MASS APPEALS Saddam gives in, opens palaces - Hurriyet Saddam obeys, oil prices go down - Vatan Forza Turkey: Berlusconi promises support - Sabah Erdogan: We want a Catholic marriage with the EU - Milliyet AKP: Changes to Cyprus map won't bother us - Aksam Greek Cypriots approve UN Cyprus plan - Turkiye
OPINION MAKERS Erdogan's pledges might become key for EU accession - Radikal Erdogan makes EU pledges in Rome - Cumhuriyet Berlusconi supports Turkey for EU - Yeni Safak Ankara uneasy on Cyprus plan - Zaman Washington's Iraq preparation: CIA delegation at TGS - Cumhuriyet
FINANCIAL JOURNALS Businessmen happy with positive atmosphere in Rome - Dunya Turkish companies deny U.S. claims on atropine - Finansal Forum
BRIEFING
Cyprus: All eyes are turned to Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas after Greek Cypriot officials gave a positive initial reaction to the UN-sponsored Cyprus plan, papers report. The plan demands that the two sides on the island conclude negotiations by February 28, 2003, and that the agreement be taken to referendum on March 30, 2003. Papers report that Secretary Powell has found the first reaction from the two Cypriot communities encouraging. Reports also note that if the plan is accepted, the land controlled by Turkish Cypriots will be reduced from 36 to 28.5 percent, and about 42,000 Turks will be displaced. According to the plan, Varosha, Morphou and 20 villages will be given to Greek Cypriots within three years. 85,000 displaced Greek Cypriots will be given the right to return their homes in the north, and 114,000 Turks who were settled in Cyprus after 1974 will be given nationality rights. Papers report that TGS Chief General Ozkok is due in Cyprus on Thursday to attend the 19th anniversary celebrations of the TRNC.
EU: Papers report that German Chancellor Schroeder has found initial AKP statements on European affairs as promising, and he called for sustained reforms under the new Turkish government. "Radikal" notes the reforms AKP leader Erdogan had promised to EU envoys in Ankara, adding that rapid parliamentary approval would earn Turkey a date for accession negotiations at the Copenhagen Summit. All papers give front-page coverage to Erdogan's Rome visit, and his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, during which Berlusconi promised to support Turkey's EU bid at the Copenhagen Summit. Following a November 18 visit to Greece, Erdogan will tour Spain, England, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and France before the end of November. Erdogan: Erdogan reportedly said that AKP would not press to change Article 109 of the Constitution that regulates the appointment of a Prime Minister, and added that he would not become deputy Prime Minister, but instead will wait for removal of his ban. AKP seeks the support of CHP for constitutional reforms that would abolish political bans. According to papers, the CHP condition for such cooperation will be AKP support to reduce the time between regular elections from years to four. This would prevent AKP from using its current parliamentary majority to elect a new President in 2007. Papers report that AKP deputy chairman Abdullah Gul was given the task of restructuring the cabinet with 23 ministers, including a Prime Minister with three deputies.
Iraq: Having finished meetings in Ankara on Wednesday, the CIA delegation headed by Deputy CIA Director McLaughlin will proceed to Northern Iraq after stopping at Incirlik Airbase, reports say. Papers report that MFA has launched an investigation regarding Iraqi efforts to purchase atropine from Turkey. The Northern Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Talabani said on Wednesday on the all- news channel NTV that the Iraqi regime established after Saddam will be friendly to Turkey. Talabani pledged guarantees for Turkomens, said they would be offered 10 seats in the parliament, and added that the Kurds' provisional constitution could be modified according to Ankara's demands. He noted that the U.S. had made no demands from the Kurds, and said he was unaware of the presence of CIA operatives in Northern Iraq.
EDITORIAL OPINION
a) NATO Summit b) UN Plan on Cyprus
"The Upcoming Prague Summit" Fikret Ertan wrote in Islamic-intellectual Zaman (11/14): "The NATO summit in Prague will be a breakthrough both in terms of the future of NATO and for the future of NATO- Europe relations. . The official agenda consists of new threats, expansion, new relations, new military capabilities and the Balkans. This by itself makes the summit a very important one. . The EU plan for a European Army and the US plan for a rapid reaction force within the NATO structure are the two hot topics at the summit. The debate will most likely be concentrated on these issues, both of which are immediate concerns for Turkey."
"The UN plan is a death verdict for the TRNC" Columnist Hasan Unal argued in Islamic-intellectual Zaman (11/14): "The UN plan aims to liquidate the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a state and the Turkish Cypriots as a nation. . It might give the impression that it meets Turkish demands on constitutional issues, but in fact it provides an opportunity for founding a unitary Greek Cypriot state. . The plan also gives very limited, poor- quality land to the Turkish Cypriots. . In short, the UN plan expects Turkish Cypriots to make vital concessions without meeting their ultimate demands. Cyprus will gradually become a Greek Cypriot island. It is clear that security issues and guarantees, of which Turkey is part, will not be valid the moment Cyprus joins the EU." "Cyprus" Hadi Uluengin calls the UN plan a historic chance in mass appeal Hurriyet (11/14): "Clearly this is a unique chance for a Cyprus settlement and one definitely not to be missed. Creating excuses or making evasive remarks in order not to take advantage of this chance would be a crucial mistake. Whichever side blocks this agreement will be judge harshly by history for its mistake. . The Annan plan is almost perfect. Therefore, if one of the concerned parties rejects the plan and leads to the continuation of a no-settlement situation, it will be doomed to miss the opportunities coming with the new millennium."
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