SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR TURKISH SURVIVORS, VICTIMS OF QUAKE/TSUNAMI DISASTER
Turkish authorities have as yet been unable to reach a number of Turks in southeast Asia after the region was hit on Sunday by the world’s biggest quake in four decades and resulting tsunamis which killed more than 20,000 people. A statement from the Foreign Ministry said there was no information indicating that any Turkish citizen was among the dead as of yesterday afternoon. However, a ministry official added that some 30 Turks in the region could not be reached. A Turkish GSM operator announced yesterday that it had verified that some 2,500 of its subscribers were in the affected region. Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan earlier announced that the staffs of Turkish diplomatic missions in the countries located in the quake-hit zone were in good health. In related news, Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) head Basaran Ulusoy stated yesterday that agencies had canceled all tours to the affected region and warned Turks not to travel there. Saying that some 1,000 Turkish citizens were in the quake-hit region for holidays, Ulusoy stated that 700 of them had contacted their travel agencies, but no information was forthcoming from 300 others. Meanwhile, Turkish officials stated that preparations had been completed to provide aid for quake victims if needed. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN, PUTIN TO OPEN TOBB-TIM BUSINESS CENTER IN MOSCOW
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set on Jan. 12 to open a new Moscow business center constructed jointly by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Exports’ Union (TIM). Prior to the opening ceremony to be attended by many bureaucrats and businessmen, Erdogan will hold a meeting with TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu. The center is expected to create new opportunities for Turkish businessmen seeking a share of the Russian market, which attracts approximately $4.2 billion annually. /Star/
ANKARA REPORTEDLY SEEKS NEW PLAN FOR CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly seeking possible new plans for a settlement to the Cyprus issue before next Oct. 3, when Turkey is supposed to begin its European Union accession talks. Foreign Ministry officials have begun to work on a plan meant as an alternative to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. Turkish officials will also be in close contact with EU and European officials in the coming weeks and months to convince them about Turkey’s progress on the road to EU membership. /Turkiye/
DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER: “TURKEY BELONGS IN EUROPE”
Turkey belongs in Europe, as its recent impressive reforms demonstrate, and its eventual European Union accession will serve to enhance Europe’s prestige and power on the international stage, wrote Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot in Sunday’s Washington Times. “By opening negotiations on membership with Turkey, the European Union has shown itself dynamic, purposeful and self-confident,” said Bot, whose country currently holds the EU’s term presidency, in a guest op-ed. “This step underlines the EU's ambition to cement freedom, stability and prosperity in Europe. At the same time, we send a message around the world: the European Union is sustained by shared values, principles and interests, not by exclusion on religious or cultural grounds.” Praising Ankara's EU reforms, Bot wrote, "The reforms undertaken in Turkey in the past two years have been truly impressive. The EU wants to ensure reform will continue ... The prospect of EU membership is already transforming Turkey." The top Dutch diplomat also added that the years to come “must be seized to boost economic growth in Turkey and to upgrade the EU's institutional, social and economic frameworks.” If Ankara and the EU succeed, they can cushion the impact of Turkey's membership, he said. “Fears that millions will migrate from Turkey's rural areas to other parts of the EU, or that Turkey will siphon off the EU's resources, will prove unfounded.” He also underlined that “Turkey's accession will strengthen the EU's political and military capacity to fight terrorism and promote international peace and stability.” Remarking that he believes people with different languages, cultures and religious beliefs can form a community, provided they subscribe to the same fundamental rules, Bot concluded that that is why he strongly believes Turkey belongs in Europe. /Sabah/
US STATE DEPT’S ARMITAGE SET FOR WEEKEND VISIT
On an official visit to Ankara on Sunday, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. Armitage is expected to discuss with the Turkish officials recent anti-American statements in certain circles. /Star/
TALAT: “DENKTAS DOESN’T REALIZE THAT THE WORLD IS CHANGING”
Appearing on television yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that TRNC President Rauf Denktas didn’t seem to understand that the world is changing, adding that his struggle had failed. “The TRNC’s independence was a dream,” said Talat. “Didn’t anybody recognize this?” Talat further predicted that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papdopoulos wouldn’t veto Turkey’s European Union membership bid, fearing a negative reaction from other EU members. /Cumhuriyet/
PAPADOPOULOS: “ANKARA ISN’T REALLY TRYING FOR A CYPRUS DEAL BEFORE ITS EU TALKS BEGIN”
Speaking to Greek Cypriot daily Haravgi yesterday, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos claimed that Ankara wasn’t willing to reach a Cyprus resolution before Oct. 3, 2005, when it is scheduled to begin its European Union accession talks. “Turkey wants a resolution in order to find a way to avoid its obligation to recognize Greek Cyprus,” he added. /Milliyet/
GUL TO VISIT ISRAEL, PALESTINE NEXT WEEK
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due to travel to both Israel and Palestine next Monday and Tuesday for an official visit. In Jerusalem, Gul is expected to meet with Israeli President Moshe Katsav, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. Later, in Palestine, Gul is expected to meet with Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Mahmoud Abbas. /Milliyet/
CITING POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS WITH EU AND IMF, S&P TO RAISE TURKEY’S CREDIT RATING
Credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s Turkey analyst Farouk Soussa said yesterday that Turkey’s rating could be raised in light of its recently winning a date from the European Union to begin its accession talks and signing a new standby pact with the International Monetary Fund. Soussa predicted that these developments would facilitate the continuation of its disciplined macroeconomic program. /Cumhuriyet/
NEW MINIMUM WAGE TO BE ANNOUNCED TODAY
The Minimum Wage Commission is scheduled to convene today to announce the new minimum wage for 2005. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently suggested that a surprise increase in the wage was on the way. /Star/