DAVUTOGLU: "MERKEL'S REMARKS ON GERMANY'S FAILED MULTICULTURALISM WERE A BITTER CONFESSION"
Speaking to Star daily on the sidelines of his talks in Kuwait yesterday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called German Chancellor Angela Merkel's latest remarks on the "failure" of multiculturalism in Germany a "bitter confession." Germany's attempt to create a multicultural society has failed completely, Merkel said over the weekend, calling on the country's immigrants to learn German and adopt Christian values. Merkel's remarks added fuel to the country's heated debate on the integration of migrants and gave a boon to anti-immigrant sentiments. Merkel's words were also contradicted by recent remarks by German President Christian Wulff, who is visiting Ankara this week, saying that Islam is now a part of German society. "It's a bitter confession but reflects a historical truth," said Davutoglu. "If there is no concept of multiculturalism in a nation's history and political philosophy, it's very hard to create one after the fact." He added, "Our history cherishes the concept of multiculturalism, which is why Turkey very easily shows healthy treatment of others and has adapted itself to modern times." /Star/
ANKARA MAINTAINS OPPOSITION TO UNILATERAL SANCTIONS ON IRAN
Turkey respects a recent UN Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions on Iran but won't observe unilateral sanctions imposed by third countries, State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan reiterated yesterday. Speaking in Washington at the 29th annual meeting of the Turkish-American Council (TAC), Caglayan said, "Turkey's share of Iran's $66 billion imports is only $2.5 billion," and asked rhetorically which countries make up the rest of this. Again pledging that Turkey will fully abide by UN sanctions targeting Iran's controversial nuclear program, Caglayan said, "Prohibitions or restrictions on trading goods other than dual-use goods shouldn't prevent Turkey from doing business with Iran, which is one of Turkey's best suited trade partners." Also speaking at the meeting, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said, "A nuclear Iran is unacceptable to Turkey. We're well aware of the potential threat." Warning, however, that unilateral US sanctions on Iran could harm Turkey, he added, "Neighboring countries are among the first to fall victim to such situations." /Milliyet/
AMID TURKISH RESERVATIONS ON PLANNED NATO MISSILE SYSTEM, GATES APPEALS FOR TURKEY'S SUPPORT
Addressing the 29th annual meeting of the Turkish-American Council (TAC) in Washington yesterday, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the US isn't pressing Turkey to give a green light to a continental missile shield system first proposed by the US, but now being discussed under the NATO umbrella. Calling NATO the most important international security framework for both Turkey and the US, Gates said, "NATO should have a continental missile defense system. The Phased Adaptive Approach has been thoroughly studied. It is effective, it is affordable, and it can be fielded quickly. The US has engaged Turkey in political and military dialogue on its potential technical and operational contributions should NATO adopt this approach. Contrary to some press reports, we are not pressuring Turkey to make a contribution. But we do look to Turkey to support NATO's adoption at the Lisbon Summit of a territorial missile defense capability." NATO member country heads of states are scheduled to meet in Lisbon, Portugal next month to discuss planned changes to the structure and security doctrine of the 28-member alliance. "On the subject of reform," Gates also said, "the US would like to thank Turkey for its many contributions to this NATO effort, and we look forward to working with the new assistant secretary general for defense policy and planning, Huseyin Dirioz, as he undertakes one of the most important jobs at NATO headquarters. In addition to its institutions, NATO's military capabilities must also adapt to today's security environment. These critical new capabilities that I believe the alliance must have in the 21st century - one of the most important is territorial missile defense." Stressing that his participation in the TAC meeting shows the importance he places on Turkish-US relations, Gates said, "As with all friends, we have had some disagreements ... Nonetheless, even as our views and approaches on some issues may differ, we are allies, we share fundamental interests in the region, and our goals remain the same ... The US and Turkey have fought together from Korea to Kosovo to Kabul. I believe our partnership is defined not just by the enemies we've faced, but our fundamental shared interests and values. Both of our countries are diverse democracies which, in the words of Ataturk, 'strive to win (our) victories in such fields as culture, scholarship, science and economics'." Reiterating support for Turkey's EU accession bid, Gates also said his country is maintaining close cooperation with Turkey against the terrorist PKK. "The United States is committed to working closely with Turkey to confront the PKK, a terrorist threat we recognize as paramount to Turkey's national security interests," he said. "In response to the rise in PKK terrorist attacks against Turkish military forces and civilians over the past year or so, the US has steadily increased its efforts to crack down on PKK criminal enterprises, enhanced its intelligence support, and reached out to our European allies to encourage them to freeze PKK assets in Europe." Gates said that Turkey is setting a good democratic example for Iraq, and is sharing its democratic experience with Baghdad. Also speaking at the meeting, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul voiced support for NATO's restructuring efforts, but urged that this restructuring stay in line with its main objective, namely to protect NATO members. Turkey welcomes the US government's adaptable and gradual approach to NATO restructuring, he said. Stating that President Barack Obama's address to Turkey's Parliament last year and his proposal of a model partnership were welcomed, Gonul also criticized a US House Committee's passage of a so-called Armenian genocide resolution this March. "Passage of the resolution raised suspicions in the minds of many, but we're sure that it won't reach the House floor for a full vote," he said. During the meeting, Gates also presented Gonul with a Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Diplomatic sources said Turkey has two main reservations about the planned global missile defense system: It should not target any specific country, and it should cover all of Turkey, not just part. /Sabah, Hurriyet, Aksam/
GULF COUNCIL, TURKEY SIGN PARTNERSHIP DEAL
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Turkey yesterday signed a joint action plan to boost economic and political ties. The action plan was ratified in Kuwait following a new round of talks between the foreign ministers of Turkey and the GCC and is aimed both at boosting economic and political ties and working toward a free trade agreement. The plan covers 2011-2012 and envisages cooperation on trade, investments, agriculture, food safety, transportation, energy, culture, health, tourism, education, and the environment. After the meeting, the foreign ministers released a joint declaration expressing their determination to conclude a free trade agreement as soon as possible. The importance of preserving Iraq's independence, unity and territorial integrity was also underlined, as was the hope to have a nuclear weapon-free Middle East. The declaration also called for the end of the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots and condemned terrorism, saying it should not be associated with any religion, ethnicity, or nationality. They also expressed support for Turkey's fight against the terrorist PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. /Hurriyet Daily News/
BAGIS: "TURKEY EXPECTS A FAIR EU TALKS PROCESS"
From the European Union, Turkey expects a fair membership negotiation process, a stronger fight against terrorism, an exemption from visa requirements, peaceful settlement of the Cyprus issue, and the right to be represented at EU summits, said State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis yesterday. Speaking at Ankara University's European Research Center, Bagis called EU membership a modernization project based on a win-win principle, and said Turkey has adopted a new four-stage strategy: preparing an action plan on the steps planned for the talks' remaining 19 chapters; bringing Turkey's laws in line with the EU acquis by the end of 2013; prioritizing political reforms; and increasing communication. Ankara has recently been focused on the chapter on competition and will soon turn to the energy, education and culture chapters, said Bagis, adding that he believes Turkey will join the EU sooner rather than later. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKEY'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
Turkish Ambassador to Moscow Aydin Adnan Sezgin yesterday presented his letter of credentials to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a ceremony at the Kremlin. During the ceremony, Medvedev said that in recent years relations between Turkey and Russia have risen to the strategic level. "I'm confident that our joint operations in large projects, such as the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the South Stream natural gas pipeline, will expand our horizons of cooperation," he added. /Turkiye/
EUROPEAN COUNCIL REPORT STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF RUSSIA, TURKEY TO SECURITY
In a report released ahead of the two-day mini-summit beginning yesterday in Deauvile, France, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the European Council Committee on Foreign Relations underlined the importance of both Russia and Turkey for Europe's military and the security of its energy supplies. Stating that the US is too preoccupied with Afghanistan, Iraq and China to look after Europe, the report stressed that the EU needs both Russia and Turkey to ensure security and stability along its East. /Sabah/
DRAFT EU REPORT PRAISES "CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION"
A draft of next month's European Union progress report on Turkey praises changes in Turkish opposition parties and the constructive possibilities contained in these changes. The draft of the annual report points to shifts in the attitude of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on the Kurdish and headscarf issues, as well as on the EU itself. Voicing concern over the lack of dialogue with the opposition and non-governmental organizations in the runup to last month's constitutional referendum, the draft stresses the importance of transparency and participation for future constitutional changes. /Sabah
ERGUN: "7 PCT GROWTH THIS YEAR IS ALMOST CERTAIN"
A gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of at least 7 percent by year's-end is almost certain given recent positive figures on industrial output, capacity utilization, and other macroeconomic data, said Industry and Commerce Minster Nihat Ergun yesterday. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, he pointed to the International Monetary Fund's projection that Turkey's economy could grow as much as 7.8 percent this year. As economic activity rises, industrial property rights take on greater importance, he said, and added, "We're expecting applications for patents and useful models (this year) to exceed 11,000." In the last couple of years, Turkey has made Europe's top three in terms of the number of trademark and industrial design registration applications, he said. Furthermore, he added, in the first nine months of this year the number of applications for patent and useful model registrations rose 9 percent to over 8,000, trademark applications 19.6 percent to over 61,000, and industrial design applications 14 percent to some 22,500. In the same period, applications for industrial property rights were also up 17.1 percent, he added. /Today's Zaman/
INCLUDING TURKEY, EMERGING ECONOMIES' SLICE OF GLOBAL PIE GROWING BIGGER
Emerging economies are taking a greater share of the global economy at the expense of developed nations, according to new International Monetary Fund data. The axis of the world economy is drifting away from industrial countries like the US, Japan, Germany and France towards emerging countries like China, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand and Egypt. According to the report, Turkey's share of the pie grew from just 1 percent in 1980 to 1.18 percent 12 years later, and five years from now is expected to reach 1.23 percent, making it the world's 16th-largest economy. Based on purchasing power parity, Turkey's rank rose from number 20 in 1980 to 17 in 1992. /Today's Zaman/