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Turkish Press Review, 07-06-13Turkish 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 morning13.06.2007CONTENTS
[01] GOVT, TSK STRESS DETERMINATION TO WAGE COORDINATED FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISMA security summit lasting nearly three hours was held in Ankara yesterday. During the meeting, top leaders �" Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Osman Gunes, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, and Gendarme General Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner �" discussed a recent escalation in terrorist attacks and measures to be taken in response. A written statement released afterwards underlined that the government and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), as well as other related institutions, would continue to work decisively in coordination within the framework of democracy and the rule of law to end PKK terrorism in the country. Furthermore, the statement gave no signal of plans for a military cross- border operation into northern Iraq. /Milliyet/[02] ITALIAN FM MEETS WITH ERDOGANItalian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan in Ankara. Stating that he supports Turkey’s European Union bid, D’Alema said, “Turkey’s EU membership intersects with Europe’s basic interests.” D’Alema said that Turkey’s membership would strengthen the EU and give it additional leverage in both the Mediterranean and Middle East. “Turkey’s membership will be a resounding answer to those who see the world as a clash between religions and civilizations,” he added. In related news, Lamberto Dini, the head of the Italian Senate’s Foreign Affairs Commission, yesterday rebuffed French President Nicolas Sarkozy, saying, “Turkey is a European country with its history, economy, and geography.” Speaking to news agency AB Haber, Dini said that the EU hadn’t closed its doors to Turkey, adding, “The EU is determined to continue negotiations. The Turkish side should work to adopt the EU acquis. Turkish officials shouldn’t let the statements of politicians in EU countries get them down.” /Aksam/[03] GUL MEETS WITH NATO’S SCHEFFERForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Afterwards, Gul told a press conference that he places importance on cooperation between Turkey and NATO, adding, “There are some problems, and we discussed them. We want our relations to continue strongly from now on.” Scheffer began his statement by offering condolences for recent terror attacks, saying, “Many innocent civilians and Turkish soldiers have lost their lives to terrorist attacks in Turkey. Landmine attacks are the cheapest kind of terrorism. We condemn these attacks.” Asked whether NATO would help Turkey with a possible cross- border operation into northern Iraq, Scheffer said, “NATO has no direct role in this issue. But we’re aware of the tension in the region. We’ll continue to show solidarity with Turkey.” Scheffer also met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Cooperation between NATO and the European Union was also discussed during the meetings. /Star-Cumhuriyet/[04] ERDOGAN: “LET’S FIRST END THE PKK IN TURKEY”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that a cross-border operation into northern Iraq should be a last resort. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan hinted at the government’s stance on PKK terrorism. “There are 500 terrorists in Iraq; there are 5,000 terrorists inside Turkey,” said Erdogan. “Has terrorism inside Turkey been ended so we can think about an operation in northern Iraq?” He said that the figures he gave were not official numbers, just examples. The premier stated that recently escalating terrorist attacks were meant to harm Turkey’s democracy and peace, adding that all related institutions were working together to end PKK terrorism, and that the government was doing all it can on the issue. /Turkiye/[05] BAYKAL: “THE TSK SHOULD ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ”Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that the PKK’s terrorist attacks cannot be stopped without ending their presence in northern Iraq. Commenting on Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that the PKK terrorists in Turkey should be dealt with first rather than the ones in northern Iraq, he claimed that the source of the terrorism in Turkey was northern Iraq, adding that the PKK terrorists’ headquarter is in the region and that nothing can be accomplished without clearing it out. Criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) policies on terrorism, Baykal said that the government had considered stopping terrorism through establishing good relations with political circles backing the PKK. Moreover, Baykal called for a special session in Parliament to discuss the issue. /Milliyet/[06] RICE: “A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION WOULDN’T BE GOOD FOR TURKEY”The consequences of a possible cross-border operation by Turkey into Iraq would be good for neither country, said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week. “We understand that we have an obligation to the Turks that Iraq's territory not be used for terrorist activity, that they have to have some assurance that that situation is going to be addressed and addressed seriously,” Rice told reporters. “And I think we're making some progress. I believe the Turks are sending a signal that they expect the problem to be dealt with, that they expect progress. But I think they know and they understand the downsides of engaging in a more robust cross- border activity. And those consequences would be, I think, not very good for Iraq and not very good for Turkey. And so we're prepared to work with Turkey, but it's not going to help anybody to have a unilateral move across that border in a robust fashion.” US State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack yesterday echoed Rice’s statements, saying, “The PKK is a terrorist organization. We take quite seriously the concerns of the Turkish government. They have lost lives. Innocent lives have been lost. And it's an issue … that needs to be dealt with. It's best dealt with by cooperation between Iraq and Turkey and we're playing a role in that, an active role with [US Anti-Terror Envoy] Gen. [Joseph] Ralston.” /Star/[07] HABERTURK'S GULDEMIR LAID TO RESTUfuk Guldemir, the late chairman of news channel HaberTurk, was laid to rest yesterday in Istanbul. A large crowd, including prominent politicians and other public figures as well as Guldemir’s fellow journalists, bid him farewell at a funeral held in front of the HaberTurk building and Tesvikiye Mosque. Guldemir died of cancer last weekend at the age of 51. /All Papers/[08] ISTANBUL TO HOST LIVE EARTH CONCERT NEXT MONTHIstanbul will host one of the Live Earth concerts set be held in nine cities worldwide next month. The July 7 concerts are being organized to draw international attention to the threat of global warming. In related news, environmentalist and former US Vice President Al Gore visited Turkey in support of Live Earth’s Istanbul leg. Following a visit to the church of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Fener, he held a press conference at the Ciragan Palace, and then addressed a conference on the issue. Gore said that if one week of what the US is spending on Iraq were instead devoted to fighting global warming, the problem could be solved. /Sabah/FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [09] THINGS CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS!BY HALUK SAHIN (RADIKAL)Columnist Haluk Sahin comments on the atmosphere in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: “State Minister Abdullatif Sener said what I wanted to say, but more clearly. When a reporter asked him about the atmosphere in the wake of a fallen soldier's funeral where deputies faced protests, Sener said that things can’t go on like this. Really, it cannot and will not go on like this. Something has to be done, but we don’t know what yet. I’ve been saying that a system can’t endure such a great rift and tension among the pieces constituting it. It will break down at some point, or even collapse. A time when such a complexity is experienced is the weak point of the system. Similarly, a Washington Times columnist described Turkey as a ‘weakened state.’ We read in high school that the Ottoman Empire lost the war because the state was weak, there was no peace at the palace and nobody was listening to the sultan. Maybe future historians will write similar things. Wouldn’t it be a shame? The actors constituting the system should immediately change their style and try something new so this weakness won’t deepen and flare into a chronic crisis. They should not take steps exacerbating the tension or to benefit themselves, but ones towards softening and conciliation. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should give up its stubbornness over the presidency. It should finally accept that its initiative to impose its own candidate at the last minute was what sparked the crisis. Also, the opposition should object to protests at the funerals of slain soldiers. Angry crowds are dangerous weapons. The Democratic Society Party (DTP) and Kurdish intellectuals should use their influence to ensure an immediate, unilateral PKK ceasefire. Turkey should not be dragged into an extensive military operation in northern Iraq, which is like a minefield. The people who know the system in Ankara is going through a vulnerable period are probably behind the provocations to lead Turkey into this trap. While writing these words, I still don’t know the outcome of yesterday’s meeting held by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I think Erdogan should talk to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Let me tell you this: Erdogan should remember that there is something called resignation, because the situation cannot and will not go on this way!” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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