LEADERS’ MEETING TO DISCUSS NEXT WEEK’S EU SUMMIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abullah Gul will meet today to discuss recent developments on Turkey’s EU membership bid in the runup to next week’s pivotal EU summit. The leaders will also determine strategies for possible outcomes of the summit. In related news, Erdogan will invite main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal to accompany him on his visit to Brussels this Friday. /Star/
ERDOGAN, PUTIN ADDRESS TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESS FORUM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday attended a Turkish-Russian Business Forum organized by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Addressing the gathering, Putin predicted that trade volume between the two countries would reach $10 billion by year’s end, adding that there was a need for new regulations governing the suitcase trade. Putin stressed that he hoped to see more Russian firms invest in Turkey. The Russian leader further stated that cooperation between the two countries should not be limited to Iraq and that he supported Ankara’s European Union membership bid. For his part, Erdogan said that Putin’s visit would strengthen relations between the two countries, and echoed Putin’s call for more Russian investment in Turkey. /Turkiye/
PUTIN VOWS TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION WITH TURKEY
Vladimir Putin, the first Russian president to visit Turkey since the end of the Cold War, yesterday visited Ataturk’s mausoleum, Anitkabir. He then met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The two leaders signed a symbolic declaration on the “enhancement of friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation” and oversaw the signing of six agreements committing the two countries to cooperate in a number of fields, including defense, finance and energy. During a joint press conference, the leaders said that the agreements would accelerate the strengthening and development of bilateral cooperation. Putin also visited Parliament and met with Speaker Bulent Arinc. In the evening, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a banquet in the honor of Putin and Russian First Lady Ludmila Putina, where privatization and defense tenders, terrorism, foreign politics and trade were reportedly taken up. Afterwards, Putin and his delegation left Turkey. /All Papers/
TURKEY, RUSSIA TO ESTABLISH JOINT ENERGY TRACKING GROUP
Turkey and Russia on Sunday agreed to form a joint tracking group focusing on energy and energy ventures. Under the decision made during a meeting of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and Russian Energy and Industry Minister Victor Khristenko, the group will include six experts from both sides and is set to hold its first meeting in February. Khristenko presented Guler with a file on nuclear energy and Russian’s work on the topic. During his contacts in Ankara, the Russian official was also briefed on tanker traffic in the Bosphorus. /Turkiye/
BALKANENDE TO TOUR EUROPE ON THE EVE OF KEY EU SUMMIT
Laying the groundwork for next week’s pivotal EU summit, European Union Term President the Netherlands’ Premier Jan Peter Balkenende is set today to begin a tour of European countries. First he will travel to Greece and then to Greek Cyprus. On Thursday, he is set to meet with Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels, and early next week he will meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin, then proceed to Paris to see President Jacques Chirac. The Dutch leader have talks with the Hungarian and Danish premiers at The Hague, and with other EU leaders he plans to make phone calls to clarify their final decision on Turkey’s EU membership expected at the summit. In related news, a second draft statement prepared by the Netherlands proposes that Ankara begin its accession talks with the EU in October 2005, with the legislative scanning process starting in April. The draft reportedly omits mention of the “privileged partnership” proposals for Turkey which were sought by France and Austria. /Turkiye/
EU ENLARGEMENT CHIEF: “IF ANKARA BEGINS EU TALKS, THEIR ONLY GOAL WILL BE FULL MEMBERSHIP”
New European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that if Ankara begins its accession talks with the European Union, then their only goal would be full EU membership, adding that there was no other plan. “Naturally, EU negotiations are always open-ended,” he cautioned. “Ankara’s negotiations will be difficult and no one can guarantee their outcome.” /Milliyet/
MERKEL ACCUSES SCHROEDER OF “DECEPTION” ON TURKEY’S EU BID
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is not being honest about the risks for the European Union of Turkey’s membership, German opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel charged yesterday. Accusing Schroeder of “self-deception” on his Turkey policy, Merkel told a CDU gathering, “A Europe with Turkey as a full-fledged member won’t be a Europe that is fully integrated.” Merkel also reiterated that her party opposes giving EU membership to Turkey, favoring instead a “privileged partnership” status. Claiming that Berlin’s statements in support of Turkey’s EU bid were dishonest, Merkel continued: “Turkey's geopolitical position is very important; however, this isn’t a reason for it to be admitted to the EU.” /Hurriyet/
FORMER EU COMMISSIONER PREDICTS QUICKER PATH FOR TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION
Frits Bolkestein, a former member of the European Union Commission, yesterday predicted that if the EU decides at its Dec. 17 summit to begin Ankara’s accession talks, then Turkey’s negotiations could be concluded before the prevailing estimate of 10-15 years. “Turkey can be an EU member in a short period,” he added. In related news, European Parliament Liberal Group Chairman Graham Watson warned that failing to start Ankara’s EU talks would usher in a new “dark age”. /Aksam/
BORRELL: “THE ONLY GOAL FOR TURKEY IS FULL MEMBERSHIP”
The draft resolution to be approved by the European Parliament on Dec. 14 doesn’t include alternatives for Turkey besides full membership, said EP President Josep Borrell yesterday. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul before ending a visit to Turkey, Borrell said that the nation’s EU bid would be on the top of his agenda. /Sabah/
BABACAN: “WE’RE CLOSE TO REACHING A NEW IMF STANDBY”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said yesterday that a new standby agreement between Turkey and the International Monetary Fund would soon be reached. Addressing Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission, Babacan said that under the new standby, Turkey’s debt stock would be reduced. Stressing that the current accounts deficit was too large due to high domestic demand and growth, he added that as a result of powerful exports performance, tourism revenue and other measures, this deficit could be brought down. For his part, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that prudent fiscal policies were helping to bring down the state’s budget deficit. /Milliyet/