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Turkish Press Review, 05-10-19

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

19.10.2005

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] ERDOGAN: “WE’RE PAST THE END OF OUR TETHER ON THE PKK”
  • [02] GUL: “ALL RESTRICTIONS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE LIFTED”
  • [03] CICEK BRIEFS HIS PARTY GROUP ON ANTI-TERROR DRAFT BILL
  • [04] HEALTH MINISTER: “THE AVIAN FLU INCUBATION PERIOD IS OVER”
  • [05] BAYKAL: “WE OPPOSE SECOND-CLASS EU MEMBERSHIP”
  • [06] REHN: “THE EU COULD STOP TURKEY’S TALKS IF IT DOESN’T FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS”
  • [07] NEW GERMAN FM: “THE EU IS DETERMINED ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP”
  • [08] BUSH, EP HEAD BARROSO TALK ABOUT TURKEY
  • [09] US EXPRESSES SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON PKK
  • [10] OZYER JOINS ANAVATAN
  • [11] BABACAN PREDICTS BALANCED BUDGET IN 2007
  • [12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [13] TURKEY’S POWER BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)

  • [01] ERDOGAN: “WE’RE PAST THE END OF OUR TETHER ON THE PKK”

    Pointing yesterday to the continued presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that every day a funeral was being held in the country for its victims, adding that no one should expect any more patience from Turkey. Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan urged forces holding sway in northern Iraq to fight against the terrorist organization. “We’re expecting effective steps to be taken soon,” said Erdogan. Furthermore, the premier stated that Turkey was closely pursuing developments in northern Iraq and in Kirkuk, as well as the situation of Turkmen in the region. /Turkiye/

    [02] GUL: “ALL RESTRICTIONS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE LIFTED”

    After completing his contacts in Finland, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Turkey. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul reiterated his offer to lift all restrictions on Cyprus. Commenting on Parliament European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis’s recent statement that the opening of Turkey’s ports to Greek Cypriots would not be the end of the world, Gul said that those remarks should not be interpreted as a sign of change in Turkey’s stance on the issue. He stated that Turkey was proposing that all restrictions on Cyprus be ended, including those facing Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island. Furthermore, Gul stated that the fight against terrorism was among the government’s priorities. Meanwhile, Gul yesterday met with his Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn, who is currently visiting Turkey for two days of talks with Turkish officials. /Turkiye/

    [03] CICEK BRIEFS HIS PARTY GROUP ON ANTI-TERROR DRAFT BILL

    Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek yesterday briefed his party’s group on recent developments on an Anti-Terror Law draft bill, saying that following a recent wave of terrorist attacks the government had sought out the advice of a number of institutions. “The Justice Ministry did its work in line with these opinions,” he said. “The draft bill we prepared is being discussed by the proper organs of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).” Cicek stressed that a decision had yet to be made on the draft, adding that the final decision would be made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the other Cabinet ministers. /Star/

    [04] HEALTH MINISTER: “THE AVIAN FLU INCUBATION PERIOD IS OVER”

    Speaking to reporters before his party’s group meeting yesterday, Health Minister Recep Akdag said that since the incubation period for the avian influenza was over, there likely would not be any major problems on the disease for humans in Turkey, and the issue should fade away. “Influenza didn’t spread in the country and now there is no problem,” he added. In related news, a European Commission Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Center (TAIEX) delegation headed by Erik Stougaard made observations in Manyas, Balikesir, where the avian flu outbreak took place. An official from the delegation said that they had been briefed by Turkish officials on recent measures against the disease. “The measures are sufficient and taken in accordance with the rules,” he added. /Star/

    [05] BAYKAL: “WE OPPOSE SECOND-CLASS EU MEMBERSHIP”

    During its group meeting at Parliament, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday continued his criticisms of the government. Baykal devoted most of his speech to Turkey’s European Union membership process. Baykal argued that Turkey’s membership to the European Union would be a second- class membership, and added, “Who has the right to expect us to celebrate after certain concessions were made? We can’t feel happy over such a relationship. We will celebrate if we get full membership.” /Star/

    [06] REHN: “THE EU COULD STOP TURKEY’S TALKS IF IT DOESN’T FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS”

    European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that the EU could stop Turkey’s membership talks, which started earlier this month, if it failed to fulfill its obligations. Speaking at a press conference in Rome, Rehn said that the EU would be cautious on Turkey, adding that the European negotiators would be ready to halt the talks if need be. Rehn stated that there were measures in Turkey’s EU negotiating framework document different from other candidates. “The document stresses that Turkey’s talks could be suspended under extraordinary conditions,” he added. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] NEW GERMAN FM: “THE EU IS DETERMINED ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP”

    Frank Walter Steinmeier who is slated to be Germany’s new foreign minister, said yesterday that Turkey’s European Union membership bid wouldn’t be a problem in the coalition talks between the German Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Steinmeier said the EU had shown its determination about Turkey’s membership on Oct. 3, and added, “If a consensus wasn’t reached on this issue, it might have been important during our government coalition talks. After the decision to start the negotiations with Turkey was given on Oct. 3, this issue won’t play an important role in the talks.” Steinmeier added that if Turkey does its homework, any kind of membership would be possible. /Milliyet/

    [08] BUSH, EP HEAD BARROSO TALK ABOUT TURKEY

    European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday met with the US President George W. Bush. During the meeting, Bush and Barroso talked about Turkey. After the meeting at the White House, Barroso said, “We talked about Turkey’s situation. We mentioned that Turkey starting negotiations with the European Union was an important development.” Asked about US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s talking with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos on Oct. 3, Barroso said, “’s normal to be in contact on an important issue like this. But if it were us, we wouldn’t reveal it.” /Milliyet/

    [09] US EXPRESSES SUPPORT TO TURKEY ON PKK

    Speaking to reporters, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday that the US administration and Ankara were acting together in their common fight against terrorism. Asked about the statements of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, McCormack said that talks on the issue were ongoing between Turkish and US officials. He added that coalition forces in Iraq and US officials were aware of the problem and they had taken steps to resolve the issue. /Turkiye/

    [10] OZYER JOINS ANAVATAN

    Former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mugla Deputy Hasan Ozyer yesterday joined the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), boosting its seats in Parliament to 22. Currently the AKP has 355 deputies, while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has 155. /Hurriyet/

    [11] BABACAN PREDICTS BALANCED BUDGET IN 2007

    State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday predicted that Turkey would have a balanced budget in 2007. Appearing on news channel NTV, Babacan said that owing to this balanced budget, Turkey would reach the European Union’s Maastricht criteria of a 3% budget deficit. He stated that three-year budget for 2006-2008 was presented to Parliament this week. /Sabah/

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

    [13] TURKEY’S POWER BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)

    Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya comments on Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s visit this week to Helsinki, Finland. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was in Finland this week for a strategic visit. Finland, one of the richest countries in Europe, will be the EU term president in the second half of 2006, which is a very critical period for Turkey’s European Union membership talks. Finnish politicians and diplomats are already carrying out important European Union tasks concerning Turkey. Gul held many meetings in Helsinki. He met with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja to discuss not only relations between Turkey and the EU, but also other developments in the world. As one diplomat who participated in the meeting said, this dialogue actually shows Turkey’s power. When the top Finnish diplomat asked about Chechnya, Gul said, ‘Russia has difficulties with Chechens.’ Tuomioja was surprised and asked, ‘So, they came to your country as refugees?’ Then the issue of the Balkans was discussed. Gul talked about all the countries individually and then the conversation continued on such issues as Iraq, the Caucasus and the entire Islamic world.

    I asked one of Gul’s close staffers about the details of their conversation as the press conference was delayed 40 minutes because their meeting lasted longer than expected. When I asked the diplomat, ‘What did they discuss for so long? Is there a problem?’ I learned something interesting and important. Gul’s visit to Finland is one of his last ones abroad this year. He has no plan for another foreign visit for at least the next one-and-a- half months. As another staffer said, ‘Mr. Gul will focus on domestic work.’ The Finnish foreign minister organized a special evening meal for Ramadan for Gul in Helsinki. Probably the foundations of good will started to be laid on the way to the meeting of civilizations. I started to think about my conversation with Gul on the plane. He said, ‘Even if the EU wanted to make us a full member next year, I wouldn’t accept this. Firstly, we should reach European standards and lead a life based on rules. We should reduce the differences of development between Izmir and Hakkari to the minimum. Actually, we can’t become Europeans unless we do this.’ I think Gul is quite right. This is the perspective which we need and which shows us the way to conduct membership talks. As long as we stay on this road and recognize our power, it makes no difference whether we become a full member or not.”

    ARCHIVE

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