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Turkish Press Review, 03-12-16Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning16.12.2003FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN TO VISIT UZBEKISTANPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a delegation, is scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan to pay a three-day official visit beginning on Thursday. During Erdogan’s meetings with Uzbek officials, both bilateral relations and international developments are expected to be discussed. /Turkiye/[02] GUL: “ANKARA AND CYPRUS WILL ACT TOGETHER”Commenting on Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that nobody in the TRNC could act independent of Turkey’s view. “Of course, nothing may happen without Ankara’s approval,” stated Gul. “After all, in the end, any development on the island needs the Turkish Parliament’s ratification.” Under international treaties, Turkey has the status of a guarantor nation for the island. Before his departure for a visit to Japan, Gul told reporters that in the aftermath of the TRNC elections all parties should act cooperatively and reasonably, adding that work was ongoing both in Lefkosa and Ankara to find an optimal solution to the current situation. /Turkiye/[03] CICEK: “THE EU SHOULD GIVE TURKEY A DATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS”Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday urged the European Union to issue a date at the end of 2004 for Turkey to begin its accession talks, warning that if it fails to do so, “This would be discrimination, and that way lies radicalism.” En route to Ankara after attending the funeral of former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, Cicek spoke to reporters on board the plane. Commenting on Saddam Hussein’s recent capture, Cicek said that throughout history no society had felt happy under dictatorial rule. Cicek stressed the importance of Turkey’s status as the only democratic country in the Islamic world. Warning the EU countries about radicalism, Cicek said, “If certain countries are complaining about radicalism, they should support Turkey.” He added that a strong and powerful Turkey would serve all countries’ interests. Concerning Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Cicek stressed that the TRNC had conducted democratic elections under the auspices of more than 500 people and institutions, and that everybody should respect the results. /Turkiye/[04] AZERBAIJAN LAYS LATE PRESIDENT ALIYEV TO RESTA state funeral was held yesterday for former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, with thousands of his fellow countrymen in attendance. Aliyev was buried in the “Honorary Cemetery” following a seven-kilometer funeral procession from Baku’s Presidential Palace. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok all attended the funeral. /Sabah/[05] EU: “TALKS OVER CYPRUS SHOULD RESUME SOON”Turkish Cypriots favor settlement on the island and both sides should resume talks in line with United Nations Secretary-Genaral Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan, the European Commission declared yesterday. “With their votes in Sunday's elections, a majority of citizens in the northern part of Cyprus ... expressed their will to put an end to the status quo," said Jean- Christophe Filori, the spokesman for EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen. "We urge the authorities to draw their conclusions from this poll and as soon as possible to come back to the negotiating table" using the framework of the United Nations plan, he added. /Turkiye/[06] DENKTAS CALLS FOR TRILATERAL CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS’ FUTURE, WARNS OF POSSIBLE NEW POLLSSunday’s election results show that Turkish Cypriots back the reunification of Cyprus and European Union membership, but not at any price, said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday. Speaking at a Lefkosa press conference, Denktas stressed that the results of the recent polls should not be misinterpreted to mean that the Turkish Cypriots are ready to make concessions from their own or Turkey’s rights for the sake of EU membership. “Half the people say 'let's enter [the EU] immediately with the [UN] plan' ... the other half say 'let's enter but not by trampling on international agreements',” said Denktas. “They are divided on the means, and our Parliament is deadlocked,” referring to the split legislature produced by the polls. Denktas called on both Turkey and Greece as well as the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to hold a conference to comprehensively discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue. “Let me put it clearly that I promote a confederational solution, one with two states and two zones,” added the longtime TRNC leader. “I will hold consultations with the rival parties and give a mandate to one of them. If they can't form a government within two months we will have to go to a new election.” Hopes of a quick reunification on the island were dashed when Sunday’s polls ended in a deadlock after Turkish Cypriots elected a 50- member Parliament, evenly split between opponents and supporters of negotiations with the Greek Cypriots to enter the EU jointly. /Cumhuriyet/[07] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT”Praising the results of Sunday’s polls on Cyprus, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher stated yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots had expressed their desire for a comprehensive settlement enabling them to join the EU next May alongside the Greek Cypriots. “We hope a new administration will be in place as soon as possible that will carry out the will of the majority of Turkish Cypriots,” said Boucher. “This vote advances the cause of peace on Cyprus. It is a vote for hope over fear.” The State Department also yesterday dispatched special coordinator Thomas Weston to the region. Weston is due to visit Athens, Lefkosa_Nicosia and Ankara, hoping to use momentum from the vote to promote support for the United Nations plan. /Cumhuriyet/[08] ANNAN: “THE UN SETTLEMENT PLAN FOR CYPRUS IS STILL ON THE TABLE”United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday signalled that a months-old controversial UN settlement plan for Cyprus was still on the table. “[Annan] takes this opportunity to restate his position, which is that his plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem remains on the table but that he does not propose to take a new initiative without solid reason to believe that the political will necessary for a successful outcome exists,” UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said in a statement yesterday. The statement noted that it appeared that it might take some time for a new political configuration to be established. “Annan hopes that the Turkish Cypriot side -- and indeed all parties -- will soon be in a position to make the necessary commitment so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the European Union next May,” the statement added. /Cumhuriyet/[09] NEW WB REPORT LAYS OUT PROMISE, RISK IN TURKEYTurkey has the potential to become a member of the European Union, said World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Region Shigeo Katsu yesterday, speaking upon the release of a new World Bank report on Turkey. According to the report, the nation still faces risks of public debt, reconfiguration of companies, a tight labor market and foreign capital. “If Ankara continues to carry out its reforms and holds its 5% growth rate, then the shadow of the 2001 economic crisis will be lifted entirely,” the report added. Katsu is currently in the midst of a four-day visit to Turkey. /Aksam/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS[11] ANKARA PLEASED WITH POLL RESULTS BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). A summary of his column is as follows:“I asked a very influential Ankara policymaker how the government had received the results of Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). ‘We’re pleased,’ he told me. ‘The results are optimal. Because if the ruling party had won hands-down, it might have seemed a clear victory for the uncompromising status quo policy. But if the opposition had won, it might have seemed that those favoring acceptance of Kofi Annan’s plan just for European Union membership had won.’ The votes are so divided that it’s impossible for any one side to make a decision by itself. Any side trying to make a decision single-handedly would face a backlash from the other side, thus threatening a serious polarization and instability within the TRNC. These words I heard in Ankara are very important as well: ‘Of course TRNC President Rauf Denktas got this message. No side will treat Turkey stubbornly.’ Back in 1985, Denktas received 71% of votes in the first round of presidential elections. In the next elections the votes were divided due to Dervis Eroglu, but Denktas emerged successful in the second round as well. Up to now the opposition vote has never exceeded 30%. So what happened for the opposition to win 51% of the votes in the weekend’s elections? More importantly, what would happen if the process which cut Denktas’ votes from 70% to 49% were to continue? Ankara will tell Denktas, ‘The results of the elections are clear. Bargains should be made over Annan’s plan to open the way for EU membership.’ Now Denktas should try to build a consensus among the TRNC’s various parties and tell both his nation and Ankara that he will open the way for EU membership towards this end. Now it’s time to convince the world that we want a solution by negotiating over Annan’s plan and making use of all available political opportunities. Denktas shouldn’t become a factional leader in his country, but should instead help the TRNC and Ankara pave the way for EU membership.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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