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ANKARA: Turkish press 2 May 05

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  • ANKARA: Turkish press 2 May 05

    Turkish press 2 May 05

    BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom
    May 02, 2005


    The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and
    commentaries published in 2 May editions of Turkish newspapers
    available to BBC Monitoring

    EU

    Milliyet [centrist] "With the steps it has taken on the way to the
    EU, Turkey has become a country which attracts world interest. At the
    point we have reached today, Turkey has two options: by protecting
    its economic and political stability, it will continue to be a focus
    of interest for the world and become one of the leading countries of
    the 21st century... Or those who claim that all evil comes from an
    outside world hostile to Turkey will take charge of Turkey and by
    becoming introverted, Turkey will become a country which loses the
    chance for rapid improvement..." (Commentary by Osman Ulagay)

    Premier's visit to Israel

    Milliyet "At this stage, when economic relations too are rapidly
    improving as much as military relations, it is clear that both sides
    [Turkey and Israel] cannot risk taking their political fight to the
    point of breaking off relations. Actually, the visit that Erdogan has
    been paying - or rather had to pay - to Israel, which he accused of
    engaging in state terrorism, is also an expression of this... While
    our Islamic press, which is more Arab more than the Arabs, is cursing
    this visit by Erdogan, the Palestinians are very pleased with the
    visit." (Commentary by Semih Idiz)

    Yeni Safak [liberal, pro-Islamic] "If you say 'No' to the USA, pour
    out your anger on Israel, saying 'What you are doing is state
    terrorism', all the things you do are right. But after a while, you
    face problems like the Armenian issue, the Cyprus issue, the Kurdish
    issue, issues like the IMF and relations with the EU, which are all
    happening on the international arena. You will be put under pressure.
    Why have you arranged a visit to Israel? Because that is what
    realpolitik requires. Tension with the USA cannot continue because
    that is contrary to realpolitik." (Commentary by Ahmet Tasgetiren)

    Turkey/USA

    Milliyet "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Israel, as
    well as dealing with bilateral and regional relations, is intended to
    please Washington too. The timing of the Incirlik [airbase] agreement
    and the recent visit to Afghanistan [by Erdogan] can be seen as
    activities aimed at the Oval Office... The latest statements [by
    Erdogan] show that he has finally understood that his getting a green
    light for his wish to meet Bush at the White House by the beginning
    of summer is also somewhat linked with how he speaks. Washington,
    which thinks that the AKP [Justice and Development Party] government
    has for months not been understanding about events in its region and
    in trans-Atlantic relations, now finds Erdogan's new pronouncements a
    relief." (Commentary by Yasemin Congar)

    Cumhuriyet [secular, Kemalist] "There is talk of Erdogan going to the
    USA in May. He wants to crown this with a meeting with Bush... In
    this respect, Erdogan's gestures in the last couple of weeks can be
    summarized thus: He put great strong stress on the USA in his party's
    group meeting. The meaning of the decree which was extended the use
    of Incirlik by the USA has been broadened. And Erdogan has made his
    visit to Israel happen." (Commentary by Mustafa Balbay)

    UK/elections

    Cumhuriyet "The war alliance is being weakened. Blair is preparing to
    end his political life by making the history as the 'liar' prime
    minister... There is a strong possibility that the Labour Party will
    win these elections. However, its majority in the parliament will be
    very much smaller. After the elections, it will be impossible for
    Blair to stay on as party leader. If he himself does not resign, he
    will be toppled at the first conference." (Commentary by Ergin
    Yildizoglu)

    Zaman [moderate- pro-Islamic] "...The UK is a main determining power
    with the USA in world politics; it is the biggest supporter of Turkey
    in the EU process, the EU president in the coming term; the second
    military and the first intellectual power shaping Iraq; a great power
    which has a say on Cyprus based on historical realities... The 5 May
    elections are not like the American elections in which it's thought
    that everything will stay the same no matter who comes to power...
    Just a couple of days before the elections, although the ruling
    Labour Party and its leader, Tony Blair, are ahead, the number of the
    commentators foreseeing a last-minute surprise are not at all
    small... The Turkish policymakers must not forget the decisive role
    that the UK still preserves in world politics." (Commentary by Kerim
    Balci)

    Source: As given

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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