid
misunderstandings, the document should be read carefully. /Turkiye/
[03] TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN TO COOPERATE IN ANTI-CRIME EFFORTS
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu is currently paying an official visit to
Azerbaijan. Following a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ramil Usubov,
Aksu said that they had agreed to boost bilateral ties, including
cooperation in fighting crime. Concerning the Upper Karabakh issue, Aksu
urged the sides to solve the issue through peaceful means, adding that
Turkey would continue to lend support to Azerbaijan on its rightful cause.
/Turkiye/
[04] EDUCATION MINISTER CELIK: �THE AKP IS THE ANTIDOTE TO THE PKK�
Education Minister Huseyin Celik yesterday met with the Ankara
correspondents of various newspapers to give his views on various issues
and share his thoughts about the recent incidents in southeastern Turkey.
Celik said that the people weren�t taking the bait to get involved in a
Turkish-Kurdish dispute despite provocations and added, �The terrorist PKK
doesn�t want democratization. The steps taken by the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) frightened the PKK. The antidote to the PKK is the
AKP.� He explained, �There�s a 2% fringe which stands by separatism �
They�re not satisfied whatever you do. They�re after a separate state. But
98% of the people in the region always act with common sense.� /Star/
[05] MUMCU: �GOVT IS PREPARING FOR EARLY POLLS IN NOVEMBER�
Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday claimed
that the government was preparing to hold early elections in November.
Speaking at a meeting of his party, Mumcu said that early elections would
mean betraying the nation and added, �The Justice and Development Party
[AKP] government is planning to hold early elections in November after
Ramadan.� /Hurriyet/
[06] RICE TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit Turkey next
Wednesday. During the visit, Rice will meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul and is also expected to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meetings, the fight against
the terrorist PKK, recent developments in the Middle East, the Palestinian-
Israeli problem, Iraq, and Iran�s nuclear program will be discussed in
addition to Turkish-US relations. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] PAKISTANI FM IN TURKEY TO BOOST BILATERAL TIES
Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri will begin a three-day visit
to Turkey today to further develop and strengthen bilateral ties and to
discuss the emerging political situation in the region. Kasuri is expected
to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan as well as his counterpart, Abdullah Gul, and other high
ranking officials from the Foreign Ministry, plus Parliament Speaker Bulent
Arinc. He also plans to participate in a Turkish-Pakistani Joint
Parliamentary Group Meeting during his stay in Ankara. Turkish diplomatic
circles attach great importance to this visit because of the ongoing
regional political developments and the strategic importance of both
countries. Pakistan and Turkey have deep-rooted historical relations which
are reflected in the social, cultural and religious fabric of both nations.
/The New Anatolian/
[08] GREEK CYPRIOT FM: �I EXPECT TURKEY TO APPLY TO WTO OVER PORTS AND
AIRSPACE ISSUE�
Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said yesterday that he
expected Turkey to apply to the World Trade Organization over the issue of
opening its ports and airspaces to Greek Cyprus. Iacovou stated that the
issue would be on the agenda of the Turkey-European Union Partnership
Council, which Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to attend.
/Hurriyet/
[09] PARLIAMENT PASSES SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM BILL
Following two days of debate, Parliament yesterday passed an International
Monetary Fund-supported reform bill meant to gather all state social
security agencies together under one roof. Addressing deputies, Labor
Minister Murat Basesgioglu said the reforms are not for the next elections
but for future generations. The bill will come into effect at the beginning
of next year. /Sabah/
[10] KLAUS. �TURKEY�S ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IS IMPRESSIVE�
The Czech administration is carefully watching recent improvements in
Turkey in the political, economic and social areas, Czech President Vaclav
Klaus said yesterday, hailing Turkey�s economic improvement as
�impressive.� Delivering the keynote speech at a Turkish-Czech cooperation
meeting held at the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges�
(TOBB) headquarters in Ankara, the visiting president touched upon the
importance of continuing historically rooted positive bilateral relations
between the two countries. Lending support to Ankara�s European Union
membership bid, Klaus called on Turkish officials to make use of his
country�s experience concerning the EU entry process. /Turkish Daily News/
[11] SENER, TUSIAD�S SABANCI ADDRESS ENTREPRENEUR CONGRESS
Addressing the Third Entrepreneur Congress held yesterday, Turkish
Industrialists� and Businessmen�s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer
Sabanci said that if young people are encouraged to be entrepreneurs, then
Turkey would have a sharper competitive edge. �The potential of our young
people isn�t translating into economic advantage,� he said, adding that
entrepreneurship in the private sector should be boosted in order to reduce
unemployment. Also addressing the congress, Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullatif Sener said that the problems of small- and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) should be solved. �We should apply mechanisms which
would make fiscal markets work efficiently,� added Sener. /Aksam/
[12] IMF PREDICTS 6% GROWTH FOR TURKEY, WARNS ABOUT CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
In a World Economic Outlook report published yesterday, the International
Monetary Fund predicted that Turkey�s growth rate would fall to 6% this
year, adding that the current account deficit posed the greatest risk to
the economy. Stressing that the government�s tight fiscal policy was
positive, the report stated that this would lead to increasing reserves in
the future. The report further stressed the importance of continued
structural reforms for Turkey to maintain its sound economic performance.
The IMF report said that share of short-term capital inflow in capital
inflow composition fell considerably last year, adding, however, that
Turkey could easily be harmed by changes in investors� decisions.
/Milliyet/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] ARE FREEDOM AND SECURITY BALANCED? BY TURGUT TARHANLI (RADIKAL)
Columnist Turgut Tarhanli comments on the balance between freedom and
security. A summary of his column is as follows:
�Finally Turkey announced that it would make changes to its anti-terror
legislation. The relevant bill was sent to Parliament. There�s a strong
tendency in this direction, coming from the Sept. 11 attacks and the
concerns from them. However, where countries which can be called
democracies have gone isn�t a picture we can be proud of. Terrorism tries
to rise in relation with the effect of unexpected violence on its target
groups. Of course, it�s very difficult for political circles and societies
not to be influenced by such a language of violence. However, initiating a
bloody struggle against it would be a kind of defeat in fighting terrorism.
I�d like to write about a well-known example about the issue. This is
called the �ticking bomb scenario� and can be summed up as follows: A live
bomb has been planted somewhere unknown. If you captured a person who knows
where it is, do public authorities have to abide by the limits of
interrogation under the law in a democratic country, or can they act as
they want and do whatever�s needed to make this person talk?
The answers given by governments and societies to this question can vary.
For example, 10 years ago, even certain high-ranking lawyers in Israel
defended the idea that visible pressure could be applied to a suspect
during interrogation in such a case, and they tried to base this on the
principle of self-defense. Among human rights standards, there�s no such
criterion of a reason to limit rights. I remember that some lawyers who
defend this �legal� thesis stressed that such a tendency could lead to a
slippery slope. Meanwhile, it can be asked: Who is rolling down this slope?
The answer is simple: Society itself. Such methods which give the
impression that they are very effective in fighting terrorism are actually
the expression of the anger and reaction produced under the influence of a
certain violence. Actually, the real danger derives from this, because this
is a change of stance on expanding public officials� authority to use
violence �legally.� The existence of the authority to use this legal
violence will require very careful measures. In this respect, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul said that our aim is to keep freedom and democracy
alive and establish the principle of the rule of law completely. This view
should be welcomed with appreciation, but we have the right to ask these
questions as a society: As it�s essential to ensure security in the changes
to the Anti-Terror Law, are there any additional measures to ensure correct
interpretations and determinations in practice? What are the preparations
of relevant departments of the executive and judicial branches for
implementation of these measures? The government stresses all the time that
it�s careful to maintain a balance between freedom and security. If there
are new measures on the security side of this, I wonder what measures there
are on the side of freedom.�
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