NEW JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS
A ceremony was held yesterday in Ankara to mark the opening of 2004-2005 Judicial Year. The attendees included President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court President Mustafa Bumin, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, President of the Council of State Ender Cetinkaya and Government Accounting Bureau Chairman Mehmet Damar as well as a number of ministers and judges. Supreme Court of Appeals First Acting Chief Mater Kaban delivered the opening speech where he underscored the importance of the judiciary. He stated that justice was sacred for democracy, as an institution which could not bear even the smallest stain. “The most distinctive mark of modern state was that it should be bound by rules of law,” Kaban added. Stating that people must comply with judiciary decisions, Kaban said that disobedience would cause violation of human rights and also weaken citizens’ confidence in state and justice. He added that unjust criticisms against judiciary could cause negative results. Kaban also underlined the importance of preparing a new constitution in line with Turkey’s European Union aspirations. In addition, a reception was also held in the evening on the occasion of the opening of the new judicial year. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Erdogan, Bumin, and a number of officials attended the reception which was hosted by Kaban. In related news, President Sezer, Premier Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Arinc issues separate messages to mark the day, underlining the importance of the independence of judiciary for democracy. /All Papers/
VERHEUGEN MEETS WITH GUL, ERDOGAN; EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, yesterday met with Abdullah Gul to discuss Turkey’s EU membership bid. Speaking at a joint press conference, Verheugen said that there wouldn’t be any delay this December concerning the EU’s decision on Turkey and added that the progress report on Turkey, scheduled to be released in October, would be just and objective. “We’ll not put forth new conditions for Turkey’s membership bid,” he said, adding that he would do his best for the EU to decide to begin accession talks with Ankara. He stressed that the Cyprus issue was not a condition for Turkey’s EU bid. Later, Verheugen met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During their meeting, Erdogan said that Ankara needed time to completely fulfill the EU reforms. After completing his contacts in Ankara, Verheugen met with Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir in Diyarbakir. /Aksam/
ROMANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS TURKEY
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday received his Romanian counterpart Gen. Michail Popescu in Ankara. Gen. Ozkok welcomed the Romanian Chief of General Staff with a ceremony at his headquarters. The two generals held a tête-à-tête meeting after the ceremony. /Milliyet/
TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER SET FREE IN IRAQ
Turkish truck driver Mithat Civi taken hostage in Iraq on Saturday was released, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced yesterday. “As a result of intense efforts by Turkish Foreign Ministry, Civi has been set free,” Gul told reporters. The company Civi was working for announced on Sunday that it would suspend operations in Iraq after militants said they would behead the 48-year-old Civi. /Turkiye/
BARZANI, TALABANI TO VISIT ANKARA
Iraqi Kurdish leaders running northern Iraq Jalal Talabani and Nechirvan Barzani of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) respectively are expected to pay a visit to Ankara to hold a series of talks with Turkish Foreign Ministry Abdullah Gul and other officials. The meetings will focus on growing tension between Kurds and Turkmen in oil-rich northern Iraqi city Kirkuk as well as recent security threats facing Turkish businessmen and truck drivers in Iraq. Barzani arrived in Ankara yesterday, while Talabani is due to arrive today. /Turkiye/
CICEK: “TURKEY HAS NEVER BACKED TERRORISM”
Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek yesterday said that Turkey had never backed terrorism, wherever it was staged or whatever its purpose was. Speaking to reporters after a plus four-hour Cabinet meeting, Cicek stated that for decades Turkey had suffered much from terrorism and still face to face with it. Commenting on recent terrorist attacks on Turkish truck drivers in Iraq, Cicek noted that there was an authority vacuum in Iraq and therefore everything could not be kept under control. He added that Turkish government was continuing to take necessary measures to ensure security of Turkish citizens in that country. Concerning Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Cicek stated that it had mostly implemented the criteria required for membership, adding that during December’s EU summit, Ankara was expecting to get date to begin accession talks soon. /Turkiye/
INDEPENDENT COMMISSION: “NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANKARA SHOULD BE OPENED AS SOON AS TURKEY FULFILS THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA”
The Independent Commission on Turkey, comprising former heads of state, foreign ministers and European commissioners, yesterday released a report on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, saying that accession talks with Ankara should begin as soon as it completes the Copenhagen criteria. “Turkey has every reason for expecting to be welcome in the Union, provided it fulfills the relevant conditions," said the report. "The Independent Commission therefore feels strongly that in dealing with this issue the European Union must treat Turkey with all due respect, fairness and consideration." Launching the report in Brussels yesterday, former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari said a decision should be made soon. “Further delay would damage the European Union's credibility,” he said. “Turkey has undergone a silent revolution in recent years in trying to meet the political criteria necessary for membership of the EU.” Ahtisaari added that fears about Turkish immigration to Europe were “vastly exaggerated.” /Cumhuriyet/
EU COMMISSIONER FISCHLER SEES A SERIES OF REFERENDA ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP
* European Union Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler over the weekend stated that he believed Turkey’s possible entry into the European Union would be put to referendum in certain member countries. Speaking to reporters, Fischler said Turkey’s possible membership negotiations would take some time. “I'm rather sure that, in the end, if these negotiations come to a positive conclusion, that also then again there will be referenda in different member states,” he added. He also said Turkey's membership bid was likely to be a campaign issue in those countries set to hold referenda on adopting the new EU constitution. EU leaders are due to decide in December whether to begin accession negotiations with Turkey based on progress made by Ankara. /Star/
TUSIAD CHAIRMAN WARNS OF FURTHER INCREASE IN THE CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT
Speaking at a business meeting in Mersin yesterday, Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci said that recent rise in Turkey’s current accounts deficit was a natural result of Turkey’s growth, adding that this trend proved that the problem was structural. He warned that the deficit could further increase due to rise in oil prices and added that the deficit could only be financed by entrance of foreign capital. Sabanci criticized the government, saying that it couldn’t adopt a comprehensive tax reform. /Cumhuriyet/