ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 6th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SUMMARY OF 40 YEARS
The most important step in Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process will be taken today. EU Commission President Romano Prodi and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen will made public a report proposing opening of entry negotiations with Turkey.
SEZER: ''UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE RECONSTRUCTED''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that universities should be reconstructed in Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process. Speaking at a ceremony marking the beginning of the new academic year at Istanbul's Marmara University, President Sezer said, ''a country can develop only through science and technology. In fact, Turkey has a great dynamic power due its young population. If we succeed in using this power in an appropriate way, Turkey will have a distinguished place in the world as one of the most influential countries of the 21st century.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TELEPHONE TRAFFIC AT LAST MINUTE
Ankara has uneasiness over some expressions including that ''if there is violation on human rights, membership negotiations can be suspended'' which were mentioned in the draft Progress Report. Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul discussed the report with several European officials on the phone. Gul talked on the phone with EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
SEZER: ''HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD COMPLY WITH EU STANDARDS''
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that higher education should comply with the European Union (EU) standards. Speaking at a ceremony marking the beginning of the new academic year at Istanbul's Marmara University, Sezer said, 'our country has made great progress and lived through significant transformations since the foundation of the Republic. Now, it is our main aim to further develop Turkey and to lead it to take its place among the most powerful democratic countries in the world. Development and modernization of Turkey without making any concessions from its secular and democratic structure and its integration with the modern world will be achieved with the success of our young citizens.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY DID ITS HOMEWORK
Turkey did its homework and is waiting for the European Union (EU) Commission's report. EU Commission will make public its report at 14.00 local time. It is expected that the report recommends that EU should start entry talks with Turkey at the EU Summit in December without delay. Speaking to Reuters, EU Commission President Romano Prodi that there was not any new condition for Turkey.
LAST WARNINGS FROM GUL
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul discussed the report with EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and foreign ministers of EU countries on the phone. Gul told EU leaders that Turkey was waiting for a firm date, noting that they could not accept any special condition.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CONDITION AFTER CONDITION
The European Commission will release its Progress Report about Turkey later in the day. While French commissioner defended that Turkey should be forced to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide, Greek Cypriot commissioner claimed that Turkey should recognized the Greek Cypriot side, and it should withdraw its soldiers from Cyprus. Meanwhile, many EU-member countries proposed to add an article to the report restricting free movement of Turkish workers in Europe.
ARINC CRISIS IN AK PARTY
Some MPs of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) reacted strongly to candidacy of Bulent Arinc in the election of new speaker of the parliament. Goksal Kucukali of AK party sent letters to the other members of the party criticizing Arinc. However, deputy chairmen of the AK Party named Bulent Arinc officially as their candidate for new speaker of the parliament. The first two rounds of vote to elect the new speaker will be held tomorrow. Earlier, the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition party, stated that it would not name anyone for candidacy.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUL: ''NOW, EU WILL BE TESTED''
In an interview with the weekly Times magazine, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''now, the European Union (EU) will be tested for its sincerity. The proposal about referendum for Turkey's membership is totally wrongful. If the EU decides not to open entry talks with Turkey, it will be considered an insult.''
WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE TURKEY WITH A LOAN OF USD 27 MILLION
The World Bank will provide Turkey with a loan of 20 million U.S. dollars and with a grant of 7 million U.S. dollars. Treasury said that the agreements on the loan and the grant were signed by World Bank and Treasury officials of Turkey in Washington D.C. ''Under the World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for 2004-2006, preparatory works have been going on over the Anatolia River Basins Rehabilitation Project. The project targets to support sustainable natural resources management practices in 28 microcatchments in several regions in Anatolia and to increase income of the population which was affected by impairment of natural resources,'' it said.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''NOW, IT IS TIME FOR ENTRY DATE''
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen will made public the commission's Progress Report about Turkey. The report will propose the EU Council to open entry negotiations with Turkey. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will start touring EU-member countries. He is expected to visit President Chirac of France and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on October 6th.
''DO NOT LET US ALONE''
Sabah Cemil Umran, the new ambassador of Iraq to Turkey, visited Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Speaking at the meeting, the Ambassador said that Turkey's presence in Iraq during its rebuilding process was of vital importance in regard to regional stability.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NOT ONLY TURKEY BUT ALSO WORLD WATCHING EU
Today is an important day for Turkey's 45 year European Union (EU) process. Three reports that will be made public by the Commission on Wednesday will affect the following 10 years of Turkey's EU process. However, today is also a critical day for the EU. After September 11, Turkey's integration with Europe became the agenda of several international meetings. Not only Turkey but also whole world will watch the EU today.
BARGAIN ON INVESTMENT WITH IMF
Turkey and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bargained on ''primary surplus''. Sources said economy management, during last week's talks with the IMF, asked the Fund to exclude foreign-credit investments and investments by State Economic Enterprises (SEEs) from the primary surplus calculation in 2005. However, the same sources said, the IMF did not welcome this suggestion, but said it ''would assess'' the proposal.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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FRANCE LOBBIES FOR SPECIAL CONDITIONS TO BE PUT FOR TURKEY
European Union (EU) Commission will make public its report on Turkey on Wednesday. Some countries led by France lobbies for special and difficult conditions to be put for Turkey. Sources said that the EU Commission would recommend its report that EU should start entry talks with Turkey, but the report does not include the expression that negotiations should start immediately.
PRODI SAYS THERE IS NO SPECIAL CONDITION FOR TURKEY
EU Commission President Romano Prodi said that there was not any special condition for Turkey. Answering a question on the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who said that EU Commission should not put forth any special preconditions, Prodi said that the standards that the other countries had would be valid for Turkey.
(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 06.10.2004