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Turkish Press Review, 08-11-25Turkish 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 morning25.11.2008CONTENTS
[01] GUL HOSTS LUNCHEON HONORING NATION'S TEACHERSTeachers' Day was celebrated with official ceremonies throughout Turkey yesterday. President Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa hosted a luncheon for teachers coming from all of Turkey's 81 provinces at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Education Minister Huseyin Celik and Ankara Governor Kemal Onal also attended. Speaking at the luncheon, Gul stressed teachers' great contributions to the development of Turkey, adding that the country's future depends on them. Stating that teachers have the great responsibility of preparing new generations for change, Gul said that teachers should work to keep up with their students. "Despite many challenges, you are admirably carrying out your duties to our country by educating new generations," he added. "This is a very dignified job which gives endless happiness." /Turkiye/[02] ERDOGAN CALLS FOR BETTER TRADE TIES WITH INDIAOn the last day of his visit to India, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a working luncheon given by Indian businessmen in his honor. Speaking at the luncheon, Erdogan called for improved trade ties between Turkey and India, saying that Turkish firms could play a key role in infrastructure work in the country. Erdogan said that the current $3 billion bilateral trade volume should be doubled by 2010. He also said that Turkey and India would soon take a remarkable step to strengthen energy cooperation, referring to a proposed pipeline project among Turkey, Israel and India that would cut oil transportation costs for India . The premier yesterday also visited the Center of Information Technologies (CYBERCITY) in Bangalore and the Indian Space Research Organization. Speaking to reporters on his way back to Turkey, Erdogan touched on speculation over a possible standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund, saying that he would announce the government's final decision on the matter after returning home. /Turkiye/[03] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN MEETS WITH JORDAN 'S KING ABDULLAHParliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, currently in Jordan, yesterday met with his Jordanian counterpart Abdel Hadi Majali. Afterwards, a protocol for cooperation between the two countries at all levels was signed. Toptan was also received by Jordan's King Abdullah at his residence, and met with Prime Minister Nadir Dahabi. /Cumhuriyet/[04] BABACAN MEETS WITH ARMENIAN FM NALBANDIAN IN ISTANBULArmenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian yesterday arrived in Istanbul to take over the six-month term presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC). On the meeting's sidelines, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan met with Nalbandian for nearly three hours. Afterwards, Babacan told reporters that they had spoken about ties between the two countries and other problems in the Caucasus region. Characterizing the meeting as fruitful and constructive, he stated they would continue to discuss issues with a strong political will towards normalizing Turkish- Armenian relations. For his part, Nalbandian said that their meeting had been positive, adding, "We decided to continue to talk to normalize relations between our countries." Before the meeting with Babacan, referring to President Abdullah Gul's landmark visit to Armenia in September, Nalbandian told reporters, "An active dialogue between the countries started with a football match in Yerevan. We will maintain this positive atmosphere." He added that Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian will come to Turkey next year to watch a match between Turkey and Armenia . Stating that Armenia is ready to open its borders and establish diplomatic relations without preconditions, he said that they hope to see the same attitude from Turkey. /Star/[05] NEW FOREIGN MINISTRY INITIATIVE AIMED AT BOLSTERING TURKEY 'S IMAGE IN EUROPEThe Foreign Ministry has launched a new initiative to reshape Turkey's image in Europe . Under the initiative, a public diplomacy agency will soon be established. The proposed agency will play a key role in preparing and organizing short-, medium- and long-term plans to bolster the image in Europe of both Turkey and Turks. Also using the services of lobbying and public relations companies, the Foreign Ministry will start a comprehensive promotional campaign in which non-governmental organizations will also play an influential role. The campaign will be particularly aimed at France, known for its opposition to Turkey's EU accession bid. /Turkiye/[06] YAZICIOGLU HOLDS CONTACTS IN BERLINState Minister Mustafa Yazicioglu, on a visit to Germany, yesterday met with German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Turkish Consulate in Berlin, Yazicioglu said that he had urged German officials to work to cut off the terrorist PKK's financial resources and to work more closely with Turkey on the issue. /Turkiye/[07] TURKISH DELEGATION HOLDS TALKS WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT TALABANIA Turkish delegation led by Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Murat Ozcelik over the weekend spoke in Baghdad with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani about President Abdullah Gul's upcoming visit. They also spoke about the recent Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement between Iraq and the US. Ozcelik reportedly said that Turkey supports the pact, set to boost Iraq's sovereignty and independence. For his part, Talabani expressed his pleasure at Gul's upcoming visit, stating, "This visit will help boost bilateral ties between our two countries, which is important for reestablishing our economy and political process. Both countries will benefit greatly from this cooperation." Talabani also spoke about conditions in Iraq and talks in Parliament on the SOFA pact. /Aksam/[08] EP'S SWOBODA: " TURKEY 'S ACTIVE FOREIGN POLICY IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REFORMS"European Union leaders always urge Turkey's Democratic Society Party (DTP) to draw a clear line between the Kurdish issue and terrorism and to distance themselves from convicted terrorist PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, said European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Hannes Swoboda yesterday. Swoboda made the remarks in Ankara, meeting with Mehmet Ceylan, the deputy head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission. Ceylan said that they place great importance on EU reports on Turkey, calling recent reports positive and constructive. Stating that Turkey's stance towards EU accession is clear, Ceylan said, "We're seeking full membership. No other option is acceptable to us." Swoboda said that they have watched Turkey's active foreign policy with satisfaction but that this shouldn't be seen a replacement for the reform process. /Star/[09] KARAYALCIN LEAVES SHP HELM, SET TO JOIN CHP AND RUN FOR ANKARA MAYORMurat Karayalcin, set to run for Ankara Greater Municipality mayor next year under the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) banner, yesterday resigned from his leadership of the Social Democratic People's Party (SHP). Karayalcin's prospective CHP membership will be taken up during the party's Central Executive Board meeting tomorrow. A ceremony to celebrate his joining the CHP is expected to be held Thursday at the party's headquarters in Ankara. /Hurriyet/[10] SARIGUL TO JOIN DSPMustafa Sarigul, the mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district, will join the Democratic Left Party (DSP). The DSP Party Assembly chaired by Zeki Sezer yesterday accepted Sarigul's request to join the party. Sarigul was expelled from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) due to his conflict with the party leadership. /Hurriyet/[11] ISTANBUL TO HOST TURKISH-AFRICAN CONGRESSThe Fourth International Turkish-African Congress will begin today in Istanbul. The three-day congress organized by the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) will host top officials of 12 African regional organizations. The gathering is meant to give Turkish businessmen information about possible ventures in African countries and develop cooperation between these countries and Turkish universities, non- governmental organizations and research centers. /Turkiye/FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… [12] OUR TRUMP CARD AGAINST THE CRISIS: IRAQBY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on Iraq and the global economic crisis. A summary of his column is as follows: "As you know, the US is now set to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011. The Iraqi army will be authorized to make decisions about the country starting early next year, and so we started to worry if we would have to ask it for permission to hit the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq. But there's something else about the decision which concerns us more closely. Muqtada Al Sadr, the Shiite leader, stated that he wouldn't recognize the agreement with the US and that they would resist until the occupying US withdraws. For him, the US made an agreement only with Kurds, not the Iraqi nation. Sadr is supported by Iran, and certain Sunnis stand with him in not recognizing the agreement. Sadr didn't recognize the provisional Iraqi government when it was initially established, and declared an alternative government, but later relented after the US invaded his territory and Shiite leaders intervened. If Sadr isn't convinced, an Iraqi civil war could ensue. As I've written many times, when the US withdraws from Iraq, Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites might unite against the Kurds. So a civil war might start near our borders, and Iraq might break apart. Far from wondering who we'll ask for permission to launch anti-terror attacks, Turkey should be thinking about what we would do in case of a civil war. Obviously, whenever the US withdraws, it will consider the northern Iraqi Kurds of as the element closest to itself and will need a stable Turkey for the peace of its closest ally. The future of northern Iraq is closely related with Turkey being its friend. Erkan Kumcu wrote in Hurriyet on Monday that countries which lack a convertible currency can't find a remedy to the economic crisis through looser financial policies or pumping money into the market, as they might worsen the crisis. We must find financial resources �" there is no other solution �" and the International Monetary Fund is our most important anchor. 'The third group consists of countries which are willing to forge programs with the IMF,' he wrote. 'The common feature of these countries is that the level of their foreign currency doesn't allow them to take loose monetary and financial policies, and they generally also have trade deficits. Turkey belongs to this group.' The developed countries with convertible currencies also have to protect the countries of this third group for their own interests. But from this point of view, Turkey is just another country in this third group. What I want to stress here is that the Iraq issue provides Turkey with an opportunity and a distinction in this group! The developed countries, mainly the US , have to consider that Turkey should be among the countries minimally affected by the crisis, because it will need Turkey for their withdrawal strategy. I'm sure somebody told or will tell IMF officials about this. I hope Turkey will make good use of this advantage." [13] ENDTurkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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