POPE BENEDICT XVI ARRIVES IN ANKARA, MEETS WITH SEZER AND ERDOGAN
Pope Benedict XVI yesterday arrived in Ankara for a four-day official visit. The visiting pontiff first met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the airport, since Erdogan was due to fly to Latvia to attend a NATO summit. During their meeting, Erdogan said that he was pleased to see the pope in Turkey and sought his support for Turkey's European Union membership bid. For his part, the pope stated that he was glad to visit Turkey, adding that he wasn't a politician, but favored Ankara's membership. Erdogan further stressed that the visit took place when dialogue between cultures is beginning to improve. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Erdogan said that he had had the chance to hold a short meeting with the pope. "We now need tolerance between different cultures more than in the past," said Erdogan. "Thus, the pope's visit carries great importance to give messages of peace to the world." Later, the pope was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During their meeting, they had discussed a number of issues, including Turkey's EU bid and Cyprus. Sezer stressed that Ankara was expecting the EU to pursue just and equal policies. Commenting on the Vatican's criticisms of restrictions on religious freedom in Turkey, Sezer stated that Turkey was a secular country. "Secularism is among the articles of our Constitution," said Sezer. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Sezer said that the Turkish Cypriots still face an embargos even though they put forward their positive stance, adding that the issue should be solved within the UN. For his part, the pope stated that he was aware of the importance of the Cyprus issue and supported efforts to solve the issue within the UN. /Cumhuriyet/
POPE MEETS WITH BARDAKOGLU
After completing his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pope Benedict XVI met with Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu. During their meeting, Bardakoglu said, "I view this visit of His Holiness the Pope to our country a positive step towards cultivating a culture of reconciliation amongst the members of different religions, beliefs, cultures, and civilizations for promoting the understanding of mutual respect, justice and rightness." Bardakoglu continued, "Muslims condemn all types of violence and terror, regardless of whoever commits it against whosoever. We are the members of a religion which reckons that shedding the blood of an innocent person is a serious crime and sin equal to killing all humanity." For his part, the pope said, "Your country is very dear to Christians. Many of the earliest church communities were founded here. I am fond of the Turks. I appreciate the natural qualities of these people who have their own place reserved in the march of civilization." /The New Anatolian/
BAYKAL, MUMCU CRITICIZE GOVT HANDLING OF PAPAL VISIT
Speaking at his party's group meeting yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the timing of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI was improper, saying that officials didn't try to arrange the visit at a more proper time. "The visit should be completed without damaging Turkey's image," said Baykal. Also addressing his party's group meeting, opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu extended his welcome to the pope, adding that he hopes the pontiff came with good will. Mumcu criticized the government's handling of the papal visit, saying that it had acted clumsily over the visit. "The real reason for this visit is not Turkey, but the Fener Greek Patriarchate," added Mumcu. /Hurriyet/
YAS MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW
This year's second meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) is due to be held tomorrow under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, such issues as the training and discipline of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) staff are expected to be discussed. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit is due to attend the meeting. The decisions taken by the council members will be presented to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for approval. /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO RIGA TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, yesterday flew to Latvia to attend a NATO summit of heads of state and government. Erdogan, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, will represent Turkey at the gathering, where the Afghanistan issue is expected to dominate talks. The summit began last evening with a dinner of leaders of the 26 NATO member states. As part of the meetings, Erdogan is set to hold bilateral talks with European leaders including his Italian, British and Spanish counterparts. Following a meeting with Latvia's president, the Turkish premier will also meet with the German premier and French president. /Turkiye/
PM ERDOGAN WARNS WORLD LEADERS ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that recent developments in the Mideast had turned into a dangerous game. Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan pointed to the escalating violence in Iraq and called the events a kind of civil war. "If this fire isn't put out soon, it will engulf us all," said Erdogan, adding that the division of Iraq into three parts would be the beginning of a huge disaster. Calling on everyone, but especially Iraqi religious leaders, to work hard for peace, Erdogan said that there could be no winners in this fight, but global peace and humanity would be the losers. /Turkiye/
IZMIR PREPARES TO WELCOME POPE
Tight security measures have been taken in the capital Ankara and the cities of Izmir and Istanbul to be visited by Pope Benedict XVI during his first trip to a Muslim country. The pontiff is expected to proceed to Izmir this morning to visit the House of the Virgin Mary in the Selcuk district. He will officiate a two-hour ceremony attended by 500 believers selected by the Vatican and invited by the archbishop of Izmir. The ceremony will be broadcast live in 67 countries. Then the pope is set to fly to Istanbul late in the afternoon to carry out his contacts in this city, before leaving Turkey on Friday. /All Papers/
WB APPOINTS NEW TURKEY DIRECTOR
Following Andrew Vorkink's stepping down after completing his three-year term in office, Ulrich Zachau has been appointed the World Bank's new Turkey director. Zachau previously served as strategy and operations director of the WB's Latin America and Caribbean Department. /Aksam/
MINIMUM WAGE DISCUSSIONS TO BEGIN TOMORROW
The Minimum Wage Commission is scheduled to convene tomorrow to determine the new minimum wage to be paid to workers next year. The commission has 15 members: five workers, five employers and five representatives from the government. The commission had set the minimum wage for this year at YTL 531. /Sabah/