GUL: "NUCLEAR ENERGY IS INDISPENSABLE FOR TURKEY"
Turkey needs nuclear power plants to reduce its dependence on foreign energy suppliers, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish-South Korean Business Forum in Seoul, Gul said that nuclear energy is essential for Turkey, adding that the country places great importance on its cooperation with South Korea to jointly construct a nuclear power plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop. "Turkey and South Korea enjoy excellent bilateral political relations, and now it's time to translate this into economic and trade cooperation," Gul said. Stating that bilateral trade currently stands at $3 billion, Gul said this falls short of a level befitting the friendship and intimacy between Turkey and South Korea. Stressing that as Europe's fastest-growing economy Turkey will need more energy in the future, Gul said, "Turkey's current energy supplies are inadequate and just like South Korea, Turkey is dependent on foreign energy sources as well. That's why nuclear energy is imperative for Turkey to meet its energy needs. We consider our cooperation on the joint construction of a nuclear power plant in Sinop highly important. I believe that with this project in this area, Turkey and South Korea will set a good example." /Sabah/
BAGIS: "TURKEY'S EU JOURNEY WILL END WITH FULL MEMBERSHIP"
Speaking at a panel on Turkey's European Union accession negotiations in the Aegean province of Yzmir yesterday, Chief EU talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis said there is no doubt that Turkey will bring its EU journey to completion with full membership. "No country has launched negotiations with the EU and then failed to complete them," he said. Bagis said what has been difficult was putting Turkey on the EU track, adding that Turkey is doing a great deal of trade with EU member states and is participating in all European institutions except the EU. "One day conditions will make Turkey's membership inevitable, and we must prepare Turkey for that," he said. Turkey will become a respected and honorable member of the EU sooner or later, he said. Touching on last month's Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, which left nine Turkish peace activists dead, Bagis called this an act of piracy. "What we expect from Israel is an apology, compensation for losses, and an end to the embargo of Gaza," he said. /Turkiye/
ANKARA: "AN ISRAELI INQUIRY INTO FLOTILLA ATTACK WOULD FALL SHORT OF THE WORLD'S EXPECTATIONS"
Ankara yesterday again strongly condemned Israel's snub of a UN proposal for a full international investigation of its own forces' lethal raid on a Gaza aid flotilla last month, while urging the international community, and particularly the US, to increase pressure on Israel to agree to this proposal. Ankara also reiterated that it would take "certain measures" should Israel continue to refuse the UN proposal. The Israeli Cabinet met Monday to form a commission to carry out an Israeli inquiry into the raid on the Gaza aid flotilla, which left nine Turks dead, while responding to international demands for impartiality by putting two foreign observers on the panel. "Israel's declaration that it will set up a commission composed of Israeli citizens and two foreign observers in order to investigate the Israeli raid against the Freedom Flotilla does not in any way meet Turkey's clear demands or the international community's expectations, which were expressed in the Presidential Statement of the United Nations Security Council," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. "An inquiry by such a commission cannot be impartial, fair, transparent or credible," the ministry said, because, "Israel does not have the authority to assign a national commission to investigate a crime perpetrated in international waters." Telling how Turkey has indeed already agreed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's proposal to establish an international commission made up one Turkish, one Israeli and three international experts, the statement added: "We strongly condemn Israel's disregard of this proposal to date. We expect that the international community, and above all the US, which lost a citizen of its own (in the attack), will support this constructive proposal by the UN secretary-general and take action in that direction without delay." Speaking to reporters following a Cabinet meeting, in which Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu gave a briefing on the latest developments on the issue, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek echoed the Foreign Ministry statement. "Today we discussed measures which will be taken if Israel rejects the UN secretary-general's proposal, because those people who lost their lives are our citizens," he said. "A commission set up unilaterally by Israel will not satisfy us." He added that the currently unspecified measures against Israel would be announced within days in light of developments, and in particular according to Israel's stance on the UN proposal. /Today's Zaman/
EPP CHAIRMAN SAYS TURKEY HASN'T CHANGED AXIS
European People's Party (EPP) leader Wilfried Martens said yesterday that he doesn't see the recent reinvigoration of Turkish foreign policy as a slow drift away from the West, dismissing allegations that Turkey's growing involvement with its neighbors foreshadows its abandoning its Western allies. Quoting remarks by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu saying that Turkey is implementing a European Union-style cooperation with its neighbors, which should not be seen as an alternative to the EU, Martens said the 27-nation bloc should not and cannot restrict Turkey's relations with its neighbors. Saying that politicians in the West know that Turkey is a place where civilizations meet and various peoples come together, Martens said Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe and NATO and could one day be part of the EU as well. /Today's Zaman/
TOP TURKISH BUSINESSWOMAN PRESENTED WITH FRENCH STATE MEDAL
Guler Sabanci, the head of Sabanci Holding, one of Turkey's most powerful conglomerates, yesterday was presented the French Republic's highest state medal, the Legion d'Honneur. Presenting the medal to Sabanci in a ceremony at Istanbul's Sakip Sabanci Museum, French Ambassador Bernard Emie read out a message from French Economy, Industry and Employment Minister Christine Lagarde, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Calling Sabanci an active, modern and sophisticated woman and as a role model for all Turkish women, Lagarde said this is the reason France's president decided to honor her. Pointing to successful projects carried out by Sabanci, Lagarde called the partnership between Sabanci Holding and French-based retailer Carrefour a great success story. Lagarde said that Sabanci's interest in higher education and culture, two areas France is deeply committed to, have also helped Turkey enormously. Speaking at the ceremony, Sabanci said that she was honored to get the award from France. "I'm well aware that such an honor increases my responsibility," she said. "We all know that our countries, which have the opportunity to realize great things together, have certain problems concerning the European Union. During such a period, I know I am taking the responsibility for contributing to relations between our countries." /Hurriyet/
FRENCH INVESTMENT AGENCY OPENS OFFICE IN ISTANBUL
The Invest in France Agency yesterday opened an office in Istanbul in a bid to promote opportunities in the country and boost economic relations with Turkey. The office was opened on the sidelines of the Turkish-French Business Forum, an event jointly organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board's (DEYK) Turkey-France Business Council and UBIFRANCE, the French agency for international business development. Delivering a video message to the event, French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said that her country places great importance on cooperation with Turkey. The number of French companies operating in Turkey rose from just 15 in 1985 to about 300 today, she said, adding that trade between the two countries fell only minimally due to the global economic crisis. Lagarde said that France is determined to boost its business relations with Turkey and added that the new office will multiply efforts to invite Turkish businessmen to invest in France. /Today's Zaman/