ISTANBUL TO HOST BSEC SUMMIT, ENERGY CONFERENCE
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation’s (BSEC) heads of state and government summit will be held in Istanbul today with the attendance of eight presidents of the 11 members states. Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, Azerbaijani head of state Haydar Aliyev, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Moldovan head of state Vladimir Voronin, Romanian head of state Ion Iliescu, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, Ukranian head of state Leonid D. Kuchma, Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan arrived in the city yesterday. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the host of the summit, met yesterday with the Georgian and Romanian presidents. During their meetings, bilateral and regional issues were reportedly discussed. Meanwhile, the fifth “International Energy Conference” will start today in Istanbul. In addition to President Sezer, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Romanian and Ukranian heads of state will attend the opening ceremony of the conference. Oil and hazardous material transportation through the Turkish Straits and security measures are expected to be taken up at the conference. /All Papers/
ECEVIT HOPES TO RETURN TO WORK
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday answered written questions through his spokesman from journalists stationed outside his office in Oran. Ecevit declared that civil servants would have tomorrow afternoon off so they would be able to enjoy the Turkey-Brazil football match in World Cup semifinals in Japan. Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “I am waiting for the result of my doctors’ checkup and consultation on Thursday. I am impatient to return to work at my office at the Prime Ministry.” Underlining that Pamukbank’s takeover last week by the Banking Supervision and Regulation Agency (BDDK) was not the government’s decision, the prime minister said, “There are autonomous and independent institutions to decide on such topics rather than government. However, the government only helps those in case of problems in their functioning.” Stressing that he was sorry for the markets having suffered due to his health condition, Ecevit said that Turkey had applied the principles of market economy, and that normally it should not be affected by such situations. Concerning the enactment of certain European Union harmonization laws, Ecevit said that a full consensus was not reached on them yet with the opposition parties, although all principally agree on Turkey’s EU membership bid. He added that he was hopeful for a consensus on them soon. Meanwhile, Ecevit reportedly called Turkish National Football Team Coach Senol Gunes yesterday to convey his best wishes and success for tomorrow’s semifinal match. /Turkiye/
POSSIBLE RECONCILIATION FORMULA FOR CYPRUS
Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides yesterday remarked that there were great differences of opinion between the Turkish and Greek sides which could end up dealing a great blow to the current peace talks. Clerides argued that due to the disputes between the sides, the peace talks might come to a dead end. Clerides also stated that he and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas were to discuss Belgium’s Constitution on Friday as a possible model for the future of the island. For his part, Denktas displayed more flexibility in his remarks compared to Clerides’, stressing that a joint structure might be established on the island. “If our two equal nations reach an agreement, a joint institution to deal with the EU might be established,” said Denktas. “However, the balances of Turkish-Greek relations must be protected very carefully.” /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH-EUROPEAN FOUNDATION ISSUES STATEMENT ON TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
The directors of the Turkish-European Foundation yesterday issued a written statement to express their views on the direction the government should take in relations between Turkey and the European Union. The foundation’s directors stressed that disputes among the coalition partners on certain issues such as abolishing the death penalty and education in mother tongues were adversely affecting Turkey’s economic program. Remarking that political parties should leave pointless discussions behind, the directors said, “We believe that Turkey should not miss the opportunity to join the EU. We must strive to overcome all of our problems with rational policies.” /Cumhuriyet/
YILMAZ: “TURKEY SHOULD FACE ITS HISTORY FOR ITS EU BID”
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz arrived yesterday in Brussels along with members of the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and State Minister Tunca Toskay. Attending a lunch organized by the TOBB, Yilmaz said that Turkey should face its history for its European Union membership bid, adding that the Europeans had done so in establishing the Customs Union. Yilmaz also said that if the nation could start its full membership negotiations in December then Turkey could join the EU in 2007-2008 along with Romania and Bulgaria. “The Parliament is set to go on summer recess this weekend, but work and study should continue for our EU harmonization laws,” Yilmaz added. Speaking on the Cyprus issue, Yilmaz stated that Turkey’s approval should be obtained for Cyprus to join the EU, and added that, if things come to a point Turkey doesn’t want, then the nation would apply for redress at an international court. /Hurriyet/
FOGG: “DON’T GIVE UP IMPLEMENTING COPENHAGEN CRITERIA DUE TO FEAR OF PKK EXPLOITATION”
European Union Turkish Representative Karen Fogg, whose duty in Ankara is nearing its close, visited Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday at his office. During their meeting, Bahceli stated that the Copenhagen criteria were compatible with the aims of terrorist group PKK. Fogg replied, “Don’t give up implementing the Copenhagen criteria due to fear of PKK exploitation.” The death penalty and Kurdish education and broadcasting were also on the agenda of the meeting. Fogg said that Turkey didn’t need to deal with these issues in the immediate future since they are mid-term European Union accession criteria. /Milliyet/
PANEL DISCUSSES TURKEY, THE BALKANS AND THE EU
The situation of Turkey vis-a-vis the Balkans and the European Union was discussed at a panel sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation yesterday. Middle East Technical University (METU) Associate Professor Mustafa Turkes said, “Stability in the Balkans must be increased to a maximum level. If stability and security is not ensured at this level, it will be impossible to stop unforeseen events from spiraling out of control.” Stating that a proposed European army to be established under the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) would need certainly Turkey, Turkes added, “We can consider the stance of Greece, which doesn’t want Turkey to be included in this army, as natural. However, if the other countries are similarly disposed, then this shows how narrow-minded those countries are.” In addition, freelance journalist Dietrich Schlegel spoke, saying that the fact that some Balkan countries had started EU membership negotiations before Turkey shouldn’t mislead anybody and that no country could join the EU without meeting its criteria. /Turkiye/
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DISCUSS RTUK LAW TODAY
The Constitutional Court is to hold deliberations on the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Law today. A group of parliamentarians had previously applied to the Constitutional Court to annul and issue a stay order of the law’s 13 articles, arguing that they violated the Constitution. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL PROPOSES CREATING A “TURKISH SILICON VALLEY”
At a press conference yesterday, center-left Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal proposed creating a ”Turkish Silicon Valley” similar to the one in the United States. Baykal commented that because information technology had become more important than other sectors, a technology ministry should be set up. He addded that information technology did not require a great deal of capital and that Turkey should utilize its vast human resources. /Milliyet/
CILLER: “PARLIAMENT SHOULD WORK THROUGH JULY”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that Parliament should work through July before taking its summer recess in order to pass European Union harmonization laws. Ciller today will submit a proposal in Parliament that it not recess on July 1 as scheduled. Meanwhile, following the cancellation of her appointments last week with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the opposition party leader yesterday asked for her meetings with the three leaders to be rescheduled. /Sabah/
SERDENGECTI: “WE SHOULD CONTINUE REFORMS FOR A HEALTHIER BANKING SYSTEM”
Speaking at a meeting organized by the Turkish Banking Union in London, Central Bank Chairman Sureyya Serdengecti said that Turkey should continue its reforms towards healthier banking system. Serdengecti also said that Turkey should continue its economic program in league with the International Monetary Fund whatever conditions arise. “This is the only way to bring down inflation and to be successful in the economy,” he added. /Hurriyet/
INVESTMENT BANK PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
International investment bank Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) stated yesterday that the macroeconomic structure of the Turkish economy was good in spite of the markets’ sensitivities to political developments. In its analysis of Turkey’s economy, SSSB stated that it was possible for Turkey to reach its inflation target for this year of 35% and its growth target of 3% and that Turkey could even achieve a lower inflation rate. The analysis stated that the situations of both the balance of payments and financial balance performances were good and that economic growth had begun. /Aksam/
TASAR: “OUR NATIONAL TEAM IS A EU MEMBER”
Following his weekend tour of Cappadochia with a host of ambassadors to Turkey, Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar said that the success of Turkey’s national football team had done a great deal to put the nation in the spotlight on the world stage. He and the ambassadors took time out from their tour to watch Turkey beat Senegal on Saturday. “Turkey is a European Union member with its national football team,” he added. Tasar remarked that Turkey’s tourism sector was taking great strides and it would soon be one of the leading tourist destinations of the 21st century. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION