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Turkish Press Review, 08-10-06Turkish 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 morning06.10.2008CONTENTS
[01] SOLDIERS SLAIN IN AKTUTUN LAID TO RESTThe funerals of 15 fallen soldiers who lost their lives in a terrorist PKK attack on a military outpost in Aktutun, Hakkari last Friday were held in their hometowns yesterday. Among the thousands of mourners were President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at the funeral of specialist sergeant Hasan Aygor at Kirikkale, Erdogan said that the Higher Counterterrorism Board (TMYK) will be held this week. /All papers/[02] TOP COMMANDER CHARGES REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN N. IRAQ WITH HARBORING TERRORIST PKKDeputy Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hasan Iğsız yesterday held a press conference at the General Staff headquarters and briefed media members on the recent terrorist PKK attack targeting a military border outpost in Semdinli district of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Stating that there is no problem with the sharing of intelligence between Turkey and the US against the terrorist PKK, Igsiz said, "But we cannot receive any support from the regional administration in northern Iraq." He accused the regional administration of supporting the terrorist group by allowing the terrorist PKK members to use hospitals, roads and basic facilities in northern Iraq. He urged the regional administration to label the PKK as a terrorist organization and cut the support extended to them. He said, "The terrorist organization is moving towards a breaking point, and looking for a way out by conducting sensational actions." Gen. Igsiz said, "The martyred soldiers didn't die in vain. They fought back successfully till the end and protected the outpost." Touching on the General Staff's legal demands to more effectively fight the terrorist group, he said, "There should be a balance between the security needs and human rights." Gen. Igsiz added, "23 terrorists were killed during the clashes. We predict that this number could be more due to the intensified artillery fires and air strikes by the Turkish army." He also said that efforts had been initiated last year to move five military outposts at border areas with Iraq and Iran to more secure places. Gen. Igsiz also warned that some malicious groups were trying to foment ethnic conflicts among people. In related news, Turkish war planes hit the terrorist PKK bases in northern Iraq yesterday. /Turkiye/[03] UN CONDEMNS THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN HAKKARIUnited Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday condemned the terrorist attack on Aktutun military outpost in Hakkari which killed 15 soldiers. Moon's spokesperson Michelle Montas said, "The secretary-general expressed his deepest sympathies with the Turkish government and people of Turkey in the face of violence of terrorism," and added, "Ban wanted continued cooperation between the governments of Turkey and Iraq to address this threat and to promote peace and stability along their border." US State Department spokesperson Robert Wood on Saturday released a statement on the attack in Hakkari and said, "The United States condemns the PKK attack in Semdinli on October 3. We offer our deep condolences to the families of the soldiers who died in this vicious act of terrorism. We mourn this tragic loss with the citizens of Turkey. The United States considers the PKK a common enemy of Turkey, the United States, and Iraq. We reiterate our longstanding call for the PKK to lay down its arms and cease its violence once and for all. We stand in solidarity with Turkey in our commitment to defeat these terrorists." British Foreign Secretary also condemned the attack and said, "The United Kingdom utterly condemns last Friday's terrorist attack in Hakkari, Turkey. There can be no excuse for the use of violence to achieve one's aims. The UK stands shoulder-to- shoulder with Turkey in its fight against terrorism and strongly supports ongoing efforts between the Turkish and Iraqi authorities to prevent the PKK from using Northern Iraq as a base from which to mount attacks against Turkey." In related news, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt issued a press release on the terrorist attack and said a firm stance against this kind of attacks should be adopted. /Milliyet/[04] TMYK TO RECONVENE ON THURSDAYThe Higher Counterterrorism Board (TMYK), led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was held over the weekend following deadly attack of terrorist PKK in Aktutun, Hakkari. TMYK will be reconvened on Thursday, and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is reportedly set to prepare a presentation proposed new changes in some laws to fight against the PKK more effectively. /Star/[05] GERMAN FM: "WE SHOULD BENEFIT FROM TURKEY'S BRIDGE ROLE"Speaking at a gathering in Hannover, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Turkey can make contribution to the solution of the crisis in the Middle East region and added, "Turkey's role as a bridge should be benefited." He also said that the harmonization of three million Turks to the German society should be provided and a multi-identity life should be accomplished and accepted. /Milliyet/[06] SIMSEK: "TURKEY COULD TURN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL INTO AN OPPORTUNITY"In a televised interview yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Şimşek said that the current US-oriented economic crisis had effects on all countries in the world and that no country can remain immune to a global crisis. He added that but Turkey would be limitedly affected by the crisis thanks to its sound financial markets. "Turkish banks' rate of capital adequacy is strong. They don't invest in high-risky financial instruments. That's why Turkey could be affected by the crisis indirectly," Simsek said. He added that Turkey could make the current crisis into an opportunity in the long term, adding that foreign investors also share this opinion. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [07] WHERE ARE WE GOING?BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on last weekend's terrorist attacks in the Hakkari region and the fight against terrorism. A summary of his column is as follows: "Let's have a look at the landing marks of the course of events in our fight against terrorism. A crowded group of terrorists coming from northern Iraq attacked the Daglica military outpost, killed 12 and injured 17 soldiers with heavy weapons on November 21, 2007. The terrorist PKK kidnapped 8 soldiers and 32 PKK terrorists were killed in the conflict that lasted for many hours during the same day. At that day, the weakness of intelligence was being discussed. The government took authorization from the Parliament and gave the task order to the General Staff for a cross- border operation on November 28, 2007. The first cross border operation of this period occurred on December 1, 2007, when the General Staff announced that an operation was made against 50-60 PKK terrorists within the Iraqi border and that targets were hit upon an information which was received. Speaking in Diyarbakir on September 5, 2008, Gen. Ilker Basbug said that the separatist terrorist organization was moving towards the breaking point and that the situation which was reached since December was a source of pride. The PKK attacked Aktutun military outpost from northern Iraq, again with heavy weapons, killing 15 and injuring 21 soldiers on October 4, 2008. By the way, the terrorists' loss is 23. Alas! Is the fight against terrorism changing for worse? Are the commanders' words empty? Firstly, there is the geographical factor. Almost all these attacks occurred in the Hakkari region! Steep mountains and deep valleys make even the electronic intelligence harder. The US which mobilizes all of its militarily and technological possibilities can't even control the wide and mountainous geography on the Afghan-Pakistani border, either. The second factor is the problem of border. The terrorist organization can attack from northern Iraq with heavy weapons also with Kurdish leader Barzani's support from a distance of 5-10 km! It's not easy to clean that land completely with cross border operations. The difficult land conditions which were indicated by Second Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz at a briefing yesterday surprised even the journalists who have visited the region for many times before. Yes, as Gen. Basbug indicated, the PKK has lost its dominance of land greatly, compared to 1990s, but it still can carry out such attacks to point targets by benefiting from the geography and Barzani. Of course, there are things to be done. As far as I heard, the place of five military outposts which were attacked was being changed. I wish it had been changed earlier. The special electronic intelligence and tactical defense structures can also be established for the point targets which were attacked by the PKK. None of us have the specialized information. Even a retired general talked on the TV with outdated information. If the people get suspicious that our soldiers were killed due to technical, intelligence or tactical mistakes in the fight against terrorism, terrorism would win! While talking or writing about this issue, one should be very careful. The army should answer the questions on these issues. The briefing which was made yesterday was useful, but I wish it was broadcasted live. If some people have defects in the tactical area, the army shouldn't hesitate to find and punish them. This would increase the confidence. Besides the complicated and long-termed sociological and political dimensions of the issue, we shouldn't forget that the party which gets terrified firstly will lose the long-termed struggle on the land." [08] SPANISH STYLE REACTION AGAINST TERRORISMBY SUKRU KUCUKSAHIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Sukru Kucuksahin comments on non-governmental organizations' yesterday declaration against the recent terrorist attacks. A summary of his column is as follows: "Chairmen of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), the Confederation of Employer Unions (TISK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Union (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (Hak-Is) and the Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (Kamu-Sen) yesterday released a joint declaration regarding Friday terrorist attack against the Turkish military station Aktutun in the Semdinli region of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Yesterday's press conference was the third initiative against terrorism of these Turkey's leading non-governmental organizations. But, this time, as I see, they believe that the time for taking action has already come. Participants have been limited with membership of the Economic and Social Council. I wish other leading unions and chambers such as the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) and the Turkish Union of Chambers of Architectures and Engineers (TMMOB) could also be included. As I understood, the limitation was for want of time, perhaps the platform can be expanded in the implementation of the action plan. Two points drew most attention at TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu's reading out the declaration. People who provide support to terrorists either directly or indirectly were warned that they will face great harm in long term. The statement, 'Countries which allow their territories to be used as a base for terrorist attacks have legal, political and moral responsibilities, ' was an open message to the Iraqi administration. The chairmen didn't answer the questions of reporters, as they were in rush to attend one of the 15 dead soldiers, Hasan Aygor's funeral. The question whether the declaration points to an action plan left in the air. During my short talks with chairmen afterwards, I felt the existence of preparation of an action plan, but as the details are not clear yet, it will be announced later. In my opinion, the greatest action will be organizing mass demonstrations in Turkey similar to the ones held in Spain previously with participations of millions of people which had real effect. Coming days probably will see a series of meetings and preparations to ensure wide participation with leading figures of the society, including political party leaders in the front lines. In a nutshell, the action aims to realize Turkey's largest civilian protest led by non governmental organizations against terrorism. It would be great to see an organization which doesn't separate but rather unifies the society, millions coming together against the terrorism and with the large support from all parts of the society." 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