SEZER TO VISIT IRAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran on June 17-18. Sezer will meet with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran. During the meeting, Sezer is expected to ask Khatami to ensure that no Iranian logistic support goes to PKK terrorists. /Milliyet/
ECEVIT: “I HOPE TO ATTEND THE PRESIDENT’S EU SUMMIT”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who is currently resting and carrying out his work at his office in Oran, Ankara, replied to reporters’ written questions yesterday with a written statement through his spokesman, Cem Avci. Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “My health condition is getting better. I have my doctors’ great efforts to thank for that.” About tomorrow’s summit on Turkey’s European Union membership bid chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Ecevit said that he hoped to attend it. Answering a question about True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller’s recent declaration saying that she would not attend the summit if he is unable to, Ecevit said that an evaluation of her stance would be made by the president. Concerning Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s speech at his party’s group meeting earlier this week, the prime minister said that Bahceli had clearly specified that elections should be held not before April 2004, their normal scheduled date. /All Papers/
YILMAZ SPEAKS ON TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
Replying yesterday to Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s recent harsh criticisms, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that no single party or person had an exclusive claim on patriotism. During ANAP’s Parliament group meeting, Yilmaz gave his views on Turkey’s ongoing EU membership discussions. “Today, Turkey is closer to EU membership than it has ever been in all its history,” Yilmaz said. “All our politicians and political leaders should not only think once but over and over again so as to prevent Turkey from falling short of this target.” Saying that Turkey has two guiding compasses to lead its way to the future, Yilmaz added, “If we don’t waver from the path laid out by these compass, obviously the Turkish nation will prevail in this struggle. Moreover, Turkey will be able to build its future on a healthy basis. One of these compasses is the EU National Programme and the other is the economic programme that Turkey has been implementing. We have to protect these two programs.” /Sabah/
BAHCELI REPLIES TO YILMAZ
Appearing yesterday at a meeting honoring the Turkish World Women’s Friendship and Solidarity Organization, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli took the time to respond to recent criticisms from a fellow coalition leader, Motherland Party (ANAP) head Mesut Yilmaz. Confronted by a reporter with Yilmaz’s assertion that one shouldn’t “just think and consider” -- which Yilmaz implied was Bahceli’s view -- before acting but also “think again,” Bahceli rejoined that he “always thought twice” before acting. Bahceli also addressed the joint declaration made this week by 175 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in support of Turkey European Union membership bid. “These esteemed NGOs,” he said, “should feel free to announce their views either individually or jointly. We respect them.” /Sabah/
KIVRIKOGLU MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu yesterday met with his Russian counterpart Anatoli Kvasnin and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Moscow. Among the major issues discussed during Kivrikoglu’s meetings were bilateral military and technical cooperation and the recent rapprochement between Russia and NATO. Resolving to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, Kivrikoglu and the Russian officials also exchanged views on a number of organizations which are currently carrying out activities in Turkey to support militants in Chechnya. /Cumhuriyet/
TURK: “THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER AMNESTY LAW IN THE FUTURE”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Istanbul, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that it would be impossible to enact another amnesty or conditional release law after the Constitutional Court’s recent evaluation that the government’s conditional release law was actually an amnesty. Answering reporters’ questions regarding the amnesty, Turk said, ”This topic is dead for now, since the Constitution specifies that a three-fifths majority in Parliament would be needed to go forward.” However, Turk stood behind his earlier assertion that the law was not an amnesty. /Milliyet/
US AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
United States Special Representative to the United Nations Ambassador John Negroponte yesterday met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other high-level officials from the Foreign Ministry. Negroponte discussed a number of significant issues with Turkish officials such as the threat of international terrorism, Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Speaking to journalists after his meetings, Negroponte expressed the US’ continued support for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s efforts to help the peace talks on Cyprus and stressed the necessity for reaching permanent peace and stability on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN TO EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: “BE REALISTIC AND SPEED UP YOUR WORK”
In an address at a press conference yesterday in Brussels, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen called on the EU candidate countries to boost their efforts on administrative and judicial reforms. Stressing that the candidate countries should speed up their work in order to be able to fulfill the EU acquis, Verheugen said, “It’s now high time to be realistic. We are planning to announce the countries which can start their accession negotiations at the Copenhagen summit to be held at the end of this year.” /Cumhuriyet/
WESTON CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRIOTS
United States Special Coordinator to Cyprus Tom Weston yesterday criticized the Greek Cypriot side for its recent purchase of Russian attack helicopters. Calling the Greek Cypriots’ recent move “a mistake” especially in the light of the ongoing peace talks, Weston stated that he was planning to visit countries in the region next week, including Turkey and Greece. “We still believe that the sides can reach an agreement on some basic issues by the end of June,” said Weston. “However, no matter what the results are at that time, the peace talks must continue. The final date for the issue is December, since the EU is planning to hold a summit on its enlargement process before that month.” He also argued that one of the parties in the talks needed to make some concessions since a permanent solution which would fully please both sides seemed out of reach. /Cumhuriyet/
GENERAL STAFF: “THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR DEATH PENALTY VIEWS”
The General Staff yesterday announced in a written statement that there had been no change in its death penalty views, denying recent press reports that it advocated replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment. “There has been no change in the General Staff’s views on the death penalty as expressed in statements by Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu,” it stated. /Hurriyet/
WOOLSEY: “THE EU WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO ACCEPT TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP BID”
Former CIA Director James Woolsey said yesterday that the European Union “would have to be crazy” not to accept Turkey’s EU membership. Woolsey added that EU membership would be beneficial for Turkey’s economy as well as the Union itself. “The United States had only a limited influence over the EU, because it also has its own problems with the Union,” he stated. The EU would be unwise to reject Turkey’s membership bid because it needs Turkey for economic modernization and trade, the ex-intelligence head added. Woolsey led to CIA from 1993 to 1995. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN SIGNALS AKP SUPPORT FOR EU BID
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan said that the AKP would give support to Turkey’s European Union membership. Ahead of Friday’s EU government summit, Erdogan also said that the death penalty should be abolished. “We would also support if the death penalty issue is opened to signature for a constitutional amendment,” he added. /Star/
CILLER: “THE STATE WILL NOT COLLAPSE IF ECEVIT GOES”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday characterized the current government as “an illusion,” adding that if one tried to govern the country from bed, Turkey would suffer from it. Addressing her party’s Parliament group meeting, Ciller pointed to assertions that there would be chaos if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit steps down from his post. She said, “Turkey didn’t collapse when it lost its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, so why should it when Ecevit goes?” She remarked that at present, Turkey’s most important problem was uncertanity. Charging that the government had put the nation into a dilemma about the European Union and the death penalty on head of terrorist organization the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, Ciller claimed that EU accession under the current government was an impossibility, as there was a “power vacuum” in the country. /Turkiye/
NGOs: “TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO LOSE FOR EU ACCESSION”
A platform formed by 175 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coordinated by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), released a declaration yesterday after a meeting in Istanbul saying that Turkey belongs to the European Union and that the nation has no time to lose in its accession process. The declaration read by Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the government needs now more than ever to take the past and international developments into consideration and reassess Turkey’s national interests in order to conclude the country’s struggle to become a full EU member. We ask our deputies in Parliament to continue to act in consciousness of their historic responsibility and common sense, the declaration said. /All papers/
A HOPE FOR HISTORIC ECYAD CASTLE
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said yesterday that Turkey was hoping to speed up plans to rebuild the Ottoman-era Ecyad Castle in Saudi Arabia. The historic castle was built in 1782 by the Ottomans to protect sacred sites for pilgrims in Mecca. Early this year, however, the Saudi Arabian government had it demolished. Soon thereafter, Turkey launched new initiatives in league with UN agency UNESCO to help prevent the destruction of Turkey’s international cultural heritage. /Aksam/
AIRBUS TO PRODUCE PLANE PARTS IN IZMIR
European aircraft production giant Airbus announced yesterday that it would soon begin manufacturing airplane parts in Izmir. Gunther Schubert, Airbus marketing director, said this production would be done under a new industrial partnership agreement within Izmir’s Free Trade Zone. Schubert also lauded state carrier Turkish Airlines (THY), saying that it had been one of the first users of Airbus’ A-340 model and that Airbus would give THY an “excellence in management” award for its administration of the A-340. Airbus has nearly a 30% market share in Turkey, he added. /Sabah/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION