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Turkish Press Review, 08-10-16Turkish 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 morning16.10.2008FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] GUL: "THE FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR WILL HELP BURNISH TURKEY'S IMAGE"There will be a new positive image for Turkey in the world, and especially in Europe, following Germany's 60th Frankfurt Book Fair, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. At a press conference before leaving Germany, Gul added that Turkish culture will be seen and understood better in Europe through new book translations and concerts. Adding that he met with his German counterpart Horst Kohler and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he said that they had talked about bilateral relations. Gul later returned to Turkey. /Turkiye/[02] ERDOGAN USHERS IN SCHOOL YEAR AT FATIH UNIVERSITYPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony ushering in the 2008-2009 school year at Istanbul's Fatih University, where he received an honorary doctorate. In a speech, Erdogan criticized the attitude of some, including some media sources, towards the global financial crisis. Stating that whole world is feeling the crisis, including the US, the European Union, and Japan, Erdogan said, "Turkey will be influenced by the crisis, but less so than others are." Erdogan also spoke at a similar ceremony at Kadir Has University. /Milliyet/[03] BABACAN: "THE N.IRAQI REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE A TOUGHER STANCE AGAINST THE PKK"Turkey expects the local administration in northern Iraq to change its course to take tougher action against the terrorist PKK, said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. Babacan is currently in New York promoting Turkey's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2009- 2010. Speaking to the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), he assessed the government's new talks with the regional northern Iraqi administration on fighting the terrorist PKK. Stating that the administration should take additional concrete measures against the PKK, he added, "The regional administration must take a more serious stance against the PKK." /Star/[04] BAYKAL GIVES NOD TO KARAYALCIN'S RUN FOR GREATER ANKARA MAYORMeeting yesterday with Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal agreed Karayalcin could run for Ankara Metropolitan Municipality mayor under the CHP banner next March. "The people of Ankara still fondly remember when Karayalcin was mayor (in 1989-1993)," Baykal later told reporters. "I hope this fondness will bear fruit." /Cumhuriyet/[05] MGK TO CONVENE NEXT WEEKThe National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Abdullah Gul, is set to convene next week at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Among those at the meeting will be Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner, and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Atila Işik, all three attending for the first time in their new posts. Issues to be discussed at the gathering include the fight against the terrorist PKK at home and abroad and recent global developments. /Aksam/[06] BASBUG LASHES OUT AT MEDIA CLAIMS OF MILITARY NEGLIGENCEChief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, alongside other high-level commanders, held a press conference yesterday lashing out at media claims of military negligence in the recent terrorist PKK attack on the Aktutun military outpost in the southeastern province of Hakkari, which left 17 soldiers dead. Charging that anyone who presents the actions of the terrorist group as successful is responsible for this and future bloodshed, Basbug said that the incident, while he said was a near-suicide attack for the terrorist group, showed the heroism of Turkish soldiers. Basbug's remarks followed a lead story in a national newspaper claiming that intelligence reports on the PKK prior to the attack had been ignored. Stating that a systematic attack against the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) began in the wake of the Aktutun attack, Basbug stressed that that attack would do nothing but strengthen the TSK's determination and power. "The TSK is stronger, more determined and more decided than ever today." Basbug said, "An investigation into the attack is underway, and the army will share the results with the public as any institution with full self-confidence." He also said that the army was taking legal action against those who leaked secret military intelligence and information on the PKK attack and added, "The response any army would give to such systematic attacks, and groundless and excessive claims, is obvious. So I call on everyone to act carefully and take the right stance." /Turkiye/[07] YAZICIOGLU: "TURKEY WILL BE A GLOBAL ACTOR"State Minister Said Yazicioglu yesterday attended a congress in Istanbul held by the Turkish-Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM). The meeting focused on Turkey's strategic vision for the 2023 centenary of the Turkish Republic to become a global and regional power. Addressing the congress, attended by strategic analysts and former diplomats, Yazicioglu said, "In the centenary of the republic, thanks to its cultural and historical legacy, Turkey should be a power which helps to broker solutions to regional issues, as a democratic and technology-producing global actor with its well- educated young population and high standards of living in an increasingly unstable region." /Turkiye/[08] FINANCE MINISTER URGES CONCERTED ACTION AGAINST GLOBAL CRISISFinance Minister Kemal Unakitan said yesterday that economic officials are working hard to take necessary measures to minimize the impact on Turkey of the global crisis. Speaking in Istanbul at the Funds World Turkey conference, Unakitan said the crisis will reduce the flow of foreign direct investment to Turkey. He called on Turks living abroad to shift their overseas assets to Turkey. Unakitan underlined that they will be not be taxed or face disclosure requirements, adding that work on this arrangement will be completed soon. "There is no one in the world who will not feel the current crisis," said the finance minister. "The impact will be felt even among tribes in Africa." He also urged banks not to try to pressure people to pay back their loans early, which he said would cause trouble in the real sector. The banking and real sectors depend on each other, said Unakitan, urging concerted action against the crisis. /Hurriyet/[09] EPIC POET DAGLARCA PASSES AWAYFazil Husnu Daglarca, one of the most prolific poets of the republican era and a pioneer of epic Turkish poetry, died yesterday in Istanbul at the age of 94. Baskent University İstanbul Hospital Chief of Medicine Kursad Tokel told reporters that Daglica died following treatment for chronic renal failure. /Today's Zaman/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[11] A MISTAKE STEMMING FROM ANGERBY TARHAN ERDEM (RADIKAL)Columnist Tarhan Erdem comments on a statement by Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug. A summary of his column is as follows: "Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday read out a statement in Balikesir, and his anger was evident. In reviewing this statement, let's review the news that spurred it. Citing a leaked intelligence document, Taraf daily carried a banner story charging that the military command was negligent in the recent PKK attack on a military outpost in Aktutun and that General Staff statements following the incident were contradictory. Any journalist with access to the source cited by Taraf would have also carried such a story. Nobody could be indifferent to documents indicating official negligence on an issue which has gotten so much public interest. The way the story was written gives the impression that it was meant specifically to criticize the military. In sum, a newspaper turned a document into news by criticizing the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), and then the chief of General Staff rebuffed this story. So far there's nothing wrong. The newspaper did its job as it sees fit and left its readers to judge the situation. The other side of the story is the style and content of the General Staff's statement. What level of which institution should have the role of rebuffing news stories about the military? What official should be the spokesman for this? Could the duty of disciplining and teaching good manners be done by an authority other than the judiciary? Newspapers are products for public consumption. Institutions established by the people also evaluate the quality of this product. If a correction about the state is necessary, the newspaper addresses those who govern the state and the statesmen on behalf of the nation. In other words, the defense minister or an official appointed by him should give or respond to news about the army. In addition, it's natural for a commander or unit which governs an operation to provide information about a small or large operation. I don't think many people believe the chief of General Staff should respond to every news story about the military. It would be appropriate for the ministry or the General Staff spokesperson to respond to the questions raised by Taraf. What's perhaps unacceptable about Basbug's statement are his feelings, which he didn't try to hide. I think showing so much anger ill fits Basbug's duty. People who find mistakes in any army operation naturally praise critics of the operation. People who argue that mistakes were made about Aktutun naturally praise the critics. But it would be grossly unfair to paint those who take this position as somehow giving psychological aid to the PKK. They're not praising the PKK, but trying to avoid mistakes in the fight against it. But Basbug is arguing that people who say PKK attacks were successful are partially responsibility for the bloodshed. Let me say outright that I don't understand this. If someone says that any action taken by the army is right and can't be criticized, let's talk about this. As the army isn't immune to criticism, such criticism shouldn't be seen as sacrilege." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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