ERDOGAN: “NOW MORE THAN EVER, TURKEY IS DETERMINED TO JOIN THE EU”
Turkey is determined to enter the European Union now more than ever, says Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an interview in the current issue of German magazine Focus. Erdogan is currently in the midst of his first visit to Germany as premier. Stating that the nation is ready to join the EU, Erdogan underlines that an overwhelming majority of the Turkish people support Turkey’s prospective membership. “I don’t believe that the EU is a Christian club,” said Erdogan, adding, however, that the ball was now in the Union’s court to prove this. “Turkey is ready to begin accession talks, and so the EU should prepare itself for Turkey’s future membership,” he says. /Sabah/
GUL: “ANKARA BACKS THE TRNC, BUT DENKTAS NEEDS TO ENSURE HIS OWN CITIZENS’ SUPPORT”
Speaking before leaving for Austria yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas to make getting the support of the TRNC’s own citizens his priority. Denktas had said yesterday that if he loses presidential elections set for December, then he would continue his cause through the support of the Anatolian people. “Ankara is backing the TRNC, but Denktas should first ensure that he has his own people’s support,” said Gul. In related news, Denktas yesterday received Vladimir Cizov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy to Cyprus. /All papers/
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL TRAVELS TO AUSTRIA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul traveled yesterday to Vienna for an official visit, where his first slated meeting is with his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero-Waldner. After their talks, Gul is set to meet with Austrian Parliament Speaker Andreas Kohl and to attend a luncheon hosted by Ferrero-Waldner in his honor, with Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel also at the table. Gul will then attend a reception at Turkey’s Vienna Embassy where he will meet with Turkish businessmen and representatives of Turkish associations in Austria. /All papers/
NATO COMMANDER GEN. JAMES JONES DUE IN ANKARA TODAY TO DISCUSS IRAQ DEPLOYMENT ISSUE
Gen. James Jones, supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe, and a delegation from the United States European Command (EUCOM) are set to arrive in Ankara today. During his one-day visit to the capital, Jones is scheduled to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and discuss possible Turkish troop deployment in Iraq. Gen. Jones is expected to try to answer Ankara’s questions on certain issues such as the possible location of Turkish forces to be deployed, their number and the scope of their mission. In addition, the issue of a joint Turkish-US action to eradicate the terrorist group PKK/KADEK from northern Iraq is also expected to be taken up during the meetings. /Hurriyet/
US AMBASSADOR EDELMAN VISITS DEFENSE MINISTER GONUL
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul yesterday received US newly posted Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman. Giving the ambassador his best wishes for success, Gonul said that Edelman’s predecessor Robert Pearson had advanced Turkish-US relations and that he expected Edelman would continue this valuable work. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: “BY YEAR’S-END WE WILL LIFT OBSTACLES TO GERMAN CAPITAL ENTERING TURKEY”
By year’s-end Turkey will lift obstacles to German business and other foreign capital entering the country, pledged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. In Germany for an official visit, Erdogan visited the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin and spoke to Ahmet Zorlu, the chairman of Turkish appliance maker Vestel, telling him that government’s support for Turkish manufacturers would not flag. He also said that he would meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to discuss Turkey’s European Union membership bid, adding that Berlin supported this bid and he hoped this support would continue. /Milliyet/
TUSIAD TO OPEN BERLIN BUREAU TODAY
The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) is set today to open its new bureau in Berlin. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in Germany for an official visit, will also attend the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH FIRMS SET TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL BAGHDAD FAIR
Despite the political and diplomatic chaos in Iraq since the end of the war, over 200 Turkish companies are planning to attend the International Baghdad Fair set for Dec. 1-7. Officials stated that Turkey will participate in the fair on a 10,000-square-meter area with the aim of getting export connections worth some $1 billion. /Turkiye/
CEBIT HIGH TECH FAIR BEGINS IN ISTANBUL
The 2003 CebIT Eurasia information and communications technologies fair opened yesterday in Istanbul. During the opening ceremony at Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Seminar Hall, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the convention via satellite from Germany, where he is currently paying an official visit. Erdogan stated that Turkey will ultimately attain the standards of developed countries and will furthermore prosper as an information-based society. The five-day fair spotlighting information technology advances as well as “e-government” projects is hosting 900 companies from 20 countries as well as some 160,000 visitors from all around the world. /All Papers, http://www.cebitbilisim.com/homepage_en /
LONDON HOSTS TURKISH FASHION SHOW
A Turkish fashion show is set to begin in London tomorrow. Nearly 50 ready-to-wear firms are expected to participate in the two-day event. /Cumhuriyet/