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Turkish Press Review, 04-11-23

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

23.11.2004

FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

CONTENTS

  • [01] WORLD LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS IRAQ’S FUTURE
  • [02] EP HOLDS CONFERENCE ON TURKEY AND THE KURDS
  • [03] GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ANKARA’S EU ACCESSION TALKS
  • [04] US TREASURY HEAD SNOW: “I WISH WASHINGTON COULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF TURKEY’S EU BID”
  • [05] EDELMAN SEEK TURKEY’S HELP IN WINNING REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR GME
  • [06] AKP LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ
  • [07] DENKTAS: “THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION MUST APOLOGIZE TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS FOR A DECADE OF VIOLENCE”
  • [08] TALAT RETURNS MANDATE TO DENKTAS
  • [09] SOCCER VIOLENCE ADDRESSED BY CABINET
  • [10] GOVT PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON SOCCER VIOLENCE
  • [11] TOBB PUSHES EU INTEGRATION, ANKARA’S EU BID
  • [12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [13] HOW MUCH WILL THE US LISTEN? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

  • [01] WORLD LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS IRAQ’S FUTURE

    In an effort to find ways to end the ongoing violence in Iraq, representatives of its neighbors, plus Egypt and several other Arab countries and China, as well as regional bodies such as the G-8, the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference yesterday met at Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm al- Seikh. Iraq asked Egypt to convene the conference in a bid to augment world support for its battle against insurgents and its plan to hold national elections in January. “The conference’s declaration will contain important decisions concerning the future of Iraq,” said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in remarks prior to heading to Egypt to attend the two–day conference. Border security emerged as the major issue addressed during the gathering. Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq’s interim foreign minister, said his country would ask Iran and Turkey to boost border security in order to keep foreign militants out, similar to measures already agreed with Syria. In addition, Turkish officials reiterated Ankara’s concerns over Kurdish groups in northern Iraq and terrorist PKK militants based in the region. The meeting is scheduled to end today after the release of a declaration expected to encourage the Arab League to play a more active role in Iraq. /Turkiye/

    [02] EP HOLDS CONFERENCE ON TURKEY AND THE KURDS

    The European Parliament yesterday held a conference in Brussels called “Turkey and the Kurds.” Akin Birdal, the head of Turkey’s Human Rights Association (IHD), and Professor Dogu Ergil addressed the conference yesterday. Also present at the conference was Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the European Union-Turkey joint parliamentary commission, and Turkish journalist Can Dundar. /Aksam/

    [03] GERMAN JUSTICE MINISTER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR ANKARA’S EU ACCESSION TALKS

    German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, who is currently in Ankara, yesterday briefed Turkish judges and public prosecutors designate on the European Union expansion process. Speaking afterwards, Zypries told reporters that Germany supported Turkey beginning its accession talks with the EU, adding that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would stress this support at next month’s EU summit. She emphasized that Turkey’s potential EU membership was important in the context of the fight against international terrorism. Zypries further stated that Turkey’s human rights reforms needed to be implemented, adding that freedom of expression and religion, women’s rights, and minority rights needed to be guaranteed. “The pace of accession negotiations will depend on the pace of reforms,” she added. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] US TREASURY HEAD SNOW: “I WISH WASHINGTON COULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF TURKEY’S EU BID”

    State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday met with US Treasury Secretary John Snow, World Bank President James Wolfensohn and IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato during the meetings of G-20 finance ministers and national bank governors in Berlin. “I wish that the US could vote to start Turkey’s membership negotiations,” Snow said. “There’s no doubt that Turkey’s inclusion into the EU will carry important consequences. I believe Turkey will greatly contribute to the Greater Middle East Initiative. Moreover, we appreciate the performance of your economy. Today, Turkey stands as a model for developing countries.” In addition, Wolfensohn and Rato both expressed their support for Turkey’s EU membership bid and praised its recent economic performance. Babacan also met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and discussed efforts to improve Turkey’s social security system. /Sabah/

    [05] EDELMAN SEEK TURKEY’S HELP IN WINNING REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR GME

    US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman and Abdullah Zagur, Morocco’s ambassador to Turkey, yesterday met with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy to seek Ankara’s help in winning the support of regional countries for the US’ Greater Middle East Project (GME). Speaking afterwards, Zagur said that during the meeting they had discussed Turkey’s role on the issue with Sensoy. Zagur added that next month a meeting would be held in Rabat, Morocco where the GME will be addressed. Edelman stated that that meeting would be very important, adding that he expected Libya, Syria, Iran and Mauritania would participate. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] AKP LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ

    The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) yesterday met to discuss recent developments in Iraq. During the gathering chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, board members expressed their concerns over the recent US operation in Mosul, on the heels of the Fallujah offensive, as well as the efforts of Kurdish leaders to delay elections in the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Erdogan urged international organizations to work carefully to prevent any foul play in the country. /Turkiye/

    [07] DENKTAS: “THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION MUST APOLOGIZE TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS FOR A DECADE OF VIOLENCE”

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday called on the Greek Cypriot administration to apologize to Turkish Cypriots for their actions between 1963 and 1974, a period on the island marked by Greek Cypriot cruelty and violence. Following the recent confession of a former EOKA terrorist telling how Greek Cypriots carried out a massacre in Taskent (Northern Cyprus) in 1974, Denktas said that he hoped that the Greek Cypriot administration would come clear on the period and agree to start compensation talks. “Humanity and peace both require it,” he added. /Star/

    [08] TALAT RETURNS MANDATE TO DENKTAS

    After failing to form a new coalition government, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Republican Turk Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday returned his mandate to President Rauf Denktas. Talat’s action boosted the possibility of early elections in Northern Cyprus. Last week TRNC National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu also returned the mandate to Denktas. /Aksam/

    [09] SOCCER VIOLENCE ADDRESSED BY CABINET

    During a three hour-plus Cabinet meeting yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the ministers focused on recent incidents of soccer violence. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek pointed to the deadly weekend stabbing of a 16-year-old soccer fan during a Besiktas-Caykur Rizespor match in Istanbul. Cicek said that Parliament would debate the issue this week and new legislation would be implemented effectively. He added that the Cabinet favored setting up a commission to deal with such violence, to address both its causes and ways to prevent it. /Turkiye/

    [10] GOVT PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON SOCCER VIOLENCE

    Expressing his grief over the weekend death of a teenage soccer fan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that the government is resolved to crack down on soccer violence. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu and Energy Minister Hilmi Guler also condemned the recent spate of violence, underlining that such incidents violate the spirit of sports. /Sabah/

    [11] TOBB PUSHES EU INTEGRATION, ANKARA’S EU BID

    The second phase of the Turkish Chambers Improvement Program executed by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and the European Union of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambers) began yesterday in Istanbul. The program is designed to assist the Turkish chambers in integrating with the European Union. “We support Turkey’s political and economic integration with the EU,” Eurochambers Deputy Chairman George Kassimatis said. “However, Turkey will have to work hard to fulfill the necessary criteria. Nobody thinks that the negotiation process will be short or easy. The road to the EU is strewn with difficulties, not roses.” For his part, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that a target date must be set for concluding the negotiations, adding that his group believes that the period should not exceed five years. “Turkey has successfully fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria,” he stated. “Now it’s our right to expect the Union to give us what we deserve.” /Hurriyet/

    [12] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [13] HOW MUCH WILL THE US LISTEN? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “The important thing about the Iraq conference in Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt is that it’s the first large international meeting on Iraq’s future. Turkey, Iraq’s other neighbors, the G-8 countries, China, the UN, the EU, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Arab League representatives, that is, nearly 20 countries and institutions altogether are attending the meeting. Considering that the US ignored everybody and followed its Iraq policy as it wanted, it’s important that this time it agreed to take part in such a broad platform. However, how much will this influence the US’ Iraq policy? Will Washington listen to the voice of Sharm al-Sheikh? Even if US President George W. Bush says that he doesn’t want to change strategy, this conference can spotlight the international community’s feelings and put some pressure on Washington. Highlights of the declaration to be issued at the end of the conference have already been set. The declaration mostly concerns the process of political transition and supporting steps for its success. Elections ware scheduled for Jan. 30, so the new government and Parliament will shape Iraq’s new constitution. The declaration argues that participation in the elections should be broad so they are democratic. Of course everybody wants this. However, will the people who live in areas marred by violence be able to go to the ballot box? Will Sunni leaders abandon their election boycott? What can the international community do to ensure the elections are legal and enjoy broad participation?

    The declaration will also address the US. It wants the US military presence not to be open-ended. France also wants the US to draw up a definite timetable. However, Bush doesn’t want to give a date for withdrawal. For Turkey, the conference has a special meaning. Turkish diplomacy succeeded in bringing Turkey’s neighbors together before the war began. The aim of this was to make the US feel the pressure of the region. Unfortunately it didn’t work. Following the war, Ankara has used its initiative, and neighboring countries have spoken out on the new situation. Today Turkey will address developments particularly concerning northern Iraq, the Turkmen, Kirkuk and PKK terrorists. This is an important opportunity. Hopefully, US and Iraqi officials will both consider it an opportunity to direct their strategies.”

    ARCHIVE

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