|
|
Turkish Press Review, 05-10-04
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
04.10.2005
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER: “AT UNIVERSITIES, IDEAS SHOULD BE FREELY EXCHANGED”
[02] TURKEY OFFICIALLY BEGINS MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU
[03] ERDOGAN HAILS “GIANT STEP FOR TURKEY”
[04] GUL: “WE HAVE ENTERED A NEW ERA”
[05] BRITAIN’S STRAW CALLS BEGINNING OF ANKARA’S EU TALKS “HISTORIC DAY” FOR BOTH EU AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
[06] AUSTRIAN FM: “THE FINAL AIM OF TALKS IS ANKARA’S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP”
[07] RICE GIVES GUARANTEE TO ANKARA OVER NATO
[08] US WELCOMES EU DECISION
[09] BABACAN: “DISCIPLINED BUDGET AND MONETARY POLICIES HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR ECONOMY”
[10] WB’S VORKINK: “TURKEY HAS CROSSED THE EUROPEAN BRIDGE”
[11] EP HEAD BORELL TO VISIT TRNC TOMORROW
[12] DECISION DAY FOR NEW LEFT-WING PARTY
[13] SEPTEMBER INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[15] ABSORPTION DIFFICULTY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] SEZER: “AT UNIVERSITIES, IDEAS SHOULD BE FREELY EXCHANGED”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that universities were
institutions not for defending dogmatic thoughts but rather free exchanges
of ideas. Speaking at a ceremony marking the opening of the new academic
year at Hatay’s Mustafa Kemal University, Sezer said that universities
should aim at raising well-educated people. He also urged officials to
accelerate work to raise standards of instruction at universities.
/Milliyet/
[02] TURKEY OFFICIALLY BEGINS MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU
Hard-fought disputes over Turkey’s European Union accession talks framework
document continued through last evening. The first four drafts forwarded to
Ankara were rejected, but then Britain’s issuing a declaration taking into
consideration Turkey’s reservation on Greek Cyprus’ participation in NATO
activities placated Turkey. After the intense discussions between Ankara
and Luxembourg, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul flew there to meet with his
EU counterparts at 9:45 p.m. from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] ERDOGAN HAILS “GIANT STEP FOR TURKEY”
Turkey has taken a giant step appropriate to its historic march, said Prime
Minister Erdogan last night on the long-awaited start to Turkey’s European
Union membership talks. “We have passed through the most important phase
with the founding values of our republic and our 40-year EU goal,” Erdogan
told a press conference. “We have progressed to the negotiations stage
after numerous long, tiring, and difficult discussions. Our aim was to
protect the sensitivities we announced after last December’s summit. We
insisted on this. This is Turkey’s success, our success, our nation’s
success.” /Aksam/
[04] GUL: “WE HAVE ENTERED A NEW ERA”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that a new era had begun for
Turkey. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Luxembourg last night
after a compromise was reached on Ankara’s European Union accession talks
framework document, Gul, accompanied by Economy Minister and chief EU talks
negotiator Ali Babacan, said that Turkey had been on the road to EU
membership for more than 40 years. Stressing that as a Muslim country
Turkey was unique among other EU members, Gul said that Turkey would
greatly contribute to the Union. Furthermore, he said that there was no
other alternative other than full membership. Meanwhile, President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal were briefed on the historic developments. /Turkiye/
[05] BRITAIN’S STRAW CALLS BEGINNING OF ANKARA’S EU TALKS “HISTORIC DAY”
FOR BOTH EU AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Speaking at a press conference yesterday alongside European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the beginning of
Ankara’s talks a “historic day” for both the EU and the international
community. “"When Western Europe needed defense, along with the United
States, it looked to Turkey for that defense on its eastern flank against
the then-Soviet Union... No issues were then raised that it had an Islamic
majority,” he said. “We’ll be stronger and larger with Turkey. The EU,
Turkey, and the international community will benefit from Ankara’s EU talks
officially beginning today.” Straw added that both the EU and Turkey had
contributed to reaching a compromise, adding that each negotiation to join
the EU has passed through a difficult process. For his part, Rehn said that
the EU needed a stable and democratic Turkey, adding that in the last 30
hours everyone’s limits had been tested. “Ankara played the game fairly,”
he said. “We have reason to be satisfied within this result. The
negotiations began without additional conditions.” He added, however, that
the talks would be long and the process difficult. /Sabah/
[06] AUSTRIAN FM: “THE FINAL AIM OF TALKS IS ANKARA’S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP”
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said yesterday that there was a
need to make clear some points in Turkey’s negotiation framework, adding
that now what needed to be done was to work professionally. She stressed
that the final target of Turkey’s talks would be its full European
membership, predicting that at the end of the process there would be strong
relations between Turkey and the EU. In related news, French Foreign
Minister Philpe Douste-Blazy said that France had supported Ankara’s EU bid
from the beginning, but believed that conditions for these needed to be
determined. He added, however, that if Turkey doesn’t adopt EU values
during the negotiation process, it couldn’t join the Union. “If it fulfills
reforms within our values, then the result will be positive,” added Douste-
Blazy. /Sabah/
[07] RICE GIVES GUARANTEE TO ANKARA OVER NATO
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly had a role in breaking a
logjam in reaching a deal on Turkey’s European Union accession talks. Rice
called Prime Minister Erdogan after a party retreat in Kizilcahamam of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Rice assured Erdogan that U.S.
support for Turkey would continue, and added that the proposed negotiation
framework document wouldn’t affect Turkey’s relations with NATO. According
to one European diplomat, Rice gave a guarantee to Erdogan that the Article
5, concerning Greek Cyprus’ joining international groups, wouldn’t affect
NATO. /Aksam/
[08] US WELCOMES EU DECISION
The US State Department said yesterday that Turkey’s beginning European
Union accession talks would contribute Turkey’s peace, prosperity and
democracy. Edgar Vazquez, a State Department spokesman, told reporters that
his country was closely following developments in the EU and lending
support to Turkey’s EU membership bid. /Turkiye/
[09] BABACAN: “DISCIPLINED BUDGET AND MONETARY POLICIES HAVE STRENGTHENED
OUR ECONOMY”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said yesterday that the effect
of possible adverse developments in Turkey’s European Union accession talks
on the markets and the economy would be limited. “Our economy isn’t
vulnerable anymore,” he said, adding that the institutions were better
coordinated now than they used to be. Babacan stressed that the nation’s
disciplined budget and monetary policies and structural reforms had
increased the strength of the economy. /Hurriyet/
[10] WB’S VORKINK: “TURKEY HAS CROSSED THE EUROPEAN BRIDGE”
Speaking after Turkey officially began its European Union accession talks,
World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink said that Turkey had crossed the
European bridge, adding that in the future Oct. 3 would be remembered as a
historic date. Vorkink stated that Turkey had achieved a very important
change and entered a new era. He further hailed the beginning of the
accession talks as a “historic moment” both for Ankara and the EU, adding
that though the negotiation period would be long and would address a number
of difficult issues, beginning talks was an important stage. “Not only
Turkey, but also the EU will benefit from the outcome of the talks,” he
said, predicting that Turkey would be a developed country when the talks
are completed. Vorkink added that the WB would support the EU and Turkey in
the negotiation process. /Hurriyet/
[11] EP HEAD BORELL TO VISIT TRNC TOMORROW
European Parliament President Josep Borrell travelled to Greek Cyprus
yesterday. After meeting with United Nation officials he also spoke with
representatives of non-governmental organization (NGOs). He will reportedly
go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) tomorrow. Borrell will
first see TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and later have a meeting with
Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas.
Borrel may also arrange a press conference in the buffer zone on Thursday.
/Star/
[12] DECISION DAY FOR NEW LEFT-WING PARTY
Former Gaziantep Mayor Celal Dogan has started work on forming a new party
on the left wing, reports said yesterday. Dogan has a meeting with members
of the defunct Democracy Party (DP) today. It is expected that some members
of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) might join the formation as well.
Reportedly CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s unopposed candidacy for reelection at
the CHP’s Nov. 12 congress might be a catalyst for party dissidents.
Therefore the meeting is seen as a turning point for both the CHP and the
new left-wing group. Dogan previously met with some well-known figures
before, such as former Deputies Leyla Zana, Selim Sadak and Hatip Dicle. If
Dogan’s meeting ends with an agreement today, the new party will be formed
shortly. Dogan could be the new party’s leader, according to some sources.
/Star/
[13] SEPTEMBER INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released inflation
figures for September. Last month’s increase in the consumer price index
(CPI) was 1.2%, while the producer price index (PPI) was 0.78%, pushing the
yearly CPI to 7.99 and PPI to 4.39. /Turkiye/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[15] ABSORPTION DIFFICULTY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on developments in relations between Turkey
and the European Union. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The last 36 hours were very tense. Not only Ankara, but also Europeans
have been anxious over the last two years. Government officials from a
great many countries have been following the developments closely.
Difficulties on starting our European Union membership talks weren’t the
only problem. The stance of certain countries, particularly that of Austria,
showed that we’re facing an ‘EU problem’ of global dimensions. How can
‘small’ Austria or ‘tiny’ Greek Cyprus shake the ‘very big’ EU? Even if
Turkey’s EU bid is at stake, the actual issue is the weakness of the EU. If
the EU doesn’t set its house in order, it’s likely to suffer more such
crises.
The last-minute consensus reached yesterday will be discussed both in
Turkey and relevant EU countries in detail. Some people will consider this
a success and others a defeat. However, it should be said that the
incidents of the last 36 hours had a negative impact on Turkey’s
willingness and enthusiasm concerning the EU. Of course, there were
criticisms by leaders of various member countries and commentators. However,
recent efforts to hinder Turkey’s EU membership and make us accept certain
conditions caused serious doubts and suspense at the EU Commission. Now,
the responsibility of taking such steps to make people forget these
feelings and ensure mutual confidence and rapprochement belongs to the EU.
A term which was recently pushed by Austria insistently is ‘absorption.’
Some were willing to turn the EU’s capacity of ‘absorbing’ Turkey into a
new criteria or precondition. A milder expression appeared in the decision
taken last Dec. 17. However, this time it was put forth that the EU would
have absorption difficulties concerning Turkey and thus this should be
taken into consideration at the end of the process of membership talks. At
the end of the talks, which are expected to last for 10 years or more, it’s
a small possibility that the EU’s absorbing a very different and developed
Turkey will create difficulties. Actually, it’s not easy to ‘absorb’ the
fact that this word was put forth as a condition.”
ARCHIVE
<script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js">
</script>
|