ERDOGAN: “THERE’S NO NEED TO BLOW AIRSPACE VIOLATION ALLEGATIONS OUT OF PROPORTION”
Speaking at Esenboga Airport yesterday before leaving for an official visit to Malaysia, Erdogan said that there was no need to blow recent Greek allegations of Turkish jet airspace violations out of proportion, adding that the Aegean disputes had always given rise to exaggerated accounts. “Our media sometimes makes too much of such news,” said Erdogan. “Turkey is determinedly progressing along its European Union membership bid. Both Turkey and Greece should be sensitive about such issues.” /Hurriyet/

SIXTH EU HARMONIZATION PACKAGE SENT TO PARLIAMENT, WORK UNDERWAY ON SEVENTH
The sixth European Union harmonization package was sent to Parliament yesterday after a number of changes were made to it, and it is expected to face a vote in the General Assembly next week. In related news, Ankara’s European Union Secretariat General has already begun work on a seventh package to advance the nation’s EU membership bid. The package reportedly includes a measure to restrict the president’s authority to make appointments and also addresses a potentially contentious issue in proposing to make the National Security Council (NSC) an all-civilian body. The seventh package is expected to reach Parliament next month. /Aksam/

FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY ZIYAL DUE IN WASHINGTON TO DISCUSS TURKISH-US RELATIONS
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal is set to fly to Washington on Monday to meet with top US officials to discuss recent developments in Turkish-US relations. Ziyal will reportedly meet with US Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman, a former ambassador to Ankara, as well as Undersecretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Alan Larson. Ziyal is also expected to meet with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, whose criticisms of Turkey last month caused a firestorm of controversy. /Anatolia News Agency/

OZKAN TESTIFIES AT ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION
As part of the special Parliament Anti-Corruption Commission’s ongoing investigation of corruption under previous administrations, former Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan yesterday testified regarding allegations about his term in office. Today, the commission is set to hear from former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. At the beginning of the week, former State Ministers Gunes Taner and Recep Onal as well as former Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel also testified before the commission. /Turkiye/

COLIN POWELL: “TURKEY IS HEADED TO EUROPE”
Washington supports Turkey’s ongoing progress towards European Union membership, declared US Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday. “The United States and Turkey are great nations,” said Powell in a written message sent to the opening ceremony of a new US Consulate building in Istanbul. “As Ataturk said, we have both been inspired by democratic ideals, and this experience indeed deepens our friendship. Both Turks and Americans are focused on the future, a future that will be a very bright one for the Turkish people despite the many challenges you face today. It will be bright for the same reason that my country’s future is bright: because innovative people freed to use their creativity and initiative can produce wonders.” Regarding Ankara’s EU membership bid, he said that by implementing new reforms, Turkey was ensuring its further progress towards joining the Union. “Turkey is headed to Europe, as it modernizes and undertakes political, economic, and administrative reforms,” stated Powell. “We will encourage and strongly support Turkey’s future in Europe, while we maintain close bilateral ties. That is the future for Turkey, and Europe should welcome its future with Turkey as an integral part.” /Turkiye, http://usconsulate-istanbul.org.tr/

US REPORTEDLY PLANS TO BOOST SEAPORT INSPECTIONS WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING IN TURKEY
As part of its fight against terrorism, the US is now reportedly planning to place teams of American inspectors at certain critical harbors around the world. In line with reports from its intelligence services, the US will send expert teams to various majority Muslim nations and other strategic countries, including Turkey, to prevent any attempt to target its shores through smuggling weapons of mass destruction by ship. Meanwhile, the US State Department annual human trafficking report released this week alleged that Turkey had failed to take sufficient measures against this scourge, placing it among the least compliant countries in that respect. /Sabah/

GENERAL STAFF REPORTEDLY BOTHERED BY “LACK OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT” IN COUNTERING AIRSPACE VIOLATION CHARGES
The Turkish General Staff is reportedly concerned and unhappy about a perceived lack of support on the government’s part in countering recent allegations that Turkish jets have violated Greek airspace. Sources in Ankara said top Turkish military leaders were bothered by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s “silence” and “indifference” to the increasing allegations, which “left them alone” to fight the charges. To buttress this argument, the military cited the absence of any government statement denying an alleged passenger plane “harassment” incident this week, whereas the General Staff did issue such a statement. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) feel targeted in these charges, added the sources. /Cumhuriyet/

CONCESSIONS ON TWO POWER STATIONS CANCELLED BY GOVERNMENT
The Energy Markets Regulatory Authority (EPDK) yesterday cancelled the concession agreements of two power stations owned by the controversial Uzan group, namely Cukurova Electric and Kepez Electric, on the grounds that both facilities had violated provisions of their 1998 agreements with the government. Shortly after the decision was made, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler announced that the government had taken control of the two stations. The decision came in the wake of a recent bidding process for the privatization of state petrochemical concern PETKIM, in which the Uzan Group had made the favored bid, an offer which many observers charged was too low. /Cumhuriyet/

TRT APPEALS FOR ANNULMENT OF LAW MANDATING MOTHER TONGUE BROADCASTS
State broadcaster the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) appealed yesterday to the Council of State (Danistay) to annul a provision of last year’s EU harmonization package mandating that TRT offer broadcasts in mother tongue languages. Should the Council rule in favor of TRT, its television and radio stations would not have to make such mother tongue broadcasts. /Cumhuriyet/

NATO NAMES IZMIR BASE AS NEW SOUTH WING AIR-OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTER
At a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting held in Brussels yesterday, the alliance named its current base in Izmir as its new south wing air-operations command center. Under the decision, all NATO air components currently deployed in Spain, Italy and Greece are due to be transferred to Izmir within two years’ time. /Cumhuriyet/

COE HUMAN RIGHTS HEAD MEETS WITH GUL, OTHER OFFICIALS
Council of Europe (COE) Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles met yesterday in Ankara with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mustafa Bumin and Parliament Human Rights Commission head Mehmet Elkatnis. Following the meetings, Gul and Robles said that Ankara had made considerable progress of late on its human rights situation. /Anatolia News Agency/

ISTANBUL CHOSEN TO HOST 2004 NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION MEETING
The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) yesterday chose Istanbul to host its 57th annual meeting in May 2004. Speaking at the WAN meeting in Dublin, Ireland yesterday, Dogan Group Chairman Aydin Dogan said that he had invited his fellow WAN members to come and visit Turkey. “Turkey is a country which embraces a multitude of cultures,” said Dogan. “Actually, words are not enough to describe our country. Our history and cultural variety are truly unique.” Dogan added that Turkey was a democratic Muslim nation which can serve as a model for other countries. /Milliyet/

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION