Mar. 25th Press Review

PRESIDENT GUL SPEAKS TO GHANA’S PARLIAMENT

When Ghana declared independence in 1957, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to do so, this made it a model for other African peoples, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. He made the remarks in an address to Ghana’s Parliament, on Turkey’s first-ever presidential visit to the country. Saying that Turkey is determined to develop relations with Africa on the basis of friendship, equality and cooperation, Gul said for the past decade Ankara has had an outreach policy towards Africa, in the hope of diversifying and deepening political, military, economic and cultural cooperation. Gul said this policy includes health, agriculture, irrigation, energy, education and regular humanitarian aid. Before his address, Gul met with Turkish and Ghanaian businessmen over a breakfast.

PM ERDOGAN: “THE WEST MUST LOOK AT HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE MIDEAST”

The suffering of women and children, rather than just potential oil profits, must be considered by the West when looking at crisis-hit Middle East and North African countries, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. “I advise our Western friends to look at hungry children, suffering mothers and violated women, as well as their poverty,” he said, speaking to the International Convention on Gender Equality in Istanbul. “I hope those who see only oil, gold mines and other underground treasures while looking at this [region] would also look at this area through the eyes of their consciences.” Erdogan also reiterated Turkey’s stance regarding international operations in Libya. “We do not want the Iraq experience to be repeated there,” he said. “Planes, our soldiers, will never become planes dropping bombs or hands firing guns at our Libyan brothers.”

PARLIAMENT PASSES MOTION ALLOWING TURKISH TROOPS TO ASSIST LIBYA’S STABILITY

After a briefing by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Parliament yesterday passed a Prime Ministry motion on sending troops to Libya in a secret session with the support of both of its opposition parties, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The motion allows the government to send troops to Libya for one year “to contribute to international efforts aiming to ensure Libya’s stability.”

ERDOGAN BLASTS “CRUSADE” METAPHOR

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday criticized remarks by France’s Interior Minister Claude Gueant saying French President Nicolas Sarkozy was “leading a crusade” in Libya. “Very improper statements are being made,” said Erdogan. “Those who see only oil in this region should start acting with a conscience.”

BAGIS: “WE NEED TO BE PATIENT ON OUR EU BID”

Turkey’s European Union process is more important than the result itself, said State Minister and Chief Negotiator for Turkey’s EU Talks Egemen Bagis yesterday. Speaking at the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), Bagis said that Turkey’s greatest need in its EU process is to be patient and resolute and to have policies that are consistent with its principles. Unable to accept Turkey’s economic growth, certain European countries place obstacles in front of it and wonder how they can illicitly gain from Turkey during its membership process, Bagis said. Turkey’s EU process cannot be implemented by politicians alone, as civil societies and industrialists have a great role and responsibility in this, Bagis said. “Turkey is a crucial country for solving Europe’s problems. Our greatest need in the EU process is to be patient. We will win the hearts and minds of the Europeans.”

TURKEY TO ATTEND LONDON SUMMIT ON LIBYA

Turkey has been invited to a Libya summit in London next week. The invitation was extended to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during a telephone conversation late Wednesday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. Turkey looks warmly upon a broad-based meeting including NATO, the Arab League and regional countries, Davutoglu told his British counterpart, according to sources. This was interpreted as meaning that Ankara would be present at the meeting where the political response to the Libya crisis is expected to take shape.

ANKARA INSIST ON HUMANITARIAN GOALS FOR NATO INVOLVEMENT IN LIBYA

NATO’s top military commander, US Adm. James Stavridis, yesterday met with Turkish military leaders in Ankara, which has been seen as holding up agreement on a NATO command structure for a no-fly zone over Libya. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has insisted that the rules of engagement in Libya must be restricted to protecting civilians, enforcing the arms embargo and no-fly zone, and the provision of humanitarian aid. This would exclude any further air strikes against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s ground forces. “It is a framework that is not offensive,” Davutoglu said Wednesday. Davutoglu met with Stavridis upon his arrival in Ankara late Wednesday and discussed operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, his office said. He also made telephone calls to NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and British Foreign Secretary William Hague to convey Turkey’s views on Libya, the Anatolia news agency said.

TURKEY LIMITS PORTS OF ENTRY FOR JAPANESE IMPORTS

Japanese imports can enter Turkey at only 12 ports of entry where the country has radiation safety control systems in place, announced Deputy Prime Minister Hayati Yazici yesterday. These ports are Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Ankara Esenboga Airport as well as Ambarli, Haydarpasa, Izmir, Gebze, Izmit, Derince, DilovasP, Gemlik, Mersin and the Kocaeli Directorate of Petrochemical Products Customs Expertise. Yazici announced the change, imposed to protect against possible nuclear contamination from products imported from Japan, in remarks to the Anatolia news agency. Products shipped before March 11, the day a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami hit northeast Japan, will be exempt from the new safety measures, Yazici also said. The new procedures will remain in force until Turkish and Japanese officials jointly decide there is no longer a threat of radiation poisoning from Japanese products.

TURKISH, KOREAN SMEs SET TO IMPROVE TRADE TIES

Turkey’s Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB) and the South Korean Small and Medium Scale Business Enterprises Administration (SMBA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost bilateral relations. KOSGEB head Mustafa Kaplan, alongside SMBA head Kim Dong-Sun, said after the signing that they want to benefit from the South Korean government’s “Green Growth” job-creation program. “We believe that our cooperation with South Korea will also boost commercial ties between our countries,” he added. “It will also have valuable effects on each of our regions, since Turkey and South Korea are rising stars,” he said.

NEW BOOK TO PROMOTE TURKEY IN 11 LANGUAGES

A book presenting Turkey’s economy, politics and culture to the world, prepared by the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM), is set to be published in 11 languages this year. The book, titled simply “Turkey,” aims to provide an introduction to the country’s constitutional and legal order, political and democratic structure, essential principles, institutions, natural beauties and social, cultural and historical features, BYEGM said in a statement. Prepared in English, French, German, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Farsi and Vietnamese editions, the book is being distributed in scientific, cultural, political, diplomatic, media and artistic environments abroad and for use at conferences, symposiums, seminars, meetings and cultural activities outside Turkey.

20th LOCAL MEDIA TRAINING SEMINAR TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK IN SANLIURFA

The 20th Local Media Training Seminar will be held in Sanliurfa next week by the Prime Ministry’s Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM). The two-day seminar, held with the cooperation of the Sanliurfa Governor’s Office, starts on Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc is set to attend. BYEGM head Murat Karakaya said Ankara’s support for local media is continuing. “I believe the seminar will be a productive one,” he added.

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