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Turkish Press Review, 08-05-20Turkish 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 morning20.05.2008CONTENTS
[01] NATION CELEBRATES MAY 19May 19 Ataturk Commemoration, Youth and Sports Day was celebrated on Monday with parade and ceremonies, and various activities nationwide in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and at Turkish missions abroad. High-level state officials led by President Abdullah Gul firstly visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey early morning yesterday. Members of the cabinet, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Constitutional Court Chief Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, opposition National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli and representatives from other parties also attended ceremonies at Anitkabir. Gul laid a wreath at the tomb of Ataturk and signed the Anitkabir memorial guestbook. "Great Atatürk, we stand before you with pride and joy on the 89th anniversary of your setting foot in Samsun for the first time at the start of our struggle for independence. The modern Republic of Turkey you've founded is moving forward to become one of the leading countries of the world. The level we have reached is the result of conscious steps and determination being transferred from one generation to the next. The achievements and successes of our republic will continue to empower our nation and state. The Republic of Turkey, a democratic, secular, social state of law, will exist until the end of time," Gul wrote in the guestbook. Gul also stressed Turkish youth's determination to realize ideals of the republic. Gul later took part in ceremonies at the May 19 stadium and followed activities performed by young people to celebrate the day. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan couldn't attend both ceremonies at the Anitkabir and May 19 stadium due to health problem with his eyes. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek represented Erdogan during the ceremonies. 89 years ago, on May 19, 1919 Ataturk landed in Samsun to start the national independence struggle. /Hurriyet/[02] GUL RECEIVES YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TURKEYPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday received young people who represent 81 provinces of the country on the occasion of the May 19 Ataturk Commemoration, Youth and Sports Day. Speaking to the young, Gul said, "You are the future of Turkey. Thanks to your efforts, Turkey will be more powerful and prosperous in the future." Gul also advised to the young that they should aware of their responsibilities. Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek also met with young representatives. During his meeting with the young, Toptan said, "You should have big aims and must work hard to realize them." /Milliyet/[03] FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS WORLD ECONOMIC FORUMForeign Minister Ali Babacan over the weekend attended a two-day meeting of the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. As part of the gathering, Babacan met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and received by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Speaking to reporters, Babacan said that international cooperation was needed in the fight against terrorism. He added that if the northern Iraqi administration can distance itself from the terrorist group and take concrete steps on the issue, Ankara can establish a better dialogue. Babacan returned Turkey late yesterday. /Turkiye/[04] SMOKING BAN COMES INTO EFFECTNew regulations extending the smoking ban in enclosed public places came into effect yesterday. The new law, which passed by Parliament in January, prohibits smoking in all indoor areas, including government offices, workplaces, shopping malls, schools, stadiums, hospitals, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes and hotels. Cafes and restaurants �" except for those located in shopping malls �" will benefit from a transition period with a total ban coming into force for them July 19, 2009. The law calls for a fine of YTL 50 for people who light up in a smoke free area. /All Papers/[05] DELEGATION FROM CONGO VISITS ADANAA delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday arrived in Adana for a three-day visit upon an invitation by the Anatolian Enterprising Businessmen Association (AGID). The delegation networking with local businessmen expressed hopes for being able to work with more Turkish businessmen in the future. /Turkish Daily News/[06] IN SWITZERLAND, YALCINDAG: "TURKEY IS AN EXAMPLE OF INTEGRATION TO GLOBAL ECONOMY FOR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES"At the closing ceremony of 38th Saint Gallen Symposium: "Global Capitalism - Local Values" held by Saint Galen University in Switzerland, Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD) Chairwoman Arzuhan Yalcındag said that Turkey was an example of integration into global economy for neighboring countries. She added that the basic reason for conflict with East and West was due to global integration process, which is also called the clash of the civilization. Saying that the integration into global economy was parallel with the democratization process in Turkey, Yalcındag added, "This situation creates positive atmosphere in its region. Turkey gas harmonized global capitalism and many neighboring country are trying to benefit its experiences." In related news, Turkey's application for membership to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be handled in general assembly in this week. /Star/[07] AUSTRIA PRESIDENT VISITS IN ANKARAAustrian President Heinz Fischer and an accompanying delegation, including a large group of businessmen, yesterday arrived in Ankara at the official invitation of President Abdullah Gul. Fischer will also hold contacts in Kayseri and Istanbul during a three-day visit. /Sabah/[08] AMERICAN HISTORIAN: "ATAURK IS THE GREATEST LEADER OF 20TH CENTURY"Prof. Arnold Ludwig, historian and psychiatrist at the Brown University, US yesterday said that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic was the greatest leader of the 20th century according to a system consisting of 11 criteria which categorizes several political leaders of the world. At a meeting held by Ataturk Society of America, Ludwig said that he compared hundreds of leaders who made a mark on the 20th century and Ataturk was on the top of the list. /Milliyet/[09] EU'S LAGENDIJK: "THE EU SHOULD BE MORE SENSITIVE ABOUT CONCERNS OVER SECULARISM"In an interview with the Milliyet daily, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Co- Chair Joost Lagendijk yesterday said that secularism in Turkey had more difficulties than the one in Europe because secularism was a part of the system and that it's been centuries that Europe left this argument. He said that there wasn't such a fight in 27 countries of the EU and that it was normal to be secular. He added that because of this they cannot understand the discussion on secularism in Turkey. He also said that there was a difference of understanding and that for him, wearing headscarves at universities was an issue in harmony with secularism. "But in Turkey this is seen as an issue threatening secularism. When we tolerate the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), people get the impression that the EU is making concessions on secularism." He also said that he perceives the sensitivity in Turkey but that Turkey was at a point that it could discuss freedom of wearing headscarves at universities. "The EU is sensitive about this issue but if there's a reverse image, it's our fault," he said, adding, "That is our responsibility." /Milliyet/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [10] OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLEBY ERDAL SAĞLAM (HURRIYET)Columnist Erdal Saglam comments on a United Nations report about the situation of the young people in Turkey which was published in March. A summary of his column is as follows: "The report, announced by the United Nations in March, was fortunately on the agenda due to May 19, Youth and Sports Day. This way, we remembered our responsibilities for the young people again. In sum, everybody should leave aside current political discussions and place more importance on the education. According to the census in 2007, there are more than 12 million young people aged between 15 and 24 in Turkey, which equals 17.6 percent of the total population. These people who are the subject of the report suffer great problems and hardships. The unemployment rate for these people is 17- 18 percent, that is, two folds of the general unemployment rate in the entire country. Nearly 40 percent of the young people, in other words, 5 million people, are idle. They neither attend school, nor work. In addition, there aren't sufficient efforts to combat sexual discrimination, which frustrates the women's expectations for the future. The report says that the most favorable old_young rates to be observed in upcoming decades might offer opportunities for government or create difficulties as well. A window of opportunity of 15 years awaits Turkey to prepare today's young people for future struggles. In 15 years, nearly 70 percent of the Turkish population will be in working age, which will continue to increase until 2040. This transformation would occur, if the rate of population decreases and the people in working age increases, and this is called the 'demographic opportunity window.' Such a concept is a unique one which can be seized once in a world's history. The report says that if Turkey can create right opportunities for its young people and invests in their education to prepare them for future's high-yield business positions, it would use its demographic opportunity window effectively. But if this opportunity is managed badly, the country might suffer unemployment, poverty and social anxiety greatly. This determination shows that unless the current situation is well-managed, this might cause a disaster, otherwise it would cause a great opportunity for the country. We should focus on education immediately, because if we are late, we would face a disaster. If we can't establish a comprehensive system to educate qualified manpower and continue with the present system, we would be doing the worst wrong to our young people. According to the UN's report, a mutual interaction and cooperation should be ensured between vocational and technical schools and industrial and service organizations in the private sector. This way a lot of young people could chose a profession which is beneficial to him_her and thus decrease the build-up in front of universities' doors. Thus universities could become more qualified organizations and ensure the education of more qualified manpower. Turkey's European Union bid should be evaluated as part of this. If this educational move can be realized, there would be no problem of unemployment, Turkey would enter the EU actually with its qualified manpower and thus our efficiency in Europe would grow in every respect. Otherwise, we would be considered a dangerous country which shouldn't be approached by the EU and all other groups of countries. Politicians should fulfill their responsibilities for the children and young people and use scientific methods, not dogmatic ones towards this end." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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