ERDOGAN: "IT IS NATURAL THAT PAKISTAN AND TURKEY HELP EACH OTHER DURING TOUGH TIMES"
It is natural that Turkey and Pakistan help each other during difficult times, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. Speaking at a ceremony in Pakistan to distribute 1,600 Turkish Red Crescent tents to flood victims, Erdogan said that Pakistan didn`t forsake Turkey during its War of Independence or after the devastating August 1999 earthquake. "It is natural for the people of these two countries to help each other in such times, as they love each other," he added. Erdogan said Turkey wants to help meet Pakistan`s needs, do infrastructure work, and leave behind permanent projects. Turkey and Pakistan can seek more military, political, economic and commercial cooperation, he added, as well as joint investments in transportation, energy, agriculture and construction. Since summer floods killed nearly 2,000 people and left more than 18 million people homeless, Turkey has sent humanitarian aid worth $25 million to Pakistan. Delivering a speech in the flood-stricken Multan region, Erdogan said that as in Turkey, there are also forces seeking to tear apart Pakistan. "I hope the Pakistani people will preserve their unity and integrity," he added. "You should not allow those who aim to spoil Pakistan`s unity to succeed. You should work to build a stronger Pakistan." /Hurriyet Daily News/
PM TO ATTEND CLIMATE SUMMIT IN GREECE NEXT WEEK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to attend a climate summit for Mediterranean countries on next Friday, Oct. 22, as part of preparations for next month`s world climate summit in Cancun, Mexico. Both Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will be keynote speakers at the event, officially called the "Mediterranean Climate Change Initiative." The premiers are also expected to discuss bilateral Greek-Turkish matters on the sidelines of the summit. The summit will be a platform for discussing environmental dangers and climate change in the Mediterranean region. /Hurriyet Daily News/
IN ANKARA, SUDAN`S FM SAYS HE WOULDN`T OBJECT TO INDEPENDENCE VOTE
Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti said yesterday in Ankara that his government would "not object" if the country`s south voted to split from the north in an upcoming referendum. "If a majority of southern Sudan wants to separate from the north, then we won`t object," Karti said at a joint press conference following his talks with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Sudan has a road map within a comprehensive peace agreement, Davutoglu said, and when asked about Turkey`s stance should Sudan split, he cited a 2005 agreement signed by the two warring parties. What matters is peaceful implementation of the comprehensive agreement, Davutoglu added. Turkey has always favored Sudan`s unity, yet if Southern Sudan separated following a referendum, everybody has the duty to take "political, economic and cultural measures to forge a friendly coexistence of these two entities." Turkey`s active support for Sudan will continue regardless of whether the country stays together or separates, he said, and pledged Ankara`s commitment to peace, welfare and stability for the Sudanese people. "We want economic, cultural and social togetherness to continue even if a political separation takes place," he said. On joint African Union-UN mediation working to secure a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, Davutoglu said that Turkey has confirmed its support for these efforts. "Since Turkey has historical ties with all parties, we`re ready to do our best for a peaceful resolution of this process within the framework of Sudan`s unity, and we`re cooperating closely with Qatar," he said, adding that Turkey would be represented at an upcoming conference on Eastern Sudan held in Qatar. "Because Sudanese peace means African peace, this means humanity`s peace. We will support these efforts in the strongest way," he added. /Today`s Zaman/
TURKEY TO SEEK NATO CONSENSUS ON MISSILE DEFENSE
Turkey will approve a plan for NATO`s possession of a missile-defense system only if it is convinced that there is a concrete threat against all NATO members or at least a perceived threat, officials said yesterday. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy James Townsend told reporters in a press briefing on Tuesday that Turkey has played a very helpful role in sorting out issues related to missile deployment. The issue will be decided as defense and foreign ministers from NATO member nations are set to gather in Brussels today to discuss a proposed update to the military alliance`s strategic concept, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said yesterday. "We will assess together what can be done to agree on a common strategy within the alliance system," he added, noting that he will also attend the Brussels meeting. Townsend, speaking at a panel at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday, said Turkish policymakers would probably take a great deal of time to decide about hosting a missile defense system. At the Brussels meeting and NATO`s Lisbon summit next month, Turkey will have to face at least two issues, Townsend said: its vote on NATO`s missile defense capability in Turkey, and what role it wants to play in this. He said Turkey`s decision will have a large domestic impact, and that Turks are thinking very hard about this. Townsend said what the US is seeing in Turkey is not ambivalence and reluctance, but an attempt to balance what it knows is important for European, transatlantic and Turkish security and how this fits in with Turkey`s political calculations in the region. /Today`s Zaman/
ECHR REFORM TO BE DISCUSSED IN IZMIR NEXT SPRING
Efforts to reform the European Court of Human Rights will launch next April in the coastal city of Izmir, said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Ankara yesterday. "If the decision is not made in Izmir, then it will never be," he said after meeting with President Abdullah Gul and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Meeting with Davutoglu, judicial reform, ECHR reform and other issues were discussed, Jagland said. "This happening during Turkey`s presidency (of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) is a historical event for the whole European continent," he added. Davutoglu said that in addition to ECHR reform, Turkey hopes for institutional reform at the CoE, strengthening the CoE`s independent control mechanisms, the European Union becoming a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, and the establishment of a committee of "wise men." /Sabah/
ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY MINISTER: "TURKEY WILL BUILD DAMS IN PAKISTAN`S FLOOD REGIONS"
The State Waterworks Directorate (DSI) will build dams in regions of Pakistan prone to floods, said Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu yesterday. "We will discuss with Pakistani officials building dams in Pakistan," he said, adding that these officials are looking into the subject in Turkey. /Turkiye/
7TH BORDER GATE ON CYPRUS TO OPEN TODAY
As Cypriot leaders push ahead with negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, another border gate is set to open on the island today. The Yesilirmak gate, the seventh gate to be opened between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus, will be inaugurated with a ceremony today. The gate is expected to be opened by TRNC President Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, with European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule also attending. With the new gate, controlled land access will be allowed to Erenkoy, a Turkish Cypriot territory on the Greek Cypriot side. The gate will also reduce travel time to Nicosia for Greek Cypriots. /Hurriyet Daily News/
US PLEDGES CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO TURKISH-ARMENIAN RECONCILIATION
The US remains committed to resolving the issues of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters yesterday. Asked whether the US is still involved in the process and working with the sides, he said, "It was something that Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton discussed last month at the UN with a wide range of leaders, and we remain committed to it." /Turkiye/
UK`S CAMERON: "TURKEY`S RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH MAKES IT EUROPE`S OWN BRIC"
Turkey is Europe`s own rapidly expanding developing economy, British Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday. "Everyone is talking about BRIC countries and the rapid growth in [the group`s] economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. We think that Turkey is a BRIC country of Europe," Cameron said in a written message to an important Turkish-UK business event organized by the Turkish-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBCCI). Bringing together government officials and business experts seeking trade and investment opportunities, the three-day TBCCI forum also offers insights into business procedures in Turkey and the UK while providing a networking platform for Turkish and British business. In his message to the event`s opening session, Cameron promoted the idea of greater bilateral investment and trade. Britain is the second-largest investor in Turkey, he said, with nearly 1,800 British companies operating in the country. Saying that the investments between Turkey and the UK should be increased, Cameron said both countries could also work to double the current bilateral trade volume of some $9 billion within the next five years. In 2008 trade between two countries was nearly $13.4 billion, but fell sharply due to the global economic crisis, said Mehmet Buyukeksi, head of the Turkish Exporters` Assembly (TIM). "Both countries should aim to increase trade volume to $20 billion in the near future," he said. Criticizing UK visa policy toward Turkish citizens as unfair, Buyukeksi said this policy also hurts trade, as it creates a "psychological barrier" for Turkish businesspeople. British Ambassador to Turkey David Reddaway said that Cameron had proven Turkey`s importance by taking his first official trip as prime minister to the country in July. "We will support Turkey`s membership to the European Union, and not just because of our goodwill but also (because) this serves the UK`s interest as well," he said. /Hurriyet Daily News/
THINK-TANK HEAD PODESTA: "ALLIANCE WITH TURKEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE US"
The United States is committed to strengthening and expanding relations in all fields with Turkey, said John Podesta, head of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank, yesterday. Speaking at a meeting hosted by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), Podesta said Turkey is a strategic US ally in providing peace and stability in the region, adding that the US welcomes Turkey`s increasing role in the international arena. Strengthening bilateral economic and commercial ties would lay a good long-tem foundation, he said, adding, "This is where business communities such as TUSKON have a key role to play." The Obama administration is also committed to cooperating with Turkey in solving both global and regional challenges, he said. Turkey`s cooperation in the implementation of sanctions against Iran is crucial, he stated, adding, "Turkey can try to persuade the Iranian government to pursue peaceful nuclear activities." Praising Turkey`s diplomatic successes in promoting peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East, Podesta said this could also be the done with Iran. The Obama administration is re-engaging in relations with countries all over the world to make up for the damaged ties of the Bush years and re-form traditional alliances with countries such as Turkey, he said. /Hurriyet Daily News/
AS GLOBAL PUBLIC DEBT STOCKS BALLOON, TURKEY CUTTING ITS DEBT
While prospects for a boom in public debt stocks across the world are on the horizon, Turkey seems remarkably well-positioned in terms of its public debt stock and the ratio of its public debt to its total national income, international credit rating agency Standard & Poor`s said yesterday. According to S&P, as foreign debts of most of the world`s indebted countries are outpacing their national incomes, Turkey is showing an amazing performance in terms of both its public debt stock and the ratio of its public debt stock to its total national income. Turkey is also ranked among the best countries in terms of its solvency capacity, and the ratio of its foreign debt to its total national income is only 36.4 percent. /Turkiye/
AMID HISTORIC STOCK MARKET HIGHS, INVESTORS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has been unstoppable in the last couple of weeks, breaking record after record, and benchmark interest rates have reached historic lows, but this rosy picture may soon be marred with a downward spiral, at least in the short term, some analysts argue. The IMKB-100 index has gained more than 10,000 points over the last two-and-a-half months, rising to 70,647 points yesterday, an all-time high. What`s more, this number also stands as a record in terms of dollars. It had already reached pre-crisis records in lira terms in April, but the recent hike elevated it to an all-time high in dollars terms as well. Turkey is the first country to reach pre-crisis levels in terms of the performance of capital markets. This represents a positive decoupling in which Turkish stocks are being priced much higher than global markets on average. The markets were already buoyant after last month`s referendum on constitutional changes, but positive news from domestic and international outlets gave additional momentum to Turkish markets. Halil Recber, a technical analyst at Anadolu Investment, cited falling interest rates as the first and foremost reason for this. Another factor feeding the upward trend, for Recber, is high confidence in the Central Bank`s chances of reaching its inflation targets. What adds to this is the government`s commitment to stick to fiscal discipline with its medium-term economic program, despite next year`s general elections. Selim Isiklar of Info Securities said the end of ambiguity after the public approval of proposed changes in last month`s referendum buoyed the markets, as this was broadly welcomed as a vote of confidence in the government and a harbinger of victory in the general elections. /Today`s Zaman/