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Turkish Press Review, 04-01-15Turkish 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 morning15.01.2004FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “THOSE TALKING ABOUT DIVIDING IRAQ ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE”Stressing that Iraqi Kurds wanted to take control of petroleum-rich regions in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned yesterday, “The two Iraqi Kurdish groups are playing with fire. Turkey won’t let them divide Iraq.” Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Iraqi Governing Council President Abdul Aziz al-Hakim in Ankara, Erdogan said that there should be neither an ethnic nor a religious division of Iraq. “Believing that that after June [when the US is due to hand over power to Iraqi authorities] their influence will wane, Kurds are trying to take control of oil regions in northern Iraq,” said Erdogan. “The Iraqis should determine their future, but if the nation breaks up, then its neighbors may intercede in the situation. Iran and Syria share this view.” He added that any division of Iraq might also threaten Turkey’s stability. For his part, al- Hakim said that he was in full agreement with Ankara. “We also favor Iraq’s integrity and all groups having an equal say,” said the Iraqi leader, adding that he expected Ankara’s support during the formation of a new national order and constitution. /Turkiye/[02] GENERAL STAFF BRIEFS ERDOGAN ON CYPRUS ISSUEPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received yesterday a national security briefing from officials of the General Staff. During a four-hour gathering, Ankara’s new plan for Cyprus, plus Iraq and domestic security issues were discussed. In addition to Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and other top military commanders attended the meeting. /Turkiye/[03] ERDOGAN, PRODI DUE TO DISCUSS ANKARA’S IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REFORMSEuropean Commission President Romano Prodi, who is expected to arrive in Ankara today, yesterday praised Turkey’s recently passed EU accession reforms. Speaking at a press conference in Strasbourg, Prodi said that Turkey had passed important reforms for its EU bid, adding however that these should also be implemented. During his visit, Prodi is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss implementation of the EU reforms. Later, he is set to address the Parliament and be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prodi is the first EU Commission president to visit Turkey in 40 years. /Cumhuriyet/[04] VERHEUGEN: “NO ONE CAN BLOCK TURKEY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP”European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who is set to begin a two-day visit to Ankara today, said yesterday that no one could block Turkey’s progress towards EU membership. Speaking to German daily Stuttgarter before his visit, Verheugen said that Ankara should first fulfill the Union’s political and economic criteria in order to join the EU, adding however that it could take Turkey a decade to gain membership. “The European Parliament and the 27 [present and incoming] member states will have the final say on Turkey’s bid,” added Verheugen. /Milliyet/[05] US ENVOY WESTON: “A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS WOULD HELP ANKARA’S EU BID”US Special Cyprus Envoy Thomas Weston predicted yesterday that a Cyprus resolution was possible by this May, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the European Union, adding that the United States and the EU were both working towards that end. Weston stated that a resolution would ease Turkey’s own EU membership bid. Touching on the United Nations Cyprus plan, Weston said that both sides on the island were seeking to make changes to it. “These changes should be in accordance with EU norms,” said Weston. He added that Turkey would deserve to begin accession talks with the EU if it fulfills the Copenhagen criteria and plays a constructive role for a resolution on the island. In related news, a United Nations representative yesterday urged both sides on Cyprus to accept the main principles of its plan and not seek fundamental changes to it in negotiations. /Aksam/[06] IRISH PREMIER PRAISES TURKEY’S APPROACH ON CYPRUSIrish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said yesterday that he appreciated the Turkish government’s approach to the Cyprus issue. Ireland currently holds the EU’s term presidency. Ahern added that last week Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged personally that he would do his best to help reach a resolution on the island, a stance Ahern said he welcomed. /Milliyet/[07] BARZANI: “KURDS AND THE IRAQI COUNCIL BOTH FAVOR A FEDERATION”Massoud Barzani, leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and a member of Iraq’s Governing Council, said yesterday that he and other Kurdish groups agreed with his fellow council members in favoring the formation of an Iraqi federation. In a gathering with some 30 Kurdish, Turkmen and Asuri representatives in Salahaddin, Iraq, Barzani claimed that there were two main populations in Iraq, the Arabs and the Kurds. “Other minorities’ rights will also be protected within the framework of federalism,” pledged Barzani. “We agreed with Iraq’s Governing Council on forming of a federation. We, the Kurdish people will decide ourselves on our relationship with the central authority.” Adding that some Turkmen had understood the situation and were struggling for their own rights, the Kurdish leader said, “But some others oppose the rights of Kurds, Turkmen, Asuri and Armenians living in Kurdistan. They should reconsider their stances.” /Aksam/[08] BUSH REPORTEDLY HAS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ERDOGANWhen Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Washington next week, President George W. Bush’s most important message for him will be that the US wants Turkey to play an important role in its region, unnamed US officials told Hurriyet daily yesterday. Asked what “important role” Bush had in mind, the officials said that this meant integration to the European Union. “Turkey has many advantages,” added one official. “We would like to see Turkey using these advantages in its EU bid to help it gain membership. We also want Turkey to boost its importance within NATO.” The US officials also stressed the importance of not wasting any time in finding a solution for Cyprus. /Hurriyet/[09] TUSIAD: “THE SIDES IN CYPRUS ARE MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION”The sides in Cyprus have a positive approach but everyone should work for a solution, said Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan during his farewell tour yesterday. “Negotiations should be based on the Annan plan,” said Ozilhan, who is soon due to retire. Speaking on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Ozilhan stated, “The opposition should be active in constitutional amendments for the bid as well as its relations with social democratic parties abroad. We don’t have much time, and important steps should be made for the implementation of new laws.” Ozilhan also noted that he had spoken to ambassadors from EU countries in Ankara on what Turkey can contribute to the Union after it gets a date for accession talks. /Hurriyet/ [10] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[11] SHOULD WE BE MORE HOPEFUL ON CYPRUS? BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on the Cyprus issue and efforts to solve it. A summary of his column is as follows:“Ankara has taken a clear stance on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan and all the parties, mostly Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, have reworked their own positions. In other words, some of themhave changed their minds. One can profit by stemming losses wherever possible, but no-one can escape the cost of lost time. Greek Cyprus will become a European Union member in three-and-a-half months. This situation obligates both Turkey and the TRNC to make actual concessions. Back in December 2002 the Turkish side couldn’t sit at the negotiating table due to Denktas’s stubbornness, and this helped the Greek Cypriot administration to gain EU membership. An insensitive Denktas didn’t resign last Sunday. The Turkish government initially approached the Cyprus issue with a nationalist reflex due to its fear of its fanatic base, hoping that the opposition would win December’s elections, but afterwards, it changed its mind due to US pressure. Now Denktas and hawks will try a final ploy. They will pretend to negotiate over Annan’s plan until May. Now the common goal of both Turkish and Greek Cypriot supporters of the status quo is the Greek Cypriots’ entrance into the EU without making any concessions plus Turkey’s failure to get a date for negotiations from the EU this December. Thus Turkey would retreat into itself and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) would be divided. As long as Denktas sits at the negotiating table, I will harbor these doubts and issue warnings.” [12] QUESTIONS FOR PRODI BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on European Union Commission President Romano Prodi’s visit to Turkey set to begin today. A summary of his column is as follows:“Prodi’s visit is of great importance to Ankara for many reasons. First, he will be the first EU Commission president to visit Turkey since 1963. The timing of his visit is also significant since Ankara is currently awaiting a positive signal from Brussels ahead of a crucial commission decision on its membership bid. Well, this really is perfect timing. The government, the Parliament, the media and the public are all expectantly waiting for Prodi’s positive messages. He is very likely to give messages which will win our hearts. However, nobody should expect him to say anything about the exact date that our country will be accepted into the Union. Not even Prodi is authorized to make such promises. It will be the EU leaders who will decide on Turkey’s status. I believe that while in Ankara and Istanbul Prodi will make statements similar to ones he recently made in Brussels, which can be summed up like so: 1. Prodi said he applauded recent ‘huge progress’ by Turkey to enact democratization reforms but added, ‘We'll also look at the question of the implementation of legislation on the ground.’ 2. Legally speaking, the Cyprus issue isn’t one of the EU criteria for Turkey’s membership. However, if Turkey demonstrates its resolve to help resolve this issue, this would positively affect Brussels’ stance towards it. 3. Although the EU is generally positive about Turkey’s membership, some circles in the European public don’t want to admit Turkey due to its large population. It’s a fact that while certain EU circles oppose Turkey’s membership, certain domestic circles don’t want our country to join its ranks either. The best thing for Prodi to do is try to persuade these people using convincing statements. Certain questions spring to mind: Will the EU wait for Ankara to fulfill all the Copenhagen criteria before giving us an exact date? What will happen to Turkey if the Cyprus issue isn’t resolved by May? Will Brussels have new demands of us on certain sensitive matters such as the Kurdish and Armenian issues? Is the EU pursuing a policy which is inclusive of Turkey, or exclusive? I believe Prodi should answer these questions instead of mouthing pretty phrases to win over the hearts of the Turkish people.” 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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