CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CELEBRATES 44TH ANNIVERSARY
Constitutional Court Chief Judge Tulay Tugcu said yesterday that interference in judicial decisions under the guise of protecting freedom of expression could not be tolerated. Addressing a ceremony marking the 44th anniversary of the Constitutional Court, Tugcu said that claims of politicization were weakening the judiciary. Furthermore, she gave thanks to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, as he enabled women to take part in the top levels of the state through the secular, democratic and modern republic. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc were also present at the gathering. When leaving the meeting, Arinc told reporters that Turkey needed social peace in certain matters. "No one can have any objection to secularism," he said, but added that the principle should be discussed. A strict interpretation of secularism is turning private life into a prison, said the speaker. /Milliyet/

US SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS ANKARA
Answering reporters' questions en route to Athens, where she paid a visit before coming to Ankara, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday, "We're aware of the importance attached to the terrorist PKK by Turkey. We need to reinvigorate those trilateral mechanisms between Turkey, the US and Iraq to deal with the PKK problem. We want to do it in a way that doesn't cause greater instability in the north (of Iraq)." Rice said that Turkey was the most important supporter of the Greater Middle East Initiative (GME), adding that this is "because Turks openly express that they don't see a conflict between Islam and democracy, and Turkey is a very good example of this." Rice arrived in Ankara in the afternoon and met first with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and then with Prime Minister Erdogan. Rice was also received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During the talks, the two sides agreed to adopt a "common vision" paper and a new permanent mechanism to develop "strategic partnership," Gul announced at the joint press conference. He also said that the two countries will boost bilateral visits and exchanges at all levels. The US secretary of state praised Turkey's efforts, including a recent initiative to convince Sunni Arab groups to join the Iraqi government, and said that both countries will work with the Iraqis to avoid Iraq becoming a base for any terrorist organization or group threatening its neighbors. /Star/

ERDOGAN VOWS FULL SUPPORT TO PALESTINE
After a meeting with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday in Ankara, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would continue its support to the Palestinians for their just cause. Pointing to the importance of the solidarity and unity of the Palestinians, Erdogan said that the sides in the Mideast should try to solve their problems at the negotiating table, adding that the region was tired of violence. The Turkish premier also stated that Ankara didn't welcome the US and European countries' cutting off financial support to Palestine. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: "THE STATE SHOULD SERVE THE NATION"
Speaking at a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the state should exist for the good of the nation and serve the people. Erdogan, who chaired the meeting after resting at home for a back ailment last week, stated that sovereignty would belong unconditionally to the nation. He added that the government was determined to protect the republic together with democracy. /Turkiye/

FM SPOKESMAN TAN: "NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR VISIT OF IRANIAN NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR"
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan yesterday said that a date hadn't been determined for the visit to Turkey of Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator. Tan said, "Larijani's wish to visit Turkey was forwarded to the Foreign Ministry through the Iranian Embassy in Ankara, but a date couldn't be agreed on due to the busy schedules of the related authorities." /Cumhuriyet/

NSC TO MEET TOMORROW
The National Security Council (NSC) chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will meet tomorrow. This year's second NSC meeting will be held at the Cankaya Palace at 1:30 p.m., and domestic and foreign developments will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

CHP LEADER BAYKAL CRITICIZES PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S REMARKS
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc's remarks on National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that the Parliament Speaker's Office should stand above political parties, and went on to describe Arinc's conflicting approach to the constitutional system, of which he is part, as "odd." Baykal called on Arinc to express and explain his opinions before the end of his term in office. /Aksam/

TURKEY CONDEMNS CANADIAN PM'S REMARKS ON 1915 INCIDENTS
Turkish Foreign Ministry officials are protesting the Canadian government over Prime Minister Stephen Harper's remarks last week describing the events of 1915 as an "Armenian genocide." Turkish diplomats described Harper's remarks as grossly prejudiced, since the allegations have not been proven by unbiased historical studies. According to ministry officials, such remarks do not contribute to a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, and have a negative impact on Turkish-Canadian relations. In related news, in his annual message to mark the tragic events of 1915, US President George W. Bush on Monday called on Turks and Armenians to forge a dialogue in order to normalize their relations. As expected, resisting Armenian pressure in his annual speech to mark April 24, the date claimed as a commemoration of the genocide claims, he didn't use the term "genocide," and said, "Today we're remembering one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century." /The New Anatolian/