ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO AZERBAIJAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday flew to Azerbaijan to pay an official visit. Before his departure, Erdogan told reporters that his visit aimed at boosting relations between the two friendly countries, adding that his talks would focus on both bilateral and regional relations. Asked about Turkey’s European Union membership process, the premier said that the accession talks were expected to be both long and difficult. “However,” he added, “we’ll overcome all difficulties through our concerted efforts.” Erdogan, accompanied by State Ministers Besir Atalay and Mehmet Aydin, was welcomed by his Azeri counterpart Artur Rasizade at Baku Airport upon his arrival. Erdogan is expected to hold talks with top-level Azeri officials, including the president and the Parliament speaker. /Turkiye/
GUL SPEAKS ON EUROPEAN UNION FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT
Following yesterday’s release of the European Union Framework Document, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, “Our membership talks will start on the date previously determined. Our goal is full membership. The important thing is to start the talks on Oct. 3. The determination of Turkey and the EU is very clear.” /Aksam/
EU COMMISSION RELEASES TALKS FRAMEWORK
The European Union Framework Document as prepared by the EU Commission was released yesterday by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. Stating that the process of Turkey’s membership talks would be long and difficult, Rehn said that its joining couldn’t be envisaged before 2014, taking the EU budget into consideration. Rehn added that the EU had evaluated its enlargement experiences and that it would be very important to keep these promises. “A stable, democratic and prosperous Turkey will be for the EU’s benefit,” he said. /Aksam/
ZEBARI VOWS NOT TO ALLOW TERRORISTS SAFE HAVEN IN IRAQ
Iraq’s neighboring countries’ foreign ministers yesterday met at a breakfast hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of a ministerial-level meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Sanaa, Yemen. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reportedly briefed the ministers about recent developments in his country. Speaking to reporters after the gathering, Zebari said that contrary to the policies of the Saddam Hussein dictatorship, the new Iraqi administration would not use terrorist groups as bargaining tools in diplomacy. Stressing that they are aware of Ankara’s longstanding concern over the presence of terrorist PKK militants in northern Iraq, Zebari said that his administration would not tolerate any groups in Iraq that threaten neighboring countries’ security, economy or political interests. /Turkiye/
ISRAELI COMMANDER VISITS ANKARA
Israeli Land Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Yiftach Ron-Tal yesterday visited his Turkish counterpart Gen Yasar Buyukanit in Ankara at Land Forces Headquarters. The two top military officials discussed ways to improve cooperation between the land forces of their countries. /Cumhuriyet/
SUPPORT FOR THE TRNC AT OIC
Reforms and the Cyprus issue marked yesterday’s day two of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) ministerial meeting in Yemen. The term “Turkish Cypriot State” was included in a draft decision presented by Turkey concerning the Cyprus issue for the first time. Diplomatic sources stated this way it was included in the OIC’s official terminology. In addition, the draft decision calls on the entire international community to take concrete steps to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Serdar Denktas said that the TRNC was expecting the OIC member countries to put forth stronger efforts towards this end. Denktas added that the TRNC was willing to improve relations in trade, tourism, transportation, information, sports and investment, and repeated his request for full European Union membership. /Star, Sabah/
TWO VETOED LAWS PASSED AGAIN BY PARLIAMENT
Parliament yesterday again passed the vetoed Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) bill and the vetoed regulations of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) reducing punishments for unlicensed educational institutions. These two laws had been vetoed by President Ahment Necdet Sezer and were re-approved without any changes. Sezer had vetoed the TUBITAK law on the grounds that it would compromise the council’s autonomy and was furthermore unconstitutional. Under the new TUBITAK bill, functions of the Science Council and the chairman would be eliminated. The new TCK regulations reducing punishments for unlicensed educational institutions would result in penalties payable as fines. Although Parliament’s recess is set to start tomorrow, its adjournment has been delayed to Sunday to deal with other needed legislation. /Turkiye/
ECEVIT REBUKES TALAT OVER OFFER OF MARAS
Former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday criticized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat’s offer to give Maras to the Greeks in exchange for ending the TRNC’s isolation. Ecevit made the remarks after visiting President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Palace. “Talat said that he had offered Maras to the Greeks,” Ecevit told reporters. “He should not do such a thing without first informing Turkey. Ankara and the TRNC are not on the same page.” As prime minister in 1974, Ecevit ordered the Cyprus Peace Operation. /Hurriyet/
TURKISH BUSINESSMAN RELEASED IN IRAQ
Abdulkadir Tanrikulu, a businessman kidnapped in January in Baghdad, Iraq, has reportedly been released. Foreign Ministry sources yesterday confirmed that Tanrikulu had been kidnapped during a raid against a Turkish construction company in January but now has been released. /Cumhuriyet/
MURATLI HYDROELECTRIC DAM OPENS
A hydroelectric dam constructed on the Coruh River by the State Waterworks Authority (DSI) in northeastern city of Artvin was opened yesterday with a ceremony with the attendance of Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and other officials. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to carry out investments to meet Turkey’s energy needs. DSI General Director Veysel Eroglu said that the river was the most suitable one for constructing a hydroelectric dam and that it was the first dam on the river. /Star/