PARLIAMENT DEBATES VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST
During its session yesterday, Parliament debated the recent violence in Iraq and the Middle East. Though deputies harshly criticized coalition forces’ torture of Iraqi prisoners and Israel’s recent attacks on Palestinians, an Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) proposal for a declaration denouncing the incidents was not approved. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called on coalition forces in Iraq to keep their promises, while CHP Deputy Onur Oymen urged the government to take a firmer stance on the matter. /Hurriyet/
ARINC SEEKS MOROCCO’S SUPPORT FOR ANKARA’S OIC CHAIR CANDIDATE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, who is currently paying an official visit to Morocco, yesterday met with Moroccan Premier Driss Jettou. During their meeting, the two leaders resolved to strengthen bilateral relations. Arinc asked the Moroccan premier to lend his support to Professor Ekmelettin Ihsanoglu, Turkey’s candidate for chairmanship of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC). Arinc then met with a group of Turkish businessmen living in Morocco. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN TOUTS GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS, URGES MEDIA TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN COVERING NATO SUMMIT
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Pary (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan touted positive domestic economic news, adding that any efforts to hinder such positive developments were in vain. “This good news is being felt across the board,” he said. Touching on certain media reports alleging insufficient security preparations for next month’s NATO summit in Istanbul, Erdogan urged the media to be responsible in the runup to the summit. “Turkey is a safe country,” said Erdogan. “I don’t know what these people are trying to do with such reports.” Erdogan added that the Turkish Consulate in Palestine would soon be upgraded to a full embassy, adding that Vehbi Dincerler would be appointed special representative to Palestine. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN REBUKES ISRAEL OVER VIOLENCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Joseph Paritzky. During their meeting, Erdogan reportedly said that he was deeply concerned with the recent violence in the Middle East. “I regret these developments so deeply not because I’m a Muslim, but because I’m a human being, a premier and a father,” Erdogan is reported to have said. “No government should decide to carry out assassinations. We want to warn you about this violence, as we don’t want to break off our relations with Israel.” When the Israeli official asked how Turkey might help mend the peace process, Erdogan stated that he might travel to the region after Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s visit if certain conditions are fulfilled. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN TO ATTEND NEXT MONTH’S G-8 SUMMIT IN THE US
1. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to travel to London tomorrow to pay an official visit, following up on British Premier Tony Blair’s visit to Ankara just last week. In related news, Erdogan is also due to travel to the United States on June 8 to attend the G-8 summit on Sea Island, Georgia. During the summit, the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative is expected to be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOV’T OVER RISING DEBT
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s economic policies. Addressing his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that over the last 18 months Turkey’s domestic debt had ballooned from $140 billion to $220 billion. Stressing that unemployment was also rising, Baykal charged that though Turkey has been implementing International Monetary Funds (IMF) policies for five years, satisfactory results had yet to be seen. /Sabah/
RTUK HEAD: “THERE IS NO OBSTACLE TO BROADCASTS IN MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES”
Speaking to a group of Turkish businessmen yesterday, Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Chairman Fatih Karaca said that there was no obstacle to broadcasting in mother tongue languages, adding that state broadcaster TRT’s infrastructure was suitable for this task. Karaca added that TRT officials had told the board that it was ready to broadcast in such languages and would begin soon after the TRT Board of Directors weighs in on the issue. /Aksam/
BRITAIN’S PRINCE ANDREW, DUTCH ECONOMY MINISTER BOTH LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU BID
Britain’s Prince Andrew, who is currently in Ankara for an official visit, was received yesterday by President Ahmet Necdet, State Minister for the Economy Kursat Tuzmen, and Energy and Natural Sources Minister Hilmi Guler. Speaking after meeting with Tuzmen, Andrew stated that goal of his visit was to learn about Turkey’s business climate and to encourage more British investment. Touching on Ankara’s European Union membership bid, Andrew said that he hoped it would get a date from the EU this December to begin accession talks. In addition, Dutch Economy Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, also in Ankara for a visit, reiterated his country’s continued support for Turkey’s EU bid. He further praised Turkey’s structural reforms, saying that they would ease Turkey’s getting a date from the EU. The Netherlands’ term EU presidency begins on July 1, and will last through December, when the Union is to decide whether to set a date for Turkey’s EU talks. /Cumhuriyet/
TRNC TO BE REPRESENTED ON EUROPEAN COUNCIL
The European Council’s Local Administrations Congress Presidential Board decided yesterday to give one of its Greek Cypriot seats to a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) representative. Sources stated that the decision was not welcomed by TRNC officials, as their representative can only work as part of the Greek Cypriot delegation. Previously, an effort to have TRNC parliamentarians attend the European Council Parliamentarians Assembly and to express their views was blocked by Greek Cyprus. /Turkiye/
SERDAR DENKTAS: “THE DP WON’T BE PART OF ANY ARTIFICIAL COALITION”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister and Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas said yesterday that his party would not take part in any future coalition government set up through “artificial formations.” “If a government which cannot work harmoniously is established, then early elections will be unavoidable,” warned Denktas. /Turkiye/
GOVERNMENT AIMS FOR NEW PENAL CODE NEW MONTH
Speaking yesterday in Istanbul on a proposed new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Justice Minister Cemil Cicek spoke about recent work on the bill. Cicek said that after a final revision today by the Prime Ministry, the bill would be sent to Parliament. “We want to pass the bill in June,” said Cicek. Commenting on the abolition of State Security Courts (DGMs), the justice minister stated that the government had made new arrangement in line with European norms and that newly established courts would take over cases from the current DGMs. /Turkiye/
NAVAL COMMANDER ORNEK MEETS WITH GERMAN ADMIRAL
Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ozden Ornek yesterday received his German counterpart Vice Adm. Lutz Feldt to discuss a number of issues, including cooperation in the fight against terrorism and bilateral military ties. /Aksam/