ERDOGAN: "ONE DAY ERZURUM COULD ALSO HOST THE OLYMPICS"
Visiting Erzurum yesterday, host city of the 25th Winter Universiade, set to start later this month, Prime Minister Erdogan said the eastern Anatolian city could also one day host the Olympics. Pointing to the 500 billion TL in investments made to get the city ready for the university games, Erdogan said, "Erzurum has the best facilities in the country, and it deserves this. Our next goal is the Olympics. We hope we will get this." /Turkiye/
PM ERDOGAN TO VISIT KUWAIT, QATAR NEXT WEEK
Starting next Sunday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a four-day visit including both Kuwait and Qatar. First in Kuwait, Erdogan is set to meet with Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, Prime Minister Nasir al-Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi. After attending a meeting of the Turkey-Kuwait Business Forum, Erdogan will meet with Abdulwahab al-Bader, head of the Kuwait Fund. He will also be presented with the Sheikh Fahad al-Ahmad International Award for Charity. Proceeding to Qatar on Tuesday, Erdogan will meet with Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani. Erdogan is also set to attend a meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Business Forum before returning to Turkey. In related news, Jordanian Transportation Minister Alaa Batayneh said that Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey have moved closer to economic integration. The official Petra agency said yesterday that the countries signed a pact establishing a committee to unify their legislation to enhance economic integration. It quoted Batayneh as saying Jordan has been tasked to draw up joint plans to develop the transportation sector. Syria is to work on energy, Lebanon on tourism, and Turkey on industry. /Hurriyet Daily News/
ERDOGAN NAMED "MAN OF THE YEAR" BY IRANIAN WEBSITE
Fresh from being chosen man of the year 2010 by CNN’s Arabic website, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has gotten the same honor from a top Iranian news website. In a survey at asriran.com, 44 percent of respondents chose Erdogan as man of the year from among four nominees. Nearly 18,000 votes were cast. /Cumhuriyet/
BAGIS: "THE EU NEEDS TURKEY MORE THAN TURKEY NEEDS THE EU"
Turkey’s European Union bid isn’t focused on its aspiration to become a member of the bloc, but rather on efforts to raise Turkey’s democratic and economic standards, said State Minister and Chief EU Talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis on Wednesday. Speaking on Mehtap television, Bagis said Turkey and the EU need each other, but Turkey’s need for the Union is shrinking while the Union’s need for Turkey grows greater with each passing day. "One day the EU will look for ways to do away with obstacles to Turkey’s membership," he said. On those obstacles, he explained, "What is behind Turkey’s trouble with opening new chapters [for negotiation] is the Cyprus issue or things brought before Turkey in connection with the same issue. Today there are political obstacles to the opening of 17 or 18 chapters. One day these obstacles will be overcome, because Turkey and the EU need each other." He added, "Today Europe is mired in a serious economic crisis. And before them is an economic power they are watching with admiration: the Republic of Turkey. Turkey is the sixth-biggest economy in Europe and number 15 in the world. We have a young, dynamic population. In addition, we have a dynamic market. Moreover, Turkey now holds the secretary-general post at the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] as well as co-chairmanship of the Alliance of Civilizations. Turkey is also a reputable member of the G-20. The EU can’t ignore such an active country." Bagis also reiterated that Turkey won’t make concessions on Cyprus for its EU bid. "We will neither abandon Cyprus for the EU nor the EU for Cyprus," he said. "Our policy is very clear: ports for ports. Let the Greek Cypriots open their ports to us, and we will open our ports to them." /Today’s Zaman/
BABACAN: "REAL INTEREST RATES ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW"
The Treasury’s borrowing interest rates have hit a historic low of 6.8%, with inflation at 6.4%, said Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday. Babacan, speaking to the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association’s (MUSIAD), added that falling interest rates are important for economic confidence. Turkey’s stock risk premium is lower than 12 European Union countries, including Italy, Belgium and Spain, he pointed out, saying that such developments are promising for the year ahead. "We must be all cautious in 2011," he added. "We can’t say that everything is all right before the bigger economies reveal their strategies." Babacan said that it’s too early to declare the global economic crisis over. /Star/
AMID DEBATE OVER GREEK BORDER BARRIER, PAPANDREOU VISITS TURKEY
Amid debate over Athens’ plans to build a barrier along its border with Turkey in a bid to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is visiting Erzurum, Turkey to attend an annual meeting of Turkish diplomats. Greece’s plans to push back illegal migrants on a 12.5-kilometer stretch of the border are expected to be discussed in detail by Papandreou and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Athens argues that it has a duty to protect the rights of its citizens and legal residents. Acknowledging the sovereign right of every country to take measures to protect its borders, Turkey, however, has dismissed claims that it has failed to stop illegal human trafficking to Greece via Turkish territory. Papandreou’s visit follows Erdogan’s attendance at a climate change conference in Athens last October. In return, Papandreou accepted Erdogan’s invitation to visit the ski resort in Palandoken, Erzurum, accompanied by his foreign minister. Papandreou is also set to address the gathering of Turkish ambassadors. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MEETS WITH UN ENVOY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Dervis Eroglu met yesterday with Special UN Envoy Lisa Buttenheim to discuss the island’s stalled reunification process. The meeting was closed to the press. Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias are scheduled to meet for the first time this year on next Wednesday, ahead of a three-way Jan. 26 meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva. Eroglu and Christofias have held 18 meetings since last May to discuss Cyprus’ reunification. In November, the leaders met with Ban, who called on them to accelerate the talks. Ban said they decided to meet again in Geneva this month and to intensify talks to prepare a "practical plan" to eliminate disagreements. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKEY’S UN AMBASSADOR: "OUR FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESSES PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON TURKEY’S SECURITY COUNCIL TENURE"
Turkey’s foreign policy successes made the spotlight on its recently concluded UN Security Council membership shine brighter, said Turkey’s Ambassador to the UN Ertugrul Apakan on Wednesday. Speaking to the Foreign Ministry about Turkey’s two-year temporary tenure on the council, Apakan said, "We want to make Istanbul a hub where UN offices can be established." He added, "What set us apart from others was our ability to talk to everyone, our approach to the problems of member countries from a broad perspective, and our independent stance." /Hurriyet/