Visit the American Hellenic Media Project (AHMP) Homepage Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Turkish Press Review, 06-12-12

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

12.12.2006


CONTENTS

  • [01] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
  • [02] BLAIR CALLS PM ERDOGAN TO REITERATE HIS SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU BID
  • [03] MERKEL PLEASED WITH EU DECISION TO PARTIALLY FREEZE TURKEY'S PROCESS
  • [04] FINNISH PM: "WE DIDN'T FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS TO TURKEY"
  • [05] ITALIAN STATE MINISTER BONINO: "TURKEY'S EU PROCESS SHOULDN'T BE JEOPARDIZED"
  • [06] CICEK: "THE TRNC CAN'T BE SACRIFICED"
  • [07] ARINC VISITS CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. BUYUKANIT
  • [08] MILITARY HOUSING BUILDING COLLAPSES DUE TO HEATING SYSTEM EXPLOSION
  • [09] ECLIPSED

  • [01] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

    European Union member states' foreign ministers, meeting ahead of a summit of EU leaders later this week, yesterday discussed Term President Finland's draft proposal on Turkey in Brussels. At a press conference following debates over how many chapters should be affected by Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, accompanied by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU Commissioners Olli Rehn and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said that in line with an earlier recommendation from the EU Commission, the ministers had agreed to suspend eight chapters related to the Customs Unions out of 35 total and not close any other chapters until the EU Commission verifies that Turkey has fulfilled its commitments related to the ports dispute. Also speaking to reporters, Rehn said they had made a balanced decision. Stressing that the EU needed a stable, democratic Turkey, Rehn added that Turkey's accession to the bloc would show that Islam is in harmony with democracy, human rights and European norms. /Turkiye/

    [02] BLAIR CALLS PM ERDOGAN TO REITERATE HIS SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU BID

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday spoke with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the telephone and reiterated his support for Turkey's European Union bid. The conversation between the two leaders coincided with the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels where Turkey's situation was being discussed. During the conversation, Turkey's EU process was discussed in light of Turkey's proposal last week to open one port and one airport to the Greek Cypriots. Stating his support for Turkey's initiative, Blair also said that his country's support for Turkey's EU bid would continue. /Hurriyet/

    [03] MERKEL PLEASED WITH EU DECISION TO PARTIALLY FREEZE TURKEY'S PROCESS

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pleased with the European Union foreign ministers' decision to partially freeze Turkey's negotiation process. Merkel's spokesperson Ulrich Wilheim said that decision taken in Brussels took into consideration Turkey's not fulfilling its responsibilities related to the Ankara Protocol, adding, "It's important that the EU heads of state and government examine Turkey's developments in an orderly way." Greek Cypriot administration Foreign Minister Georges Lillikas said, "It's important to set a timetable for whether or not Turkey will fulfill its responsibilities to the EU." Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said that her country would determinedly maintain its stance during Turkey's EU negotiation process. "I favor suspending many chapters," she said. Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said that the negotiations should be suspended on 10 chapters. /Cumhuriyet-Star/

    [04] FINNISH PM: "WE DIDN'T FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS TO TURKEY"

    European Union Term President Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen yesterday acknowledged that the European Union had not fulfilled its commitments to Turkey. According to news channels NTV and CNN-Turk, Vanhanen told reporters, "Yes, that's right. The EU didn't fulfill its commitments. But Turkey should fulfill its commitments." Meanwhile, Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that lifting the embargo from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and approval of the additional protocol were separate issues. He said that Turkey's taking a step would be seen as positive but the main issue was full implementation of the additional protocol. In related news, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht made a speech giving full support fto Ankara and saying the Greek Cypriots bore the main responsibility for the difficult situation. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said that there were legal and political promises given to Turkey and that the EU should fulfill its commitments on certain issues. European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that the EU needs a stable, democratic Turkey, adding, "Turkey is a component of stability in the most unstable region of the world and a threshold for democracy in the Middle East." /Milliyet/

    [05] ITALIAN STATE MINISTER BONINO: "TURKEY'S EU PROCESS SHOULDN'T BE JEOPARDIZED"

    Italy's Minister for European Policies Emma Bonino yesterday said that Turkey's EU membership process shouldn't be jeopardized. Criticizing those who use the Cyprus issue as an pretext to block Turkey's membership, Bonino said, "The benefits of Turkey's EU membership for Europe, the Mediterranean and Italy require avoiding the risk of suspending this process." She added, "I hope that the summit of heads of state and government this Thursday and Friday will state that Turkey's membership is necessary. Both the EU and Turkey should fulfill their commitments. We're expecting the EU summit to encourage Turkey's steps on the path to membership." /Star/

    [06] CICEK: "THE TRNC CAN'T BE SACRIFICED"

    The Cabinet ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday discussed Turkey's relations with the European Union and recent developments on the matter. Following their nearly seven-hour meeting, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters that Greek Cyprus was putting obstacles before Turkey, adding that Ankara would never sacrifice the just cause of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for its goal of EU membership. Cicek said Turkey would continue its diplomatic efforts to reach these two goals. Commenting on recent claims that top Turkish leaders had not been informed about the government's proposal last week to the European Union Commission on the Cyprus issue, Cicek stated that the government was trying to do its best on Turkey's behalf and there was no time to waste on domestic bickering. /Turkiye-Sabah/

    [07] ARINC VISITS CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. BUYUKANIT

    Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday paid a courtesy visit to Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Afterwards, Arinc told reporters that during his nearly one-hour meeting with the top commander, he had congratulated Buyukanit for his taking office as chief of General Staff in late August, adding that they had had very friendly and sincere talks. /Sabah/

    [08] MILITARY HOUSING BUILDING COLLAPSES DUE TO HEATING SYSTEM EXPLOSION

    A five-story residential building for military families in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir collapsed yesterday morning due to an explosion of its heating system. The disaster took six lives and injured eight. Rescue workers are trying to save two other people still trapped under the debris. Officials stated that an investigation of the accident is underway. /Aksam/

    FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS

    [09] ECLIPSED

    BY ENIS BERBEROGLU (HURRIYET)

    Columnist Enis Berberoglu comments on Turkey's relations with the EU and next year's presidential election. A summary of his column is as follows:

    "Some people considered the suggestion to open one harbor and one airport to the Greek Cypriot a departure from state policy. When the state and politics started to fight, Brussels started to watch. In other words, some Turkish people attempted to sell out the country, but the EU didn't show concern over this? Is this right? Let me tell you what actually happened. The EU train could have gotten back on track, but now there's no way. This is a hole in the state's 50-year policy. I hope this is advantageous for all of us! The Presidential Palace said that it didn't know about the new proposal, which saddened the Foreign Ministry staff.

    It seems that when TV stations broke the story of the proposal based on Finnish sources, they reported that the Presidential Palace had been told that Turkey's stance on the Cyprus issue was unchanged. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sat at the table with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a National Committee meeting with this information. Anyhow, the General Staff was visited earlier this week. Following the National Committee meeting, the chief of General Staff and the prime minister talked for a short while. After Erdogan left the Presidential Palace, the president and chief of General Staff talked for half an hour. When I asked why Erdogan's views weren't sought, those who are angry with Erdogan said that this is how the state's order operates. So let me ask in accordance with the state's tradition: Why hasn't Sezer called for a National Security Council (NSC) meeting? Isn't the NSC the proper place for the military and civilians to talk about these issues? Actually, the suggestion made by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was approved by the NSC. Do you know what's the only difference between the suggestion made to Finland and the other suggestion? The condition of one year, in other words, Turkey's right to withdraw its suggestion. The answer to the Finnish plan wasn't discussed at the NSC, as no meeting has been held since Oct. 31. The NSC will convene again this month, but it's hard to tell what will happen there. Its date and what it will discuss are still unclear. The argument over the harbor proposal eclipsed those over next year's presidential election. It overshadowed all the discussions. Maybe having general elections earlier than next fall would lower the tension. However, considering this crisis of confidence, it seems Erdogan's opponents will put barriers to him reaching the Presidential Palace.


    Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    trkpr2html v1.02a run on Tuesday, 12 December 2006 - 9:51:08 UTC