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Turkish Press Review, 04-02-20
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
20.02.2004
NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT
BUFFER ZONE
GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD
REJECT THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU
ALONE”
DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF
TWO EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED”
TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS
TALKS
US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS
TALKS
VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S
STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE”
TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL
REACH AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME”
NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S
ROLE
AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL
ELECTIONS NEARLY SET
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
CONTENTS
[01] NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT
BUFFER ZONE
[02] GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD REJECT
THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU ALONE”
[03] DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF TWO
EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED”
[04] TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS TALKS
[05] US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS
TALKS
[06] VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S
STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE”
[07] TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL REACH
AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME”
[08] NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S ROLE
[09] AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL
ELECTIONS NEARLY SET
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT
BUFFER ZONE
Negotiations began yesterday on Cyprus in the
island’s buffer zone. Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek
Cyprus leader Tassos Papadopoulos sat at the
negotiating table accompanied by their respective
delegations, along with Special UN Envoy Alvaro de
Soto. The Turkish Cypriot administration
reportedly sought certain changes to the UN plan,
including a provision for two equal states on the
island, Turkey’s continued status as a guarantor
state, and the establishment of a commission to
compensate the TRNC for its losses due to the
economic embargo. Speaking afterwards, de Soto
said that the two leaders would meet daily during
the negotiating process. “We’re closer than ever
to an agreement now,” he said. "It was a very
constructive session with ample goodwill and a
businesslike spirit from the two sides." /All
papers/
[02] GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD REJECT
THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU ALONE”
If the Greek Cypriots feel comfortable joining
the European Union single-handedly on May 1, then
they could decide to reject the United Nations
Cyprus plan, cautioned Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul yesterday. “If this happens, then Turkey will
do its best to promote the international
recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus [TRNC],” said Gul. Appearing on television,
Gul remarked that if the Greek side refuses to
hold a referendum on a Cyprus plan, then the
economic embargo on the TRNC should be lifted.
Speaking on prospects for a resolution, Gul
stressed that reaching one would be a positive
development for the economies of both the island
and Turkey itself. The foreign minister also said
that with a resolution, no obstacle or excuse for
denying Turkey’s EU membership would remain. Gul
also met yesterday with EU Term President
Ireland’s Foreign Minister Brian Cowen. Gul told
Cowen that Turkey expected the EU to make positive
contributions to the ongoing process on Cyprus. In
addition, Gul also met with Joost Lajendik, co-chairman
of the Turkey-European Parliament Joint
Parliamentary Commission. After their meeting,
Lajendik said that without a satisfactory
resolution of the Leyla Zana case, Turkey’s
reforms would lack sufficient credibility. /Turkiye/
[03] DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF TWO
EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED”
Speaking after the beginning of new talks with
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday,
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas said that both sides on the
island had expressed the desire to make certain
changes to the UN plan from the outset of
negotiations. “We said that the existence of two
equal states on the island should be accepted,” he
added. “I also stated that a commission should be
established to compensate Turkish Cypriots for our
losses due to the economic embargo.” /Turkiye/
[04] TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS TALKS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday
received a delegation from the Turkish
Industrialist’s and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD)
led by Chairman Omer Sabanci. After their meeting,
Sabanci told reporters that they had discussed the
Cyprus issue, Turkey’s European Union bid and
recent economic news. “TUSIAD is pleased with the
beginning of new Cyprus talks,” said Sabanci. “The
accession of a united Cyprus to the European Union
on May 1 will lend momentum to Turkish-EU
relations. We are also satisfied with the
government’s constructive stance on the matter.” /Turkiye/
[05] US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS
TALKS
Washington supports the process of new Cyprus
talks at the highest level, US State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday. Echoing
UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro De Soto's description of
the talks as "a good, constructive start," Boucher
stated, "We applaud the parties for the political
will they have demonstrated in returning to the
talks and we encourage them to continue their work
in a positive vein." He added that though the US
was not participating directly in negotiations, It
is “a strong supporter in terms of working with
the UN and working with the parties throughout the
process.” /Turkiye/
[06] VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S
STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE”
Speaking after meeting with Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas
yesterday, European Union Commissioner for
Enlargement Guenter Verheugen called Denktas’s
stance during new negotiations over the island
“very interesting and constructive.” “I encouraged
Denktas to continue this constructive stance,”
said Verheugen. “I said that the EU will also
support peace efforts for a resolution. We will do
everything that is needed to make this a success.”
/Cumhuriyet/
[07] TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL REACH
AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with
US Ambassador to Greek Cyprus Michael Klosson.
Speaking afterwards, Klosson said that Washington
welcomed the beginning of new negotiations over
the island. For his part, Talat said that there
was still much to do, but added, “It seems that we
will reach an agreement this time.” /Aksam/
[08] NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S ROLE
Turkey is a longtime key member of the NATO
alliance, said NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer yesterday during his first official visit
to Ankara. On his inaugural tour of NATO member
countries as the alliance’s new head, Scheffer
yesterday met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Vecdi
Gonul. “For NATO to play a role in Iraq, we need
to have a legitimate new government there,”
Scheffer told a press conference after meeting
with Gul. In his talks with Erdogan, Scheffer
stated that efforts against weapons of mass
destruction and terrorism were among the
alliance’s top goals, adding that Turkey’s
experiences in the fight against terrorism were
invaluable in this. /Milliyet/
[09] AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL
ELECTIONS NEARLY SET
As of yesterday, most of the candidates from
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for
the March local elections have been set. The AKP
has named nearly 300 of its candidates for
municipal posts, with the notable exceptions of
Ankara and Istanbul. /Hurriyet/
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[11] NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on efforts to
solve the Cyprus issue as well as Turkey’s
European Union membership bid. A summary of his
column is as follows:
“Negotiations between the United Nations and
Northern and Southern Cyprus have begun in Lefkosa.
If they are unable to reach an agreement, Turkey
and Greece will join them. If they still can’t
agree, then the contingency written into UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan will apply: a
double referendum will be held on the same day on
both sides of the island, and perhaps a Cyprus
Republic will be established in which both Greek
and Turkish will be official languages. Thus, this
vexing, tiresome problem will be solved, and
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas will become one of the
rotating presidents of a united Cyprus.
This is the optimistic scenario. This might
happen during the last week in April. A year ago
we missed an opportunity for better conditions.
Back then the status quo threatened the nation and
tried to scare it. It tried to use this issue in
order to destroy the ruling power. We could start
membership negotiations with the European Union
early next year. Supporters of the status quo
favor EU membership and will praise it constantly.
They will enjoy modern civilization. We aren’t
worried that the Greek Cypriots might start a
quarrel; that would only lead to new negotiations.
Turkish culture will shine in the midst of EU
civilization.”
ARCHIVE
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