ERDOGAN VISITS SALONIKA TO ATTEND EUROPEAN LEADERS' SUMMIT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim yesterday arrived in Salonika, Greece to attend a summit of the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process (SECP) Heads of States and Governments. As part of the gathering, Erdogan is expected to meet with his Greek and Macedonian counterparts. Furthermore, Erdogan plans to visit the village where founder of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born. In related news, Erdogan selected National Football Team coach Fatih Terim to accompany him during a football game next Thursday in Vienna. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN ADDRESSES PARTY CONGRESSES IN ADIYAMAN, SANLIURFA
Speaking at his party's local congresses in Adiyaman and Sanliurfa yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan touted the work of his government. Touching on economic developments, Erdogan stated that the Turkish economy was the world's 17th largest economy. "Our economy will be among 10 largest by 2012," he said. Stressing that when his party came to power Turkey had been saddled with a great debt burden, Erdogan said that this debt was due to previous governments. "Now our government is paying off this debt," added Erdogan. In related news, Erdogan is due to visit Diyarbakir this weekend to attend his party congress there. /Star/
GUL: "THERE IS NO SLOWDOWN IN TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP EFFORTS"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Turkey desired an urgent settlement to the Cyprus issue. He stressed that no resolution can be obtained through efforts made by Turkey alone but the efforts of the Greek Cypriots are also needed. Speaking at the Turkey-European Union Joint Parliamentary Commission's 56th meeting in Ankara, the foreign minister stated that the Cyprus issue had harmed Turkey's EU membership bid. He added that Turkey had completed the screening process for 17 chapters, and expected to move on the chapters on science and research and education and culture during Austria's term presidency, which ends on June 30. Dismissing allegations that Ankara had slowed down its road to EU membership, Gul said that intense efforts were continuing decisively. Exchanging views with foreign parliamentarians, Gul also said that Turkey defended Iraq's territorial integrity, adding that no concessions would be made in the fight against terrorism. /Turkiye/
SENER: "TURKEY CAN PAY OFF ITS DEBT TO THE IMF"
Speaking at a Small- and Medium-Sized Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB) meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that though Turkey needed International Monetary Fund assistance in the past, it can pay its debt to the Fund stemming from this aid. "With $60 million in reserves, Turkey can pay off its debt," said Sener. He added that after attracting just $10 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the last 20 years, last year alone Turkey brought in $10 billion. "This is the result of confidence and stability," added Sener. /Aksam/
BAYKAL ADDRESSES SYMPOSIUM AT HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY
Speaking at a symposium yesterday at Hacettepe University entitled "The Middle East and Turkey After the March 1, 2003 Resolution," main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that if an ethnic division arises in the Middle East besides the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, this would create serious problems in the region. Evaluating the recent situation in Iraq, Baykal said, "Oil from vulnerable regimes is financing international terrorism." Baykal stressed that his party opposed the defeated March 1 resolution - under which US troops could have used Turkish soil for their imminent Iraq invasion - so as to prevent Ankara accepting a demand which wasn't legal. /Star/
US STATE DEPT CALLS FOR TURKEY TO RESPECT IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY
Commenting Tuesday on recent military developments along the Turkish-Iraqi border, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called for Ankara to respect Iraq's sovereignty and act in accordance with the Iraqi government. Speaking to reporters in Washington, MacCormack stated that the US administration was in contact with Turkish officials about following the terrorist PKK members within Iraq. Stressing that the PKK was a terrorist group which has taken many innocent lives, McCormack said that "going after safe havens for the PKK" was very important for Ankara. "[This] is a topic that Secretary Rice spoke with the leadership of the Turkish government about on her recent trip, and that we are hopeful that in the wake of the formation of an Iraqi government that we can reactivate in a trilateral mechanism that we have with the Turkish government, the US, and the Iraqi government to work on the issue of how to go after these terrorist elements," added McCormack. /Star/
LAGENDIJK CRITICIZES HANDLING OF SEMDINLI INCIDENT
European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk yesterday criticized the punishment given to Van Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya, who lost his position over his preparation of the controversial Semdinli indictment, and said, "The message given through this decision was that if you touch the issue, you will be punished." A group of MEPs led by Lagendijk, in Ankara yesterday for the commission meeting, met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. During the meeting, southeastern Anatolia was the main topic. Underlining the importance of the European Union keeping its promises to Turkish Cypriots, Lagendijk urged Turkey also to open its ports and harbors to the Greek Cypriots. He also warned all concerned sides in the Cyprus issue to be cautious. "There needs to be political will. If there isn't, a new crisis might emerge on the divided island," he said. Lagendijk also met with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/
EU COMMISSION URGES MODERATION ON ANTI-TERROR BILL
The European Union Commission yesterday called on Turkey to be "moderate" with its new anti-terror bill. European Union Enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn's spokesperson Krisztina Nagy said that the commission understood Turkey but that it was necessary to strike a good balance between security and fundamental rights and freedoms. Nagy pointed to some articles of the bill which could damage fundamental rights and freedoms and said that the bill should be in line with the spirit of reforms. Nagy said that she believed that Turkey would take necessary steps to protect fundamental freedoms while fighting terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
FM SPOKESMAN TAN: "OCALAN HAD A GREEK CYPRIOT PASSPORT WHEN HE WAS CAUGHT"
Turkey reacted strongly yesterday to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos' remarks claiming, "Recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be an example for the Kurds in Turkey." Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said, "These statements show Papadopoulos' disconnect from reality and the search for a solution." During his weekly press conference, Tan said that it was well known that in the past the Greek Cypriot administration received terrorist PKK elements with open arms, adding, "We shouldn't forget that Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the terrorists, had a Greek Cypriot passport when he was caught in 1999." /Cumhuriyet/
BAHRAIN COULD OPEN AN OFFICE IN THE TRNC
Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa will come to Turkey as the official guest of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Visiting Ankara this week, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid bin Ahmad al-Khalifa told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that they will open an embassy in the capital. He also said that they were exploring investment opportunities in Turkey. Al Khalifa added that they are interested in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) also from the standpoint of investments, saying, "If possible, we're planning to open an office in the TRNC, we're looking at possibilities." /Hurriyet/
TERRORIST ATTACK INJURES 21 PEOPLE
A terrorist attack in the southeastern province of Hakkari yesterday wounded 21 people, including 11 children. Terrorists exploded a mine as a service bus carrying students, the children of military officials, passed by. In related news, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a message condemning the attack. Terrorism has shown its ugly face once more by targeting children, said the president. /Sabah/
HISARCIKLIOGLU: "THE BUSINESS WORLD ISN'T EXPECTING EARLY ELECTIONS"
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOOB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said yesterday that businessmen weren't expecting early elections. Speaking at a gathering in Bursa, Hisarciklioglu called on officials to avoid making provocative statements which could weaken the economic equilibrium and stability of the country. He added that the Turkish business world wanted the government to ensure that production costs are in line with the standards of other Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In order to compete with certain countries, we should produce at the same cost, added the chairman. /Turkiye/
APRIL INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The Turkish Institute of Statistics (TUIK) yesterday released inflation figures for April. Last month's increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 1.34%, while the producer price index (PPI) rose 1.94%, pushing the yearly CPI to 8.83% and PPI to 4.96%. /Milliyet/