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Turkish Press Review, 04-02-13Turkish 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 morning13.02.2004FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] SEZER MEETS WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO PRESIDENTPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday met with Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic, who arrived in Ankara yesterday for an official visit. “Although we don’t share common borders, we see each other as neighbors and want to further develop our relations to highest possible level,” stated Sezer, adding that this would also contribute to the regional peace. He further praised reform efforts in Serbia and Montenegro over the past three years. For his part, Marovic said that his visit was of great importance since Turkey was one of the most influential countries of the region. /Milliyet/[02] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SECRETARY GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL AMNESTYInternational Amnesty Deputy-Secretary Irene Khan yesterday visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the one-hour meeting, pointing to the pleasure of the Amnesty International upon Turkey’s recent reforms on human rights and freedom of speech, Khan requested DEP deputies Leyla Zana and Hatip Dicle to be released. Erdogan said that the topic was a matter of judgment. He criticized the Amnesty International for its stance to different ideologues. Stating that the organization didn’t interested in him during his trial due to a poem he read out, Erdogan charged of the Amnesty International to apply double standards. /Turkiye/[03] CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM PREVAILS IN THE THIRD DAY OF CYPRUS TALKSGreek and Turkish Cypriots yesterday talked for a third day and into the night, amid cautious optimism a deal was within reach to reunite Cyprus before it joins the European Union. The talks between Un Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas began two hours later than scheduled, and no reason was given for the delay. The negotiations stretched past nine hours, alternating between face-to-face and indirect sessions. Greek, Turkish, British and US envoys shuttled in and out of the talks as the evening progressed, seeking to move things along and keep the pressure on both sides to reach agreement. Prospects for an agreement improved after Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas proposed a tight timetable that appeared to satisfy a key condition set out by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Denktas’ timetable broadly incorporated Annan's insistence the parties agree in advance to submit any final agreement to separate referendums in the Turkish Cypriot north and Greek Cypriot south on April 21. The Greek Cypriots yesterdau called for EU involvement in the Cyprus negotiations. Greek Cypriot envoys also questioned whether a new UN Security Council resolution would be needed to authorize Annan to resolve disputes in place of the parties. /All Papers/[04] GUL: “THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BEFOREHAND”Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that there was not any pressure on Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue. “The steps we have taken have been determined beforehand,” said Gul, addressing a conference organized by Strategic Researches Center. “Whatever we have done have been determined beforehand,” stated the foreign minister. “Things that have been planned step by step continue. Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) together decided for the steps that would be taken.” Gul added, “Turkey has carried out a very fastidious work over the issue. We have been pursuing a national policy. Therefore, we listen to the views of everyone.” /Aksam/[05] DENKTAS: “ANKARA AND ATHENS SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS”Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, currently in New York, yesterday met with Greek Cyprus leader Tassos Papadopoulos and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the Cyprus issue. Speaking afterwards, Denktas said that he did not think that Greek Cypriot administration would refuse the TRNC administration’s proposal to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN, adding that Annan also welcomed the Turkish side’s proposals. “The formula found by Turkey for a resolution is a good one,” he said, adding that Ankara and Athens should also participate in negotiations. /Milliyet/[06] CoE SECRETARY GENERAL SCHWIMMER CALLS ON THE LEADERS OF CYPRUS TO REUNITE THE ISLAND BEFORE EU ACCESSIONCouncil of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer yesterday appealed to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders not to miss the historic opportunity to reunite Cyprus before its accession to the EU on May 1. “Never has the hope for a breakthrough towards a settlement been higher,” said Schwimmer. “I fully share the desire of the Cypriot people that their leaders reach an agreement.” He also announced that he planned to invite Cypriot party leaders to Strasbourg at the beginning of March, as a follow-up to a similar meeting held in July last year. Representatives of other international bodies concerned with the Cyprus issue will also be invited to this meeting. “It is important that the international community stands ready to assist in the implementation of a solution,” added Schwimmer. /Turkiye/[07] ATHENS HOLDS AN EMERGENCY SUMMIT TO RESPOND DENKTAS’ PROPOSALAfter Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas proposed a new timetable aimed at breaking a deadlock in Cyprus peace talks in the second day of the peace talks, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday canceled at the last minute a visit to Cyprus to court Greek voters there to hold a emergency summit with Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens. Greece yesterday said that it had made no decision yet on whether to accept the plan. “We need to have a clear view of the ideas that are on the table (before making a decision),” Papandreou told reporters after an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. “We are in a very close contact with Papadopoulos, so that we guarantee that those procedures lead to a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue,” Papandreou said. Government sources said Simitis would discuss the plan with Papadopoulos later in the day before meeting Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos. “Our decision, whatever that is, will be a common one with the Greek Cypriot side,” he told reporters. /All Papers/[08] BAHCELI VISITS AGARAs part of his tour of political parties’ leaders to discuss the Cyprus issue, yesterday Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli visited True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar. After their meeting, stressing that the Cyprus issue was a national case, Bahceli said that up to now all governments had taken up the topic as a matter above parties. For his part, Agar said that his party was patiently waiting for the results of the ongoing talks in New York. He added that he expected the government to brief on recent developments on the Cyprus case next week in Parliament. /Turkiye/[09] PERES: “TURKEY CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST”Israeli former Foreign Minister and leader of Labor Party Shimon Peres yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. Peres met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and then Baykal. During the meetings, Peres said that Turkey was a sole example among Muslim countries with its modern structure. Stressing that Turkey would be a bridge between the Middle East and the European Union when it becomes a EU member, he claimed that the EU could play more active role in the Middle East to solve its problems through Turkey. Peres added that Turkey could play a key role during a peace process in the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/[10] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS[11] SOLUTION IN CYPRUS BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the solution of Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“A four-power summit will be held with the participation of Turkey and Greece about the issues on which a consensus couldn’t have been reached at the end of technical works to be done until March 26. If there are still disagreements, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will fill the gaps in the draft agreement to be presented to referendum. The four-power summit means the ‘registration of political equality,’ requested by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The current situation is considered the result of the policy of ‘going one step ahead,’ started by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan returns from Cyprus after taking the step towards the solution. At this point, Ankara’s pressure is unquestionable. There is a plan of game in Cyprus and the parties are playing their own roles. If there weren’t the target of May 1 and the EU membership, the Cyprus problem would continue 40 years more with this bargaining. Denktas doesn’t want the current situation to be considered a ‘victory.’ Considering Denktas, one of the key names in the delegation says, ‘If I had been in his place, I would have resigned immediately.’ However, Denktas is a very severe negotiator. Will the current situation unlock the lack of solution in the Cyprus problem? Actually two doors will be unlocked. Besides Greek Cypriot administration, Turkey’s EU membership seems possible. The solution before May 1 will make it easier to receive a date of negotiation at the end of 2004.” [12] BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of her column is as follows:“This time, the Turkish side is determined not to be ‘the party that escapes from the negotiation table.’ Not only with tactical steps but also with very radical decisions. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) accepted the Annan plan, the calendar for the establishment of the new state, to go for a referendum, and forming a united state before May 1. We shouldn’t get into the failure that Denktas had first said ‘no’ to the plan and now is accepting it. Denktas explains this as follows: ‘Kofi Annan was saying that he wouldn’t make any changes to the plan. But we saw that he started to say that he would be a little flexible. And we said ok.’ A new era of struggle begins for Denktas. He is preparing for a struggle to establish the new sate. A very critical period will begin after the first stage in Annan’s calendar, suggesting the parties to meet and put forward their proposals for changes. The Turks and the Greeks will establish working committees of jurists, diplomats, politicians, bureaucrats and technocrats to prepare the agreement for the establishment. The studies are expected to begin until the end of February. Meanwhile, there are disputes about the flag, preparing the constitution and all these issues are very sensitive. The happenings will not only effect the people’s fate of the island but also ours. This will be a process, which will be observed very carefully. But a very important factor would be overseen, if this concern is despised. That is the public opinion, one of the most fundamental bases of the new state.” 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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