ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on November 24th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NATIONAL SECURITY DOCUMENT TO BE REVISED
Turkey`s most important and confidential directive National Security Political Document (MGSB) is being revised due to changes in threats to the nation.
The Turkish government and several public agencies are trying to renew the MGSB by taking into consideration new domestic and international threats. The document was last updated in 2001. This will be the first revision under the Justice and Development Party`s (AK Party) rule.
The MGSB constitutes Turkey`s national security strategy. After MGSB is approved at the National Security Council (NSC), it will go to the Council of Ministers for a signature. The MGSB directs government agencies in their attempts to formulate government policies.
The MGSB is updated every five years, under normal circumstances. In the event new threats arise, the document is edited.
The MGSB is a document prepared with the cooperation of the Presidency, Prime Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Organization and National Security Council. There are also government agencies in the area of economy and commerce that contribute to the preparation of the MGSB.
Issues such as separatist terrorist activities and fundamentalism were listed on top of the agenda as equal threats in the MGSB of 1997.
While Syria is no longer regarded as a threat, the instability in Iraq and Iran`s attempts to become a nuclear power are some indicators of urgent security concerns.
After the September 11th attacks, Islamic terror has gained a significant amount of attention by security experts. Especially after November 2003 bomb attacks in Istanbul, experts came to a decision that Turkey faces future attacks by radical Islamic terrorists.
The new MGSB is expected to be shorter than its previous editions. ``When the conditions in your environment go through a change, you have to update your strategy and document. Documents as the MGSB have to go through revisions in certain periods of time. This is what we are up to,`` said a security source.
PRAGUE RECITAL: 0-1
Fenerbahce played their best game in the Champions` League this season and went on to defeat Sparta Prague, 1-0 in Prague. With this game, Fenerbahce got its first European win away from home in eight years and will be able to participate in UEFA Cup.
ISTANBUL AUTO SHOW ATTRACTS THOUSANDS
The Istanbul Auto Show Fair which began on November 19th became Turkey`s most popular auto fair. Within the first two days of the fair, more than 100,000 visitors came. There are cars displayed for different consumer budgets. Some automobile corporations are providing discounts up to five percent.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TEB-BNP PARIBAS PARTNERSHIP SIGNED
BNP Paribas signed a share purchase agreement with the Colakoglu Group whereby BNP Paribas will acquire a 50 percent stake in TEB Mali Yatirimlar A.S. (TEB Mali), Colakoglu Group`s holding company for financial services which has an 84.25 percent controlling stake in TEB. The Colakoglu Group will remain a 50 percent shareholder in TEB Mali.
``ISLAM WORLD SHOULD MAKE SELF-CRITICISM``
Making opening remarks of the Business Forum, organized as part of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Economy Conference in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ``Muslim countries have been expending intense efforts to overcome financial and political problems of the Islam world. They have been trying to preserve their cultural traditions while facing necessities of the modern age. The recent need of multi-dimensional transformation entails us to increase our efforts to resolve our problems. Efforts to find solution to problems of the Islam world have reached a global scale. Now, it is time for making a serious self-criticism.``
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GIANT CORPORATIONS FLOW INTO TURKEY
Giant foreign corporations are flowing into Turkey. ``Such corporations expect Turkey`s relations to get better with the European Union after the December 17th summit. Therefore, they are now trying to make investments in Turkey,`` said a Turkish source.
Meanwhile, the EU ministers of foreign affairs have made a joint decision, in a meeting organized to prepare the agenda for the December 17th summit, to start accession talks with Turkey in 2005.
Apparently, the French companies are the first ones to take note of positive changes in Turkey. France`s biggest bank PNB Paribas has become a partner with Turkey`s TEB. French hotel giant Accor Group has began the construction of a grand hotel in Turkey. Renault and Peugeot will begin new investments.
IMF: WE HAVE NO DISAGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Senior Resident Representative in Turkey Hugh Brendenkamp said studies continued on the Banking Draft Law which is one of the conditions of starting of stand-by talks which were interrupted in October.
He said there was no disagreement between the government and the IMF about the contents of the draft.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT FOR IRAQ
The final statement of the International Iraq Conference in Egypt called on Iraqi government to hold elections in January of 2005. Turkey`s priorities were included in the final statement. During the international conference, it was decided to protect sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq.
HARSH CRITICISM FROM BAYKAL
Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal harshly criticized the government saying, ``while Greece raises its flag on islets and rocks out of its sovereignty, the Turkish government remains silent. We expect the government to make a statement as soon as possible. The issue should be brought onto agenda of the next meeting of the National Security Council.`` Stressing that number of Turkish drivers who were killed in Iraq increased to 64, Baykal said, ``our government has done nothing so far. Turkey has been watching developments without doing anything.``
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ADVICE TO ISLAM WORLD: TIME COMES FOR SELF CRITICISM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted Islam countries to make self criticism. Erdogan said infrastructure and superstructure were underdeveloped but natural resources are very rich. ``It is impossible to reach anywhere by acting with the understanding that there was no need to make anything from now on.``
TRIPARTITE PINCERS TO PKK
The United States, Iraq and Turkey agreed to drive PKK/Kongra-Gel from north of Iraq. The three countries will set up joint committee and fight against the terrorists if necessary.
ANOTHER WAVE OF COLD WEATHER
Cold temperatures will continue in western parts of the country. These regions are expected to see snow on Wednesday night and on Thursday.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: ``WE MUST WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE``
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a call to the Islamic world. ``We must wake up before it is too late,`` said Erdogan. Participating at the Business Forum of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul, Erdogan stated that the Islamic world has a big and rooted social structure. ``We must seek joint projects,`` expressed Erdogan. ``We have lost hundreds of lives due to terror and ongoing wars. If we do not wake up, we are going to have more and more casualties.``
GUL: ``TERROR WILL NOT SUCCEED``
Participating at a summit on Iraq and its future in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul stated that terror will not succeed. The Iraqi delegation at the summit offered Turkey cooperation in border security. ``The Iraqis have offered us an agreement on border security,`` told one Turkish source.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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KINSHIP OF ARAB LEADERS WITH TURKS AMAZES FISCHER Ottoman heritage set its seal on Iraq Conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh city of Egypt.
Statement of Arab ministers that they have blood tie with Turkey confused their European counterparts who attended the conference.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher was amazed to hear that Egyptian, Jordan, and Saudi Arabian ministers have blood tie with Turks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul made a witty remark to Fischer and said: ``you will gain such a strategic power by accepting us to the EU.``
GUL WARNS IN IRAQ CONFERENCE: ADVENTUROUS EFFORTS IN KIRKUK SHOULD END
Turkey made Kirkuk warning in International Iraq Conference and called on ``adventurous efforts`` to end.
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who addressed the conference said, ``some groups have been trying to change demographic structure of regions and cities in Iraq. Such adventurous attempts jeopardize the project to establish a free and united Iraq. Such attempts should be prevented. Since the existing government could not provide full control over the country, some terrorist groups have been sheltering in Iraq.``
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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FALLUJAH FORGOTTEN
Leaders who attended the International Iraq Conference in Egypt, called on Iraqi government to hold the elections in January. Some of them said that the elections should be postponed. However, none of them remembered the recent acts of violence in Fallujah. Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who represented Turkey at the conference, said, ``all sections of Iraqi population should be represented in the elections.``
HIGH TRIBUNAL TO CONTINUE TRIAL OF ERSUMER AND CAKAN
The trials of former energy and natural resources ministers Cumhur Ersumer and Zeki Cakan will continue at the High Tribunal on November 25th. A Constitutional Court delegation will serve as the High Tribunal. During the first trial, defense lawyers of Ersumer and Cakan had presented objections. In the second trial, the High Tribunal will elaborate on and make decisions on the objections presented.
(UK-ES-AY-MS)
2004-11-24