TURKISH REPUBLIC CELEBRATES ITS 80th ANNIVERSARY

Turkey yesterday celebrated the 80th anniversary of its founding as a secular republic by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer began the day by visiting Anitkabir, Ataturk’s mausoleum, in Ankara. “Our nation is committed to strengthening this secular and democratic republic, our most precious heritage, so that it endures forever,” wrote Sezer in Anitkabir’s commemorative guest book. Many other celebrations were also held throughout the country. A giant national flag measuring nearly 4,000 square meters was paraded through Istanbul, and a huge airborne flag was literally flown above celebrations in Ankara. The official celebrations ended with a state reception hosted by Sezer at Ankara’s Presidential Palace. /All papers/

IN MIDST OF CELEBRATIONS, LEADERS COMMENT ON DEPLOYMENT ISSUE

During last evening’s Presidential Palace reception marking the Turkish Republic’s 80th anniversary, various political and military leaders took time out from the celebration to comment on the Iraq troop deployment issue. Arranging necessary conditions for deployment seems difficult, said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, adding, “For me the question is closed.” For his part, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, “There has been nothing definitive on the issue. We had a request a request from the United States. But since there’s still no agreement, we’re not keen to send troops to the country.” Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok echoed these sentiments, saying, “We’re not eager to send troops.” Speaking on Turkish troops currently serving in northern Iraq, Ozkok added, “It would be difficult to pull back our troops from the region as long as the terrorist group PKK/KADEK remains a threat.” /Sabah/

BAYKAL: “THE UN HAS LOST GROUND IN IRAQ”

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that the Socialist International’s policy on Iraq reached during its January meeting in Rome was appropriate. At the current Socialist International meeting in San Paulo, Brazil, Baykal yesterday was elected its deputy chairman. Speaking at the gathering, Baykal claimed that the United Nations had lost its efficacy in Iraq. Concerning recent violence in the Middle East, Baykal said the situation was deteriorating, adding that the basic causes underlying the disputes needed to be resolved. On the Cyprus issue, the CHP leader said the European Union should not put pressure on the sides to reach a hasty settlement that would not ease the 30-year-old issue but rather complicate it. /Turkiye/

BOUCHER: “TURKEY SHOULD TALK WITH IRAQ’S GOVERNING COUNCIL”

A dialogue between Turkey and Iraq’s Governing Council is important, said US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Tuesday. Asked by a reporter about Turkey’s relationship with Iraq, Boucher said, "I do believe that Turkish government has met with ... members of the Iraqi Governing Council, that they have met with the foreign minister appointed by the ... council. We do think it's important for them to have a dialogue with the Iraqis. There are many issues involved, not just deployment of Turkish troops, but the whole question of relationships with their neighbors; that it's important for Iraq to explore in this fashion through having their own direct contacts." On yesterday, he expanded on these comments, saying, "We still care about Turkish forces. We care about the relationship between Iraq and her neighbors, and we care about our relationship and our cooperation with Turkey against terrorism." /Turkiye/

DENKTAS: “WE WANT THE TRNC TO JOIN THE EU ALONGSIDE TURKEY”

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that he wanted his nation to join the European Union alongside Turkey. Next May, Greek Cyprus is due to join the EU erroneously on behalf of the whole island, unless a resolution with the TRNC is reached before that time. /Milliyet/

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN VISIT MEXICO

A group of Turkish businessmen led by Turkish Confederation of Employer’s Unions (TISK) Chairman Refik Baydur is currently paying a visit to Mexico, and yesterday they met with that nation’s economy and industry ministers. During the meetings, both sides pledged to strengthen bilateral trade relations, and the Turkish businessmen requested an agreement to lower trade barriers. /Turkiye/

EU PROGRESS REPORT REPORTEDLY PRAISES TURKEY’S REFORMS, URGES IMPLEMENTATION

The annual European Union progress report on Turkey scheduled to be released next week reportedly praises the nation’s recent reforms, but adds that these must also be implemented, sources familiar with the document said yesterday. It also reportedly states that obstacles to education and broadcasts in mother tongue languages should be lifted. The report is said to decry that though the National Security Council (MGK) has taken on a more advisory role, it still has a political influence. The document also reportedly states that more efforts are needed to end torture and that the EU welcomes Turkey’s support for the United Nations Cyprus plan. /Aksam/

EU COMMISSION ROSY ON TURKEY’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, PREDICTS 2004 INFLATION BELOW 20%

The European Union Commission yesterday released its annual report on EU candidate countries’ economic outlook. The report praised the economic stability Turkey has achieved this year, adding that all indicators were positive. The report predicted this year’s inflation at 26% and next year’s rate below 20%, further projecting single-digit inflation in the near future. The report also predicted that Turkey would achieve balanced growth next year, adding that interest rates would fall even as investments and exports rise. “Implementation of sound budgetary and monetary policies would help achieve these,” the report added. However, the report decried that unemployment remained too high, saying it would be 11.2% this year, 10.9% in 2004 and 10.4% in 2005. The report also emphasized that there has been little economic fallout in Turkey from the war in Iraq. /All papers/

CORRECTION

The Tuesday edition of the Turkish Press Review quoted US civilian Iraq administrator Paul Bremer as characterizing the former Ottoman presence in Iraq as "colonialist" or "imperialistic." Our news was based on domestic Turkish press accounts, which however misquoted Bremer. When Bremer spoke to US-based Fox News on Sunday, his actual words were: "What [the Iraqi Governing Council has] done is suggested that they should have a dialogue with the Turks directly, so the Turks can sit directly with the Governing Council and they can go over it [the troop deployment issue]. This is a sensitive subject for the Iraqis. The Turks were there from 1533 to the end of the First World War, 400 years, and so it's sensitive, understandably. And I think we need to have a dialogue together, and see if they can find some way to take everybody's sensitivities and interests into account. We think we should have Turkish troops there, but we obviously have to pay some attention to what the Iraqis think" (from the full transcript at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101252,00.html). While the Turkish Press Review is based on domestic media accounts, it normally tries to confirm words spoken originally in English whenever possible. The Press Review regrets misquoting Mr. Bremer.