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Turkish Press Review, 04-05-04

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

04.05.04

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning


CONTENTS

  • [01] REFORM PACKAGE FACES DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT TODAY
  • [02] KRETSCHMER: “ANKARA SHOULD COMPLETE ITS REFORMS BEFORE DECEMBER’S EU SUMMIT”
  • [03] CABINET DISCUSSES CHANGES TO YOK LAW
  • [04] 25 TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN BURSA, ISTANBUL
  • [05] TALAT: “I’LL TRY TO END THE TRNC’S ISOLATION”
  • [06] PAPADOPOULOS: “TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRUS”
  • [07] APRIL INFLATION BEATS TARGETS
  • [08] TURKEY ECONOMICS CONGRESS TO BEGIN TOMORROW
  • [09] PRINCE PHILIPPE TOUTS BELGIUM TO TURKISH INVESTORS
  • [10] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [11] WILL EVERYONE GO THEIR OWN WAY? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [12] A SOLUTION FOR GEORGIA BY NURAY BASARAN (AKSAM)

  • [01] REFORM PACKAGE FACES DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT TODAY

    The full Parliament’s first round of debates on a new 10-article package proposing amendments to the Constitution in line with European Union norms is set to be held today. While the minor opposition True Path Party (DYP) has announced its support for the measures, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has said it will propose changes to the package on matters such as gender equality. The second round of debates is to be held on Friday. /Turkiye/

    [02] KRETSCHMER: “ANKARA SHOULD COMPLETE ITS REFORMS BEFORE DECEMBER’S EU SUMMIT”

    European Commission Turkey Representative Hansjoerg Kretschmer yesterday urged Ankara to complete its reforms for European Union accession before the December EU summit in order to get a date to begin accession talks. The European Commission is to decide at that summit whether or not to begin Ankara’s membership negotiations. /Milliyet/

    [03] CABINET DISCUSSES CHANGES TO YOK LAW

    During a six-hour meeting yesterday, the Cabinet discussed a number of controversial changes proposed for the Board of Higher Education (YOK). Speaking to reporters afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government would soon send to Parliament an 8- or 10-article bill proposing amendments to the YOK Law. He added that the ministers had also focused on next week’s Eurovision Song Context hosted by Istanbul and next month’s NATO Summit there as well as other developments. In addition, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) chaired by AKP leader and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened last evening. /Turkiye/

    [04] 25 TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN BURSA, ISTANBUL

    In operations yesterday in Bursa and Istanbul, security forces arrested 25 members of the terrorist organization Ansar al-Islam believed to be planning terrorist attacks against next month’s NATO summit in Istanbul. Officials later stated that all measures were being taken for the security of the summit and its participants. In related news, NATO sources said that the gathering would not be postponed or canceled due to terrorist threats. /Turkiye/

    [05] TALAT: “I’LL TRY TO END THE TRNC’S ISOLATION”

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday flew to New York to hold a series of historic contacts with both American and UN officials. Before his departure, Talat told reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport that during his meetings in the US, he would make clear the difficulties faced by Turkish Cypriots due to the embargo on their nation. Stressing that the TRNC had been grappling with a very unusual and unfair situation, Talat pointed out that Turkish Cypriots had voted in favor of Cyprus’ unification in last month’s referendums while the Greek side rejected it. “The TRNC cannot be isolated due to the Greek Cypriots’ separatist policy,” said Talat. After arriving in the New York last night, Talat met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Talat is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell today and to address a meeting of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank. /Aksam/

    [06] PAPADOPOULOS: “TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRUS”

    Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that Turkey should recognize Greek Cyprus. “We are a member of the European Union and have the same privileges as other EU members,” said Papadopoulos. In related news, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yorgos Yakovu said that he believed Ankara would soon re-evaluate the recognition issue. “Due to the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU, Turkey should recognize us. Not doing so will create problems,” he added. /Hurriyet/

    [07] APRIL INFLATION BEATS TARGETS

    The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released month-on-month inflation figures for April. Inflation last month was 0.59% on the consumer price index (CPI) and 2.65% on the wholesale price index (WPI), pushing year-to-year WPI to 8.91% and CPI to 10.18%. The last figure was well below the government’s 12% year-end target. /All papers/

    [08] TURKEY ECONOMICS CONGRESS TO BEGIN TOMORROW

    The Fourth Turkey Economics Congress is due to begin tomorrow in Izmir. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc are expected to attend the five-day congress. Anne Krueger, the International Monetary Fund’s first deputy managing director, as well as officials from the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are also expected to attend the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/

    [09] PRINCE PHILIPPE TOUTS BELGIUM TO TURKISH INVESTORS

    Speaking at a conference in Istanbul yesterday, visiting Belgian Prince Philippe touted investment opportunities in his country and urged Turkish investors to see this for themselves. In related news, Philippe’s wife Princess Mathilde yesterday visited the Association for Supporting Modern Life. /Cumhuriyet/

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

    [11] WILL EVERYONE GO THEIR OWN WAY? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Cyprus in the aftermath of the Greek side’s EU accession. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Now will everyone go their own way? In other words, will the de facto division on Cyprus become official? At first sight, it seems the paths of the Greek Cypriots and Turks are separating. The Greek Cypriot side, after rejecting the UN reunification plan, is now a European Union member. On the other hand, the Turkish side embraced the plan but is excluded from the EU. However, Washington and the EU have pledged certain important steps to help the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) continued existence. For example, Turkish Cypriots will be able to sell some of their goods to foreign markets, foreign tourists will be able to cross into the North from the Greek Cypriot side, and the EU will open a representative office in the TRNC. Obviously none of these mean that the international community intends to recognize the TRNC as an independent state. In addition, loosening certain economic restrictions doesn’t mean lifting the embargo. Just after the referendums, certain statements and published news stories predicting that the TRNC would be recognized and the embargo lifted raised hopes unnecessarily. These wishes were presented to the public as facts. When they failed to materialize, the resulting disappointment caused anger against the government, the EU and other countries. However, it had been known for years that the Greek Cypriots would become an EU member. If the Turkish side had rejected the UN plan, the situation would have been worse. As for the embargo, certain steps are being taken on it and more will follow. However, careful preparations are needed for this. For example, access to markets abroad can’t be ensured merely by lifting the embargo; certain strategies taking into account such economic realities as manufacturing, investment and competition should be developed as well.

    If the TRNC can stand on its own two feet with the international community’s support, the TRNC’s regret at not becoming an EU member with the Greek Cypriots will be eased. Many Greek Cypriots who rejected the UN plan might have thought, ‘Reunification isn’t very necessary since we’re prosperous anyway, and will join the EU and can continue our high standard of living without the Turkish Cypriots.’ If this opinion triumphs, there will never be a reunification. Then both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots will go their own way. However, it’s most likely that this won’t happen because the international community doesn’t want the island to stay divided and is looking for a new opportunity to forge a solution. The Greek Cypriot administration also hopes that new initiatives will start in the future and is making its plans with this in mind. Thus, although it seems that everybody is going their own way now, the work isn’t over yet.”

    [12] A SOLUTION FOR GEORGIA BY NURAY BASARAN (AKSAM)

    Columnist Nuray Basaran comments on the conflict between the Georgian central government and the Georgian province of Adzharia (Adjaria). A summary of her column is as follows:

    “Tension is rising between the Georgian central government and Adzharia. This problem has no immediate solution. The situation is this: Georgia is trying to distance itself from Russia in favor of closer ties with the West and NATO. Georgia is formed by federal autonomous republics, and it has problems with each of them. For instance, Abkhazia has claimed independence since 1992, and Southern Ossetia and Adzharia don’t recognize the central government in Tbilisi. While closing Russian bases, Georgia is offering bases to the United States. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline’s construction is also continuing and is expected to be completed at the end of this year. About 250 km of the 1,767-km pipeline goes through the borders of Georgia and Armenia. Last year Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed an agreement to protect the pipeline, so Tbilisi has to do its part.

    Then there’s Russian President Vladimir Putin. After gradually losing his influence in the Caucasus, Putin was recently reelected with 72% of the vote and is planning a more active role for Russia’s foreign policy. Moscow has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the pipeline. It even tried to join the project, but this offer was rebuffed. It’s clear that Moscow is supporting Adzharia. A hot conflict in the region would derail the pipeline and serve as punishment for Georgia’s move away from Russia as well as an obstacle to its relations with the West. Russia says that it’s in the game too. But let’s ask ourselves the same question: Where is Turkey in this game? Shouldn’t we be more active in solving regional problems? The prospect of a damaging civil war in Georgia is not so remote. Ankara must get engaged in this issue and offer mediation before the problem grows more serious. We would be the loser in any power struggle with Russia in the region. Therefore shouldn’t we work to solve the problem together?”


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