ERDOGAN: “WE’VE PLEDGED TO THE PUBLIC TO TACKLE THE YOK ISSUE”
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Parliamentary Group yesterday, party leader and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Higher Board of Education (YOK), university rectors and the Interuniversity Council of dragging out the government’s handling of the YOK issue for nearly a-year-and-a-half. Stressing that the AKP had pledged to the citizenry in campaign rallies to tackle the YOK issue when it came to power, Erdogan said that the government had included the matter in its Urgent Action Plan as well as its program. Remarking that the issue was not new but rather had persisted for 20 years, the premier stated there was a public consensus behind the review of the YOK law. Since coming to power, the government has worked sincerely and positively on the matter to find an appropriate solution, said Erdogan, adding that he could not say the same of either YOK or the Interuniversity Council. Erdogan stressed that the government’s power comes from the people, and everything would take place in line with Turkey’s democratic system. /Star/
YOK HEAD: “SOVEREIGNTY BELONGS TO THE NATION, NOT TO PARLIAMENT”
Higher Board of Education (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic yesterday said that sovereignty belongs to the nation, not to Parliament, taking issue with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent remarks asserting the reverse. “The nation exercises this sovereignty through certain institutions, not only Parliament,” said Tezic. In related news, Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that the government wanted to resolve the issue of the YOK bill without creating tension, while main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal charged that the bill issue had in fact raised tensions, adding that the government’s intervention in university administration was not required by democracy. /Hurriyet/
GEN. YALMAN TO VISIT DENKTAS IN TRNC
Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman is due to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus today for a two-day official visit. Yalman is expected to meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas to discuss recent developments since Greek Cyprus’ accession to the European Union. /Milliyet/
DENKTAS: “I THINK THE EU WILL GIVE ANKARA A DATE SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR PRESSURE ON CYPRUS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that since last month’s historic referendums on the island, the required steps had not been taken to recognize the TRNC, adding that he had no hope that it would be recognized anytime soon. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Denktas predicted that Turkey would get a date from the Union to begin its accession negotiations. “I think that the EU will give a date so they can continue to press on the Cyprus issue,” added Denktas. “If they don’t give a date, this means that they won’t be able to exert pressure anymore on Cyprus.” /Cumhuriyet/
TALAT MEETS WITH BRITISH COMMISSIONER FOR GREEK CYPRUS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with Lyn Parker, Britain’s high commissioner for Greek Cyprus, to discuss recent developments following Greek Cyprus’ May 1 European Union accession. Speaking afterwards, Parker praised Talat’s stewardship of the Turkish Cypriot nation. He added that he would work to end the TRNC’s isolation, spur its economic development and bring it closer to the EU. /Milliyet/
BELGIAN FM: “DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY IN IRAQ, TURKEY’S STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE EU HAS RISEN”
Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said yesterday that when Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria, the European Union should give it a date to begin its accession talks. Speaking at a meeting of Turkish businessmen in Brussels, Michel said that due to the current uncertainty in Iraq, Turkey’s strategic importance for the EU had risen. “If the EU wants to be a global actor it should have a military capacity, so cooperation with Turkey is inevitable at this point,” said Michel. Asked about the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) role in the nation, Michel stated that it was important that Ankara prove it can preserve its secularism without the TSK. /Cumhuriyet/
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS WASHINGTON
A delegation of parliamentarians headed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Egemen Bagis yesterday met in Washington with Dan Fried, the US National Security Council’s senior director for Europe and Eurasia. The visit aimed at strengthening ties between the legislatures of the two nations. /Turkiye/
INDIAN CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS TURKEY
Indian Chief of General Staff Adm. Madhvendra Singh yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. After their meeting, Singh, accompanied by Ozkok, was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. /Turkiye/
FRIENDSHIP GROUP TO TRAVEL TO PALESTINE
A delegation of seven deputies from the Turkish-Palestinian Interparliamentary Friendship Group headed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Huseyin Tanriverdi is set to travel to Palestine next week to hold a series of contacts with Palestinian leaders. Tanriverdi lamented yesterday the “tragedy” taking place in the Middle East. “We are paying this visit to refocus the attention of both Turkey and the international community on the region,” said Tanriverdi. The delegation is expected to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie and Liberation Committee Chairman Marvan Borghouti as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). /Turkiye/
ISTANBUL HOSTS EUROVISION SEMIFINALS TONIGHT, FINALS ON SATURDAY
The 49th Eurovision Song Contest is to be held on Saturday in Istanbul under a new format -- a semifinal on Wednesday to weed out the smaller countries, and the final on Saturday when the “big guns” of European music can shine. A total of 36 countries are taking part in Eurovision 2004, 22 of whom will perform on Wednesday night for 10 spots in Saturday's finals. The finals will see the 10 semifinal winners joined by host Turkey and 13 other countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Britain in a televised event whose audience is expected to top 100 million. Turkey is hosting the contest by tradition, as Turkish singer Sertab Erener took home the prize for her country last year. Like most reality TV shows, the winners will be decided through telephone voting, with the only proviso being that viewers cannot vote for their own country's entrant. This year Turkey will be represented by group Athene, with their song “For Real.” /Turkiye/