NEWS SCAN for Turkey – Aug 21st, 2013

Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites

PM Erdogan accuses Israel of complicity in overthrowing Morsi

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went back on the warpath Aug.20, accusing one of Ankara’s most prominent bogeymen, Israel, of complicity in overthrowing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi while telling critics to find dictatorship not in Turkey, but in today’s Egypt. “Who is behind the coup? Israel,” Erdoğan told a meeting of party leaders. “We have document in our hands,” he said, citing an open session between a Jewish intellectual from France and an Israeli justice minister before the first free elections in Egypt held in March 2011.

As he was delivering multilayered messages concerning both foreign and domestic policy at the meeting, Erdoğan furthermore maintained that those who have been accusing the government of autocratic governance in Turkey should actually look at Egypt, where the coup rulers have been acting dictatorially. “If you want to see a dictator, go ahead, go to Egypt,” he said.

In an apparent reference to moves to topple his government at the time, Erdoğan recalled that Turkey had experienced coup attempts and undemocratic practices. “Here, at this moment, there are those who want to float again the West’s understanding which says ‘Democracy is not the ballot box,’ or ‘Democracy is not only the ballot box.’ But we say that democracy’s path passes through the ballot box and the ballot box itself is the people’s will. At the moment, this is what is being implemented in Egypt.”

The United States condemns Erdoğan’s comments on Israel and Egypt

White House spokesman Josh Earnest condemned comments by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accusing Israel of having a hand in the Egyptian military’s overthrow of president Mohamed Mursi, on Tuesday.

“We strongly condemn the statements that were made by Prime Minister Erdoğan today. Suggesting that Israel is somehow responsible for recent events in Egypt is offensive, unsubstantiated, and wrong,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing.

Earlier on Tuesday, Erdoğan had told provincial leaders of his AK Party: “What do they say in Egypt? Democracy is not the ballot box. What is behind it? Israel. We have in our hands documentation.”

CHP leader visits Iraq to contribute to peace in region

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu visited Iraq on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki despite constant warnings from the Turkish Foreign Ministry over deteriorating security conditions in the conflict-ridden country.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu left Ankara on Tuesday afternoon to start a five-day visit to Iraq, where the opposition leader is expected to have talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other influential figures in the country despite warnings from the Turkish Foreign Ministry over security conditions in the conflict-ridden country.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry, in a letter sent to the opposition party, warned the CHP of the worsening security conditions in Iraq.

Turkish real estate market promising for foreign investments

According to a recent report by the global real estate services firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) the investor interest is bound to go up in Turkey’s real estate market. In its Turkey Real Estate Overview report covering the first half of 2013, JLL Turkey predicts new entrants in the form of new office complexes, hotels, and shopping malls, creating renewed dynamism and liquidity in the market.

Observing the major transactions in the last 6-8 months, the report states that the investment market gained significant liquidity with changes in ownership in various shopping malls, giving Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC’s acquisition of stakes in two shopping centers in Istanbul and Ankara as the latest example. More transactions are expected in this field before the end of the year as more shopping malls are on the market, the report stated.

“As of the second half of 2013, Turkey’s total shopping center gross leasable area, comprising 336 shopping malls, is around 8.9 million square meters. This figure will rise to 12 million square meters with the completion of 88 new projects by 2016.”, JLL Turkey Chairman Avi Alkas commented on the report’s findings. Turkey’s growing population and increasing purchasing power are the major factors positively affecting retail demand prospects in the medium to long term, the report read.

Travel & Leisure Magazine names Istanbul Europe’s “Best Tourism City”

Turkey’s Istanbul, a bustling megapolis with a history dating back thousands of years, has been voted Europe’s ‘Best Tourism City’ in 2013 by the Travel + Leisure Magazine. The city ranked second in the global list, “Best City in the World” category, being second only to Thailand’s Bangkok.

The magazine, a monthly publication by American Express Publishing, based its findings on reader votes, judging the contending cities by their historic and cultural sites, artistic attractions as well as food, shopping and overall value.

Istanbul bested Paris, Rome, London, Barcelona and other prominent cities of the world in both categories, building on its already strong reputation as a center of history and culture.

Turkey welcomed 14.5 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2013, up 14 percent over a year earlier. Istanbul alone accounted for 4.9 million of the total in the said period, 16 percent more visitors than that of January-June of 2012. Turkey expects to welcome 33 million foreign visitors this year, aiming to enter the top 5 of global tourist destinations.

USD 8 billion to be invested in Turkey for TANAP project

At least an investment of USD 8 billion will be made in Turkey during the construction of a pipeline that will carry Azeri gas through Turkey, offering a number of opportunities for local companies to benefit, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR)Turkey’s president has told daily Hürriyet.

The Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP), construction of which is expected to start by the end of 2014, is scheduled to begin operations by 2018.  TANAP will carry 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with 6 billion to be delivered to Turkey and rest to Europe.

As the tender process for the pipes’ procurement has been initiated, the impetus that will emerge in the infrastructure sector in Turkey has raised excitement. Turkey’s energy minister said 28 companies, nine of which are local, have applied for preliminary qualification for the pipes to be used on the pipeline.

Authorities will begin to review applications by Aug. 27, and qualified bidders will be invited to the tender.

21.08.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA

We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.