ERDOGAN: “WE’VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK AND NOW IT’S TIME TO TEST THE EU”
Speaking at a press conference at an Organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting in Paris yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had adopted all the values represented by the European Union, adding that the Turkish nation favored these values being established. “We’re aware of the fact that we can raise our standards within the EU,” he said. Erdogan stressed that the decision on starting Ankara’s EU talks at its December summit would be a turning point not only for Turkish-EU relations but also for the new world order. The premier further stressed that he hoped Ankara’s accession talks would begin as soon as possible. “Turkey has done its EU homework and now it’s time to test the Union,” said Erdogan. “We would like officially to begin accession talks in the first months of next year.” Asked about the so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said that Turkey was comfortable with the issue, adding that it should be evaluated by historians and scholars. Also touching on the Cyprus issue, Erdogan lamented the Turkish Cypriots’ continued exclusion from the EU despite their approval of the UN Cyprus plan, while the Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan had joined the Union. He added that Turkey wouldn’t withdraw its troops from the island. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH OECD SECRETARY-GENERAL, DISCUSSES TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in France for an official visit, yesterday met with Donald Johnston, secretary-general of the Organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan said that since the European Union wasn’t a Christian club, France could not use religion as an excuse to refuse Turkey’s EU membership bid. He reiterated that the EU’s December summit would be test for the bloc. Later, addressing a meeting at the Institute of Foreign Politics, Erdogan stressed that there was no need for concerns over Turkish immigration to the EU after the nation completes its accession. /Aksam/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to France on Sunday to attend the Mediterranean Forum Foreign Ministers meeting. During the two-day gathering, Gul is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his Mediterranean counterparts. /Turkiye/

GUL URGES EU TO BEGIN TALKS WITH TURKEY IN FIRST HALF OF 2005
Speaking at a conference at Ankara’s Bilkent University marking the 30th anniversary of the Institute of Foreign Politics, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged European Union leaders to begin accession talks with Turkey not later than the first half of next year. Gul rebuffed allegations that Turkey would be a burden to the Union, saying, “On the contrary, Turkey will contribute to the Union with its experience and possibilities.” Stressing that he would hold a series of meetings with his EU counterparts in the runup to December’s EU summit, the foreign minister said that Ankara expected from the EU a stance and treatment equal to that applied to other candidates and new members. /Turkiye/

CICEK ADDRESSES TUSIAD CONFERENCE IN BERLIN
Speaking yesterday at a conference in Berlin organized by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the European Union shouldn’t subject Turkey to different treatment than other candidates. For his part, TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci said that Ankara’s EU membership would be positive for both Turkey and the Union. Also addressing the conference, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said that with Turkey’s EU membership, the Union’s strategic importance would rise. /Aksam/

SENER: “WE’RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON OUR PATH TOWARDS THE EU”
State Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday remarked that Turkey was making good progress on its path towards the European Union, underlining that its recent reforms on human rights and democratization would help it keep up with modern Western standards of living. “Ankara is currently pursuing the best EU policy that it can,” he added. “EU membership will bring many advantages to our country.” /Star/

GREENS LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
Europe’s Greens yesterday ended a three-day parliamentary group meeting in Istanbul with expressions of support for Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. “We back the European Commission recommendation, which we consider an invitation,” EU-Turkey parliamentary group head Joost Lagendijk said, referring to the commission’s progress report on Turkey issued earlier this month. The Greens called on Ankara to focus on its ultimate goal without getting lost in the details. /Turkiye/

TURKEY GAINS OECD SUPPORT FOR ITS EU BID
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) yesterday issued a report praising Ankara’s recent economic strides. The Paris-based OECD published a survey on Turkey's economy, stating that the country's impressive economic performance would be reinforced through its beginning membership negotiations with the European Union. “The survey shows economic performances that are stunning since 2001, with remarkable macroeconomics,” said OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston, who met yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the OECD meeting in Paris. “The recent recommendation by the EU commission to start EU accession negotiations – if confirmed by the European Council in December – promises to strengthen the international anchors and could underpin Turkey's shift to a new economic regime,” the report said. The organization praised Turkey for its progress through reforms, foreseeing growth of 8% this year after 6% in 2003 and 8% in 2002. “These exceptional economic results are in the interests of Turkey and also of the EU,” Johnston said. “It is the strongest growth among OECD countries,” he added, noting that Turkey's inflation had fallen below 10% for the first time in 30 years. “It is in the interests of Turkey and the EU that Turkey should become a member of the EU.” The OECD also called on Turkey to improve public services and spending controls, boost privatization and revamp its tax system to rein in the country's black market. Such moves would help push down Turkey's 12% inflation rate and improve investor confidence, the report added. /Hurriyet/

BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON: “EU COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED TO START MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH TURKEY”
British Ambassador to Washington David Manning yesterday said that countries of he European Union had agreed to start Turkey's membership negotiations. Addressing a panel at Washington’s John Hopkins University School of International Research, Manning said, “We have positive intentions to start negotiations with Ankara.” The ambassador also added that Turkey’s EU membership would be a radical development for both the EU and the country itself. /Star/

PORTUGUESE FM EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S BEGINNING EU TALKS
Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Monteiro said yesterday that Ankara’s accession talks with the European Union should begin as soon as possible. “Otherwise, in the future no one will believe the EU would keep its promises,” he said, adding that Turkey had fulfilled the Union’s criteria. “My government will support Turkey beginning its accession talks,” he stressed, predicting that its membership would contribute to the Union’s dynamism. /Milliyet/

DENKTAS APPOINTS EROGLU TO FORM NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT
Following the resignation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) Republican Turkish Party (CTP)-Democratic Party coalition government, TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday met with National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu and appointed him to form a new government. The UBP is the biggest party in Parliament, with 19 deputies. Eroglu should complete his work forming the government within 15 days. /Turkiye/

US STATE DEPT: “WE RESPECT THE TRNC’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS”
Commenting yesterday on the resignation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) coalition government, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that his administration respected the democratic process in the TRNC. Stressing that the US would continue its efforts to end Turkish Cyprus’ international isolation, Boucher said that these efforts didn’t depend on a certain TRNC government. /Turkiye/