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Turkish Press Review, 04-06-09
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
09.06.2004
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “THE GME CAN’T SUCCEED WITHOUT FIRST RESOLVING THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT”
[02] GUL: “LET’S WORK FOR GREEK CYPRUS’ INCLUSION IN THE CUSTOMS UNION”
[03] DENKTAS: “WASHINGTON IS URGING ISLAMIC COUNTRIES NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE TRNC”
[04] SEVEN TURKS HELD HOSTAGE IN IRAQ; THREE OTHERS FREED
[05] ANKARA RECALLS TOP DIPLOMATS FROM ISRAEL FOR CONSULTATIONS
[06] OIC TO TAKE UP CYPRUS ISSUE
[07] IMF DELEGATION MEETS WITH BABACAN, SENER TO DISCUSS COMPLETION OF EIGHTH REVIEW
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[09] BAYKAL’S VIEW OF THIS MONTH’S MEETINGS IN ISTANBUL BY MUHARREM SARIKAYA (SABAH)
[01] ERDOGAN: “THE GME CAN’T SUCCEED WITHOUT FIRST RESOLVING THE ISRAELI-
PALESTINIAN CONFLICT”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday flew to the G-8 meeting
hosted by the US in Sea Island, Georgia, a gathering expected to focus on
the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative (GME). Speaking at a press
conference before leaving, Erdogan said that the GME couldn’t succeed
without first resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The premier
stated that Ankara supported the GME, but that this support was based on
various principles. He added, however, that change should not be imposed
from the outside. “For us, the important thing is the soundness, health and
stability of nations in the region,” said Erdogan. “No project which fails
to take into account internal dynamics can succeed.” He warned that
approaches seen as impositions could backfire. Erdogan further criticized
Israel’s recent violence against Palestine, calling it “unacceptable.”
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Erdogan said that a customs union agreement
with Greek Cyprus could be signed after the European Union moves to end the
international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
/Aksam/
[02] GUL: “LET’S WORK FOR GREEK CYPRUS’ INCLUSION IN THE CUSTOMS UNION”
In the wake of rumors that new European Union member Greek Cyprus might try
to block Turkey’s EU bid in retaliation for Ankara’s rejecting its joining
the Customs Union, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has reportedly ordered his
staff to begin work to include Greek Cyprus in the Union. “Then Greek
Cyprus will have no excuse to veto us,” Gul reportedly stated. “We want to
sit at the table without any problem.” Speaking to reporters seeing off for
his US visit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Gul said that Ankara
expected the EU to take concrete steps to end the international isolation
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and that he was
continuing his contacts with European officials on the matter. /Turkiye/
[03] DENKTAS: “WASHINGTON IS URGING ISLAMIC COUNTRIES NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE
TRNC”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday
charged that US officials were urging Islamic countries not to recognize
the TRNC, adding that this was unacceptable. Speaking at a press conference
yesterday, Denktas threw back criticisms that he had been “uncompromising”
in efforts to reach a resolution on the island. “Being compromising would
mean accepting Greek Cyprus as the legal government,” he said. “I did not
and will not accept this.” Denktas added that Turkish Cypriots weren’t a
minority on the island and further urged the recognition of the TRNC and
Turkey’s remaining a guarantor state. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] SEVEN TURKS HELD HOSTAGE IN IRAQ; THREE OTHERS FREED
While three Turks kidnapped on Sunday in Iraq were released yesterday,
seven others are reportedly still in the hands of Iraqi rebels. A
videocassette sent to the Associated Press demanded that firms working with
coalition forces end their operations and withdraw their personnel from
Iraq in return for freeing the hostages. /Sabah/
[05] ANKARA RECALLS TOP DIPLOMATS FROM ISRAEL FOR CONSULTATIONS
The Foreign Ministry this week recalled Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel
Feridun Sinirlioglu and Jerusalem Consul General Huseyin Avni Bicakli to
Ankara for “a few days” to confer on issues facing the Middle East, sources
said. One anonymous Ankara official stated that the top diplomats had been
summoned not to protest Israel but rather for “routine consultations.”
Sinirlioglu and Bicakli are also expected to meet with Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul. Following Israel’s recent attacks on the Refah refugee camp,
Ankara harshly criticized Israeli government policies. After Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan branded the attacks “inhumane” and “state terrorism,”
the Israeli Foreign Ministry called his statements “regrettable.” /Star/
[06] OIC TO TAKE UP CYPRUS ISSUE
Foreign ministers of Organization of the Islamic Conference member states
will comprehensively discuss the Cyprus issue when they met in Istanbul
next week, said (OIC) Term President Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri
Syed Hamid Albar yesterday. Hamid Albar said the OIC wanted a settlement to
the issue through dialogue and the establishment of an administration
serving the interests of both sides. /Turkiye/
[07] IMF DELEGATION MEETS WITH BABACAN, SENER TO DISCUSS COMPLETION OF
EIGHTH REVIEW
An International Monetary Fund delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Riza
Moghadam yesterday met separately with State Minister for the Economy Ali
Babacan and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener to discuss recent
economic developments and completion of the eighth review of the Turkey’s
IMF-supported economic program. Also present at the meeting was Odd Per
Brekk, the Fund’s Turkey representative. Later, the delegation attended
a dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. In related news, analysts
said that the best successor to the IMF program could be a cautionary or a
normal standby agreement, which requires more flexible control mechanisms.
/Star/
[08] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[09] BAYKAL’S VIEW OF THIS MONTH’S MEETINGS IN ISTANBUL BY MUHARREM
SARIKAYA (SABAH)
Columnist Muharrem Sarikaya comments on three important meetings to be held
in Istanbul this month and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal’s views of them. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Istanbul will host three important meetings this month, the most important
being the NATO summit to be attended by US President George W. Bush among
others. Another is the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign
ministers meeting where a new OIC secretary general will be selected.
Turkey and Bangladesh have the strongest candidates. Finally there is the
Socialist International. When I spoke to opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday, he was disappointed because he
believes nobody is taking seriously his efforts for Turkey to receive a
date for EU membership talks. Baykal said that the CHP wasn’t standing idle
on the path to the EU and stated that leaders of parties within European
governments would participate at the Socialist International meeting. Human
rights, democracy and developments in Iraq and the Middle East will on the
agenda of this meeting. For Baykal, it’s an important stage because this
meeting will be held in Istanbul in a period of growing socialist strength
compared to conservatives and Christian democrats.
These three meetings are considered a platform to push for a date for
negotiations, and more efforts will be made by Parliament. The ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) wants Parliament to work until mid-July
to pass nearly 60 EU harmonization laws. ‘There is a well-intentioned
approach on this issue,’ said Baykal. ‘If certain laws have to be enacted,
we will support them.’ Instead of discussing and voting on each article to
be amended, amendments proposed for the same law will be bundled as 15
articles and voted on as a whole. However, here the AKP plans to enact such
laws as a new Turkish Penal Code, anti-terrorism measures, local
administration and public reform, as well as EU harmonization in similar
ways.”
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