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Turkish Press Review, 06-07-12
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
12.07.2006
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: �WE CAN MEET AGAIN WITH HAMAS WHEN NECESSARY�
[02] FM GUL, ISRAELI FM SPEAK TWICE ON PHONE
[03] EP TO DEBATE TURKEY�S PROGRESS REPORT IN SEPTEMBER
[04] ARINC: �TIES WITH RUSSIAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED�
[05] BRITISH PM BLAIR CALLS ERDOGAN
[06] US ASSISTANT SEC�Y OF STATE BRYZA: �TURKEY�S SECULAR CHARACTER IS IMPORTANT, NOT ITS BASES�
[07] BRITISH FOREIGN SEC�Y BECKETT: �MANY EU MEMBERS ARE READY TO SUPPORT TURKEY�S MEMBERSHIP TALKS�
[08] BTC PIPELINE TO OPEN IN STATE CEREMONY
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[10] THE US� KURDISH STATE BY M. ALI KISLALI (RADIKAL)
[01] ERDOGAN: �WE CAN MEET AGAIN WITH HAMAS WHEN NECESSARY�
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the visit of Hamas
representatives this February had caused controversy, but over time it
would be seen that it had been useful. Appearing on news channel NTV, the
premier told about Ankara�s efforts to ease tension in the Mideast,
including his advisor Ahmet Davutoglu�s recent visit to the region.
Stressing that talks with Hamas had been useful, Erdogan said that a
meeting with Hamas could be held again when needed, adding, �I can go to
the region too.� Commenting on recent efforts to form a coalition for next
year�s general elections, he stated that he personally did not favor a
coalition. Stressing that during elections all parties should gauge their
own power, Erdogan said that anyhow a coalition could be formed following
the elections if needed. On a case at the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR) on obligatory religion lessons in Turkish schools, Erdogan said
there were no such lessons, but rather lessons on religious culture and
morals. �The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is opposed to obligatory
religion lessons,� said the premier. In addition, Erdogan yesterday chaired
his party�s Central Executive Board meeting. During the four-hour gathering,
Erdogan called on all the AKP�s local administrators to work hard during
the summer, saying, �You should hold face-to-face talks with citizens to
explain the government�s current activities and plans for the days to
come.� /Sabah-Turkiye/
[02] FM GUL, ISRAELI FM SPEAK TWICE ON PHONE
Turkey�s diplomatic efforts to end the tension between Israel and Palestine
are continuing. Within this context, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
yesterday spoke twice with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni over the
telephone. Gul reportedly called Livni first, and later she returned the
gesture. Diplomatic sources stated that the telephone conversations between
the two ministers are a continuation of Turkey�s diplomacy to normalize the
situation in the Middle East. /Milliyet/
[03] EP TO DEBATE TURKEY�S PROGRESS REPORT IN SEPTEMBER
The European Parliament�s Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday decided to
postpone debates on its next progress report on Turkey until September. The
content of the draft report prepared by Dutch rapporteur Camiel Eurlings
has been described by diplomatic sources in Brussels as �the heaviest
report in the history of the EP.� Eurlings said that they have not had
enough time to arrange and combine some 350 motions for amendments
submitted by parliamentarians and political groups. /Turkiye/
[04] ARINC: �TIES WITH RUSSIAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED�
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, currently visiting Russia, said yesterday
that strengthening relations between the Turkish and Russian parliaments
would serve the interests of both nations. During a meeting with his
Russian counterpart Boris Gryzlov, Arinc said that Turkey wanted to further
develop relations and contacts through commissions and the legislative
friendship groups. Gryzlov said that the high trade volume between Turkey
and Russia was an indicator of mutual cooperation. He also suggested
holding a soccer match between lawmakers of the two countries. /Turkiye/
[05] BRITISH PM BLAIR CALLS ERDOGAN
British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday telephoned his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and heard about his efforts to end the
Israeli-Palestinian tension. Blair stated that he had supported Erdogan�s
initiatives and added, �The situation is sensitive and urgent.� Complaining
about Israel�s actions in northern Gaza in the wake of the abduction of an
Israeli soldier, Erdogan told Blair that it could be ended if Israel stops
its use of force, underlining that damage done to Palestinian settlements
will hamper efforts towards a solution. Stating that the Palestinian side
is approaching a two-state solution, Erdogan said, �Recent developments
made things more difficult for peace efforts.� Blair, for his part, stated
that he concurs that the situation in the region is getting worse, and said,
�We have to stop that.� /Hurriyet/
[06] US ASSISTANT SEC�Y OF STATE BRYZA: �TURKEY�S SECULAR CHARACTER IS
IMPORTANT, NOT ITS BASES�
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matt
Bryza yesterday said that Turkey�s strategic importance for the US comes
from its secularist, reformist character, not its military bases. Bryza,
currently in Ankara to attend the opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, held a press conference after his contacts at the Foreign and
Energy Ministries. �As a person who knows Turks, I don�t feel anti-
Americanism,� said Bryza, adding, �On the contrary, you are rather warm.
You seem to love us. I don�t believe that opposition to the West increased
in Turkey. Turkey is on a stable march to Europe with its Muslim population
as a secular state.� /Milliyet/
[07] BRITISH FOREIGN SEC�Y BECKETT: �MANY EU MEMBERS ARE READY TO SUPPORT
TURKEY�S MEMBERSHIP TALKS�
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said yesterday that there were
many countries in the European Union ready to do their best for Turkey to
successfully proceed with its EU membership talks. Speaking at the Johns
Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
(SAIS) in Washington, D.C., Beckett said that there can be a variety of
problems for all candidate states during negotiations with the 25-nation
bloc, adding, �However, there�s no doubt that there�s a tremendous good
will among member states for talks with Turkey to lead to an agreement.�
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] BTC PIPELINE TO OPEN IN STATE CEREMONY
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, a landmark project of the 21st
century, will officially open tomorrow in a state ceremony. Many heads of
state and government, foreign and energy ministers will attend the ceremony
hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, including Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, US Deputy Energy
Secretary J.C. Shell, Deputy Secretary of State Steven Mann, Assistant
Secretary of Energy Karen Alderman Harbert, Assistant Secretary of State
for Economic and Business Affairs Daniel Sullivan, French Foreign Trade
Minister Christine Lagarde, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas,.
Sezer will receive his guests today at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace. President
Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Aliyev are expected to make
a speech at the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[10] THE US� KURDISH STATE BY M. ALI KISLALI (RADIKAL)
Columnist M. Ali Kislali comments on an article on the establishment of a
Kurdish state. A summary of his column is as follows:
�If you�re closely following Turkish-US relations, you�ll be surprised,
because you can see that the US is taking certain steps exactly contrary to
the policies that it wants to implement in line with its interests in the
region. The written proposal on a �Kurdish state� which emerged while
trying to establish a relationship based not on �strategic partnership� but
the �common vision document� in order to correct relations, which were
tense recently, is an example of this. The Armed Forces Journal in the US
covered the issue in an article written by retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters,
and later translated and reprinted in Cumhuriyet daily. It also includes
two new maps that are planned to be drawn to cover the Greater Middle East
Initiative (GME) region. One of these maps concerns Turkey. A Kurdish state
to be established with territory to be taken from Syria, Turkey, Iraq and
Iran is being shaped there. Thus, the author states that this way a
realistic order would be maintained in the region. Those who know which
issues should be discussed in these kinds of publications think that this
article shouldn�t be ignored because discussions on this prepare a basis
for policy. Even certain skeptical experts say that there�s an element of a
threat for certain countries in the article.
The US� thought of establishing a Kurdish state isn�t something new. Its
stance during this 15-year period when it provided Iraqi Kurds with full
protection against Saddam Hussein and used Incirlik Airbase is the
indication of this project, isn�t it? Turkey is always afraid of this
possibility, and the US always gives an oral guarantee to Turkey that such
a thing won�t happen. As Turkish officials could find no other solution,
they have continued to help the US with the protection of Kurds. It�s
always known that the four countries whose territory is sought for the
establishment of a Kurdish state should produce a common strategy to defend
themselves. However, as this strategy wouldn't be welcomed by the US,
Turkey always keeps these initiatives secret. Nevertheless, shouldn�t the
Turkish authorities have issued a response after such an article? Because,
according to the author of the article, even if there has been some
improvement in the living conditions of Kurds living in Turkey in recent
years, Turkey�s east consisting of one-fifth of its territory should be
considered an 'invaded region.' What can you say if this evaluation, which
was only made by the terrorist PKK until now, was made by an ex-American
soldier? Or will you cite the fact that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK),
General Staff and force commanders didn�t go to the official commemorations
for American Independence Day, July 4? Or will you say that Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul, who is keeping silent in order not to cast a shadow
the importance and seriousness of the �Vision Document,' is responsible for
making a response? Great states don�t prepare all of their projects behind
closed doors. Now the US is making preparations for its own Kurdish state
in order to secure its energy resources and energy transportation routes in
the region.��
ARCHIVE
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