Turkey calls for constitutional democracy in Egypt

ISTANBUL: Turkey urged Egypt’s military to pave the way for elections so that a new government can form a constitutional democracy following President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation on Friday after nearly three decades in power.

“Since the start of the mass demonstrations in Egypt, Turkey has supported the Egyptian public’s legitimate demands for democracy and freedom; moreover it has made a call for a peaceful transition to a pluralist and participatory regime based on human rights,” a statement issued by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s press office on Saturday said.

“We hope that Egypt’s Military High Council will act with common sense and hand over its duty to the new governemnt to be formed as a result of a free and fair election process, and eventually Egypt will proceed to a constitutional democracy,” said the statement, reported by state-run Anatolian news agency.

Though Turkey is a member of the Western NATO alliance, Erdogan has gained considerable clout in the Middle East through his vehement condemnations of Israel after its offensive in the Gaza Strip in 2008, which heralded a breakdown in Turkey’s friendship with the Jewish state.

Turkey, as a relatively stable state with a secular constitution, vibrant economy and conservative, pragmatic government led by former Islamists, is often cited as a model Muslim democracy in the region.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in the Georgian city of Batumi at the start of an official visit, said Mubarak’s resignation was an historic development for the Arab world and the region.

He said the onus now lay with the military to ensure stability and review the election law to allow active participation by political parties.

“Firstly, continuity of the state and public order should be secured. Secondly, people’s demands should be met and a stable and lasting democracy should be built in Egypt through evolution. Thirdly, a transparent road map that the people can follow closely together with the international community should be announced,” Davutoglu was quoted as saying by Anatolian. AGENCIES

Erdogan calls on Gilani

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and discussed matters relating to flood victims rehabilitation, Dunya News reported Wednesday.
During a meeting at the breakfast table, the two men took stock of flood affectees and other issues of bilateral interest. Gilani thanked his Turkish counterpart for extending help to Pakistan to meet with the post-flood crises.
Tayyip would also visit the flood-ravaged areas where he would be briefed about the reconstruction and rehabilitation plans.

Gilani, Erdogan hold meeting, discuss bilateral ties

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting and discussed issues related to bilateral relations.

The meeting between the two took place at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Both leaders exchanged views about the regional security situation, rehabilitation of flood-hit areas and Pak-Turkey ties.

The visiting premier is also scheduled to make a visit to flood-ravaged areas along with Prime Minister Gilani today. SAMAA

Army’s role in Kashmir to be decided today

SRINAGAR: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet today (Monday) to decide on the partial withdrawal of a special law that gives sweeping powers to security forces in Jammu and Kashmir during anti-insurgency operations.

The key question before the CCS headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be whether or not to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain parts of the Valley as a confidence building measure after months of unrelenting protests.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who backed the proposal to partially withdraw the AFSPA, met Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi ahead of the CCS meeting.

Curfew was clamped in more areas of the Kashmir Valley on Monday as a precautionary measure ahead of a protest march called by the separatists.

Curfew

Army’s role in Kashmir to be decided today

SRINAGAR: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) will meet today (Monday) to decide on the partial withdrawal of a special law that gives sweeping powers to security forces in Jammu and Kashmir during anti-insurgency operations.

The key question before the CCS headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be whether or not to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain parts of the Valley as a confidence building measure after months of unrelenting protests.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who backed the proposal to partially withdraw the AFSPA, met Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi ahead of the CCS meeting.

Curfew was clamped in more areas of the Kashmir Valley on Monday as a precautionary measure ahead of a protest march called by the separatists.

Curfew

Turkey referendum win puts Erdogan in pole for 2011

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s ruling AK Party on Monday celebrated victory in a referendum on constitutional reform that was seen boosting its chances of winning a third term of single-party rule at an election due within 10 months.

No sooner had Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared victory than he stoked hardline secularists’ worst fears by serving notice that his AK party, whose roots lie in political Islam, would start work on a brand new constitution.

The High Election Board is expected to announce the official results on Monday, but television news channels reported the government scored a “yes” vote of 58 percent versus 42 percent for the “no” camp. The turnout, among an electorate of just under 50 million, was put at 77 percent.

‘Yes’, but it is not enough,” said a headline in the liberal Radikal daily, saying the result showed enthusiasm for change and the

Turkey referendum win puts Erdogan in pole for 2011

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s ruling AK Party on Monday celebrated victory in a referendum on constitutional reform that was seen boosting its chances of winning a third term of single-party rule at an election due within 10 months.

No sooner had Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared victory than he stoked hardline secularists’ worst fears by serving notice that his AK party, whose roots lie in political Islam, would start work on a brand new constitution.

The High Election Board is expected to announce the official results on Monday, but television news channels reported the government scored a “yes” vote of 58 percent versus 42 percent for the “no” camp. The turnout, among an electorate of just under 50 million, was put at 77 percent.

‘Yes’, but it is not enough,” said a headline in the liberal Radikal daily, saying the result showed enthusiasm for change and the

Turkey’s top court annuls parts of reform package

ANKARA: Turkey’s top court on Wednesday annulled some parts of a government-backed package of reforms intended to overhaul the constitution, but rejected an opposition appeal to throw out the entire package.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says the reforms are designed to deepen democracy and help meet requirements for Turkey to join the European Union. Secularist critics see the reforms as an attempt by Erdogan’s AK Party to seize control of all levers of the state and undermine Turkey’s secular principles.

The court’s chairman Hasim Kilic told a news conference the reform charter, barring annulled parts, would now go to a referendum as planned.

Turkey bombs rebel bases in Iraq after soldiers killed

ARBIL: Turkey bombed Kurdish rebel hideouts in Iraq on Saturday in retaliation for attacks that killed 11 of its soldiers, prompting the rebels to threaten to take their fight into Turkish cities.

The threat from the rebel Kurdistan Workers” Party (PKK) came after Turkish air raids, which were in response to a rebel attack on an army post that killed nine. A mine explosion also occurred near the border with Iraq that killed two soldiers.

“We will take our operations to all Turkish cities if the government continues its attacks against us,” PKK spokesman Ahmed Denis told AFP in the Iraqi Kurdistan regional capital of Arbil.

“Turkey wants to take us towards war,” he said. “She is not sincere in dealing with the Kurdish issue and doesn”t want to deal with this issue peacefully.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the attack on the army post as “cowardly” and vowed that it would have no effect on his country”s determination to fight the PKK “to the end”.

Obama to meet Abbas as Gaza fallout mounts

WASHINGTON: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will ask President Barack Obama Wednesday for “bold decisions” on the Middle East but US-led peace moves face a torrid climate after Israel”s Gaza flotilla raid.

Obama will welcome Abbas to the White House seeking to ensure regional fury over the May 31 Israeli commando strike does not doom indirect Israel-Palestinian talks that took months for Washington to organize.

He will also discuss American efforts to break through a “status-quo” on the blockaded Gaza Strip, which his administration describes as “untenable” following the deadly Israeli maritime raid, which killed nine Turks.

“The president looks forward to receiving President Abbas to review progress in the proximity talks and discuss our common efforts to achieve Middle East peace,” said Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman. Obama also wants to “reinforce our strong support for the Palestinian Authority and its state-building effort, and review ideas for a long-term strategy towards Gaza.”

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