ERDOGAN MEETS WITH US SENATOR
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received US Senator Chuck Hagel. Present also at the one-hour meeting were Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and US Deputy Commander for US Forces in Europe Gen. Charles Wald. Bilateral relations, regional issues, as well as the fight against terrorism and the Cyprus issue were reportedly taken up during the talks. Hagel stated that US officials were looking forward to Erdogan’s planned US visit next week. In addition, the Turkish premier praised President George W. Bush and the US Congress’ recent stance against the Armenian genocide allegations. /Star/
PREMIER ERDOGAN TO VISIT THE US NEXT WEEK
Details of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s planned visit to the US have been settled. Erdogan will leave for the Washington at the beginning of next week. A number of topics, including the Greater Middle East (GME) Initiative, the Iraq issue, and recent developments in the Caucasus, Afghanistan and the Middle East are expected to dominate the talks between Erdogan and US President George W. Bush on June 8 at the White House. Furthermore, Erdogan will reiterate Ankara’s concern over the PKK terrorists in northern Iraq and urge Bush to launch an immediate US operation against them. Erdogan then is set to meet with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the Cyprus issue. He will underline that the Greek Cypriots’ stance is far from a settlement, and ask Annan to make efforts to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Erdogan is set to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler as well as State Ministers Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen. /Turkiye/
GUL SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH THE GCC, BAHRAIN
Turkey and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yesterday signed a framework cooperation agreement that will pave the way for a free trade deal. On his visit to Bahrain, which currently holds the rotating GCC presidency, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday was received by the king of Bahrain, Hamad Ben Issa Al-Khalifa, and signed a deal with the GCC to boost economic ties between Turkey and the GCC comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Gul and his counterpart Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa also signed a memorandum of understanding which grants visa waivers for the citizens of the two countries. Both foreign ministers underlined that the agreements will boost bilateral relations between Turkey, Bahrain and the GCC. /Aksam/
CICEK: “FRENCH REFERENDUM IS NOT A PRECONDITION FOR TURKEY”
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that the result of Sunday’s referendum in France on the European Union Constitution was no surprise for Turkey. “The referendum in France, of course, is not a precondition for Turkey’s beginning EU accession talks,” said Cicek. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Cicek said that Ankara would continue to move ahead, adding that the country was focused only on Oct. 3, the date Turkey’s talks are to begin. Cicek added that the Cabinet ministers had discussed issues concerning local administrations, saying that when a bill on the topic is enacted, local administrations’ budgets would rise 25%. /Turkiye/
TURKISH, TRNC LEADERS TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE
In the runup to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit next week to the US, a summit on the Cyprus issue is planned for Ankara this Thursday. Present at the gathering will be Erdogan, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas. The top leaders from both countries are expected to establish a common policy for possible developments on the Cyprus issue. /Hurriyet/
US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISITS THE TRNC, DESPITE GREEK CYPRIOT OPPOSITION
A United States congressional delegation yesterday arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). As the only two US congressmen to enter the island through the TRNC since the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation, the trip headed by Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield is seen as a crucial step towards ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. The congressmen first met with US Ambassador to Greek Cyprus Michael Klosson and then TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat. The visit caused anger among the Greek Cypriot community, and Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos was outraged that the delegation flew directly into the TRNC, claiming that the trip was in breach of both international and US laws. "We have been in discussions with the [US] National Security Council and the US Department of State and we've been assured by everyone that there is not anything illegal about going into Northern Cyprus directly," Whitfield said. "The Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly for reunification on the Annan plan. The Greek Cypriots voted against it. The entire international community supported reunification and the Annan plan and statements have been made by the UN representatives as well as in the US and elsewhere that steps should be taken to remove the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots." Whitfield also called on Papadopoulos to stop blocking the EU’s financial aid efforts to the TRNC. For his part, Talat called on Washington to support the peace efforts on the island. In addition, UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast yesterday arrived in Greek Cyprus to listen to both sides and to gauge if there is common ground to resume negotiations on the island. He will proceed to the TRNC tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet/
GEN. OZKOK: “THE EU IS STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME ITS CURRENT PROBLEMS”
The European Union is a large, strong institution, said Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday, adding, “Although the French no to the EU constitution is currently a big problem, I believe that the bloc is strong enough to overcome it.” Gen. Ozkok yesterday visited the southern province of Mersin and met with Governor Atilla Osmancelebioglu. Ozkok stressed his belief in Brussels’ ability to surmount the current constitution crisis. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY URGES ANKARA TO STAY CALM AND COMMITTED TO ITS ULTIMATE GOAL
Following the French “no” to the European Uniýon’s constitutional treaty, representatives of the Turkish business world yesterday called on the government to act with common sense and remain committed to its ultimate goal without being deterred by the latest development. Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that he did not expect Turkish-EU relations to be hurt by the French rejection, as Brussels had already set a date for the beginning of Ankara’s membership talks. “The EU has its own mechanisms to overcome such problems,” he added. “I don’t believe that the enlargement process will be influenced by the result of the French vote.” A written statement by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) echoed Hisarciklioglu’s remarks, stressing that Turkish businessmen do not believe that Turkey’s EU membership bid will be affected by the development. “Our government should remain committed to its target and work harder to achieve it,” the statement added. In addition, the heads of both the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) called on Ankara to assume a calm stance and continue on its path. /Hurriyet/
KRETSCHMER: “THE RESULT OF THE FRENCH VOTE WON’T AFFECT TURKEY”
Hansjoerg Kretschmer, head of the European Commission Delegation to Turkey, yesterday stated that Turkey’s EU membership bid wouldn’t be affected by Sunday’s French referendum and any possible ruling party changes in Europe. Stressing that Turkey has yet to complete the EU’s required political criteria, Kretschmer said, “If Turkey manages to fulfill two criteria, its membership talks will begin on Oct. 3 as specified. First, a number of laws including the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should go into force, and second Ankara must sign the Ankara Agreement’s protocol extending its Customs Union.” /Hurriyet/
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: “THE FRENCH ‘NON’ WON’T AFFECT TURKEY’S BID”
European Union Commission spokesman Francoise Le Bail yesterday indicated that there is no direct relationship between Sunday’s French referendum and Turkey's membership bid. Le Bail said that the decision for enlargement was taken by the EU's highest-ranking institution, the European Council, and that Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia will become members once they fulfill the EU requirements and criteria. ''The enlargement process is going on with full steam based on the decision of the European Council,'' he added. /Aksam/
STRAW: “TURKEY WILL BEGIN ITS EU TALKS ON OCT. 3”
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw yesterday telephoned his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul to reassure him of British support for Ankara to begin its European Union accession talks on Oct. 3, as settled at last December’s EU summit. Straw reportedly stressed that his government did not approve of the discussions on Turkey’s membership in France. For his part, Gul reiterated Turkey’s determination to implement its reforms on the road to EU harmonization and to begin membership talks. /Turkiye/
TOP GREEK DIPLOMAT: “THE FRENCH NO VOTE ISN’T OPPOSED TO TURKEY”
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis said yesterday that France had rejected not Turkey, but the European Constitution in Sunday’s referendum. Stylianidis said that maybe some of the French public wanted to reject Turkey, but that Europe would make its decision concerning this issue later. “If Turkey feels rejected by Europe, it might return to its past wish to become a regional power. This might have a negative impact on Turkish-Greek relations,” he warned. /Milliyet/
SENER: “WE SHOULD BRACE FOR UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS”
There can be unexpected developments in the process of our European Union membership bid, warned State Minister Abdullatif Sener at a meeting at the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) yesterday. “This result shouldn’t be seen as a surprise,” added Sener, speaking of the French rejection of the EU constitution in Sunday’s referendum. “Our EU membership process is a long process, and it is continuing.” /Sabah/