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Turkish Press Review, 04-01-27Turkish 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 morning27.01.2004ERDOGAN: “THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE KURDS IN KIRKUK ARE NOT HEALTHY” ERDOGAN ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS IN NEW YORK ERDOGAN MEETS INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CIRCLES, US JEWISH COMMUNITY GUL: “TURKEY WANTS NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN ON THE ISLAND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE UN PLAN” DENKTAS: “WE SHARE SAME OPINION WITH ANKARA” TALAT: “WE WERE ELECTED TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE” CYPRUS REPORT TO BE VOTED TOMORROW SIMITIS: “ERDOGAN’S STATEMENTS AREN’T CLEAR” IPUK OFFICIAL SALIH: “NEXT YEAR WE WILL HOLD ELECTIONS IN IRAQ TO FORM A KURDISTAN GOVERNMENT” FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... NEW HOPES BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET) GREEK SIDE IS IN TROUBLE BY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE KURDS IN KIRKUK ARE NOT HEALTHY”Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against the break up of Iraq, saying, “a federated structure in Iraq based on ethnicity or religious sects will not be healthy,” in an interview with contributing editor Lally Weymouth in the February 2 issue of Newsweek. Erdogan answered Weymouth’s questions on the issues of Cyprus, Iraq and the European Union. “By taking the Annan plan as a reference point, we are showing good will,” Erdogan said. “We are in favor of a permanent solution.” Upon a question what he can do to change the mood of certain European countries which are firmly opposed to Turkey’s EU membership, Erdogan responded, “As much as we would like to be a part of the European Union family, the EU should want Turkey to be part of it. If the EU wants to be an address where civilizations meet, it must take Turkey in.” In addition, he also offered his views about the northern Iraq issue. “The reality is that a federated structure in Iraq based on ethnicity or religious sects will not be healthy,” said the premier. “It will bother Syria, Iran and Turkey. The steps taken by the Kurds in Kirkuk are not healthy. Attempts by one ethnic group to exercise sovereignty over another are not fair. It doesn't matter if that ethnicity is Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, Chaldean or whatever. This is going to hurt the unity of Iraq. Secondly, what is going on in Kirkuk creates the possibility that Iraqi oil, which should belong to all Iraqis, will be exploited by only one ethnic group [the Kurds]. Naturally, the other ethnic elements will not have a positive attitude toward this.” /All Papers/[02] ERDOGAN ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS IN NEW YORKPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a week-long visit to the United States, yesterday spoke at the private Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Erdogan said that granting greater autonomy for Kurds living in northern Iraq would destabilize the region, underlining that Kurdish autonomy in Iraq does not serve Turkish interests. “Any ethnically-oriented or sectarian federation is not favorable to Turkey,” he said. “In democracies, these are not very healthy approaches and they do not serve for the formation of a healthy political structure, and it would put Iraq in an even more difficult position in the future.” In addition, Erdogan called for a new envoy to take over negotiations to reunify the war-divided island of Cyprus, repeating criticism of negotiations to reunify the island. The premier called for the participation of “an independent, impartial country, a country that has political weight” in the Cyprus negotiations. Erdogan also said that he saw Turkey's role as a peacemaker in the Central Asian region. “In a sense, it is not possible to define the world's geopolitics of the 21st century in terms of conventional politics,” he added. “One has to also take into consideration such elements as political and social values, interaction between societies, identity and cultural harmony. Turkey does not confine itself in the strict sense of national interest alone, but rather pursues a pro-active foreign policy aimed at contributing to regional and global peace and security.” /All Papers/[03] ERDOGAN MEETS INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CIRCLES, US JEWISH COMMUNITYPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with international finance circles at a breakfast in New York. Expressing belief that strong political will of the government to continue to implement economic reform program should be perceived as the most valid guarantee by international finance circles, Erdogan recalled that Turkey and the US, two members of democratic and free world, attached the highest importance to democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law. “These common goals we share have enabled our countries to have multilateral and multidimensional relations,” added the premier. “It is obvious that we should further upgrade our economic relations with our strategic partner US to the level of our political and military cooperation. We wish to take positive steps and make cooperation in the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as our cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkey has taken significant steps to liberalize its economy, trade regime and capital market. Our country is determined to continue its economic reform and stability program, the positive results of which started to be seen in 2003. Economic reform process gives priority to private sector and free market actors and is directed by policies depending on privatization and integration with world economy. We appreciate support of the US.” He also added that Turkey needed foreign investments in large scale. Erdogan also met with US Jewish community yesterday night and received the “Bravery Award” from the American Jewish Committee (AJC). He conveyed the message that the Jewish community should not worry about the security of the Jews living in Turkey, stressing that his government is firmly committed to fight against terrorism. The premier also called the US and Israel to establish a Qualified Industrial Zone in southeastern Anatolia region. /All Papers/[04] GUL: “TURKEY WANTS NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN ON THE ISLAND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE UN PLAN”Appearing on television yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey wanted negotiations to begin on the island within the framework of the United Nations Cyprus plan. Gul said that the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff discussed the Cyprus issue in details and that they were in consensus, which made Turkey more powerful. Gul reiterated Turkey’s good faith to help a resolution on the island, adding that now it was Greek Cypriots’ turn to take steps for a resolution. Touching on Turkish-US relations, Gul said that the US administration’s stance towards the PKK_KADEK terrorist organization wasn’t satisfactory, adding that it had also suffered terrorist attacks. /Aksam/[05] DENKTAS: “WE SHARE SAME OPINION WITH ANKARA”After meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday left Ankara. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport, Denktas said that Turkish Cyprus and Ankara was in a full compromise on the Cyprus issue. Reiterating that TRNC wanted a just and permanent solution on the island, Denktas said, “We call on the Greek Cypriot administration to take the reality of the island into consideration.” Stressing that during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s current visit to the United States, the Cyprus issue would be an important topic on the agenda to be discussed with the US officials, Denktas said that a re-evaluation might be done following his return to Ankara. The TRNC president stated that without an agreement, holding a referendum was not possible, adding that finding a settlement on the island by May 1 was very difficult even if both sides worked hard. Concerning a mediator, he pointed to the importance of coordination between Turkey and the United Nations, and claimed that Alvaro De Soto, UN Cyprus Special Envoy, had disappointed everybody during recent talks. /Cumhuriyet/[06] TALAT: “WE WERE ELECTED TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE”Speaking at a gathering held by Turkish Economies and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in Istanbul, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that finding a settlement on Cyprus served both interests of Turkish and Greek Cypriots and that it would also be an advantage for Turkey during its European Union membership bid. Stressing that his government came to the power to solve the issue, Talat said, “We are on the same board with Greek Cypriots, and we have to reach a settlement.” Greek Cypriot Administration former President George Vassiliou also addressed the meeting. He said, “UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan was a just one. However, if there are some deficiencies, they can be solved at the table.” Commenting on Turkish side’s desire to change the mediator, Vassiliou said it would be a waste of time. /Turkiye/[07] CYPRUS REPORT TO BE VOTED TOMORROWParliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday began its winter meetings in Strasbourg. During its tomorrow session, a Cyprus report prepared by Hungarian Parliamentarian Matyas Eorsi is set to be voted. The report reportedly urges the European Union to encourage Ankara for its efforts to solve the Cyprus issue plus Greek Cyprus to take steps towards a settlement. /Turkiye/[08] SIMITIS: “ERDOGAN’S STATEMENTS AREN’T CLEAR”Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday that Turkey should change its stance in a bid to a just and permanent settlement on Cyprus in line with the United Nations resolutions. He also said that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements on the issue were not clear. Commenting on United States Secretary of State Colin Powell’s recent request to make pressure on the Greek Cyprus to take steps for a settlement, Greek Foreign Minister George Papendreou said, “If United Nations Secretary-General doesn’t put forward any precondition, we are ready to begin talks tomorrow.” He added that Greek side would not accept Turkey’s any plan if it was not within the framework of Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. “We accept that Turkish government intends to make positive changes in its stance, however, we want to see their implementations,” said the Greek minister. Regarding Turkey’s desire for a change of the mediator during talks possible to begin, he claimed that Alvaro de Soto had an experience and full knowledge on the topic and if he were changed, it would be a waste of time. /Turkiye/[09] IPUK OFFICIAL SALIH: “NEXT YEAR WE WILL HOLD ELECTIONS IN IRAQ TO FORM A KURDISTAN GOVERNMENT”Behram Salih, a top official of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), who is currently in Washington for an official visit, said yesterday that they would hold elections in 2005 to form a “Kurdistan” government. “Kirkuk is a part of Kurdistan and the Kirkuk citizens will decide about the future of it,” said Salih. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in the US to meet with US President George W. Bush, said that the Iraqi Kurds’ steps in Kirkuk were not healthy, adding that such an approach would hurt Iraq’s territorial integrity. “A federation based on ethnical elements in Iraq wouldn’t be appropriate,” he added. /Turkiye/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[11] NEW HOPES BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the new hopes about the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“Difficult developments in Turkey’s stance on the Cyprus issue give the hope that we’re entering a final stage in this issue. Reactions of the United Nations, the US and the European Union show that the Turkish initiative was welcomed positively and that it’s encouraging for starting a new process of negotiation. After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and yesterday and US President George W. Bush tomorrow, it is expected that an intensive process of looking for solution will begin. I wonder if it will be successful this time. This question was discussed at a conference held by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in Istanbul yesterday. The crowded group of Greek Cypriot, consisting of important politicians, seemed to be pleased with the stance of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Greek Cypriot administration’s former Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said, ‘Latest statements by Mr. Erdogan give the impression that there are important changes in the Turkish side’s stance. If this policy continues, the path of solution will be opened.’ In addition, Papapetrou and other Greek Cypriot participants mentioned their doubts and asked these questions: ‘Will the Turkish side consider Annan’s plan the base of negotiation? Will Denktas follow this line as the negotiator? Does the Turkish side favor a solution actually? Will they display the flexibility necessary for this?’ These questions show that the Greek Cypriot administration can’t trust Ankara fully yet. Actually Erdogan’s new suggestions such as the ‘mediator’ and ‘narrowed document’ confused Greek Cypriot and Turkish circles. Speaking at the lunch held by TESEV yesterday, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said Erdogan should explain these issues and that a new and dynamic process started on the path of solution. As Talat mentioned, governments in Ankara and Nicosia are determined and another important factor is the international conjuncture. All these things make it possible to be optimist once more.” [12] GREEK SIDE IS IN TROUBLE BY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Ismet Berkan comments on the Cyprus problem. A summary of his column is as follows:“Athens is searching for a response for the Turkish move on Cyprus by the United Nations. Their claims broke down and now they’re looking for ways not to sit on the table. The key now seems to be the provisions set in by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the past, to start negotiations on Cyprus again. Turkey has fulfilled an important part of these provisions. If we would look at the news reflected on yesterday’s dailies, Ankara does also accept the provision on referendum before May 1. Athens and the Greek Cypriot part on the other hand haven’t adjusted any of the provisions. On the contrary, both the Greek Cypriots and Greece say, ‘We won’t accept Annan’s provisions.’ Lastly Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that they wouldn’t accept the provision on referendum. The aim of this provision seems to force the parties for an agreement. If the parties couldn’t reach a solution until the date for the referendum, then they will accept another condition based on the provision on referendum: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will decide on the issues on which no consensus is reached that is Annan will fill the blanks. When Annan invited the sides to Hague, this provision was already on the table. Before going to Hague, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas said Ankara that he can’t accept this provision and if he would accept it and the country would go for a referendum, then the majority would be against the Annan plan. And Ankara said, ‘That’s good because the Turkish side would use its right for self determination and no body would say anything to the result’ Ankara’s suggestion was very clear: Accept all the provisions including the referendum. Don’t be the one who leaves the table. Denktas didn’t listen to these suggestions. This time Ankara is pushing harder on Denktas. Denktas met with the prime minister, president and the chief of general staff in Ankara. His aim was to find a sign on a disagreement between the three. But this time he couldn’t find any disagreement. That means if there is a lack of confidence for Denktas, The Turkish side has now a more solid stance. Since the Turkish side is very determined, the Greek Cypriots and Athens are surprised and trying to make up lies. The statement from Athens and Nicosia displays that both Greece and Greek Cypriots would never accept a solution based on the Annan plan. New Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos based his election campaign on being against the Annan plan. And the former leader Clerides, wrote in his memories openly that he was not going to accept the Annan plan but wanted to be seen as accepting it and leave the job for refusing it to Denktas. Now it seems as the roles in Cyprus have changed. If only Turkey would do these steps before the Copenhagen Summit and Denktas wouldn’t reject the plan at the beginning.” 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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