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Turkish Press Review, 04-11-23
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
23.11.2004
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] WORLD LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS IRAQ’S FUTURE
[02] EP HOLDS CONFERENCE ON TURKEY AND THE KURDS
[03] GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ANKARA’S EU ACCESSION TALKS
[04] US TREASURY HEAD SNOW: “I WISH WASHINGTON COULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF TURKEY’S EU BID”
[05] EDELMAN SEEK TURKEY’S HELP IN WINNING REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR GME
[06] AKP LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ
[07] DENKTAS: “THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION MUST APOLOGIZE TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS FOR A DECADE OF VIOLENCE”
[08] TALAT RETURNS MANDATE TO DENKTAS
[09] SOCCER VIOLENCE ADDRESSED BY CABINET
[10] GOVT PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON SOCCER VIOLENCE
[11] TOBB PUSHES EU INTEGRATION, ANKARA’S EU BID
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] HOW MUCH WILL THE US LISTEN? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] WORLD LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS IRAQ’S FUTURE
In an effort to find ways to end the ongoing violence in Iraq,
representatives of its neighbors, plus Egypt and several other Arab
countries and China, as well as regional bodies such as the G-8, the United
Nations, the European Union, the Arab League and the Organization of the
Islamic Conference yesterday met at Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm al-
Seikh. Iraq asked Egypt to convene the conference in a bid to augment world
support for its battle against insurgents and its plan to hold national
elections in January. “The conference’s declaration will contain important
decisions concerning the future of Iraq,” said Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul in remarks prior to heading to Egypt to attend the two–day conference.
Border security emerged as the major issue addressed during the gathering.
Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq’s interim foreign minister, said his country would ask
Iran and Turkey to boost border security in order to keep foreign militants
out, similar to measures already agreed with Syria. In addition, Turkish
officials reiterated Ankara’s concerns over Kurdish groups in northern Iraq
and terrorist PKK militants based in the region. The meeting is scheduled
to end today after the release of a declaration expected to encourage the
Arab League to play a more active role in Iraq. /Turkiye/
[02] EP HOLDS CONFERENCE ON TURKEY AND THE KURDS
The European Parliament yesterday held a conference in Brussels called
“Turkey and the Kurds.” Akin Birdal, the head of Turkey’s Human Rights
Association (IHD), and Professor Dogu Ergil addressed the conference
yesterday. Also present at the conference was Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman
of the European Union-Turkey joint parliamentary commission, and Turkish
journalist Can Dundar. /Aksam/
[03] GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ANKARA’S EU ACCESSION
TALKS
German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, who is currently in Ankara,
yesterday briefed Turkish judges and public prosecutors designate on the
European Union expansion process. Speaking afterwards, Zypries told
reporters that Germany supported Turkey beginning its accession talks with
the EU, adding that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would stress this
support at next month’s EU summit. She emphasized that Turkey’s potential
EU membership was important in the context of the fight against
international terrorism. Zypries further stated that Turkey’s human rights
reforms needed to be implemented, adding that freedom of expression and
religion, women’s rights, and minority rights needed to be guaranteed. “The
pace of accession negotiations will depend on the pace of reforms,” she
added. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] US TREASURY HEAD SNOW: “I WISH WASHINGTON COULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF
TURKEY’S EU BID”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday met with US Treasury
Secretary John Snow, World Bank President James Wolfensohn and IMF Managing
Director Rodrigo Rato during the meetings of G-20 finance ministers and
national bank governors in Berlin. “I wish that the US could vote to start
Turkey’s membership negotiations,” Snow said. “There’s no doubt that
Turkey’s inclusion into the EU will carry important consequences. I believe
Turkey will greatly contribute to the Greater Middle East Initiative.
Moreover, we appreciate the performance of your economy. Today, Turkey
stands as a model for developing countries.” In addition, Wolfensohn and
Rato both expressed their support for Turkey’s EU membership bid and
praised its recent economic performance. Babacan also met with German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and discussed efforts to improve Turkey’s
social security system. /Sabah/
[05] EDELMAN SEEK TURKEY’S HELP IN WINNING REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR GME
US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman and Abdullah Zagur, Morocco’s
ambassador to Turkey, yesterday met with Foreign Ministry Deputy
Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy to seek Ankara’s help in winning the support of
regional countries for the US’ Greater Middle East Project (GME). Speaking
afterwards, Zagur said that during the meeting they had discussed Turkey’s
role on the issue with Sensoy. Zagur added that next month a meeting would
be held in Rabat, Morocco where the GME will be addressed. Edelman stated
that that meeting would be very important, adding that he expected Libya,
Syria, Iran and Mauritania would participate. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] AKP LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ
The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board
(MYK) yesterday met to discuss recent developments in Iraq. During the
gathering chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, board members
expressed their concerns over the recent US operation in Mosul, on the
heels of the Fallujah offensive, as well as the efforts of Kurdish leaders
to delay elections in the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Erdogan
urged international organizations to work carefully to prevent any foul
play in the country. /Turkiye/
[07] DENKTAS: “THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION MUST APOLOGIZE TO TURKISH
CYPRIOTS FOR A DECADE OF VIOLENCE”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday
called on the Greek Cypriot administration to apologize to Turkish Cypriots
for their actions between 1963 and 1974, a period on the island marked by
Greek Cypriot cruelty and violence. Following the recent confession of a
former EOKA terrorist telling how Greek Cypriots carried out a massacre in
Taskent (Northern Cyprus) in 1974, Denktas said that he hoped that the
Greek Cypriot administration would come clear on the period and agree to
start compensation talks. “Humanity and peace both require it,” he added.
/Star/
[08] TALAT RETURNS MANDATE TO DENKTAS
After failing to form a new coalition government, Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Republican Turk Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat
yesterday returned his mandate to President Rauf Denktas. Talat’s action
boosted the possibility of early elections in Northern Cyprus. Last week
TRNC National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu also returned the
mandate to Denktas. /Aksam/
[09] SOCCER VIOLENCE ADDRESSED BY CABINET
During a three hour-plus Cabinet meeting yesterday chaired by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the ministers focused on recent incidents of
soccer violence. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek pointed to the deadly weekend stabbing of a 16-year-old soccer fan
during a Besiktas-Caykur Rizespor match in Istanbul. Cicek said that
Parliament would debate the issue this week and new legislation would be
implemented effectively. He added that the Cabinet favored setting up a
commission to deal with such violence, to address both its causes and ways
to prevent it. /Turkiye/
[10] GOVT PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON SOCCER VIOLENCE
Expressing his grief over the weekend death of a teenage soccer fan, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that the government is
resolved to crack down on soccer violence. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul,
Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu and Energy Minister Hilmi Guler
also condemned the recent spate of violence, underlining that such
incidents violate the spirit of sports. /Sabah/
[11] TOBB PUSHES EU INTEGRATION, ANKARA’S EU BID
The second phase of the Turkish Chambers Improvement Program executed by
the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and the
European Union of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambers) began yesterday in
Istanbul. The program is designed to assist the Turkish chambers in
integrating with the European Union. “We support Turkey’s political and
economic integration with the EU,” Eurochambers Deputy Chairman George
Kassimatis said. “However, Turkey will have to work hard to fulfill the
necessary criteria. Nobody thinks that the negotiation process will be
short or easy. The road to the EU is strewn with difficulties, not roses.”
For his part, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that a target date
must be set for concluding the negotiations, adding that his group believes
that the period should not exceed five years. “Turkey has successfully
fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria,” he stated. “Now it’s our right to
expect the Union to give us what we deserve.” /Hurriyet/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] HOW MUCH WILL THE US LISTEN? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is
as follows:
“The important thing about the Iraq conference in Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt is
that it’s the first large international meeting on Iraq’s future. Turkey,
Iraq’s other neighbors, the G-8 countries, China, the UN, the EU, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Arab League
representatives, that is, nearly 20 countries and institutions altogether
are attending the meeting. Considering that the US ignored everybody and
followed its Iraq policy as it wanted, it’s important that this time it
agreed to take part in such a broad platform. However, how much will this
influence the US’ Iraq policy? Will Washington listen to the voice of Sharm
al-Sheikh? Even if US President George W. Bush says that he doesn’t want to
change strategy, this conference can spotlight the international
community’s feelings and put some pressure on Washington. Highlights of the
declaration to be issued at the end of the conference have already been
set. The declaration mostly concerns the process of political transition
and supporting steps for its success. Elections ware scheduled for Jan. 30,
so the new government and Parliament will shape Iraq’s new constitution.
The declaration argues that participation in the elections should be broad
so they are democratic. Of course everybody wants this. However, will the
people who live in areas marred by violence be able to go to the ballot
box? Will Sunni leaders abandon their election boycott? What can the
international community do to ensure the elections are legal and enjoy
broad participation?
The declaration will also address the US. It wants the US military presence
not to be open-ended. France also wants the US to draw up a definite
timetable. However, Bush doesn’t want to give a date for withdrawal. For
Turkey, the conference has a special meaning. Turkish diplomacy succeeded
in bringing Turkey’s neighbors together before the war began. The aim of
this was to make the US feel the pressure of the region. Unfortunately it
didn’t work. Following the war, Ankara has used its initiative, and
neighboring countries have spoken out on the new situation. Today Turkey
will address developments particularly concerning northern Iraq, the
Turkmen, Kirkuk and PKK terrorists. This is an important opportunity.
Hopefully, US and Iraqi officials will both consider it an opportunity to
direct their strategies.”
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