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Turkish Press Review, 07-08-28Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning28.08.2007FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] NEW PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TODAYTurkey’s new president will be elected today by a vote in Parliament. The candidate who gets 276 votes will be elected president. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, whose election is considered certain, will take over the post from outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer following the vote. Other candidates are Sabahattin Cakmakoglu from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Tayfun Icli from the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Gul is expected to take over the post from Sezer at a ceremony closed to the press. /Turkiye/[02] SEZER PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO TOPTANOutgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday paid a farewell visit to new Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. Speaking before meeting with Sezer, Toptan said that the new president would take over the post on the same day he is elected. Toptan further stated that the new government would be founded as soon as possible and the government’s program would be read out on this Friday. /Sabah/[03] TAN: “ ISRAEL SHOULD CONVINCE US JEWISH GROUP TO CHANGE COURSE ON ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS”Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan said yesterday that he expects Israel to lead American Jews to reverse the stance of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which recently decided to recognize the Armenian “genocide” allegations. Tan said that Israel , whose stance concerning the incidents hasn’t changed, shouldn’t let US Jewish groups change their stance like this. Tan said that Turkey expects Israel to make US Jewish groups listen to it and ensure that a resolution in the US Congress characterizing the incidents of World War I as “genocide” is not passed. /Star/[04] BUYUKANIT: “SECRET PLANS ARE BEING DRAWN UP TO DAMAGE TURKEY ’S SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE”In a message marking Aug. 30 Victory Day, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit warned that clandestine plans are being prepared to hurt the nation’s unity and its secular, democratic structure. Stressing that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) faces attacks both at home and abroad, Buyukanit stated that they know what’s behind these assaults. He stated that the nation should know that such attacks won’t intimidate the TSK. Buyukanit further stated that the TSK would never forsake its determination to protect the secular and social rule of law in Turkey under Ataturk’s worldview system. /Milliyet/[05] AKP’S FIRAT: “11-PERSON AKP GROUP WILL START WORKING ON NEW CONSTITUTION ON THURSDAY”Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with new Constitutional Commission members yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Rifat said that Turkey would soon have a civilian constitution. Stating that an 11-member AKP group would start working on a new constitution on Thursday, Firat said that this group’s work, proceeding article by article, would continue for a week. “After work on the draft constitution is over, we’ll seek out the views of academics,” said Firat, adding that the draft would be ready sometime next month. /Turkiye/[06] EDUCATION MINISTER ATTENDS BSEC MEETING IN ISTANBULEducation Minister Huseyin Celik yesterday attended a meeting of education ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Istanbul . In his opening speech, Celik said that the government places great importance on international relations. Celik further stated that one can build bridges and roads to travel to other countries, but the better and more lasting way to do this was to build bridges between hearts. He added that the government, aware of the international importance of education, is sending more than 1,000 students abroad with state scholarships. “Moreover, the business world has given $2 million to education over the last three years, ” added Celik. /Turkiye/[07] JOURNALIST SUTER PASSES AWAYWriter Sakir Suter, who wrote columns for Aksam daily, yesterday passed away at the age of 57. Suter had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Speaking to reporters, surviving son Baris Suter said that his late father loved his job very much. Suter will be laid to rest tomorrow. /Milliyet/[08] SARKOZY SOFTENS OPPOSITION TO TURKEY ’S EU MEMBERSHIP TALKSFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday softened his opposition to Turkey ’s European Union membership talks. During an annual meeting at the Champs Elysees of French ambassadors working in various countries worldwide, Sarkozy laid out his foreign policy priorities. His directives communicated at the meeting are to be a guide for the ambassadors in their work. “If the 27 (EU members) undertake this crucial discussion about the future of our Union,” Sarkozy said, “France won't object to opening new chapters in negotiations between the Union and Turkey in the coming months and years, provided these chapters are compatible with both possible visions of the future of relations: either accession or very close association” without membership. /Hurriyet/[09] MT. ARARAT VICTORY CLIMB SET TO STARTMountaineers set to ascend in the Mt. Ararat ’s “Victory Climb” yesterday laid a wreath at the Ataturk Monument in Igdir. Mountaineering Federation head Alaattin Karaca said that they would be climbing Mt. Ararat for the first time starting from Agri. Stating that the climb would end on Saturday, Karaca said that over 150 mountaineers from Macedonia , Romania , Hungary , Iran , Britain and India would participate in the climb. Following the ceremony, the mountaineers went towards the Korhan Plateau, where the ascent is set to start. /Cumhuriyet/[10] DTP SEEKS HAND IN MAKING CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGESThe Democratic Society Party (DTP) is preparing for a package of constitutional changes, much like the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). DTP deputy leader Selahattin Demirtas said yesterday a commission had been established within the party to consider constitutional changes and that its work is underway. He added that after the AKP delivers its draft changes to fellow political parties, the DTP would announce its proposals to the public. Stating that the DTP’s aim was to help prepare a civilian constitution, Demirtas said that the way to democracy should be opened and that a new arrangements were needed to protect people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. He added that Turkish should remain Turkey ’s official language but that different ethnic groups should be allowed to be educated in their own mother tongues. Demirtas also said that people with different religious beliefs should be able to express their views freely. /Cumhuriyet/[11] KAPIKULE BORDER GATE TO BE RENOVATEDManagement of the Kapikule border gate, the world’s second-largest customs gate in terms of both vehicle traffic and the number of passing people, yesterday was turned over to Customs and Tourism Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), under a new agreement. Speaking at the handover ceremony, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that four years ago they worked with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry to end long queues, adding that in an atmosphere in which Turkey ’s foreign trade is worth $250 billion, it’s important to have border gates up to the task. Also speaking at the ceremony, TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that 53% of exports in Turkey and 40% of the foreign trade volume goes through the border gates. Hisarciklioglu added that under its new management, Kapikule would be renovated for YTL 131 million and that long queues at border gates would end. /Aksam/FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS [12] A FOND FAREWELL TO SEZERBY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on outgoing president Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s term in office. A summary of his column is as follows: “We’re seeing the 10th president of the Republic of Turkey , Ahmet Necdet Sezer, off from Cankaya today. In his seven years and three months in office, he took a stance appropriate to Ataturk’s positions. In this respect, he’ll take his place in the annals of history. He has been a statesman with a strong personality. He hasn’t shifted with the political winds. He has grounded himself in the Constitution and Ataturk. He has safeguarded the founding philosophy and fundamental values of the republic. He has been loyal to his oath. His understanding of secularism and nation has proved that he understood Ataturk very well. He has been aware that the modern republic of Turkey is based on these two principles. He has been very careful to protect secularism and national unity. He hasn’t let these two principles be damaged. He has never allowed these two values to be questioned by populism and has resisted both external and internal pressures without making concessions. Recently, Sezer has mostly been criticized for supposedly not being impartial. The reason for these criticisms has been his stance on headscarves, the Board of Higher Education (YOK), rectors and appointments, which resulted from secularism, and the principles and revolutions of Ataturk. How should we see the impartiality of the president? In what issues is he impartial, and in which is he partial? The president is partial in issues included in his oath, carrying out the Constitution and Ataturk’s principles and revolutions, which the Constitution is based on. It’s his duty to be partial on these issues. This is what Sezer has done. He examined the laws and appointments according to the Constitution and the principle of secularism. He hasn’t blocked the government and has taken great care to protect the principle of division of powers. He hasn’t interfered in the government’s policymaking within its sphere of power. He hasn’t intervened in the government’s actions unless they would have violated the Constitution. Another criticism of Sezer, that he didn’t let businessmen on board his plane to fly abroad to seek new markets, he believes that such things should be done by the government and prime minister. He thinks that the president only has a role and duty in national initiatives, either in the economy or politics. He has behaved properly, as a matter of fact. President Sezer and his family set good examples for society with their moderation. Neither Sezer nor members of his family have a soft spot. They haven’t lived in luxury. They haven’t sought out any privilege. They have led their lives as members of the society at the Cankaya Palace . His children have continued their work. They have neither gone into business to make use of this position, nor appeared in the media. They have always acted with the responsibility and awareness of being the president’s children. His wife Semra Sezer has also won approval for her actions setting good examples. As a teacher of the republic, she has spearheaded important initiatives in education and training, especially in poor regions. But she hasn’t done it in front of the TV cameras just for show. She hasn’t expected applause. Sezer and his family are leaving Cankaya with good remarks about not only Cankaya but also people’s minds and hearts. We wish Sezer and his family a healthy life full of happiness.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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