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Turkish Press Review, 03-12-16
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
16.12.2003
FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN TO VISIT UZBEKISTAN
[02] GUL: “ANKARA AND CYPRUS WILL ACT TOGETHER”
[03] CICEK: “THE EU SHOULD GIVE TURKEY A DATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS”
[04] AZERBAIJAN LAYS LATE PRESIDENT ALIYEV TO REST
[05] EU: “TALKS OVER CYPRUS SHOULD RESUME SOON”
[06] DENKTAS CALLS FOR TRILATERAL CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS’ FUTURE, WARNS OF POSSIBLE NEW POLLS
[07] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT”
[08] ANNAN: “THE UN SETTLEMENT PLAN FOR CYPRUS IS STILL ON THE TABLE”
[09] NEW WB REPORT LAYS OUT PROMISE, RISK IN TURKEY
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
[11] ANKARA PLEASED WITH POLL RESULTS BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN TO VISIT UZBEKISTAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a delegation, is
scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan to pay a three-day official visit
beginning on Thursday. During Erdogan’s meetings with Uzbek officials, both
bilateral relations and international developments are expected to be
discussed. /Turkiye/
[02] GUL: “ANKARA AND CYPRUS WILL ACT TOGETHER”
Commenting on Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC), Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that nobody in the
TRNC could act independent of Turkey’s view. “Of course, nothing may happen
without Ankara’s approval,” stated Gul. “After all, in the end, any
development on the island needs the Turkish Parliament’s ratification.”
Under international treaties, Turkey has the status of a guarantor nation
for the island. Before his departure for a visit to Japan, Gul told
reporters that in the aftermath of the TRNC elections all parties should
act cooperatively and reasonably, adding that work was ongoing both in
Lefkosa and Ankara to find an optimal solution to the current situation.
/Turkiye/
[03] CICEK: “THE EU SHOULD GIVE TURKEY A DATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS”
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday urged the European Union to issue a
date at the end of 2004 for Turkey to begin its accession talks, warning
that if it fails to do so, “This would be discrimination, and that way lies
radicalism.” En route to Ankara after attending the funeral of former
Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, Cicek spoke to reporters on board the
plane. Commenting on Saddam Hussein’s recent capture, Cicek said that
throughout history no society had felt happy under dictatorial rule. Cicek
stressed the importance of Turkey’s status as the only democratic country
in the Islamic world. Warning the EU countries about radicalism, Cicek said,
“If certain countries are complaining about radicalism, they should support
Turkey.” He added that a strong and powerful Turkey would serve all
countries’ interests. Concerning Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Cicek stressed that the TRNC had conducted
democratic elections under the auspices of more than 500 people and
institutions, and that everybody should respect the results. /Turkiye/
[04] AZERBAIJAN LAYS LATE PRESIDENT ALIYEV TO REST
A state funeral was held yesterday for former Azerbaijani President Haydar
Aliyev, with thousands of his fellow countrymen in attendance. Aliyev was
buried in the “Honorary Cemetery” following a seven-kilometer funeral
procession from Baku’s Presidential Palace. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi
Ozkok all attended the funeral. /Sabah/
[05] EU: “TALKS OVER CYPRUS SHOULD RESUME SOON”
Turkish Cypriots favor settlement on the island and both sides should
resume talks in line with United Nations Secretary-Genaral Kofi Annan’s
Cyprus plan, the European Commission declared yesterday. “With their votes
in Sunday's elections, a majority of citizens in the northern part of
Cyprus ... expressed their will to put an end to the status quo," said Jean-
Christophe Filori, the spokesman for EU Commissioner for Enlargement
Guenter Verheugen. "We urge the authorities to draw their conclusions from
this poll and as soon as possible to come back to the negotiating table"
using the framework of the United Nations plan, he added. /Turkiye/
[06] DENKTAS CALLS FOR TRILATERAL CONFERENCE ON CYPRUS’ FUTURE, WARNS OF
POSSIBLE NEW POLLS
Sunday’s election results show that Turkish Cypriots back the reunification
of Cyprus and European Union membership, but not at any price, said Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday.
Speaking at a Lefkosa press conference, Denktas stressed that the results
of the recent polls should not be misinterpreted to mean that the Turkish
Cypriots are ready to make concessions from their own or Turkey’s rights
for the sake of EU membership. “Half the people say 'let's enter [the EU]
immediately with the [UN] plan' ... the other half say 'let's enter but not
by trampling on international agreements',” said Denktas. “They are divided
on the means, and our Parliament is deadlocked,” referring to the split
legislature produced by the polls. Denktas called on both Turkey and Greece
as well as the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to hold a conference to
comprehensively discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue. “Let me
put it clearly that I promote a confederational solution, one with two
states and two zones,” added the longtime TRNC leader. “I will hold
consultations with the rival parties and give a mandate to one of them. If
they can't form a government within two months we will have to go to a new
election.” Hopes of a quick reunification on the island were dashed when
Sunday’s polls ended in a deadlock after Turkish Cypriots elected a 50-
member Parliament, evenly split between opponents and supporters of
negotiations with the Greek Cypriots to enter the EU jointly. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE FOR
A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT”
Praising the results of Sunday’s polls on Cyprus, US State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher stated yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots had
expressed their desire for a comprehensive settlement enabling them to join
the EU next May alongside the Greek Cypriots. “We hope a new administration
will be in place as soon as possible that will carry out the will of the
majority of Turkish Cypriots,” said Boucher. “This vote advances the cause
of peace on Cyprus. It is a vote for hope over fear.” The State Department
also yesterday dispatched special coordinator Thomas Weston to the region.
Weston is due to visit Athens, Lefkosa_Nicosia and Ankara, hoping to use
momentum from the vote to promote support for the United Nations plan.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] ANNAN: “THE UN SETTLEMENT PLAN FOR CYPRUS IS STILL ON THE TABLE”
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday signalled that a
months-old controversial UN settlement plan for Cyprus was still on the
table. “[Annan] takes this opportunity to restate his position, which is
that his plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem remains
on the table but that he does not propose to take a new initiative without
solid reason to believe that the political will necessary for a successful
outcome exists,” UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that it appeared that it might take some time for a new
political configuration to be established. “Annan hopes that the Turkish
Cypriot side -- and indeed all parties -- will soon be in a position to
make the necessary commitment so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the
European Union next May,” the statement added. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] NEW WB REPORT LAYS OUT PROMISE, RISK IN TURKEY
Turkey has the potential to become a member of the European Union, said
World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Region Shigeo Katsu
yesterday, speaking upon the release of a new World Bank report on Turkey.
According to the report, the nation still faces risks of public debt,
reconfiguration of companies, a tight labor market and foreign capital. “If
Ankara continues to carry out its reforms and holds its 5% growth rate,
then the shadow of the 2001 economic crisis will be lifted entirely,” the
report added. Katsu is currently in the midst of a four-day visit to
Turkey. /Aksam/
[10] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
[11] ANKARA PLEASED WITH POLL RESULTS BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Taha Akyol comments on Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). A summary of his column is as follows:
“I asked a very influential Ankara policymaker how the government had
received the results of Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). ‘We’re pleased,’ he told me. ‘The results are
optimal. Because if the ruling party had won hands-down, it might have
seemed a clear victory for the uncompromising status quo policy. But if the
opposition had won, it might have seemed that those favoring acceptance of
Kofi Annan’s plan just for European Union membership had won.’ The votes
are so divided that it’s impossible for any one side to make a decision by
itself. Any side trying to make a decision single-handedly would face a
backlash from the other side, thus threatening a serious polarization and
instability within the TRNC. These words I heard in Ankara are very
important as well: ‘Of course TRNC President Rauf Denktas got this message.
No side will treat Turkey stubbornly.’
Back in 1985, Denktas received 71% of votes in the first round of
presidential elections. In the next elections the votes were divided due to
Dervis Eroglu, but Denktas emerged successful in the second round as well.
Up to now the opposition vote has never exceeded 30%. So what happened for
the opposition to win 51% of the votes in the weekend’s elections? More
importantly, what would happen if the process which cut Denktas’ votes from
70% to 49% were to continue?
Ankara will tell Denktas, ‘The results of the elections are clear. Bargains
should be made over Annan’s plan to open the way for EU membership.’ Now
Denktas should try to build a consensus among the TRNC’s various parties
and tell both his nation and Ankara that he will open the way for EU
membership towards this end. Now it’s time to convince the world that we
want a solution by negotiating over Annan’s plan and making use of all
available political opportunities. Denktas shouldn’t become a factional
leader in his country, but should instead help the TRNC and Ankara pave the
way for EU membership.”
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