SEZER RECEIVES NEW GOVERNMENT
Following yesterday’s vote of confidence in Parliament, the Cabinet members of the new government headed by Abdullah Gul visited Ataturk’s mausoleum, Anitkabir. After laying a wreath and observing a minute of silence, Gul signed Anitkabir’s Commemorative Guestbook. In the book, he wrote that new government’s primary aim was to follow Ataturk’s principle in order to raise the Republic of Turkey to the level of modern civilization. Later, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received the new Cabinet members at the Presidential Palace. Pointing to the public’s great expectations from the administration, Sezer reportedly asked the new government to make solving the nation’s economic problems its first priority. /All Papers/
NEW GOVERNMENT WINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Turkey’s 58th government formed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) yesterday won its first vote of confidence in Parliament. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s government won a 346-170 vote in the 550-member Parliament, with 34 deputies absent from the balloting. Addressing Parliament after the vote, Gul thanked the deputies for expressing their confidence in the government. Stressing that a new era had dawned for Turkey, Gul said everybody should strive to make the best use of this period. “Now is the time for deeds, not words. We are resolved and prepared,” said Gul. Reiterating that the government would take an impartial stance towards all sectors of society, Gul added, “During our rule, the Constitution and the law, as well as our Urgent Action Plan, Government Program and our party’s program, will be our guideposts.” Although Parliament’s sole opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) voted against the confidence motion, CHP leader Deniz Baykal congratulated Gul after the vote was concluded. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: “IF NOT A FIRM DATE FOR TALKS, THEN TURKEY IS HOPING FOR A TIMETABLE AT COPENHAGEN”
Even if the European Union fails to give Turkey a date for membership talks next month, the nation won’t be deterred from its EU bid, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. Speaking from Paris, the last stop on his tour of EU member states seeking support for Turkey’s bid, the ruling party leader said that Turkey hoped to get at least a timetable for when a date for talks would be set, if not a date itself, at next month’s Copenhagen summit. “Even if we don’t get a date, the AKP’s priority is to raise our people’s standard of living,” he added. Speaking of Turkey’s prospects at the upcoming summit, Erdogan said some EU states favored granting it a date while others were opposed. “However, Germany and Britain are still undecided,” he remarked. “Our aim is to get a date from the EU to start membership negotiations. But it would also be a positive development if the EU presents a timetable to Turkey for when a date will be given.” /Aksam/
BAYKAL: “THE PROPOSED EU HARMONIZATION PACKAGE WOULD SET TERRORIST OCALAN FREE”
Criticizing the European Union harmonization package proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday charged that the package would require reopening the case of convicted terrorist Abdullah Ocalan. “The AKP is trying to reduce Ocalan’s life sentence to only 30 years, and then release him,” added Baykal. /Aksam/
CEM: “TURKEY’S GETTING A DATE AT COPENHAGEN IS DIFFICULT BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE”
After meeting in Brussels with Guenter Verheugen, the EU’s commissioner for enlargement, New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said yesterday that Turkey’s getting a date at Copenhagen summit would be difficult but not impossible. “Turkey can get a date at December’s meeting,” said Cem. “What’s important for Turkey is the EU’s declaring a date at Copenhagen to start membership negotiations.” He added that doing so was both a legal and moral obligation of the EU. /Milliyet/
MGK TO CONVENE FOR FIRST MEETING WITH AKP GOVERNMENT
The National Security Council (MGK) chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to convene today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The November ordinary meeting will be the first to include Cabinet members of the 58th government led by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). During the meeting, domestic and foreign developments will be discussed. /All Papers/
EU HARMONIZATION PACKAGE TO BE DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY
Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said yesterday that a draft package of European Union harmonization bills was now ready. He said that the package is set to be debated in a special Cabinet meeting and that after necessary revisions were made, it would be presented to the Office of the Parliament Speaker on next Tuesday at the latest. In related news, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday told reporters that the AKP’s 36-article EU harmonization package had been evaluated by the CHP’s lawyer deputies. “The CHP supports all initiatives on the road of democracy,” he said. Regarding Turkey’s EU membership bid, Baykal stated that Turkey was in a better situation than other candidate countries and deserved to get a date for membership talks. /Turkiye/
BUSH URGES DANISH PRIME MINISTER ON TURKEY’S EU BID
US President George W. Bush yesterday made a telephone call to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the prime minister of European Union Term President Denmark, urging his support for Turkey’s EU membership bid. It was the second such call in the last week-and-a-half. During their conversation, Bush said that Turkey and the EU would both benefit from Turkey joining the Union. Both Bush and US Secretary of State Colin Powell have reportedly urged the EU to give Turkey a date for membership talks at next month’s Copenhagen summit. /Milliyet/
EU WORKING ON NEW PROPOSAL FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
In the leadup to next month’s Copenhagen summit, a number of European Union diplomats are working on a new formula which would facilitate the beginning of Turkey’s EU accession talks in 2004, EU sources said yesterday. Accordingly, this formula will set a conditional date for 2004 at next month’s Copenhagen summit and will demand that Turkey implement reforms in human rights and democratization, and take concrete steps in due course on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and Cyprus issues. EU Term President Denmark’s Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller will confer on the proposal during his visit to Ankara beginning on Monday, the sources added. /Sabah/
BELGIAN DEPUTY PREMIER: “THE EU NEEDS TURKEY”
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Steve Stevaert said yesterday that Belgium fully supported Turkey’s European Union membership bid, underlining that the EU needed Turkey. “Speaking sincerely and straightforwardly, I want to see Turkey as an EU member,” said Stevaert. “The EU has so much to learn from Turkey.” Concerning next month’s Copenhagen summit, Stevaert stated that the EU should extend a date at Copenhagen, as Turkey had made significant progress towards meeting the EU’s political standards. /Sabah/
EP TURKEY RAPPORTEUR: “WE WANT TO SEE TURKEY WITHIN THE EU”
European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur Arie Oostlander travelled yesterday to the city of Diyarbakir in Turkey’s southeastern Anatolia region to hold contacts there. Speaking at Diyarbakir’s Bar Association, Oostlander said, “We are closely watching the views of Turkey’s non-governmental organizations [NGOs] towards developments in the new Justice and Development Party [AKP]-led government, as their views are quite important.” Stating that he was very curious about the decision on Turkey’s European Union membership bid to be made at next month’s Copenhagen summit, Oostlander said, “We want to see Turkey within the EU.” /Star/
POWELL: “WE ARE PREPARING A SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR TURKEY”
US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday said that the US was planning to prepare a support package for Turkey, regardless of whether or not a military operation in Iraq is carried out. Pointing to the serious effects of 1991’s Gulf War on Turkey, Powell said that the US knew Turkey was greatly concerned about the negative effects of a possible Iraqi operation. “We’re aware that Turkey is sensitive on the topic, and we’re in constant contact with Turkish officials. We support Turkey,” added Powell. Even as Powell spoke, articles in Thursday’s New York Times and Washington Post quoted unnamed administration officials as saying the US was discussing further aid for Turkey in an effort to get pledges of fuller support, including a commitment of troops, for a possible Iraq intervention. /Turkiye/
US REPORTEDLY SEEKS FULLER TURKISH SUPPORT FOR IRAQ OFFENSIVE; TROOPS AND USE OF BASES SOUGHT, AID PACKAGE OFFERED
The United States is discussing further economic aid for Turkey in an effort to convince it to make a fuller commitment to a possible war in Iraq, including the use of Turkish troops, according to reports yesterday in both the New York Times and the Washington Post. The reports said that US administration would ask for active support and participation in a possible offensive into northern Iraq during US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz’s visit to Ankara scheduled to begin next Thursday. The use of Turkish bases by US troops would also be sought. Bush administration officials, the reports say, are using several arguments to try to persuade the Turks to support and participate in an offensive. First, they argue that if Turkey joins in the attack the war will be over more quickly and that also, as a result, there will be less economic disruption. Furthermore, they believe Turkey’s participation would help minimize the regional damage a war might cause. In return for Turkey’s fuller commitment, the US will reportedly offer it an aid package as well as a guarantee that the US government opposes any independent state in northern Iraq. /Hurriyet/
GREEK CYPRIOT OFFICIAL REJECTS ANY CHANGES TO UN PLAN IN FAVOR OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS
Speaking to a Greek newspaper yesterday, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasulides said that his country would in no way accept changes to the UN Cyprus proposal which might favor the Turkish side’s interests. Kasulides’ statement dealt a blow to efforts for peace on the island, as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has demanded substantial revisions to the UN plan before accepting it as a basis for negotiations. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY COULD COMMAND ISAF FOR TWO MORE MONTHS
Turkey’s command handover of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to joint German-Dutch forces isn’t likely to take place on Dec. 20 as scheduled, diplomatic sources said yesterday. Turkey took over the command on June 20 for a planned six-month term, and is now expected to retain command for another two months to give Germany and the Netherlands more time to complete necessary preparations, the sources added. The joint German-Dutch forces will, at best, be ready to arrive at Afghanistan in January and take over the ISAF command in February 2003. /Cumhuriyet/
POET ANDAY PASSES AWAY
Renowned poet Melih Cevdet Anday, one of the leading lights of Turkish literature, died yesterday in Istanbul. He was 87. Anday was a member of the prominent literary movement known as “Garip,” and his works have been translated into many languages, including Russian, French, English, Bulgarian, Greek, Serbian and Polish. /All papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION