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Turkish Press Review, 01-12-05
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
05.12.2001
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY HAILS DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETING
[02] DE SOTO: "DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETING WAS VERY
FRUITFUL"
[03] US SECRETARY OF STATE POWELL VISITS ANKARA
[04] SEZER, ECEVIT USE PHONE DIPLOMACY TO AID MIDDLE EAST
PEACE
[05] CEM: "TURKEY IS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN NATO
MEMBERSHIP"
[06] BELGIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NYETS VISITS ANKARA
[07] US HAPPY WITH TURKEY'S SOFTENING ESDP STANCE
[08] GREECE SOFTENS ESDP ACCORD VETO THREAT
[09] TURKEY COUNTERS GREEK "MASSACRE"
COMMEMORATION
[10] DERVIS GOES TO BRUSSELS FOR EU ECONOMY MINISTERS
MEETING
[11] ISBANK DIRECTOR GENERAL OZINCE: "THERE'S NO
NEED TO BE HOPELESS"
[12] CARREFOURSA OPENED IN ANKARA
[13] IRISHTAMBUL PERFORMS IN ANKARA
[14] TURKISH STORIES IN THE BALKANS
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[16] POSITIVE INITIATIVE IN CYPRUS AND 2002 OPTIMISM! BY
HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
[01] TURKEY HAILS DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETING
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that
Turkey supported the historic Denktas-Clerides face-to-face meeting.
After his receiving South African Ambassador to Turkey Lytteltonm S.
Mngqikama, Sezer answered journalists' questions on the meeting. Sezer
said, "We support the meeting as a positive step forward. I hope
that the meetings will help the two sides to find a just
settlement." Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also told reporters
yesterday that the meeting was a very affirmative step towards
tackling with the Cyprus issue. Meanwhile, the Denktas-Clerides
meeting was also welcomed in Greece. Greek Prime Minister Costas
Simitis said that he was happy with the development, adding, however,
that he was not very hopeful for a solution. /Turkiye/
[02] DE SOTO: "DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETING WAS VERY
FRUITFUL"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas met with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides
yesterday in Lefkosha. Following their one-and-an-half- hour meeting,
UN Cyprus Special Representative Alvaro de Soto told reporters that
the meeting had been very fruitful and that the two leaders agreed to
meet again in mid-January. The face-to-face meeting was held at the
request of Denktas. De Soto attended the meeting as an observer and he
took notes on it for UN Secretary-General. Kofi Annan. Denktas will
also host de Soto and Clerides tonight at a dinner. /Turkiye-All
Papers/
[03] US SECRETARY OF STATE POWELL VISITS ANKARA
US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in
Ankara yesterday. Powell is scheduled to meet with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem and to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit today. Powell is to leave Turkey
after holding a press conference in the afternoon. Turkish officials
have reportedly decided on the messages to be conveyed to Powell
during his first official visit to Turkey. Answering reporters'
questions yesterday, President Sezer clarified Turkey's message on the
issue of Iraq by stating that Turkey remains opposed to any operation
in that country. On the other hand, Powell is expected to reiterate
the US stance that Iraq poses a clear threat to the region because it
continues to produce weapons of mass destruction. According to
diplomatic sources, Powell might also request that Turkey try to
persuade Iraq to comply with UN resolutions and permit the UN
inspectors to re-enter the country. The US has concerns about Iraq's
border trade with Turkey and Jordan since it asserts that the money
Iraq earns from such activities cannot be easily controlled. Among the
main issues to be discussed during Powell's meetings in Ankara is
Turkey's future contribution to peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan.
Powell is expected to explain in detail what the US wants from Turkey.
For its part, Turkey will convey the message that it wants to take
part not only in peacekeeping efforts but also in the economic and
political restructuring processes in Afghanistan. Finally, Foreign
Minister Cem is expected to present a dossier to Powell on measures to
be taken to improve commercial cooperation between the US and Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
[04] SEZER, ECEVIT USE PHONE DIPLOMACY TO AID MIDDLE EAST
PEACE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that
Turkey is troubled by recent developments in the Middle East and
called on both sides to be calm. Sezer reportedly made a phone call to
Jordan's King Abdullah to exchange views on the developments.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is continuing his telephone
diplomacy by calling both Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Commenting that the clashes between two
sides jeopardized peace in the region, Ecevit asked them to stop the
violence as soon as possible. /Turkiye/
[05] CEM: "TURKEY IS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN NATO
MEMBERSHIP"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is
currently attending meetings of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said yesterday that Turkey is opposed to
discrimination with regard to NATO membership. After meeting with
Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase to discuss security measures
and the struggle against terrorism, Cem told journalists, "Turkey
will support NATO membership for Romania and Bulgaria in 2002."
He added that during his meeting with Nastase they had reached a
consensus to improve bilateral economic relations and had also begun
to lay the groundwork for a meeting to bring Romanian and Turkish
businessmen together. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] BELGIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NYETS VISITS ANKARA
Annemie Nyets, Belgium's deputy foreign minister,
visited Ankara yesterday and met with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Speaking to the press members,
Nyets congratulated Cem on Turkey's recent decision concerning the
European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). "We consider
Turkey's recent decision a significant development. This might
positively affect Turkey's status in the EU," said Nyets.
"The question currently being discussed whether or not to include
Turkey in Europe's future structure has not yet been resolved, but I
believe that this new development will also positively affect European
circles on the issue." Another important issue on the table
between Turkey and the EU is the possible inclusion of the PKK and the
DHKP-C on the EU's list of terrorist organizations. Answering a
question on the issue, Nyets said, "This is an extremely
sensitive issue. The EU's main concern is not to violate basic
freedoms and human rights while at the same time forming an
international coalition against terrorism." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] US HAPPY WITH TURKEY'S SOFTENING ESDP STANCE
The US State Department expressed on Sunday its
satisfaction with Turkey's conciliatory statements concerning the
European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) row with the European
Union. Kate Byrnes, the US State Department's Europe and Eurasia
Bureau spokesperson, said that the US was pleased with Turkey's
statement that it supported that process of development of the EU's
defense capabilities in close cooperation with NATO. /Turkish News/
[08] GREECE SOFTENS ESDP ACCORD VETO THREAT
Greece has previously implied that it would veto an
accord on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) if Cyprus
and Aegean were excluded from the proposed army's purview, but its
stance has reportedly begun to soften. Sources say that Greek Prime
Minister Costas Simitis has given a yellow light to the agreement made
between Turkey, Britain and the US, the aim of which was to solve the
issue of a future European army. Simitis said that his government had
examined the agreement and had not yet approved it, but he carefully
avoided creating an atmosphere of crisis. Simitis did not mention the
guarantee given to Ankara that in the event of a conflict between
Turkey and Greece, then the European army would not intervene. He only
said that Greece had certain expectations and that Greek Foreign
Minister George Papandroeu would outline Greece's position during the
next week's EU foreign ministers. Simitis added, "Turkey wants
not only to join the EU, but also to annex Northern Cyprus. Therein
lies the conflict." /Hurriyet/
[09] TURKEY COUNTERS GREEK "MASSACRE"
COMMEMORATION
The National Security Council (MGK) has suggested
to the government that it declare May 15 the "Day of Massacre of
Turks in Western Anatolia." During the MGK meeting held on Oct.
30, the Greek government's decision to declare Sept. 14 the "Day
of Massacre in Asia Minor" was taken up. To counter the Greek
move, the MGK decided to propose that Parliament observe May 15, as
the day when the Turks were massacred by the Greeks who launched a
campaign to occupy Anatolia. The MGK also suggested passing a similar
law against Armenians. /Turkiye/
[10] DERVIS GOES TO BRUSSELS FOR EU ECONOMY MINISTERS
MEETING
State Minister Kemal Dervis flew to Brussels
yesterday to attend a meeting of the EU Ministers for Economic Affairs
and Finance (ECOFIN) and the candidate countries ministers' joint G-13
meeting. Reportedly, Dervis took to Brussels a report on the financial
backing of terrorists. Dervis is accompanied on the trip by Financial
Crimes Research Council (MASAK) Deputy Chairman Kamil Karatepe. Dervis
will reportedly bring up the recent EU report on Turkey's progress
towards accession and its sections on the financing of terrorism, and
reiterate that Turkey was one of the only two countries supporting
recent steps taken to eradicate this financing, and that it would
continue by pursue every effort in this regard. /Hurriyet/
[11] ISBANK DIRECTOR GENERAL OZINCE: "THERE'S NO
NEED TO BE HOPELESS"
Isbank Director General Ersin Ozince stated
yesterday that since Turkey had such a young population, there was no
need to be hopeless about the country's future. Remarking that he
believed the loans on the way from the IMF would be used for the
benefit of all, Ozince said, "I don't think Turkey will waste the
money, as certain circles have claimed. The IMF keeps strict control
over the loans it delivers. I believe that with these loans Turkey
will manage to put its economy back on solid ground."
/Cumhuriyet/
[12] CARREFOURSA OPENED IN ANKARA
Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new
Carrefour Hypermarket and Shopping Center in Ankara, Carrefour
Executive Board Chairman Daniel Bernard said yesterday that the French
company had put together a special team to market Turkish farm
products worldwide. The director from Carrefour one of the world's
largest retail chains, added that the company supports Turkey's EU
membership bid. Also attending the ceremony were State Minister Yilmaz
Karakoyunlu, Finance Minister Sumer Oral, Sabanci Holding Executive
Board Chairman Sakip Sabanci, Turkish CarrefourSA Executive Board
Chairman Atil Saryal, Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek,
Yenimahalle Mayor Tuncay Alemdaroglu and Ankara Chamber of Commerce
Chairman Sinan Aygun. Bernard also said Carrefour was the premier food
distributor in Europe and number two in the world and that he wants
company to grow in Turkey as well. /Hurriyet/
[13] IRISHTAMBUL PERFORMS IN ANKARA
Irishtambul, a famous music group which performs
the music of different continents and cultures, will give a concert in
Ankara this Friday. Irishtambul was established by Yves Gardet and
Satilmis Karagoz, and gained additional cultural richness when Nadire
Burri, Oliver Drieu, Lionel Langlimay, Antoine Simoni joined the
group. Irishtambul's concert will be held on Dec. 7 at Migros Shopping
Center, Sanatolia Theatre in Ankara. /Sabah/
[14] TURKISH STORIES IN THE BALKANS
The Directorate General of Press and Information
has published an "Anthology of Turkish Stories in the
Balkans" prepared by correspondent Hasan Mercan. The anthology
contains over 100 stories from Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania
and western Thrace. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[16] POSITIVE INITIATIVE IN CYPRUS AND 2002 OPTIMISM! BY
HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Hasan Cemal comments on recent
developments and the cautious optimism seen on the eve of the New Year
in contrast to the year now ending. A summary of his column is as
follows: "Turkey entered the year 2000 in an optimistic mood. Its
achievement of candidacy status for EU membership and the adoption of
a reformist economic program were the reasons underlying this
optimism. However, we faced 2001 in a very different mood. The
coalition government failed to inspire any trust, and the initiatives
required by the EU candidacy were struck on the runway. Delays and
mistakes regarding the economic program issued the first signals of an
important crisis. Turkey is entering the year 2002 in an optimistic
mood as it catches a new opportunity. Certain steps which must be
taken concerning the new developments in both local and foreign
politics may open the path in front of Turkey. There are two causes
for optimism. One is the European army and the other is the Cyprus
question. A compromise has been reached over the first one, and a door
to compromise has been opened regarding the other. Both of these are
important developments which are positively influencing Turkey's
relations with the US and expanding the area where it can move more
freely for national security reasons. Turkey did not want to be
excluded from the European army, otherwise known as European Security
and Defence Policy (ESDP). However, there has been certain
difficulties and concerns regarding the issue, as Turkey is not an EU
member. Turkey's strategic location and its importance within NATO
facilitated overcoming these obstacles. If Greece doesn't any new
complaints an agreement bringing Turkey closer to Europe will be
reached as Turkey becomes a part of the European defence identity.
Another fresh start was seen on the Cyprus issue, which had damaged
Turkey's relations with the EU and the US. Denktas and Clerides, met
in Nicosia face to face after four years and, what is more, stated
that they would keep on meeting. The summit between Denktas and
Clerides has shown that a serious negotiation process will begin in
2002. Cyprus is at a crossroads. Everyone is talking abut cautious
optimism, including Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. If the Ecevit
government convinces Parliament to adopt the mini-democracy package,
continues to fight inflation and to restructure the economy, and if
the Cyprus problem gets onto the right track, the road before Turkey
will be opened up."
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