MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS DAY CELEBRATED
The May 19 Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day was celebrated with enthusiasm yesterday throughout the country, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and in Turkey’s missions abroad. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and other top civilian and military officials attended a morning ceremony at Anitkabir, Ataturk’s mausoleum. In Anitkabir’s commemorative guestbook, Sezer wrote that the nation’s youth would forever guard and treasure the path to modernity pioneered by Ataturk. /All papers/
GUL: “OUR PACE OF REFORMS CANNOT BE HALTED”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul attended the Turkey-European Union Partnership Council meeting in Brussels over the weekend. Addressing the gathering, Gul told those assembled that through its recent reforms, Ankara had all but fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria. Reiterating Ankara’s determination for EU membership, Gul said, “We won’t tolerate those who try to hold back reform.” In related news, Gul also met in Brussels with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. During their meeting, Gul said that Ankara would mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the upper Karabakh issue. He also asked Aliyev to support Turkey’s efforts to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Turkiye/
GREEK PM MEETS WITH ANNAN, EXPRESSES HOPE FOR UNIFIED CYPRUS, TURKEY’S EU BID
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York. Karamanlis reportedly asked for revisions to the UN Cyprus plan which Greek Cyprus rejected in a historic referendum last month, but was rebuffed. In a press conference afterwards, Karamanlis said that Greece favored the unification of the island and would continue to work on the matter. Stressing that he wanted both sides on the island to reap the benefits of European Union membership, the Greek premier said that Annan’s Cyprus plan had not died, but that the Greek side wanted certain changes made to it. He also pointed to the importance of Turkey’s EU membership for the Union itself, the Middle East and the entire region. Adding that both Ankara and Athens had the political will to improve relations, Karamanlis underlined that the continental shelf issue was the last remaining thorn between the two states. /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN LAUDS TURKEY’S “VERY IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS” IN FULFILLING EU CRITERIA
Appearing on television yesterday, European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen praised Turkey’s steps to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria as representing “very impressive progress.” He stated that Brussels was aware of Turkey’s many improvements for its European Union bid and its move towards greater democracy. “I want to encourage Ankara regarding its EU membership bid,” said Verheugen. “Turkey should not deviate from its EU membership goal, but should continue its way with undimmed determination.” Verheugen stressed that implementation of the EU reforms was also very important. Touching on the isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Verheugen said that the EU would make a decision regarding the issue in a few weeks, one that would include both cross-border Cypriot trade and direct TRNC-EU trade. “The TRNC’s isolation will end,” he pledged. “We will implement programs to support the TRNC and provide the same advantages for both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.” /Milliyet/
GEORGIAN LEADER TO VISIT TURKEY
Georgian President Mihail Saakasvili is set to visit Turkey today at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During his stay, bilateral relations are to be taken up. Tomorrow, Saakasvili is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and then to proceed to Istanbul. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: “WE WON’T BE DISTRACTED FROM STRUCTURAL REFORMS”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s focus on structural reforms would not be swayed, adding that next year’s economic program would be free from political concerns. Touching on Turkey’s future with the International Monetary Fund, Babacan said that the government hadn’t yet decided on its economic program with the IMF in the years to come, adding that its relations with the Fund were very important. “We may prepare a program for three years or less,” said Babacan. “We will decide on the method after the completion of the eighth review of the program.” The state minister said that Turkey’s 6.5% primary surplus target was an indispensable condition. “I hope our high debt stock falls and our primary surplus rises,” he added. /Aksam/