LEADERS’ EU SUMMIT TO BE HELD
The leaders of the six political parties represented in Parliament will convene today in a meeting at 11:00 a.m. chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Following Sezer’s opening speech, Secretary-General for the European Union Affairs Volkan Vural will brief the meeting on Turkey’s EU membership process. Then the leaders are expected to express their views in statements lasting 20 minutes apiece and according to the discussions, a second go-around could be held. Meanwhile, the question of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s attendance at the meeting will be made clear some time after his daily check-up with his doctors to be held at 9:00 a.m. If Ecevit is unable to attend the meeting, the opposition parties are reportedly expected to increase their calls for the government to resign. /All Papers/
CILLER MAY NOT ATTEND GOVERNMENT EU SUMMIT
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller signalled yesterday that she might not attend the EU summit if the state of Turkey’s government case is not addressed at the meeting, even if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attends it. Previously, Ciller had pledged her absence if Ecevit was absent as well. Speaking at a press conference in Parliament yesterday, Ciller said that Turkey’s most important issue was a power vacuum in the government and prime ministry. Calling on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to include the government issue on the meeting’s agenda, Ciller said that the important thing was not who attends the meeting but which topics would be discussed there. Ciller also claimed that if the prime minister and the main opposition party leader -- meaning herself -- don’t attend the meeting, the end of the current government would be hastened. Meanwhile, the meeting’s chair President Ahmet Necdet Sezer reportedly said that he would not allow topics other than Turkey’s European Union membership bid, such as the prime minister’s health and the alleged power vacuum, to be discussed at the meeting. /All Papers/
RAHSAN ECEVIT: “ECEVIT WILL STEP DOWN ONLY WHEN THE TIME COMES”
A second group of Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies yesterday visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s wife and DSP Deputy Chairwoman Rahsan Ecevit in Oran, Ankara. Conveying her husband’s message to the deputies that he was fine, Rahsan Ecevit complained about unfair media coverage against her and the prime minister. “There are attacks on our party from all sides,” she said. “Those carrying out these attacks, are trying to bring forward certain people as candidates for DSP leadership. Ecevit, of course, will step down from his post one day as everybody does, however, now is not the time to do so.” /Turkiye/
ERIS: “TURKEY SHOULD INTEGRATE INTO THE EU”
Economic Development Foundation Chairwoman Meral Gezgin Eris said yesterday that Turkey’s integration into the European Union was inevitable. Stressing that Turkish business organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supported Turkey’s EU membership bid, Eris said, “We support this membership, as it meets our desire of a country which is democratic, modern, transparent, secular and under the rule of law, along with a strong and stable economy and prosperity.” Pointing to Turkey’s richness in many fields, Eris claimed that Turkey itself would also highly contribute to the Union with its economic, political, social and cultural richnesses. /Turkiye/.
VERHEUGEN: “TURKEY IS UNDERGOING A GREAT CHANGE”
Speaking at a seminar in Brussels yesterday, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that Turkey was undergoing a process of change that the decisions at last week’s National Security Council (MGK) meeting were pleasing. Verheugen also stated that the EU would like Turkey’s accession reports to be carried out and new, concrete important steps to be taken in the near future. Verheugen remarked that the EU was only “biding time and observing” Turkey and couldn’t do a comprehensive analysis at the moment but that any step the nation takes for membership would pave the way for negotiations. /Aksam/
TUSIAD: “THE EU OPPORTUNITY SHOULDN’T BE MISSED”
Turkish Industrialists’ and Bussinessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said yesterday that the group was in favor of Turkey’s EU membership, calling it an “opportunity that shouldn’t be missed,” and added that the group didn’t need anybody’s permission to speak its mind. After having breakfast with newspaper columnists, TUSIAD members briefed the reporters on the EU issue and extolled the benefits of Turkey’s accession. At the breakfast, Ozilhan evaluated the reports on accession prepared by of Prof. Asaf Savas Akat and Dr. Haluk Tukel. He stressed that TUSIAD had expressed its opinions on the EU bid by submitting the reports to Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. He added that they also proposed concrete solutions to such issues as abolition of the death penalty and education and broadcasting in mother tongue languages. /Aksam/
BRITISH OFFICIAL DOWNPLAYS JUNE DEADLINE FOR CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
Diplomatic traffic concerning the Cyprus issue has recently stepped up as the European Union’s Copenhagen summit scheduled to be held on December looms on the horizon. Britain’s Special Representative to Cyprus David Hannay yesterday met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. In the wake of a recent statement by United States Special Representative to Cyprus Tom Weston stressing that peace talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots could continue until December, Hannay also refrained from putting forward a June deadline for the talks, which has increased hopes for a permanent solution on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
NATO MEETING SEEKS TO BOLSTER, REDEFINE ALLIANCE
NATO country defense ministers gathering at alliance’s Brussels headquarters yesterday started their regular meeting. A declaration was released at the end of first round, at which Turkey was represented by Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. The declaration stated that NATO was still continuing basic mission of contributing to European-Atlantic security and that the alliance would work to provide stability and peace in the Balkans. The declaration also said that NATO countries should spend more on their military forces to ensure the alliance remains relevant to new security threats in post-Sept. 11 world. Also at the meeting, the NATO defense ministers met with defense ministers of countries which are cooperating with the alliance. /Aksam/
CHHIBBER: “WE WILL PROVIDE TURKEY WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES”
World Bank’s Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber yesterday stated that the Bank was currently working on determining the exact amount of the financial aid to be delivered to Turkey. The World Bank is planning to deliver new loans to Turkey for the financial restructuring reforms known widely as the Istanbul Approach. “We will meet all of Turkey’s financial requirements needed for the implementation of the Istanbul Approach,” said Chhibber. Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Odd Per Brekk yesterday remarked that Turkey had recently achieved great progress with its economic program. /Cumhuriyet/
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
The Junior Chamber International (JCI), better known as the Jaycees, a worldwide federation of young professionals and entrepreneurs, is to hold its annual European Conference in Istanbul this year. The conference is scheduled to take place on June 12-15. JCI European Conference Director Riza Kadilar yesterday stated that the group hoped to bring together Turkish and European entrepreneurs in order to increase the opportunities for developing joint ventures. /Cumhuriyet/
DAWSON: “THE IMF’S TURKEY MEETING WILL BE HELD TWO WEEKS FROM NOW”
International Monetary Fund External Affairs Director Tom Dawson yesterday stated that the IMF Board of Executive Directors was to hold a meeting two weeks from now to discuss the next tranche of loans to be delivered to Turkey. “We hope that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will get better soon,” said Dawson. “Speculations on the future of the Turkish government aren’t a subject of concern. The Fund is interested in how the economic program is going and we believe that it’s going well.” He added that the Turkish economy was stronger than it seemed. /Star/
YILMAZ TO VISIT SPAIN NEXT WEEK
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is set to travel to Madrid, next Tuesday in order to meet with his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar to discuss the issue of Turkish-European Union relations. Spain holds the rotating EU term presidency through the end of this month. /Aksam/
CYCLISTS’ FRIENDSHIP TOUR TO END IN ISTANBUL TODAY
A two-country tour by 21 young Turkish and Greek bicyclists organized by students of the Istanbul Boys’ High School Foundation will end today in Istanbul. The young bicyclists reached Tekirdag two days ago and after attending the 38th Cherry Festival in Tekirdag, they reached Istanbul last night. Their cross-country trek, which started in Ataturk’s house in Thessalonica to promote bilateral friendship, will end today in a ceremony to begin at 9:15 a.m. at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, where the Republic’s founder died. /Milliyet/
BRITISH INDUSTRY MINISTER: “LONG-TERM BENEFITS WILL JUSTIFY TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION PROCESS”
British Industry and Energy Minister Brian Wilson said yesterday that his country supported Turkey’s European Union membership but that Turkey should work to meet the necessary conditions. Speaking at a British-Turkish Energy Liberalization Seminar, Wilson said that he could see Turkey’s determination to implement the economic program. “I’m saying these things in the light of Britain’s own experience,” he added. “The process might be trying. However, a more fruitful and productive market economy will be created and therefore the long-term benefits make it worth it. The changes will affect Turkey’s candidacy in a positive way.” Stating that British energy companies were investing in Turkey, Wilson added that those companies wanted to see confidence, not uncertainty. /Milliyet/
ALPTURK: “TURK TELEKOM WANTS TO EXPAND ABROAD”
Reiterating that Turk Telekom would bid jointly with Koc Information Group on stakes in the state Bulgarian Telecom Company, Turk Telekom Director General Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk said yesterday that the state landline monopoly would be interested in the telecom companies of other countries. “We want to bring our experience to the international arena,” he added. “We don’t have any limitation on countries. We will be interested in the telecom of every country that’s put up for sale. The partnerships that Turk Telekom will establish abroad will positively affect its own privatization and contribute to its own value.” /Milliyet/
FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT SIGNED
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) yesterday approved the Financial Restructuring Framework Agreement, better known as the Istanbul Approach, and announced the list of banks and financial institutions that signed onto the agreement. A total of 39 banks and financial institutions signed the Approach as prepared by the Turkish Banking Association. The BDDK announced that after the pact was approved, negotiations between the creditors and debtors would begin. It further stated that the financial restructuring contracts would be signed with the indebted parties, whose situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION