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Zaman, Turkey
April 15 2005
Important Messages from Erdogan
By Zaman
Published: Friday 15, 2005
zaman.com
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Zaman's editors
yesterday April 14 with some of his cabinet members and his advisers.
Erdogan conveyed important messages about the issues on the agenda.
About terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan, Erdogan said, "Everyone wants
to have their say," and explained the government's approach: "The
validity of verdicts by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is
determined in our Constitution. Nothing is official yet and I have
made no announcements. It is up to the judiciary what should be done
after the ECHR verdict. If we trust in the Turkish judicial system,
why should we create tension in the country?"
Describing incidents of flag burning in Mersin and its reflections in
Trabzon as "provocative events", the Prime Minister disclosed that
they know the names behind the provocations, but will not declare
them as it might cause difficulties over measures to be taken against
them.
When asked about problems of religious high schools and the headscarf
ban, Erdogan replied: "We don't speak about the headscarf problem, we
live it." Expressing that the problem could be solved by social
consensus, Erdogan clarified: "I don't mean a consensus at the
people's level. There is already such a consensus. What we need is a
consensus in parliament. Mr. Deniz Baykal should accept that
parliament does not reflect the will of the people." The Prime
Minister expressed that if the government and the opposition worked
together on this issue as they are on the Armenian issue, they could
find a solution.
Speaking of economic successes, Erdogan emphasized that they can not
expect much for the sale of the media holdings of the Turkish Savings
and Insurance Deposits Fund (TMSF). Erdogan told Zaman: "If the
article that envisions sales to foreigners had not been rejected by
Cankaya, the sale would have been realized imemdiately. If we attempt
to evaluate this within our own internal market, it is impossible to
reach the expected amount. Despite objections, our national interests
require them to be opened to the rest of the world." Saying that they
will implement a limit on sales of media to foreigners, Erdogan said
that sales to foreign media groups would be limited to 25 percent of
the Turkish market, though they would be able to buy an entire
channel within this limit.
Erdogan also addressed criticisms in the media: "We would benefit if
criticisms are conducted in a polite manner because the press and the
media live in the middle of daily events. Turkish people cannot
tolerate impolite and unethical criticisms."
April 15 2005
Important Messages from Erdogan
By Zaman
Published: Friday 15, 2005
zaman.com
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Zaman's editors
yesterday April 14 with some of his cabinet members and his advisers.
Erdogan conveyed important messages about the issues on the agenda.
About terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan, Erdogan said, "Everyone wants
to have their say," and explained the government's approach: "The
validity of verdicts by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is
determined in our Constitution. Nothing is official yet and I have
made no announcements. It is up to the judiciary what should be done
after the ECHR verdict. If we trust in the Turkish judicial system,
why should we create tension in the country?"
Describing incidents of flag burning in Mersin and its reflections in
Trabzon as "provocative events", the Prime Minister disclosed that
they know the names behind the provocations, but will not declare
them as it might cause difficulties over measures to be taken against
them.
When asked about problems of religious high schools and the headscarf
ban, Erdogan replied: "We don't speak about the headscarf problem, we
live it." Expressing that the problem could be solved by social
consensus, Erdogan clarified: "I don't mean a consensus at the
people's level. There is already such a consensus. What we need is a
consensus in parliament. Mr. Deniz Baykal should accept that
parliament does not reflect the will of the people." The Prime
Minister expressed that if the government and the opposition worked
together on this issue as they are on the Armenian issue, they could
find a solution.
Speaking of economic successes, Erdogan emphasized that they can not
expect much for the sale of the media holdings of the Turkish Savings
and Insurance Deposits Fund (TMSF). Erdogan told Zaman: "If the
article that envisions sales to foreigners had not been rejected by
Cankaya, the sale would have been realized imemdiately. If we attempt
to evaluate this within our own internal market, it is impossible to
reach the expected amount. Despite objections, our national interests
require them to be opened to the rest of the world." Saying that they
will implement a limit on sales of media to foreigners, Erdogan said
that sales to foreign media groups would be limited to 25 percent of
the Turkish market, though they would be able to buy an entire
channel within this limit.
Erdogan also addressed criticisms in the media: "We would benefit if
criticisms are conducted in a polite manner because the press and the
media live in the middle of daily events. Turkish people cannot
tolerate impolite and unethical criticisms."