GUL: “THERE IS NO TURNING BACK ON OUR PATH TO THE EU”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to Luxembourg to attend the 42nd period meeting of the Turkey-European Union Partnership Commission. Before his departure, Gul told reporters that Turkey would fulfill all its responsibilities on its way to the EU. Stressing that the government had already passed two important reform packages in Parliament and that a third one was imminent, Gul declared that for Turkey there was no turning back from its path to EU membership. During the European Council meeting, Turkey’s new accession partnership document is to be discussed and voted on. The document evaluates Turkish-EU relations as well as the EU Commission’s expectations from Turkey. The Iraq, Cyprus and Middle East issues will also be taken up during the meeting. After his arrival in Luxembourg, Gul met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who said that a “positive and encouraging message” would be given to Turkey during today’s meeting. /Turkiye/
GUL TO ATTEND IRAQ SUMMIT IN RIYADH
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is scheduled to fly to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday to attend a summit on Iraq. At the invitation of Saudi Arabia, Iraq’s regional neighbors will gather to discuss the country’s postwar reconstruction process. /All Papers/
VISITING ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER CONDEMNS SYRIA; GUL STRESSES WAR SHOULD NOT GO BEYOND IRAQ
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom during his official visit to Ankara. At a joint press conference, Shalom condemned Syria, charging that it was giving shelter to terrorists. Alleging that Syria had played an important role in supporting recent waves of terrorist attacks, Shalom said, “Terrorist organizations are carrying out their activities in Syria. Officials do nothing to hinder them but are in fact encouraging them. This situation must be ended.” For his part, Gul stated that all parties should avoid exacerbating tensions in the region, stressing that the war should be limited to Iraq and not be spread to other countries. “Syria and Iran are our neighbors, and we want good relations with them. Stability in the region serves the interests of all countries, including Israel,” said Gul. During the meeting, joint investments, tourism and the Manavgat water project were reportedly also discussed. The Israeli foreign minister was then received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After completing his contacts in Turkey, Shalom returned to his country. /All Papers/
UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION PUTS BLAME ON TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS FOR CYPRUS DEADLOCK
Efforts to reach a peaceful resolution on the Cyprus issue failed last month due to the “negative approach” of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, said a resolution passed unanimously by the UN Security Council yesterday. The resolution also endorsed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan as a “unique basis” for further negotiations, but effectively concedes its leading role in reunification talks to the European Union, with which Greek Cyprus is due to sign key accession papers tomorrow. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN: “CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS OVER CYPRUS ARE A HOPEFUL SIGN”
Less than 48 hours before Greek Cyprus is due to sign key accession agreement with the European Union, Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the decision to continue negotiations on the island’s future held out hope for an eventual settlement. “The [continued negotiations] are what we want,” Erdogan told an international media conference in Istanbul. “We got a result, which is what we had hoped for.” Erdogan brushed aside a new United Nations report placing the blame for the collapse of last month’s Cyprus reunification talks on the Turkish Cypriot president. /Milliyet/
TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD FENDS OFF LOOTERS
Turkey’s vacated embassy in Baghdad yesterday became the latest target of looting in the wake of the Iraqi regime’s collapse. An armed security team, made up of non-Turkish locals enlisted to defend the building after its staff was recalled to Turkey for its own safety, was able to successfully repel the looters, but warned that they could not do so indefinitely. US forces have come under criticism for failing to take measures against looting since their takeover of the capital. Yesterday the Chinese and the Belgian embassies were also targeted by looters and were less lucky than Turkey’s, as they fell prey to the roving thieves. /Cumhuriyet/
BABACAN: “WAR IN IRAQ DID NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO TURKEY’S ECONOMY”
By virtue of wise and timely government measures, Turkey’s economy has suffered no major damage from the war in Iraq, declared State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday. “Our government has acted well to escape the fallout of the war,” Babacan said in Washington where he attended the just-concluded spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. “The scenarios predicting economic disaster turned out to be unfounded,” he added. /Sabah/
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SENER: “DUE TO WISE STATE POLICIES, TURKEY HAS EMERGED LARGELY UNSCATHED FROM IRAQ WAR”
Speaking at a press conference after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that the Cabinet members had discussed such issues as monetary policy, Central Bank regulations, boosting foreign investment and the Economic and Social Council. The council is expected to convene tomorrow to discuss ways to reduce unemployment and create more jobs. Sener stated that Turkey’s economy had emerged largely unscathed from the war in Iraq and praised the AKP’s war policy in this regard. “The government’s stance on the war was the best one for the nation’s interests,” he said, adding that leaders were continuing to closely monitor developments in northern Iraq and that the situation there did not appear dangerous. “Iraq’s territorial integrity should be protected, and its natural treasures and resources belong to the Iraqi people,” he concluded. /Aksam/
IMF EUROPEAN DIRECTOR DEPPLER: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC COMMITMENT HAS IMPRESSED INVESTORS”
Speaking to Reuters yesterday, International Monetary Fund European Director Michael Deppler said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government was very determined to continue implementing the nation’s economic program. Deppler stated that investor confidence, weakened due to the Iraq war and the government’s failure to fulfill some of its pledges to the IMF, was now on the rebound. “However, everything depends on the implementation of the policies,” he said. “The financial markets still have some doubts on Turkey, but now the AKP government is very committed to the economic program.” Deppler remarked that the IMF Executive Board would discuss at its meeting this Friday what policies were needed to put the program back on its track. He added that proposed US aid of $1 billion, leveragable for up to $8.5 billion in loans, was not related to the IMF program, but that the Fund would welcome such assistance and that there was no reason for Turkey not to receive it. “Inflation will fall if the government fully implements the program, but this will be difficult if the lira suffers more depreciation,” added Deppler. “After 8% growth last year, 5% growth this year is feasible.” /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION