ERDOGAN: "I TOLD IRANIAN OFFICIALS THAT THE WORLD EXPECTS TRANSPARENCY IN ITS NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM"
Speaking after returning from Iran yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that during his visit, he had told Iranian officials that the world expected transparency in its nuclear energy program. "They told me that they were transparent," said Erdogan. The premier further stated that Iran definitely favored Iraq's territorial integrity. "A divided Iraq would provoke a civil war," he said, adding that Iran considered Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki a chance for Iran. "We also think the same way," said Erdogan. /Sabah/
IRANIAN MEDIA: "ERDOGAN'S VISIT USHERED IN A NEW ERA IN TURKISH-IRANIAN RELATIONS"
The Iranian media commented favorably on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Tehran. Iranian daily Keyhan stated that Erdogan's visit ushered in a new era in Turkish-Iranian relations, adding that the visit took place during a critical period in the Mideast. Stressing that it was important that top Turkish officials had made the visit, the newspaper stated that Turkey was Iran's most stable neighbor. /Milliyet/
CICEK: "WE EXPECT FAIRNESS FROM THE EU"
Recent developments in Turkey's European Union membership process dominated the Cabinet ministers' meeting yesterday. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government expected a fair and equal stance from the EU similar to that given other candidate states. He stressed that the EU had made a big mistake in May 2004 by accepting Cyprus as a member in the absence of a settlement on the island. In addition, developments in privatization were also taken up at the meeting, Cicek said. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN POSTPONES VISIT TO ROMANIA
The current political crisis in Romania, which resulted in the resignation of some government ministers, has led Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to postpone his visit to this country at the last minute. Romania asked Erdogan, who was preparing to depart for Bucharest tonight, to postpone his visit due to the crisis. /Hurriyet/
US AMBASSADOR WILSON VISITS GUL TO BOOST EU BID
US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson yesterday visited Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and conveyed US support for Turkey's European Union bid. Washington is working to help prevent a "train crash" in Turkey's bid at the end of the year. Within this context, Wilson met with Gul and said that they were ready to do their best to avoid interruptions during the negotiations between Turkey and the EU. US State Department Undersecretary Nicholas Burns yesterday told a press conference in Brussels that the EU would be incomplete without Turkey, which is a bridge between civilizations, adding, "Your doors should stay open to Turkey." Cumhuriyet/
FINANCIAL TIMES: "CHIRAC AND MERKEL UNITE TO GET TOUGH ON TURKEY"
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to take a tougher line towards Turkey. The two leaders will push for a deadline 18 months from now before which Turkey must open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels. Britain's Financial Times said that Chirac will meet with Merkel today in Germany and that Merkel will support the 18-month deadline proposal. German government spokesperson Thomas Steg confirmed the Financial Times report. The daily also quoted an official in Chirac's office on Sunday as saying, "France and Germany are on the same page with regard to Turkey." In related news, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn came out in opposition to a deadline on Turkey to open its ports. Speaking to Reuters, Rehn called on Germany and France not to pressure the EU to impose a deadline on Turkey, adding that Merkel and Chirac should instead find a balanced solution. /Hurriyet/
ANKARA TO RELEASE DECLARATION ON CYPRUS IMPASSE
Uncomfortable about the two powerhouses of the European Union taking a joint stance against Turkey, and fearing the Dec. 14 summit might produce a decision going beyond the EU Commission proposal, Ankara will announce in a new declaration that it won't take any steps unless the embargo on Turkish Cyprus is lifted. Turkish-EU relations are again strained after French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to impose further conditions on Ankara. A high-level Foreign Ministry official said, "The EU Commission's recommendation met a backlash. If there's a decision to make the current recommendation heavier, Turkish-EU relations will be cut off." /Cumhuriyet/
TOP US OFFICIALS TO VISIT ANKARA
Stuart Levy, the US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism, finance and intelligence, will visit Ankara this week. His talks with Turkish officials are expected to focus on cutting off the terrorist PKK's financial resources. Furthermore, another US diplomat from the Near East Department, James Jeffrey, is set to visit Turkey on Dec. 13 to discuss the Iran issue. /Sabah/
US DIPLOMAT BURNS URGES EU NOT TO CLOSE DOORS TO TURKEY
US State Department Undersecretary Nicholas Burns said yesterday that the European Union would be making an error if it closes its doors to Turkey. Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Burns said that it was an important strategic event for the EU to open its doors to Turkey. But now European officials have begun to talk about closing these doors to Turkey, and that would be a big mistake, he added. /Turkiye/
AGAR: "TURKEY CAN'T GIVE UP ITS EU ASPIRATIONS"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said yesterday that Turkey would continue its European Union membership path by overcoming all hurdles. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Czech Republic's Ambassador to Ankara Eva Filipi at DYP headquarters, Agar said they had exchanged views on Turkey's EU membership bid. Stressing that the Czech Republic had lent its support to Turkey joining the bloc, Agar stated that his party favored preserving the EU perspective and resolving issues through dialogue. In addition, Agar said that he would talk with EU member state ambassadors in Ankara in the coming days to take up the issues that Turkey faces on its road to the EU. /Turkiye/
STRAY BULLET INJURES TURKISH DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ
A Turkish diplomat was shot and injured on Saturday in the garden of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The following day, Ozcan Sahin was airlifted to a hospital in Ankara by a Turkish Air Forces' helicopter after doctors in Baghdad were unable to remove the bullet. Sahin underwent surgery in Ankara and is in stable condition following the procedure. The injury was reportedly caused by a stray bullet from a shootout near the embassy. /Turkish Daily News/
CB HEAD WARNS AGAINST GETTING INTO DEBT WITH FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Speaking at a press conference to present the Third Financial Stability Report yesterday, Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz warned both people and the real sector not to get into debt with foreign exchange, saying that households who lack foreign exchange income shouldn't become indebted in foreign currency. Commenting on economic crisis expectations, Yilmaz stated that there could be fluctuations due to domestic and foreign developments. "We don't think that we'll face a crisis," said Yilmaz. He further stressed that fiscal discipline should be maintained besides monetary discipline, while inflation falls. "Fiscal discipline should be pursued determinedly due to uncertainty about [next year's] elections," he said. Asked about the independence of the Central Bank, Yilmaz said that the CB wasn't an independent state. "We're an independent institution in the Turkish Republic," he added. /Aksam/
NOVEMBER INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) yesterday released its monthly inflation figures for last month. Consumer price index (CPI) inflation in November rose by 1.29 pct to reach 9.86 pct year-on-year, while producer price index (PPI) inflation fell by 0.29 pct to reach 11.67 pct year-on-year. /All papers/