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Turkish Press Review, 04-12-27Turkish 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 morning27.12.2004FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF MAYORSPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday highlighted the importance of the role of mayors in democracies. Speaking at a training seminar in Kizilcihamam, Ankara, organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Istanbul Chairmanship, Erdogan said that his government was looking at ways to strengthen local administrations. He urged all AKP mayors to work hard to serve the people and the nation. “Even if you expect to lose the next round of elections, don’t hesitate to do what should be done,” added Erdogan. During his speech, the premier also expressed his grief over yesterday’s devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis in south Asia, and pledged that Turkey would do its best via its missions in the region to help countries hit by the disaster. /Turkiye/[02] BAYKAL: “THE EU’S DECISION AT THE SUMMIT WASN’T A GOOD ONE”Appearing on television yesterday, Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal claimed that the European Union’s recent decision on Turkey’s membership talks was not a good one, citing in particular possible restrictions on the free movement of Turkish workers in the EU. “Our citizens have yet to recognize this reality,” said Baykal, adding that Ankara had formally requested that the EU lift such permanent derogations. He warned that Greek Cypriots would try to delay the beginning of Turkey’s accession talks since Ankara is required to recognize Greek Cyprus before its negotiations can start. Baykal added that reaching a Cyprus resolution also depended upon help from the United States and Britain. /Cumhuriyet/[03] DENKTAS: “WE COULD TAKE UP ARMS TO DEFEND OUR HONOR”Appearing on television yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that the independence of a country was its honor, adding that if Turkey should ever stop supporting the TRNC, then Turkish Cypriots could ever take up arms to defend this honor. “We must unite against those who want to destroy our country,” urged Denktas. He stressed that he doesn’t want to serve as negotiator during possible new Cyprus talks since he is viewed as being opposed to a resolution on the island. /Milliyet/[04] AUSTRIAN COALITION SIGNS ONTO REFERENDUM ON TURKEY’S EU BIDAustria’s coalition parties have agreed upon a referendum on Turkey’s European Union membership as proposed by Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and Vice Chancellor Hubert Gorbach. Austrian daily Kurier reported over the weekend that Schuessel, acting on behalf of the Austrian People’s Party (OVP), and Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) leader Ursula Haubner had signed an agreement to hold a referendum on Ankara’s EU membership. The proposal, rejected last week by Austria’s opposition parties, foresees holding a referendum on Turkey’s EU entry after it successfully completes its accession talks. /Turkish Daily News/[05] TURKISH RESCUE TEAM READY TO HELP TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTSSearch and Rescue Team (AKUT) head Nasuh Mahruki said yesterday that a team is ready for immediate deployment to areas in southern and southeastern Asia hit by the worst earthquake in the last 40 years and resulting tsunamis. “We’ve prepared a team, and we’re ready to go to the region,” added Mahruki. “We’re awaiting a request from the Prime Ministry.” The Foreign Ministry stated that medical equipment, doctors and helicopters so far have been requested from Turkey, but that rescue efforts may already be too late. /Star/ [06] TURKEY’S OIC HEAD FLIES TO SAUDI ARABIAProfessor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the newly appointed secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), yesterday flew to Saudi Arabia to assume his post. “In order to develop more productive solutions to the problems of the Islamic world, the OIC has to take a more active role in world politics,” said Ihsanoglu. /Star/ [07] FORMER DEP DEPUTIES TO FORM NEW PARTYA group of 14 activists, including four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies Leyla Zana, Orhan Dogan, Selim Sadak and Hatip Dicle, held their first meeting in Diyarbakir this weekend to lay the groundwork to form a new political party. Dogan, reading from a 12-page manifesto outlining the new movement’s principles, said that they planned to found a new party called the Democratic Society Movement (DTH) that would campaign for policies based up on the will of the people. Dogan said, “For now, the DHT will limit itself to voicing its opinion on Turkey’s democratization and the Kurdish problem.” He added that the DTH fully supported Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union. /Turkish Daily News/[08] KOC TOUTS POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, BUT WARNS OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENTLeading businessman and Koc Group Chairman Mustafa Koc yesterday praised Turkey’s positive economic developments over the last year, adding, however, that unemployment still remained one of the country’s most pressing problems. He predicted that positive trends would continue in the new year and that injections of foreign capital would help to create new jobs. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Koc called Ankara getting a date for entry talks an important step. /Cumhuriyet/[09] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[10] TURKEY’S MILLENNIUM BY ZEYNEL ABIDIN ERDEM (STAR)Columnist Zeynel Abidin Erdem writes about Turkey’s European Union membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:“Turkey is now ready to integrate with the European community, a group made up of developed countries respectful of democracy and human rights. Since we Turks are hardworking, careful and friendly, I believe that our partnership with the European Union could be formed sooner than expected. Let’s take a look the EU’s requirements of our country: * Withdraw our troops from Cyprus. Recognize the Greek Cypriot administration. * Open the Heybeliada Seminary. * Grant the Alawites minority rights * Recognize the ‘ecumenical patriarch’ * Recognize the so-called Armenian genocide * Abolish the National Security Council (NSC), or transform it into an institution compatible with EU norms. * Permit an international organization to manage the waters of The Tigris and Euphrates rivers. What must (or mustn’t) Turkey do during its membership negotiations? All countries have their own ‘red lines,’ but it isn’t always possible to retain all of them once your start negotiating. The most important issues that Ankara will have to deal with during this process will probably be the Cyprus issue, minority rights and northern Iraq. Turkey must first take measures to protect its territorial integrity from certain well-funded, well-organized groups which can use such devastating means against our country as terrorism. We shouldn’t forget that Turkey isn’t like Belgium, France or Spain, none of which have problems regarding their national borders. Of course we’ll discuss these issues for 5-10 years, but what we will say and accept in the initial phase of the negotiations will shape our future course. We must discuss these issues from the very beginning, and also try to find the best solutions possible for all the parties involved.” [11] BAYKAL ON CYPRUS BY MURAT YETKIN (RADIKAL)Columnist Murat Yetkin comments on opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal’s remarks on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on CNN Turk yesterday that the US and Britain should intervene to overcome the deadlock on the Cyprus issue. He believes diplomatic steps from Washington and London can motivate the Greek Cypriot administration to reach a consensus and agreement. After the broadcast, he detailed his suggestions as follows: * The EU thought that even without a resolution, the Greek Cypriot administration would join it. When it was clear that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan wouldn’t benefit the Greek Cypriots, they rejected it. * The deadlock is based on the two following issues: 1) The EU’s Cyprus policy 2) Turkey’s determination to start EU membership talks. We should play the game on these two baselines. These are variations of the equation to be established. The EU is an amalgam of 25 countries, and it’s difficult for it to make certain decisions in common. In the same manner, the UN has difficulties making and implementing important decisions in which details loom large. However, now we seem to be in a china shop where we have to walk carefully. * The US and Britain, particularly the US, can accomplish this. I don’t think that anybody would oppose a step taken by Washington. Britain is an EU member and a guarantor of Cyprus. In addition, the US and Britain should say that the Turkish Cypriots were treated unfairly. They can find a formula similar to Macedonia or invite Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Turkish Cypriot Democrat Party leader Serdar Denktas to visit Washington. I’m sure diplomats would find the best formula. * The government should press the US and Britain on this issue and take a serious stance vis-à-vis the EU, saying, ‘We don’t have to accept conditions on the Cyprus issue for second-class EU membership.” It should erase the impression that Turkey will take whatever it’s offered. We should say, ‘We can’t recognize Greek Cypriots before our future with the EU is clarified and the Cyprus issue is solved.’ If the EU says, ‘If you don’t recognize it, we can’t start membership talks,’ we should say, ‘No talks, then.’ Otherwise Turkey will be a loser and Turkish Cypriots will be treated unfairly. Baykal’s suggestions are substantial. His formula is a call to the government as well as the US and Britain, and it should be taken into serious consideration.” 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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