ISTANBUL HOSTS FORUM ISTANBUL 2005

Speaking at the beginning of Forum Istanbul 2005, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey was among the shining stars on the international stage. Stressing that Turkey should integrate itself into Europe’s science, technology and industry, Erdogan said his government was trying to overcome difficulties on the road to European Union membership. He reiterated that Ankara was continuing its efforts to become an EU member in line with its timetable. Also addressing also the gathering, European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said Turkey should fully implement democratic and political reforms to become a full member, adding that the commission would continue to support it during the accession process. He added that Turkey should make efforts to attract foreign investors. Commenting on the Armenian issue, Rehn said that he hoped a constructive dialogue would begin between Turkey and Armenia. Meanwhile, Erdogan held separate face-to-face meetings with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and International Monetary Fund First Managing Director Anne Krueger. /Cumhuriyet-Star/

GUL VISITS KYRGYZSTAN

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday left for an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, in the wake of unrest and a revolution in March. Gul’s two-day stay aims at giving support to the country’s democratization and stabilization efforts ahead of upcoming presidential elections. After being welcomed by Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Ishengul Bolcurova in Biskek, Gul delivered two-and-a-half tons of humanitarian aid to Kyrgyz officials and pledged that Turkey’s help to the country would continue. Gul is set to meet with interim President Kurmanbek Bakiev as well as the foreign minister and candidates for the presidency today. /Turkiye/

GUL CONDEMNS EFFORTS TO CRIMINALIZE DENIAL OF “GENOCIDE” ALLEGATIONS

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan might meet with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian later this month, but added, “However, this isn’t yet firm.” Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport before leaving for Kyrgyzstan, Gul condemned certain European countries’ recent efforts to criminalize denying the so-called Armenian genocide. Stressing that he had discussed the issue with Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht, Gul said that the right of people to express their opinions and expose truths about history could not be denied. “Such initiatives are against the basic principles of Europe,” said the foreign minister. The lower house of the Belgian Parliament recently passed a bill criminalizing statements denying the genocide allegations. The bill proposing up to one year in prison for violators is awaiting the approval of the Senate. /Sabah-Turkiye/

WASHINGTON: “WE WANT A BI-ZONAL SOLUTION ON CYPRUS”

During her contacts in Southern Cyprus, US State Department Undersecretary Laura Kennedy stated yesterday that she would call on Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to present to the UN his desired changes to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan. Stating that the US was working to get Cyprus talks restarted, Kennedy said Washington supported a bi-zonal, bi-national and federal solution on the basis of Annan’s plan. As part of her contacts on Southern Cyprus, Kennedy will separately meet with Papadopoulos, Greek Cypriot Parliament Speaker Dimitris Hristofyas and Greek Cypriot Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI) leader Nikos Anastasiadis. Then Kennedy is expected to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to meet with President Mehmet Ali Talat. /Turkiye/

TALAT REBUFFS PAPADOPOULOS’ SKEPTICISM OVER CYPRUS SOLUTION

ATHENS: “THERE SHOULD BE NO TIMETABLE OR ARBITRATOR FOR CYPRUS TALKS”

The Greek government stated yesterday that Cyprus talks should restart without foreign arbitration or a “constraining” timetable. Its statement following US State Department Undersecretary Laura Kennedy’s contacts in Athens said that Greece’s aim was to “find a solution on Cyprus which can be accepted by Greek and Turkish Cypriots through a referendum.” According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, the final goal must be a solution that has been agreed on and is put to separate referendums, without arbitration or tight deadlines. /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT COMMISSION APPROVES RTUK PROPOSAL

Parliament’s Constitutional Commission yesterday passed a constitutional amendment proposal submitted by ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies concerning the election of Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) members. The proposal stipulates the election of nine RTUK members by political parties in Parliament in line with their number of seats. It would also regulate the tasks and legal authority of RTUK and the qualifications of its members. /Turkiye/

NEW TUBITAK LAW FACES CRITICISM, CHALLENGES

A new law on the Turkish Science and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) which was approved in Parliament yesterday has been met by negative reactions from former education ministers. While Metin Bostanciogl said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was acting stubbornly towards the state, Necdet Tekin charged that the government was “taking revenge” by filling positions with its appointees. The opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), which is waiting for the once-vetoed TUBITAK law to return to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said if the government insists the arrangement under the law, they would apply to the Constitutional Court to have it annulled. CHP group deputy chairman Haluk Koc said that many in Parliament were against this “antidemocratic” law. /Cumhuriyet/

UN CONFIRMS DERVIS AS HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The UN General Assembly approved yesterday the appointment of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Kemal Dervis as the new head of the UN Development Program (UNDP). Dervis was confirmed for a four-year term starting Aug. 15. In addition to his landmark turn as Turkey’s economy minister, Dervis is a former World Bank executive who was responsible for developing new poverty reduction strategies. /Aksam/

TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER KILLED IN IRAQ

Salih Gulbol, A Turkish truck driver, was killed in an armed attack against him near Baghdad, Iraq three days ago. The number of Turkish drivers killed in postwar Iraq thus reached 94. Gulbol was married with two children. /Star/

GENERAL STAFF TO ORGANIZE “SCIENCE ERA” SYMPOSIUM

The Turkish General Staff’s Strategic Research and Study Center (SAREM) is set to hold an international symposium concerning science and technological developments. In addition to Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, former US State Department spokesman James Rubin and former advisor to President Reagan William Van Cleave are expected to address the gathering. The meeting will be held on May 12-13 in Ankara. /Turkiye/
 

FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS

RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL
BY UMIT OZDAG (AKSAM)

Columnist Umit Ozdag comments on relations between Israel and Turkey and their apparent gradual development. A summary of his column is as follows:

“With this week’s visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Israel, the relations between the two countries seem to be developing with each passing day. The visit of Erdogan to Israel, after the visit of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to the same country back in January, indicates that both countries are trying to overcome the crisis in their relations. It can be even said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is getting ready for strategic and steady relations with Israel.

The development of relations between the countries which started in 1993 with the visit of then Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin to Israel gained a new dimension with the agreement on Security and Confidence signed in 1994. Ankara, seeing that Syria, Iran and Greece were supporting the terrorist PKK, developed a cooperation policy with Tel Aviv.

As for Israel’s benefits, it started gathering information about Syria and Iran and in addition, gained strategic depth in the Middle East. The side which profited more from economic cooperation has also been Israel.

After Turkey changed its Iraq policy, the reasons behind the crisis in Turkish-Israeli relations was swept away.

In short, it seems that Erdogan’s visit to Israel has been very fruitful.”