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Turkish Press Review, 04-01-08Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning08.01.2004FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ANKARAA summit chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will be held at the Presidential Palace this morning to discuss a new Cyprus plan prepared by Turkish officials in line with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan. In addition to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul are expected to attend the gathering. In related news, Sezer yesterday received main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. After the meeting, Baykal told reporters that before today’s Cyprus summit, the president had asked him about his party’s views on the issue. /All Papers/[02] ERDOGAN VISITS SIIRTPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday paid a one-day visit to the southeastern Anatolian city of Siirt. He attended a number of opening ceremonies and officials briefed him about problems faced by the city. Addressing its citizens, Erdogan said that his government was working hard to improve the standards of living standards of the entire country. “If we don’t do the same thing in Siirt that we’ve done in Istanbul or other large cities, we can’t say that we’ve fulfilled our duty,” said the premier. /Turkiye/[03] TALAT HOLDS MEETINGS TOWARDS FORMING NEW TRNC GOVERNMENTTurkish Cyprus’ Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat is continuing his efforts to form a new Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) government. Towards this end, yesterday he met with Peace and Democracy Movement (BDP) leader Mustafa Akinci. Afterwards, Talat said that he was thinking of forming a broad-based government. The CTP leader is also set to meet with Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas this morning, where Denktas is expected to respond to Talat’s proposal to form a coalition government. In related news, commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statement encouraging a four-party coalition, TRNC National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said that if the other party leaders favored that option, then the UBP would also consider it. /Turkiye/[04] TURKEY TELLS ASSAD IT COULD AS FACILITATOR BETWEEN SYRIA, ISRAELOn the second day of his historic visit to Turkey, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was yesterday received by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and main opposition Republican People’s Party Chairman Deniz Baykal. He also telephoned senior statesman Bulent Ecevit, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) chairman and former prime minister, to convey to him messages of goodwill and friendship. Assad and his accompanying delegation then proceeded to Istanbul to hold talks with Turkish businessmen towards boosting trade and investment between the neighboring countries. During Assad’s contacts with Turkish officials, Ankara offered to act as a facilitator between Syria and Israel in a bid to end decades of hostility between the two countries. Diplomatic sources stated that since the only country placed to mediate between the two hostile countries is the United States, which has its own problems with Syria, Turkey’s possible contribution could only help the process of reconciliation. Ankara is ready to host any future Syrian-Israeli talks and also to convey messages both ways, said the sources. Asked about Turkey’s future role in Syrian-Israeli relations, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al- Sharaa said, “We trust Turkey, which is why we’re ready to cooperate in all areas.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to receive Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Pinhas Avivi today to brief him on the Syrian leader’s visit. /Cumhuriyet/[05] POWELL: “NORTHERN IRAQ CANNOT BECOME INDEPENDENT”Though the Kurds of northern Iraq want to preserve their “historic identity, ” their region absolutely must remain part of a united Iraq, declared US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday. Asked about recent media reports saying that Washington might be moving towards allowing “autonomy” in northern Iraq, Powell had this to say: “[These] stories … I think, perhaps, overstated what our position is. Our position is to let the Iraqis work this out. It was the position of the United States from the very beginning of this crisis that it had to remain one single integrated country. How it organizes itself, recognizing the major constituencies in the nation, remains to be determined. We will work with the Iraqis, as they work their way through this challenging issue for them … But, clearly, the Kurds wish, in some way, to preserve their historic identity and to link it in some way to geography. But I think it's absolutely clear that that part of Iraq [i.e., northern Iraq] must remain part of Iraq.” To a follow-up question about whether this process of Iraqi organization could be “managed without irritating or antagonizing Turkey,” Powell replied, “Well, we are not looking to irritate or antagonize anyone; certainly neither are the Iraqis. And as this plan develops … we'll be in close consultation, not only with Turkey, but with … all the other neighbors in the region who have an interest as well.”[06] GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS: “ANNAN READY TO BEGIN NEW NEGOTIATIONS”According to the Greek Cypriot press, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is planning to initiate peace talks between the leaders of the Cypriot nations for later this month or early February. Annan’s letters of invitation to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypirot leader Tassos Papadopulos are reportedly ready to be sent. Greek Cypriot daily Politis reported that US President George W. Bush had sent letters to Papadopulos along with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling on the leaders to resume negotiations at month’s-end. In addition, US Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman also attended recent UN meetings on Cyprus to lay out Washington’s stance on the issue. “The UN and the US both want the negotiations period to last for one-and-a-half months,” wrote Politis. “They hope that the Cypriot public can vote on it at the end of March or the beginning of April at the latest.” /Cumhuriyet/[07] TUSIAD TO LOBBY FOR TURKEY’S EU BID IN BERLINThe Turkish Industralists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) is set today to begin lobbying for Turkey’s European Union membership bid in Berlin. Towards this end, a TUSIAD delegation led by Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan is set to travel to the German capital for a two-day visit. The delegation is first expected to meet with officials from the German Industrialists’ Federation and later with a number of German politicians and businessmen. /Hurriyet/[08] IMF SEVENTH REVIEW TO BEGIN NEXT WEEKRiza Moghadam, the International Monetary Fund’s Turkey desk chief, is expected to arrive in Ankara next week to begin the seventh review of the nation’s economic program. During the review, a number of issues are due to be addressed, including recent economic developments, projections for 2004, and the unregistered economy. /Milliyet/[09] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[10] TIME TO DECIDE BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the need for Turkey to make a decision on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“It’s finally time for Turkey to make a definite decision on Cyprus. The Cyprus summit set for the Presidential Palace today will give the broad outlines of Ankara’s policy on both UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan and new Cyprus negotiations. I say ‘finally’ because for months there’s been a cacophony of voices from Ankara. Statements made on behalf of the government favored the start of negotiations on the basis of Annan’s plan, but certain political and military circles said the opposite. It’s expected that the palace gathering will determine the policy we’ll follow from here on out. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) political leaders who are continuing their efforts to establish a new TRNC government with their President Rauf Denktas are waiting for Ankara’s signal. Now TRNC Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas might establish a coalition. The DP doesn’t oppose negotiations based on Annan’s plan and thus, Denktas is closer to the CTP’s stance than the National Unity Party’s (UBP). If Ankara has a clear position supporting negotiations on the basis of Annan’s plan and can bring President Denktas around, such a coalition might be established. Then the TRNC will have a new government and new negotiations with President Denktas’s participation can start. Considering the alternative is worrying. As there is no other way to form a TRNC coalition, the only way to solve this crisis would be to hold fresh polls. However, this would cause a delay and effectively end all chance of finding a solution. The Turkish side doesn’t have this luxury. Later this month, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Annan in New York and then President George W. Bush in Washington. We hope Turkey will agree to start negotiations under this framework. Of course this doesn’t mean accepting Annan’s plan completely. The Turkish side will be able to bring its suggested changes to the table. However, suggesting an ‘alternative’ plan on a new platform without Annan’s plan is unacceptable to the UN, the US and the European Union. Ankara should take these realities into consideration in deciding its stance. The government is in a pickle now. It wants a solution to the Cyprus issue and feels that such is necessary due to such factors as its EU membership bid, relations with the US, and its position in the UN. In addition, it’s facing opposition from certain circles in both the TRNC and Turkey who reject Annan’s plan. That’s why the government’s policy of late has zig- zagged. However, the time for decision has finally come. The government should be courageous enough to make a definite decision and continue its determination.” [11] A NEW ERA WITH SYRIA BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s current visit to Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:“The only recent causality in our relations with Damascus was when a Syrian reporter fell and broke his arm. We hope that these relations, which are developing step by step, become permanent and continue to bear fruit. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s three-day visit to Turkey is a good beginning for the 21st century after cool relations in the 20th. With a 750- kilometer common frontier, Syria is the neighbor with which we share the longest border. Our hostility towards each other is longstanding. But four or five years ago when Syria was mentioned, the following came to mind: * Its support for terrorist groups * Its opposition to Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) and objections to the use of the Euphrates’ waters * Its habit of trying to claim Hatay * Putting sentences into joint Arab statements that displeased Turkey Now things are very different from the matters listed above. It’s too early for total optimism. But going down such a road is not only good for our two countries, but is also an important development from many other aspects. This will be clear when we consider the opposite of the negative matters listed above. Economic relations are an important bridge. Some borders were closed due terrorism. Now new border gates are opening between Turkey and Syria, and mines are being removed. A new consulate in Gaziantep is being considered. Businessmen from both countries constantly visit the other. Syria’s view on Hatay is this: We all know that this policy has died, but no one wants to be the one to pronounce it dead. Looking at Assad’s visit from a wider perspective, the following things stand out: The Syrian president was in Athens in mid December. He also sent positive messages from there. Syria, 10% of whose population is Christian, sees Greece as another door to rapprochement with Europe. While doing this, Syria is also hoping to chip away at US economic sanctions. As a matter of fact, Assad’s visit to Ankara is being carefully watched by Washington. Asked whether he was disturbed by Assad’s visit to Turkey, US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said, ‘No ... There are many interests that we share in common with Turkey: stability in the region, stability in Iraq, in particular, and for Turkey to discuss those issues with Syria, I think we're fairly comfortable that there is a common approach to these issues.’ We can translate this like so: ‘Turkey can have relations with Syria without harming our objectives!’ Israel, which is also carefully monitoring the visit, is closely observing every step Syria makes. The diplomatic atmosphere in Ankara is this: Turkey can’t be a mediator between Israel and Syria, but it could be an element that makes things easier. This should be, after a fashion, a ‘light’ way of mediating. Another sign that relations with Syria would affect Arab countries was that the ambassadors from Arab countries welcomed Assad when he arrived in Turkey. May our good relations with Syria continue.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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