NEWS SCAN for Turkey – March 28rd, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
Davutoğlu says Turkey ready to negotiate two-state solution for Cyprus
Criticizing the Greek Cypriot plan to use oil and gas exploration rights around the eastern Mediterranean island as collateral for an international bailout package, FM Davutoğlu said Turkey is ready to negotiate a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem, if reunification talks between two sides fail and no agreement is reached over the establishment of a joint commission on gas resources on the island.
Turkey punishes Italian energy giant Eni for operation in Greek Cyprus
Energy Minister Taner YILDIZ has made explanations as to why Turkey has decided not to work with Eni in Turkey and suspended ongoing projects of the company. Yıldız has said the company’s operations are suspended across Turkey due to its refusal to halt resource exploration activities in the waters off of Greek Cyprus.
Standard & Poor’s upgrades Turkey’s credit rating from BB to BB+
Standard Poor said in its statement that Turkey was in the process of rebalancing its economy and the floating rate policy, the prudential limit on foreign loans and the deepening of the local capital market induced higher resistance to potential capital flows.
Erdoğan says federalism ‘may be’ on 2023 agenda
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressing the public in a speech recalled that the Ottoman Empire was a state founded on a federal system. Erdoğan suggested that implementation of a federal system might come onto the agenda as of 2023, the centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
The Central Bank of Turkey narrows interest rate corridor
The Bank has unexpectedly cut the upper-band of the interest rate corridor, or the overnight lending rate, from 8.5 percent to 7.5 percent, while it kept or lower band of the corridor, or the overnight borrowing rate, at 4.5 and 5.5 percent, also in line with expectations.
Economy Minister asks EU to revive “Customs Union” or cancel it
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan has made important remarks regarding Customs Union and Turkey’s position. Çağlayan has said the European Union should either restructure the terms of the current Customs Union, or cancel it altogether to make a separate free trade deal with Turkey.
The Turkish-Arab Economic Forum (TAFto convene Istanbul on 4-5 April
It is reported that the Istanbul Finance Center (IFC) project and Islamic bonds, or sukuk, market will be among the Forum’s main topics this year on which occasion over 500 high-level attendees of will discuss business and investment opportunities in a variety of sectors including real estate, energy, food and agriculture.
Palestinian Interior Minister says Turkey has won a diplomatic victory over Israel
Referring to the Israeli apology for Israeli raid on the ‘Mavi Marmara’ aid ship in May 2010 Palestinian Interior Minister in Gaza, Fathi Hamad said it was a diplomatic victory for Turkey and a major transition for blocking Israel’s occupancy.
28.03.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
