SEZER URGES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message of support for the Palestinian people, calling on the international community to support their upcoming presidential elections in order to help hopes for peace in the Middle East. He sent a message to Paul Badji, chairman of the UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, stressing that the international community should fulfill its responsibilities to revive the process of cooperation and dialogue and take steps to implement the road map prepared by the Mideast Quartet. "We call on the international community to support the Palestinian National Authority [PNA] to hold these elections," said Sezer in his message. /Star/
GUL MEETS WITH HUNGARIAN PM, ATTENDS EUROMED AT THE HAGUE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday received his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Somogyi to discuss a number of issues, including Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Speaking afterwards at a joint press conference, Gul said that Turkey was single-mindedly set on beginning its accession talks. Later, Gul flew to The Hague to attend EUROMED, the meeting of foreign ministers from the EU and countries on the Mediterranean Sea. Speaking before his departure, Gul said that Turkey had fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria and that now the EU should keep its promise and give it a date to begin its accession talks. Turkey’s top diplomat is expected to address EUROMED today on economic reform and investments. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several of his EU and Mediterranean counterparts. /Turkiye/
EURO INDUSTRIALISTS LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday held a banquet in Ankara in honor of members of the European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT), an occasion attended by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan as well as the CEOs of ERT member companies in Turkey. The ERT supports Turkey’s European Union membership bid, declared Chairman Antony Burgmans. “Although we find the Turkish government’s economic performance very successful, we’ve also seen the economic program is still beset by sudden, unexpected changes, something which can trouble foreign companies,” said Burgsman, an executive at Unilever. “If you want to attract more foreign capital, you should try to avoid this.” For his part, Erdogan said that he hoped the CEOs would stay in close contact with his government. /Hurriyet/
EU LEADERS DISCUSS DRAFT STATEMENT ON TURKEY FOR DECEMBER SUMMIT
A draft statement on Turkey for December’s European Union summit was leaked to the press yesterday. The text prepared by EU term President the Netherlands points to certain conditions for Turkey’s EU bid to go forward, including its recognition of Greek Cyprus. It states that Ankara’s membership talks could be suspended by the votes of one-third of EU member states, that free movement of Turkish workers might be limited, and that no definite decision will comes from the talks before the EU’s 2014 budget is finished. The draft text will reportedly be sent to other member countries’ leaders for evaluation, and is expected to be finalized on Dec. 8-9. On Dec. 14, three days before the summit, the EU foreign ministers are set to meet to exchange views on the statement. /Turkiye/
EUROPEAN VOICE AGAIN NAMES ERDOGAN “EUROPEAN OF THE YEAR”
Brussels-based weekly newspaper the European Voice has once again honored Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its “European of the Year.” The magazine’s senior editors, together with a panel of key experts from the European Union, worked together to draw up its short list of influential Europeans. The 50 includes commissioners, heads of state, politicians, EU functionaries, NGOs, campaigners and European citizens. From these nominees, a top 10 is chosen by a poll of European Voice readers, with one elected overall European of the Year. Erdogan’s fellow nominees included such prominent figures as Guenter Verheugen, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Joschka Fischer, Jack Straw, Tony Blair and Michel Barnier. /All Papers/
CABINET DISCUSSES EU DRAFT ON ANKARA’S ACCESSION TALKS
The Cabinet yesterday discussed a leaked draft statement from the European Union meant for its Dec. 17 summit, where it will decide whether or not to begin Ankara’s accession talks. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that the summit would be a test for the EU, adding that it should keep its promises. He stated that Turkey had fulfilled the criteria better than other EU candidates and that the Cyprus issue was not among them. Erdogan stressed that Turkey wouldn’t accept a conditional negotiation process or one unique to Turkey. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Erdogan said that the economic embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be brought to an end. /Milliyet/
BLAIR: “TURKEY’S EU BID SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS ANY OTHER”
Turkey’s application to join the European Union must be treated the same as any other nation’s, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today. At a press conference, Blair told journalists that no “special obstacles” should be placed in Turkey’s way. “Ankara’s bid should be determined according to the same criteria and in the same way as any other application,” he said. “Turkey is not actually asking for favorable treatment, it is asking for the same treatment, and it should have the same treatment.” /Turkiye/
SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO MEET TODAY
The Supreme Military Council (YAS) is due to convene today to discuss such issues as training of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) staff, disciplinary issues, and planned TSK activities. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair the meeting, which will be attended by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, among others. /Sabah/
FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER COMES OUT AGAINST TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
French Finance and Economy Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, newly elected leader of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, yesterday came out against Turkey’s European Union membership. Addressing his party’s congress, Sarkozy said that he wanted Ankara to be a “partner” of the Union but not a member. On the other hand, he expressed support for former Soviet satellite countries, saying, “I’m calling on aid for our friends in Eastern Europe.” /Turkiye/
TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND IN FEBRUARY
Turkey is set to take over the command of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Feb. 11. A battalion of 170 Turkish soldiers led by Lt. Gen. Ethem Erdagi yesterday left for Norway to be trained for the mission. Before his departure, Erdagi said that Turkey would hand over the command to Italy after serving six months. /Turkiye/
EDUCATION MINISTER TO VISIT BRITAIN
Education Minister Huseyin Celik is set to travel to London today to visit his British counterpart Charles Clark. The two ministers are expected to discuss such issues as online training, computers in the schools, school fees charged to Turkish students in Britain, and curriculum improvement. Celik is expected to return to Turkey on Dec. 3. /Star/
PORTUGUESE PM TO VISIT TURKEY
Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopez is due to arrive in Ankara tomorrow for a three-day official visit. During his stay, Lopez is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations, Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Cyprus, transatlantic relations, Iraq, and cooperation against terrorism. /Aksam/
ECONOMIST EDITOR: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL SERVE BOTH SIDES’ INTERESTS”
Bill Emmott, editor-in chief of The Economist magazine, said yesterday that Ankara’s European Union membership would serve the interests of both Turkey and the continent. Speaking at a conference in Istanbul, Emmott stated that Turkey should be brought in the Union after talks lasting 10 years. Stressing that Turkey would bring great advantages to the bloc, the editor said that Europeans’ hesitation to include a Muslim country was in vain. “Membership is no gift for you. There are mutual interests at stake,” added Emmott. /Turkiye/
WB TURKEY DIRECTOR: “ENDING TURKEY’S CRISIS CYCLE HAS RAISED CONSUMER CONFIDENCE”
World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink predicted yesterday that this year the Turkish economy would grow 10%, adding that this was an impressive figure. “Very few countries enjoy such robust growth,” he said. Vorkink stressed that Turkey had overcome its cycle of chronic crises, adding that this had served to raise consumer confidence. In related news, a delegation from the International Monetary Fund headed by Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam yesterday arrived in Turkey to discuss a new three-year standby agreement. Negotiations on the standby are expected to be concluded by Dec. 15. /Milliyet/