ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN ARAB COUNTRIES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday delivered an opening speech at the Arab Economic Forum in Beirut, Lebanon, as an honorary guest and the sole premier from a non-Arab country invited to the 25-nation gathering. Stressing that regional countries should implement reforms and encourage development and progress, Erdogan called for more economic cooperation and investment between Turkey and Arab countries. In addition, he called on the leaders to cooperate for the sake of regional stability and peace. Erdogan also had talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Mikati. After completing his contacts, Erdogan returned to Turkey last evening. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN, PUTIN WORK TO RESOLVE VEGETABLE IMPORT BAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Beirut for the Arab Economic Forum, yesterday spoke on the telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Russia’s recent temporary ban on imported Turkish fruits and vegetables. The two leaders agreed that ministers from both countries would meet to resolve the issue. Erdogan reportedly told Putin that the problem stemmed from discrepancies in plant health certificates and asked for his efforts to end the ban. /Star/
GUL: “TURKISH-US RELATIONS ARE BASED ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS”
Soon-to-depart US Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman yesterday hosted an early reception marking July Fourth, the United States’ Independence Day. Hailing Turkey as a "source of inspiration,” Edelman said that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had created a modern Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. The US will always support Turkey’s democratization efforts, he added. For his part, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the countries’ bilateral relations were based on common values such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Gul thanked Edelman for all his contributions during his tenure in Ankara to strengthening relations between Turkey and the US. State Ministers Besir Atalay and Mehmet Aydin, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk and Motherland Party leader Erkan Mumcu also attended the reception. /Hurriyet/
GERMAN PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN MASSACRE
The German Parliament yesterday adopted a resolution denouncing the so-called massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman Empire era. The Bundestag unanimously called for the "sincere reappraisal" of what happened in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and adopted a joint motion by all parliamentary groups to recognize the incidents. The resolution charged that the Turkish government had neglected to address the issue and called on the German government to ensure that the Turkish Parliament, government, and society reappraise their role towards the Armenian people without prejudice. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denounced the resolution as "irresponsible, appalling and injurious.” "We note this decision with regret and we strongly condemn it," said a Foreign Ministry statement. “The text is biased, contains serious errors and misinformation, and its approval will deeply wound the Turkish people." The statement also added that Turkey "has opened up its archives to all researchers, including Germans and Armenians, on the premise that historical events can only be assessed by historians, not by parliaments." /All Papers/
SCHROEDER DEFENDS TURKEY’S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP TRACK
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday argued that a Muslim but secular country like Turkey should absolutely join the camp of the Western Enlightenment. Addressing Germany’s Parliament, Schroeder underscored the importance of Turkey’s membership, arguing that concerns about Turkey’s upcoming membership talks are baseless. “Turkey might become a full EU member if it fulfills all of the required criteria and overcomes the Cyprus problem,” he added. “Risks pertaining to Ankara’s talks might be controlled, and negotiations might be suspended whenever necessary.” For her part, opposition Christian Democratic Union head Angela Merker reiterated her party’s well-known position that Turkey should be offered a “privileged partnership” rather full membership. Merkel called on Turkey to solve its problems concerning Cyprus and Armenia by Oct. 3, when the country’s membership negotiations are expected to begin. In addition, Ulrike Hauer, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey for the Economy, said that Turkey had recently shown great progress both in its macro-economic stability program and structural reforms. /Aksam/
BABACAN TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS FOR EU SUMMIT
State Minister Ali Babacan, who was recently appointed as Turkey’s chief negotiator for its European Union talks, yesterday traveled to Brussels to hold contacts with EU officials as part of this week’s EU summit. After meeting with EU commissioners Margot Wallstroem and Jose Manuel Barbaso, Babacan told reporters that their talks had focused on Turkey’s political and economic reforms. He further stressed that all the needed reforms had been enacted since last December’s summit and that Ankara would be ready for its talks by Oct. 3. /Star/
TRNC’S TALAT: “IT’S HIGH TIME THE EU MADE A DECISION”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat stated yesterday that the negotiations in Brussels over financial aid and direct trade with his country had yet to show any positive results. “The Greek Cypriots still oppose direct EU trade with Turkish Cypriots and don’t want us to use our ports for international commerce,” he said. “It’s now high time for Brussels to decide whether or not it will submit all of its decisions to Greek Cyprus for approval. That’s the point.” /Cumhuriyet/
FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO TRAVEL TO BULGARIA
Former President Suleyman Demirel is set to fly to Bulgaria today to attend a Balkans Political Club meeting in Sofia. He will address the meeting concerning infrastructure in the Balkans and integration into the European Union. In addition, during his two-day stay, Demirel is expected to have talks with high-level officials of Balkan countries, including Bulgaria. /Turkiye/
OECD’S COTIS: “FOREIGN INVESTORS’ CONFIDENCE IN TURKEY IS GROWING”
Owing to Turkey’s success at meeting its fiscal targets, foreign investors’ confidence in the Turkish economy is growing, OECD Chief Economist Jean-Philippe Cotis said yesterday. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul prior to the general council meeting of the OECD Industry and Business World Consultation Committee, Cotis remarked that a 6 percent growth rate was both realistic and sustainable for Turkey. For his part, OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston praised Turkey’s successful reforms and fiscal policy. Both Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu and Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’ Association (TUSIAD) head Omer Sabanci emphasized that the European Union needs to include Turkey to increase its own economic strength. /Hurriyet/