ERDOGAN: “THOSE TALKING ABOUT DIVIDING IRAQ ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE”
Stressing that Iraqi Kurds wanted to take control of petroleum-rich regions in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned yesterday, “The two Iraqi Kurdish groups are playing with fire. Turkey won’t let them divide Iraq.” Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Iraqi Governing Council President Abdul Aziz al-Hakim in Ankara, Erdogan said that there should be neither an ethnic nor a religious division of Iraq. “Believing that that after June [when the US is due to hand over power to Iraqi authorities] their influence will wane, Kurds are trying to take control of oil regions in northern Iraq,” said Erdogan. “The Iraqis should determine their future, but if the nation breaks up, then its neighbors may intercede in the situation. Iran and Syria share this view.” He added that any division of Iraq might also threaten Turkey’s stability. For his part, al-Hakim said that he was in full agreement with Ankara. “We also favor Iraq’s integrity and all groups having an equal say,” said the Iraqi leader, adding that he expected Ankara’s support during the formation of a new national order and constitution. /Turkiye/
GENERAL STAFF BRIEFS ERDOGAN ON CYPRUS ISSUE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received yesterday a national security briefing from officials of the General Staff. During a four-hour gathering, Ankara’s new plan for Cyprus, plus Iraq and domestic security issues were discussed. In addition to Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and other top military commanders attended the meeting. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN, PRODI DUE TO DISCUSS ANKARA’S IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REFORMS
European Commission President Romano Prodi, who is expected to arrive in Ankara today, yesterday praised Turkey’s recently passed EU accession reforms. Speaking at a press conference in Strasbourg, Prodi said that Turkey had passed important reforms for its EU bid, adding however that these should also be implemented. During his visit, Prodi is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss implementation of the EU reforms. Later, he is set to address the Parliament and be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prodi is the first EU Commission president to visit Turkey in 40 years. /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN: “NO ONE CAN BLOCK TURKEY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who is set to begin a two-day visit to Ankara today, said yesterday that no one could block Turkey’s progress towards EU membership. Speaking to German daily Stuttgarter before his visit, Verheugen said that Ankara should first fulfill the Union’s political and economic criteria in order to join the EU, adding however that it could take Turkey a decade to gain membership. “The European Parliament and the 27 [present and incoming] member states will have the final say on Turkey’s bid,” added Verheugen. /Milliyet/
US ENVOY WESTON: “A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS WOULD HELP ANKARA’S EU BID”
US Special Cyprus Envoy Thomas Weston predicted yesterday that a Cyprus resolution was possible by this May, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the European Union, adding that the United States and the EU were both working towards that end. Weston stated that a resolution would ease Turkey’s own EU membership bid. Touching on the United Nations Cyprus plan, Weston said that both sides on the island were seeking to make changes to it. “These changes should be in accordance with EU norms,” said Weston. He added that Turkey would deserve to begin accession talks with the EU if it fulfills the Copenhagen criteria and plays a constructive role for a resolution on the island. In related news, a United Nations representative yesterday urged both sides on Cyprus to accept the main principles of its plan and not seek fundamental changes to it in negotiations. /Aksam/
IRISH PREMIER PRAISES TURKEY’S APPROACH ON CYPRUS
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said yesterday that he appreciated the Turkish government’s approach to the Cyprus issue. Ireland currently holds the EU’s term presidency. Ahern added that last week Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged personally that he would do his best to help reach a resolution on the island, a stance Ahern said he welcomed. /Milliyet/
BARZANI: “KURDS AND THE IRAQI COUNCIL BOTH FAVOR A FEDERATION”
Massoud Barzani, leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and a member of Iraq’s Governing Council, said yesterday that he and other Kurdish groups agreed with his fellow council members in favoring the formation of an Iraqi federation. In a gathering with some 30 Kurdish, Turkmen and Asuri representatives in Salahaddin, Iraq, Barzani claimed that there were two main populations in Iraq, the Arabs and the Kurds. “Other minorities’ rights will also be protected within the framework of federalism,” pledged Barzani. “We agreed with Iraq’s Governing Council on forming of a federation. We, the Kurdish people will decide ourselves on our relationship with the central authority.” Adding that some Turkmen had understood the situation and were struggling for their own rights, the Kurdish leader said, “But some others oppose the rights of Kurds, Turkmen, Asuri and Armenians living in Kurdistan. They should reconsider their stances.” /Aksam/
BUSH REPORTEDLY HAS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ERDOGAN
When Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Washington next week, President George W. Bush’s most important message for him will be that the US wants Turkey to play an important role in its region, unnamed US officials told Hurriyet daily yesterday. Asked what “important role” Bush had in mind, the officials said that this meant integration to the European Union. “Turkey has many advantages,” added one official. “We would like to see Turkey using these advantages in its EU bid to help it gain membership. We also want Turkey to boost its importance within NATO.” The US officials also stressed the importance of not wasting any time in finding a solution for Cyprus. /Hurriyet/
TUSIAD: “THE SIDES IN CYPRUS ARE MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION”
The sides in Cyprus have a positive approach but everyone should work for a solution, said Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan during his farewell tour yesterday. “Negotiations should be based on the Annan plan,” said Ozilhan, who is soon due to retire. Speaking on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Ozilhan stated, “The opposition should be active in constitutional amendments for the bid as well as its relations with social democratic parties abroad. We don’t have much time, and important steps should be made for the implementation of new laws.” Ozilhan also noted that he had spoken to ambassadors from EU countries in Ankara on what Turkey can contribute to the Union after it gets a date for accession talks. /Hurriyet/