ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on December 17th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CYPRUS CONTINUES TO BE A HOT ISSUE
The first dead-lock at the European Union summit in Brussels was experienced last night on the issue of Cyprus.
After meeting British Premier Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Caramanlis.
Erdogan informed Caramanlis that Turkey is ready to start entry talks and wishes to resolve the Cyprus dispute. In return, Caramanlis replied that Turkey must recognize an EU member country, the Greek Cypriot administration.
Caramanlis' aide Teodoros Rusopulos told a Greek newspaper that Turkey can not become an EU member unless the Greek Cypriot administration is recognized.
RECOGNIZE CYPRUS AND COME IN...
The European Union heads of state made a decision to start entry talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.
After extensive and detailed discussions, the EU leaders have agreed on a draft document at the Brussels summit. According to the draft document, entry talks with Turkey will begin on October 3rd, 2005 with the condition that Turkey recognize the Greek Cypriot administration.
ALL OR NOTHING AT 1300 HOURS TODAY
Referring to the issue of Cyprus, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey will not take any step that would hurt its national interests.
Erdogan told reporters in Brussels that Turkey will either stay at the negotiations table or simply leave it depending on the outcome of the Brussels summit at 1300 hours today. ''Once we receive the final declaration of the summit, we will evaluate it with our technocrats and politicians and determine our attitude accordingly. We wish to have a declaration that will have a positive impact on our relations with Europe in the future.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CONDITIONAL DATE IS OCTOBER 3RD, 2005
A serious difficulty erupted when leaders of the European Union (EU) member countries wanted Turkey to ''de facto'' recognize Greek Cypriot administration till this time. Bargaining continue.
Brussels has been a stage for serious bargaining on Thursday. The news for the date which Turkey waited for years came at 23.30 local time. European leaders who met at dinner agreed to start talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005. An agreement has been reached for the negotiations to be open-ended, and target full membership.
ERDOGAN: WE WILL PROGRESS RAPIDLY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave very important messages before a busy diplomacy traffic started in Brussels. He said, ''Europeans say we have made a silent revolution and amazed them. We will progress rapidly also in negotiations but the ways should be opened. It is out of question for us to recognize Greek Cypriot administration.
Replying to questions of reporters, Erdogan said, ''I believe that French President Chirac's speech to a French TV will be beneficial. It was a bold speech. There are several positive developments in my meetings and meetings of Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Those have not yet been reflected in the draft. We have not received any text. Leaders will talk in the summit. We will be given the text on early Friday, and we will convey our views and objections. A statement can be made on Friday afternoon.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BARROSO: ''WE HAVE OPENED OUR DOOR TO TURKEY''
The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has stated that this evening (yesterday) the European Union has opened its door to Turkey. ''This offer is one that Turkey should gladly accept,'' he noted.
Barroso told that EU's decision will be conveyed to Turkey by the EU acting president.
Meanwhile, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said that he is happy about the decision of EU leaders to begin entry talks with Turkey in fall 2005. ''This decision is extremely important and timely,'' remarked Schroeder.
ERDOGAN: ''TURKEY DESIRES A ROAD TO EU MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT PREJUDICE AGAINST IT''
The voting at the European Parliament in favor of Turkey and French President Jacques Chirac's recent statements have pleased Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ''Every day is more positive than the past. Turkey desires a road to EU membership without prejudice against it. As a member of the European family, we do not wish for any serious disputes among our countries. We will continue to progress as part of the European family.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EU CONDITIONS ARE HEAVY
Due to Cyprus, permanent derogations and ''third path'' demands of the European Union (EU), which proposed to open negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2004, the summit was locked. EU leaders who met at dinner on the first day of the summit decided to open negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd. It was stated that negotiations would be open-ended and its target would be full membership. A formula not to separate Turkey from the EU was adopted in case there was failure in negotiations. Turkey was asked to recognize the Greek Cypriot administration before negotiations started during the summit in which Cyprus discussions were high on agenda.
FIRST OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not get the support he expected to be extended regarding Cyprus problem during his meetings with EU leaders. Giving a message to the leaders through journalists, Erdogan said, ''we will never make any step, contracting our national interests, regarding recognition of the 'Cyprus Republic'.''
AGAIN ANNAN PLAN
A high-level EU official said that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was convinced by the EU not to block the summit. According to a proposal adopted by leaders of strong EU member states particularly Britain, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan will be encouraged after the elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and intercommunal negotiations will be resumed.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CYPRUS CRISIS WITH EU
Veto card of Greek Cypriots put the summit into difficulty. Developments regarding Cyprus were enough to overshadow the negotiation date which Ankara waited for years.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, announced the decisions. He said, ''target of the negotiations is full membership on condition that they are open-ended. A formula that will link Turkey to the EU will be searched in case the negotiations fail.'' Balkenende said Cyprus discussions would continue for the whole night.
DIPLOMATIC DECISIVE BATTLE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had face to face meetings with the 12 EU member countries aiming to convey Turkey's expectations. Erdogan met Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis before the summit.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''YES'' FROM EU
European leaders decided to open negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2004. Prime Minister Balkenende of the Netherlands, the Acting President of the European Union (EU), held a press conference after the working dinner which brought together EU leaders. In the press conference, Balkenende said that they decided to start negotiations with Turkey on the basis of the report of the European Commission, but negotiations would be open-ended.
CYPRUS DISCUSSION
Bargaining in Brussels is focused on Cyprus problem. The Greek Cypriot administration wants Turkey to recognize ''Cyprus Republic'' before the final declaration to be released at the end of the EU heads of state and government summit, and wants this recognition to be written in the declaration. EU Acting President the Netherlands expects gesture from Turkey regarding Cyprus issue, while Turkey has announced that it won't take any steps before seeing the final text.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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DATE: OCTOBER 3RD, CYPRUS: A CONFLICT
European Union (EU) leaders decided to open negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005. The negotiations which will target at full membership will be open-ended. The final decision will be made today (Friday). Despite the recommendation of the European Parliament (EP) to start negotiations without delay, French President Jacques Chirac's returning the privileged partnership proposal and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso's statement that it is time to open negotiations with Turkey, the historic summit was locked due to three critical matters. They are privileged partnership, permanent derogations and Cyprus issue. These three issues will be effective on the historic decision.
DEFEATED BY PARMA, EAGLES (BESIKTAS) BID FAREWELL TO EUROPE
Besiktas soccer club of Turkey was defeated by Parma of Italy 3-2 in its last match in UEFA Cup Group B match. The Eagles, which led Parma 1-0 in the sixth second of the match, could not prevent goals scored by Parma. Although Tumer scored a perfect goal in 88 second, this goal did not help Besiktas qualify for another round.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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CYPRUS LOCK
As the leaders of the European Union (EU) countries give a date to Turkey to start full membership negotiations on October 3rd, 2005, they put forward recognition of Greek Cypriot side as condition.
Cyprus question, full membership and permanent derogations put its seal to the first day of December 17th Brussels summit.
EU leaders who met at dinner agreed to start talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005, however put as condition signing of ''enlargement protocol'' including Greek Cypriot side, till this date.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, seeing that France and Austria were very insistent on recognition of Greek Cypriot side, stated that even Greece did not adopt such a strict attitude on this issue.
TURKEY, AN EXAMPLE COUNTRY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) started to present the economic model which Turkey implemented, as model to countries which are in crisis.
According to OECD, Turkey would be the most rapidly growing economy in 2006-2009 period with 5.7 percent. In the three year economic program, Turkey approaches the EU averages.
(BRC-AY)
2004-12-17