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Turkish Press Review, 04-12-16Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>16.12.04Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE FOUGHT SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THE PAST, SO WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE”In an open letter to the people of Europe published today in German daily Bild and Turkish daily Hurriyet, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to set out Turkey’s views on its European Union membership bid. Recalling that Europeans and Turks had fought side-by-side in the NATO missions all over the world to promote democracy and peace, Erdogan stated that Turkey now looks forward to living together with its European friends under a common roof of the values of democracy and peace which once they struggled together to uphold. Erdogan stressed that Europe can realize its principle of a “unity of diversities,” in other words, its multicultural identity, by accepting Turkey, a culturally and religiously unique country, into its ranks. He also added that Turkey’s dynamism and young population would help to energize the continent’s economy. “I believe in the enormous potential of my people to change and develop,” he wrote. “In the future, Turkey will be very different and much further along than it is now.” /Hurriyet/[02] ERDOGAN, GUL TRAVEL TO BRUSSELS TO ATTEND PIVOTAL EU SUMMITPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday travelled to Brussels to hold meetings prior to this week’s pivotal European Union summit and then to attend the meeting itself. Gul yesterday met with his Belgian and German counterparts Carrel de Guht and Joschka Fischer to seek support for Turkey getting a date for its accession talks. Erdogan and Gul are expected today to meet with de Gucht and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to discuss prospects for Turkey’s talks. During their stay in Brussels, Erdogan and Gul are accompanied by a number of deputies from their ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In related news, before leaving for Brussels yesterday, Erdogan made a telephone call to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who reiterated his support for Ankara’s EU negotiations. /Turkiye/[03] HISTORIC EU SUMMIT TO BEGIN TODAY IN BRUSSELSThe European Union’s historic two-day member countries’ heads of state and government summit is set to begin today in Brussels. EU leaders are expected to meet at a banquet tonight where Turkey’s membership bid will be the main topic of discussion, and the summit declaration’s statement on Turkey is to be taken up and finalized. If a consensus is reached, then EU Term President the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Jan Peter Balkanende is expected to see his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in the city for the summit, and to present the final statement to seek Ankara’s support. If the Turkish delegation voices any objections, discussions will continue for a compromise. /Turkiye/[04] LEBANESE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS ANKARANabeh Berri, Lebanon’s Parliament speaker as well as the chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), yesterday arrived in Ankara as the guest of Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. “We’re very happy for Turkey, as it will join the EU’s ranks,” Berri told reporters. “Turkey’s EU membership, a Muslim country’s entrance into the EU, will greatly boost efforts to head off a clash of civilizations. The EU has proven that it isn’t a Christian club by giving Ankara candidacy, and then showing its willingness to begin your entry talks. If it joins the EU, Turkey will become a path for the world of Islam to open to the Western world.” /Hurriyet/[05] EUROPEAN UNION SET TO OFFER MEMBERSHIP TALKS TO TURKEYThe European Parliament yesterday called for European Union membership talks with Turkey as soon as possible, paving the way for EU leaders to make an historic offer to Ankara at tomorrow’s historic summit. The EU leaders are poised to set a date to start accession talks with Turkey, as MEPs yesterday in Strasbourg voted 407 to 262, with 29 abstentions, to pass the resolution saying "yes" to fixing a date to open the country’s accession process. In a heated discussion, MEPs also rejected two proposals from French and German conservatives, one calling for the rejection of Turkey’s entry, and the other for granting a first stage "partnership" status to the country rather than full membership. EU leaders are now expected to agree on the terms under which Ankara’s membership negotiations can begin next year. Although the leaders seem ready to meet one central Turkish demand, that there should be a clear date for talks to start, the latest draft also proposes an "emergency break" under which talks could be suspended in the case of a "serious and persistent breach" of fundamental principles of "liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law." In return for accession talks, EU leaders are expected to propose Turkey the quid pro quo of it officially recognizing the Greek Cypriot administration as well as improving its human rights record and economy. In recent days, Turkish leaders have said that the former was out of question without a resolution on the island. MEPs yesterday also insisted Ankara should affirm a "zero-tolerance" approach to torture. /All Papers/[06] BALKANENDE EXPECTS POSITIVE SUMMIT RESULT FOR TURKEYEuropean Union Term President Jan Peter Balkanende said yesterday that after his contacts with EU member state leaders, he expected a positive outcome for Turkey’s membership at the current EU summit. Stressing that Turkey would enter a long period towards joining the EU ranks, Balkanende said that the aim of its accession talks would be full membership. Balkanende, who is set to chair the EU summit to begin today, met earlier this week with Germany, France and Austria’s leaders, Gerhard Schroeder, Jacques Chirac and Wolfgang Schussel respectively, to discuss the matter of beginning Ankara’s accession talks. /Turkiye/[07] BARROSO: “IT’S TIME TO SAY ‘YES’ TO TURKEY”Manuel Durao Barroso, the head of the European Union Commission, said yesterday that he had always been opposed to a “privileged partnership” for Turkey in lieu of full EU membership. Stressing that it was time to say “yes” to Turkey, Barroso underlined that Ankara had made great strides toward harmonizing with EU norms. He stated that with Turkey in its ranks the Union would be stronger on the world stage, adding that the aim of its accession should be full membership, and there was no other option. /Turkiye/[08] EP REJECTED “PLAN B” TO FULL MEMBERSHIP, SAYS BORRELLAfter a session discussing a report on Turkey yesterday, European Parliament President Josep Borrell said that the EP had passed it in a secret vote. Stressing that the EP had rejected any “plan B” in lieu of full membership for Turkey, Borrell added however that Ankara had not been given a blank check. “Many things remain to be done by Turkey. We will follow it very closely,” he said. In related news, Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings, who prepared the report, said after the vote that Turkey had shown great improvements in recent years, adding that he was pleased with the EP’s decision on the report. Stating that Ankara still needed to make efforts to improve certain areas, in particular human rights and the status of women, Borrell said that the EU should take a fair stance on Turkey. /Turkiye/[09] CHIRAC: “THE UNION WILL BENEFIT FROM TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP”French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday that the Turkish nation was too proud to accept any “privileged partnership” with the European Union in lieu of full membership, adding that excluding Ankara from the EU would be a grave mistake. “Turkey has been a secular state since 1923, and it respects other religions,” he said, adding that the French nation would have the final say on Ankara’s EU accession. He stressed that Paris would support Ankara beginning its EU talks and that the Union would benefit from Turkey’s membership. “But the negotiations could last 10 or 15 years,” stated Chirac, cautioning that the talks could be suspended in case of negative developments. /Milliyet/[10] FISCHER: “TURKEY’S ROAD TO THE EU WILL BE LONG AND HARD, BUT IT’S THE RIGHT PATH”In an op-ed in Berlin daily Bild yesterday, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer wrote that Ankara’s road to European Union membership would be long and difficult but that it was the right path to take. Fischer said that the EU was at a turning point, adding that if the EU leaders decide to begin Ankara’s negotiations, this would usher in a new era. “The Union will benefit from Turkey’s membership,” added Fischer. /Cumhuriyet/[11] TURKISH DRIVERS AND ENGINEER KILLED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTANTwo Turkish truck drivers were killed in northern Iraq yesterday. In related news, Turkish engineer Eyup Orel was killed in Afghanistan. Turkey’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Bulent Tulun said that Orel had been working for a company building roads in the country. /Cumhuriyet/[12] TUSIAD SENDS LETTERS TO EU LEADERS PUSHING TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP BIDIn a bid to promote Turkey’s European Union membership bid, the Turkish Businessmen’s and Industrialists’ Association (TUSIAD) this week sent letters to the EU heads and state and government. The letter listed Ankara’s expectations of Brussels, calling on the EU leaders to make an objective and constructive decision on Turkey’s status at Friday’s critical summit. TUSIAD also stressed that Ankara’s negotiations should begin in 2005 without any further delay. /Star/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS[14] TURKEY INTO THE EU BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows:“The EU Commission has been discussing Turkey for two days. While we were waiting for the Dutch foreign minister’s press conference and listening to the commission’s meeting, the British delegate asked, ‘Think of the reforms in Turkey. If we reject Ankara, the reform process would come to a halt. Would you take this risk?’ Meanwhile, the Italian delegate said, ‘How can the EU be a true global actor without Turkey?’ Now Europe understands that it must play an influential role in world politics. How influential could Europe be in the Caucasus and Middle East without Turkey? What’s more, the EU wants to respond to the Islamic world’s ire at the US by producing new political values. An EU with a Turkey would send a momentous message about the meeting of civilizations. Six years ago the EU even wouldn’t even accept Turkey as a candidate country, but now it’s discussing our full membership. Some 3,000 journalists, including 300 Turks, have been covering Turkey in important newspapers and TV broadcasts in Europe. Every word between Ankara and Brussels is being discussed. While I was writing this article, Brussels was waiting for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Even as you read this, Turkey’s headquarters will be up and running in Brussels’ Conrad Hotel, where Erdogan will stay. Probably French President Jacque Chirac will stay there as well and they will meet. Considering the atmosphere in Brussels, Turkey seems to have a date for membership talks almost in hand. Don’t expect any nasty shocks. The world has opened up Turkey’s path, but of course there are some problems because the EU is on the verge of making the most critical decision of its history. Making Turkey an EU member is one of the toughest issues Europe has faced since World War II, but the current atmosphere is very positive.” [15] YES FROM THE EU PARLIAMENT BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on Turkey’s European Union membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:“With 407 votes in favor and 262 against the report offering full membership to Turkey, the European Parliament yesterday sent a strong message to the 25 European heads of state and government for their decision to give Turkey a date for accession talks tomorrow. It was obvious that after the positive approach by the Socialists, Greens and Liberals in Brussels, there were no obstacles, except the Christian Democrats, to starting our accession talks. In this respect, yesterday’s vote was no surprise. Even if the decision is a symbolic one, the yes votes of 407 MEPs will have a salutary effect on the decision on Turkey tomorrow. The MEP’s rejection of ‘special partnership’ proposals showed strong resolve in the face of EU leaders worrying about public opinion. The statements of EP President Josep Borrell and Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings, author of the motion backing Turkey, indicate the political importance of the decision. The vote points to two things: The EP wants to start our accession talks without delay, and doesn’t favor a ‘plan B’ for Turkey. EU analyst Tulu Gumustekin, who prepared a report evaluating the attitudes of the Union’s members, seems to be hopeful about the summit. ‘It seems as France and Austria’s job will be difficult as the summit approaches,’ he told me. ‘If Turkey gets what it wants at the summit, an unconditional date for accession talks, if there is no requirement to solve the Cyprus problem before then and if the accession talks aim to our full membership, then it won’t be a surprise for Ankara that the balance in the EU changes in our favor.’ There is also an atmosphere of cautious optimism in Ankara. There’s no doubt that any limitations which would amount to a de facto ‘special partnership’ will also have great importance in the decision to start talks. There’s also the question of who will carry out the talks and their conditions. Some say that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will lead our side, but there’s also speculation that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political advisor Omer Celik is preparing for the post.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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