MGK TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (MGK) chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is to convene today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. At the gathering, the Foreign Ministry’s recent circular regarding Turkish associations abroad as well as reactionary activities and certain government appointments are expected to be discussed. Other topics such as Turkey’s role in Iraq’s reconstruction process, Kurdish groups’ activities in northern Iraq, and the European Parliament’s new report on Turkey as well as developments on the Cyprus issue will also be taken up during the meeting. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN: “NOBODY CAN ACCUSE THE AKP OF BEING AGAINST THE UNITARY STATE”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that concerning the controversy over last week’s Parliament speaker reception, everybody should take into consideration Turkey’s sensitivities on the matter. Responding to criticisms of the government's plans to shift power to local authorities from the capital, Erdogan said that nobody had the right to accuse the AKP administration of being opposed to the unitary state model. “We are not dealing with the structure of the state," he remarked. Also touching on the economy, Erdogan said that the nation’s economic indicators were improving and its markets gaining momentum. “Completing the fourth review of our economic program was a positive development,” stated Erdogan. “We have also collected TL 6.6 quadrillion from the recent tax amnesty program.” The premier added that the government was finalizing the sale of many state enterprises but still encountering many opponents of privatization within the state bureaucracy. /Aksam/
BAYKAL: “THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LEAVE THE TSK OUT OF POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government should leave the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) out of political discussions. “Those who start such discussions are trying to benefit from painting the TSK as being opposed to their ideas,” Baykal told his group meeting. He reiterated that his decision, in common with several top military officials, not to attend last week’s Parliament speaker’s reception was not an organized action. Baykal also charged that the AKP had failed to keep the pledges concerning democracy it made upon coming to power last fall. “Although six months have passed since the AKP came into office, it has failed to live up to its words about democracy,” said Baykal. “Democracy is not a means to achieve one’s own ends. However, the government is using it this way.” Also touching on recently opened borders between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus, Baykal said, “This has proved that the Turkish Cypriots are not a poor or powerless people. They have their own identity.” /Aksam/
GUL MEETS SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD IN DAMASCUS
During his one-day visit to Damascus yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was received by his Syrian counterpart Farouk al-Sharaa as well as President Bashar al-Assad. At a joint press conference following their meeting, Sharaa and Gul both expressed a desire to further develop relations between their countries. Gul stated that it was natural to develop ties between two countries sharing a long land border as well as a common history. Regarding recent friction between the US and Syria, Gul said that Turkey was pleased at a recent lessening of tensions. For his part, Sharaa said that Gul’s visit marked a milestone in developing relations between Turkey and Syria as well as Turkey and the Arab world. He also remarked that following Syrian Prime Minister Abdullah Milo’s official visit to Turkey in July, President Assad himself is also scheduled to pay a visit. After completing his contacts in Damascus, Gul last night returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/
FACING OBJECTIONS, EU TO REVISE REPORT ON TURKEY
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission is reportedly set to make comprehensive changes to its report on Turkey as prepared by Arie Oostlander, a Dutch parliamentarian and Christian Democratic Group member. During a gathering yesterday, the EP commissioners stated that the report was unsuitable for voting on in its current form. In their speeches, they pointedly said that the principles of Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk were admired not only by Turkey itself but also by Europeans and the entire world. In this, they effectively rejected Oostlander’s criticisms of Kemalism, meaning Ataturk’s philosophy, and his anti-Turkish views, both of which Ankara forthrightly took exception to. If a bill on Turkey is passed by the commission on May 12, it will be debated in the full EP on June 2. /Turkiye/
UNAKITAN: “FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE CONFIDENT TURKEY WILL ACHIEVE ITS PRIVATIZATION GOALS”
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan yesterday flew to London to hold several meetings with foreign investors concerning Turkey’s privatization program. Speaking after the meetings, Unakitan said the investors’ confidence in the privatization program was clear, adding that this trust was fully warranted by the government’s determination. “My visit has highlighted two positive developments,” said Unakitan. “Namely, the evident foreign interest in Turkey’s privatization program plus the shot in the arm our recovering economy has provided to the financial markets.” Unakitan added that there were many foreign investors looking to invest in Turkey. /Sabah/
ERKAN MUMCU NAMED FIRST HEAD OF MERGED CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTRY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday approved the appointment of Erkan Mumcu, former culture minister, to head the newly merged Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Guldal Aksit, former tourism minister, was also approved in her new post as state minister responsible for women, children and the handicapped. /Turkiye/
NURI OK NAMED NEW HIGH COURT OF APPEALS CHIEF PROSECUTOR
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday named Nuri Ok, head of the 11th Penal Division, to be the new High Court of Appeals’ republican prosecutor, replacing Sabih Kanadoglu, who will be soon retiring. Ok, the second in a field of five candidates, is expected to begin his term in office on May 20. /Turkiye/
EU FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN SEASIDE TOWN OF KAS
Greece, the current holder of the rotating European Union presidency, has finalized its plans for an informal EU foreign ministers meeting to be held this Saturday. The foreign ministers of the 15 EU member countries plus 10 countries set to officially become members in May 2004 are set to meet in Turkey’s Mediterranean seaside town of Kas over the weekend. The top diplomats will first gather on May 1 on the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes, a Greek territory, before setting sail for Kastelorizo, a tiny Greek island a few hundred meters off Turkey's southwestern coast, before moving on to Kas. Greece is exerting efforts to better traditionally tense relations with its neighbor Turkey. The weekend meeting is expected to focus on the situation of postwar Iraq and the role of the United Nations in the country’s reconstruction. Since George Iakovu, the foreign minister of Greek Cyprus (slated to join the EU next May), is also to attend the gathering, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot foreign ministers will for the first time attend the same meeting, marking a historic event. Turkey does not recognize the legitimacy of the Greek Cypriot administration, or its claim to represent the entire island, including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Cumhuriyet/
IRAQI REPRESENTATIVE SALIH MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL ZIYAL
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) high-level representative Behram Salih yesterday met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal in Ankara. Salih stated that the IPUK had requested that Turkey boost its border trade with Iraq’s Kurds and also try to persuade Iraqi Turkmen groups to cooperate with the Kurds on the nation’s postwar future. Salih also reiterated that the IPUK favors the establishment of an independent Iraqi government. For his part, Ziyal expressed Turkey’s concerns about recent moves by the Iraqi Kurds. He stressed that Turkey wanted the Iraqi Kurdish leaders to block terrorist organizations such as PKK/KADEK from taking advantage of the region’s postwar chaos. He added that the political rights of Iraq’s Turkmen should be protected. Meanwhile, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani sent a message to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul underscoring that the IKDP would never pursue an anti-Turkey policy. “It is cooperation that we seek,” said Barzani. /Star/
TRNC CABINET MOVES TO PERMIT THREE-DAY VISITS FROM GREEK CYPRUS
The Cabinet of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) voted yesterday to permit three-day cross-border visits from their neighbor Greek Cyprus, including overnight stays. Since opening the borders between the island nations last week, only daytime visits (9 a.m. to 12 midnight) have been allowed. Under the new measure, Greek Cypriots returning from the TRNC will be required to produce hotel receipts at the border gates. “This is a further confidence-building measure,” Serdar Denktas, the TRNC’s deputy prime minister, told Reuters. “We have had numerous requests from Greek Cypriots to stay longer.” The extended visits are expected to boost the TRNC’s tourism sector. /Hurriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION