GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEY
Georgian President Mihail Saakashvili yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After visiting Ataturk's mausoleum, Anitkabir, Saakashvili met with Sezer. During their talks the two leaders pointed to developing relations between their countries. Today the Georgian president is expected to meet with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and then travel to Istanbul. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN ADDRESSES MEETING OF ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in New York to attend a meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, yesterday addressed the gathering, saying that at first no one had believed that the joint Turkish and Spanish efforts for the project would go anywhere, but that two years later these views had changed. Erdogan said that the group formed by outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented their final report at a meeting held in Istanbul last month, adding that the report was very important. "The report, with its proposals for solving problems, is a touchstone document," said Erdogan. "As the report says, the world faces great dilemmas. Dominant culture and faith systems are at loggerheads instead of meeting under common humanitarian values, and this creates polarization between the Islamic world and the West." Later, Erdogan met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Annan, and incoming UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. /Star/
GUL: "EU COUNTRIES ARE SUFFERING AN INTERNAL CRISIS"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that relations between Turkey and the European Union had entered a new era, and that the bloc was suffering a crisis within itself. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Ministry, Gul said that in the end Europe would realize Turkey's importance. Reiterating Ankara's commitment to its full membership goal, Gul said that this goal was also supported by the Turkish people. Commenting on British Prime Minister Tony Blair's signal that direct flights may start from Britain to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Gul said that Ankara expected that development to be realized soon. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL WEIGHS IN ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATES
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday commented on recent arguments that if all the CHP deputies were to resign, then the government would have to "turn to the nation" for the presidential election set for next May (meaning hold early general elections beforehand), saying that the CHP would do its best to prevent a negative outlook for the nation's future. "We need to learn what circles who voice their views on all issues think about the election," said Baykal. "If they want anything from us, they should speak up." Baykal further stated that no one wanted tension in the country, adding that the nation was worried that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would declare his candidacy just before the presidential election. He stated that the nation needed to discuss presidential candidates and added that Erdogan should get the approval of the nation. /Cumhuriyet/
BAHCELI: "MARCH WOULD BE GOOD FOR HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS"
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that he thought March 11 was a good date to hold early general elections, adding that these could change the makeup of Parliament. Bahceli said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) could again come to power singe-handedly. "Then no one could question the elected president," he said referring to Parliament's presidential election set for May. Bahceli further confirmed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had told him that early general elections should be held. Also commenting on the possible en masse resignation of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) members to make the AKP "turn to the nation" for the presidential election - meaning hold early general elections beforehand -- Bahceli said that the AKP had the majority in Parliament. /Sabah/
OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT AND PM, CALLS FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST
Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who is also a Turkish scholar, yesterday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called for peace between the sides. Stressing that there were some ideas that could be used to overcome the crisis, Ihsanoglu stated that he hoped some positive steps would be taken. Later Ihsanoglu proceeded to Gaza to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. In related news, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday phoned Haniyeh, saying that he was following developments in the Mideast. /Turkiye/
COREPER TO DISCUSS TURKEY
During a meeting today, the European Union Permanent Representatives' Committee (COREPER) will take up Turkey. The committee will talk about Ankara's EU chapters' screening process and which have been completed and are ready for talks. During the gathering, France and Greek Cyprus are expected to try to block talks from opening on any new chapters. /Turkiye/
REHN: "TALKS WITH TURKEY MAY RESUME IN JANUARY"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that accession talks with Turkey could resume as early as next week. Speaking to the BBC, Rehn said that the first chapter to be taken up was expected to be on enterprises and industrial policy, adding that there were no political criteria for that chapter, and progress could be ensured. Rehn said that Ankara should notice that not fulfilling commitments had consequences. On the other hand, he stated that the bloc favored the continuation of talks with Turkey. /Star/
GERMAN FM STEINMEIER VOWS TO WORK ON TALKS, TRNC'S ISOLATION
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country will assume the term presidency of the European Union next Monday, said yesterday that the opening of new negotiating chapters with Turkey and the adoption of direct trade regulations with the Turkish Cypriots would be among the priorities during Germany's six months at the EU helm. Speaking at a press conference at the EU Council in Brussels, Steinmeier said Germany would exert efforts for the approval of EU-proposed trade regulations aimed at easing the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Turkish Daily News/