ERDOGAN HAILS POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed a number of positive economic indicators seen in recent weeks, adding that he saw no problem in reaching this year’s 6.5% primary surplus target. He continued, however, that interest rates were still too high and were holding back economic growth. Erdogan stated that the nation needed new resources and that towards this end, the government was determined to legalize the sale of former public forestland, even if a public referendum is needed to do so. A re-introduced constitutional amendment allowing such sales was recently withdrawn by the government after having been vetoed, making a referendum on the issue more likely. /Sabah/

GUL TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE IRAQ TROOP DEPLOYMENT DURING WASHINGTON VISIT
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday left for Washington, DC to pay a four-day visit at the invitation of his US counterpart Colin Powell. Before his departure from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul told reporters that his visit would be the first high-level visit under the present government. Gul added that during their visit to Ankara last week, high-level US military officials had requested that Turkey send troops to Iraq. Stating that this matter would be clarified during his visit and the final decision made within the framework of the Constitution along with the UN, NATO as well as regional and allied relations, Gul said, “We are trying to serve Turkey’s interests.” In addition to Secretary of State Powell, the foreign minister is scheduled to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice during his visit. /All Papers/

CABINET TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING IN ERZURUM
The Cabinet is set today to convene in the eastern Anatolia city of Erzurum to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress, a precursor to Turkey’s Ankara Parliament founded four years later. All the Cabinet ministers, excepting Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who is currently visiting the US, are expected to attend the special meeting. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL IS NEEDED TO SEND OUR TROOPS TO IRAQ”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey could only send troops to Iraq with the express approval of Parliament. “If the government sends our troops into Iraq without obtaining such approval, then it could never justýfy such a policy to the nation,” stated Baykal. /Aksam/

DEPARTING AMBASSADOR PEARSON VISITS BABACAN, LAUDS TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, whose tenure in Ankara is fast drawing to a close, yesterday visited State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan. During their talks, Pearson praised Babacan for the successful completion of discussions for the fifth review of the nation’s International Monetary Fund-supported economic program. “But providing jobs for the nation is even more important,” he added. Speaking afterwards, Pearson said that Turkey’s economy was greatly improved as compared to three years ago, when he began serving in Ankara. “It is vital that Turkey complete its privatization process as soon as possible,” urged the ambassador. For his part, Babacan said that the Iraq war had raised certain sensitivities in Turkish-US relations, adding that economic ties between the two countries should be strengthened. /Milliyet/

KILINC: “THE NATION NEEDS THE NSC NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO”
Turkey needs the National Security Council (NSC) now and will continue to do so in the future, said NSC Secretary-General Tuncer Kilinc yesterday. Criticizing government plans to change the role or structure of the NSC in its upcoming seventh European Union harmonization package, Kilinc stated, “Every nation has its own distinctive needs, and the NSC was developed with the Turkish nation’s needs in mind.” /Aksam/

TURKMEN REPRESENTATIVE CABUK: “WE NEED TURKISH TROOPS IN IRAQ”
Turkey sending troops to serve in Iraq’s stabilization force would be a welcome development, said an Iraqi Turkmen member of Iraq’s interim Governing Council yesterday. Omer Cabuk, the only Turkmen on the 25-member council, stated that he was closely following Turkish-US contacts concerning the possible troop deployment. Stressing that he wanted Iraq to become a free, democratic country, Cabuk said, “Security in the country has yet to be established. We need to get help from others.” He added, “Turkey is the primary country we’re looking to make contributions. If it sends troops, it means that Turkey recognizes the new Governing Council, something which would please me.” /Turkiye/