LEADERS’ SUMMIT DISCUSSES CYPRUS ISSUE
A leaders’ summit was held yesterday at the Foreign Ministry with the attendance of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and foreign ministry bureaucrats to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue. The leaders from the outgoing government agreed that a Foreign Ministry delegation should visit Cyprus after Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas returns to his country this weekend. They also decided to hold a meeting with Turkey’s Washington Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, London Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, UN Permanent Representative Umit Pamir and Lefkosha Ambassador Hayati Guven, as well as other related officials. Appearing on news channel NTV, Prime Minister Ecevit stated that Turkey could not agree to the UN’s Cyprus plan in its current form since it proposes sharp reductions in the number of Turkish troops stationed on the island. Reiterating that Turkey had deployed soldiers on the island in its role as a guarantor state, Ecevit added that the Turkish government needed much more time than a week to analyze the comprehensive and detailed document. The UN has asked Turkey to announce its official view on the document within one week of its release, meaning next Tuesday. Ecevit also criticized the UN for preparing such an important document while Turkey was still preoccupied with its just-completed elections. Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that before Turkey takes further steps on the Cyprus issue, the new AKP government should have the chance to assume power. In addition, incoming opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal stated that the Cyprus issue carried great importance for Turkey’s European Union membership bid. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN GETS ITALY’S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
On the first stop of his tour of European Union member states to seek support for Turkey’s membership bid, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of incoming ruling party the Justice and Development Party (AKP), yesterday met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. During their talks, Berlusconi said that Italy supported Turkey’s EU bid. Berlusconi added that EU expansion shouldn’t hinge on religious factors and asked Erdogan what he could do to help him. He stated that he would also try to persuade other EU member heads of state to lend Turkey their support. “I will do my best to ensure that Turkey isn’t disappointed at next month’s Copenhagen summit,” added the Italian premier. Erdogan said that the AKP government was ready and determined to take important steps to start membership negotiations with the EU as soon as possible. Speaking at a press conference after their meeting, Erdogan stated that Turkey’s EU membership process was the most important event for the nation since the foundation of the Turkish Republic. He also briefed reporters on the reform package he had presented to Berlusconi, including plans to amend Turkey’s Constitution, reform the Political Parties and Elections Laws, and implement European Court of Human Rights decisions. /Milliyet/
BAYKAL SEEKS SUPPORT IN WARSAW FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday flew to Poland to attend the European Union of Social Democratic Parties’ meeting in Warsaw. Before his departure, incoming opposition leader Baykal told reporters that his visit would be a good opportunity to express Turkey’s views on various topics and its recent political situation before the European Union’s summit next month in Copenhagen. Upon arriving in Warsaw, Baykal, in the company of CHP Deputies Inal Batu and Kemal Dervis, first met with Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimozewicz. /Turkiye/
NEW PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE TODAY
Turkey’s new Parliament is due to convene today for its first session since last week’s elections dramatically altered the nation’s political landscape. The oldest current number of Parliament, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Sukru Elekdag, will chair the session, which will be highlighted by the 550 new deputies taking their oath of office. The new chamber will include 363 deputies from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the new ruling party, and 178 from opposition party the CHP, as well as eight independent deputies. CHP leader Deniz Baykal will be absent from today’s session, as he is attending a European socialists’ meeting in Warsaw, as will AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently barred from becoming a deputy. A statement from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s office said that he, too, would be absent. /Milliyet/
CHIEF OF STAFF OZKOK TO VISIT CYPRUS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today to mark the 19th anniversary of the nation’s establishment. Diplomatic sources stated that Gen. Ozkok’s visit had added significance for the TRNC in the wake of the release this week of a UN plan expected to pave the way for significant developments in Cyprus’ future. Ozkok is scheduled to meet with Parliament Speaker Zeki Serter to discuss recent developments on the issue. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA WELCOMES IRAQ’S ACCEPTANCE OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Turkish officials yesterday said that they welcomed Iraq’s announcement that it would comply unconditionally with a new UN Security Council resolution calling on the country to disarm and admit weapons inspectors. An advance UN team is set to arrive in Iraq on Monday, and the first UN inspectors are to begin work on Nov. 25, UN officials said yesterday. The UN team will include five Turkish inspectors. According to diplomatic sources, Ankara sees the UN resolution as a “last chance” for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and so sees Iraq’s acceptance as a “very positive development” which could contribute greatly to efforts to solve the Iraq issue peacefully. /Cumhuriyet/
SOLANA TO VISIT TURKEY TO DISCUSS CYPRUS, ESDP
Javier Solana, the EU’s secretary-general and high representative for common foreign and security policy, is scheduled to visit Turkey today to discuss the Cyprus and European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) issues with incoming officials of the new Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. He is expected to express the EU’s views on these two sensitive issues and convey the message to AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the EU expects the new AKP-led government to take significant steps to move those issues forward. /Cumhuriyet/
TUSIAD DELEGATION MEETS WITH VERHEUGEN
A delegation from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) met yesterday with Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement. Cuneyt Zapsu, a member of the TUSIAD delegation, briefed Verheugen about the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party set to lead the incoming government. Zapsu said that AKP leader Erdogan attached great importance to democracy since he had “personally experienced hardships” due to shortcomings in democracy. During the talks, EU officials said that they were sure that Turkey would eventually succeed in gaining membership in the Union, but that it would take time. The EU officials also stated that Turkey still needed to carry out a number of reforms for its EU bid, but that doing so before next month’s Copenhagen summit would be quite difficult. TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that the EU should give a date to Turkey at Copenhagen to start its membership negotiations as soon as possible. /Milliyet/
TRNC EXPRESSES RESERVATIONS ON PLAN; FORMAL REPLY AWAITS DENKTAS’S RETURN
Commenting on the United nations Cyprus proposal presented this week, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said yesterday that the plan contained a number of “negative elements,” including sections on property and land redistribution and population migration from the south to the TRNC. Eroglu added, however, that review of the plan was ongoing, and that a comprehensive response awaited Saturday’s return of President Rauf Denktas from New York. /Turkiye/
GREEKS WELCOME UN CYPRUS PLAN
The first positive reply to the Cyprus plan proposed this week by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan came yesterday from the Greek Cypriot side. Yannakis Kasulides, the Greek Cypriot administration’s foreign minister, said that the Greek side would accept Annan’s plan as a basis for discussions to find a settlement to the Cyprus issue. Following a Cabinet meeting, Kasulides said that the Greek Cypriot administration would give its official answer to Annan after next week’s National Council meeting to be held after their leader Glafcos Clerides return from in Athens. Meanwhile, mainland Greece’s Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday met to discuss Annan’s proposal. During the meeting, Simitis said that the UN had prepared a comprehensive solution plan for the issue. “This plan may be the last opportunity to solve the problem, so it should be given a fair hearing,” said Simitis. /Turkiye/
SCHROEDER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder said yesterday that he strongly supported a rapprochement between Turkey and the European Union. Stressing that Turkey’s perspective was also Europe’s, Schroeder stated that circles in Turkey which favor Europe should be supported. “The initial declarations from Turkey’s incoming government party lend us hope,” said the German leader. “If it gives clear indications that reforms will be implemented, new steps may be taken for Turkey’s membership during next month’s Copenhagen summit.” /Turkiye/
CHILEAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF MEETS WITH GEN. OZKOK
Chile’s Chief of Genaral Staff Gen. Cheyre, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. At a meeting between the delegations headed by the two commanders, bilateral military cooperation and developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East were reportedly discussed. /Turkiye/
TALABANI OFFERS FOREIGN MINISTRY REASSURANCES ON TURKMENS
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani yesterday met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and other high-level Turkish diplomats to discuss recent developments on Iraq and to exchange views on an Iraqi opposition meeting slated for next Friday in Brussels. Confirming that the IPUK had offered Iraqi Turkmen groups a 10% share at a regional parliament to be formed, Talabani stressed that the IPUK wanted to improve its relations with these Turkmen groups. Remarking that the IPUK advocated a “united and democratic” Iraq, Talabani also added that the IPUK was trying to resolve all differences of opinion within Iraqi opposition groups. /Star/
CIA CONTACTS IN TURKEY FOCUS ON IRAQ, PKK
Following the completion of its contacts in Turkey, a 25-person CIA delegation led by Deputy Director John Mc Laughlin returned to the United States yesterday. During their meetings with Turkish officials, the CIA delegation reportedly asked for consultations on Turkey’s “security map” of the region as well as other resources in preparation for a possible Iraq operation. The Turkish officials reportedly replied by urging the US to consider in its plans Turkey’s ongoing fight against terrorist PKK remnants in northern Iraq. During Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok’s visit to Washington last week, he also stressed Turkey’s tragic losses due to terrorism, and reiterated consensus that regional conflict could lead to terrorist incursions into Turkey. Both sides reportedly pledged to cooperate on these issues. /Star/
EU COMMISSION: “TURKEY’S ECONOMY WILL GROW BY 4% NEXT YEAR”
Turkey’s economy will grow by 4% next year, predicted a semi-annual report on European Union candidate countries’ economies released yesterday by the EU Commission. The forecast said that Turkey’s economy was on track to recovery, but warned that a war in Iraq threatened to derail this improvement, particularly through a drop in tourism revenues. For 2004, the report stated, Turkey should see further growth. /Star/
CHINESE AMBASSADOR PROMOTES IMPROVED BUSINESS TIES WITH TURKEY
The People’s Republic of China yesterday invited Turkey to attend a Chinese commercial fair to be held in the United Arab Emirates on Dec. 10-14. In a press conference, Chinese Ambassador Yuangyi Yao stated that his country wished to improve its commercial relations with Turkey, adding that the Chinese businessmen were currently looking for new opportunities to invest in the country. He also stated that there were tremendous business opportunities for Turkish businessmen who wanted to invest in his own country. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION