NEW JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS

A ceremony was held yesterday in Ankara to mark the opening of 2004-2005 Judicial Year. The attendees included President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court President Mustafa Bumin, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, President of the Council of State Ender Cetinkaya and Government Accounting Bureau Chairman Mehmet Damar as well as a number of ministers and judges. Supreme Court of Appeals First Acting Chief Mater Kaban delivered the opening speech where he underscored the importance of the judiciary. He stated that justice was sacred for democracy, as an institution which could not bear even the smallest stain. “The most distinctive mark of modern state was that it should be bound by rules of law,” Kaban added. Stating that people must comply with judiciary decisions, Kaban said that disobedience would cause violation of human rights and also weaken citizens’ confidence in state and justice. He added that unjust criticisms against judiciary could cause negative results. Kaban also underlined the importance of preparing a new constitution in line with Turkey’s European Union aspirations. In addition, a reception was also held in the evening on the occasion of the opening of the new judicial year. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Erdogan, Bumin, and a number of officials attended the reception which was hosted by Kaban. In related news, President Sezer, Premier Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Arinc issues separate messages to mark the day, underlining the importance of the independence of judiciary for democracy. /All Papers/

VERHEUGEN MEETS WITH GUL, ERDOGAN; EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID

European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, yesterday met with Abdullah Gul to discuss Turkey’s EU membership bid. Speaking at a joint press conference, Verheugen said that there wouldn’t be any delay this December concerning the EU’s decision on Turkey and added that the progress report on Turkey, scheduled to be released in October, would be just and objective. “We’ll not put forth new conditions for Turkey’s membership bid,” he said, adding that he would do his best for the EU to decide to begin accession talks with Ankara. He stressed that the Cyprus issue was not a condition for Turkey’s EU bid. Later, Verheugen met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During their meeting, Erdogan said that Ankara needed time to completely fulfill the EU reforms. After completing his contacts in Ankara, Verheugen met with Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir in Diyarbakir. /Aksam/

ROMANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS TURKEY

TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER SET FREE IN IRAQ

Turkish truck driver Mithat Civi taken hostage in Iraq on Saturday was released, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced yesterday. “As a result of intense efforts by Turkish Foreign Ministry, Civi has been set free,” Gul told reporters. The company Civi was working for announced on Sunday that it would suspend operations in Iraq after militants said they would behead the 48-year-old Civi. /Turkiye/
 

BARZANI, TALABANI TO VISIT ANKARA

Iraqi Kurdish leaders running northern Iraq Jalal Talabani and Nechirvan Barzani of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) respectively are expected to pay a visit to Ankara to hold a series of talks with Turkish Foreign Ministry Abdullah Gul and other officials. The meetings will focus on growing tension between Kurds and Turkmen in oil-rich northern Iraqi city Kirkuk as well as recent security threats facing Turkish businessmen and truck drivers in Iraq. Barzani arrived in Ankara yesterday, while Talabani is due to arrive today. /Turkiye/
 

CICEK: “TURKEY HAS NEVER BACKED TERRORISM”

Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek yesterday said that Turkey had never backed terrorism, wherever it was staged or whatever its purpose was. Speaking to reporters after a plus four-hour Cabinet meeting, Cicek stated that for decades Turkey had suffered much from terrorism and still face to face with it. Commenting on recent terrorist attacks on Turkish truck drivers in Iraq, Cicek noted that there was an authority vacuum in Iraq and therefore everything could not be kept under control. He added that Turkish government was continuing to take necessary measures to ensure security of Turkish citizens in that country. Concerning Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Cicek stated that it had mostly implemented the criteria required for membership, adding that during December’s EU summit, Ankara was expecting to get date to begin accession talks soon. /Turkiye/
 

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION: “NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANKARA SHOULD BE OPENED AS SOON AS TURKEY FULFILS THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA”

The Independent Commission on Turkey, comprising former heads of state, foreign ministers and European commissioners, yesterday released a report on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, saying that accession talks with Ankara should begin as soon as it completes the Copenhagen criteria. “Turkey has every reason for expecting to be welcome in the Union, provided it fulfills the relevant conditions," said the report. "The Independent Commission therefore feels strongly that in dealing with this issue the European Union must treat Turkey with all due respect, fairness and consideration." Launching the report in Brussels yesterday, former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari said a decision should be made soon. “Further delay would damage the European Union's credibility,” he said. “Turkey has undergone a silent revolution in recent years in trying to meet the political criteria necessary for membership of the EU.” Ahtisaari added that fears about Turkish immigration to Europe were “vastly exaggerated.” /Cumhuriyet/

EU COMMISSIONER FISCHLER SEES A SERIES OF REFERENDA ON TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP

TUSIAD CHAIRMAN WARNS OF FURTHER INCREASE IN THE CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT

Speaking at a business meeting in Mersin yesterday, Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci said that recent rise in Turkey’s current accounts deficit was a natural result of Turkey’s growth, adding that this trend proved that the problem was structural. He warned that the deficit could further increase due to rise in oil prices and added that the deficit could only be financed by entrance of foreign capital. Sabanci criticized the government, saying that it couldn’t adopt a comprehensive tax reform. /Cumhuriyet/
 

FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

TURKEY, EUROPE AND ISLAM
BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)

Columnist Taha Akyol comments on the report prepared by the Independent Commission on Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:

“EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen arrived in Turkey and the report prepared by the Independent Commission on Turkey was announced. Positive signals are increasing and a satisfactory decision is expected in December. Are the reforms made by Turkey the only reason for this optimism? I asked this question to Prof. Ahmet Davutoglu, foreign policies advisor of the prime minister and foreign minister. He replied, ‘Turkey has friendly relations with all its neighbors. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to visit Turkey are important, even if he was unable to do it. If Europe wants to establish friendly relations with Eurasia and the Islamic geography and prevent the conflict of civilizations, Turkey is the best way for it. Of course Turkey should fulfill this global mission.

In sum, the 50-page report states the following:

Turkey is becoming a corridor of energy between Europe and Asia. With its link with the Turkic republics and geopolitical location, Turkey could help Europe with reaching the oil in Caucasus and Siberia. In addition, Turkey is a determining factor in terms of the water problem in the Middle East countries. * Anatolia is one of the cradles of the European civilization. The Ottoman Empire was one of the important elements of the European politics. Certain communities which were under pressure in Europe took shelter in the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman sultans started the modernization and Ataturk established the modern Turkey. Meanwhile, the public adopted a liberal secularism. * Turkey’s EU membership would save the EU from being a closed Christian club and prove the reconcilability of Islam and democracy. Turkey is the example of finding a solution for the dilemma between religious traditions in the Islamic world and modern universal values. Turkey is directed towards Europe. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has carried our more reforms than those made in the last ten years.

The report, which is an example of political wisdom, also criticizes the paranoiac generalizations and clichés about Turkey, stating, ‘Even certain people argue that if Turkey becomes an EU member, Muslim people would occupy Europe and destroy the European culture and civilization!’ This report shows the horizons of the political thought, which is what Davutoglu calls, the ‘strategic deepness.’ Our historic heritage is passing through a social modernization process and becoming the elements of a global mission. Of course there will be rises and falls but Turkey is fulfilling this mission very well.
 

THE CRITICAL VISIT
BY SERVET YILDIRIM (SABAH)

Columnist Servet Yildirim comments on Turkey’s European Union Membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Next month the European Union will publish the progress report on Turkey. The content of the report can shape both the market economy and politics. EU commissioner for enlargement Guenther Verheugen yesterday arrived in Turkey to collect the recent data for the report. The report will include an evaluation about all the developments which Turkey made since December 1999 and an advice for Turkey. The report will play an important role in giving Turkey a date for accession talks. Therefore, Verheugen’s contacts are very important. If they are thinking about distracting Turkey, they will find the justification for this during the visit. And if there is an atmosphere in the commission in favor of Turkey then this could be consolidated during Verheugen’s three-day visit. Some members of the commission, which will write the report, have some serious hesitations about giving Turkey a date for accession talks. Verheugen’s impressions about Turkey could have an important role in convincing these members.

Turkey came to an important turning point in its relations with the EU. Therefore, we have to avoid making mistakes which could be an obstacle to our EU membership bid, but we have a tendency to make things more difficult to ourselves for example the discussion about adultery. It is difficult to understand the reason behind bringing up the discussion about that adultery would be an offense by a government, which based its policy on Turkey’s EU membership bid. On the other hand, the same government had stated its intentions about a stand-by agreement with the IMF.

We see that the EU doesn’t approve the discussed regulations about adultery. What we have to do is not to make mistakes in these days where we are close to get a date for accession talks. A negative outcome from the EU could have an influence on the market and the political stability. Considering this risk, the government has to be more careful.”