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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-14
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
14.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN OPPOSES CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
[02] TAN: "THE EU'S DECISION ISN'T THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS"
[03] DYP'S AGAR URGES EARLY ELECTIONS NEXT SPRING
[04] EU LEADERS TO MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY
[05] BLAIR TO VISIT TURKEY
[06] REHN: "THE EU GAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE TO TURKEY"
[07] WASHINGTON BEGINS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORIST PKK IN EUROPE
[08] TURKEY FOREGOES EUROFIGHTER FOR F-35s
[09] NURI ELIBOL (TURKIYE)
[01] ERDOGAN OPPOSES CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday criticized recent calls to
hold general elections next April in advance of May's presidential
election. He said that early general elections would harm the country, and
the current Parliament would elect the new president. Stressing that the
government had no complaints and was determined to hold elections as
scheduled, Erdogan said that his government had undertaken rule for five
years and would complete its term in office. He also called on everybody to
obey the Constitution. /Turkiye/
[02] TAN: "THE EU'S DECISION ISN'T THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS"
Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said yesterday that Ankara does not
see the decision made by the European Union foreign ministers on Monday set
to be taken up at today's EU leaders summit as the lesser of two evils,
adding that it wasn't a fair decision. Reiterating Turkey's determination
not to open its ports and airports to Greek Cyprus before the isolation of
the Turkish Cypriots is eased, Tan said, "The EU has once again acted
timidly on the Cyprus issue." Pointing to the EU's failure to declare that
a settlement of the Cyprus issue should be found under the auspices of the
United Nations as well as its postponement to January of deciding whether
to lift the embargo from the TRNC, he added, "The EU could take concrete
steps on the issue during its General Affairs Council meeting rather than
leaving it to next month. We're waiting for steps to be taken by the EU."
/Sabah/
[03] DYP'S AGAR URGES EARLY ELECTIONS NEXT SPRING
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said yesterday that general
elections next spring didn't mean early elections but rather ones held on
time. Stressing that it was too late to amend the Constitution to lower the
10 percent election threshold, Agar added, however, that general elections
should be held in April, because the public favors this rather than
November, when they are scheduled. /Turkiye/
[04] EU LEADERS TO MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY
European Union leaders will convene today in Brussels. The summit will not
officially take up Turkey's EU membership process, but leaders are expected
to approve the decision made this Monday by the EU foreign ministers.
Speaking to reporters, EU Term President Finland's Premier Matti Vanhanen
said that as the Turkish issue had been resolved, the EU leaders could
discuss other topics on their plate. Calling Turkey the most critical issue
during Finland's soon-to-end term presidency, Vanhanen stated that he
expected Ankara to accelerate on its path to the EU following elections in
Turkey next year. /Milliyet/
[05] BLAIR TO VISIT TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will visit Ankara tomorrow just after
participating in the European Union summit in Brussels. Blair, now lobbying
for Turkey during the EU summit, is expected to discuss with Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan recent developments on Turkey's EU bid and the Middle
East prior to his tour of the region. /Hurriyet/
[06] REHN: "THE EU GAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE TO TURKEY"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday said that
the EU had given a clear message to Turkey by partially freezing its
membership negotiations. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg,
Rehn said that the EU foreign ministers' decision was a good one and added,
"The EU has showed that it can find a solution without causing a big crisis
on a sensitive issue like Turkey. This should be appreciated by everyone."
Meanwhile, EU Term President Finland's Foreign Trade Minister Paula
Lehtomaki said that Finland had done its utmost to prevent any interruption
of Turkey's negotiations. In related news, EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Commission Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk praised the prospect of the EU
ministers' reviewing lifting the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots next
spring. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] WASHINGTON BEGINS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORIST PKK IN EUROPE
Frank Urbancic, the US State Department's principal assistant coordinator
for counter terrorism, yesterday said that the US has started a campaign to
cut off the financial resources of the terrorist PKK. Stating that he and
Doug Silliman, the department's director of the US Office of Southern
European Affairs, had suggested to European countries that the terrorist
activities of the PKK shouldn't be facilitated, he added, "The death of a
single Turkish citizen in southeastern Anatolia is no different for us than
the death of an American citizen in Izmir or California due to terrorist
attacks." Meanwhile, US Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Rodman, after his
contacts in Ankara, said, "We want to be a reliable ally of Turkey.
Therefore, we're trying to give appropriate responses to the concerns of
Ankara." /Star/
[08] TURKEY FOREGOES EUROFIGHTER FOR F-35s
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that due to the Greek Cypriot
administration's negative stance against Turkey, the Defense Industry
Executive Committee had decided to get F-35 planes rather than
Eurofighter's Typhoon plane for a $10 billion next generation warplane
project. Stressing that the Eurofighter is a product of EU countries, Gonul
said Turkey couldn't be a member of the European Defense Agency (EDA) as a
result of a veto by Greek Cyprus. "This has become a very important factor,
" Gonul added. "We have no idea how to participate in EU projects as we're
not a member of the EDA." /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...HOW FAITHFUL ARE
THE GERMANS TO TURKEY?
[09] NURI ELIBOL (TURKIYE)
Columnist Nuri Elibol comments on possible developments after Jan. 1 when
Germany assumes the European Union presidency, and the EU summit to be held
today. A summary of his column is as follows:
"European Union leaders are convening today. Neither the Cyprus issue nor
Turkey is expected to top their discussions. However, Turkey is expected to
be on the negotiating table, though not at the top of the agenda. I wonder
if the consciences of the EU leaders are clear? Can the EU leaders, who
buckle under Greek Cypriot pressures by saying they won't fulfill their
obligations to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), see the
‘larger strategic picture,' as expressed by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul?
Ankara is planning to react with common sense to the recent developments,
and is preparing to implement its Plan B. Ankara always called the EU's
decision to partially suspend Turkey's EU talks unfair, but decided not to
act too angrily. The government is continuing to be loyal to the nation's
EU bid.
Ankara, sure of its path to EU membership, is getting ready to receive EU
leaders following today's summit. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who
has always supported Turkey's EU bid, will visit Turkey late this week.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is expected to pay an official visit
next month. This will be Prodi's first visit to Turkey as prime minister.
Germany will take over the EU term presidency from Finland, whose Cyprus
initiative was appreciated, on Jan. 1. European sources saying that Germany
will give priority to the Cyprus issue during its term presidency, remind
the EU of its commitments to end the isolation of the, and guarantee that
Germany will work for this. Steps during the term presidency of Germany,
which welcomed Turkey's recent proposal on Cyprus, are being awaited with
curiosity. During Germany's term presidency, Turkey will get a letter from
the EU to start negotiations on three chapters.
The term presidency of Germany is important, since the chance to solve
problems during the term presidencies of the EU's powerhouse countries --
Britain, France, and Germany -- is high. German Chancellor Angela Merkel
has an historic opportunity towards this end. Merkel could stop being
stubborn and instead prioritize Turkish-German relations and friendship
between the two countries. If she recognizes the benefits that Turkey could
provide the EU, she could get her name in the history books. She could win
the friendship of Turkey and the hearts of Turks living in Germany.
Ankara's EU talks on three or four chapters could be opened during
Germany's term presidency. I believe Germany should do this."
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