ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS TO SELL EU LEADERS ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last evening flew to Brussels to attend a conference for European Parliament political group chairmen. Before his departure, Erdogan told reporters that he would lay out for European leaders Turkey’s efforts on the road to European Union membership. He is expected to meet today at noon with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who will write a progress report on Turkey set for release on Oct. 6. The Turkish premier will reportedly tell Verheugen that Parliament will pass a new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) soon, but on the other hand, he will also underline the Turkish people’s sensitivity on the code’s controversial provision criminalizing adultery. Erdogan is being accompanied by State Minister Responsible for Religious Affairs Mehmet Aydin. /Turkiye/
GUL HOLDS MEETINGS IN NEW YORK ON SIDELINES OF UN MEETING
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to attend United Nations General Assembly sessions, yesterday met separately with his counterparts from Italy, Portugal and European Union Term President the Netherlands. Their talks reportedly focused on Ankara’s new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) bill. Stressing that the bill included 348 articles addressing vital issues, Gul complained that just a single article, the one concerning adultery, was the only one getting attention. As part of his contacts, Gul also met with his Palestinian, Norwegian and Libyan counterparts. /Turkiye/
SCHROEDER REITERATES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reiterated yesterday that he was in favor of Turkey’s European Union membership, arguing that it would enhance the region’s economic and political security. Speaking to German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Schroeder said that he believed that Ankara would continue its reforms and that adultery would not be criminalized. He stated that if the EU Commission issues a positive report on Turkey, he would support Ankara beginning EU accession talks, adding that the talks would take a long time, perhaps 10-15 years. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL SUGGESTS BRUSSELS VISIT COULD CHANGE ERDOGAN’S MIND ON ADULTERY BAN
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday predicted that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Brussels to promote Turkey’s European Union membership bid, would not be able there to insist on the issue of criminalizing adultery in a new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Baykal stressed that he believed Erdogan’s approach during his Brussels visit would be positive, adding that the premier could change his view on the issue. “If he does so, this won’t be surprising,” he said. “Our only goal is to ensure that the European Commission releases a positive progress report on Turkey on Oct. 6.” /Cumhuriyet/
BABACAN: “THE NEW IMF STANDBY WILL BE UNVEILED IN DECEMBER”
Speaking at a seminar organized by the Dutch Embassy yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that a new three-year standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund would be presented to European Union officials before Dec. 1, adding that it could be publicly unveiled some two weeks later. Babacan stated that the new standby would aim to reduce inflation to single digits and bring down Turkey’s high debt stock. “One of the most important targets of the program will be achieving sustainable growth,” added Babacan. /Milliyet/
IRANIAN PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH ERDOGAN, ARINC DURING ANKARA VISIT
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami is due to pay an official visit to Ankara next week upon the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Khatami will be the first Iranian president to visit Turkey in nearly a decade. During his two-day stay beginning Monday, Khatami is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. After completing his contacts in Ankara, the Iranian leader is expected to proceed to Konya. /Aksam/
AMID TENSIONS, EP’S LAGENDIJK URGES CALM AND PATIENCE
An exchange of words between Ankara and Brussels continued yesterday concerning the Turkish government’s European Union aspirations. Joost Lagendijk, co-chair of the Turkey-European Parliament Joint Parliamentary Commission, called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen to take calmer and more patient stances on Ankara’s EU membership bid. Noting how the Erdogan administration’s insistence on criminalizing adultery as part of its crucial penal code reform had raised tensions between Ankara and Brussels, Lagendijk said that both sides needed some time to allow passions to cool. He also urged Turkey not to disregard the importance that the EU places on the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), stressing that Ankara must know that its accession talks cannot start before its Parliament passes the reform package. Lagendijk also advised EU officials to stop acting as if adultery is the only important issue facing Turkey. /Star/
TRNC PREMIER TALAT SIGNALS LIKELY RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday said that he would run for the nation’s presidency in next April's presidential election if there was no progress in reuniting the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities by that time. “If the Cyprus problem is not solved by the time of the presidential election, I will stand,” said Talat. The premier also added that he had become increasingly concerned by delays in aid promised by the European Union and the United States after the TRNC backed a United Nations reunification plan for the island in a referendum earlier this year. Talat is known for his stance in favor of a settlement on the divided island. /Star/
NEW IRAQI AMBASSADOR PRESENTS LETTER OF CREDENTIALS TO SEZER
In the wake of the official handover of sovereignty this summer, the Iraqi interim government has appointed its first ambassador to Ankara. New Iraqi Ambassador Jameil Umran Essa Al-Dulaimi yesterday presented his letter of credentials to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Al-Dulaimi also introduced his secretariat to the president. Before the meeting, Sezer told reporters that he would tell the new envoy of Ankara’s concerns over the safety of Turkish companies and workers in Iraq. /Star/ *
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS’ PFLUEGER: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL WEAKEN THE UNION”
Friedbert Pflueger, foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition Christian Democrats in the German Parliament, yesterday alleged that Turkey’s European Union membership could make the Union weak. “First Turkey should become more powerful, and then join the EU,” added Pflueger. /Aksam/