ECONOMY SUMMIT TO BEGIN TODAY IN IZMIR
The Fourth Turkish Economy Summit is set to begin in Izmir today. In addition to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, also expected to attend the four-day gathering will be Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD). /Star/
ERDOGAN: “THE EU CAN’T KEEP TURKEY WAITING FOREVER”
Stressing that the Turkish state and people had both proved their determination to attain European Union membership, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned yesterday that Ankara’s tolerance for being kept waiting is at an end. Addressing his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan pointed out that the end of this year would mark the most important stop so far on Turkey’s road to EU membership. “If the Union doesn’t make a positive decision on Ankara’s membership bid this December, then Turkey will have no problem directing its enormous potential in another direction,” said Erdogan. Yesterday, the premier also met with Belgian Crown Prince Philippe, who is currently paying a visit to Turkey. During their meeting, Turkey’s EU membership bid and international issues were taken up. In the evening, Erdogan hosted a banquet in the honor of the visiting prince and his entourage. /Star/
WITH OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE GOES FORWARD
Parliament yesterday gave its overwhelming support to move to a vote a 10-article amendment package proposing constitutional changes in line with European Union norms. The package includes a number of new measures, including ones guaranteeing gender equality and others doing away with State Security Courts (DGM) and the death penalty. The move forward for the package, proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), received full support from deputies of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Debate on the package’s individual articles is slated for Friday. Speaking after yesterday’s vote, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that Turkey would benefit from the amendments. “This year’s most important issues are democracy, rights and freedom,” he said, adding that the package would meet the nation’s needs. /All papers/
TRNC’S TALAT MEETS WITH POWELL, DISCUSSES EMBARGO ISSUE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, who is currently in the US for an official visit, yesterday held a groundbreaking meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in New York to discuss the issue of lifting the economic embargo from the TRNC. Speaking afterwards, Talat called their meeting positive, adding that Washington was working to end the embargo and that this could encourage other countries to follow suit. “Turkish Cypriots accepted the UN plan in last month’s referendums, and we shouldn’t be punished for the Greek Cypriots’ rejection,” said Talat. “Now the international community should lift the embargo and end the TRNC’s isolation. I believe that the international community has understood that the isolation should be brought to an end.” Talat added that Powell had told him that he understood the TRNC’s problems and that the US was working on the issue. For his part, Powell promised the imminent announcement of an aid package designed to ease the TRNC’s isolation. In related news, Special US Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston praised Talat’s meeting with Powell, adding that Washington would do its best to improve the lot of the Turkish Cypriots. /Hurriyet/
BUSH THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND TURKEY’S EU BID
US President George W. Bush said on Monday that he welcomed last weekend’s historic expansion of the European Union with its 10 new members, adding that he also supported Ankara’s EU membership bid. "This enlargement will bring opportunity and hope to millions of Europeans," said Bush in a written statement. "Along with NATO's expansion, the EU's enlargement further unites the new and the established democracies of Europe, and helps create a Europe whole, free, and at peace. We welcome the prospect of further enlargement of the EU to qualified countries ... and we support Turkey's European Union aspirations." /Milliyet/
TALAT MEETS ANNAN, DISCUSSES CYPRUS REFERENDUMS, ECONOMIC EMBARGO
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, who is currently in the New York, yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss last month’s Cyprus referendums and the issue of lifting the embargo from the TRNC. Also present at the meeting was Special UN Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto. Speaking afterwards, Talat said that he had stressed to Annan the importance of lifting the unfair embargo from the TRNC. Talat stated that the Turkish Cypriots had proved that they want a resolution on the island, adding that he believed that the TRNC would get Washington’s support. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA CONCERNED OVER GEORGIAN-ADZHARIAN DISPUTE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday telephoned Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zvania to discuss recent developments in the region. Concerning rising tensions between Georgia and its autonomous province of Adzharia, Gul called on Tbilisi and Batumi to act calmly, adding that Ankara was ready to meditate to help end the dispute. Meanwhile, Adzharia yesterday closed its Sarp border gate with Turkey, thus effectively cutting off truck trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Ministry officials stated that Ankara has been following developments in the region with great concern. /Turkiye/
SURVEY FINDS OVER TWO-THIRDS OF GERMANS FAVOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
In an Internet poll conducted by German opposition party the Christian Democratic Union, (CSU) which is opposed to Turkey’s European Union membership, 69% of respondents said they favored Turkey’s joining the EU ranks. A statement made by Rainder Steenblock of the Unity 90/Green Party expressed his satisfaction with the German public’s support for Ankara’s membership. /Turkiye/
EP OFFICIALS: “GREEK CYPRUS HAS NO RIGHT TO OCCUPY THE TRNC’S SEATS”
Greek Cypriots should not try to occupy European Parliament seats intended for Turkish Cypriots, two prominent EP leaders said yesterday. Underlining that two of the six seats set aside for Cyprus in the EP belonged to Turkish Cypriots, Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the EP-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, stated that Turkish Cyprus should send members to the EP as observers until a settlement is reached on the island. Furthermore, criticizing Greek Cypriots for their rejection of the UN Cyprus plan in last month’s referendums, EP Turkey Rapporteur Arie Oostlander echoed Lagendijk’s remarks, saying that Greek Cypriots could not occupy the two seats belonging to the Turkish side. /Turkiye/
YOK BILL SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
Education Minister Huseyin Celik said yesterday that a controversial 11-article bill containing amendments to the Higher Board of Education (YOK) Law to level the university entrance exam field for all high school graduates, including those from religious-oriented imam hatips, would be debated by Parliament’s Education Commission on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference, Celik said that the bill would be discussed by the full Parliament next week. The bill also proposes certain limitations to the YOK members’ terms in office. If enacted, all current members would be replaced. Under the current system, vocational and imam hatip high school graduates have less of a competitive edge if they choose a university branch different from their secondary school curriculum. Celik added that the government wants to implement the new system in university entrance exams this year. /Aksam/