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Turkish Press Review, 08-03-27Turkish 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 morning27.03.2008WHILE WE’RE ALONE BY SOLI OZEL (SABAH)CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT GUL TO MEET WITH OPPOSITION LEADERSPresident Abdullah Gul is set to hold a series of meetings with Parliament opposition party leaders to discuss recent domestic developments. At Gul’s invitation, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal will attend a luncheon today with the president at the Cankaya Palace. In the afternoon, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli is expected to visit Gul. In addition, Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer will visit the president tomorrow morning. /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN VISITS ALBANIAAfter completing his contacts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday proceeded to Albania, where he met with his Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha and opposition party leaders. He also attended a Turkish-Albanian Business Council meeting. Erdogan said that strengthening trade and economic ties between the two countries will also boost prosperity in the region. He added that Turkey and Albania are decisively moving ahead on their respective roads to European Union membership, and that they should help each other towards that aim. The premier was then received by Albanian President Bamir Topi. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said that he supports calls by Turkish non-governmental organizations for politicians to act with common sense and so ease domestic tension. /Turkiye/[03] BABACAN: “THE AKP CLOSURE CASE COULD HAMPER TURKEY’S EU BID”Foreign Minister and chief negotiator for Turkey’s European Union talks Ali Babacan, in the Netherlands for a two-day visit, yesterday began his official talks and signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen. Commenting on the case seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Babacan warned, “This case could cause the EU to suspend Turkey’s accession process.” He added that most observers abroad believe Turkey can overcome this issue and that it should continue its steadfast democratic reforms. Asked about the EU’s warnings over controversial Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, Babacan said, “This law will be changed in the months to come, but there’s only a timing problem dependent on setting the right political atmosphere.” /Milliyet/[04] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT VISITS TRNCTurkish Republic of Northern Cyrus President (TRNC) Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday received Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, currently on the island as his official guest. During their meeting, Talat said that Turkish soldiers stationed in the TRNC do their duty under international guarantorship and alliance agreements, and will continue this until a just and lasting peace is established. Buyukanit said that he wants Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC to go forward safely. “Preserving a just peace is very important,” said Buyukanit. “Surely those governing Cyprus, including President Talat, know that how peace becomes just and lasting. But this has to be ensured. All parties should understand this. The Greek Cypriot administration should understand this.” Stating that Turkish soldiers have provided peace on Cyprus since 1974, Buyukanit said, “This hallowed duty will continue until a just and lasting peace is established.” /Star/[05] ENERGY MINISTER MEETS WITH TUSIADEnergy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler yesterday met with members of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD). “The privatization of electricity production and distribution will be realized as soon as possible, and automatic electricity pricing for ultimate consumers will start on July 1,” Guler told reporters afterwards. With this policy, price changes will be automatically reflected in electricity rates. Guler also said this year will be very fruitful for energy investments. Stressing that Turkey’s energy needs will rise 60 percent in the next 15-20 years, TUSIAD head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said the security of energy supplies is very important for Turkey. /Sabah/[06] LARGE LABOR, BUSINESS GROUPS ISSUE CALL FOR COMMON SENSEMeeting in Istanbul yesterday, the heads of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), Turkish Public Worker’s Labor Union (Kamu-Sen), Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Tradesmen’s and Artisan’s Confederation (TESK), Turkish Confederation of Employers Associations (TISK), and Turkish Agricultural Chambers’ Union (TZOB) issued a joint call for “Common Sense in Turkey.” The statement was read out to the press by TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu as well as all across Turkey. “Today is a historic day,” said the statement, one in which common sense and cool-headedness are needed. “Turkish democracy and law are undergoing a difficult test,” it said. “We all hope we can get through this period without suffering any harm.” The statement also stressed that Turkey should swiftly focus on addressing its economic and social problems. /Cumhuriyet/[07] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…WHILE WE’RE ALONE BY SOLI OZEL (SABAH)Columnist Soli Ozel comments on US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit to Turkey this week and related issues. A summary of his column is as follows. “US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit managed to snuff out a number of arguments, or at least that’s how it came out in public. In some respect, if his visit was put on Cheney’s itinerary by US President George W. Bush, we’d be right to consider it a courtesy call. Of course, it also game him a chance to buy carpets for his family. If we aren’t asked to do more in Afghanistan or to isolate Iran, the future of relations with Iraqi Kurds seems our most pressing issue. From another perspective, some of Cheney’s messages actually were echoes of things said by Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani in Erbil. Back then, Cheney was urging the Iraqi Parliament to pass an oil law, seen as vital by the US for Iraq’s territorial integrity, and he said he was glad that the Kirkuk referendum had been delayed. But it’s known that the Bush administration, including Cheney, wants Turkey to forge better relations with the Kurdish regional administration and talk to Erbil and also support operations against the terrorist PKK in order to provide this and stress Turkey’s importance. During his visit, Cheney also reiterated that the PKK is Turkey and the US’ common enemy. It’s not known if Cheney urged steps to solve the Kurdish issue. In sum, Cheney visited an important ally without dealing with sensitive issues, in order to underline Turkey’s importance and continue the rapprochement in relations. Clearly, Turkish-US relations were generally set in order. The real problem lies within Turkey. Those who have political scores to settle are busy quarrelling with each other and pushing the country to the brink. The links, intentions and network of relations uncovered by the Ergenekon probe into a right-wing gang are troubling. So serious figures issuing messages of concern has a purpose. Here we should reiterate that no party can be closed down by such an indictment. Moreover, in democracies, political systems should quell their excesses. This would bring a minimum consensus about the rules of the game. This consensus comes from trust in politics and a belief in civilian supremacy and is fed by the philosophy of democratic law. The real target of accusations against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not the party itself. Erdogan is fighting to stay in political life. As he thinks that he could be stabbed in the back from within the AKP, he wants to escalate the tension and lean directly on party supporters. It’s doubtful this initiative will succeed. The alternative is a bold opening in our democratization process, reviving up our European Union membership process, and calmly putting a democratic project forward to convince the public. Besides, there’s something to do. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its leader Deniz Baykal, which is moving towards authoritarianism even worse than Saddam Hussein’s Baath regime, should be asked this: What kind of a regime does the CHP want? Does it want to get Turkey into the EU and is it ready to do the citizen-oriented openings needed for this? If not, what’s the order, system of alliance and political ownership that it considers worthy of the Turkish nation in the 21st century? Instead of taking an angry stance and contradicting everybody, Erdogan should try such an opening.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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