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Other News - Turkey
Erdogan: No relations with Israel until it apologizes
/NOV 10/ PIC/
ISTANBUL, (PIC)-- Turkish premier Recep Erdogan has affirmed that his
government would not restore normal relations with Israel until it
apologizes over the "savage attack" on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara that
was carrying relief aid to the Gaza Strip late last May.
Erdogan told France 24 TV channel that Israel should apologize and pay
compensations then talks could start.
Turkey's relations with Israel sharply deteriorated following the Israeli
attack that left nine Turkish nationals dead and many others wounded.
"Israel is the one responsible for the current state of relations between
us," he underscored, adding, "How can we forgive an aerial and naval attack
against a ship flying the Turkish flag and carrying passengers from various
countries who were wishing to help other people".
"Did they find any weapons? No, they attacked those unarmed people from the
air and sea and there is no justification whatsoever for such a behavior",
he underlined.
For his part, Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu seconded his
premier's stand by saying that Turkish-Israeli relations would not return
to normalcy unless Israel officially apologizes and offers compensations
for victims of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla at international waters.
He told reporters in his country's embassy in Rome on Tuesday that if any
other country had launched such an attack it would have suffered grave
consequences such as the imposition of international sanctions.
Opposition leader sends headscarf message to Turkish President on Twitter
/NOV 15/Tert.am/
Turkey's main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has called on the
president to take a firm position on the issue of elementary-aged girls
wearing an Islamic headscarf, saying his vacillations on the issue show
that he is uncommitted, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
"Mr. President, do not feel disturbed. If you defend the opposite in
[headscarf] discussions, the debate ends with you. Will girls be allowed to
wear headscarves at elementary school or not?" Kilicdaroglu, leader of the
Republican People's Party, or CHP, wrote on his Twitter page Saturday.
Kilicdaroglu said President Abdullah Gul should say definitively whether or
not he believes girls should be allowed to wear the religious symbol to
elementary school. "[He should say] the headscarf is not possible at
elementary school if he wants to feel relaxed," the opposition leader said.
"You should say that these children, who haven't even reached maturity,
can't cover their head by their own free will. In this way both you and the
public will feel relaxed," Kilicdaroglu, referring to Gul's remarks that he
is fed up with discussing the headscarf issue.
"To be honest, I am fed up with discussing the headscarf issue, especially
while there are other issues to be discussed," Gul told reporters at
Ankara's Esenboga Airport on Friday.
He said people should remain free to speak and write their thoughts on the
issue as they wished.
It was First Lady Hayrunissa Gul's remarks last week that she did not think
girls could wear headscarves at elementary schools because they couldn't
cover their head by their own free will at that age that initially sparked
the controversy.
President Gul later said he backed his wife's remarks, while Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not comment on individual statements
regarding the definition of freedoms, as his belief and thought on freedoms
was different.
Turkish Current-Account Deficit Continues to Skyrocket Through September
/NOV 15/ Global Insight/Andrew Birch/
The Turkish current-account deficit continued to skyrocket through the end
of the third quarter of 2010, according to the latest data from the Central
Bank of the Republic of Turkey. In September 2010, the country posted a
current-account shortfall of US$4.079 billion, almost exactly four times
the size it had been a year earlier. The September deficit brought the
overall gap for the first three quarters of 2010 to US$32.479 billion, a
whopping US$22.7 billion larger than it had been in the same period of
2009. The majority of this deterioration originated from the widening of
the merchandise trade balance, where imports surged ahead by 30.0% year-onyear (y/y), buoyed by vigorous domestic demand, while exports grew a much
more modest 10.7% y/y. Further undermining the overall current-account
balance, the services and transfers balances also deteriorated compared
with their year-earlier levels. While the current-account deficit
ballooned, financing for now has been provided by a surge of foreign
portfolio inflows and a repatriation of Turkish banks' foreign-exchange
holdings that had previously been held abroad.
Significance: In the immediate future the dramatically larger currentaccount imbalance remains manageable in terms of financing because of a
wealth of capital flowing into the country from abroad, piqued by a general
shift of risk sentiment back towards emerging economies, in particular
Turkey where growth prospects are high and the financial system is healthy.
However, with the current-account deficit on track to once again soar above
5% of GDP for the year as a whole, downside sovereign risks remain
elevated. Moreover, the current-account deficit is set to grow even larger
in 2011, as domestic demand is projected to remain strong while export
demand is likely to falter somewhat as fiscal tightening across Europe
takes a bite out of demand. Not only does the sheer size of the currentaccount deficit contribute to elevated risks, but the composition of
financing also keeps risks high. Inflows of more stable and reliable
foreign direct investment are down sharply. Thus, with Turkey much more
reliant on much more volatile portfolio and "other" investment inflows for
financing, the risks of a hard landing remain quite high. These risks,
emanating from the country's deteriorating balance-of-payment position, are
the primary reason IHS Global Insight has been hesitant to improve its
sovereign risk rating for Turkey, even as other major rating agencies take
such actions.
LES ETATS-UNIS SE MEFIENT D'ERDOGAN, JUGE ISOLE ET MAL INFORME
/NOV 29/armenews/
BERLIN - Les diplomates americains se mefient du Premier ministre turc
Tayyip Erdogan, qu'ils jugent isole et mal informe, revèlent les câbles
obtenus par WikiLeaks et analyses par l'hebdomadaire allemand Der Spiegel.
M. Erdogan se mefie de tous et "s'est entoure d'un cercle de conseillers
qui le flattent mais le meprisent". Il prend ses informations presque
exclusivement dans les journaux islamistes et les analyses de ses
ministères ne l'interessent pas, ecrivent les diplomates americains a
Ankara dans leurs depeches.
Malgre ses rotomontades, il craint de perdre le pouvoir, estiment-ils
encore. Une de leurs sources leur dit : "Tayyip croit en Dieu mais ne lui
fait pas confiance", rapporte Der Spiegel. Le courrier diplomatique
reproduit des rumeurs sur la corruption pretendue du Premier ministre, qui
se serait notamment enrichi lors de la privatisation d'une raffinerie de
petrole. Le ministre des Affaires etrangères Ahmet Davutoglu est qualifie
"d'exceptionnellement dangereux" par un informateur des diplomates
americains qui les met en garde contre son influence islamiste sur M.
Erdogan.
L'ambassade soupconne M. Davutoglu de rever d'un retour a la puissance
ottomane, et après un discours qu'il a prononce a Sarajevo en janvier 2010,
de vouloir retablir l'influence de la Turquie sur les Balkans.
Les diplomates ne sont pas sûrs de la stabilite du gouvernement d'un des
plus importants allies des Etats-Unis, d'après les câbles rediges en
fevrier de cette annee et resumes par le Spiegel.
ERDOGAN "HAIT TOUT SIMPLEMENT ISRAËL", SELON LES ETATS-UNIS
/NOV 29/armenews/
ANKARA - Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan "hait tout
simplement Israël", ecrivent des diplomates americains a Ankara, en
commentant sa virulente reaction a l'offensive israelienne contre Gaza en
2008/2009, revèlent les câbles obtenus par WikiLeaks.
"Erdogan hait tout simplement Israël", affirment ces diplomates qui
indiquent soutenir la thèse de l'ambassadeur d'Israël a Ankara, Gabby Levy,
selon laquelle les virulentes declarations anti-israeliennes du chef du
gouvernement turc sont avant tout "emotionnelles, car il (Erdogan) est un
islamiste".
"Du point de vue de la religion, il nous hait et son mepris se propage"
dans son pays, a indique l'ambassadeur israelien aux diplomates americains
en poste dans la capitale turque, attribuant la degradation des liens entre
son pays et la Turquie a la personnalite du Premier ministre, un ancien
militant islamiste qui renie son passe et dirige un gouvernement islamoconservateur depuis 2003.
Pour les Etats-Unis, l'"antipathie" d'Erdogan concernant Israël est un
"facteur" dans la deterioration des rapports israelo-turcs.
Ces câbles rediges en octobre 2009 interviennent avant l'abordage par un
commando israelien d'un convoi humanitaire pour Gaza, sous blocus
israelien, au cours duquel 9 militants turcs avaient ete tues, le 31 mai
2010.
Cet incident sanglant a reduit les relations entre Israël et la Turquie,
autrefois allies regionaux, au point mort. Si M. Levy est toujours present
a Ankara, la Turquie n'a pas renvoye d'ambassadeur en Israël, exigeant
excuses et compensations.
En janvier 2009 a Davos (Suisse), M. Erdogan avait violemment condamne
l'offensive militaire israelienne a Gaza, lors d'un debat en presence du
president israelien Shimon Peres. L'episode avait fait de M. Erdogan une
sorte de heros dans le monde arabe.
Turkey, Lebanon to Sign Free Trade Deal
[ 23 Nov 2010 21:39 ]
Baku-APA. Turkey and Lebanon are expected to sign several deals this
week, including a partnership establishing a free-trade zone and a
joint political declaration aiming toward a new high-level strategic
cooperation council, APA reports quoting voanews.com website.
The pacts are on the agenda for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan's visit to Lebanon expected to start Wednesday. Mr. Erdogan's
Lebanese counterpart, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, invited the Turkish
leader for the formal visit.
Mr. Erdogan's office announced that the Turkish leader is scheduled to
have meetings with several Lebanese officials, including Mr. Hariri,
President Michel Sulayman and National Assembly Speaker Nabih Berri.
During his trip, Mr. Erdogan is also expected to receive an award at
an Arab banking conference, visit Turkish troops assigned within the
United Nations' forces in Lebanon, and inaugurate Turkish-built
schools and a rehabilitation center.
Turkey rejects unilateral opening of ports to Greek Cypriot vessels
23/11/2010
ANKARA, Turkey -- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday
(November 22nd) that Turkey will not open its ports to Cypriot vessels
and goods unless the EU lifts its trade embargo on northern Cyprus.
"If there's a simultaneous opening of ports and airports, then we'll
be a part of it," Erdogan told reporters in Ankara. "No one should
expect anything different," he added. At the same time, Erdogan denied
recent media reports that Turkey has agreed to allow Greece to expand
its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea. "There is nothing like an
agreement that has been reached on the 12 miles [issue]. The talks are
still under way with Greece," Erdogan stated. The Greek newspaper To
Vima reported last week that Athens and Ankara have agreed to let
Greece expand its territorial waters in the Aegean from six to 12
nautical miles. (Bloomberg, AP - 22/11/10)
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbr
iefs/2010/11/23/nb-01
Turkey suspends three senior officers over coup plot
/NOV 25/ bbc.co.uk/
Turkey's military has brought down four governments since 1960
The Turkish government has suspended two generals and an admiral accused of
being linked to a plot against the ruling Justice and Development Party.
It is believed to be the first time in modern Turkish history that a
civilian government has suspended serving military figures of such high
rank.
The three men have appealed to military judges to cancel the decision.
They are among nearly 200 suspects due to go on trial next month, charged
with attempting to overthrow the government.
Those involved in the so-called "sledgehammer" plot allegedly conspired to
provoke a military takeover in the months following the ruling party's
(AKP) first election victory in 2002.
They are said to have been concerned by the party's Islamist roots.
Jonathan Head BBC News, Istanbul
________________________________
The three officers were removed from their posts under a law that dates
back 60 years. Until now that law had never been invoked by a civilian
government.
They are among nearly 200 suspects due to go on trial next month for
alleged involvement in an anti-government plot seven years ago.
Despite that, and over the objections of the government, the three were
promoted during the annual Supreme Military Council in August.
By suspending them from duty, the government has demonstrated in a very
public way its determination to place the armed forces under civilian
control.
Military commanders have at times complained about the way their once
untouchable institution is being treated, but they have also stated that
the era of military coups is in the past.
#
The trial is the most ambitious attempt to prosecute armed forces personnel
in civilian courts in Turkey, where the strongly secular military has
brought down four governments since 1960.
Headscarf row
On Monday, Interior Minister Besir Atalay suspended Gendarmerie Maj Gen
Halil Helvacıoglu, Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper reported.
This was followed on Wednesday by Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul's decision
to suspend Maj Gen Gurbuz Kaya and Rear Adm Abdullah Gavremoglu.
Since coming to power, the AKP has been locked in a tug-of-war with
Turkey's secular institutions over issues such as the Islamic headscarf
for women and constitutional reform.
The BBC's Istanbul correspondent, Jonathan Head, says the military has been
forced to accept a reduced role in political bodies such as the National
Security Council and stronger parliamentary oversight of its spending.
On 29 October, military commanders and the main opposition leader failed to
attend an official ceremony at the presidential palace on Republic Day,
reportedly because they would have had to shake hands with President
Abdullah Gul's headscarf-wearing wife, Hayrunnisa.
The move was criticised by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose wife
Emine also wears a headscarf.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11839789
Erdogan: Turkey `Will Not Remain Silent' If Israel Attacks Lebanon
/NOV 25/almanar.com.lb/
Visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged that his
country would not remain silent if Israel attacks Lebanon or Gaza.
During a speech at the Annual Arab Banking Conference in Beirut Thursday,
Erdogan wondered:
"Does (Israel) think it can enter Lebanon with the most
modern aircraft and tanks to kill women and children, and destroy schools
and hospitals, and then expect us to remain silent?"
"Does it think it can use the most modern weapons, phosphorus munitions and
cluster bombs to kill children in Gaza and then expect us to remain silent?
"We will not be silent and we will support justice by all means available
to us."
For his part, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said at the conference that
Lebanon was looking forward to increasing the channels of cooperation with
Turkey.
"The meeting of the Union of Arab Banks is one aspect of the Arab economic
integrated vision, which we want to develop beyond the geographic and
political boundaries, to become a regional banking bloc serving Arab and
neighboring states whose economic and banking goals complement ours,"
Hariri said.
He said Turkey comes at the forefront of these states, praising the role of
Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyib Erdogan in "laying the foundations of
economic, social and political development in the 21st
Century.""We are looking forward to increasing the channels of cooperation
between Lebanon and Turkey in the various economic, development and
investment sectors," Hariri said.
Erdogan's speech came ahead of a trip to south Lebanon to visit Turkish
troops serving with UNIFIL and inaugurate a Turkish-funded medical center
that specializes in treating burn victims in Sidon. During the inauguration
later in the day, Erdogan said the Lebanese should not allow some parties
to harm coexistence.
"On the contrary, we should work together for a future that has Lebanese
foundations."