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Turkish Press Review, 06-01-26Turkish 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 morning26.01.2006FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF TURKISH-EU JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TO TRAVEL TODAY TO DAVOS TO ATTEND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUMPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with the members of the Turkish-European Union Joint Advisory Committee, which is composed of non- governmental organizations to discuss Turkey’s EU membership bid. Speaking afterwards, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the Committee’s possible contributions to Turkey’s EU negotiating process were discussed at the meeting. In related news, Erdogan is due to travel to Davos today to attend the World Economic Forum. The premier is expected to meet with UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan to discuss recent Cyprus developments. Erdogan is also expected to meet with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistani President Pervez Muserref, and Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger. Later, the premier will meet with a group of businessmen. /Turkiye/[02] WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 2,000 PEOPLE FROM 89 COUNTRIES, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM BEGINS IN DAVOSThe annual meetings of the World Economic Forum yesterday began in Davos with the participation of about 2,000 people from 89 countries. Some 15 heads of state and government, 60 ministers, representatives from 13 non- governmental organizations are attending the Forum. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan will represent Turkey. Rise of the economies of China and India, changing economic map, economic development, inequalities in distribution of income, politics and global risks will be discussed at the Forum. Tight security measures are taken in Davos since participation is high. /Milliyet/[03] BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: “TURKISH INITIATIVE DESERVES TO BE TAKEN UP SERIOUSLY”British Foreign Secretary yesterday met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat at his office in Northern Cyprus. After the meeting Straw said, “My visit to Northern Cyprus doesn’t mean that Britain upgrades its political vision towards the region,” and added, “I came to the island for friendly purposes. Cyprus is one of the top priorities in 2006. It will be a year of progress on the island. History of Cyprus causes problem here. And the future is the reason for which we have to find a solution.” Straw also stated that he didn’t come to Cyprus just for one of the communities, and that Northern Cyprus was also a part of the European Union and the island was accepted to the EU as a whole.” Touching on the new Turkish plan that was announced on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Straw expressed support for Turkish initiative and said, “Turkish initiative deserves to be taken up seriously.” Talat evaluated Straw’s visit at a press conference at his office and thanked the British Foreign secretary. Talat said, “Recent debates and responsibility of the guarantor Britain were displayed clearly.” He also said that the Greek Cypriots are the reason for the deadlock in Cyprus and important task is falling upon the international society. Straw was awarded “Bosphorus Prize for European Understanding 2005” by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD). Straw is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul today. /Sabah-Star/[04] EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER REHN: “EU MIGHT OPEN NEGOTIATION CHAPTERS IN SPRING”Speaking to the Austrian daily Der Standard, the European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the EU might open Turkey’s actual negotiation chapters in spring. Stressing that the screening process will end in the forthcoming weeks Rehn said, “There’s no need for not starting Turkey’s negotiations with the EU during Austria’s term presidency. Asked, “Hasn’t the reform process in Turkey slowed down?” Rehn said, “Progress in the reforms continues but implementation of these reforms isn’t rapid. Duty of the Turkish government is to provide the implementation of reforms and to speed up the reform process.” /Hurriyet/[05] CHP LEADER BAYKAL: “THIS PLAN DISTRESSES TURKEY”Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday evaluated the new Turkish plan that was announced on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and said, “There’s no striking, new element. I view this plan as an effort to give an image of a cute entity who demands reasonable and balanced things.” After the party meeting Baykal said, “Turkey’s statement that it shares the European Union’s demands on Greek Cypriots will distress Turkey during the negotiations.” “These important statements shouldn’t be made for propaganda purposes. They should be made after the implementation is guaranteed,” said Baykal. CHP Istanbul Deputy Onur Oymen evaluated Gul’s statement and said, “New concessions are being asked from Turkey.” /Hurriyet/[06] ALPOGAN: “ANKARA EXPECTS US SUPPORT FOR ‘CYPRUS ACTION PLAN’”National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan who is currently visiting the US at the invitation Stephen Hadley, US National Security Adviser, yesterday delivered a speech at Washington Institute think-tank. Concerning Ankara’s recent Cyprus Action Plan, Alpogan said that the plan aimed at finding a permanent and just settlement to the Cyprus issue. Stressing that Turkey was continuing its efforts for re- unification of the island, Alpogan said that Ankara expected the US to back the plan. Stating that Turkey wanted a unified, democratic and independent Iraq, Alpogan urged the US to take concrete steps to end the presence of PKK militants in northern Iraq. Furthermore, he pointed to friendly relations between Turkey and Iran, adding that the international issue over Iran’s nuclear weapon capacity should be solved through diplomatic efforts. /Turkiye/[07] EU OFFICIAL VISITS TURKEY OVER BIRD FLUEU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou yesterday began a three-day visit to Turkey to exchange views with officials and to see what financial and veterinary aid could be given to the country over a bird flu outbreak, which has killed four people. He is scheduled to meet with Health Minister Recep Akdag and Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker today. Kyprianou is being accompanied by a group of veterinary specialists who will stay on for a week-long mission to give advice to Turkish authorities. /Turkish Daily News/[08] AGAR: “THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR EACH GOVERNMENT”Addressing at a gathering in Ankara yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government was going ahead on its road without support of the public. Stressing that the citizens were suffering under heavy economic conditions, Agar claimed that tension in domestic politics would increase in the coming days. “Each government in the world has an alternative,” said Agar. “Democracy is such a system which produces its own alternative.” /Turkiye/[09] US ASSISTANT TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: “OWING TO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY’S ATMOSPHERE OF INVESTMENT, US FIRMS WILL COME TO TURKEY”US Assistant Trade Representative Shaun Donnelly, who is in Turkey to attend the meeting of Turkish-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council, said yesterday that owing to positive developments in Turkey’s atmosphere of investment, leading US firms would come to Turkey to invest. Donnelly said that the trade volume between the two countries, which is currently $10 billion, should be further boosted. Donnelly said that with the meeting of TIFA, an important step in boosting investment and overcoming trade obstacles was taken. He stated that Turkey was a strategic country and that it had reached an important potential with its neighbors, adding that the US wanted to increase opportunities for common trade and investment with Ankara in the Middle Asia, the Middle East, and in Caucasus. /Turkiye/[10] BABACAN: “THERE IS NO TECHNICAL OBSTACLE TO TURKEY’S EU TALKS AND WE DON’T EXPECT ANY POLITICAL OBSTACLE”State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, who is currently in Davos to attend the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum, said yesterday that there was no technical obstacle to Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union, adding that he didn’t expect any political obstacle. Babacan stressed that Turkey was ready for EU talks and that the screening process would be completed within 12 months. Commenting on economic developments, Babacan predicted that rising oil prices could adversely affect the current accounts deficit and inflation, but there were mechanisms to reduce these effects. Babacan stressed that the economic targets were achieved despite the increase in oil prices, adding that the inflation continued to decrease. Also commenting on recent initiative on Cyprus, Babacan stated that Turkey would never be the side leaving the negotiation table, adding that the issue couldn’t be solved by not sitting at the table. “Turkey’s action plan is welcomed by all world leaders,” he said. “We are the side who favors a solution on the island. The positive developments are the result of Ankara’s efforts.” /Star/[11] STAR NEWSPAPER SOLD TO TRNC BUSINESSMANTurkish Cypriot businessman Ali Ozmen Safa yesterday purchased Star newspaper during a tender held by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) with a bidding worth $5.15 million. /Hurriyet/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[13] ANNAN’S CYPRUS PLAN BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)Columnist Semih Idiz comments on the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s stance. A summary of his column is as follows:“The timing is very important in democracy. If the process of referendum had been completed before the Copenhagen Summit in 2003, the situation would have been very different now. Everybody knows why it didn’t happen. However, the government now understands the rules of the game of democracy better. It can see that waiting for a result causes a loss of base in democracy and that the success depends on making an alert appearance. Ankara is now trying to neutralize the advantage ensured by the Greek Cypriot administration within the European Union. It would be wrong to consider this a ‘late effort,’ because the political conjuncture concerning Cyprus is actually processing in favor of Turkish Cypriots, though slowly. The latest indicator of this happened, when Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat received British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at his office yesterday. Here, the important thing is that the Turkish side should continue to make an alert appearance. A great many high- ranking Western diplomats whom we have talked to recently said that the problem didn’t derive from the Turkish side at this stage. Actually, the problem doesn’t derive from Greek Cypriots’ uncompromising stance, but those who try to put obstacles into Turkey’s way in Europe by hiding behind Greek Cypriots. The Cyprus action plan which was announced by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul this week should be evaluated as part of this. Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Yakov said that this plan was the ‘heated old food.’ It seems so at first sight. Gul’s statements are already known by those who’re closely interested in Cyprus. Meanwhile, retired ambassador Yalim Eralp described this as the old food ‘with a different sauce.’ For me, the sauce is the same as well. In other words, Turkey wants embargos to be lifted simultaneously and request relevant parties to make efforts with good will under the auspices of the United Nations so it can open its harbors to Greek Cypriots. In short, the sauce is really the same. However, the food’s ‘arrangement’ on the plate is completely different. This action plan presents the issues which are known in a well-organized package and suggests a method protecting the interests of all the parties in a very good time. While doing this, Ankara doesn’t protect the Greek Cypriot side and it’s known that it would say no. Meanwhile, Europe is still protecting those who declare views without even knowing the nature of the process of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan and serve to the Greek Cypriot disagreement. In addition, Turkey gave another message indirectly, by saying that if you continue to ignore our positive role during the process of Annan’s plan and this reasonable action plan, you can’t expect help from us on any issue.” ARCHIVE The news and articles issued in the Turkish Press Review may be quoted from provided due acknowledgement is made. <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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