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Turkish Press Review, 04-02-17Turkish 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 morning17.02.2004SEZER TO ATTEND D-8 SUMMIT IN IRAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS CYPRUS TODAY ERDOGAN REJECTS GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER’S EU “PARTNERSHIP” PROPOSAL CICEK: “A DIFFICULT PERIOD IS BEGINNING ON CYPRUS” NEGOTIATIONS DUE TO START IN CYPRIOT BORDER ZONE ON THURSDAY DENKTAS: “WE WILL DO WHAT A CYPRUS RESOLUTION REQUIRES” DE SOTO: “TURKEY HAS TAKEN COURAGEOUS STEPS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE” EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S BOLKESTEIN: “WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE PROCESS ON CYPRUS” GERMAN COMMISSIONER ROTH: “DON’T CALL TURKEY A SECOND-CLASS COUNTRY” GEORGIAN COMMANDER VISITS ANKARA GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: “WE’RE CLOSE TO A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS” ERDOGAN CONGRATULATES TURKISH DIRECTOR AKIN ON TOP BERLIN FILM AWARD FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... THE EUROPE TO COME BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE) WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE NOW? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO ATTEND D-8 SUMMIT IN IRANPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to travel to Iran today in order to attend the summit of eight developing Muslim countries (D-8) in Tehran. Sezer is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the attending countries, including the host President Muhammad Khatami. During his meetings, the president is to focus on economic issues as well as diplomatic and political ones, including Iraq’s reconstruction. /Sabah/[02] PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS CYPRUS TODAYIn the runup to new Cyprus talks set to begin Thursday on the island, the Turkish Parliament is scheduled to discuss recent developments on the issue during a special session today. In line with a motion on the matter submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s office by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to brief deputies about recent events on the island. Furthermore, deputies from the ruling and opposition parties will express their groups’ views on the matter. /Turkiye/[03] ERDOGAN REJECTS GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER’S EU “PARTNERSHIP” PROPOSALAngela Merkel, the head of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), yesterday arrived in Ankara together with a seven-member delegation to discuss Turkey's European Union bid. After visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum (Anitkabir), Merkel first met with Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and was then received by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Since Germany’s Christian Democrats have been vocally opposed to Turkey’s EU bid, she reaffirmed her party’s stance in Ankara. During her meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel reiterated that the CDU is in favor of a “special privileged” EU-Turkey partnership. Citing security and geopolitical factors, she underlined that the CDU wanted a special partnership, a “third way” with Turkey. But Erdogan firmly dismissed Merkel’s proposal, also cautioning German conservatives not to make Turkey's EU membership bid a campaign issue during this year's European parliamentary elections. “Turkey is a country which has fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria, which is why privileged partnership or any other similar formula is out of question,” said the premier. /Sabah/[04] CICEK: “A DIFFICULT PERIOD IS BEGINNING ON CYPRUS”Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Ankara was pleased with this week’s resumption of Cyprus talks aimed at resolving the issue. Following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cicek told reporters that Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had briefed their fellow ministers on recent developments in foreign affairs. Stressing that both Turkey and Turkish Cyprus had displayed a very affirmative stance during preliminary talks last week in New York, Cicek underlined that the process set to begin on Thursday would be a very difficult period requiring hard work. In addition, Cicek thanked Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and other members of the Turkish delegation for their efforts during the negotiations. /Turkiye/[05] NEGOTIATIONS DUE TO START IN CYPRIOT BORDER ZONE ON THURSDAYNegotiations on the future of Cyprus are due to restart in the Cypriot border zone on Thursday. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos are expected to meet three times a week during the negotiations, which will be conducted in English. In addition, technical committees are set to meet daily to make preparations on three separate issues, namely the law, international agreements and economic issues. Special UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen are also due to travel to the island today. /Aksam/[06] DENKTAS: “WE WILL DO WHAT A CYPRUS RESOLUTION REQUIRES”Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who returned to his country from Istanbul yesterday, said that his administration would do what a Cyprus resolution requires, but added that it was too early for congratulations over the new talks since no resolution has been reached as yet. “We will do our best for a resolution, but nobody can guarantee this,” said Denktas, who is to represent the TRNC at the talks. “The responsibility will belong both to Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. Ankara’s Parliament will make the final decision.” He stated that there were certain issues that were vital for the Turkish Cypriots, including two equal states and Turkey remaining a guarantor state. Denktas added that the Greek Cypriots also wanted changes made to the United Nations Cyprus plan, which would become clear during the negotiations set to begin on Thursday. In related news, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that changes could be made to the plan in order to reach an agreement which protects the rights of both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/[07] DE SOTO: “TURKEY HAS TAKEN COURAGEOUS STEPS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE”Appearing on television yesterday, Special UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto said that the island’s three guarantor countries should approve a possible agreement by April 21, when Turkish and Greek Cypriots are expected to hold separate referendums on such a pact. “We should get the approval of the guarantor states before referendums,” he said. “We expect Turkey, Greece and Britain to support the process. We don’t want to meddle in domestic affairs.” He further praised Turkey’s recent stance concerning Cyprus, lauding its “courageous steps” on the issue. /Cumhuriyet/[08] EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S BOLKESTEIN: “WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE PROCESS ON CYPRUS”Frits Bolkestein, a member of the European Commission, yesterday held separate meetings with Greek Cyprus’ foreign minister and finance minister. Speaking afterwards, Bolkestein said that the commission would contribute to the island’s peace process. For his part, the foreign minister said that no one could possibly ignore the EU’s views on the issue. Later, Bolkestein travelled to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to meet with Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat. /Aksam/[09] GERMAN COMMISSIONER ROTH: “DON’T CALL TURKEY A SECOND-CLASS COUNTRY”Claudia Roth, the German government’s human rights commissioner, yesterday criticized German Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel’s proposal to give Turkey a “privileged partnership” with the European Union, stating that such proposals effectively classify Turkey as a second-class country. “Not only Turkey, but also the EU itself has undertaken certain responsibilities,” said Roth in a written statement. “The [EU] membership negotiations must begin if Turkey manages to fulfill all the necessary criteria.” She also underlined that a EU candidate need not be a Christian country, but must respect the Union’s basic values and principles. At its summit this December, the EU is set to decide whether or not to begin membership negotiations with Ankara. /Hurriyet/[10] GEORGIAN COMMANDER VISITS ANKARAGeorgian Homeland Forces Commander Major Gen. Gogi Tatuhasvili yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of Gen. Sener Eruygur, Tuýrkey’s head of Gendarmerie Forces. During their meeting, Tatuhasvili conveyed best wishes from Georgia’s new president, Mihail Saakasvili, and asked for support to apply the structure of the Turkish Gendarmerie in his country. Pointing to ongoing good military relations between Ankara and Tbilisi, Eruygur replied that Turkey’s contributions to the its northern neighbor would continue in order to ensure peace and stability there. /Turkiye/[11] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: “WE’RE CLOSE TO A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS”Tassos Yannitsis, Greece’s new foreign minister, said yesterday that it was highly probable that the Cyprus issue would be resolved during talks set to begin this week. Speaking to reporters after taking over the post from ruling socialist PASOK party leader George Papandreou, Yannitsis said, “Thirty years after the [Cyprus Peace Operation], Cyprus will be integrated into the European Union in 2004, and its problem of division will be largely resolved.” He remarked that if the issue could be solved in the coming weeks, Greece’s own position in the EU would also be strengthened. /Turkiye/[12] ERDOGAN CONGRATULATES TURKISH DIRECTOR AKIN ON TOP BERLIN FILM AWARDPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday congratulated German-born Turkish movie director Fatih Akin for receiving top honors at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, best picture (the Golden Bear) for his highly acclaimed Gegen die Wand (Head-On). Erdogan conveyed his congratulations to Akin via Turkey’s Embassy to Berlin for the director’s portrayal of the difficulties a second-generation Turkish family faces in the northern German city of Hamburg. Head-On, the first German film to win the top prize since 1986, beat out competition from 23 contenders. /Hurriyet/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[14] THE EUROPE TO COME BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on Turkey’s place in Europe. A summary of his column is as follows:“In the years to come, counting the members of the European Union will be pointless. It will be easier to list the handful of European countries unable to get into the EU. Actually the Union, which is about to set foot on the Asian continent via Cyprus, will extend comfortably to Asia with Turkey. When Serbia-Montenegrin President Svetozar Marovic invited Turkey to enter the EU in 2010 together with his country, I was mortified. Way back in 1959, Turkey declared that it would participate in the EU’s core with six members, and it signed an agreement two years later, but now it’s behind Serbia! Serbia, the perpetrator of an incredible genocide, can invite Turkey to cooperate without blushing. Countries outside the EU will be treated this way. Bulgarian citizens, under our sovereignty as late as 1908, can now cross European borders without a visa. However, Turks must suffer in waiting in visa queues. We waste our power by staying outside Europe and against the United States. However, it would be easier to be rescued from such a situation by joining Europe. Every Turkish intellectual must find truth. Is it so hard to see where our love for the status quo has led us?” [15] WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE NOW? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“For 40 years, we’ve seen many negotiation processes on Cyprus. Many plans were brought to the negotiating table, and sometimes the parties even came close to a solution. But ultimately these efforts failed to bear fruit, and the problem persisted till today. Last week’s Cyprus summit in New York raised hopes that the issue will be solved this time. In this optimistic atmosphere, the two parties will start negotiations on Thursday. Are these negotiations different from previous ones? Yes, there is a difference, but we must say that this atmosphere is no guarantee that the new process will end in success. Yet the significant differences this time justify this optimism. And just what are these? UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s latest initiative – with his plan for the island – formed a mechanism that effectively binds the parties. This time the involved parties are not only the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides but also Ankara and Athens. All of them signed onto Annan’s method and timetable. Annan will fill in the blanks wherever the parties fail to reach agreement, and the final text will be presented to the Parliaments of Turkey and Greece as well as to the public of the two populations of the island. The parties ushered in a solution process in New York. Turning back would be difficult… The European Union is also involved this time. The Union is pressing the Greek side for a solution by May 1 [when Greek Cyprus is due to join the EU]. This was obvious at the New York summit. The EU is aware of the drawbacks of accepting a divided Cyprus for EU membership. Another power that is involved is the United States. Washington also wants the new process to end in success. American diplomacy will play a leading role in the process in Nicosia, as it did in New York. Turkey’s diplomatic moves have also had a huge effect on starting the new process. Overcoming many internal obstacles, the Erdogan administration took courageous and resolute steps to put an end to the unresolved situation. If Ankara continues acting like this, then it could affect the negotiations in Nicosia positively. The recent elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) showed there is an environment favoring a solution. TRNC President Rauf Denktas showed himself a different leader than in the past. His manner was affected by the leading role of the Turkish government as well as by the TRNC’s new political realities. The elements that created the main differences in the Cyprus problem will be discussed in the new process, which is set to start in Nicosia. Among them are also issues that Denktas called ‘vital.’ It won’t be easy to reach a compromise on these issues. If the negotiations were done under other conditions, then we could say that it’s an old story whose ending we already know. But this time there are different factors, the ones listed above. And this has boosted the hopes that the process will end in a different way, that is, a solution.” 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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