ERDOGAN: “THE AKP’S PREDICTIONS ON THE IRAQ WAR WERE CORRECT”
Those who painted dire disaster scenarios for Turkey’s fate in the Iraq war before it even began were mistaken, and the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) predictions have been proven correct, said Prime Minister and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan also lamented the current “pessimistic mood” of the nation, saying that it had sprung from years of ineffectual government rule. “This pessimism is hindering Turkey’s dynamism and power,” he said. “However, we won’t let it overcome us.” /Aksam/
FOREIGN MINISTRY ESTABLISHES UNIT ON IRAQ’S RECONSTRUCTION
The Foreign Ministry is establishing a new unit to monitor and discuss Iraq’s postwar reconstruction, the ministry said yesterday. Ministry representatives made the announcement yesterday at a meeting of its bureaucrats along with private sector representatives to discuss the role to be played by Ankara and Turkish businessmen in the process. Meanwhile, Turkey is set to reopen its vacated embassy in Baghdad when security conditions in the city permit. /Cumhuriyet/
POWELL SAYS NO DECISION YET ON US AID PACKAGE, BUT PRAISES TURKEY’S COOPERATION WITH IRAQ OPERATION
The terms of a US aid package to Turkey are not yet final, but Ankara’s recent cooperation and economic needs will be pivotal in its disbursement, pledged US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Powell was asked about the $1 billion aid package passed last week by the US Congress but not yet signed by the president. The package is reportedly conditional on Turkey’s cooperation in Iraq, and it names Powell as the arbiter of that cooperation. “The level of [Ankara’s] cooperation that we have seen in the last few weeks has been quite, quite satisfactory, and I would certainly take that into account,” said Powell. “Working with … the US Treasury and others, and consulting with international financial institutions, we’ll get a judgement of what Turkey’s needs would be,” he stated, adding that the $1 billion would be leveragable for a much larger amount “to help Turkey to develop its economy.” But “I haven’t yet made a decision,” added Powell. On the health of Turkish-US relations, Powell said Washington and Ankara alike had been “very disappointed” by Parliament’s rejection of US troop deployments last month. But that incident is now “history and we’re moving forward,” he stated. “The relationship that we have with Turkey is strong and solid.” /Milliyet/
US JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN MYERS HAILS “IMPORTANT” TURKISH-US TIES, SAYS N.IRAQ COORDINATION GOING “VERY WELL”
Whatever unfolds in northern Iraq, where things are currently going smoothly, Turkey and the United States continue to have a vital partnership, said US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Myers hailed the “important and strategic relationship” between the two countries, describing his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok as a friend with whom he speaks frequently. On the northern Iraq issue, Myers said, “As soon as we had US forces in Kirkuk and Mosul … we invited in immediately Turkish military liaison officers” to keep Ankara’s General Staff and political leadership informed, and to dispel rumors. “We are in northern Iraq ... with Turkish liason forces,” stated Myers. “That seems to be working very well.” /Aksam/
EU ASKS TURKEY TO PICK UP PACE OF ACCESSION REFORMS
During yesterday’s Turkish-European Union Partnership Council meeting, EU officials gave a new Accession Partnership Document to membership candidate Turkey. The 27-page document includes a comprehensive analysis of developments in Turkey and the EU’s expectations of it. Expressing the Union’s satisfaction with Ankara for allowing teaching and publication in minority languages as well as lifting the State of Emergency Rule (OHAL) from southeastern Anatolia, the document also, however, stressed the EU’s displeasure with the ban of the HADEP political party and the ongoing death fasts in some prisons. The document also urged Turkey to pick up the pace of its reforms and proposed a financial aid program of over 1 billion euros to be extended over three years beginning in 2004. /All Papers/
WESTON: “A NEW PAGE WILL BE OPENED ON CYPRUS”
The European Union accession ceremony of Greek Cyprus will turn a new page on the island, said Thomas Weston, the US State Department envoy to Cyprus, yesterday. Stating that the final stage of the Greek Cypriots’ EU membership process beginning today would bring new developments on the island, Weston added that the Cyprus peace process would have to be adapted to these developments. Weston also said that he believed the two sides on the island still had an opportunity to reach a settlement by May 2004, before Greek Cyprus is due to become a full EU member, in line with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s proposal. /Sabah/
GUL: “TURKEY WANTS TO BEGIN EU ACCESSION TALKS IN 2004”
Turkey wants and intends to begin European Union full membership negotiations in 2004, declared Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. As part of his visit to Luxembourg to attend the EU Partnership Commission’s 42nd meeting, Gul met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen. Following the meeting, the reiterated that the Turkish nation was determined to become an EU member, adding, “We want to speed up the membership process. Turkey will fulfill its all responsibilities, and then we expect the EU in turn to take necessary steps.” He added that the government had been resolute in continuing reforms and that a new accession reform package was almost ready. At last year’s Copenhagen summit, the EU pledged to review Turkey’s accession progress in December 2004 with a view to beginning membership talks at that time. Upon returning to Ankara yesterday, Gul said that his meetings in Luxembourg had been very fruitful and had given him the chance to exchange views on many topics, including the Iraq, Middle East and Cyprus issues. /Turkiye/
IN LUXEMBOURG, VERHEUGEN EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
Speaking at the Turkey-European Union Partnership Council meeting yesterday in Luxembourg, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen expressed support for Turkey’s membership bid. “Turkey’s possible contributions to the European Union should be made clear to both the Turkish and European publics,” said Verheugen. Stating that he was aware how Ankara had recently been striving to fulfill the Union’s criteria, Verheugen said that the EU countries should be told of Turkey’s efforts and possible contributions to the continent. /Sabah/
GREEK CYPRIOTS TO SIGN EU ACCESSION ACCORDS
Ten countries, including Greek Cyprus or the so-called “Republic of Cyprus,” are due to sign their European Union accession accords today during a two-day EU summit in Athens, Greece. However, whereas other countries are sending their heads of state or government to the ceremony, Turkey is to be represented by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Also at the summit, 40 European country leaders and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan are to discuss the future of Europe. /All Papers/
FOREIGN MINISTRY CALLS CYPRUS RESOLUTION “ONE-SIDED”; DENKTAS URGES TURKEY TO BOYCOTT GREEK CYPRIOT EU CEREMONY
In a statement released yesterday in response to the UN Security Council’s Monday resolution on Cyprus, the Foreign Ministry criticized the document as “one-sided.” Such bias in blaming Turkish Cyprus’ leadership alone for the failure of reunification talks, said the ministry, was “unacceptable.” In related news, visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas told reporters in Bursa, Turkey that the UN resolution was merely an “advisory” one. Concerning today’s scheduled European Union accord-signing ceremony, Denktas said that he said that he appreciated Turkey not sending its prime minister, but added that he also wanted Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to be absent, or at least to boycott the Greek Cypriot portion. Other reports said that Gul had decided to leave late for the EU summit in Athens starting today so as to skip the accord ceremony. /Turkiye/
TURKISH HISTORIAN TO HELP UNESCO ASSESS CULTURAL LOSS FROM BAGHDAD LOOTING
As part of an UNESCO mission, Turkey is to send an expert historian to Iraq to assess the damage done to the country's vast collection of antiquities by the recent looting in Baghdad. A team of international experts will first meet at UNESCO headquarters in Paris tomorrow, where they will attempt to prepare an inventory of recent cultural losses. The meeting will also outline a plan to recover and safeguard this heritage in the future. /Hurriyet/
TAYLAN WINS THREE GOLD WEIGHTLIFTING MEDALS IN GREECE
Turkish weightlifter Nurcan Taylan yesterday received three gold medals at the 16th European Women’s Weightlifting Championship in Lourtraki, Greece. Taylan broke both European and world records in the snatch, clean-and-jerk and overall categories. /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION