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Turkish Press Review, 06-12-21
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
21.12.2006
CONTENTS
[01] EU AGREES TO OPEN SINGLE CHAPTER IN ACCESSION TALKS
[02] ERDOGAN: "THE US SHOULD SET A TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ"
[03] GUL: "WE VIEW FINLAND'S PROPOSALS ON CYPRUS POSITIVELY"
[04] ARINC MEETS WITH GEORGIAN PRESIDENT, DISCUSSES TURKEY'S EU BID
[05] MUMCU: "THE PEOPLE SHOULD ELECT THE PRESIDENT"
[06] BAYKAL OPPOSES MUMCU'S PROPOSAL FOR POPULAR ELECTION OF PRESIDENT
[07] SPECIAL COUNTER-TERRORISM ENVOY BASER: "TURKEY COULD DECIDE TO LAUNCH A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION"
[08] THE EU IS INSISTENT
[01] EU AGREES TO OPEN SINGLE CHAPTER IN ACCESSION TALKS
The Committee of Permanent Representatives to the European Union (COREPER)
agreed yesterday in Brussels to send an invitation letter to Turkey to open
talks in only one chapter of the accession talks, the enterprise and
industry chapter. Ankara is expected to respond in three weeks' time at the
latest, and talks on this chapter are expected to begin de facto at the
beginning of February. In related news, Greek Cypriot administration
Foreign Minister George Lillikas said that the administration would
continue to veto the opening of chapters with Turkey in its EU accession
talks, in response to Ankara's veto of Greek Cypriot membership in
international organizations such as NATO. /Hurriyet/
[02] ERDOGAN: "THE US SHOULD SET A TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that Iraq was in a state
of civil war and the US should set a timetable to withdraw its forces.
Erdogan made statements about Palestine and Iraq during the Alliance of
Civilizations meeting in New York, leading some observers to say that his
remarks opposed the US and British approaches. Before leaving New York,
Erdogan told a press conference, "Iraq is in a state of civil war," and he
spoke out against proposals to deploy US troops in northern Iraq. Also
speaking to PBS' NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Erdogan said, "The number of
people who have died in sectarian violence exceeds, according to some
figures, 650,000 ... When you have that many people who have died as a
result of a conflict that is taking place, that could only be explained as
a civil war." /Cumhuriyet/
[03] GUL: "WE VIEW FINLAND'S PROPOSALS ON CYPRUS POSITIVELY"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that both Turkey and the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have a positive, constructive
stance on the proposals of European Union Term President Finland, adding
that the EU shouldn't expect unilateral steps from Turkey without it ending
the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. "Turkey and the TRNC are always
constructive about proposals which would enable ending the isolation of the
Turkish Cypriots," added Gul. /Turkiye/
[04] ARINC MEETS WITH GEORGIAN PRESIDENT, DISCUSSES TURKEY'S EU BID
Georgian President Mihail Saakashvili, in Ankara for an official visit,
yesterday met with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. During their meeting,
Arinc said that he was pleased with the visit of the Georgian president,
adding that relations between the two countries were superb. For his part,
Saakashvili stated that Turkey was an ally of Georgia with deep historical
ties and also a window for Georgia to open to the world. Saying that the EU
needed Turkey, Saakashvili stated that Turkey's membership wouldn't only
contribute to the EU's economy, but also help to improve the Union's
identity. "We wish Turkey the best of luck during its EU process," he
added. /Turkiye/
[05] MUMCU: "THE PEOPLE SHOULD ELECT THE PRESIDENT"
Speaking to reporters before attending the Agricultural Congress yesterday,
opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu commented on
debates over the presidential election to be held next May, saying that the
people should elect the president. Mumcu stressed that the Constitution
should be amended so the people, not Parliament, elect the president. "If
the people can elect parliaments and prime ministers, they can also elect
the president," said Mumcu. "We should find a solution instead of creating
crises." /Sabah/
[06] BAYKAL OPPOSES MUMCU'S PROPOSAL FOR POPULAR ELECTION OF PRESIDENT
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday came out against the proposal of Motherland Party (ANAVATAN)
leader Erkan Mumcu that the people should elect the president, saying that
this was seeking a solution outside the system. "In fact, there is no need
for this," he said. "The solution within the system is clear, and this is
to renew the Parliament by holding early elections. We can overcome this
tension and concern by holding early elections." The presidential election
is currently set for May, and general elections for November. /Aksam/
[07] SPECIAL COUNTER-TERRORISM ENVOY BASER: "TURKEY COULD DECIDE TO LAUNCH
A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION"
Turkey's special counter-terrorism envoy, retired Gen. Edip Baser,
yesterday said, "If my state considers a cross-border operation necessary,
and takes this decision as an independent state, its armed forces will
implement that decision very easily. Nobody should doubt this." Speaking to
a regional TV station in Sivas, Baser said that terrorism was a fact which
endangers the lives of innocent people without cause and threatens their
rights to live peacefully and in safety. He also added that he gets the
support he needs from politicians and the prime minister. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[08] THE EU IS INSISTENT
BY SEMIH IDIZ (MILLIYET)
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on the decision taken by the European Union
Council last week to partially suspend Turkey's EU talks. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"Following the decision taken by the EU Council last week, it was clear
that starting membership talks on four chapters which weren't suspended
wouldn't be a great gesture to Ankara, because closing these chapters is
also conditional. Actually the EU wants these chapters opened in order to
be able to say that despite everything the train is moving forward. It's
also known that membership talks have actually been stopped since June. If
talks can be started on these chapters, it could appease Turkey. Although
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul knows the condition for closing those
chapters, he wants talks to be opened on these chapters for pragmatic
reasons, because Ankara has to show that relations with the EU are
continuing in spite of everything and that EU membership is still a �state
policy' for Turkey. In addition, Ankara doesn't have a consistent
alternative, at least right now. However, when the EU Council suspended
membership talks on eight chapters and stipulated the closure of other
chapters was contingent on the Cyprus issue, it was clear that this matter
wasn't over. Because, as I mentioned earlier, the Greek Cypriots announced
that they retain their right of veto on other issues to be negotiated. The
news from Brussels yesterday also shows that the Greek Cypriots have
already started to use this �right.'
According to this news, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the
EU (COREPER) reached a consensus during its meeting yesterday that
membership talks would be opened not on four chapters, but on only one, as
the Greek Cypriot administration wanted. This is nothing but rubbing salt
into Turkey's wound. It seems that Greek Cyprus is a rare blessing for
those who want to turn Turkey's EU journey into torture. We could see from
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's press conference two days
ago that during Germany's term presidency, which will start soon, no one
should expect developments for Turkey or Turkish Cyprus. Steinmeier listed
the issues that they will deal with during their term presidency, but he
mentioned Turkey as little as he could, although it's been the number one
issue for the EU for weeks. He offered no hope for lifting the embargo from
the Turkish Cypriots. Instead, he only said that they would look for a
�way' for this. However, there's no need to look for a way, because what
should be done is very clear, that is, complying with the EU Commission's
suggestions on this issue. The Greek Cypriot administration has already
leaked the news that an agreement was reached with Germany that Turks would
carry out international trade not directly, but through Greek Cypriot
harbors. This is nothing but giving the message that �either Germany
complies with this, or we'll use our veto.' In short, the EU is continuing
to hurt and alienate Turkey."
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