ERDOGAN: “THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE KURDS IN KIRKUK ARE NOT HEALTHY”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against the break up of Iraq, saying, “a federated structure in Iraq based on ethnicity or religious sects will not be healthy,” in an interview with contributing editor Lally Weymouth in the February 2 issue of Newsweek. Erdogan answered Weymouth’s questions on the issues of Cyprus, Iraq and the European Union. “By taking the Annan plan as a reference point, we are showing good will,” Erdogan said. “We are in favor of a permanent solution.” Upon a question what he can do to change the mood of certain European countries which are firmly opposed to Turkey’s EU membership, Erdogan responded, “As much as we would like to be a part of the European Union family, the EU should want Turkey to be part of it. If the EU wants to be an address where civilizations meet, it must take Turkey in.” In addition, he also offered his views about the northern Iraq issue. “The reality is that a federated structure in Iraq based on ethnicity or religious sects will not be healthy,” said the premier. “It will bother Syria, Iran and Turkey. The steps taken by the Kurds in Kirkuk are not healthy. Attempts by one ethnic group to exercise sovereignty over another are not fair. It doesn't matter if that ethnicity is Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, Chaldean or whatever. This is going to hurt the unity of Iraq. Secondly, what is going on in Kirkuk creates the possibility that Iraqi oil, which should belong to all Iraqis, will be exploited by only one ethnic group [the Kurds]. Naturally, the other ethnic elements will not have a positive attitude toward this.” /All Papers/
ERDOGAN ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS IN NEW YORK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a week-long visit to the United States, yesterday spoke at the private Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Erdogan said that granting greater autonomy for Kurds living in northern Iraq would destabilize the region, underlining that Kurdish autonomy in Iraq does not serve Turkish interests. “Any ethnically-oriented or sectarian federation is not favorable to Turkey,” he said. “In democracies, these are not very healthy approaches and they do not serve for the formation of a healthy political structure, and it would put Iraq in an even more difficult position in the future.” In addition, Erdogan called for a new envoy to take over negotiations to reunify the war-divided island of Cyprus, repeating criticism of negotiations to reunify the island. The premier called for the participation of “an independent, impartial country, a country that has political weight” in the Cyprus negotiations. Erdogan also said that he saw Turkey's role as a peacemaker in the Central Asian region. “In a sense, it is not possible to define the world's geopolitics of the 21st century in terms of conventional politics,” he added. “One has to also take into consideration such elements as political and social values, interaction between societies, identity and cultural harmony. Turkey does not confine itself in the strict sense of national interest alone, but rather pursues a pro-active foreign policy aimed at contributing to regional and global peace and security.” /All Papers/
ERDOGAN MEETS INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CIRCLES, US JEWISH COMMUNITY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with international finance circles at a breakfast in New York. Expressing belief that strong political will of the government to continue to implement economic reform program should be perceived as the most valid guarantee by international finance circles, Erdogan recalled that Turkey and the US, two members of democratic and free world, attached the highest importance to democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law. “These common goals we share have enabled our countries to have multilateral and multidimensional relations,” added the premier. “It is obvious that we should further upgrade our economic relations with our strategic partner US to the level of our political and military cooperation. We wish to take positive steps and make cooperation in the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as our cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkey has taken significant steps to liberalize its economy, trade regime and capital market. Our country is determined to continue its economic reform and stability program, the positive results of which started to be seen in 2003. Economic reform process gives priority to private sector and free market actors and is directed by policies depending on privatization and integration with world economy. We appreciate support of the US.” He also added that Turkey needed foreign investments in large scale. Erdogan also met with US Jewish community yesterday night and received the “Bravery Award” from the American Jewish Committee (AJC). He conveyed the message that the Jewish community should not worry about the security of the Jews living in Turkey, stressing that his government is firmly committed to fight against terrorism. The premier also called the US and Israel to establish a Qualified Industrial Zone in southeastern Anatolia region. /All Papers/
GUL: “TURKEY WANTS NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN ON THE ISLAND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE UN PLAN”
Appearing on television yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey wanted negotiations to begin on the island within the framework of the United Nations Cyprus plan. Gul said that the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff discussed the Cyprus issue in details and that they were in consensus, which made Turkey more powerful. Gul reiterated Turkey’s good faith to help a resolution on the island, adding that now it was Greek Cypriots’ turn to take steps for a resolution. Touching on Turkish-US relations, Gul said that the US administration’s stance towards the PKK/KADEK terrorist organization wasn’t satisfactory, adding that it had also suffered terrorist attacks. /Aksam/
DENKTAS: “WE SHARE SAME OPINION WITH ANKARA”
After meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday left Ankara. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport, Denktas said that Turkish Cyprus and Ankara was in a full compromise on the Cyprus issue. Reiterating that TRNC wanted a just and permanent solution on the island, Denktas said, “We call on the Greek Cypriot administration to take the reality of the island into consideration.” Stressing that during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s current visit to the United States, the Cyprus issue would be an important topic on the agenda to be discussed with the US officials, Denktas said that a re-evaluation might be done following his return to Ankara. The TRNC president stated that without an agreement, holding a referendum was not possible, adding that finding a settlement on the island by May 1 was very difficult even if both sides worked hard. Concerning a mediator, he pointed to the importance of coordination between Turkey and the United Nations, and claimed that Alvaro De Soto, UN Cyprus Special Envoy, had disappointed everybody during recent talks. /Cumhuriyet/
TALAT: “WE WERE ELECTED TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE”
Speaking at a gathering held by Turkish Economies and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in Istanbul, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that finding a settlement on Cyprus served both interests of Turkish and Greek Cypriots and that it would also be an advantage for Turkey during its European Union membership bid. Stressing that his government came to the power to solve the issue, Talat said, “We are on the same board with Greek Cypriots, and we have to reach a settlement.” Greek Cypriot Administration former President George Vassiliou also addressed the meeting. He said, “UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan was a just one. However, if there are some deficiencies, they can be solved at the table.” Commenting on Turkish side’s desire to change the mediator, Vassiliou said it would be a waste of time. /Turkiye/
CYPRUS REPORT TO BE VOTED TOMORROW
Parliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe yesterday began its winter meetings in Strasbourg. During its tomorrow session, a Cyprus report prepared by Hungarian Parliamentarian Matyas Eorsi is set to be voted. The report reportedly urges the European Union to encourage Ankara for its efforts to solve the Cyprus issue plus Greek Cyprus to take steps towards a settlement. /Turkiye/
SIMITIS: “ERDOGAN’S STATEMENTS AREN’T CLEAR”
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday that Turkey should change its stance in a bid to a just and permanent settlement on Cyprus in line with the United Nations resolutions. He also said that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements on the issue were not clear. Commenting on United States Secretary of State Colin Powell’s recent request to make pressure on the Greek Cyprus to take steps for a settlement, Greek Foreign Minister George Papendreou said, “If United Nations Secretary-General doesn’t put forward any precondition, we are ready to begin talks tomorrow.” He added that Greek side would not accept Turkey’s any plan if it was not within the framework of Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. “We accept that Turkish government intends to make positive changes in its stance, however, we want to see their implementations,” said the Greek minister. Regarding Turkey’s desire for a change of the mediator during talks possible to begin, he claimed that Alvaro de Soto had an experience and full knowledge on the topic and if he were changed, it would be a waste of time. /Turkiye/
IPUK OFFICIAL SALIH: “NEXT YEAR WE WILL HOLD ELECTIONS IN IRAQ TO FORM A KURDISTAN GOVERNMENT”
Behram Salih, a top official of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), who is currently in Washington for an official visit, said yesterday that they would hold elections in 2005 to form a “Kurdistan” government. “Kirkuk is a part of Kurdistan and the Kirkuk citizens will decide about the future of it,” said Salih. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in the US to meet with US President George W. Bush, said that the Iraqi Kurds’ steps in Kirkuk were not healthy, adding that such an approach would hurt Iraq’s territorial integrity. “A federation based on ethnical elements in Iraq wouldn’t be appropriate,” he added. /Turkiye/