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Turkish Press Review, 04-02-20

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From: 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 morning

20.02.2004

NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT BUFFER ZONE GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD REJECT THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU ALONE” DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF TWO EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED” TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS TALKS US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS TALKS VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE” TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL REACH AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME” NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S ROLE AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS NEARLY SET FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

CONTENTS

  • [01] NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT BUFFER ZONE
  • [02] GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD REJECT THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU ALONE”
  • [03] DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF TWO EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED”
  • [04] TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS TALKS
  • [05] US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS TALKS
  • [06] VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE”
  • [07] TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL REACH AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME”
  • [08] NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S ROLE
  • [09] AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS NEARLY SET
  • [10] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [11] NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

  • [01] NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN IN CYPRIOT BUFFER ZONE

    Negotiations began yesterday on Cyprus in the island’s buffer zone. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cyprus leader Tassos Papadopoulos sat at the negotiating table accompanied by their respective delegations, along with Special UN Envoy Alvaro de Soto. The Turkish Cypriot administration reportedly sought certain changes to the UN plan, including a provision for two equal states on the island, Turkey’s continued status as a guarantor state, and the establishment of a commission to compensate the TRNC for its losses due to the economic embargo. Speaking afterwards, de Soto said that the two leaders would meet daily during the negotiating process. “We’re closer than ever to an agreement now,” he said. "It was a very constructive session with ample goodwill and a businesslike spirit from the two sides." /All papers/

    [02] GUL: “THE GREEK SIDE COULD REJECT THE UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF JOINING THE EU ALONE”

    If the Greek Cypriots feel comfortable joining the European Union single-handedly on May 1, then they could decide to reject the United Nations Cyprus plan, cautioned Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. “If this happens, then Turkey will do its best to promote the international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC],” said Gul. Appearing on television, Gul remarked that if the Greek side refuses to hold a referendum on a Cyprus plan, then the economic embargo on the TRNC should be lifted. Speaking on prospects for a resolution, Gul stressed that reaching one would be a positive development for the economies of both the island and Turkey itself. The foreign minister also said that with a resolution, no obstacle or excuse for denying Turkey’s EU membership would remain. Gul also met yesterday with EU Term President Ireland’s Foreign Minister Brian Cowen. Gul told Cowen that Turkey expected the EU to make positive contributions to the ongoing process on Cyprus. In addition, Gul also met with Joost Lajendik, co-chairman of the Turkey-European Parliament Joint Parliamentary Commission. After their meeting, Lajendik said that without a satisfactory resolution of the Leyla Zana case, Turkey’s reforms would lack sufficient credibility. /Turkiye/

    [03] DENKTAS: “THE EXISTENCE OF TWO EQUAL STATES ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED”

    Speaking after the beginning of new talks with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that both sides on the island had expressed the desire to make certain changes to the UN plan from the outset of negotiations. “We said that the existence of two equal states on the island should be accepted,” he added. “I also stated that a commission should be established to compensate Turkish Cypriots for our losses due to the economic embargo.” /Turkiye/

    [04] TUSIAD WELCOMES NEW CYPRUS TALKS

    Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received a delegation from the Turkish Industrialist’s and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) led by Chairman Omer Sabanci. After their meeting, Sabanci told reporters that they had discussed the Cyprus issue, Turkey’s European Union bid and recent economic news. “TUSIAD is pleased with the beginning of new Cyprus talks,” said Sabanci. “The accession of a united Cyprus to the European Union on May 1 will lend momentum to Turkish-EU relations. We are also satisfied with the government’s constructive stance on the matter.” /Turkiye/

    [05] US “APPLAUDS” START OF CYPRUS TALKS

    Washington supports the process of new Cyprus talks at the highest level, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday. Echoing UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro De Soto's description of the talks as "a good, constructive start," Boucher stated, "We applaud the parties for the political will they have demonstrated in returning to the talks and we encourage them to continue their work in a positive vein." He added that though the US was not participating directly in negotiations, It is “a strong supporter in terms of working with the UN and working with the parties throughout the process.” /Turkiye/

    [06] VERHEUGEN PRAISES DENKTAS’S STANCE IN NEW TALKS AS “CONSTRUCTIVE”

    Speaking after meeting with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen called Denktas’s stance during new negotiations over the island “very interesting and constructive.” “I encouraged Denktas to continue this constructive stance,” said Verheugen. “I said that the EU will also support peace efforts for a resolution. We will do everything that is needed to make this a success.” /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] TRNC’S TALAT: “WE MAY WELL REACH AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME”

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with US Ambassador to Greek Cyprus Michael Klosson. Speaking afterwards, Klosson said that Washington welcomed the beginning of new negotiations over the island. For his part, Talat said that there was still much to do, but added, “It seems that we will reach an agreement this time.” /Aksam/

    [08] NATO HEAD PRAISES TURKEY’S ROLE

    Turkey is a longtime key member of the NATO alliance, said NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer yesterday during his first official visit to Ankara. On his inaugural tour of NATO member countries as the alliance’s new head, Scheffer yesterday met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. “For NATO to play a role in Iraq, we need to have a legitimate new government there,” Scheffer told a press conference after meeting with Gul. In his talks with Erdogan, Scheffer stated that efforts against weapons of mass destruction and terrorism were among the alliance’s top goals, adding that Turkey’s experiences in the fight against terrorism were invaluable in this. /Milliyet/

    [09] AKP CANDIDATE SLATE FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS NEARLY SET

    As of yesterday, most of the candidates from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the March local elections have been set. The AKP has named nearly 300 of its candidates for municipal posts, with the notable exceptions of Ankara and Istanbul. /Hurriyet/

    [10] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [11] NEW TALKS IN LEFKOSA BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

    Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on efforts to solve the Cyprus issue as well as Turkey’s European Union membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Negotiations between the United Nations and Northern and Southern Cyprus have begun in Lefkosa. If they are unable to reach an agreement, Turkey and Greece will join them. If they still can’t agree, then the contingency written into UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan will apply: a double referendum will be held on the same day on both sides of the island, and perhaps a Cyprus Republic will be established in which both Greek and Turkish will be official languages. Thus, this vexing, tiresome problem will be solved, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas will become one of the rotating presidents of a united Cyprus.

    This is the optimistic scenario. This might happen during the last week in April. A year ago we missed an opportunity for better conditions. Back then the status quo threatened the nation and tried to scare it. It tried to use this issue in order to destroy the ruling power. We could start membership negotiations with the European Union early next year. Supporters of the status quo favor EU membership and will praise it constantly. They will enjoy modern civilization. We aren’t worried that the Greek Cypriots might start a quarrel; that would only lead to new negotiations. Turkish culture will shine in the midst of EU civilization.”

    ARCHIVE

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