PRESIDENT SEZER RECEIVES ECUADORAN, GUATEMALAN AMBASSADORS

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received Emilio Rafael Izquierdo, Ecuador’s ambassador to Italy who is also accredited to Turkey. Izquierdo presented his letter of credentials to Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Later, Floridalma Franco Paiz, Guatemala’s ambassador to Egypt who is also accredited to Turkey, presented his letter of credentials to Sezer. /All papers/

ERDOGAN: “THE EU’S STANCE TOWARDS TURKEY IS NOT FAIR”

The European Union’s stance towards Turkey’s EU membership bid is not a fair one, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged yesterday. Speaking at a meeting in Berlin, Erdogan pointed to Turkey’s steadfast efforts and clear willingness to become an EU member. “Even some former Eastern bloc countries which are hardly in a better state than Turkey have been admitted into the EU,” said the premier. “The EU’s stance against Turkey is incomprehensible.” As part of his contacts with German officials, Erdogan met with opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Angela Merkel. Following their meeting, Erdogan stated that he believed German political parties would support Turkey’s EU membership bid. For her part, Merkel said that Turkey had yet to be admitted into the Union due to EU economic problems, not because the majority of Turkey’s citizens are Muslims. Erdogan left Germany to return to Ankara yesterday afternoon. /Turkiye/
 

FOREIGN MINISTER GUL RETURNS FROM VIENNA

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Ankara from Vienna. Before his departure, Gul met separately with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) head Carlos Magarinos and Antonio Maria Costa, director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Later, in a statement on his contacts in Austria, Gul said that he had attended a conference of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) signatory countries on ways to accelerate enforcement of the arms control pact. “In my speech to the meeting, I stressed the importance Turkey places on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons as well as the ratification and enforcement by all countries of the CTBT, one the key means for achieving this goal,” said Gul. He also stated that he had met with the Finnish and Japanese foreign ministers as well as the Italian deputy foreign minister during the conference. Gul added that during his talks with UNODC head Costa, he had pledged Turkey’s continued support for UN efforts to combat corruption, the drug trade, organized crime, terrorism and human smuggling. /All papers/
 

NATO COMMANDER JAMES JONES MEETS WITH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OZKOK

Gen. James Jones, the visiting commander of NATO forces in Europe, yesterday met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok in Ankara. During their meeting, the two commanders reportedly discussed recent developments in Iraq and efforts to establish an international stabilization force there as well as the presence of PKK/KADEK terrorists in northern Iraq. “I think any help that could be given [by Turkey] to the very important efforts ongoing in Iraq would be welcome by the United States,” said Jones. In addition, topics on the agenda of next week’s NATO Military Committee meeting in Britain and France were discussed. The Allied Action 2003 Exercises to be held on Nov. 13-18 in Turkey were also reviewed. Then Jones visited Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. In an effort to clarify certain details regarding Turkey’s possible troop deployment in Iraq, Turkish and US military delegations are set to begin talks today. /All Papers/
 

GULER TO VISIT ISRAEL TO DISCUSS SALE OF MANAVGAT WATER

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler is to travel to Israel on Sep. 18-19 to sign a protocol on the sale of Turkish water from Manavgat, near Antalya, to this country. During their meetings, Guler and Israeli officials will discuss how the water is to be marketed as well as transported, via tanker ships or an underwater pipeline. Turkey will be responsible for the sale of the water only, while Israel will decide on the method of transportation. Once an agreement is reached, the State Waterworks Authority (DSI) is set to finalize tender conditions before calling for bids. /Turkiye/
 

D’ESTAING GLOOMY ON TURKEY’S EU PROSPECTS

The European Union’s attempts to admit Turkey into its ranks are unlikely to yield a positive outcome, claimed European Convention Chairman Valery Giscard d’Estaing at a Strasbourg press conference yesterday. “If we want full-scale integration within our European countries, we have to build a homogenous structure and preserve it,” claimed d’Estaing, a former French president, adding, “I don’t see that possible with Turkey in the Union.” D’Estaing furthermore proposed that instead of accession to the Union, Turkey could improve its ties with the EU by following the example of the relationship between the US and Mexico. Late last year, d’Estaing publicly alleged that Turkey’s accession to the EU would bring about “the end” of the Union, causing a firestorm of controversy both in Turkey and the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER: “THE EU ISN’T READY FOR TURKEY’S ACCESSION”

Speaking at a press conference following her meeting with visiting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, German opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel claimed that the European Union was not yet ready to admit Turkey, citing as reason the EU’s current economic woes. “This has nothing to do with Turkey’s being a Muslim country or the nation’s cultural differences,” added Merkel. “The latest enlargement wave has placed additional burdens on the Union’s economy, which, for the present time, does not allow the EU to take Turkey in as a member.” /Sabah/
 

WORLD BANK REPORT TOUTS TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS

In a new report released yesterday, the World Bank praises the recent pace of economic progress in Turkey. The WB’s “Global Economic Prospects 2004” notes how the economy successfully overcame the 2001 crisis to achieve 7.8% growth last year. It added, however, that this year’s growth target was 5%. The report further stated that Turkey’s exports were on the rise despite appreciation of the lira, adding that the government should continue fully to implement its International Monetary Fund-supported economic program. /Milliyet/
 

AUGUST WHOLESALE INFLATION LOWEST IN 20 YEARS

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released month-on-month inflation figures for August. Inflation lat month was 0.2% on the consumer price index (CPI) and a negative 0.2% on the wholesale price index (WPI), the latter the lowest such rate in 20 years. Overall the figures pushed year-to-year WPI inflation to 22.7% and CPI to 24.9%. /All papers/
 

FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…

AN AGREEMENT WITHOUT SIGNATURES
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)

Columnist Fikret Bila writes on Ankara’s stance on the issue of possible Turkish troop deployments in Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:

“It’s like we’re living through the pre-war period again… The latest developments are giving me an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu… Turkish and US military delegations have recently resumed their talks. As Gen. James Jones, the commander of NATO forces in Europe, visited Ankara, our military officials have once again sat down to the negotiating table with Washington. It’s also being reported that Adm. Sir Michael Boyce, Britain's former chief of Defense Staff, is set to pay a visit to our country at the end of this month. This military traffic reminds me of the pre-war period when military officials had signed an agreement for US troop deployments. However, after the ink on the agreement had dried, our Parliament refused Washington's request to let in US troops for a northern front against Iraq. That rebuff angered Washington, which is why our government is now eager to mend strained relations. Once bitten, twice shy; so this time, our militaries will prepare an agreement, but won’t sign anything before getting Parliament’s stance on the issue. The signing of the military agreement will take place after the political decision-makers weigh in. This time, Ankara should proceed carefully and take every possible measure to prevent another disappointment with Washington, as this would very likely cause irreparable harm to bilateral relations. Ankara should act consistently and determinedly. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated that his government had yet to make its decision on the issue, underlining that he would never send Turkish soldiers into a bad situation. Our government often stresses that the main mission of Turkish troops should be to provide the Iraqi people with civilian services, rather than acting as policemen in the region. We’re all fearful that the Iraqis will see our soldiers as collaborators of foreign occupiers. However, we have yet to see any preparations to make the arrangements for such civilian services. If doctors, engineers and technicians are to accompany our soldiers to Iraq, why hasn’t Ankara begun the necessary preparations? All we see now are the military negotiations underway.”

BEYOND BERLIN
BY SOLI OZEL (SABAH)

Columnist Soli Ozel urges Ankara to set an agenda beyond the focus on this week’s visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Germany. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Certain visible results of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Germany this week have been trumpeted by our newspapers. Their reporters covered the visit well. However, visits by columnists, senior journalists and Ankara correspondents might have produced deeper analyses.

Normally Ankara would hold meetings with high-ranking US officials and diplomats and ask policy-makers and think-tanks their opinions. During our countdown towards European Union membership negotiations, such inquiries and studies have not been applied to Germany. I wonder if the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq had been discussed and if so, what the people said. Will there be cooperation under the UN umbrella? Germany’s stance concerning the issue of Turkey’s EU membership is becoming clear. It seems the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has adopted a policy based on religious discrimination or enmity towards foreigners. Will the ruling Social Democrats make a stand by condemning this anti-Turkish position? Will German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s friendly relations with Turkey become a permanent political orientation?

Under these circumstances, Ankara should go beyond an agenda centered around only the Copenhagen criteria. In addition, we shouldn’t consider our relations with the EU as an alternative to relations with the US. It would be particularly beneficial for Turkey to create balanced relations with its partners within the Atlantic alliance. Turkey should simultaneously deepen its relations both with the EU and the US and redefine its relations within this triangle. In turn, Turkey’s European and American allies should see that the cost of alienating and isolating Turkey is too high. Of course Ankara should fulfill its duties. However, it should also tell most importantly Berlin and Paris what it can bring to the EU and conversely the high cost of its excluding it.”