ERDOGAN MEETS WITH CHIRAC, SCHROEDER TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin to discuss Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Speaking at a press conference beforehand, Chirac said that he hoped that Turkey joins the EU provided that it fulfills the Copenhagen criteria. “The recent EU Commission report was positive,” he said, predicting that Ankara’s accession talks with the Union would begin next year. He further stressed that proposals to hold a referendum in France were unrelated to Turkey getting its date to begin accession talks. “Turkey’s EU membership would promote an atmosphere of peace and democracy,” he said. Later, Erdogan attended a dinner hosted by Schroeder. Speaking afterwards, Erdogan said that they had discussed what could be done during Turkey’s EU membership process, calling the talks “positive.” /Aksam/
GUL SEEKS CZECH SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
In Prague yesterday for an official visit, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sought support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid in meetings with Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda and Parliament Speaker Lubomir Zaoralek. Speaking at a joint press conference with Svoboda, Gul said that he hoped Turkey would join the EU. “In the future we’ll be part of the Union,” predicted Gul. /Aksam/
NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to convene this afternoon at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The meeting will be the first one with a civilian, Yigit Alpagon, filling the secretary- general post. In addition, newly appointed Land Forces Commander Yasar Buyukanit and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Fevzi Turkeri will be part of the NSC for the first time. The top officials are expected to focus on domestic and foreign developments. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: “THE EU’S MINORITY CLAIMS ARE A TRAP”
Discussions about minorities are a trap for Turkey, warned opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Addressing his party’s group meeting, Baykal criticized the support some leftists have given for such discussions. “Recent discussions on peoples’ origins and identities are being held in the name of leftist ideology,” added Baykal. Criticizing proposals to call Alawites a minority, Baykal said, “This has nothing to do with our ideology.” /Huriyet/
PRINCE CHARLES VISITS HISTORIC RELIGIOUS SIGHTS IN MARDIN
Britain’s Prince Charles yesterday toured religious and historic sights in the southeastern city of Mardin on the last leg of a two-day visit to Turkey. Under tight security measures, Charles visited the 535-year-old Kasimiye Madrasah (Muslim seminary), the fifth century Syrian Orthodox Kirklar Church and the 690-year-old Latifiye Mosque. The prince also visited the spectacular Deyrulzafaran Monastery, which dates back to the fifth century and for hundreds of years housed the patriarchate of the Syrian Orthodox Church. /Hurriyet/
TRNC PREMIER TALAT REJECTS EROGLU’S OFFER OF NEW GOVT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday rejected National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu’s offer to establish a new coalition government. Following a one-and-a-half-hour meeting, Eroglu said, “Our proposal included eight articles but due to a previous decision of the CTP, Talat rejected it.” He added that he would continue his contacts with other party leaders in the coming days. Eroglu was assigned last week by President Rauf Denktas to establish a new TRNC coalition government. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT SENDS FORMER MINISTERS OZKAN, ONAL TO SUPREME STATE COUNCIL
During a Parliament session yesterday, the assembled deputies decided to send former State Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Recep Onal to the Supreme State Council to face allegations of approving illegal credit granted by Halkbank. Votes on former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and former State Minister Gunes Taner over privatization corruption allegations are scheduled for today. The Constitutional Court rejected a previous Parliament decision to try the politicians at the council as the cases had not been considered individually. /Turkiye/
EP COMMISSION DISCUSSES TURKEY REPORT
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission yesterday met to discuss a recent report on Turkey’s European Union aspirations by EP Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings. Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard said that the report was not just and balanced, adding, “Beginning Ankara’s accession talks will contribute to improving human rights and democracy in the country.” Italian parliamentarian Emma Bonino charged that the report was aggressive and unacceptable. /Cumhuriyet/
IMF DELEGATION COMPLETES SECOND ROUND OF MEETINGS ON STANDBY
Following the completion of a second round of meetings with Turkish officials on a possible new standby agreement, International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam yesterday left Turkey. The IMF delegation headed by Moghadam is scheduled to pay another visit in mid-November to complete discussions on the pact. Meanwhile, Hugh Bredenkamp, the IMF’s senior resident representative in Turkey, said yesterday that the Fund expected Turkish officials would clarify details on tax and social security reform as well as banking law. /Turkiye/