AKP TO SEND EU HARMONIZATION PACKAGE TO PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government yesterday decided to send the sixth European Union harmonization package to Parliament within a few days, just after this week’s Cabinet meeting. At its meeting yesterday, the ruling party’s Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) decided that the package should be sent sooner rather than later, and that there was no need to wait for a National Security Council (MGK) meeting near month’s-end. The government had previously pledged to pass the package by July 1. Briefing the board, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that in order not to miss the EU train this time, Parliament should pass the harmonization package as soon as possible. “Italy will assume the EU term presidency on July 1, and the EU will release a progress report at the end of 2004, so we should act very quickly to implement structural reforms,” he added, referring to the EU’s scheduled review of Ankara’s accession progress on that date. He said that Turkey had to take a resolute stance on its prospective membership. “If we fail to carry out the reforms necessary for our EU bid, then we will fall short of our goal,” he warned. In related news, Prime Minister and AKP leader Erdogan said that the package would be on Parliament’s agenda this week, adding that there was no problem regarding the issue. /Milliyet/
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAPID RAIL PROJECT
A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday in Ankara for the first stage of the Ankara-Istanbul Fast Train Project. Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that after the early years of the republic, the nation’s railways had been sadly neglected. But, he pledged, “Now we’re beginning initiatives to revive our railways.” The rail work to be completed by the end of 2005 will enable travel between Turkey’s two principal cities in just over three hours, cutting in half the current time of six hours or more. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN URGES ABBAS, SHARON TO CONTINUE EFFORTS FOR PEACE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday telephoned his Palestinian and Israeli counterparts to hail the restarted peace process and urge further steps for progress. Speaking to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), Erdogan said that Ankara welcomed the Palestinian administration’s recent reform efforts in the light of the “road map” for peace. Later, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Erdogan in their phone conversation that he hoped for progress towards a peaceful settlement, but insisted that first terrorism in the region must end. Last week both Abbas and Sharon made public declarations as the first step of the US-supported road map for peace. /Turkiye/
SPANISH FM PALACIO: “LETTING TURKEY INTO THE EU WOULD BE A GIANT STEP IN UNION HISTORY”
One of the largest 21st century projects of the European Union is to begin Turkey’s accession negotiations and integrate it into the EU, proclaimed Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio over the weekend. Speaking to the Brussels-based Turkish news agency ABHaber, Palacio stated that the EU had a very important rendezvous with Turkey next December, adding that its EU accession would send a powerful message to the international community. “The EU is not a ‘Christian club,’ and Turkey is a unique Muslim country for its secular establishment and respect for human rights,” said Palacio, belittling the predictions of some that Ankara’s EU accession would be “the end” of the Union. Palacio said that an overwhelming majority of Turks favored EU membership, but added that the government should at once pass necessary reforms to fully comply with the Copenhagen criteria. /Hurriyet/
PAPADOPOULOS: “THE TRNC ECONOMIC PACKAGE WAS A JOINT EU-GREEK CYPRIOT EFFORT”
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that the European Union and Greek Cyprus had worked together to prepare a recent economic package for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “The EU can’t do anything without our approval,” said Papadopoulos, whose nation is due to join the Union in a little less than a year. “We came up with the package together.” Papadopoulos said that while the media had depicted new trade arrangements with the TRNC as being an EU affair only, in reality the EU was in constant consultation with Greek Cyprus. “All trade from the TRNC will be done through Greek ports,” he added. TRNC President Rauf Danktas last week complained that the package fell short of actually lifting the illegal economic embargo on his country. /Aksam/
PARLIAMENT’S ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION SET TO HEAR FROM FORMER PM ECEVIT, YILMAZ
Parliament’s Anti-Corruption Commission has requested that three prominent members of the 1999-2002 Democratic Left Party (DSP)-led coalition government appear before it to respond to allegations of corruption within their administration. From the DSP, former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and former Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkanhave reportedly been summoned, though Ecevit says the commission has not contacted him. In addition, former junior coalition partner Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz has also been asked to appear. Their testimony would take place over this week and the next. Ecevit’s coalition, Turkey’s longest ever, was unseated last fall by the now ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). /Cumhuriyet/
DEHAP GENERAL CONGRESS ELECTS NEW PARTY LEADER
The Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) held its second extraordinary general congress in Ankara yesterday to elect a new party leader. Outgoing DEHAP leader Mehmet Abbasoglu delivered a speech urging the government to make legal changes to allow members of the outlawed terrorist Kurdistan Freedom and Democratic Congress (KADEK) to return to Turkey by laying down their arms. Sole leadership candidate Tuncer Bakirhan, who has served as a commission head in the party, was elected the new DEHAP chairman. /All Papers/
ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST EXCESSIVE TANKER TRAFFIC THROUGH BOSPHORUS
Yesterday environmentalist group Fighters for Nature staged a protest in Istanbul of what it sees as an excessive number of tanker ships passing through the Bosphorus straits under lax regulation. In a statement, Chairman Zafer Murat Cetintas said that through protesting the group hoped to bring attention to the threats faced by the straits, adding that it opposed in particular the Russian Federation’s insistence on passage without delay. “Our protests will continue against commercial-centric demands,” said Cetintas. “The ever-increasing tanker traffic worries us greatly. Parliament should address this dangerous situation at once.” /Turkish Daily News/
TURKS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS LIVING IN BELGIUM
Some 10,000 Turks living in Belgium yesterday gathered in the capital to celebrate 40 years of living in the country. Present at the Brussels celebration as guests from the Turkish government were State Ministers Besir Atalay and Mehmet Aydin. Speaking to the gathered expatriates, Aydin said that Ankara stood by Turks living in Brussels, adding, “As our founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stated many years ago, many challenges remain before us.” For his part, Atalay said that the government placed great importance on Turks living abroad, adding that they had played an important role in Turkey winning last month’s Eurovision Song Contest. Turks living in Belgium and Germany were credited with helping singer Sertab Erener win decisive votes in the historic victory, Turkey’s first. /Aksam/
TURKEY TOPPLES SLOVAKIA IN EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS, RETURNING TO TOP OF GROUP SEVEN
Turkey returned to the top of Euro 2004 qualifying Group Seven on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Slovakia. The Turkish football team had won its opening three games, but then in April fell to second after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of England. Victory against Slovakia moved Turkey to 12 points from five games. Turkey's Nihat Kahveci scored the only goal of the game in Bratislava, after 12 minutes. /All Papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION