SEZER MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday met with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, currently in Ankara for an official visit. During their meeting, Abbas said that he expected Turkey to play an important role for peace in the Middle East. Abbas added that he hoped peace talks with Israel would begin after the new government in Israel is established. For his part, Sezer said that Abbas was representing the Palestinian nation, adding that he believed Abbas would work with all groups in the country to ensure unity in Palestine. "All groups should help you towards this end," added Sezer. Later, Abbas met with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. During the meetings, Abbas said that the US, Israel, and the European Union had halted fiscal assistance to the Palestinian government since Hamas came to power. "So our nation is faced with the threat of hunger," said Abbas. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN CHAIRS CABINET MEETING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after resting at home due to a back ailment last week, yesterday chaired a Cabinet meeting. Speaking to reporters after the gathering, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters that the Cabinet ministers had taken up the Ninth Development Planning and Strategy. Asked about his comment on the disbarment last week of Van's Republican Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya, Cicek said the decision had been by the Supreme Board of Prosecutors and Judges (HSYK), not by the Justice Ministry. Furthermore, he dismissed recent allegations that the judiciary was getting involved in politics. Regarding US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Turkey starting today, Cicek expressed his hope that Washington would take more concrete steps to cooperate in fighting the terrorist group PKK. /Turkiye/
FM GUL: "IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENTER IRAQ"
After being asked about ongoing debates over Turkish soldiers' possibly entering northern Iraq, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday, "It would be difficult to enter Kirkuk," referring to an Iraqi province with a high ethnic Turkmen population. Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said, "The fight against terrorism is our priority, not Iraq." Speaking at the 11th anniversary reception of the establishment of the Iraqi Turkmen Front at the Ankara Hilton, Cicek said, "If Iraq is a small Middle East, Kirkuk is a small Iraq. It would be difficult to enter Kirkuk." /Cumhuriyet/
CHP LEADER BAYKAL: "PROBLEMS CANNOT BE SOLVED WITHOUT RECOGNIZING ISRAEL"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. During their meeting, Baykal stated that the humanitarian shortages the Palestinian people will face in the days to come cannot be discussed apart from diplomacy and drawing attention to the responsibility of the new Hamas government for overcoming economic problems. Baykal said that Hamas hadn't come to the point of starting negotiations for peace and that Palestine can't surmount this problem without recognizing Israel. /Star/
TALAT "SOLUTION TO CYPRUS PROBLEM IS FAR AWAY"
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that a possible solution to the deep-rooted Cyprus problem was far away, referring to the anti-settlement circles holding power on the southern part of the island. "Recent developments show that a settlement of the Cyprus dispute will take time. Unfortunately, those who are against a solution hold the helm in Greek Cyprus," Talat was quoted as saying during a press conference making the first anniversary of his presidency. "It is unlikely that the problem will be resolved through reconciliation and the confirmation of the Turkish Cypriots' political equality, while anti-settlement circles remain in power on the southern part of the island," Talat added. /Turkish Daily News/
BATTLE OF CANAKKALE COMMEMORATED
Gallipoli hosted an international ceremony yesterday to mark the 91st anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale. In addition to top Turkish officials, representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and France were in attendance, including Governor General of Australia Michael Jeffery and New Zealand Parliament Speaker Margaret Wilson. Addressing the gathering, Turkish Lt. Col. Murat Isozen said that the battle was a watershed of world history, and the beginning of the War of Independence, a fight for the honor and freedom of the Turkish people. He added that soldiers from other nations fighting there had shown legendary courage. /Turkiye/
ANKARA TO WELCOME US SEC'Y OF STATE RICE
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to emphasize increasing efforts for regional development during her two-day visit to Ankara set to start today. Some political observers believe Washington may have new requests of Turkey for a possible operation against Iran. Rice, who will arrive in Ankara today after three months of delay, will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. According to official statements, the current state of Turkish-US relations, the fight against the terrorist PKK, and developments related to Iraq and Iran will be on Rice's agenda. /Cumhuriyet/
BRYZA: "THERE ARE MANY STEPS TO BE TAKEN BEFORE A CROSS-BORDER OPERATION AGAINST THE PKK"
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Bryza yesterday commented on a possible Turkish cross-border operation against the terrorist PKK, saying that there were many steps to be taken before such a military operation. "And we're working on this," said Bryza. Asked about the role of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in Turkish politics, Bryza stated that the TSK was one of Turkey's most popular institutions. Stressing the secular-democratic structure of Turkey, Bryza said that the role of the TSK should be reduced during Turkey's European Union membership bid. /Milliyet/
IRANIAN PRESIDENT: "WE'RE WORKING POSITIVELY WITH RUSSIA, CHINA, AND TURKEY"
Speaking three days before the International Atomic Energy Institution (IAEA) is set to release its report on Iran's nuclear program, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that the Iranian government was working positively with Russia, China, and Turkey, adding that his government could sit at the negotiating table with the whole world. Commenting on Iraq, Ahmadinejad stated that there was no need to discuss the issue with Washington. /Sabah/
WB REPORT PRAISES TURKEY'S "EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH," WARNS ABOUT CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
A new World Bank Report entitled "World Development Indicators" yesterday stated that Turkey's economy had achieved "extraordinary growth," but added that risk factors such as the current account deficit and overvalued new Turkish lira were persisting. The report further stressed that economic growth had not created sufficient jobs, adding that in 2002-2005 the unemployment rate was more than 10%. It also stated that owing to sound monetary policy, the rate of Turkey's foreign debt to the gross domestic product (GDP) had fallen considerably. The report stressed that the poverty had increased despite progress in education and health indicators. /Milliyet/