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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-11
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
11.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] FOREIGN MINISTRY: "EFFORTS TO SOW CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AT SUCH A KEY TIME DON'T SERVE THE NATION"
[00]
PAMUK RECEIVES HIS NOBEL PRIZE IN STOCKHOLM
[02] TALAT: "OPENING PORTS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CYPRUS ISSUE"
[03] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS TODAY TO DISCUSS COMMISSION DECISION ON TURKEY 'S BID AND ANKARA 'S PROPOSAL
[04] REHN: " TURKEY SHOULD CLARIFY ITS INITIATIVE"
[05] BAKOYANNIS: "HARD DATA WILL DETERMINE THE EU'S DECISION"
[06] COMMISSIONER ALMUNIA: " TURKEY 'S ECONOMY IS RAPIDLY HARMONIZING WITH THE EU'S"
[07] CONCLUSION FOR THIS WEEK
[01] FOREIGN MINISTRY: "EFFORTS TO SOW CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AT SUCH A KEY
TIME DON'T SERVE THE NATION"
The Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a written statement declaring that at
the order of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, relevant official institutions
had been briefed about the government's latest proposal on Cyprus . The
proposal says that if Ercan Airport and the port of Famagusta in the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were opened to international
traffic, then Turkey could open an airport and port to Greek Cyprus.
Stressing that Turkey was passing through an important process both in its
European Union membership and for the future of the Turkish Cypriots, the
statement expressed disappointment at arguments that relevant institutions
had been kept in the dark over the proposal to save the rights of the
Turkish Cypriots. "Arguments during such a critical period, when protecting
our national interests is very important, and efforts to create a crisis of
confidence between institutions don't serve the interests of our nation,"
added the statement. /Sabah/
[00]
PAMUK RECEIVES HIS NOBEL PRIZE IN STOCKHOLM
Novelist Orhan Pamuk yesterday received his Nobel Literature Prize in a
ceremony held in Stockholm , Sweden . The award was given to Pamuk by
Swedish King Karl Gustav XVI. The king also gave Pamuk a certificate, a
gold medal, and a prize award of $1.36 million. /Turkiye/
[02] TALAT: "OPENING PORTS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CYPRUS ISSUE"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat said
over the weekend that the Turkish government's proposal to open one port
and one airport to Greek Cypriot vessels would be beneficial for the Cyprus
issue. Talat said that he had spoken about the government proposal with
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Emphasizing that a solution of the Cyprus
issue would be found under UN auspices and there wasn't anyone other way,
Talat said, "In order to say yes to a solution, the embargo imposed on the
Turkish side must be completely lifted." In related news, TRNC President
Ferdi Sabri Soyer reacted harshly to those who accuse the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) and the TRNC administration of making
concessions on Cyprus because of the ports crisis, saying such critics had
done nothing to advance the cause of TRNC recognition. "They have won
nothing in 30 years," he added. "In the past Turkey was brave but it didn't
act rationally. But we and the AKP are both brave and act rationally."
/Sabah-Hurriyet/
[03] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS TODAY TO DISCUSS COMMISSION
DECISION ON TURKEY 'S BID AND ANKARA 'S PROPOSAL
The Foreign Ministers of the European Union member states are due to
convene in Brussels today to discuss the decision of the EU Commission
recommending partial suspension of Ankara's EU talks and Ankara's recent
proposal on Cyprus that if Ercan Airport and Famagusta Port were opened,
then Turkey could open an airport and port to Greek Cyprus. The Commission
decision and Turkey 's Cyprus proposal are expected to be discussed at the
summit of heads of state and government of EU members this Friday and
Saturday. The EU leaders are expected to make a decision on these issues.
/Sabah/
[04] REHN: " TURKEY SHOULD CLARIFY ITS INITIATIVE"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn over the weekend
asked Turkey to clarify its proposal about the Cyprus issue. Speaking to
German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Rehn said, " Turkey should clarify its
initiative. If Turkey opens a major port as a token of goodwill, this would
be a step towards implementing the Ankara Protocol. The Commission's
proposal is on the table." /Sabah/
[05] BAKOYANNIS: "HARD DATA WILL DETERMINE THE EU'S DECISION"
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said over the weekend, "The European
Union will take decisions on Turkey according to concrete facts, not
impressions." Bakoyannis said that Greece had been expecting Turkey 's
proposal on the ports and so hadn't been surprised, adding, "We knew that
Turkey would try to change the atmosphere at the last minute. But as we've
seen, it didn't change anything. Decisions won't be taken according to
impressions but in line with hard data. And the hard data now says that
Turkey isn't living up to its own signature on implementing the related
protocol of the Customs Union." /Cumhuriyet/
[06] COMMISSIONER ALMUNIA: " TURKEY 'S ECONOMY IS RAPIDLY HARMONIZING WITH
THE EU'S"
European Union Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin
Albunia said yesterday that Turkey's economy was rapidly harmonizing with
the EU's, adding that Turkey had a functioning market economy, one of the
most important pillars of the Copenhagen criteria. Saying that sustainable
economic growth was important in the EU process, Albunia added that the EU
would follow Turkey on this. /Aksam/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[07] CONCLUSION FOR THIS WEEK
BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"Turkish-EU relations are entering a critical week. During the EU General
Affairs and External Relations Council to be held at the foreign
ministerial level today and tomorrow in Brussels, Turkey's latest surprise
Cyprus offer will be discussed. EU ambassadors who gathered last Friday
haven't reached a conclusion. If the EU foreign ministers can't reach a
conclusion either, the issue will be left to the EU Council to convene at
the leaders' level in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. EU sources don't
want the issue to be left to the Council, because a failure to reach a
common decision concerning Turkey indicates a possible fight within the
Council, and nobody wants that. The reason for this is clear. Following
referendums in France and the Netherlands rejecting the European
constitution, the EU actually can't reach decisions on the most critical
issues. The constitution's fate, agricultural subsidies, which members are
entitled to free movement, and which new members will go into the Schengen
visa system are among these. On the other hand, in Bosnia-Herzegovina and
even in Lebanon , we've seen how the EU is divided in terms over a common
foreign policy. The issue of Turkey isn't a simple matter of membership
anymore. It's turned into a pivotal issue in terms of the EU's strategic
future. In short, if disagreements concerning this issue become apparent,
it would shake the logic of the EU's foundation. Of course, the worst
result for Turkey would be not issuing a decision under the Constitution.
In this case, it would be impossible for our membership talks -- which
actually stopped back in June -- to be restarted.
Some in Ankara say that if the Council can't reach a decision concerning
Turkey , this would be the best outcome. But as we saw above, this isn't
true. Those who say this speak mostly out of a desire for vengeance,
because they want to see the EU, which put Turkey in a difficult situation,
in a tight spot itself. In spite of all this and particularly following
Ankara 's Cyprus offer, it's unclear what kind of a conclusion will emerge.
Probably the Council will comply with the EU Commission's recommendations
in order not to seem divided anymore. In this case, our membership talks
will be suspended partially and the remaining chapters will be conditional
on the Cyprus issue. This means de facto suspension of our membership talks,
because it seems that it would be impossible for the government to accept
this. In sum, unless a solution never thought of before is found, a
conclusion could be reached in Turkish-EU relations this week."
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