ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO FRANCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to France to attend 25th anniversary meetings of the International Relations Institution, a leading international think-tank. Before his departure, Erdogan told reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport that he would meet with French officials to seek support for Turkey’s EU membership bid. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL KEEP ITS OWN IDENTITY”
Addressing his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would always maintain its own identity and values. Stressing that the nation was facing a period full of opportunities, Erdogan said that his government’s primary aim was to raise the Turkish nation’s standard of living. “We’re trying to formulate effective social policies, combat unemployment and ensure better working of the state,” added Erdogan. /Turkiye/
GUL MEETS WITH GERMAN POLITICIANS PRO & CON TURKEY’S EU BID
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on a visit to Germany, yesterday met with Christian Democrat Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel and Christian Social Union (CSU) Parliament Group Chairman Michael Glos, both conservative politicians opposed to Turkey’s European Union membership. Following the meeting, Merkel and Glos told reporters that they had reiterated their proposal for a “privileged partnership” for Turkey rather than full EU membership, adding that they considered it better solution. Turkey has consistently rebuffed such proposals. Then Gul met with Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Volker Ruhe and German Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Guido Westerwelle, who by contrast expressed their support for Ankara’s efforts towards EU membership. Later, speaking at a gathering in Berlin, Gul said that Turkey’s EU membership would be advantageous for both sides. After completing his contacts in Germany, the foreign minister returned to Turkey yesterday evening. /Turkiye/
GREENS GROUP HEAD COMES OUT AGAINST REFERENDUM ON TURKEY’S EU BID
Addressing a four-day meeting of members of the European Parliament’s Greens Group and Turkish officials yesterday, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that since the European Union member states didn’t know enough yet about Turkey, its membership process would not be an easy one. “Now there is a new and different Turkey,” he added. “And it is the new Turkey which will join the EU.” Also addressing the gathering, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Greens Group chairman, said that the meeting would address a number of issues, including human rights, women’s rights, and political developments in Turkey. Cohn-Bendit stressed that for Turkey to join the Union, southeastern Anatolian cities such as Diyarbakir should be in line with EU standards, adding that economic and social benefits should be extended to the whole country. “You must introduce yourself with your history,” said Cohn-Bendit, praising Turkey’s modernization over the last decade. He also stressed his opposition to proposals for a referendum on Turkey’s EU bid. “A referendum could be held for the EU constitution, but not on Turkey’s EU bid,” added Cohn-Bendit. /Aksam/
BAYKAL: “ANY RESULT LESS THAN FULL MEMBERSHIP IS UNACCEPTABLE”
Addressing his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that if Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union don’t end with full membership, this would be unacceptable, adding that his party’s support was for full membership. Baykal also criticized some conditions in the European Union Commission’s recent progress report such as the talks being open-ended and not giving a guarantee of full EU membership. “There is a need to change the understanding of the report,” he said. “Otherwise making concessions will be disadvantageous.” /Cumhuriyet/
BERLUSCONI PARTY OFFICIAL SAYS ITALIAN PM OPPOSED TO REFERENDUM ON TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is opposed to proposals for a referendum on Turkey’s European Union membership, said Sandro Bondi, a top official at Berlusconi’s Forza Italy Party, yesterday. “Berlusconi stresses friendly relations between Turkey and Italy,” Bondi told Italian daily La Repubblica. /Aksam/
STATE MINISTER ATALAY REBUKES VATICAN AMBASSADOR
Criticizing the Vatican ambassador to Ankara’s recent use of the word “ecumenical” to refer to Fener Greek Patriarch Bartolomeos, State Minister Besir Atalay yesterday pointed out that under the provisions on religious rights and freedoms set out in the Treaty of Lausanne, the Orthodox patriarch could not hold the said title. Atalay said that the ambassador had recently been summoned to the Foreign Ministry and warned about the issue. “The status of the Fener Greek Patriarchate is clearly defined under Lausanne,” he added. “There will be no changes in this status.” /Sabah/
PRINCE CHARLES TO PAY VISIT TO ANKARA
Britain’s Prince Charles is expected pay a “surprise” visit to Ankara later this month to attend a dance show performance by the physically handicapped. The Oct. 28 show is sponsored by a number of organizations, including the British Council. For security reasons, the British Embassy is not making public the prince’s schedule. /Sabah/
NEW AUSTRIAN FM: “TURKEY’S TALKS SHOULD BEGIN, AS THEY COULD ALWAYS BE SUSPENDED IF NECESSARY”
Austria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik yesterday advocated the start of Turkey’s European Union membership talks, adding that they could always be suspended if necessary. “I understand why some people are so concerned about Turkey’s full EU membership, but I don’t really understand why some don’t want Ankara’s talks to begin at all,” she said. “First of all, the pros and cons of Turkey’s membership should be discussed in detail, and then open-ended negotiations will begin.” /Star/
MORGAN STANLEY: “TURKEY’S INFLATION IS MOVING INTO SINGLE-DIGIT TERRITORY”
Turkey’s disinflation is not an idiosyncratic development, with an expected inflation rate this year of 8.95%, down slightly from a long-held estimate of 9.40%, and 6.50% expected in 2005, said a new report on the Turkish economy by international investment bank Morgan Stanley. “Inflationary inertia in the services sector will remain a risk for achieving price stability,” the report warned. “Morgan Stanley’s new forecasts point to a prolonged period of higher oil prices. Though Turkey has become more energy efficient in the past two decades, hydrocarbons still account for 60% of the industrial energy usage, so the persistence of high crude oil prices may result in economic imbalances.” Morgan Stanley also added that Turkey’s new pre-accession strategy for EU membership, along with the International Monetary Fund’s blessing, will help to strengthen structural adjustments and keep macroeconomic convergence on track. “We expect that Turkey’s rate of real [gross domestic product] GDP growth will decelerate in the fourth quarter of this year and especially in 2005,” the report stressed. “Turkey will probably remain in a situation that is the opposite of stagflation, namely strong growth and declining inflation, thanks to structural changes in the economy, prudent macro policies and the stability of the exchange rate.” /Hurriyet/