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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-05
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
05.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: "I TOLD IRANIAN OFFICIALS THAT THE WORLD EXPECTS TRANSPARENCY IN ITS NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM"
[02] IRANIAN MEDIA: "ERDOGAN'S VISIT USHERED IN A NEW ERA IN TURKISH-IRANIAN RELATIONS"
[03] CICEK: "WE EXPECT FAIRNESS FROM THE EU"
[04] ERDOGAN POSTPONES VISIT TO ROMANIA
[05] US AMBASSADOR WILSON VISITS GUL TO BOOST EU BID
[06] FINANCIAL TIMES: "CHIRAC AND MERKEL UNITE TO GET TOUGH ON TURKEY"
[07] ANKARA TO RELEASE DECLARATION ON CYPRUS IMPASSE
[08] TOP US OFFICIALS TO VISIT ANKARA
[09] US DIPLOMAT BURNS URGES EU NOT TO CLOSE DOORS TO TURKEY
[10] AGAR: "TURKEY CAN'T GIVE UP ITS EU ASPIRATIONS"
[11] STRAY BULLET INJURES TURKISH DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ
[12] CB HEAD WARNS AGAINST GETTING INTO DEBT WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE
[13] NOVEMBER INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
[14] ‘THE EU IS RIGHT BUT UNFAIR'
[01] ERDOGAN: "I TOLD IRANIAN OFFICIALS THAT THE WORLD EXPECTS TRANSPARENCY
IN ITS NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM"
Speaking after returning from Iran yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said that during his visit, he had told Iranian officials that the
world expected transparency in its nuclear energy program. "They told me
that they were transparent," said Erdogan. The premier further stated that
Iran definitely favored Iraq's territorial integrity. "A divided Iraq would
provoke a civil war," he said, adding that Iran considered Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki a chance for Iran. "We also think the same way,"
said Erdogan. /Sabah/
[02] IRANIAN MEDIA: "ERDOGAN'S VISIT USHERED IN A NEW ERA IN TURKISH-
IRANIAN RELATIONS"
The Iranian media commented favorably on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan's recent visit to Tehran. Iranian daily Keyhan stated that
Erdogan's visit ushered in a new era in Turkish-Iranian relations, adding
that the visit took place during a critical period in the Mideast.
Stressing that it was important that top Turkish officials had made the
visit, the newspaper stated that Turkey was Iran's most stable neighbor.
/Milliyet/
[03] CICEK: "WE EXPECT FAIRNESS FROM THE EU"
Recent developments in Turkey's European Union membership process dominated
the Cabinet ministers' meeting yesterday. Speaking to reporters afterwards,
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government expected a fair and
equal stance from the EU similar to that given other candidate states. He
stressed that the EU had made a big mistake in May 2004 by accepting Cyprus
as a member in the absence of a settlement on the island. In addition,
developments in privatization were also taken up at the meeting, Cicek
said. /Sabah/
[04] ERDOGAN POSTPONES VISIT TO ROMANIA
The current political crisis in Romania, which resulted in the resignation
of some government ministers, has led Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
to postpone his visit to this country at the last minute. Romania asked
Erdogan, who was preparing to depart for Bucharest tonight, to postpone his
visit due to the crisis. /Hurriyet/
[05] US AMBASSADOR WILSON VISITS GUL TO BOOST EU BID
US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson yesterday visited Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul and conveyed US support for Turkey's European Union bid.
Washington is working to help prevent a "train crash" in Turkey's bid at
the end of the year. Within this context, Wilson met with Gul and said that
they were ready to do their best to avoid interruptions during the
negotiations between Turkey and the EU. US State Department Undersecretary
Nicholas Burns yesterday told a press conference in Brussels that the EU
would be incomplete without Turkey, which is a bridge between civilizations,
adding, "Your doors should stay open to Turkey." Cumhuriyet_
[06] FINANCIAL TIMES: "CHIRAC AND MERKEL UNITE TO GET TOUGH ON TURKEY"
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have
agreed to take a tougher line towards Turkey. The two leaders will push for
a deadline 18 months from now before which Turkey must open its ports and
airports to Greek Cypriot vessels. Britain's Financial Times said that
Chirac will meet with Merkel today in Germany and that Merkel will support
the 18-month deadline proposal. German government spokesperson Thomas Steg
confirmed the Financial Times report. The daily also quoted an official in
Chirac's office on Sunday as saying, "France and Germany are on the same
page with regard to Turkey." In related news, European Union Commissioner
for Enlargement Olli Rehn came out in opposition to a deadline on Turkey to
open its ports. Speaking to Reuters, Rehn called on Germany and France not
to pressure the EU to impose a deadline on Turkey, adding that Merkel and
Chirac should instead find a balanced solution. /Hurriyet/
[07] ANKARA TO RELEASE DECLARATION ON CYPRUS IMPASSE
Uncomfortable about the two powerhouses of the European Union taking a
joint stance against Turkey, and fearing the Dec. 14 summit might produce a
decision going beyond the EU Commission proposal, Ankara will announce in a
new declaration that it won't take any steps unless the embargo on Turkish
Cyprus is lifted. Turkish-EU relations are again strained after French
President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to
impose further conditions on Ankara. A high-level Foreign Ministry official
said, "The EU Commission's recommendation met a backlash. If there's a
decision to make the current recommendation heavier, Turkish-EU relations
will be cut off." /Cumhuriyet/
[08] TOP US OFFICIALS TO VISIT ANKARA
Stuart Levy, the US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism, finance and
intelligence, will visit Ankara this week. His talks with Turkish officials
are expected to focus on cutting off the terrorist PKK's financial
resources. Furthermore, another US diplomat from the Near East Department,
James Jeffrey, is set to visit Turkey on Dec. 13 to discuss the Iran issue.
/Sabah/
[09] US DIPLOMAT BURNS URGES EU NOT TO CLOSE DOORS TO TURKEY
US State Department Undersecretary Nicholas Burns said yesterday that the
European Union would be making an error if it closes its doors to Turkey.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Burns said that it was an
important strategic event for the EU to open its doors to Turkey. But now
European officials have begun to talk about closing these doors to Turkey,
and that would be a big mistake, he added. /Turkiye/
[10] AGAR: "TURKEY CAN'T GIVE UP ITS EU ASPIRATIONS"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said yesterday that Turkey would
continue its European Union membership path by overcoming all hurdles.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Czech Republic's Ambassador
to Ankara Eva Filipi at DYP headquarters, Agar said they had exchanged
views on Turkey's EU membership bid. Stressing that the Czech Republic had
lent its support to Turkey joining the bloc, Agar stated that his party
favored preserving the EU perspective and resolving issues through
dialogue. In addition, Agar said that he would talk with EU member state
ambassadors in Ankara in the coming days to take up the issues that Turkey
faces on its road to the EU. /Turkiye/
[11] STRAY BULLET INJURES TURKISH DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ
A Turkish diplomat was shot and injured on Saturday in the garden of the
Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The
following day, Ozcan Sahin was airlifted to a hospital in Ankara by a
Turkish Air Forces' helicopter after doctors in Baghdad were unable to
remove the bullet. Sahin underwent surgery in Ankara and is in stable
condition following the procedure. The injury was reportedly caused by a
stray bullet from a shootout near the embassy. /Turkish Daily News/
[12] CB HEAD WARNS AGAINST GETTING INTO DEBT WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Speaking at a press conference to present the Third Financial Stability
Report yesterday, Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz warned both people
and the real sector not to get into debt with foreign exchange, saying that
households who lack foreign exchange income shouldn't become indebted in
foreign currency. Commenting on economic crisis expectations, Yilmaz stated
that there could be fluctuations due to domestic and foreign developments.
"We don't think that we'll face a crisis," said Yilmaz. He further stressed
that fiscal discipline should be maintained besides monetary discipline,
while inflation falls. "Fiscal discipline should be pursued determinedly
due to uncertainty about [next year's] elections," he said. Asked about the
independence of the Central Bank, Yilmaz said that the CB wasn't an
independent state. "We're an independent institution in the Turkish
Republic," he added. /Aksam/
[13] NOVEMBER INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) yesterday released its monthly
inflation figures for last month. Consumer price index (CPI) inflation in
November rose by 1.29 pct to reach 9.86 pct year-on-year, while producer
price index (PPI) inflation fell by 0.29 pct to reach 11.67 pct year-on-
year. /All papers/
FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
[14] ‘THE EU IS RIGHT BUT UNFAIR'
BY MUHARREM SARIKAYA (SABAH)
Columnist Muharrem Sarikaya comments on his meeting with Republican
People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"When the EU Commission's advisory decision was announced, last week main
opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that a
new roadmap was needed. I spoke with Baykal on the new roadmap and its aims
yesterday. His suggestion isn't based on ending our full EU membership
vision, but he criticized the current situation. He thinks that policies
should be put on the right track for full membership and criticized the
capricious rules which are reshaped according to elections concerns in each
EU country. As he emphasized in his written statement following the
Commission's decision, he wants the following three messages to be given to
the EU. Firstly, the Cyprus issue can't be a precondition and nobody should
have expectations about it. Secondly, Turkey is determined to continue with
its democratization process. Thirdly, Turkey will make all efforts to
improve individual freedoms, which is the EU's basic philosophy, but we
won't open the door to collective or communal freedoms. Baykal wants Turkey
to receive an overall answer from the EU concerning the issue of full
membership and so learn whether such rights as free movement and
agricultural support, which were given to other countries, would be
provided to Turkey or not. Baykal said that if these rights are given to us,
we should continue our way. ‘Otherwise, we should draw a new roadmap for
ourselves,' he said.
Baykal also said that certain EU members were criticizing certain
impositions on Turkey and that the EU recently lacked vision. He accused
the EU countries of being in an incoherent competition with each other
based on each others' interests. Baykal said that this incoherence was also
applied on Turkey as well and referred to the Greek Cypriot administration
without mentioning it by name. ‘The pressure through small details plus
certain cunning acts are obstacles before relations between Turkey and the
EU,' he added. The EU should make a decision.' Baykal also answered
criticisms of the CHP's stance on the EU. ‘We have always supported
Turkey's EU bid,' he said. ‘However, since Dec. 17, 2004, the EU has
imposed many things on Turkey. At that time, I told Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan that I would go with him but that if something wrong happens
and we can't go back together, then I wouldn't come. Since then, what I
warned of has happened. Although I warned him, he put down his signature on
Dec. 17 and made Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sign another agreement in
July 2005.' He added that after signing the additional protocol envisaging
that harbors and airports in Turkey would open to the Greek Cypriot
administration, Ankara had troubles. ‘Now the EU is imposing on Turkey by
depending on the signatures in an unequal and unfair, but right way,' said
Baykal. ‘It's right, because Erdogan and other government ministers have
signed it. It's unequal, because it isn't included in the EU conditions.'
Baykal told me that he said the same things to the British prime minister's
advisor responsible for the EU last week. These are Baykal's views about
the future and the CHP's stance on the EU."
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