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Turkish Press Review, 04-04-14
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
14.04.2004
FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
CONTENTS
[01] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV VISITS TURKEY
[02] GEN. OZKOK: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON THEIR FUTURE”
[03] ERDOGAN: “I HOPE CYPRUS REFERENDUMS WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE ON THE ISLAND”
[04] GUL: “GREEK CYPRIOT EFFORTS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUMS SHOW A LACK OF GOOD WILL”
[05] ANNAN: “IF THE TURKISH SIDE ALSO WANTS THE REFERENDUMS POSTPONED, WE COULD CONSIDER IT”
[06] TALAT DISCUSSES REFERENDUMS WITH GREEK CYPRIOT POLITICAL PARTY OFFICIALS
[07] GREEK CYPRIOT CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS IN ROW OVER UN PLAN
[08] BABACAN MEETS WITH JAPANESE FINANCE MINISTER, INVESTORS
[09] DERVIS STEPS DOWN FROM CHP ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS
[10] ISTANBUL HOSTS CONGRESS OF ISLAMIC WORLD DEMOCRATS
[11] CANADIAN NAVY CHIEF VISITS TURKEY
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] THE US’ SWAMP BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
[01] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV VISITS TURKEY
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accompanied by his wife yesterday
arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit at the invitation of President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After meetings between the two presidents and their
delegations, five agreements were signed on a variety of topics. Speaking
to reporters, Sezer said that during their meetings, regional issues
including upper Karabakh had been taken up. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and a proposal for a Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline were also
discussed, added the president. A joint declaration signed by the two
presidents called on Armenia to withdraw from Azeri territories it
currently occupies. In the evening, Sezer hosted a banquet in the first
Azeri couple’s honor. /Hurriyet/
[02] GEN. OZKOK: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON THEIR FUTURE”
In a press conference yesterday, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok
laid out the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) views on the Cyprus issue. Ozkok
stated that Turkey attaches great importance to Cyprus both for the safety
of Turkish Cypriots living there and the island’s strategic importance.
Commenting on the United Nations Cyprus plan, the chief commander said,
“The plan has both positive and negative points. The TSK will not take a
strict position on the matter. The final decision belongs to the Turkish
Cypriots and Parliament.” Stressing that Turkish Cypriots should be assured
that their decision would be made freely, without any local or foreign
pressure, Ozkok remarked that the most important point of the plan was to
include derogations for Turkish Cyprus in the European Union’s primary law.
“We are sure that the Turkish people [of Cyprus] and our Parliament will
make the best decision,” added Ozkok. /Sabah/
[03] ERDOGAN: “I HOPE CYPRUS REFERENDUMS WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE ON THE
ISLAND”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Japan for an
official visit, yesterday attended a meeting of the Turkish-Japanese
Friendship Association in Tokyo. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said
that Turkey had made significant progress with its economy and was now
facing a busy foreign policy agenda. The premier stressed that he expects
the European Union this December to give Ankara a date to begin accession
talks, adding that the EU also favored a Cyprus resolution. Erdogan further
expressed further appreciation for Japanese Prince Mikasa’s efforts to
promote modern Turkey through such activities as “The Year of Turkey.”
Later, speaking at a press conference, Erdogan said that he had hoped that
Cyprus referendums set for April 24 would pave the way for peace on the
island. /Aksam/
[04] GUL: “GREEK CYPRIOT EFFORTS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUMS SHOW A LACK OF
GOOD WILL”
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) group meeting
yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul complained that Greek Cypriots
were showing a lack of good will in their efforts to postpone referendums
on the island currently scheduled for April 24. “A postponement of the
referendums would guarantee the Greek Cypriots’ European Union membership,”
he added. In related news, an internal Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Democratic Party (DP) referendum yesterday showed that 64% of its members
oppose the plan. DP leader Serdar Denktas is expected to announce his
opposition this Friday. /Aksam/
[05] ANNAN: “IF THE TURKISH SIDE ALSO WANTS THE REFERENDUMS POSTPONED, WE
COULD CONSIDER IT”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that
if the Turkish side were to second Greek Cypriot requests to postpone the
Cyprus referendums set for April 24, then the UN could “reflect on” the
issue and perhaps elect to postpone them. "There has been a suggestion by
one of the parties that the referendum be postponed to give them more time
to campaign, but this has not been taken up by the other parties who were
in the agreement," said Annan. "If the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, with the
support of the governments of Turkey and Greece, were to ask for a
postponement, that is something we will have to reflect on, but there has
been no such request," He added, however, that such a delay would mean
Greek Cyprus joining the European Union alone. /Milliyet/
[06] TALAT DISCUSSES REFERENDUMS WITH GREEK CYPRIOT POLITICAL PARTY
OFFICIALS
In an unprecedented trip to Greek Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with officials
from Greek Cypriot political parties, including Dimitris Christofias, the
leader of the Communist AKEL Party, to discuss island-wide referendums
scheduled for April 24. Speaking afterwards, Christofias reiterated his
call for the referendums’ postponement, adding that both sides could accept
the plan at later referendums. For his part, Talat said that despite some
deficiencies the plan was a compromise acceptable for both sides. The
premier warned that any postponement would create serious problems for his
fellow Turkish Cypriots, who he said could stand no further delays. “If we
can’t reach a resolution now, it will be more difficult in the future,” he
said, adding that he wanted the island to join the EU reunified. In related
news, US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday telephoned Talat to
express appreciation for his efforts to reach a resolution on the island.
Powell added that the US would continue to do its utmost to promote a
Cyprus resolution. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] GREEK CYPRIOT CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS IN ROW OVER UN PLAN
Greek Cypriot Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias yesterday announced
his resignation, citing his disagreement with the Greek Cypriot
leadership's opposition to the UN plan for the island. Kazamias, who is a
member of the Communist Party (AKEL), said "I have tendered my resignation
as minister to the president [Tassos Papadopoulos] and given my personal
reasons for saying so," later adding, "It is not so much that the president
said no, but the way he arrived at his conclusions and the way he presented
the plan during his address to the public last Wednesday." /Turkiye/
[08] BABACAN MEETS WITH JAPANESE FINANCE MINISTER, INVESTORS
Accompanying Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his state visit to Japan,
State Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with Japanese Finance Minister
Osaka Sadakazý Tanigaki and other officials. Meeting later with Japanese
investors, Babacan touted Turkey’s ongoing economic program and initiatives
to ease foreign investment. Babacan later visited Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Kyosuke Shinozawa and discussed
projects on which the two countries might cooperate, such as the Istanbul
Strait Tube Tunnel, a third strait crossing, and railway upgrades. /Star/
[09] DERVIS STEPS DOWN FROM CHP ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman and Central
Executive Council (MYK) member Kemal Dervis yesterday announced he was
stepping down from his party administrative posts. Dervis, who first rose
to prominence as economy minister after the February 2001 economic crisis,
will remain a CHP deputy from Istanbul. The CHP has been in turmoil since
its disappointing performance in last month’s local elections, with
opposition groups in the party calling on Chairman Deniz Baykal and other
top leaders to step down. Speaking to reporters, Dervis said that he would
continue as a regular party member to work to draw all Turkey’s social
democrats to the CHP. /Hurriyet/
[10] ISTANBUL HOSTS CONGRESS OF ISLAMIC WORLD DEMOCRATS
Democracy and freedom must be enshrined in and protected by the rule of law,
said Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday in Istanbul at the Congress of
Democrats from the Islamic World meeting, which is sponsored by the United
Nations Development Program and the Washington-based National Democratic
Institute for International Affairs. “There is no need to question whether
there is any contradiction between Islam and democracy,” added Cicek. “Let
me clearly state that [terrorism] has nothing to do with the essence of
Islam ... Democracy, human rights and the rule of law are very urgent needs
for the Islamic community." One of the objectives of the two-day conference
is to highlight the fact that the fundamentals of democratic governance
already exist in most Muslim countries. /Turkiye/
[11] CANADIAN NAVY CHIEF VISITS TURKEY
Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ozden Ornek yesterday met with his visiting
Canadian counterpart Vice Admiral Ron Buck. Speaking afterwards, Ornek said
that he had hoped bilateral relations would further develop after the
visit. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] THE US’ SWAMP BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on the difficult situation faced by the US
in Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The US is paying the price for the violent policies of Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld and his underlings. It won’t be able to escape from the
quagmire it’s gotten stuck in. That swamp will ultimately be the downfall
of US President George W. Bush and Rumsfeld. In an ironic twist, Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi this week requested help from visiting
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the release of Japanese
hostages in Iraq. If the Republican People’s Party (CHP) had voted for the
proposal to deploy Turkish soldiers in Iraq back in March, most probably
now Erdogan himself would be seeking foreign help for the release of
Mehmetciks. I wonder if Erdogan thought of this. The ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) is very lucky. It escaped from the swamp just
before stepping in. Actually the entire nation is lucky because of this.
Recently retired Gen. Ilhan Kilic told me this about the Iraq issue: ‘If
foreign forces occupying a country don’t get the support of 80% of the
locals, they won’t be able to establish control of the country. This is the
primary rule of the issue. What’s more, it’s the US which laid down this
rule.’ However, the US did just the opposite in Iraq, flouting the strategy
they taught the world. Kilic added, ‘The US can’t possibly ensure control
in Iraq in this situation. The violence will gradually escalate.’ Figures
show the seriousness of the situation: More than 800 Iraqi civilians have
died in conflicts since the beginning of this month. Bush confessed the
difficulty of the situation by saying, ‘I pray we’ll have fewer losses.’
This is the price of following the policies of violence-soaked Rumsfeld.”
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