ERDOGAN OPENS GARDEN OF RELIGIONS IN ANTALYA
Religious tolerance is a valuable legacy the Turkish Republic has inherited from the Ottoman Empire, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday in Antalya at the opening ceremony of a new complex of Muslim, Christian and Jewish worship sites. Erdogan pledged that his government would remove any remaining obstacles to religious freedom in Turkey. “By virtue of this great historical experience, today Turkey is the guarantor of peace and brotherhood in its region,” he added. “Of course, we still have shortcomings which we’re working to overcome as soon as possible.” Also attending the ceremony were Dutch European Affairs Minister Atzo Nikolai, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, plus diplomats and the religious leaders of Turkey’s Greek, Armenian and Jewish communities. “People will be able to freely practice their religions in this center, and this sends a very important message,” said Nikolai. Father Joseph Alphonse Sammut, for his part, said that while Catholics are able to practice their religion in Turkey they lack property rights over churches, but expressed hope that this would someday change. Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II also said that non-Muslim places of worship should be opened in all major Turkish cities. “This should be done either by renovating historical sites or by building new ones, as the one here,” he said. Chief Rabbi Ishak (Yitzhak) Haleva hailed Turkey as a rare country where synagogues, mosques, and churches exist side-by-side. “We’re lucky to be citizens here,” he added. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN HEADED TO BRUSSELS IN FINAL PUSH FOR EU TALKS
On the eve of next week’s crucial European Union summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is set to travel to Brussels in a final push for opening Ankara’s EU membership talks. During a meeting with EU Term President the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, Erdogan will express Ankara’s concerns over the content of a draft statement on Turkey for the summit. Balkenende is expected to prepare a new statement which takes into account Ankara’s expectations. In addition, the Turkish premier is scheduled to meet with his Belgian counterpart Guy Verhofstadt as well as Olli Rehn, the EU commissioner for enlargement. Erdogan will reiterate that Ankara will not accept any “special status” in lieu of full membership, nor will it accept any preconditions to the talks. /Turkiye/
GUL TO ATTEND NATO MEETING IN BRUSSELS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday left for Brussels to attend the fall meeting of NATO foreign ministers. As part of his contacts, Gul first met with Olli Rehn, the European Union commissioner for enlargement, where he laid out Ankara’s expectations for next week’s pivotal EU summit. He is also set to hold separate meetings with his British, German and Spanish counterparts. Speaking to reporters, Gul said that the EU’s draft statement on Turkey for the summit had certain points that Ankara found unacceptable. “We want to begin accession talks with the EU with the clear intent of becoming a full member,” said Gul. Asked about the Cyprus issue, Gul said, “Without any resolution [on the island], our recognizing Greek Cyprus is out of question.” /Turkiye/
EDELMAN, ERDOGAN TO MEET FOR DELAYED TALK
After seeking an audience for a month-and-a-half, US Ambassador Eric Edelman is soon to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two are expected to discuss possible help from Washington for Ankara’s EU membership bid before the key Dec. 17 EU summit. Last week Edelman met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Tuygan. In related news, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan told reporters that the US and Turkey have a multidimensional relationship and emphasized the 50-year alliance between the two countries. “Ankara and Washington should focus their cooperative efforts on fighting terrorism,” he urged. /Star/
BELGIAN FM: “FAILING TO START ANKARA’S EU TALKS WOULD BE AN HISTORIC MISTAKE”
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht warned yesterday that if at its summit next week the European Union decides not to begin Ankara’s accession talks, this would be an historic mistake. Speaking to Belgian daily Le Soir, De Gucht said that full EU membership was the best way to keep Turkey close to Europe, adding that having the nation serve as a bridge between the West and the Middle East was an important benefit. “Turkey is our neighbor, and its modernization and democracy make it a model for the Islamic world,” he added. /Aksam/
NIKOLAI: “MY TALKS WITH GUL WERE FRANK AND OPEN”
Appearing on television yesterday, European Union Term President the Netherlands’ European Affairs Minister Atzo Nikolai said that his recent talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had been frank and open, adding that there was no tension between the two. “I told Gul that we tried to add language to the second draft statement on Turkey [for next week’s EU summit] upon which the European Commission and the EU member states could agree,” he said. “Following the meeting, we both expressed optimism about the summit. Everybody in Europe is determined to reach a positive decision about Ankara’s accession talks, something I also told Gul.” /Milliyet/
TUZMEN VISITS OMAN, PROMOTES TRADE AND INVESTMENT
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen is currently paying a two-day visit to Oman. After meeting with Oman’s Industry and Trade Minister Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan, Tuzmen told reporters that Turkey might be able to attract Arab capital that had withdrawn from Europe and the US. Calling on Oman’s businessmen to invest in Turkey, Tuzmen said in the future that the two countries would strengthen trade ties. /Turkiye/
TOBB HEAD DISCUSSES NEW IMF STANDBY PACT WITH TURKEY DESK CHIEF
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu yesterday met with visiting International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam to discuss a new standby agreement with Ankara expected to be unveiled soon. Speaking afterwards, Hisarciklioglu said that he had briefed Moghadam on measures needed for the new economic program. “I also told him of our concerns about sustainable growth,” he added. “We also discussed structural reforms and what we should do to bring down interest rates.” /Cumhuriyet/