NEWS SCAN for Turkey – May 24th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
European Union Council President Herman Van Rompuy visits Turkey
European Union Council President Herman Van Rompuy who is paying a visit to Turkey was hosted by both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül in Ankara.
The President of the European Union Council told Abdullah Gül that he haad brought a message to revitalize EU negotiations with Turkey. Rompuy also met with opposition parties CHP and BDP during his stay in Turkey. PM Erdoğan had invited the guest politician who is referred to as the EU’s “silent force” to enable a new momentum in Turkey’s EU membership efforts.
Rompuy expressed that the issue of visa exception was on the top of their agenda In a meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan adding he thought it was an issue that needed to be taken care of as soon as possible. The guest politician also expressed that they were working amending the process which had resulted in Turkey’s Prime Minister not being invited to take place in EU leadership summits since 2004.
Turkey’s European Union Ministry will provide funds for media and NGOs
It is reported that Turkey’s European Union Ministry will provide 9 million euros in grant funds for media and NGOs, as part of the Turkey-EU joint “Civil Society Dialogue III Grant Scheme.”
The statement was made by EU Minister Egemen Bagis in written on Friday. Bağış expressed that the ministry would support projects on “Political Criteria” and “Media.”
The project targets to introduce EU policies on counter-discrimination, human rights, democracy and the rule of law to the civil society organizations working on those subjects, and providing mutual interaction with their European counterparts, while Media Grant Scheme seeks to strengthen capacity of media actors, as well as establishing sustainable link with European media organs.
Congress tourism contributes to Turkish foreign revenues substantially
Başaran Ulusoy, chairman of of Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB) has stated that Turkey has reached its full capacity for congress tourism events until the year 2019.
It was also mentioned that 13 million tourists were expected to visit Istanbul this year emphasizing international congresses played an important role attracting millions to the city in addition to traditional tourist visits.
It is observed that Antalya is the center of vacation while Istanbul is the capital of culture and congresses.
On the other hand the authorities forecast that the country will receive an estimated 35 million tourists and $26 million in tourism revenues. Officials expect that Turkey will receive 55 million tourists in a decade’s time and 25 million will come to Istanbul.
Turkey expects to sell hundreds of Altay tanks to Saudi Arabia
Turkey may succeed to sell hundreds of new generation battle tanks to Saudi Arabia due to the close cooperation between two countries on Syria conflict.
It is reported that as political solidarity with Turkey over the Syrian civil war has become stronger, Saudi Arabia could prefer Turkey in defense deals.
In 2012, Saudi Arabia was Turkey’s third largest defense industry customer and exports amounted to $99 million, or 7.8 percent of Turkey’s entire defense and aerospace exports worth $1.262 billion. Turkish defense exports to the United Arab Emirates totaled $101 million, and to the Shia-majority but Sunni-ruled Bahrain $91 million in the same year. The three Gulf countries altogether accounted for nearly a quarter of Turkey’s all defense exports in 2012.
Eyes on S&P as OECD’s Gurria says time for Turkey credit upgrade
Angel Gurria Secretary-General of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has stated that it should be only a matter of time before Ankara secures a new investment-grade rating given the current level of interest and expectations in markets, pointing to a likely upgrade to be announced by S&P.
Moody’s Investors Service had upgraded the Turkish economy to Baa3, or investment grade last Thursday — the second agency to do so after a similar upgrade by rater Fitch in November, while Standard & Poor’s currently rates Turkey at just a notch below investment grade.
Gurria’s comments came just one day ahead of news that the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) became the third agency that upgraded Turkey’s credit rating to investment grade.
24.05.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
