SEZER: “WE BELIEVE THE EU WILL GIVE TURKEY A DATE FOR ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS”
In a speech yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a call for the EU member states to set a date for the start of Turkey’s accession negotiations. “We hope to start accession talks next year,” Sezer told a meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Association, a NATO support group. Stressing the importance of recent reforms passed by Parliament, Sezer affirmed that further reforms would be adopted and implemented, adding that the Progress Report released this week by the European Commission was based on technical information as opposed to the political character of December’s Copenhagen summit. A decision on setting a negotiations date for Turkey is expected at that summit. /Cumhuriyet/
ECEVIT: “SOCIAL JUSTICE REQUIRES GRANTING PERMANENT STATUS TO TEMPORARY WORKERS”
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that social justice requires that businesses make their temporary workers into full-fledged, permanent staff. Speaking to the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) flanked by DSP economic policymakers, Ecevit stated that such action wouldn’t impose an undue burden on Turkey’s economy. Forest Minister Nami Cagan told the ASO there was no populist pandering in such an argument. Economy Minister Masum Turker said that businessmen who file tax returns and pay taxes to the state should be protected. Also present at the meeting were Hikmet Ulugbay and Zekeriya Temizel, the latter a former Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) head. /Milliyet/
EU: “THE US CANNOT INTERFERE IN OUR ENLARGEMENT POLICY”
European Union Commission spokesman Jonathan Faull said yesterday that the United States could not interfere in the EU’s enlargement process, as it was not an EU member country. Responding to a statement made by US State Department spokesman Richard Baucher that the US was in favor of the EU’s setting a date for Turkey to begin its membership talks, Faull said, “The spokesman noted that the US is not a EU member. I concur. As such, the US cannot interfere in the EU’s enlargement process.” He added, “The Americans underlined the importance of Turkish-American relations. We, too, are aware of this importance.” /Turkiye/
GUREL: “TURKEY IS DOING ITS BEST TO RESOLVE THE IRAQ ISSUE PEACEFULLY”
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday stated that Turkey was doing its best to head off the possibility of US military intervention in Iraq. “Turkey places great importance on Iraq’s territorial integrity,” said Gurel. “We want Iraq to re-integrate itself with the international community through peaceful means. The only peaceful way to accomplish this is for Iraq to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions and fully cooperate with the international community on eliminating its weapons of mass destruction.” /Cumhuriyet/
PAPANDREOU: “THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE EU NOT TO GIVE TURKEY A DATE”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that he sees no reason for the European Union not to give a date to Turkey to start its membership negotiations process. “I believe that a positive message should be given to Turkey at the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December,” added Papandreou, referring to the gathering where Turkey hopes to get a date for talks. Papandreou also said that Turkey’s progress towards the EU was playing an important role in the improvement of relations between Ankara and Athens. /Hurriyet/
FOREIGN MINISTRY: “EU PLANS TO ADMIT GREEK CYPRUS ARE ILLEGAL”
Responding yesterday to this week’s European Union documents putting Greek Cyprus on track to join the Union in 2004, the Foreign Ministry yesterday blasted such plans as illegal and effectively hindering efforts to find a solution for the island. In a written statement, the ministry charged that the EU was disregarding international treaties concerning Cyprus, including the 1959 Zurich and London and 1960 guarantor agreements. Taking such unjustified unilateral action to admit Greek Cyprus violates these agreements and other international law, the statement said. Furthermore, since 1990, when the EU made Greek Cyprus a membership candidate, this has only hurt efforts to reach a settlement on the island, the statement concluded. /Hurriyet/
PEARSON: “TURKISH-US COMMON GROUND HELPS TO BRIDGE OUR DIFFERENCES”
In a speech to the Atlantic Treaty Association, a NATO support group, US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson yesterday acknowledged the existence of some differences of opinion between Turkey and the US. But “Turks and Americans need to remember how much we both agree on basic issues,” he continued. “Turkey and the US both strongly support the territorial integrity of Iraq. Both of us oppose an independent Kurdish state.” Though Pearson charged that Iraq was threatening its neighbors, supporting terrorism, and pursuing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, he admitted that Ankara and Washington have their own “individual perspectives” on the Iraq issue. “Tactical approaches, however, should not obscure strategic views,” he remarked. “Continued close consultations will help us to resolve such differences without threatening [each other’s] interests.” /Aksam/
DENKTAS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM NEW YORK HOSPITAL
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who had successful heart surgery on Monday at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical center in New York, is due to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow. Denktas is expected to rest at his New York hotel for a week before leaving the city. The TRNC president’s original purpose for being in the city was to hold talks on the future of Cyprus. /Turkiye/
GUREL: “GREEK CYPRIOT MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU WOULD PERMANENTLY DIVIDE THE ISLAND”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday told the Agence France Presse news agency that the split in Cyprus would become permanent if the Greek Cypriots were admitted into the European Union. Gurel remarked that if the division did become permanent, it would be a direct consequence of the EU’s own actions. Commenting on Turkey’s Cyprus policy, Gurel stated that were Greek Cyprus admitted into the EU, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be freer than ever to take the necessary measures “to build a common future,” alluding to Turkey’s possible annexation of the TRNC. Addressing the possibility of a political settlement to the 38-year dispute on the island, Gurel said that the EU, by promising the Greek Cypriots membership even in the absence of a settlement, had to a large extent made a solution almost impossible to achieve. In its enlargement plans announced this week, the EU put Greek Cyprus on track to join the Union in 2004. Gurel also said that in order to make a settlement, the Greek Cypriots would have to renounce their efforts to reduce the Turkish Cypriot population into a mere minority as well as accept the principle of equal sovereignty. /Cumhuriyet/
CILLER: “THE EU’S REPORT WAS A FAILURE, BUT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO FALLEN SHORT”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller charged yesterday that the European Union’s Progress Report published on Wednesday represented a failure on the EU’s part. “However, the Turkish government hasn’t put forth sufficient efforts either,” said Ciller. “Turkey still has a chance to get a date at December’s Copenhagen summit for its accession talks, but the government must be resolute and determined.” /Milliyet/
BAYKAL: “TURKEY CAN GET A DATE AT DECEMBER’S SUMMIT”
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that a number of political and technical factors were challenges in Turkey’s European Union membership bid. “However, decisions in the EU are taken at the leaders’ level, and Turkey can still succeed in getting a date for its membership talks at the Copenhagen summit in December,” added Baykal. /Milliyet/
AYGUN: “THE EU’S STANCE IS NOT FAIR”
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun yesterday criticized the European Union’s stance against Turkey, saying that despite its tremendous efforts to implement EU criteria, Turkey had been met with an unfair attitude in response. In a written statement, Aygun remarked that the EU’s Progress Report on Turkey issued this week amounted to nothing besides another message to “continue to wait.” Pointing to domestic public disappointment with the report, Aygun stated, “Similar shortcomings of many other candidate countries were tolerated and downplayed in the past. However, now they withhold such forbearance in Turkey’s case.” He added, “This is clearly a double standard.” /Turkiye/
GEN. RALSTON PRAISES TURKEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE
Speaking to an international relations conference yesterday, Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, NATO supreme allies commander and head of US forces in Europe, singled out Turkey for praise for its contributions to peace in general and the fight against terrorism in particular. “Let’s not forget that Turkish soldiers also greatly contributed to peace efforts in both Kosovo and Afghanistan,” said Ralston. The commander urged world leaders to follow Turkey’s example in forming a united front against terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
US REPORTEDLY STOCKPILING WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS AT INCIRLIK AIRBASE
Ahead of a possible military intervention in Iraq, the US has been reportedly stockpiling weapons and munitions at Incirlik Base for some two weeks. Sources stated that there had been an increase in activity around the base over the past 15 days. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION