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Turkish Press Review, 04-03-19Turkish 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 morning19.03.2004CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN, KARAMANLIS TO ATTEND SWISS SUMMIT ON CYPRUSPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart have both accepted UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s invitation to attend next week’s four-way Cyprus summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, the premiers’ offices announced yesterday. Both are to arrive on Sunday. Meanwhile, commenting on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s recent decision not to attend the meeting, Erdogan told reporters that contacts with Denktas were continuing. “We’re trying to solve the issue together,” said Erdogan. In related news, following Denktas’s announcement, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos has reportedly decided to review his own decision to attend. /All Papers/[02] GUL ATTENDS TURKISH-GERMAN COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETINGForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday attended the 10th term meetings of the Turkish-German Cooperation Council as hosted Ýn Ankara by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Addressing the meeting’s opening session, German Foreign Undersecretary Klaus Scharioth said that Turkey had made important strides on its path towards the EU membership, adding that if Ankara maintains its progress he believed this fall the EU would set a date for the beginning of its membership talks. Also speaking at the gathering, Wolfgang Koberski, the head of the German Economy and Labor Ministry’s European Department, noted that over the last decade the trade volume between Turkey and Germany had doubled, adding that German firms’ investment in Turkey were a vote of confidence. For his part, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul underlined the close ties between the two countries. /Turkiye/[03] GUL SAYS NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF DENKTAS’S DECISION NOT TO ATTEND SWISS TALKSCommenting yesterday on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s recent decision not to attend next week’s four-way summit on Cyprus, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that he had not been informed about the decision beforehand. Stressing that the matter would be discussed by officials, he added, “The most important thing is to preserve the TRNC and Turkey’s rights by considering their future, and to work hard together towards that end.” In related news, speaking to a symposium in Istanbul, Foreign Ministry official Baki Ilkin pointed to the limited time left to solve the Cyprus issue. He called on everybody to act calmly in this critical period, rather than exacerbating tensions. /Turkiye/[04] TRNC PREMIER TALAT: “DENKTAS’S DECISION[05] WAS NO SURPRISE”Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Denktas’s recent decision not to attend next week’s four-way Swiss summit came as no surprise, said TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday. Stressing that he hoped that Denktas would review his recent statement and make a positive decision on the matter, Talat added that difficulties felt due to the talks so far could get harder as the deadline for a settlement draws closer. /Turkiye/[06] NATION’S LEADERS COMMEMORATE 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGNA ceremony was held in Canakkale yesterday to mark the 89th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, a key victory by Turkish troops defending the Dardanelles during World War I. Present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and other top officials. Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan urged the entire nation to strive to make Turkey a strong, stable and productive country in the years to come. A ceremony was also held at the Naval Forces Command to mark the day, with the attendance of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Chief of Genaral Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok. /Aksam/[07] IN CAMPAIGNING, BAYKAL LEVELS CHARGES OF DECEPTION[08] AT AKP GOVERNMENTRuling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday campaigned for voter support in Gelibolu (Gallipoli) ahead of the March 28 local elections, while main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal did the same in Usak. Speaking to campaign rallies, Baykal charged that Erdogan had “deceived the nation” by saying that the government had lifted quotas on sugar beet and tobacco. In addition, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday sought voter support in Bartin. /Milliyet/[09] CITIGROUP CEO PRAISES ANKARA’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCEMichael Klein, the CEO of global banking and investment giant Citigroup, told journalists yesterday that his firm sees Turkey as “a priority market” for investment. But Klein also called on the government to take stronger measures to establish transparency in the economy, which he said would attract even more foreign investors. “Ankara is pursuing a successful stability program backed by international finance institutions, and has made significant reforms which would give fresh impetus to the economy’s integration with the global marked,” added Klein. He also touted the great potential of the Turkish economy. /All Papers/[10] ISO REPORT PREDICTS BANNER YEAR FOR TURKEY’S ECONOMYA new Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) report predicts a bullish year for the Turkish economy especially in agriculture, industry and public services sectors. However, the report, entitled “The Turkish Economy 2004,” also warned that despite positive trends such as the recent decline in once- chronic inflation, the government should not neglect certain persistent deficiencies. “All officials and citizens should act in line with their responsibilities to help the economy grow,” urged the report. /All Papers/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS …[12] FROM THE COLUMNS[13] I THINK HE’LL GO[14] BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s decision not to attend next week’s four-way summit in Switzerland. A summary of her column is as follows:“When I learned of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s decision not to attend the four-way summit set to be held next week in Switzerland, I remembered an interesting detail from February 12, that is the last day of the meetings in New York one which surprised both the Greek Cypriots and those who were with Denktas. When these people saw Denktas advancing angrily towards the room where the Greek Cypriot side was, they were surprised and baffled. Denktas had accepted UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan’s arbitration, but was suggesting that if Turkish and Greek Cypriots couldn’t reach an agreement, Ankara and Athens would intervene. So the meetings would continue in a four-way style and the points where agreement proved elusive would go to Annan. Firstly, the Greek Cypriot administration rejected this suggestion and sought Europe’s intervention. This was a stillborn suggestion. Neither the European Union, nor the UN welcomed it. That day the Turkish and Greek Cypriot delegations which came to the UN Building had been taken to separate rooms. Then, Denktas’s footsteps were heard in the corridor. He was advancing towards Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos’ room and at that moment, Papadopoulos was in the corridor. Denktas stopped in front of him and said, ‘You are waiting for me to leave the table. But I won’t.’ There’s no need to follow this issue closely to understand that the Cyprus negotiations don’t continue between the two sides. The actual talks are between Annan, who will make the final decision, and the UN staff, who will prepare the plan for him and document the changes. Besides, Denktas said openly in the meeting of support in Ankara, ‘As I’m at the negotiating table, of course I will do everything.’ Yesterday TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said, ‘We’re facing a very difficult process.’ Considering all this, I think Denktas will be convinced at the last minute to go to Switzerland. Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis also changed his mind upon Annan’s invitation at the last minute and decided to go. We will witness more negotiations up until March 29. It’s very natural and necessary.” [15] AGAIN, TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?[16] BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Cyprus talks. A summary of his column is as follows:“Will Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas change his mind not to attend next week’s four-way summit in Switzerland? Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis’s decision to attend the summit created the hope that the Cypriot Turkish leader would relent. Everyone was surprised when Denktas furiously stated on TV that he wouldn’t go to Switzerland. If this decision isn’t a tactic to make Turkey’s effectiveness felt, then it should be considered a failure. There are some contradictions in this decision: Denktas said that he won’t attend the negotiations in Switzerland, but also stated he wouldn’t withdraw from his position as negotiator. Why doesn’t Denktas withdraw if he’s lost hope for a solution? While Denktas reiterated that he is in harmony with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, he declared his decision on TV. Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara, and TRNC Prime Minister Talat learned of Denktas’s decision from the TV news! Stating that there’s been no positive sign from the other side on the Turkish sine qua nons, Denktas says that ‘nothing would happen’ if these are rejected. But the negotiations are still continuing. Is it right not to attend the second phase when it continues (or wouldn’t it bring a negative result)? By the way, the TRNC leader’s reasons shouldn’t be disregarded, as he has some justifiable points. The Greek side overconfidently rejects Turkish offers and is aware of its opportunities. The European Union is playing both sides, especially on ‘derogation.’ The UN, on the other hand, already believes that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will have the last word in line with his plan… If the UN and EU are really sincere about reaching an agreement by May 1, then they should change their attitudes and take the Turkish side’s worries and offers more seriously. Denktas’s move should also be seen as a warning. They should also understand that Ankara and Talat’s government will also lose their hope in this process if there aren’t developments that would also satisfy them… Now Denktas’s attitude and Ankara’s policy are different. Denktas stated earlier that the Turkish side shouldn’t be split. A one-sided decision wouldn’t help to prevent diverse attitudes…” 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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