IN COPENHAGEN, GUL URGES ALL NATIONS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
President Abdullah Gul arrived in Denmark yesterday to attend the summit of heads of state at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15). Addressing his counterparts from around the world, Gul urged all nations to assume necessary responsibility to fight climate change and global warming. Stressing that humanity is facing a new era in which the fate of all societies are tightly interrelated, Gul said, "All countries must shoulder the responsibility to tackle climate change. Nobody has the right to say, 'I only live in my region.' Global incidents and tendencies don't respect international borders. Global problems require global solutions. This is in the spirit of the global cooperation that has improved over the past two years." He said now is the time to take further steps, adding that Turkey expects a comprehensive document reflecting the main goal of the Framework Agreement and Kyoto Protocol, set to expire in 2012, to emerge from the conference. In line with their historic responsibilities, Gul said, developed countries must urgently pledge to reduce emissions, and developing countries must accelerate work to shift to modern low-carbon economies. He said developing countries will need technological and financial support from developed countries in this important transition. "Turkey is a rapidly developing country," he said. "Our economic and social development continues without letup. Over the last 20 years we have seen high growth. However, Turkey's national per capita income, energy consumption per capita, and greenhouse gas emissions put Turkey among medium-income developing countries. Turkey will need technological and financial support to fulfill its national reduction and harmonization targets." Telling how Turkey ratified the Kyoto Protocol earlier this year, Gul stressed that Turkey has taken important measures to fight climate change, including new laws on renewable energy and energy productivity. "Our goal is to fully use Turkey's water, wind, sun and geothermal power capacity," he added. "Turkey is eager to take part in a fair, egalitarian, transparent and achievable new climate regime after 2012." Turkey is located in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said may face the biggest fallout from climate change, Gul pointed out. He said this means Turkey must make comprehensive adjustment plans and bring additional financial burdens to the country's economy. On the sidelines of the meeting, which brought together more than 100 heads of state from all over the world, Gul also attended a dinner hosted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in honor of the attending world leaders and government heads. On the sidelines of the event, Gul yesterday also held separate talks with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri. UN scientists say rich countries must cut carbon emissions by 25 to 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 to prevent the Earth's temperatures from rising 2 degrees Celsius above average pre-industrial temperatures. The success of the Copenhagen conference is seen as dependent in part on the commitments of the US administration, as less-developed nations have threatened to walk out unless rich countries such as America agree to cut their emissions. But the US cannot commit to legally binding emission targets without Congressional approval. /Turkiye/
PM ERDOGAN REITERATES PLEDGE TO STOP TERRORISM
Stating that the only winners from terror are weapons traffickers, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday pledged to stop those who feed on the blood of the country's youth. "Our security forces are doing what needs to be done," Erdogan said during a visit to Konya. "Our judicial system is working. But additional measures are needed in this fight. We use the most high-tech weapons there are, but if we fail to bring your democratic standards to higher levels, if we fail to eradicate poverty, we cannot rid ourselves of this curse, terrorism." Quoting 13th century Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi, who was born in Konya, Erdogan said, "Don't be discouraged by a bump on your path; you will have to face many mountains. We think big, aim big, and work in that direction." He said some groups are trying to perpetuate Turkey's problems rather than creating solutions. "This nation will overcome every difficulty," he said. "Nothing can keep us shackled. Nothing can stop this nation from its sacred path. We have overcome many disasters in our history. We have, with the grace of God, overcome all of them. We can and will do it again, as long as we have our self-confidence, as long as we stand together in unity." The prime minister also attended ceremonies marking the anniversary of Rumi's death, and presided over an opening ceremony held at Konya's Cultural Park. /Today's Zaman/
ATALAY: "THE GOVT WILL ACCELERATE THE DEMOCRATIZATION INITIATIVE"
Interior Minister Besir Atalay, coordinator of the ruling party's initiative to resolve the Kurdish issue, yesterday reiterated the government's determination to proceed with its plans, adding that these efforts would gain momentum. Calling for more common sense, he also stressed that security forces are in full control of violent street protests meant to hamper the government's efforts. "Our aim is to eliminate acts of terror in the country and grant broader freedoms to our citizens," he explained. Atalay's remarks followed a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to assess rising tension due to a series of illegal demonstrations by supporters of the terrorist PKK over the past two weeks in Turkey's east and southeast. Among participants at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and Atalay. This summer, the government launched the initiative to solve the decades-old Kurdish question, but was unable to win the support of the opposition parties. Tension grew even higher after the closure of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) by the Constitutional Court last week, resulting in several clashes between demonstrators and civilians. Yesterday Atalay stressed that they know who is encouraging the provocations. He said there is no need for panic, as everything is under control. Urging opposition parties to adopt a more responsible stance on the initiative, Atalay also reiterated steps which will soon be taken within its framework, such as the establishment of an independent anti-discrimination body. /Today's Zaman/
ANKARA WORRIED OVER REFERENDUM ON TURKISH NEWS BULLETINS IN BULGARIA
The Foreign Ministry is following "closely and very carefully" the push in Bulgaria for a referendum over 10-minute news broadcasts in Turkish on national TV, the ministry said Wednesday. Earlier this week Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov declared himself in favor of the motion by his partners from the ultra-nationalist party National Union Attack, or Ataka, to hold a referendum over the daily broadcasts. "We expect the Bulgarian government to show the necessary efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue within the framework of pluralist democratic principles, and fundamental rights and freedoms," said the ministry." In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned Borisov to express concern over the situation. "The rising anti-Turkish rhetoric led by certain extremist circles recently in Bulgaria and the form it has taken as actual harassment cause concern in Turkey," Erdogan reportedly told his counterpart. Erdogan said he places the utmost importance on Turkish-Bulgarian relations, adding that Turkey is working hard to improve bilateral ties. Erdogan said it was sad to see efforts to roll back certain rights which Turks have acquired over the years, including the push against the news broadcast. "I am positive that as the ruling party you will take an all-encompassing attitude and contain such inciting activities," Erdogan said. For his part, Borisov reportedly said that the country's Turkish minority presents an opportunity to improve relations between Turkey and Bulgaria. "We are in full accord with you to make further progress in improving the situation of the Turkish minority's rights and freedoms," he said. "I will do everything in my power concerning the Turkish news broadcasts." /Hurriyet Daily News/