ERDOGAN ADDRESSES TURKISH-GERMAN ECONOMIC FORUM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a Turkish-German Economic Forum alongside visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Addressing the forum, Erdogan said that Turkey and Germany, two members of the free democratic world, enjoyed a close friendship. “Our two countries put priority on democracy, freedom, and human rights, and these make us closer,” said Erdogan, adding that he was pleased to host Schroeder and accompanying German businessmen. Touching on economic ties between the two countries, Erdogan said that the annual bilateral trade volume currently totalled 14 billion euros, adding that he hoped for more German investment in Turkey. For his part, Schroeder said that he welcomed Turkey’s European Union reform packages, adding that the implementation of these reforms was very important. He said that he had been impressed by Turkey’s dynamism. /Cumhuriyet/
SCHROEDER REITERATES BERLIN’S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
Speaking at a joint press conference yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reiterated Germany’s support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid, adding that the European Commission should greenlight Ankara’s bid if it believes that the Copenhagen criteria have been fulfilled. “The EU should keep its promise,” said the German chancellor. “I believe that after completing the Copenhagen criteria, Turkey should get a date to begin accession talks as soon as possible. I will do my best to see this through.” Schroeder stated that Germany’s stance hadn’t changed since the 1999 Helsinki summit, when Turkey was first accepted as an EU candidate. He further pledged that the Union would not stipulate new conditions at this December’s summit, when it is to decide whether or not to begin accession talks with Turkey. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Schroeder praised Turkey’s efforts to help reach a resolution on the island. Later, Schroeder met with opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. /Milliyet/
FORMER GERMAN PRESIDENT: “THE EU SHOULD WORK TO BRIDGE THE WEST AND ISLAM, AND TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS”
One of the most important functions of Europe is to establish a bridge between the countries of the West and those of the Muslim world, said former German President Richard von Weizsecker yesterday. “Towards this end, Turkey is a very important country,” he added, even as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is in the midst of a visit to Ankara. In related news, speaking at a press conference yesterday, German government spokesman Thomas Steg said that he was sure that Turkey was following the right path for its European Union membership bid, adding that Berlin should deal with the bid determinedly and justly. /Turkiye/
CYPRUS TALKS TO CONTINUE TODAY
New Cyprus talks to find a settlement for the island in line with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan by May 1 are set to continue today. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos will lead their respective delegations during the meeting to begin at 9:30 a.m in the Lefkosa buffer zone. UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto is also to attend the meeting. During today’s third round of talks, central issues are expected to be taken up, with the sides also set to give their proposals on amendments to Annan’s plan. /Turkiye/
GUL VISITS MOSCOW
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to Moscow, Russia to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov. Before his departure at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul told reporters that his visit to this country would be the first one at the foreign ministerial level since 1996. Stressing that Turkish-Russian relations had developed in every realm since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gul said that during his contacts the sides would try to strengthen bilateral ties. The foreign minister, accompanied by deputies and businessmen, is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Russian Parliament Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov and other high-level officials. Gul is also set to sign certain agreements between the two countries. Commenting on the Chechnya issue, Gul reiterated that Turkey was opposed to any terrorist action, especially those targeting innocents. /Turkiye/
COSKUN: “TURKEY WILL STRENGTHEN THE EU”
Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun said yesterday that Turkey’s membership in the European Union would contribute to the process of strengthening it. On a visit to Turkey to accompany German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Gerd Anders, the German Economy and Labor Ministry’s representative in Parliament, visited Coskun with a delegation of businessmen. Anders reiterated Germany’s full support for Turkey’s EU membership bid. For his part, Coskun stressed that Turkey wanted to ensure an influx of technology and industry from Germany, adding that Turkey’s EU membership would contribute additional power to the Union. /Turkiye/
BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS TURKEY
Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov arrived in Ankara yesterday at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Bulent Arinc. Before receiving Gerdzhikov, Arinc said that Bulgaria is a door for Turkey opening up to Europe. During their meeting, Gerdzhikov also confirmed Sofia’s full support for Ankara’s European Union membership bid. Bulgaria is set to join the EU in 2007. /Milliyet/
GERMAN INDUSTRIALISTS’ FEDERATION OFFICIAL: “TURKEY IS GOING THROUGH A GREAT CHANGE”
Turkey is now undergoing a great change, said Arend Oetker, deputy chair of the German Industrialists’ Federation, at yesterday’s German-Turkish Economic Forum organized by the German-Turkish Trade and Industrialists’ Association. Stressing that Turkey enjoyed a stable government, Oetker said that he hoped that recently passed reforms can find full reflection in being implemented. “We can make more investments in this country,” he added. /Hurriyet/
IMF MISSION DUE THIS WEEK FOR SEVENTH REVIEW
An International Monetary Fund mission is set to arrive in Ankara this Friday to discuss the seventh review under Turkey’s IMF standby agreement. Among some measures for the remainder of the program are enhancing the long-term viability of fiscal accounts, improving budget management and revenue collection, and ensuring the effectiveness and independence of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK). /Milliyet/