ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on December 18th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE SUCCEEDED
Turkey took a date from the European Union (EU) to start full membership negotiations. It is October 3rd, 2005. We could not fully get what we wanted during the bargaining, but at the same time we did not give everything what they wanted. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan summarized the result: ''We succeeded''.
RECORD IN STOCK EXCHANGE
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), upon the agreement that was reached, broke two records, one is historic and the other is annual.
IMKB-100 Index increased 400 points in half an hour and closed its session with 24.360 points.
The IMKB, which closed the first session at 23,747.14 points with a 0.79 percent decrease, was opened at 23,632.34 points in the second session with a loss of 114.80 percent.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ALSO WE ARE IN
Turkey has passed the most important threshold in its long path to the European Union (EU). And, doors of the EU has been opened. As impositions on Cyprus issue continued, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''bye bye'' and got out of the room. Then, EU leaders assumed a milder attitude. The most critical discussions occurred during the five-way summit attended by leaders of Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Greece. Due to impositions, Erdogan said, ''you have preferred a country of 600,000 population over Turkey with its 70 million population. We can't accept it.'' He said ''bye bye'' and left the room. Firstly Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, then British Prime Minister Tony Blair tried to prevent Erdogan. At the same moment, former Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal told EU leaders, ''are you aware that we are returning.'' EU leaders who understood that the summit would be a fiasco, accepted Turkey's demand.
TARGET, OPEN-ENDED FULL MEMBERSHIP
The historic presidency conclusions said, ''membership negotiations with Turkey start on October 3rd, 2005. Target is full membership. The outcome of these negotiations can't be guaranteed beforehand, it is an open-ended process. If the candidate country isn't in the position to undertake all difficulties of the membership, it must ensured that the candidate state concerned is fully anchored into the European structures through the strongest possible bond.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WAS THE EARLY REACTION OF BAYKAL AN EU TACTIC?
Statement of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader in the middle of the bargaining saying ''put the relations with the European Union (EU) on ice'' led to discussions.
CHP officials defended that this call of Baykal strengthened the hand of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan against the EU leaders.
Baykal in a statement he made in the afternoon said Cyprus condition and open ended negotiations which the EU put in front of Turkey as pre-condition were unacceptable. Baykal said Turkey should suspend relations with the EU.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DATE IN RETURN FOR CYPRUS
Turkey verbally committed to recognize the Greek Cypriot side till October 3rd, 2005 at the end of severe bargaining and as a result of the pressure of European Union (EU) leaders. Another amended article was the paragraph on permanent derogations. The paragraph which clarified the expression ''permanent'' said, ''long transition period, derogations, specific arrangements or permanent safeguard clauses may be considered.''
ANNAN ACCUSES EU
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that parties should think well about Cyprus issue, and noted, ''we will be ready for recommendation when parties decide to take steps.'' Annan indirectly criticized the European Union (EU) which accepted the Greek Cypriot side as a member without the solution of the problem.
DENKTAS: WHICH CYPRUS?
Commenting on EU's demands from Turkey to recognize Cyprus, President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said, ''the only problem is which Cyprus it will recognize.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EVERYBODY TO UNDERTAKE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EU FULL MEMBERSHIP
The crisis has been overcome, and adjustment protocol will be signed till October 3rd, 2005. Balkenende and Straw said, ''signature doesn't mean Turkey's recognition of Cyprus.''
ATTACK IN MOSUL
A group of security officers appointed to Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad for a temporary period of time was attacked by insurgents in Iraqi city of Mosul. The Foreign Ministry stated, ''two officials reached Baghdad and one reached Habur. Some of our employees are killed.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SOLUTION THAT COMES WITH STAKE
Upon the condition asking Turkey ''to recognize Cyprus'', Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told EU leaders, ''I am returning home.'' Then, EU saw what could happen. EU leaders said on December 16th that negotiations with Turkey would be opened on October 3rd, 2005, adding, ''but Turkey should announce within 24 hours that it recognizes Cyprus.'' Strongly reacting to this condition, Erdogan said, ''impossible.'' After this development, EU current president the Netherlands' Prime Minister Balkenende met Erdogan. Erdogan assumed the similar severe attitude during his meeting with Balkenende and said, ''you haven't understood what we want to say during our meetings so far so that you are imposing new conditions. I won't sign any document.'' Balkenende's statement had a serious impact in Brussels. ''Erdogan has wanted his plane to be ready for flight. He is returning home.'' Erdogan's return to Turkey would mean ''fiasco.'' EU leaders immediately convened and decided to lift Cyprus condition. British PM Tony Blair, who went beside Erdogan, asked him not to leave Brussels and invited him to the meeting. Erdogan, who met EU leaders again, promised that Turkey is ready for every kind of solution to be found by the UN. And, thus the crisis was over.
ERDOGAN: WE HAVE SUCCEEDED BUT DIFFICULT DAYS ARE STARTING NOW
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''today we have got the outcome of our 41-year efforts. Negotiation process has started as of this moment. We will show the whole world how Turks succeed in this difficult process.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NEW EUROPE NEW TURKEY
Turkey left behind a very important turning point in its 41-year European adventure. 25-member EU made a decision to start full membership negotiations with Turkey and thus for the first time opened its doors to a Muslim country.
This decision changed identity and vision of Europe and Turkey.
ANNAN: WE ARE READY TO HELP FOR CYPRUS
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who attended as special guest to the summit in Brussels, undertook the role of mediator in solution of Cyprus question.
Stating that there was not a UN plan at the moment, Annan said he was expecting the initiatives of the sides.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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WE SUCCEEDED
Brussels summit, which was prevented by ''Cyprus impasse'' the previous night, resulted in compromise following strict bargaining. Statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would return to Ankara was influential on the European Union (EU) leaders to step back.
Course of the summit changed when Erdogan said he could return to Ankara without waiting for the results of the summit. Erdogan said, ''I can not explain this to Turkish people''.
Erdogan was convinced to continue the talks with the joint efforts of Berlusconi, Blair and Schroeder.
FIVE VICTORIES IN BRUSSELS
-A decision was made in the historic summit to start full membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.
-Turkey in its decision gave a verbal commitment that it would sign Ankara Agreement with the 10 countries without recognizing Greek Cypriot side.
-Although the negotiations are ''open-ended'' the expression that ''the target is full membership'' was included in the final statement.
-In case the negotiations fail, another link will be set up with the EU in case Turkey would not like to be a member of the EU.
-Free movement right can be given instead of derogation when necessary. There may be exceptions regarding the implementations in agriculture.
2004-12-18