SEZER TO ATTEND D-8 SUMMIT IN IRAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to travel to Iran today in order to attend the summit of eight developing Muslim countries (D-8) in Tehran. Sezer is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the attending countries, including the host President Muhammad Khatami. During his meetings, the president is to focus on economic issues as well as diplomatic and political ones, including Iraq’s reconstruction. /Sabah/
PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS CYPRUS TODAY
In the runup to new Cyprus talks set to begin Thursday on the island, the Turkish Parliament is scheduled to discuss recent developments on the issue during a special session today. In line with a motion on the matter submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s office by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to brief deputies about recent events on the island. Furthermore, deputies from the ruling and opposition parties will express their groups’ views on the matter. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN REJECTS GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER’S EU “PARTNERSHIP” PROPOSAL
Angela Merkel, the head of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), yesterday arrived in Ankara together with a seven-member delegation to discuss Turkey's European Union bid. After visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum (Anitkabir), Merkel first met with Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and was then received by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. Since Germany’s Christian Democrats have been vocally opposed to Turkey’s EU bid, she reaffirmed her party’s stance in Ankara. During her meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel reiterated that the CDU is in favor of a “special privileged” EU-Turkey partnership. Citing security and geopolitical factors, she underlined that the CDU wanted a special partnership, a “third way” with Turkey. But Erdogan firmly dismissed Merkel’s proposal, also cautioning German conservatives not to make Turkey's EU membership bid a campaign issue during this year's European parliamentary elections. “Turkey is a country which has fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria, which is why privileged partnership or any other similar formula is out of question,” said the premier. /Sabah/
CICEK: “A DIFFICULT PERIOD IS BEGINNING ON CYPRUS”
Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Ankara was pleased with this week’s resumption of Cyprus talks aimed at resolving the issue. Following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cicek told reporters that Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had briefed their fellow ministers on recent developments in foreign affairs. Stressing that both Turkey and Turkish Cyprus had displayed a very affirmative stance during preliminary talks last week in New York, Cicek underlined that the process set to begin on Thursday would be a very difficult period requiring hard work. In addition, Cicek thanked Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and other members of the Turkish delegation for their efforts during the negotiations. /Turkiye/
NEGOTIATIONS DUE TO START IN CYPRIOT BORDER ZONE ON THURSDAY
Negotiations on the future of Cyprus are due to restart in the Cypriot border zone on Thursday. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos are expected to meet three times a week during the negotiations, which will be conducted in English. In addition, technical committees are set to meet daily to make preparations on three separate issues, namely the law, international agreements and economic issues. Special UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen are also due to travel to the island today. /Aksam/
DENKTAS: “WE WILL DO WHAT A CYPRUS RESOLUTION REQUIRES”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who returned to his country from Istanbul yesterday, said that his administration would do what a Cyprus resolution requires, but added that it was too early for congratulations over the new talks since no resolution has been reached as yet. “We will do our best for a resolution, but nobody can guarantee this,” said Denktas, who is to represent the TRNC at the talks. “The responsibility will belong both to Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. Ankara’s Parliament will make the final decision.” He stated that there were certain issues that were vital for the Turkish Cypriots, including two equal states and Turkey remaining a guarantor state. Denktas added that the Greek Cypriots also wanted changes made to the United Nations Cyprus plan, which would become clear during the negotiations set to begin on Thursday. In related news, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that changes could be made to the plan in order to reach an agreement which protects the rights of both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/
DE SOTO: “TURKEY HAS TAKEN COURAGEOUS STEPS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE”
Appearing on television yesterday, Special UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto said that the island’s three guarantor countries should approve a possible agreement by April 21, when Turkish and Greek Cypriots are expected to hold separate referendums on such a pact. “We should get the approval of the guarantor states before referendums,” he said. “We expect Turkey, Greece and Britain to support the process. We don’t want to meddle in domestic affairs.” He further praised Turkey’s recent stance concerning Cyprus, lauding its “courageous steps” on the issue. /Cumhuriyet/
EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S BOLKESTEIN: “WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PEACE PROCESS ON CYPRUS”
Frits Bolkestein, a member of the European Commission, yesterday held separate meetings with Greek Cyprus’ foreign minister and finance minister. Speaking afterwards, Bolkestein said that the commission would contribute to the island’s peace process. For his part, the foreign minister said that no one could possibly ignore the EU’s views on the issue. Later, Bolkestein travelled to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to meet with Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat. /Aksam/
GERMAN COMMISSIONER ROTH: “DON’T CALL TURKEY A SECOND-CLASS COUNTRY”
Claudia Roth, the German government’s human rights commissioner, yesterday criticized German Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel’s proposal to give Turkey a “privileged partnership” with the European Union, stating that such proposals effectively classify Turkey as a second-class country. “Not only Turkey, but also the EU itself has undertaken certain responsibilities,” said Roth in a written statement. “The [EU] membership negotiations must begin if Turkey manages to fulfill all the necessary criteria.” She also underlined that a EU candidate need not be a Christian country, but must respect the Union’s basic values and principles. At its summit this December, the EU is set to decide whether or not to begin membership negotiations with Ankara. /Hurriyet/
GEORGIAN COMMANDER VISITS ANKARA
Georgian Homeland Forces Commander Major Gen. Gogi Tatuhasvili yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of Gen. Sener Eruygur, Tuýrkey’s head of Gendarmerie Forces. During their meeting, Tatuhasvili conveyed best wishes from Georgia’s new president, Mihail Saakasvili, and asked for support to apply the structure of the Turkish Gendarmerie in his country. Pointing to ongoing good military relations between Ankara and Tbilisi, Eruygur replied that Turkey’s contributions to the its northern neighbor would continue in order to ensure peace and stability there. /Turkiye/
GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: “WE’RE CLOSE TO A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS”
Tassos Yannitsis, Greece’s new foreign minister, said yesterday that it was highly probable that the Cyprus issue would be resolved during talks set to begin this week. Speaking to reporters after taking over the post from ruling socialist PASOK party leader George Papandreou, Yannitsis said, “Thirty years after the [Cyprus Peace Operation], Cyprus will be integrated into the European Union in 2004, and its problem of division will be largely resolved.” He remarked that if the issue could be solved in the coming weeks, Greece’s own position in the EU would also be strengthened. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN CONGRATULATES TURKISH DIRECTOR AKIN ON TOP BERLIN FILM AWARD
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday congratulated German-born Turkish movie director Fatih Akin for receiving top honors at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, best picture (the Golden Bear) for his highly acclaimed Gegen die Wand (Head-On). Erdogan conveyed his congratulations to Akin via Turkey’s Embassy to Berlin for the director’s portrayal of the difficulties a second-generation Turkish family faces in the northern German city of Hamburg. Head-On, the first German film to win the top prize since 1986, beat out competition from 23 contenders. /Hurriyet/