Turkish Press Review, 06-10-17

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From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

17.10.2006

CONTENTS

[01] PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN WAKE OF FRANCE’S PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN BILL

[01] PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN WAKE OF FRANCE’S PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN BILL

During Turkey-European Union Troika talks in Luxembourg yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and EU Term President Finland’s Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and next Term President Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as well as EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana discussed the progress report on Turkey to be released on Nov. 8. At a press conference afterwards, EU leaders called on Turkey to amend Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Rehn told reporters that the EU appreciated the Turkish Parliament’s efforts to enact the bills in the ninth reform package. On the Cyprus issue, the EU officials urged Ankara to apply the Ankara Protocol to all EU member countries and make efforts to take steps on the Cyprus issue in line with Finland’s proposals on the issue. For his part, Gul said that a settlement could not be obtained by unilateral efforts and that Ankara expected the Greek sides’ efforts on the matter too. /Sabah/[03] ARINC: “WITH THE ARMENIAN BILL, FRANCE ROUSED TURKISH OPPOSITION AND FAILED THE SINCERITY TEST”

Speaking yesterday at a press conference marking the beginning of Parliament's new legislative year, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the whole nation had reacted against the bill criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide passed by the French Parliament last week, adding that France should know that the bill will hurt it in the future. Asked whether he believed that French President Jacques Chirac, who recently telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to apologize over the bill, was being sincere, Arinc stated that if a child were asked this question, he would give the same answer. “The whole Turkish nation gave the same answer to France,” said Arinc. “France has failed the sincerity test.” Later, Arinc flew to Saudi Arabia for an official visit. /Milliyet-Turkiye/

[04] FINNISH FM TUOMIOJA: “FRANCE’S DECISION WAS FOOLISH”

State Minister for the Economy and chief European Union negotiator Ali Babacan said yesterday that the so-called Armenian genocide claims were meant to provoke Turkey, adding that the Turkish nation could lose if it doesn’t keep its calm. “We can’t get anywhere if we're overly sensitive,” said Babacan. Commenting on Turkey’s EU bid, Babacan stated that the screening of chapters was completed on Oct. 13, adding that Turkey had completed its screening process in a year compared to other EU candidates' 18 months. Cautioning that 2007 would be difficult for Turkey’s EU bid, Babacan added that Ankara would focus on the official negotiations. Babacan further denied claims that the government had lost its EU enthusiasm. /Turkiye/ [06] CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT TO VISIT GREECE

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit will visit Greece on Nov. 1-4. A statement released by the General Staff said that Gen. Buyukanit will officially visit Greece upon the invitation of his Greek counterpart Gen. Panayiotis Hinofotis and that the two will exchange views on issues related to common interests. /Cumhuriyet/[07] TURKISH TROOPS TO BE STATIONED IN VILLAGE OF ES SADIYE IN LEBANON

Turkish troops being sent to Lebanon as part of the peacekeeping mission there will be stationed in the village of Es Sadiye, southeast of the city of Sur, it was announced on Monday. The village is two-and-half kilometers from the sea, and the 260 Turkish soldiers set to arrive in Lebanon on Friday will be stationed on 35 acres of land in the village. The site for the troops' deployment was determined after a long survey held in the area by a Turkish team. According to sources, the strategic importance of the village played a crucial role in determining where the Turkish forces would go. /The New Anatolian/[08] YOK'S TEZIC RETURNS LEGION D’HONNEUR TO FRANCE

Protesting the French Parliament's passage last week of a bill criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan Tezic, head of the Board of Higher Education (YOK), has sent back the order of merit medal given to him by French President Jacques Chirac. In a statement, Tezic said that he had returned the Legion d’Honneur to Chirac along with a letter which protested the approval of the controversial bill. Chirac awarded Tezicin 2004 with the Legion d’Honneur, the highest civilian honor conferred to non-Francophone people. /Milliyet/ [09] POPE BENEDICT XVI TO VISIT TURKEY LATE NEXT MONTH

Pope Benedict XVI will pay an official visit to Turkey on Oct. 28-Dec. 1, as already scheduled, the Vatican confirmed yesterday. Following a meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Ankara, the pope will proceed to Izmir and Efes and then Istanbul. He is expected to meet with Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu. Benedict XVI will be the third pope to visit the Republic of Turkey. /Milliyet/[10] IRAQI PM CANCELS VISIT DUE TO BAD WEATHER

Due to poor weather, Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki has canceled his two-day visit to Turkey scheduled to begin yesterday. Foreign Ministry officials said his plane could not take off due to a sandstorm. Al-Maliki telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed his apologies for the situation. Officials from both sides reportedly are working to settle a new date for the visit. /Turkiye/[11] TUZMEN CALLS ON JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TURKEY

Turkey expects more investment from Japanese businessmen, said State Minister Kursad Tuzmen in Japan yesterday, visiting the country as part of a three-day Turkish Fashion Fair. Speaking to reporters, Tuzmen said that Japanese businessmen found Turkey offers an attractive investment environment and are closely following developments in the country. He added that the Turkish-Japanese Business Council’s meeting to be held in Istanbul on Nov. 15-16 would be a good opportunity to take steps to boost bilateral economic ties. /Turkiye/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[00] THE SITUATION IN EUROPE ISN’T SO BADBY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)

Columnist Taha Akyol comments on the situation in Europe on Turkey’s EU bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Turkey isn’t opening its harbors to the Greek Cypriots, and the European Union isn’t lifting the embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It’s a deadlock, isn’t it? It seemed this way, but EU Term President Finland suggested a solution. So we saw that there may be searches for interim solutions and meanwhile Turkey’s membership talks with the EU can continue. This is a very important development. Instead of asking us to open our harbors this year, a new terminology is being developed. According to this, Luxembourg wants us to do it in the following months or years. This was said by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. So Turkey will continue its membership talks, while the issues of harbors and isolation are being discussed. Our image of a country engaged in EU membership talks attracted $20 billion in capital to Turkey. This image will continue uninterruptedly. Meanwhile, strong EU countries are against the idea of suspending the process of Turkey’s membership talks, and the Greek Cypriot administration isn’t strong enough to suspend it. However, for example, the Greek Cypriot administration can hinder the opening of certain chapters on transportation. Then Turkey would continue its membership talks, in other words, the train would go on its way. In Luxembourg, when I talked with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s advisors during the breakfast break, I heard that this is what they are thinking.

Another problematic issue for Turkey is Article 301. When we were talking on the plane, Gul said, ‘Turkey is a free, democratic country. Everybody can talk and write freely. All the charges filed under Article 301 ended in acquittal. Of course we know our problems but we’ll address them. Turkey is developing in the areas of the economy and democracy. France is the engine of the EU. You saw what’s going on even there!’ Stating that the EU criticized France for removing freedom of thought on the Armenian issue, Gul said that the Turkish public should know this and shouldn’t think that only Turkey is always criticized. Diplomats are looking for a solution about Article 301. This issue will be discussed a great deal.

During the press conference later, nobody had a sour face and the atmosphere wasn’t tense. Rehn started by saying that there are good developments. It seems that what Gul said about Article 301 had a positive effect. Finland’s intercession to solve the Cyprus deadlock on harbors and isolation softened the atmosphere. Nobody is especially stressing the Cyprus issue. So what will happen if the Finnish plan doesn’t work? Finnish Foreign Minister Erki Tuomioja and Rehn gave the same answers to this question. They said that now this was on the table and that they don’t want to think of another possibility. These are all positive developments. We can say that the Nov. 8 EU progress report won’t be as harsh as expected. The situation in Europe isn’t bad at all.”

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