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PM engages in VE Day diplomacy in Moscow
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
DIPLOMACY
Erdogan discusses Cyprus peace efforts and his planned visit to the US
in talks on the sidelines of VE Day ceremonies. He and Kocharian shake
hands, don't talk
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Victory in EuropeÂ
Day ceremonies in Moscow, a high-profile event that drew more than 50
world leaders to the Russian capital, marking the 60th anniversary of
the Allied victory over Nazi Germany that brought the World War II to
an end.
  The prime minister held informal talks with world leaders,
including U.S. President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir
Putin, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder, U.N. Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan and Greek Cypriot leader
Tassos Papadopoulos, on the sidelines of the ceremonies.
 Â
No talk with Kocharian:
  The prime minister shook hands with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. The two leaders did not hold a conversation.
  Erdogan, speaking upon his return from Moscow, described talks
with the world leaders as `very constructive' despite their limited
duration.
  Turkish officials had not ruled out talks between Erdogan and
Kocharian before the prime minister headed to Moscow but made it clear
there was no plan being drawn up for that. The two leaders are
scheduled to attend a summit of the Council of Europe countries in
Poland's capital of Warsaw on May 16-17.
  Erdogan sent a letter to Kocharian last month proposing a joint
commission to study the events in eastern Anatolia between 1915 and
1918, which Armenians claim are tantamount to a genocide
campaign. Kocharian responded by suggesting establishment of an
inter-governmental commission to look into ways for normalization of
bilateral relations.
  The genocide allegations are one of the major factors preventing
normalization in Turkish-Armenian ties. The border gate between the
two countries is closed and diplomatic relations were broken off in
the last decade.
  In Moscow, Erdogan expressed displeasure to Putin and Polish
President Aleksander Kwasniewski over recent parliamentary moves in
their countries in support of the Armenian allegations.
  The Russian State Duma passed a resolution last month to condemn
what it called `genocide of Armenians' during the Ottoman Empire, and
the Polish Parliament recently adopted a similar resolution as well.
 Â
Bush waiting for Erdogan visit:
  Erdogan tackled his planned visit to the United States when he
briefly met with U.S. President George W. Bush.
  Referring to Erdogan's planned visit, Bush told Erdogan that hewas
waiting for him, reported the Anatolia news agency. Erdogan replied,
saying, `I will come soon.'
  In Ankara, Erdogan told reporters after his return that the visit
would take place in the first half of June, but added that the date
would be finalized in ongoing correspondence between Ankara and
Washington.
 Â
New Cyprus process:
  Erdogan held a trilateral meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi
Annan and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to discuss solution
efforts in Cyprus.
  The prime minister said Greek Cyprus, which rejected a
reunification plan drafted by Annan last year, was not as cool as
they were in the past towards the idea of a new round of talks for
peace on the island.
  `Compared with the past, Greek Cyprus is more positive,' Erdogan
told reporters in Ankara, explaining that Annan was of the view that a
new process could start on the island.
 Â
Norwegian apology:
  In talks with Erdogan, Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne
Bondevik extended an apology to the Turkish prime minister for a
protest against himlast month in Norway during which some
demonstrators threw eggs at him, Anatolia said.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
DIPLOMACY
Erdogan discusses Cyprus peace efforts and his planned visit to the US
in talks on the sidelines of VE Day ceremonies. He and Kocharian shake
hands, don't talk
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Victory in EuropeÂ
Day ceremonies in Moscow, a high-profile event that drew more than 50
world leaders to the Russian capital, marking the 60th anniversary of
the Allied victory over Nazi Germany that brought the World War II to
an end.
  The prime minister held informal talks with world leaders,
including U.S. President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir
Putin, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder, U.N. Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan and Greek Cypriot leader
Tassos Papadopoulos, on the sidelines of the ceremonies.
 Â
No talk with Kocharian:
  The prime minister shook hands with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. The two leaders did not hold a conversation.
  Erdogan, speaking upon his return from Moscow, described talks
with the world leaders as `very constructive' despite their limited
duration.
  Turkish officials had not ruled out talks between Erdogan and
Kocharian before the prime minister headed to Moscow but made it clear
there was no plan being drawn up for that. The two leaders are
scheduled to attend a summit of the Council of Europe countries in
Poland's capital of Warsaw on May 16-17.
  Erdogan sent a letter to Kocharian last month proposing a joint
commission to study the events in eastern Anatolia between 1915 and
1918, which Armenians claim are tantamount to a genocide
campaign. Kocharian responded by suggesting establishment of an
inter-governmental commission to look into ways for normalization of
bilateral relations.
  The genocide allegations are one of the major factors preventing
normalization in Turkish-Armenian ties. The border gate between the
two countries is closed and diplomatic relations were broken off in
the last decade.
  In Moscow, Erdogan expressed displeasure to Putin and Polish
President Aleksander Kwasniewski over recent parliamentary moves in
their countries in support of the Armenian allegations.
  The Russian State Duma passed a resolution last month to condemn
what it called `genocide of Armenians' during the Ottoman Empire, and
the Polish Parliament recently adopted a similar resolution as well.
 Â
Bush waiting for Erdogan visit:
  Erdogan tackled his planned visit to the United States when he
briefly met with U.S. President George W. Bush.
  Referring to Erdogan's planned visit, Bush told Erdogan that hewas
waiting for him, reported the Anatolia news agency. Erdogan replied,
saying, `I will come soon.'
  In Ankara, Erdogan told reporters after his return that the visit
would take place in the first half of June, but added that the date
would be finalized in ongoing correspondence between Ankara and
Washington.
 Â
New Cyprus process:
  Erdogan held a trilateral meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi
Annan and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to discuss solution
efforts in Cyprus.
  The prime minister said Greek Cyprus, which rejected a
reunification plan drafted by Annan last year, was not as cool as
they were in the past towards the idea of a new round of talks for
peace on the island.
  `Compared with the past, Greek Cyprus is more positive,' Erdogan
told reporters in Ankara, explaining that Annan was of the view that a
new process could start on the island.
 Â
Norwegian apology:
  In talks with Erdogan, Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne
Bondevik extended an apology to the Turkish prime minister for a
protest against himlast month in Norway during which some
demonstrators threw eggs at him, Anatolia said.