ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 14, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HISTORICAL SUMMIT
Turkey could not get what it desired but the European Union (EU) set the date which Turkey has been waiting for 40 years. Now, Turkey has two years to remove its deficiencies till December of 2004. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we got a date for opening of accession talks with the EU with a little delay. Now, we will do our utmost to remove all deficiencies till release of the Progress Report in October of 2003.'' Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''a process has begun with the EU. The decision taken by the EU is a success of Turkey.''
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE APPROVED
The Parliamentary General Assembly approved the constitutional amendment package yesterday. A total of 465 MPs attended the voting at the parliament. While 440 of them cast their votes in favor of the constitutional amendment, 18 MPs rejected it, and 4 MPs abstained. Under the package, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan can be elected as deputy.
DYP TO ELECT ITS NEW LEADER
The True Path Party (DYP) will hold its regular congress later in the day, and elect its new leader. A total of 13 people applied for candidacy. Mehmet Agar and Ilhan Kesici are expected to compete with each other at the congress.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
The good: At last, Turkey was given a date for opening of accession talks with the European Union (EU) during Copenhagen Summit. The decision taken by leaders of the EU countries confirmed that Turkey was a part of Europe. The bad: The EU set the date for opening of accession talks with Turkey as December of 2004. In fact, Turkey was not in favor of this date. Because, 10 new member countries including Greek Cypriot side will have the authority in the decision-making mechanism of the EU on that date. The ugly: Serious accusations were put forward against Turkey during the summit. President Jacques Chirac said that Turks had been blackmailing. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said, ''no money for Turkey.''
BLAIR: ''IT CAN BE EARLIER''
Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain defended that the EU had given the date to Turkey at last after 40 years. Blair said that if Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria fully, accession talks could be started earlier than December of 2004.
''I AM OFFENDED WITH YOUR STATEMENT''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Jacques Chirac of France who were lobbying against Turkey. During the meeting, Prime Minister Gul expressed Turkey's regret over statement of President Chirac who said that Turkey should be gentle and civilized. Meanwhile, Chirac and Schroeder assured Turkey that new member countries would not prevent Turkey from becoming a full member of the EU.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TO JOIN EU IN 2010
If Turkey fulfills Copenhagen criteria and does not waste time, it will become a full member of the Eurpoean Union (EU) within eight years. The decision taken by the EU at its Copenhagen summit confirmed that the EU would constitute its future on the basis of harmony of civilizations. The decision revealed that the Aegean would be the sea of peace. Now, Turkey has two years to remove its deficiencies. While the EU discusses accession talks with Turkey, Turkey should prepare itself for full membership. Approval of democratization laws is not enough to this end. Turkey should put these laws in practice as soon as possible.
ERDOGAN'S POLITICAL BAN LIFTED
The draft amending articles 67, 76 and 78 of the Constitution was approved by the Parliamentary General Assembly yesterday. As a result, all obstacles in front of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan were lifted. Erdogan is expected to be elected deputy from Siirt in the by-election in March, and to become prime minister of Turkey. Erdogan could not attend Copenhagen summit of the European Union (EU) as prime minister. But, he is expected to represent Turkey officially in the next EU summit.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW AGENDA: AEGEAN SEA
According to the decision taken at Helsinki summit in 1999, the date set by the European Union (EU) at Copenhagen summit, is the deadline for Turkey and Greece to solve the Aegean dispute. The Aegean dispute can become a new criteria for Turkey to get a positive Progress Report in 2003. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''I do not suppose that we would experience a problem with Greece on the issue.''
PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC: ''WE ACCEPT HOLDING NEGOTIATIONS''
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was discharged from Ankara's Ibni Sina Hospital. President Denktas reacted harshly to the European Union (EU) putting pressure on the sides in Cyprus to reach an agreement as soon as possible. President Denktas said, ''the EU should lift the embargoes imposed on the TRNC. Turkey's becoming an EU full member should be waited for full membership of a united Cyprus after reaching an agreement.'' Criticizing the time limitation by the EU, President Denktas said, ''the real interest of Europe is to make Cyprus a fortress of the Christianity.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY TO PROGRESS ON PATH LEADING TO EU MEMBERSHIP
According to the final statement relased at the end of Copenhagen summit of the European Union (EU), if the EU Council which will convene in December 2004 decides that Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria, EU will start negotiations with Turkey without any delay. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we will continue to make the EU reforms for welfare of our people. We are determined to find a solution to the Cyprus question.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NO RETURN FROM THIS ROAD
Commenting on the December 2004 date, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we did our best but the negotiation date appeared a little bit delayed. Our road is clear. We will make reforms for our people even if there would be EU membership or not.'' Meanwhile, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he was not pleased with political practice but the road map was in favor of Turkey and that their journey would continue. Meanwhile, the final statement of the summit said that if Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.
REPROACH TO CHIRAC
Prime Minister Gul and AK Party leader Erdogan held a last minute summit meeting with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. At the meeting, Gul told Chirac, ''your statements upset us'' and Chirac said, ''we finish this in 2004.''
WORLD: ''RESULT IS A VICTORY FOR YOU''
The world commented on December 2004 date. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said, ''the EU's somehow setting a date for Turkey was a positive development. Also solution of Cyprus improves this picture.'' British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, ''this date given to Turkey after thirty-year adventure is a definite date. Negotiations may start earlier if Turkey fulfils criteria.'' European Parliament President Pat Cox said, ''Turkey has won a political victory at Copenhagen summit. You should celebrate this instead of considering it a defeat.'' Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson said, ''the 2004 decision we took for Turkey proves that Turks will be a EU member. Because, you deserve it.'' EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said, ''we have made Turkey feel relieved. This decision showed that there can't be a Europe without Turkey.''
CYPRUS CAN'T BE SOLVED
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that opinions of the sides about Cyprus had become very similar but an agreement could not be reached at Copenhagen summit. Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot side told the United Nations that it did not accept the Cyprus plan as a ground for negotiation but it would not withdraw from talks.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''WE WANTED 2003 TO GET 2004''
Speaking to the newspaper, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the December 2004 date decision for Turkey was not the ''first but second best''. Gul said, ''we won't get angry and we will shorten negotiation process with reforms.'' He said, ''we put forward 2003 in order to obtain 2004. Europe has its own balances. We should take this into consideration. For us, the decision was the second best. Some European countries expect negative attitudes from Turkey but we don't have the intention to give us harm by getting angry. We maintain Europe perspective.''
''RESENTFUL SATISFACTION''
At the EU's Copenhagen summit, Turkey couldn't get the date it wanted for beginning of accession negotiations but gave the message that it would maintain Europe perspective by avoiding to give harsh reaction. Prime Minister Gul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that there would not be any deviation from Turkey's Copenhagen criteria targets.