SEZER CALLS FOR MORE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE POVERTY
Speaking at the meeting of more than 100 heads of states of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development yesterday in Johannesburg, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer called on world leaders to exert efforts to eliminate poverty, protect environment, advance human rights and improve democracy. Sezer also stated that the struggle against poverty still had the priority and that the protection of the environment was directly linked to economic and social development.
Sezer also met with European Union Commission Chairman Romano Prodi. During the meeting, the president conveyed Turkey’s dissatisfaction with EU Commissioner Guenther Verhuegen’s recent statement arguing that Turkey should not expect the EU to set a specific date for the beginning of its EU accession talks at December’s Copenhagen Summit. Stating that Turkey would like to host Prodi in the post-elections period, Sezer remarked that the Turkish Parliament had recently displayed its resolve on its path towards the full EU membership by approving a reform package to improve its democracy. For his part, Prodi stated that the EU appreciated Turkey’s recent steps but wanted to see more steps taken in practice. “Turkey has recently proved its determination considering its EU membership bid,” said Sezer. “However, there are dissident voices within the EU who are opposed to Turkey’s acceptance to the Union. An official can’t speak on behalf on the entire Union. If the EU won’t set a date for Turkey’s accession talks at December’s Copenhagen Summit, then Turkey will question the sincerity of the EU countries.” Sezer is expected to meet with United States Secretary of State Colin Powel tomorrow. /All Papers/
GUREL TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel will fly to Strasbourg today to seek support from the European Parliament (EP) to obtain a date for membership talks at this December’s Copenhagen summit. Commenting on European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen’s recent statement that it is impossible to set a date to Turkey for membership talks at the Copenhagen summit, Gurel said, “Turkey has fulfilled the preconditions of the EU.” He stated that Turkey had implemented very important reforms and that it expected to have a date to begin membership talks. After meeting with leaders from political groups of the EP in Strasbourg, Gurel will proceed to Brussels to meet with other high-ranking EU officials. Then, to express Turkey’s views and stance on various topics, Gurel is expected to meet with his Danish and French counterparts in Copenhagen and Paris. /Turkiye/
CEM: “I’M CONFIDENT YTP WILL SURPASS 10% ELECTION THRESHOLD”
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem confidently predicted yesterday that YTP would surpass 10% threshold in November’s elections. Cem also said that progress hadn’t been made on the issue of an alliance with Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) and that the YTP wouldn’t form an alliance with the Motherland Party (ANAP). “If the YTP comes to power after elections in November, we will make adjustments to the current economic program with social programs,” he added. /Milliyet/
CEM TO ATTEND TIM’S MEETINGS
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem today will be the first guest of a series of meetings organized by the Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM). Cem will explain his party’s production and exports policy to businessmen and academics. As part of the meetings, entitled “Exporters Ask, Leaders Answer,” TIM will host political parties’ leaders to clarify their views on economic topics before this November’s early elections. The meetings will be completed on Sept. 27. /Turkiye/
ANKARA DOESN’T WANT ANY SURPRISES CONCERNING THE CYPRUS ISSUE
There is concern in Ankara that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan could propose a ‘surprise plan’ on possible solution to the Cyprus problem at the meeting to be held Sept. 6 in Paris between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides. Commenting on the possibility of a surprise plan, Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday said that he didn’t believe Annan would make such a mistake. He also added that Turkey and the TRNC did not welcome any foreign intervention in the peace talks between the two Cypriot leaders. Recent remarks from senior European Union (EU) officials that Turkey shouldn’t expect to get a date for the start of its accession talks with the EU at the Copenhagen Summit in December, are increasingly been linked to the unresolved Cyprus issue. /Cumhuriyet/
TALABANI: “WE DON’T WANT AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE”
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani yesterday told reporters that the IPUK did not wish to establish an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. Talabani met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ugur Ziyal yesterday in Ankara to brief him on the recent Iraqi opposition meeting in London. According to the reports, Talabani told Ziyal that their main wish was to establish a united, democratic Iraqi government with Turkey’s support in instead of a separate Kurdish state. Appearing on a TV station yesterday evening, Talabani said that Turkey had responsibilities in northern Iraq and that it was Turkish soldiers who protected the northern Iraqi Kurdish people. /Cumhuriyet/
PAPANDREOU: “TURKEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A DATE TO START ITS ACCESSION TALKS”
Speaking to Hurriyet daily yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who is in Johannesburg to attend United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, said that he supported Turkey’s European Union full membership bid. “Turkey should be given a date to start its accession negotiation talks,” added Papandreou. /Hurriyet/
VERHEUGEN: “MY STATEMENT HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen yesterday remarked that his recent statement on Turkey’s EU membership bid was totally misunderstood by certain circles. A European Union official spoke to the press on behalf of Verheugen in Brussels, claiming that the stories that appeared in the Turkish press on Verheugen’s statement distorted his actual words. “Mr. Verhuegen didn’t say that Turkey should not expect the EU to determine a specific date for the beginning of its accession talks at December’s Copenhagen Summit,” said the EU official. “He remarked that he didn’t think Turkey would be able to fulfill all the necessary criteria until December.” /Sabah/
CeBIT DRAWS GREAT ATTENTION
All eyes have turned to CeBIT 2002, an information and communications technologies summit and fair in Istanbul. Many prominent political figures place a high premium on the fair since it focuses on new information technologies and the project of e-state. Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party Chairman Mesut Yilmaz yesterday opened the summit and delivered a speech at the ceremony remarking that the future governments should attach great importance on information technologies taking into consideration the conditions of a new century which are highly dependent on computer-based technologies. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is expected to open the fair today. In addition, many other prominent political figures such as New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem and former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis will also visit the fair this week. /Sabah/
DYP, BBP AGREE ON ALLIANCE
The True Path Party (DYP) and the Great Union Party (BBP) principally agreed to form an alliance during the Nov. 3 elections. The BBP, reportedly will represent 15 candidates for deputy from the DYP’s list. After reaching a final agreement, the conditions of the alliance will be announced to public. Stressing that his party is a defender of the unity of Turkey, BBP leader Muhsin Yazicioglu said that citizens wanted his party to be represented in Parliament. /Turkiye/
SHP, HADEP AND ODP AGREE ON DETAILS OF AN ALLIANCE
Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP), People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) and Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) agreed on details of an alliance that they plan to form before elections in November. According to the “One roof” formula, these three parties will enter November’s elections under Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP). SHP leader Murat Karayalcin met with HADEP leader Murat Bozlak yesterday to talk about the details of the alliance. /Milliyet/
TARANOGLU RESIGNS FROM ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) Sakarya Deputy Ersin Taranoglu yesterday resigned from his party. With Taranoglu’s resignation, the number of ANAP’s deputies in Parliament fell to 70 and independents increased to 19. Taranoglu will reportedly act with Erkan Mumcu who joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the weekend. /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION