ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 26, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HIKMET CETIN LEAVES FOR KABUL
Hikmet Cetin, who was assigned as the NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, left for Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday. Responding to questions of journalists at the military airport in Ankara's Etimesgut district, Cetin said, ''I am certain that this mission is quite difficult and complicated. However, I am determined to do my utmost.'' Cetin said, ''I believe that special relations between Turkey and Afghanistan will facilitate my mission. During my term in office as the NATO's senior civilian representative, I will assist Afghan people to complete their new political structure and to form a broad-based democratic government.''
''WE, AS POLITICAL WILL, TAKE RISK''
There was a busy diplomatic traffic on Cyprus issue in Ankara on Sunday. Following meetings which were held one after the another in Ankara, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took Ankara's last stance to the issue to the United States. Erdogan met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas on Sunday. Erdogan tried to remove Denktas' concerns on mediation and referendum by saying, ''we, as political will, have determination on those issues which will be our risks.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''LET'S SOLVE IT LIKE LAUSANNE''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who answered questions on board en route from Turkey to the United States, said that he proposed United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that a narrowed version of the plan should be negotiated for a solution to the Cyprus question. Erdogan said, ''we had founded the Republic with Lausanne Treaty comprised of 100 articles. But there are thousands of pages for reaching a solution to the Cyprus issue.'' When asked, ''can the sides find a solution to the Cyprus issue till May 1, 2004?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I believe that it would be more appropriate to use a narrowed document in efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue. I told it to Mr. Annan. Now, we will assess it.''
TREASURY TO REPAY USD 1 BILLION OF FOREIGN DEBT THIS MONTH
Treasury Undersecretariat will repay 308.5 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt this week and Treasury's total repayment of foreign debt will reach 996.2 U.S. dollars in January. Treasury Undersecretariat said that a big part of repayments of this week would be made on Friday. Treasury will repay 21 million U.S. dollars on Tuesday and 13.1 million U.S. dollars on Wednesday.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DENKTAS TENSION IN ANKARA
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has reacted to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had proposed United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint an impartial mediator to resolve the Cyprus issue. Together with Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, President Denktas held meetings with Prime Minister Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Following the meetings, President Sezer surprisingly invited Prime Minister Erdogan to the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Sources said that President Denktas reacted to the proposal of Prime Minister Erdogan about appointment of a mediator.
ERDOGAN: ''THE WORLD HAS OBSERVING TRNC''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for the United States with a crowded delegation. Responding questions of journalists aboard the plane, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''during my meeting with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Davos city of Switzerland, I told Mr. Annan that it would be more appropriate to use a narrowed document in efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue.'' He noted, ''Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will fulfill their responsibilities. The European Union (EU) and the world have been observing all steps of the TRNC. Also, we, as one of guarantor states, should put forward our sensitivity.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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POLITICAL POWER'S GAMBLE ON CYPRUS
The government is taking risk in order to show that Greek Cypriot side was the side which delays solution in Cyprus. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who explained his hesitations on referendum to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan refrained from saying ''no''. Erdogan who tried to show that Turkish side had a sound will for a solution to the Cyprus issue gave the message that they would always be one step ahead of the Greek Cypriot side. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas had a meeting on Sunday. Sezer and Denktas wanted negotiations to be resumed in Cyprus by referring to the Annan plan and facts of the island.
COOPERATION STRESSED
Presidential Press Center has said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) noted with pleasure consensus between Turkey and TRNC on basic strategy and principles toward solution to Cyprus issue within the scope of U.N. negotiation process. Following the meeting between Sezer and Denktas, Presidential Press Center said that the latest developments regarding Cyprus issue were assessed in their meeting, and stated that Sezer and Denktas exchanged views on resumption of negotiations.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ISRAEL: ''WE ACCEPT TURKEY'S PROPOSAL TO ACT AS MEDIATOR''
During his visit to Davos city of Switzerland to attend the 33rd World Economic Forum meetings, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was ready to act as a mediator between Israel and Syria. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded Prime Minister Erdogan saying, ''we accept Turkey's proposal to mediate between Israel and Syria.''
ERDOGAN LEAVES FOR UNITED STATES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for the United States on a twelve-day official visit. Prior to his departure, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, ''despite all ups and downs in bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States last year because of the Iraq crisis, stability has been preserved in our relations as a result of common-sense and positive approaches of leaders and parliaments of our countries.'' He noted that the issues of Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process would top agenda of his meetings in the United States. Five ministers, 153 businessmen, 70 journalists and nearly 100 bureaucrats are accompanying Prime Minister Erdogan. He will come together with representatives of finance circles at a breakfast in New York today. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) will present Erdogan with ''Profiles in Courage'' award later in the day.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CETIN: ''I'M GOING TO KABUL FOR PEACE''
Hikmet Cetin, who was assigned as the NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, left for Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday. Speaking to reporters prior his departure, Cetin said that they wanted to bring peace and tranquility to Afghanistan. Cetin said he was sure that this mission was quite difficult and complicated and stated that he was determined to do his utmost. ''I believe that special relations between Turkey and Afghanistan will facilitate my mission. During my term in office as the NATO's senior civilian representative, I will assist Afghan people to complete their new political structure and to form a broad-based democratic government,'' he added.
ERDOGAN EXPLAINS NEW PLAN AND GOES TO THE UNITED STATES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas on Sunday. Erdogan explained Turkish plan based on the formula of mediation which was presented to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Erdogan said that the world expected Turkey to find a solution and flew to the United States with the plan.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CYPRUS ISSUE TO BE HIGH ON AGENDA OF ERDOGAN'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES
Prior to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's official visit to the United States, Ankara became scene of an intense diplomacy on the Cyprus issue. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Erdogan came together after holding separate talks with President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas. Turkey's Cyprus policy is expected to become clear after Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Turkey had taken encouraging steps about the Cyprus issue. He noted that Greece should put pressure on the Greek Cypriot side to expend more efforts to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.
(EÖ-UK) 26.01.2004