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Turkish Press Review, 04-10-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning22.10.2004FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNSCONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “WE’VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK AND NOW IT’S TIME TO TEST THE EU”Speaking at a press conference at an Organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting in Paris yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had adopted all the values represented by the European Union, adding that the Turkish nation favored these values being established. “We’re aware of the fact that we can raise our standards within the EU,” he said. Erdogan stressed that the decision on starting Ankara’s EU talks at its December summit would be a turning point not only for Turkish-EU relations but also for the new world order. The premier further stressed that he hoped Ankara’s accession talks would begin as soon as possible. “Turkey has done its EU homework and now it’s time to test the Union,” said Erdogan. “We would like officially to begin accession talks in the first months of next year.” Asked about the so- called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said that Turkey was comfortable with the issue, adding that it should be evaluated by historians and scholars. Also touching on the Cyprus issue, Erdogan lamented the Turkish Cypriots’ continued exclusion from the EU despite their approval of the UN Cyprus plan, while the Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan had joined the Union. He added that Turkey wouldn’t withdraw its troops from the island. /Milliyet/[02] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH OECD SECRETARY-GENERAL, DISCUSSES TURKEY’S EU BIDPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in France for an official visit, yesterday met with Donald Johnston, secretary-general of the Organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan said that since the European Union wasn’t a Christian club, France could not use religion as an excuse to refuse Turkey’s EU membership bid. He reiterated that the EU’s December summit would be test for the bloc. Later, addressing a meeting at the Institute of Foreign Politics, Erdogan stressed that there was no need for concerns over Turkish immigration to the EU after the nation completes its accession. /Aksam/[03] GUL TO TRAVEL TO FRANCEForeign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to France on Sunday to attend the Mediterranean Forum Foreign Ministers meeting. During the two- day gathering, Gul is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his Mediterranean counterparts. /Turkiye/[04] GUL URGES EU TO BEGIN TALKS WITH TURKEY IN FIRST HALF OF 2005Speaking at a conference at Ankara’s Bilkent University marking the 30th anniversary of the Institute of Foreign Politics, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged European Union leaders to begin accession talks with Turkey not later than the first half of next year. Gul rebuffed allegations that Turkey would be a burden to the Union, saying, “On the contrary, Turkey will contribute to the Union with its experience and possibilities.” Stressing that he would hold a series of meetings with his EU counterparts in the runup to December’s EU summit, the foreign minister said that Ankara expected from the EU a stance and treatment equal to that applied to other candidates and new members. /Turkiye/[05] CICEK ADDRESSES TUSIAD CONFERENCE IN BERLINSpeaking yesterday at a conference in Berlin organized by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the European Union shouldn’t subject Turkey to different treatment than other candidates. For his part, TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci said that Ankara’s EU membership would be positive for both Turkey and the Union. Also addressing the conference, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said that with Turkey’s EU membership, the Union’s strategic importance would rise. /Aksam/[06] SENER: “WE’RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON OUR PATH TOWARDS THE EU”State Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday remarked that Turkey was making good progress on its path towards the European Union, underlining that its recent reforms on human rights and democratization would help it keep up with modern Western standards of living. “Ankara is currently pursuing the best EU policy that it can,” he added. “EU membership will bring many advantages to our country.” /Star/[07] GREENS LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BIDEurope’s Greens yesterday ended a three-day parliamentary group meeting in Istanbul with expressions of support for Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. “We back the European Commission recommendation, which we consider an invitation,” EU-Turkey parliamentary group head Joost Lagendijk said, referring to the commission’s progress report on Turkey issued earlier this month. The Greens called on Ankara to focus on its ultimate goal without getting lost in the details. /Turkiye/[08] TURKEY GAINS OECD SUPPORT FOR ITS EU BIDThe Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) yesterday issued a report praising Ankara’s recent economic strides. The Paris-based OECD published a survey on Turkey's economy, stating that the country's impressive economic performance would be reinforced through its beginning membership negotiations with the European Union. “The survey shows economic performances that are stunning since 2001, with remarkable macroeconomics,” said OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston, who met yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the OECD meeting in Paris. “The recent recommendation by the EU commission to start EU accession negotiations – if confirmed by the European Council in December – promises to strengthen the international anchors and could underpin Turkey's shift to a new economic regime,” the report said. The organization praised Turkey for its progress through reforms, foreseeing growth of 8% this year after 6% in 2003 and 8% in 2002. “These exceptional economic results are in the interests of Turkey and also of the EU,” Johnston said. “It is the strongest growth among OECD countries,” he added, noting that Turkey's inflation had fallen below 10% for the first time in 30 years. “It is in the interests of Turkey and the EU that Turkey should become a member of the EU.” The OECD also called on Turkey to improve public services and spending controls, boost privatization and revamp its tax system to rein in the country's black market. Such moves would help push down Turkey's 12% inflation rate and improve investor confidence, the report added. /Hurriyet/[09] BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON: “EU COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED TO START MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH TURKEY”British Ambassador to Washington David Manning yesterday said that countries of he European Union had agreed to start Turkey's membership negotiations. Addressing a panel at Washington’s John Hopkins University School of International Research, Manning said, “We have positive intentions to start negotiations with Ankara.” The ambassador also added that Turkey’s EU membership would be a radical development for both the EU and the country itself. /Star/[10] PORTUGUESE FM EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S BEGINNING EU TALKSPortuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Monteiro said yesterday that Ankara’s accession talks with the European Union should begin as soon as possible. “Otherwise, in the future no one will believe the EU would keep its promises,” he said, adding that Turkey had fulfilled the Union’s criteria. “My government will support Turkey beginning its accession talks,” he stressed, predicting that its membership would contribute to the Union’s dynamism. /Milliyet/[11] DENKTAS APPOINTS EROGLU TO FORM NEW TRNC GOVERNMENTFollowing the resignation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) Republican Turkish Party (CTP)-Democratic Party coalition government, TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday met with National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu and appointed him to form a new government. The UBP is the biggest party in Parliament, with 19 deputies. Eroglu should complete his work forming the government within 15 days. /Turkiye/[12] US STATE DEPT: “WE RESPECT THE TRNC’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS”Commenting yesterday on the resignation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) coalition government, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that his administration respected the democratic process in the TRNC. Stressing that the US would continue its efforts to end Turkish Cyprus’ international isolation, Boucher said that these efforts didn’t depend on a certain TRNC government. /Turkiye/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS[14] DIALOGUE WITH EUROPEAN GREENS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on this week’s European Greens’ meeting in Istanbul and Turkish-EU relations. A summary of her column is as follows:“The European Greens’ meeting in Istanbul this week was very useful for both us and them. Firstly, I’m sure the Greens group has never been covered by the continental media this much, except for just after they were founded. Of course this interest comes from the fact that the group has the most positive stance in the European Parliament on Turkey’s European Union bid: It favors starting negotiations with a view to full membership. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer stressed a few days ago that the alternative of ‘special partnership’ was unacceptable. Their clear stance on this is very important. We’re heartened by it, but this wasn’t the most important aspect of the meeting. Its most important message was that it was the first step of a difficult dialogue. Fischer meant it when he said, ‘European political culture also includes talking about difficult subjects.’ The European parliamentarians said repeatedly that Turkey was a proud country, but they also reminded us that such issues as the so-called Armenian genocide, the Cyprus issue and the Kurdish problem would be discussed during our negotiations. ‘The more you take real steps to reform, the fewer negotiations will there be,’ said Fischer. ‘It would be good for both parties if you implement these reforms as soon as possible.’ Of course, we weren’t the only one who heard unwanted words. Some European Greens didn’t like certain criticisms from the Turks. Membership negotiations between Ankara and the EU will be difficult. If we can succeed in establishing a dialogue within ourselves, we won’t have problems with the membership talks. Now we’re at the most difficult stage. Ankara objected to Fischer’s statement when he said, ‘Don’t criticize the European Commission’s report, and, when you criticize it, don’t miss the target.’ Getting a date for membership talks is Ankara’s number one goal. Turkey wants the European Commission to decide to start the talks in the first half of 2005. Ankara is also against open-ended negotiations. Fischer stated, ‘Europe needs time and it also needs modernization. The commission’s report is a work of art.’ Instead of those who think like Fischer and oppose discussions with Brussels, I consider the government’s stance wise.” [15] WHEN IT ENTERS THE EU, WHAT WILL TURKEY’S POPULATION BE? BY HURSIT GUNES (MILLIYET)Columnist Hursit Gunes comments on Turkey’s population growth and its European Union membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:“Turkey’s European Union membership is becoming clearer. While many EU members favor our membership, others see Turkey as a very different country. This didn’t come out before, because Turkey has never been so close to EU membership. Resistance emerges as the time for decision approaches. One of the arguments against Turkey’s membership is its huge population. According to this claim, Turkey’s population will reach 90 million during its accession process. Europe is worrying about this. Actually, even if our rate of growth stays the same, our population in 2014 will be about 81 million, though it will shrink in 30 years. Many countries in Europe have shrinking populations. Turkey’s response to this is that since EU’s population is both shrinking and aging, it needs a young population and workers. Therefore Turkey must be accepted for the sake of Europe’s economic growth. However, many Europeans are suffering from unemployment and so are more worried about this. Research show that poverty increases as the population grows and that population can be controlled with education. Turkey can reduce its population, and this wouldn’t have an adverse effect. Turkey’s reliance on its young population in its EU membership bid represents a failure. A real advantage would be low population growth accompanied by a better-educated population. Turkey shouldn’t rely on its youth, but on its educated populace.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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