Apr. 20th Press Review
PRESIDENT GUL TO VISIT PRAGUE
President Abdullah Gul will pay a two-day visit to Prague next week, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) announced. The Czech Republic currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. Gul will attend a Turkish-Czech Council Common meeting to be held with the cooperation of the Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce, along with his counterpart Vaclav Claus. In related news, during a foreign ministers' level Turkey-EU troika meeting in Prague tomorrow, the EU is expected to warn Turkey that it needs to do better on issues such as fundamental rights and freedoms and freedom of the press. /Hurriyet Daily News-Milliyet/
ERDOGAN ATTENDS FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan over the weekend attended the 65th birthday party of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Hannover. Schroeder served as chancellor from 1998 to 2005. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan called Schroeder a friend and praised his contributions to Turkish-German relations and Ankara's European Union accession bid. Urging Berlin to ease visa requirements for Turks coming to Germany to do business, Erdogan said that visa problems were hurting bilateral trade. Referring to arson attacks on houses of Turks living in Germany, Erdogan said these should not go unpunished, urging the German government to investigate them and bring the guilty to justice. Asked about talks between Turkey and Armenia towards normalized relations, Erdogan said, "A decision to open the border gate with Armenia will depend on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue being solved. If the Armenian occupation of Azeri territory continues, Turkey will not open its border gate." Erdogan also criticized the EU's Cyprus policy, saying that the Union made a grave mistake by admitting Greek Cyprus without solving the Cyrus issue, and cited how in 2004 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) accepted a UN plan to solve the issue but the Greek Cypriots rejected it. Erdogan also met with representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations in Hannover. During the meeting, Erdogan called on German citizens of Turkish descent to vote in the German general elections this September. "All German citizens of Turkish descent should vote in the elections," he said. "You need to show your determination. And NGOs should mobilize to get people to the polls." He added, "There are nearly 70,000 Turkish employers in Germany. Their investments total €7.5 billion, and they have annual sales of €33 billion. They employ 33,000 people in their companies. We are proud of them." Erdogan also urged young Turks living in Germany to become German citizens to guarantee their social and political rights and to actively participate in all areas of social life. "You should learn German well and also preserve your native language and culture," Erdogan added. /Sabah-Turkiye/
TURKISH CYPRIOTS ELECT NEW PARLIAMENT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) citizens yesterday cast ballots to elect 50 parliamentary deputies. According to unofficial results, the opposition National Unity Party (UBP) won a single-party turn in government with 44% of the vote, while the ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) came in a distant second with 29%. /Star/
SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER DUE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will pay a two-day visit to Turkey beginning tomorrow. According to the Swedish Prime Ministry, Reinfeldt is expected to discuss Turkey's European Union membership process and the global economic crisis. He will be received by President Abdullah Gul and meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Hurriyet Daily News/
LAGENDIJK: "SOME EU COUNTRIES LIKE TO HIDE BEHIND THE CYPRUS PROBLEM"
European Union member states could do behind the scenes work to promote a speedy solution on the divided island of Cyprus, but some are unwilling, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk said yesterday. "Some countries like to hide behind the Cyprus problem, for example, the French government and the Austrians," he said in an interview. "The majority of the EU states who are in favor of Turkish accession should make it clear within the EU, to the French, to the Austrians and, of course, to the Cypriots, that it is in the EU's interest to have this issue solved." he added. /Today's Zaman/
LEBANESE PRESIDENT DUE IN TURKEY
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is set to visit Turkey this week, the first such visit in 54 years, accompanied by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and Minister of Displaced People Raymond Audi. Suleiman will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Today's Zaman/
