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Turkish Press Review, 04-01-19Turkish 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 morning19.01.2004ERDOGAN URGES RENEWED TRUST IN MIDEAST AT JEDDAH ECONOMIC FORUM SOLANA: “CYPRUS HAS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE EU” BARZANI STRESSES GUARANTEE FROM BAGHDAD OF “KURDISH AUTONOMY,” BRUSHES ASIDE TURKISH OPPOSITION GERMAN FM FISCHER TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC TO VISIT AUSTRIA AGAR: “TURKEY’S SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN IS STEADFAST” PAPANDREOU PAYS CAMPAIGN VISIT TO WESTERN THRACE VATICAN CONCERT PROMOTES INTERFAITH PEACE FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS THE CYPRUS IMPASSE BY GUNDUZ AKTAN (RADIKAL) A GOOD POLICY FOR IRAQ BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN URGES RENEWED TRUST IN MIDEAST AT JEDDAH ECONOMIC FORUMPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by a delegation numbering 270 arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to attend the Jeddah Economic Forum. Addressing the gathering yesterday, Erdogan lamented what he called a loss of trust among Middle Eastern countries. “We should trust each other,” urged Erdogan. “Without trust, there can be no stability.” Remarking that the economy drives politics rather than vice versa, the premier added, “Accordingly, we should strengthen the economic ties between us.” At a dinner jointly organized by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board’s (DEIK) Business Council, Erdogan said that the Turkish-Saudi Business Council would be very helpful in developing bilateral relations. Stressing his opposition to the establishment of an Islamic common market, Erdogan said that such cooperation should not be dependent upon ethnicity, religious origins or geography. “Economic divisions can damage other relations, and so are to be avoided,” warned Erdogan. /Turkiye/[02] SOLANA: “CYPRUS HAS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE EU”European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana declared yesterday that Cyprus had strategic importance for the EU, adding that both sides on the island should begin negotiations as soon as possible towards reaching an agreement. “We are aware of Cyprus’s importance for us, since it can play an important role in Europe’s political security,” said Solana, adding that the Union considers a resolution on the island a critical matter. Solana urged the start of new talks over the island on the basis of the United Nations Cyprus plan, adding that there was no feasible alternative to this plan. “This year is a critical one for the Cyprus issue, and for the possibility that a resolution can still be reached,” added Solana. Greek Cyprus is due to join the EU on May 1. /Cumhuriyet/[03] BARZANI STRESSES GUARANTEE FROM BAGHDAD OF “KURDISH AUTONOMY,” BRUSHES ASIDE TURKISH OPPOSITIONSpeaking to the Washington Post yesterday, Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (IKPD) head Massoud Barzani said that Iraq’s Kurdish minority would not sign onto guidelines being formulated for a transitional Baghdad government unless they were guaranteed an expanded region of autonomy and a firm commitment to expel Arabs settled in northern Iraq by deposed President Saddam Hussein. Barzani said that he “lacked faith that a future, elected Iraqi government would fulfill Kurds' ambitions for self-rule in regions they consider their historic homeland – including the oil-rich Kirkuk area,” wrote the Post. “We don’t see any justification for postponement [of the Kurds’ autonomy plans],” Barzani was quoted as saying. “Any voice that would oppose this does not show good intent. As far as a majority imposing its will on the Kurds, this cannot be tolerated." As for opposition from Turkey and other countries in the region to these autonomy plans, Barzani brushed this aside, calling the Kurds’ plans “an internal matter.” /Aksam/[04] GERMAN FM FISCHER TO ARRIVE IN ANKARAGerman Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer is expected to arrive in Ankara on Wednesday for an official visit. Fischer’s visit is expected to focus on Turkey’s European Union membership bid and the Cyprus issue. /Cumhuriyet/[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC TO VISIT AUSTRIAParliament Speaker Bulent Arinc is to fly today to Austria for an official visit. During his visit, Arinc is expected to meet with his Austrian counterpart Andreas Kohl as well as with Turkish politicians, businessmen, and bankers living in the country. /Aksam/[06] AGAR: “TURKEY’S SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN IS STEADFAST”True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday urged a strengthening of bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Agar, who is currently paying a visit to Azerbaijan, attended a ceremony to commemorate former President Haydar Aliyev, who died late last year. After the ceremony, Agar told reporters that he wanted Ankara to bolster its policy towards Baku. Stressing that Azerbaijan had made important strides in democratization, Agar stated that Turkey’s support for it as well as the two countries’ cooperation on international platforms would continue. /Turkiye/[07] MUSHARRAF TO VISIT ANKARAAt the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is scheduled to arrive in Ankara this afternoon for a three-day visit. This will be the Pakistani leader’s second trip to Turkey. According to diplomatic sources, joint efforts against terrorism and ways to improve trade ties will dominate the visit. Musharraf is set to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Musharraf is also expected to promote Pakistan’s image as a “moderate modern Islamic country” in the post-Sept. 11 world in his address to the Parliament. /Sabah/[08] PAPANDREOU PAYS CAMPAIGN VISIT TO WESTERN THRACEGreek Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday visited western Thrace in his campaign for Greek general elections set for March 7. As the favored candidate to lead Greece’s Socialist Party (PASOK), Papandreou visited the village of Sirkeli near Gumulcune, where a large Turkish minority resides, and pledged that he would do his utmost to solve the problems of Greece’s minorities. Promising that there would be elective Turkish courses in every school in the region, Papandreou said, “You are a part of Greece’s culture. It’s our duty to end unfairness. The tragic mistakes made in Cyprus against the Cypriot Turks won’t happen here in western Thrace.” Papandreou also proposed that after the March polls Ankara and Athens should sign an agreement to cut military spending. /Sabah/[09] VATICAN CONCERT PROMOTES INTERFAITH PEACEPope John Paul II and leading Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, including Israel's Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and World Islamic Call Society head Mohammed Ahmed Sharif, yesterday attended a concert of interfaith reconciliation in Vatican City. "Together, we express the hope that people will be purified of the hatred and evil that constantly threaten peace, and that they will be able to extend to one another reciprocally hands free of violence but ready to offer help and comfort to those in need," said the pontiff. Turkish Ambassador to the Vatican Filiz Dincmen also attended the concert performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra together with choirs from Ankara and London as well as Krakow, Poland and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, under the direction of Gilbert Levine. /Hurriyet/[10] F-16 PILOT PERISHES IN CRASHSearch and rescue workers yesterday reached the wreckage of an F-16 fighter jet that crashed on Friday due to technical failure in the town of Dominic in the Aegean province of Kutahya. The body of Mehmet Karakuzu, the plane’s pilot, was also retrieved. Search operations had experienced difficulty due to bad weather conditions. /Turkiye/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS[12] THE CYPRUS IMPASSE BY GUNDUZ AKTAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Gunduz Aktan writes on the United Nations resolution plan for Cyprus known as the Annan plan. A summary of his column is as follows:“It’s been more than a year since the first version of the Annan plan was unveiled. In the words of one Turkish lawyer, the Western jurists are far beyond us. The system they want to establish under the Annan plan is very sophisticated. First of all, its heft is massive since there are many documents to be prepared together with the constitution of the two constituent states: a constituent agreement annexed with a federal constitution, three constitutional laws, 28 federal laws, three cooperation agreements, four annexes, etc. Most of the federal laws and cooperation agreements have yet to be negotiated. The reason for such a sophisticated plan is simple: The two sides clearly have yet to reach agreement on several disputes. The Greek side wants to rebuild its sovereignty on the island, granting the Turkish Cypriots only minority rights. However, since the Turkish Cypriots have no wish to return to the chaos and violence of 1963-74, they wish to have equal rights with the Greek Cypriots. Since the UN, the US and the EU believe that the Turkish and Greek sides will fail to reach a permanent settlement, they are putting pressure on them using this sophisticated plan which would entail countless legal arrangements. Therefore, in any case, not even a referendum would be democratic as the plan is so complicated that most people will never be able to grasp it. Moreover, the united ‘Cyprus Republic’ to be created under the Annan plan wouldn’t be a new state, rather only be a new version of the current Greek Cypriot administration which is already recognized worldwide. At this point, the concepts of ‘society’ and ‘nation’ are very important. The Annan plan adheres to the principle of bi-zonality, but it fails to mention the existence of two separate nations. Therefore, the UN plan fails to grant the Turkish Cypriot nation with certain basic rights which would legitimize its presence in the eyes of the world. Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Denktas is a very competent negotiator. However, he is unable to present certain facts to the public. He’s long complained of the plan’s deficiencies on certain key issues such as sovereignty and equality. However, we’ve collectively failed to understand what he’s tried to tell us.” [13] A GOOD POLICY FOR IRAQ BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on Turkey’s policies on Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:“Ankara failed to read the coffee grounds in the Middle East well, as it stumbled badly after last March [when it rejected US troop deployment in Turkey for its invasion of Iraq]. However, the US also has stumbled in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq. The US paid everybody using empty words, but now it’s in a difficult spot. After the US felt that it was forsaken by Turkey in Iraq, it considered the Kurds its new allies and gave them concessions without taking the other balances in the region into consideration. However, now the Kurdish tribes are presenting their bill to Washington. The US has to realize that the Kurds’ stance in northern Iraq will make Turkey, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia plus Iraq’s Shiites and Sunnis very restless. The US’ policy of remaking the region is about to run aground. Nobody, not even an imperialist power, can hold sway in a region by opposing its people. Even if the US insists on this, the people of the region won’t stand for it for long. The US’ carelessness has provided Ankara with new opportunities. Now Turkey is the only country which can explain the Middle East to the US and vice versa, then can seek a middle road. Recently we’ve become aware of this advantage and sought to use it. Our contacts with Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq’s Shiites show that these powers will be glad for Turkey to play the role of mediator between the US, Israel and themselves. The visit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the US next week is very important. Turkey is the only country which can tell the US that its Middle East policies are wrong. Turkey isn’t stuck on the word ‘federation’ in the region, as it’s ready for new developments. Turkey is opposed to any arrangement which would protect the rights of only certain Kurdish tribes. In addition, Ankara also should negotiate over both Cyprus and Iraq in Washington.” 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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