ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 16th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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I AM SERVING ALL THOSE PEOPLE
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he is serving all the people, including those who carried flags in (republican) demonstrations. "Politics cannot be made over religion, and politics cannot be made over secularism. The duties of the army were set by the Constitution, and the army is just an institution and it is bound to the prime minister," Erdogan said during the closing session of the World Congress of International Press Institute (IPI). "Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular, social state of law. If one of these features is deficient, then it will not be an ideal state. And the army is obliged to ensure it," he stated.
HOPEFUL DEVELOPMENT IN CHP-DSP COOPERATION
Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People`s Party (CHP), said, "the right wing has achieved (to form an alliance), I congratulate them. Now it is our turn." On the other hand, Rahsan Ecevit, the founder chairperson of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), gave a message that being late in taking action will jeopardize Turkey`s future. Hope-raising signals were given for CHP-DSP cooperation on Tuesday evening. Cooperation is to be declared. Baykal and Sezer will meet on Wednesday or Thursday.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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"WE WILL BE LIKE A SINGLE GROUP"
"We will work in harmony," said Democratic Left Party (DSP) chairman Zeki Sezer, intimating that a consensus was finally reached regarding alliance between Turkish left parties DSP and Republican People`s Party (CHP).
"Two separate groups will work in harmony as a single group at the parliament," Sezer noted.
On the other hand, CHP chairman Deniz Baykal stated that he was still hopeful for an alliance.
The two leaders are expected to have a critical phone conversation on the issue today.
"GENERAL STAFF IS AN INSTITUTION SUBORDINATE TO ME," ERDOGAN
Replying to a question by Michael Oreskes, the editor-in-chief of International Herald Tribune, during the 2007 World Congress of International Press Institute (IPI) in Istanbul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that Turkish General Staff was an institution subordinate to the Prime Ministry.
"There are institutions in Turkey. The tasks of the military are definite. The General Staff is an institution subordinate to me. We do not talk about the military just like we do not talk about other institutions in the country. The military is just one of these institutions," said Erdogan.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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MARTIAL LAW FOR WATER
Ankara`s Metropolitan Municipality imposed a series of prohibitions for water usage as precautions for the coming dry season. According to prohibitions, car wash and irrigation of parks and gardens by tap water will not be allowed.
NEITHER COUP NOR SHARIAH
While commenting on slogans chanted at the demonstrations as "neither shariah nor coup, but democratic Turkey", PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "government supports none of them."
Erdogan said "democracy, secularism and religions are tools. The purpose is the happiness of people."
Noting that his Justice & Development (AK) Party is an human-oriented party, not religion-oriented, Erdogan said "secularism stands at a distance equal to all religions and it is their guarantee. It is the state that is secular, not person."
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 16th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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BILDERBERG IN ISTANBUL AT END OF THIS MONTH
The mysterious Bilderberg meeting, which is attended by most important representatives of the business and political world and the media, will be held in Istanbul on May 31st. Oil, Iran and Turkey`s EU membership are the topics to be discussed in the three-day meeting. Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) will ensure security of participants.
FIRST "EXTENTION" IN CANKAYA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer`s seven years in this position will end on Wednesday. However, Sezer will be recorded in history as the first president whose mandate is extended since his successor cannot be elected. Sezer is expected to remain as the president at least for three months.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DAY TO GIVE HAND-IN-HAND
Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People`s Party (CHP), and Zeki Sezer, the chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), gave a message that they will achieve an electoral cooperation. Noting that he will respect if DSP members do not want to unite because of their loyalty to their party, Baykal said that if DSP members have any negative feelings for CHP, they should overcome it. Baykal said that they should give an answer to those who are saying that "they (the left) could not achieve an alliance" by a social democratic step. On the other hand, Sezer said, "we will achieve to form an alliance."
"SECULARISM AND RELIGION ARE MEANS"
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that democracy, secularism and religion are a means for "happiness of people", not a goal. Erdogan argued that politics cannot be made over secularism.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: "ARMY PROTECTS BASIC PRINCIPLES"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "the ideal state is a democratic, secular and social state of law. We will not make concessions on these principles. Our army protects them." Delivering a speech at the (IPI) Conference, in Istanbul, Erdogan noted, "even though some (circles) are not eager to consent, we are against making politics over religion, and we are also against making politics over secularism. We have always seen secularism as a guarantee for our life styles."
ECEVIT: "COOPERATION MUST BE SECURED"
Democratic Left Party (DSP) founder chairperson Rahsan Ecevit said, "you should leave aside interests of party or personal interests. Cooperation must be secured." DSP chairman Zeki Sezer remarked, "we will cooperate."
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN REACTS AGAINST ALLEGATIONS ON POLARIZATION
Referring to the recent demonstrations in Turkey, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan recalled that similar mass demonstrations were staged in France, however nobody said, "there were two Frances" regarding such scenes.
"However, when demonstrations are held and different voices rise in Turkey, people say that `there are two Turkeys`. Such a statement is unacceptable. Nobody should be afraid of the polyphony and democracy in Turkey," said Erdogan.
COSKUN CLEARS HESITATIONS ON MORTGAGE
Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun made statements regarding the implementation of the mortgage system in Turkey.
"If those who drew in housing loans before March 6th, desire to clear their debts with an early payment in the future, they will not pay any fines," Coskun said.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN SPEAKS TO WORLD MEDIA: "SECULARISM IS A GUARANTEE FOR LIFE STYLES"
"Political rivals should not compete with each other through common values for people, like secularism and religion. Secularism is a guarantee for life styles. Not as a person, but as the Prime Minister, I am secular too," PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
"LET`S STAND FOR ELECTIONS TOGETHER, BUT GET DIVIDED IN THE PARLIAMENT"
Amid efforts to get together Republican People`s Party (CHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) for a unity of left, DSP`s founder chairperson Rahsan Ecevit entered into controversies too. Stating that coalition of the two parties is essential, Ms. Ecevit summarized its formula as "stand for elections together, but establish two different groups after entering the parliament."
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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THOSE WHO ESCAPE FROM PARLIAMENT HAVE POOR MARKS
The nation reacted to the opposition leaders for their stance on presidential election, and gave the message that it wants to elect the president. 75 percent of the nation said the president should be elected by popular vote, and 77.3 percent said that s/he will cast a positive vote if a referendum is held for such a constitutional amendment. 71.6 percent of those who say that they will vote for CHP-DSP alliance despite CHP chairman Baykal`s stance, supports election of president by popular vote. This rate is 72 percent among supporters of Justice & Development (AK) Party and 80 percent among supporters of Democrat Party (DP). 70 percent of the nation gave negative mark to Baykal, 65 percent to Agar, 65 percent to Mumcu and 64 percent to Bahceli for their stance on presidential election.
THERE IS NOT TWO TURKEY, WE SHOULD GET RID OF PREJUDICES
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "to abolish a prejudice is much more difficult than breaking an atom into pieces", and gave messages of "democracy and secularism". Here are some messages of Erdogan: "Whoever our citizens want, s/he will be in the Presidential Palace. The army is a state institution and it is bound to me. We are for a democratic, secular, social state of law. These four features have equal importance. Secularism is the guarantee of all life styles. Politics cannot be made over secularism, as politics cannot be made over religion. Demonstrations made by a democratic maturity do not point to (presence of) `two Turkeys`."