News Scan for Turkey – Dec 6th, 2013
Turkish PM Erdoğan seeks Thrace’s support
Prime Minister has kicked-off a three-day visit to Thracian provinces, in a bid to build up public support in the northwestern region ahead of elections
Erdoğan’s Thrace tour kicked-off in Kırklareli on Dec. 6 and will continuing in a number of districts in Tekirdağ and Edirne until Dec. 8.
The prime minister is accompanied by several heavyweight AKP figures on the trip, including Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, Forestry Minister Veysel Eroğlu, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker, Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu and Science and Industry Minister Nihat Ergün.
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS
Investigation into journalist over MGK, MİT revelations blow to free press
A prompt investigation launched against journalist Mehmet Baransu for reporting on a confidential National Security Council (MGK) document that mentioned a planned crackdown on faith-based groups in the country has been met with harsh criticism by Turkish and foreign journalist associations. “It is the responsibility of a journalist to report on issues that directly concern the people,” stated Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Executive Director Joel Simon, when speaking to the Cihan news agency.
Starting last month, the Taraf daily published several confidential documents suggesting that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) profiled individuals linked to some religious and faith-based groups. The party admitted the authenticity of the documents but argued that no action was taken to implement the policy prescriptions indicated therein.
On Thursday, however, the Prime Ministry, MİT and the National Security Council (MGK) filed a joint criminal complaint against the daily and Baransu for revealing confidential state documents. The complaint immediately turned into an investigation against the journalist. Baransu now faces charges of acquiring confidential documents crucial to state security, unveiling information that is forbidden to announce and political and military espionage. He may face a prison term of up to 43 years for the charges.
TODAYS ZAMAN
Oil deal with northern Iraq to proceed no matter what: Turkish energy min
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz has said that regardless of the Iraqi government’s decision on the recently proposed mechanism, the oil deal with Iraqi Kurdish administration will go on.
Iraq’s central government was irked by the oil deal between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdish administration last week. Iraqi central government will participate in meetings between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdish administration, which is called triple mechanism. Iraqi government has not finalized its decision on Turkey’s proposal.
“If Iraq accepts the triple mechanism that we have founded, it can work. Of course it is a decision that our Iraqi brothers should make. If they do not accept, the process will go on,” Yildiz said at the Caspian Forum held in Istanbul on Thursday.
Turkish minister noted that Ankara has developed a gas and oil project to contribute to Iraq’s normalization by adding, “The reason dictates the same point. We have to meet at that point.” YILDIZ stated.
AA
Socar’s investments in Turkey to reach $20 billion
The investment portfolio of Socar, Azerbaijan’s state-oil company, for Turkey will reach around $20 billion with the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), Socar Turkey head Kenan Yavuz said yesterday, noting that this was the official figure, during a press meeting at the 3rd Caspian Forum in Istanbul.
“The new project, TANAP, with the leadership of Turkey and Azerbaijan will enable the two countries to meet energy resources and consumption points,” Yavuz said at the event organized by Istanbul-based think tank Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN). He added that the TANAP would transform Turkey into an important energy transfer center.
Yavuz added that Socar had an investment portfolio for Turkey of between $17 billion and $20 billion in the 2008-2018 period. As Socar’s Refinery Petrochemistry-Energy-Logistic Integration investments worth $9.5 billion in Petkim Peninsula in İzmir, TANAP will increase this amount to around $20 billion, he said. The TANAP is expected to cost between $8 billion and $10 billion, said Yavuz, noting that this was not the official figure.
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS
Intelligence reports of al-Qaeda threats against Turkey are causing concern
Will Turkey’s cutting off logistical support to al-Qaeda in Syria, and discriminating between al-Qaeda-affiliated organizations and moderate groups under the Free Syrian Army banner, be enough to extricate the country from the Syrian morass? Reports leaked from the Turkish National Intelligence Service and other security agencies are instilling fears of a boomerang effect in Turkey, which is trying to give the impression that it has intensified border security. Illegal activities by armed groups who, until September, appeared to be enjoying impunity, are now finding their way to police and judicial records, indicating there may be some changes.
Read more:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/turkey-rethinks-armed-syrian-groups.html#ixzz2miWPFIzt
AL-MONITOR
06.12.2013
compiled by Editor BTT,
This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
