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Turkish Press Review, 05-10-19
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
19.10.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE’RE PAST THE END OF OUR TETHER ON THE PKK”
[02] GUL: “ALL RESTRICTIONS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE LIFTED”
[03] CICEK BRIEFS HIS PARTY GROUP ON ANTI-TERROR DRAFT BILL
[04] HEALTH MINISTER: “THE AVIAN FLU INCUBATION PERIOD IS OVER”
[05] BAYKAL: “WE OPPOSE SECOND-CLASS EU MEMBERSHIP”
[06] REHN: “THE EU COULD STOP TURKEY’S TALKS IF IT DOESN’T FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS”
[07] NEW GERMAN FM: “THE EU IS DETERMINED ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP”
[08] BUSH, EP HEAD BARROSO TALK ABOUT TURKEY
[09] US EXPRESSES SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON PKK
[10] OZYER JOINS ANAVATAN
[11] BABACAN PREDICTS BALANCED BUDGET IN 2007
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] TURKEY’S POWER BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE’RE PAST THE END OF OUR TETHER ON THE PKK”
Pointing yesterday to the continued presence of the terrorist PKK in
northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that every day a
funeral was being held in the country for its victims, adding that no one
should expect any more patience from Turkey. Speaking at his ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan urged
forces holding sway in northern Iraq to fight against the terrorist
organization. “We’re expecting effective steps to be taken soon,” said
Erdogan. Furthermore, the premier stated that Turkey was closely pursuing
developments in northern Iraq and in Kirkuk, as well as the situation of
Turkmen in the region. /Turkiye/
[02] GUL: “ALL RESTRICTIONS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE LIFTED”
After completing his contacts in Finland, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
yesterday returned to Turkey. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga
Airport, Gul reiterated his offer to lift all restrictions on Cyprus.
Commenting on Parliament European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar
Yakis’s recent statement that the opening of Turkey’s ports to Greek
Cypriots would not be the end of the world, Gul said that those remarks
should not be interpreted as a sign of change in Turkey’s stance on the
issue. He stated that Turkey was proposing that all restrictions on Cyprus
be ended, including those facing Turkish Cypriots in the north of the
island. Furthermore, Gul stated that the fight against terrorism was among
the government’s priorities. Meanwhile, Gul yesterday met with his
Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn, who is currently visiting Turkey for
two days of talks with Turkish officials. /Turkiye/
[03] CICEK BRIEFS HIS PARTY GROUP ON ANTI-TERROR DRAFT BILL
Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek yesterday briefed his
party’s group on recent developments on an Anti-Terror Law draft bill,
saying that following a recent wave of terrorist attacks the government had
sought out the advice of a number of institutions. “The Justice Ministry
did its work in line with these opinions,” he said. “The draft bill we
prepared is being discussed by the proper organs of the Justice and
Development Party (AKP).” Cicek stressed that a decision had yet to be made
on the draft, adding that the final decision would be made by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the other Cabinet ministers. /Star/
[04] HEALTH MINISTER: “THE AVIAN FLU INCUBATION PERIOD IS OVER”
Speaking to reporters before his party’s group meeting yesterday, Health
Minister Recep Akdag said that since the incubation period for the avian
influenza was over, there likely would not be any major problems on the
disease for humans in Turkey, and the issue should fade away. “Influenza
didn’t spread in the country and now there is no problem,” he added. In
related news, a European Commission Technical Assistance and Information
Exchange Center (TAIEX) delegation headed by Erik Stougaard made
observations in Manyas, Balikesir, where the avian flu outbreak took place.
An official from the delegation said that they had been briefed by Turkish
officials on recent measures against the disease. “The measures are
sufficient and taken in accordance with the rules,” he added. /Star/
[05] BAYKAL: “WE OPPOSE SECOND-CLASS EU MEMBERSHIP”
During its group meeting at Parliament, main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday continued his criticisms of the
government. Baykal devoted most of his speech to Turkey’s European Union
membership process. Baykal argued that Turkey’s membership to the European
Union would be a second- class membership, and added, “Who has the right to
expect us to celebrate after certain concessions were made? We can’t feel
happy over such a relationship. We will celebrate if we get full
membership.” /Star/
[06] REHN: “THE EU COULD STOP TURKEY’S TALKS IF IT DOESN’T FULFILL ITS
OBLIGATIONS”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that
the EU could stop Turkey’s membership talks, which started earlier this
month, if it failed to fulfill its obligations. Speaking at a press
conference in Rome, Rehn said that the EU would be cautious on Turkey,
adding that the European negotiators would be ready to halt the talks if
need be. Rehn stated that there were measures in Turkey’s EU negotiating
framework document different from other candidates. “The document stresses
that Turkey’s talks could be suspended under extraordinary conditions,” he
added. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] NEW GERMAN FM: “THE EU IS DETERMINED ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP”
Frank Walter Steinmeier who is slated to be Germany’s new foreign minister,
said yesterday that Turkey’s European Union membership bid wouldn’t be a
problem in the coalition talks between the German Social Democratic Party
(SDP) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Steinmeier said the EU had
shown its determination about Turkey’s membership on Oct. 3, and added, “If
a consensus wasn’t reached on this issue, it might have been important
during our government coalition talks. After the decision to start the
negotiations with Turkey was given on Oct. 3, this issue won’t play an
important role in the talks.” Steinmeier added that if Turkey does its
homework, any kind of membership would be possible. /Milliyet/
[08] BUSH, EP HEAD BARROSO TALK ABOUT TURKEY
European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday met with
the US President George W. Bush. During the meeting, Bush and Barroso
talked about Turkey. After the meeting at the White House, Barroso said,
“We talked about Turkey’s situation. We mentioned that Turkey starting
negotiations with the European Union was an important development.” Asked
about US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s talking with Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos
Papadopoulos on Oct. 3, Barroso said, “’s normal to be in contact on an
important issue like this. But if it were us, we wouldn’t reveal it.”
/Milliyet/
[09] US EXPRESSES SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON PKK
Speaking to reporters, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said
yesterday that the US administration and Ankara were acting together in
their common fight against terrorism. Asked about the statements of Turkish
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the PKK terrorists in northern Iraq,
McCormack said that talks on the issue were ongoing between Turkish and US
officials. He added that coalition forces in Iraq and US officials were
aware of the problem and they had taken steps to resolve the issue.
/Turkiye/
[10] OZYER JOINS ANAVATAN
Former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mugla Deputy Hasan Ozyer
yesterday joined the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), boosting its seats in
Parliament to 22. Currently the AKP has 355 deputies, while the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has 155. /Hurriyet/
[11] BABACAN PREDICTS BALANCED BUDGET IN 2007
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday predicted that Turkey
would have a balanced budget in 2007. Appearing on news channel NTV,
Babacan said that owing to this balanced budget, Turkey would reach the
European Union’s Maastricht criteria of a 3% budget deficit. He stated that
three-year budget for 2006-2008 was presented to Parliament this week.
/Sabah/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[13] TURKEY’S POWER BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)
Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s
visit this week to Helsinki, Finland. A summary of his column is as
follows:
“Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was in Finland this week for a strategic
visit. Finland, one of the richest countries in Europe, will be the EU term
president in the second half of 2006, which is a very critical period for
Turkey’s European Union membership talks. Finnish politicians and diplomats
are already carrying out important European Union tasks concerning Turkey.
Gul held many meetings in Helsinki. He met with Finnish Foreign Minister
Erkki Tuomioja to discuss not only relations between Turkey and the EU, but
also other developments in the world. As one diplomat who participated in
the meeting said, this dialogue actually shows Turkey’s power. When the top
Finnish diplomat asked about Chechnya, Gul said, ‘Russia has difficulties
with Chechens.’ Tuomioja was surprised and asked, ‘So, they came to your
country as refugees?’ Then the issue of the Balkans was discussed. Gul
talked about all the countries individually and then the conversation
continued on such issues as Iraq, the Caucasus and the entire Islamic
world.
I asked one of Gul’s close staffers about the details of their conversation
as the press conference was delayed 40 minutes because their meeting lasted
longer than expected. When I asked the diplomat, ‘What did they discuss for
so long? Is there a problem?’ I learned something interesting and
important. Gul’s visit to Finland is one of his last ones abroad this year.
He has no plan for another foreign visit for at least the next one-and-a-
half months. As another staffer said, ‘Mr. Gul will focus on domestic
work.’ The Finnish foreign minister organized a special evening meal for
Ramadan for Gul in Helsinki. Probably the foundations of good will started
to be laid on the way to the meeting of civilizations. I started to think
about my conversation with Gul on the plane. He said, ‘Even if the EU
wanted to make us a full member next year, I wouldn’t accept this. Firstly,
we should reach European standards and lead a life based on rules. We
should reduce the differences of development between Izmir and Hakkari to
the minimum. Actually, we can’t become Europeans unless we do this.’ I
think Gul is quite right. This is the perspective which we need and which
shows us the way to conduct membership talks. As long as we stay on this
road and recognize our power, it makes no difference whether we become a
full member or not.”
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