SEZER TO RECEIVE ERDOGAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will receive today Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of incoming government party the Justice and Development Party (AKP), at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Erdogan is expected to propose to Sezer a candidate for the prime ministry post. In the afternoon, the AKP leader is also scheduled to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok at the General Staff Headquarters. /All Papers/
NEW PARLIAMENT CONVENES FOR OPENING SESSION
Turkey’s new Parliament held its inaugural session yesterday, the first assembly in over a decade with a single party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), holding enough seats to exercise a clear majority and one-party rule. The oldest member of Parliament, Sukru Elekdag, a deputy from incoming opposition party the Republican People’s Party (CHP), chaired the session and delivered the opening speech. The new chamber includes 363 deputies from the AKP, 178 from the CHP, and eight independents. During the session, which stretched past midnight, the 546 deputies took their oath of office. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the AKP leader who is currently barred from serving as a deputy, and who is in the midst of a multi-stop visit to European capitals, was not present at the session. CHP leader Deniz Baykal was also absent due to his attendance at a European socialists’ meeting in Warsaw, Poland. Also absent from the meeting was Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, who was busy attending 19th anniversary celebrations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN’S EUROPEAN TOUR HEADS FOR GREECE, SPAIN, BRITAIN
The tour of European capitals by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of incoming government party the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is scheduled to continue next week on the heels of his current visit to Italy. Seeking support for Turkey’s EU membership bid, Erdogan will go to Athens on Monday to meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, then fly to Madrid later that day to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Erdogan is expected to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Wednesday. Erdogan will then move on to Belgium and meet separately with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstad, EU Commission Chairman Romano Prodi and EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen. On Thursday, Erdogan will go to Dublin and meet with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Lastly, Erdogan will go to Strasbourg, France, the seat of the European Parliament, to meet with EP officials. /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN: “THE EU WON’T GIVE TURKEY A DATE AT COPENHAGEN”
Speaking to German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen stated yesterday that the EU would not extend a date at next month’s Copenhagen summit for Turkey’s accession talks. Though greatly influential in the candidacy process, Verheugen does not have the final word. Citing “increasing pressure” from the EU member countries not to grant a date, Verheugen claimed that Turkey had failed to meet the political criteria the Union had set. “For the time being, Turkey’s status as a EU candidate country will continue,” said Verheugen. “The time is not ripe enough for a date. Turkey has to fully comply with the political criteria first, then will come a date for accession talks.” Verheugen also characterized European Convention Chairman Valery Giscard d’Estaing’s recent controversial statements on Turkey’s membership bid as “unnecessary” and “politically risky,” for they threatened the EU’s integrity. “Turkey’s candidacy was approved at 1999’s Helsinki summit,” Verheugen stressed. “The EU’s policy on Turkey is based on strategic concerns. Its eventual membership is the best option.” /Cumhuriyet/
DENKTAS SPEAKS GUARDEDLY ON UN CYPRUS PLAN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that an “important stage” had now been reached on the Cyprus issue and the island’s future. Stating that four weeks had been given to both sides to evaluate UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan put on the table earlier this week, Denktas stated, “The plan contains considerable shortcomings, especially on the sovereignty and land possession issues. We will examine the plan comprehensively, calmly, and with a willingness to reach an agreement.” Denktas is currently in New York recuperating from an operation, and so was unable to attend yesterday’s ceremonies marking his country’s 19th anniversary. Addressing Turkish Cypriots via a television broadcast, he said that he would return to the island on Saturday and then discuss the plan with TRNC authorities in detail. Meanwhile, Annan is expected to receive on Monday the initial reactions of both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to the plan. Before the European Union’s Copenhagen summit next month, he is trying to establish whether the sides will agree to discuss the plan. /Turkiye/
ANNAN URGES DENKTAS, CLERIDES TO COME TO TERMS ON MAJOR ISSUES BEFORE COPENHAGEN
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent letters this week to Turkish Repulic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides urging them to come to terms on prominent issues of disagreement before the European Union’s Copenhagen summit next month. The letter stated that vital issues such as sovereignty and population transfers should be solved in the month remaining before Copenhagen, adding that issues of secondary importance could wait until next February. /Milliyet/
SOLANA: “THE AKP IS READY FOR A SETTLEMENT ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE”
Javier Solana, the EU’s secretary-general and high representative for common foreign and security policy, met with Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Following their meeting, Solana told reporters that his impression was that the incoming AKP government was ready to contribute to finding a permanent solution to the Cyprus issue. “My hope is that a settlement can be reached by the end of this year, if the AKP demonstrates a resolute attitude,” added Solana. He also stated that the issues of Turkey’s EU membership bid, Cyprus and the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) were all interrelated. “Turkish-EU relations are at a critical point now,” said Solana. “The AKP’s majority government constitutes an opportunity to reach solutions on both the Cyprus issue and the ESDP, and for further political reforms in Turkey. The EU expects encouraging steps from Turkey.” /Hurriyet/
BAYKAL: “THE TIMING OF ANNAN’S CYPRUS PLAN WAS INAPPROPRIATE”
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, who is currently in Warsaw, Poland for a council meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES), charged yesterday that the timing of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in presenting his Cyprus solution proposal was inappropriate. Buttressing his point, Baykal pointed out that Turkey’s new government had not yet officially taken power and that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas was still dealing with serious health problems. “Both of these situations are major hurdles to reaching a solution,” said the CHP leader. Baykal is expected to meet today with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. /Hurriyet/
GUREL: “ANNAN’S PLAN SOLELY SERVES GREEK CYPRUS’ INTERESTS”
Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday charged that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s solution plan for the Cyprus issue solely served the interests of the island’s Greek Cypriots, adding that both mainland Greece and Greek Cyprus had advance knowledge and influence over the plan. “Annan’s timing in presenting his plan to the sides served only the Greek Cypriots’ interests,” said Gurel, whose term as foreign minister is due to end soon. “This plan is a part of a broader political design in its timing and presentation, which both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] have to be seriously concerned about.” /Sabah/
OZKOK: “TURKEY’S ARMED FORCES WON’T TOLERATE THREATS TO THE TRNC”
Turkey’s top military commander yesterday warned that the nation’s armed forces would not tolerate any threats to its close island neighbor, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok’s remarks came amid the TRNC’s 19th anniversary celebrations, which he was on the island to attend, and discussions of a new United Nations proposal for the island’s future. Ozkok told reporters that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would counter any moves which could have an adverse effect on peace in the region. “Concerned states and institutions should accept that there are two states on Cyprus,” stated Ozkok. “Only this way can a lasting peace be found.” Turkey supports a fair and permanent solution for the region, he added. /Milliyet/
TUSIAD: “THE UN’S CYPRUS PROPOSAL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A SOLUTION”
The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) yesterday issued a written statement saying that the new United Nations’ Cyprus proposal presented a great opportunity for a solution to the issue. The statement also said that UN’s proposal should be examined very carefully by both sides, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus. Turkey’s EU membership bid is one of Turkey’s most important policies and the UN proposal could help advance this cause, it added. /Milliyet/
AKP’S GUL: “WE WILL CONTINUE THE REFORM PROCESS”
Following a two-and-half-an-hour briefing by Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti and Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak to Justice and Development Party (AKP) staff, AKP Deputy Chairman Abdullah Gul said yesterday that during his party’s rule, its priorities would be to act decisively, continue reforms and carry out a “realistic” economic policy. Stressing that as soon as it became clear that the AKP would establish the new government, they had begun to hold meetings with bureaucrats, Gul said that as part of these meetings, they met with Central Bank and Treasury officials to discuss the current economic situation. “Turkey’s rule by one party alone is an opportunity for the country. AKP rule will be a milestone for Turkey’s development,” added Gul. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION