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Turkish Press Review, 08-11-11Turkish 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 morning11.11.2008CONTENTS
[01] 70 YEARS AFTER HIS PASSING, ATATURK COMMEMORATED WITH LONGING AND GRATITUDE ACROSS TURKEYMustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, was commemorated yesterday nationwide on the 70th anniversary of his death. Ceremonies to honor Ataturk and his legacy began in the morning with an official ceremony at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum. High-level state and government officials, members of the judiciary, top army commanders and political party representatives led by President Abdullah Gul all came to the mausoleum to lay a wreath at Ataturk's tomb and observe two minutes of silence in commemoration of the great leader. Signing Anitkabir's Memorial Guestbook, Gul wrote, "Great Ataturk, we commemorate you with respect on the 70th anniversary of your death. We are in your presence with the honor of being a powerful country which inspires confidence and promotes balance in its region. Turkey has earned the respect of the whole world with its position, power, dynamism, international influence, and contributions to world peace and stability. We are determined to keep up with world developments, continue our democratization, and leave a stronger and more prosperous country to future generations. We present you our gratitude and love. May your soul rest in peace." Many other events and ceremonies were held across the country, including the official ceremony at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace where Ataturk passed away on November 10, 1938. Daily life and traffic stopped throughout the country at 9:05 a.m., the exact moment of Ataturk's death, as car horns and sirens were sounded and people observed two minutes of silence out of respect for Ataturk. Flags across the country were flown at half-mast. Thousands of people surged into Ataturk's mausoleum to show their gratitude and commitment to Ataturk and his legacy. /Turkiye/[02] GUL, ERDOGAN STRESS NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND UNITY AT MEETING HONORING ATATURKPresident Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a memorial ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. The ceremony was held by the Ataturk Supreme Council for Culture and History. Also attending the ceremony were Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, and many other state and government officials and guests. Addressing the gathering, President Gul said that he believes Turkey is successfully moving towards surpassing the level of modern civilized nations, a goal set by Ataturk. Noting how Ataturk placed great importance on Parliament remaining open even during the War of Independence, Gul also said that Ataturk had made and realized his all decisions in consultation with Parliament. Also addressing the ceremony, Premier Erdogan stressed that Turkey has made great strides on the path towards integration with the modern world in line with the founding ideals of the Turkish Republic. "Turkey has been elected to (a temporary seat on) the UN Security Council and is taking determined steps towards full European Union membership," he added. "We have become a country which plays a key role in solving regional and global problems, and bridging rifts between civilizations." Erdogan also stressed the great importance of democracy, national sovereignty and will, and unity and solidarity for Turkey to continue its development. "We should focus on our goals in concert and solidarity by protecting our common values," he urged. "Only in this way can we build the dynamic, independent, powerful and leading Turkey of the future." /Sabah-Turkiye/[03] GUL RECEIVES SWISS PRESIDENT COUCHEPINPresident Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Swiss counterpart Pascal Couchepin, who is on an official visit to Turkey. Afterwards, Couchepin told a joint press conference that the Treaty of Lausanne has retained its importance and validity since it was signed in 1923 through the present day. Praising the pact, he added that it was through Lausanne that the boundaries of modern Turkey were recognized. Asked about the so-called Armenian genocide claims, Couchepin said that judging them is the job of historians. Pointing to measures taken against the terrorist PKK in Switzerland, he said they had blocked attempts by the PKK to raise funds. He also characterized groups targeting Turks living in Switzerland as "dangerous." For his part, Gul said that Turkey is determined to boost ties between the two countries. Afterwards, Gul hosted a dinner in Couchepin's honor /Aksam-Star/[04] CABINET CONVENESThe Cabinet convened yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said the assembled Cabinet ministers had discussed such issues as the European Commission's recent progress report on Turkey, Turkey's national program for European Union membership reforms, and the fight against terrorism. Calling the new progress report more balanced than its predecessors, he added, "There are some points that we must argue with. The government will submit its objections to the EU in its national program." He added, "Two more chapters for EU negotiations can be opened ahead of the new year." Saying how the draft program was submitted to non- governmental organizations and opposition parties to get feedback, he said that only Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu had accepted their invitation to speak about its preparation and content. Rejecting charges that Turkey has slowed down its EU reforms, he added, "Thirty legal regulations were sent to Parliament, making 131 in total that Turkey has pledged to the EU as part of its negotiation process." /Star/[05] ERDOGAN, BERLUSCONI TO MEET AT TURKISH-ITALIAN GOVT SUMMITItalian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair a meeting between top officials of the two countries this week, the Italian Embassy in Ankara announced yesterday. The intergovernmental summit, the first of its kind, will take place in Izmir tomorrow. Among those set to attend from Italy are Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa, Transportation Minister Altero Matteoli and Economic Development Minister Claudio Scajola. /Today's Zaman/[06] DEFENSE MINISTER: "THE TURKISH-GREEK POPULATION EXCHANGE WAS KEY FOR TURKEY BECOMING A NATION-STATE"Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul yesterday attended an EU Troika defense ministers meeting in Brussels, followed by a ceremony at the Turkish Embassy to commemorate Ataturk. In his speech, Gonul said that the 1923 Turkish-Greek population exchange, a step taken by Ataturk which is little remembered today, was very important in making Turkey into a nation-state. Ottoman era efforts to westernize and make reforms weren't enough to save the country before the republic was founded, he added. Gonul said that in founding the republic, Ataturk placed great importance on economic policy as well as the nation-state. /Sabah/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [07] ISTANBUL IN BAYKAL'S SIGHTSBY MURAT YETKIN (RADIKAL)Columnist Murat Yetkin comments on the goals of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in next year's local elections. A summary of his column is as follows: "As local elections set for next March draw nearer, things are heating up. The biggest prizes are the mayoral seats, especially in major cities. Since the Republican People's Party (CHP) made common ground with former Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Murat Karayalcin, it seems almost certain he will try to regain the post under the CHP banner. Karayalcin can attract leftist and centrist votes, as well as Democrat Party (DP) and Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) supporters to some extent. He seems to have learned lessons from previous unsuccessful electoral alliances, and the people of Ankara know him. On the other hand, current Mayor Melih Gokcek has more tricks up his sleeve. The CHP says that nearly 400,000 people living in Ankara are financially dependent on Gokcek's municipal government for bids on projects as well as food and coal aid, and this won't be easy to overcome. The rise of Gokcek, a member of the Justice and Development Party, must be attracting attention within the AKP as well, because his son Osman owns three car washes at the age of 23. Now Osman is being groomed to be the next mayor of Ankara 's central Cankaya district. Would his father be offended by this? It all depends, because Gokcek doesn't surrender easily. But if Gokcek is offended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he would defect from the AKP and take his supporters to another party. Both Erdogan and the AKP brass who have worked with Gokcek must be very aware of this. And naturally, CHP leader Deniz Baykal knows this too. There might be surprises in Ankara . In addition, there might be surprises for the CHP in Izmir as well. Although people are talking about former Izmir Greater Municipality Mayor Yuksel Cakmur, the young, dynamic Hakan Tartan, CHP Provincial Chairman Kemal Karatas and Izmir Deputy Mehmet Ali Susam, pollster Tarhan Erem says current Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu currently has the support of about half of the voters. Izmir is important, because Erdogan has made Izmir the AKP target in western Turkey , much like Diyarbakir in the east. For Erdogan, snatching Izmir away from the CHP would be like taking Diyarbakir from the Democratic Society Party (DTP). But taking Izmir would probably be easier. Strange but true, he believes voters who migrated from the east to Izmir could split the CHP vote. If the CHP can rescue itself from isolation in the Izmir coastal strip, Erdogan's plans will come to nothing. But where does Baykal spend most of his time when not occupied by official duties in Ankara? Diyarbakir doesn't count, because the CHP unfortunately gives the impression that it's thrown in the sponge there. Contrary to what many think, no DTP candidate can win in Diyarbakir . The DTP's Osman Baydemir is now important in local politics, though not as much as Gokcek. But Baykal spends most of his time outside Ankara in Istanbul . Baykal prioritizes Ankara and Izmir , but he also knows that the road to power in Turkey goes through Istanbul . Istanbul is larger than many European countries, with a population of 12 million and a $17 billion budget. In addition, it's prestigious. What's more, Baykal believes that he has a common motivation with Gursel Tekin, the new provincial chairman. In his speeches, Tekin gives the impression that he knows being a candidate for Istanbul isn't everything and that the important thing is to court the base and make Istanbul voters accept him. So Baykal is now totally focused on his goal. One might ask if taking Istanbul is more likely than taking Ankara , but no one really knows. Baykal doesn't want to offend voters in either city, but my impression is that only Istanbul is in his sights." [08] THOUSANDS OF WAYS TO LOVE ATATURKBY ISIL OZGENTURK (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Isil Ozgenturk comments on the nation's love for Ataturk. A summary of his column is as follows: "There is a beautiful memory of Ataturk: One morning, Ataturk's assistant noticed that he wasn't in his room. After some commotion, the situation became clear: Ataturk had suddenly wanted to see the excavations in Hattusha (the old Hittite capital in Bogazkoy), and without telling anyone, he told his driver, "Take me to the excavations.' Now, I'm asking you, we all love Ataturk very much, but how many of us have seen or have a desire to see the Hittites' Hattusha, Karatepe, Zincirli, Nemrut or Yesemek? How many schools have taken field trips to these historical sites? Ataturk had a special interest in the Hittites, and took out time to see the excavations, even though he was very busy. Do we know what books Ataturk read? We don't, because his books are scattered around, some in the Cankaya Palace, and others in the army archives. And we still don't have an Ataturk library. Let's say a child wants to be a hero like Ataturk, who managed to forge a nation from a long-suffering people. Wouldn't this child wonder what he read? Can only Ataturk's own 'Nutuk' (The Speech) fire up his ambition? If we all love Ataturk, then why doesn't anyone celebrate Domestic Goods Week ('Domestic goods are the nation's goods') anymore? Why haven't people spoken up as the country's oldest cotton, liquor, and sugar factories have been sold off one by one while shopping malls are constructed instead? Why do almost all stores have non-Turkish names? Why have we stayed silent when young people seeking 'total freedom' faced execution or torture? Why haven't we challenged the continued building of highways while railway construction remains utterly neglected? Before again saying 'I love Ataturk very much,' let's ponder this: What have we done to serve his great ideal? Perhaps the reason for a number of issues we face today lies in the answers to this question." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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