Nov. 24th Press Review
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAHIN VISITS RUSSIA
Parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, currently in Moscow to attend the 34th Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), yesterday met with his Russian counterpart Boris Gryzlov. After delivering a speech at the PABSEC meeting, Sahin took part in a reception hosted by Gryzlov in honor of the participating parliament speakers. / Hurriyet Daily News /
ERDOGAN: "ROMPUY WILL POSE NO OBSTACLE TO TURKEY'S EU ASPIRATIONS"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday left for Libya for a three-day official visit, the first such visit in 13 years, at the invitation of his Libyan counterpart al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmudi. Speaking to reporters before his departure, Erdogan, accompanied by several Cabinet ministers, deputies and a large business delegation, said that his talks with top Libyan officials would focus on improving bilateral political and economic ties and cooperation. "The parties will exchange views to add momentum to relations. This visit will be fruitful for boosting regional developments with Libya," Erdogan said, adding that they would also discuss a possible agreement on encouraging mutual investments. During his visit, Erdogan is scheduled to meet with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Prime Minister al-Mahmudi, and several other high-level officials. Erdogan is also slated to attend a meeting of the Turkish-Libyan Business Forum. Asked about new European Union President Herman van Rompuy, whose views on Turkey's EU accession bid are similar to those of French and German leaders, Erdogan said Rompuy himself pledged that he would act in line with the principles of the EU. Just ahead of his appointment, records of a December 2004 speech by Van Rompuy indicated strong opposition to Turkey ever joining the EU. "Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be part of Europe," Van Rompuy said at the time, suggesting that Europe's Christian "fundamental values" would be undermined by admitting Turkey into the Union. That same month the EU gave the go-ahead to open membership negotiations with Turkey. Speaking to news portal EUobserver, Belgian officials confirmed that the speech was made but added that the comments were made before he became Belgian prime minister. Late last week after his appointment, speaking to reporters in Brussels, Van Rompuy said that from now on, as EU president, his personal opinions did not matter as he would harmonize his views with the EU's decisions. "What I think is not important at all. My duty as president is producing reconcilement among EU countries," he added. Analysts argued that Van Rompuy's speech put him squarely on the side of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both of whom are proposing a "privileged partnership" for a Turkey in lieu of EU membership. Van Rompuy was reportedly the Franco-German candidate for the EU presidency, strengthening such views. But he will play a small role in the EU decision on Turkey's membership, which has to be made by member countries. /Turkiye-Sabah/
DAVUTOGLU SPEAKS WITH AZERI FM ABOUT TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH
In a telephone conversation yesterday with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu learned details of a meeting in Munich last week between Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian as part of internationally mediated talks to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Mammadyarov reportedly told Davutoglu that the process will continue and that the co-chairs of the Minsk Group may meet in Athens as part of an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting. During the phone conversation, Davutoglu expressed his happiness at the progress reportedly made during the meeting. OSCE Co-Chairman Bernard Fassier told reporters afterwards that significant progress was made during the talks, as well as identifying a number of problematic matters. He said he and his co-mediators from the United States and Russia would start work on the next meeting, without specifying when it might take place. Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic or economic ties since the 1992 Armenian invasion of Nagorno-Karakbakh, an Azeri territory. After months of Swiss-mediated talks, Turkey and Armenia last month signed historic protocols towards establishing diplomatic relations. /Star/
HARIRI: "IT'S HIGH TIME TURKISH BUSINESSMEN INVESTED IN LEBANON”
Lebanon offers stability, and Turkish firms investing there won't face any problems, said Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Beirut over the weekend. "Diplomatic relations between the two countries are in very good shape," he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) chaired by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) head Murat Yalcintas. "If Turkish businessmen invest in our country, now is the right time. There wasn't this much stability and openness in the past. Businessmen seek stability. Today we have it… I will support Turkish businessmen investing in Lebanon and Lebanese businessmen investing in Turkey. Turkey is one of the countries I'll visit. Many Lebanese businessmen will accompany me, and they will explore investment opportunities in Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/
ELIEZER: "TURKEY CAN HELP IMPROVE ISRAELI-SYRIAN RELATIONS"
Turkey can help settle the Israeli-Syrian conflict, and Ankara should take a position on the issue, said Israeli Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer yesterday. In Istanbul to attend a Turkish-Israeli Joint Economic Committee meeting, he said he wants to strengthen Israeli ties with Turkey. Turkey plays an important role in the Middle East, he added, saying that he would like to see President Abdullah Gul visit Israel as soon as possible. Afterwards, he proceeded to Ankara and met with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Turkey last year mediated Israeli-Syrian talks until Israel's offensive in Gaza, when they were broken off. /Star/
