SEZER, ARINC, ERDOGAN ISSUE MESSAGES MARKING CHRISTMAS

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday issued messages to mark the Christmas holiday set to be celebrated this Thursday by millions of Catholics and Protestants worldwide. “For centuries, our society has stood as a sterling model,” said Sezer, “a cradle for the peaceful co-existence in unity and tolerance of Muslim, Christian and Jewish citizens.” For his part, Arinc wished a merry Christmas to all Turkey’s Christian citizens as well as Christians worldwide. Meanwhile, Erdogan extended his wishes for joyful love, solidarity and tolerance as the common values of humanity on this special day marking the birth of Jesus. In their messages, the three leaders also wished peace and happiness for all of humanity. /Hurriyet/

SEZER APPROVES PUBLIC FINANCE ADMINISTRATION LAW

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday approved a new Public Finance Administration and Supervision Law. The law, which now goes to the Prime Ministry to be issued officially, mandates transparency for public revenues and expenditures. /Turkiye/
 

GUL TO CONFER ON CYPRUS ISSUE WITH TURKISH AMBASSADORS TO EU COUNTRIES

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to meet today in Ankara with the Turkish ambassadors serving in the 15 European Union member states. The meeting will focus on recent developments in Turkish-EU relations and the Cyprus issue. Gul is expected to exchange views with the ambassadors concerning work to establish a new Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) government in the wake of recent elections there as well as efforts to find a settlement on the island. Gul will reportedly argue that Cyprus talks can be resumed within the framework of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan. Pointing to the importance of a settlement in the runup to the Greek Cypriots’ EU accession set for next May, Gul will ask the ambassadors to make sure the governments of the EU countries are well aware of Ankara’s efforts to help reach a settlement. /Turkiye/
 

TURKEY TO SELL NATURAL GAS TO GREECE

Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and Greek Development Minister Athanasios Tsohatcopulos yesterday signed an agreement paving the way for the sale of natural gas through Turkey to Greece beginning in 2006. Under the agreement, natural gas from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Syria and Iraq will be transported via Turkey to Greece, and then to Italy and other southern European countries. Guler said that some 11 billion cubic meters of gas would be delivered each year. /Sabah/
 

AKP'S CELIK: "THE US KNOWS ABOUT THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ"

Faruk Celik, parliamentary group deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said yesterday that he couldn't believe that the US was unaware of the recent developments in northern Iraq. "This situation is most disturbing," said Celik. "It's quite likely that northern Iraqi Kurdish groups got certain concessions from the US administration following developments in the region over the last year." He added that Ankara was determined to take all measures to protect the nation's future and unity. In related news, yesterday the Cabinet also took up the Kurdish groups' recent initiatives to establish a "Kurdish federation" in northern Iraq. During his official visit to Washington set for next month, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly expected to convey to US officials Turkey’s concern over the developments. /Turkiye/
 

TALAT: “WE’RE READY TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL HELP THE TRNC JOIN THE EU ALONGSIDE GREEK CYPRUS”

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday met with the leaders of the four parties represented in the TRNC Parliament. He first met with Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat. Speaking afterwards, Talat said that his party was ready to form a coalition government which would help the TRNC to join the European Union alongside Greek Cyprus. “We can form a coalition government with any party in order to begin negotiations on the island within the framework of the United Nations plan and reach a resolution,” added Talat. /Aksam/
 

EROGLU: “THE NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK FOR PERMANENT PEACE ON THE ISLAND”

Dervis Eroglu, leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) National Unity Party (UBP), yesterday met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas to discuss the formation of a new post-election government. Speaking afterwards, Eroglu said that they were working to form a government which would defend the rights of both the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish nation, adding that he hoped the new government would work for permanent peace on the island. “Disagreement between the parties over the United Nations Cyprus plan can be overcome through negotiations,” he said, pointing out that the UN plan was still on the table. Eroglu is expected to soon visit Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat to discuss recent developments on the island. “We need to talk about the UN plan,” he said, but added that he still had some reservations about it. /Aksam/
 

DP LEADER DENKTAS: “IF THE UBP AND CTP FORM A TRNC GOVERNMENT, WE WILL SUPPORT IT”

Serdar Denktas, leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) Democratic Party (DP), was received yesterday by TRNC President Rauf Denktas to discuss the formation of a new post-election government. Speaking afterwards, the DP leader said that if the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) were to form a coalition government, then his party would support this unconditionally. “But if Republican Turkish Party [CTP] leader Mehmet Ali Talat becomes prime minister, then I would prefer that my party be in the opposition,” said the DP leader. /Aksam/
 

US’ WESTON TO MEET WITH ANNAN

According to Greek media reports, US Special Cyprus Envoy Thomas Weston is set soon to meet with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss possible ways to resume Cyprus peace talks in line with the UN plan for the island. Weston is reportedly planning to brief Annan on his recent visits to Athens, Lefkosa and Ankara. /Star/

IBDA-C REPORTEDLY ADDED TO EU TERROR LIST

Fundamentalist terrorist group the IBDA-C (Islamist Great Eastern Raiders-Front) has been added to the European Union’s official list of terrorist organizations, diplomatic sources stated yesterday. The move was reportedly approved by EU terrorism analysts who periodically revise the list. The sources added that the EU, which had previously refused to include the IBDA/C on its list despite Ankara’s urgings, changed its mind after the group claimed responsibility for Istanbul attacks last month which claimed the lives of 62 people. The revised list is due to be released today. /Cumhuriyet/
 

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

WHY I CAN’T BELIEVE DENKTAS?
BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)

Columnist Hasan Cemal explains on his lack of confidence in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. A summary of his column is as follows:

“In the ‘70s, Turkey was caught in a vicious cycle of violence and terrorism. Our political system was helpless and weak. The left and right were unable to put their heads together to solve things. There were calls for then Justice Party (AP) leader Suleyman Demirel and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Bulent Ecevit to establish a coalition. However, neither man wanted this. Instead, they pretended to be open to mutual dialogue, then lashed out against the other to the press. This was a style which brought Turkish politics to a dead end, a bad habit of a consensus-averse culture. A political style defining everything as ‘black and white’ or ‘friend or foe’ didn’t help our nation.

I bring this up because of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. He’s still looking at the world through the lens of the Cold War. As I watched him speaking on TV recently, I thought that a leader who is so shackled to the past can never make peace. Neither a solution nor peace can be achieved with a leader who talks about Greek Cypriots as if they are devils. Turkey has suffered greatly from this style. Of course the Turkish Cypriots have suffered enormously from cruelty and oppression at the hands of the Greek Cypriots. Everybody knows this shameful history. However, if you deal with only this side of history and approach it not with the language of consensus but rather animosity, nobody will believe you really want peace. If you insult and say bad things about people you’re due to soon negotiate with, nobody will believe your willingness to seek solutions. I no longer believe in it this either. I respect the past. However, Mr. Denktas is stuck in it, and has become a slave of it. Of course lessons can be learned from the past, but these lessons can’t consist only of enmity. But this is Denktas. For this reason, I don’t believe that he is capable of making peace.”
 

BOLD MOVES
BY HIKMET BILA (CUMHURIYET)

Columnist Hikmet Bila comments on policies of the US and EU towards Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:

“There are certain key turning points in 80 years of Turkish foreign policy. I’m not counting the War of Independence or the Treaty of Lausanne since they are developments which led to the establishment of the Turkish Republic. Among these turning points are Hatay choosing to be in Turkey, our neutrality during World War II, our joining international organizations like the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the Korean War, our NATO membership, and the Cyprus Peace Operation. Another important development was the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) war against terrorism in the country’s southeast.

After the passage of some time, the importance of these developments came to be generally recognized. Today we are again at an historical crossroads. Are we aware of this, or when we realize its importance will it already be too late?

I don’t know why, but Turkey is being faced with an inconceivable brute force. I say I don’t know why because this pressure lacks a reasonable justification, as those seeking to pressure on Turkey will not be able to benefit from its result. Brute force and filth: This, in a nutshell, is the policy that our Western ‘friends and allies’ follow over Turkey.

In the first place, we have Cyprus. Why is the West smothering us with such pressure? With lies and naked partiality, violating every Western value including the Copenhagen criteria, they’re trying to make Turkey give up on Cyprus.

And then we have the case of the southeast. An attack that began there in 1984 spanned 15 long years until 1999. Now Turkey is faced with a more extensive assault. Though Ankara declared this a casus belli, the US is working to establish an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. At the same time the European Union pointedly included a passage on the ‘southeast’ in its recent statement on Turkey. Now where is the southeast exactly? Those who draw maps and are seeking a Kurdish state in northern Iraq call it ‘northern Kurdistan.’ Is there any chance of Turkey intervening in developments in northern Iraq? No. Earlier this year the US took Turkish troops in the region in Sulaimaniya into custody. Turkey could neither put its troops on alert nor protest the incident. Furthermore, the US forced a provision barring Turkish troops from entering northern Iraq into the $8.5 billion Turkish loan agreement. The US can do anything it wants in the region. While the US eliminates groups that threaten it, it flirts with terrorist organizations that threaten Turkey.

America is working in northern Iraq, and Europe in Turkey’s southeast. Both the US and Europe are working in Cyprus. EU membership, globalization and words about human rights won’t change the reality of this critical situation. I don’t know what Europe and the US hope to gain from manhandling Turkey. I call this foolishness. But sometimes fools also make history.

In this era and in its context, there is a need for bold moves to protect Turkey’s interests and face up to the West. But who will do this? ”