NEW CYPRUS PLAN DISCUSSED
In the runup to his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas plus TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas. During their meetings, top officials reportedly exchanged views on Ankara’s new Cyprus plan and Erdogan informed them about his recent meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Davos, Switzerland. Then, Denktas met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Following this meeting, Denktas met with Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit. He is expected to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok this morning. Diplomatic sources underlined that there was no disagreement between the TRNC and Ankara. Meanwhile, postponing his travel to the US for two hours, Erdogan also met with Sezer to brief him about his meetings with the TRNC leaders and his contacts to be held during the upcoming visit to the US. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN LEAVES FOR US
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by ministers, deputies and businessmen last night left for the US to pay an official visit to this country at the invitation of President George W. Bush. He is scheduled to hold a series of contacts in New York, Washington and Boston. His meetings with Bush and other US top officials are expected to be focused on main issues including Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
EP OFFICIAL: “TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP TALKS ARE VERY LIKELY TO BEGIN IN 2005”
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee President Elmar Brok over the weekend stated that Turkey’s European Union membership talks were very likely to begin in 2005. Noting that Turkey has recently taken very significant steps which were expected to be praised by the country’s progress report, Brok said, “If EU Commission President Romano Prodi underlined these steps, that means the Commission has already adopted a pro-Turkey stance.” /Hurriyet/
ISRAEL AND SYRIA WELCOME TURKEY’S OFFER TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THEM TO REVIVE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
Israel Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jonathan Peled said yesterday that his country welcomed Turkey’s offer to mediate between Israel and Syria in a bid to revive the countries’ peace negotiations. “We’re pleased with Turkey’s proposal and accepted it,” said Peled, adding that he believed such an act would ease things. Peled added, however, that there was still a lot to be done to begin negotiations. Syrian Information Minister Ahmad Hassan also welcomed Turkey’s offer. “Damascus hopes Turkey can persuade the Israeli government to abondon its stubborness and its noncompliance with international legitimacy and the respective UN Security Council resolutions,” he told reporters. Peace talks between Syria and Israel have been stalled since 2000. /Milliyet/
POWELL: “TURKISH GOVERNMENT’S NEW STANCE TOWARDS THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS ENCOURAGING”
US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday called Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, saying that he should press Greek Cyprus administration for a resolution on the island, adding that the Turkish government’s new stance towards the Cyprus issue was encouraging. During their talks, Papandreou said that Greek Cypriots were ready to begin negotiations. Powell stated that he wanted both sides to do their best to reach a resolution on the island by May, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the EU. /Aksam/
CETIN LEAVES FOR KABUL TO START HIS POST
Former Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, who was assigned as NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, yesterday left for Kabul to start his post. Speaking to the journalists before his departure at the Etimesgut military airport, Cetin said, “I’m certain that this mission is quite difficult and complicated. I’m determined to do my utmost. I believe that special relations between Turkey and Afghanistan will facilitate my mission. During my term, I will assist Afghan people to complete their new political structure and to form a broad-based democratic government. I will expend efforts to become the voice of Afghanistan in the world. The Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Office of the General Staff and the Turkish government will support me during my term. I believe that I will achieve success with their support.” He added, “My success will be the achievement of Turkey.” /Hurriyet/
ATALAY MEETS WITH GEORGIA’S NEW PRESIDENT
State Minister Besir Atalay represented Turkey at the new Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s oath-taking ceremony over the weekend in Tbilisi. Saakashvili recently won a landslide election victory after leading a peaceful revolt in November which forced Eduard Shevardnadze from the presidency. Among the invited dignitaries yesterday were Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, and Igor Ivanov, Russia’s foreign minister. “Turkey is ready to do its best to protect Georgia’s territorial integrity,” said Atalay, who met with the new president after the ceremony. /Turkiye/