IN ROME, SEZER ATTENDS OPENING OF EXHIBIT, LATER MEETS WITH ITALIAN PM PRODI
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, on an official visit to Italy, yesterday attended the opening of an exhibit with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano. The exhibition, prepared jointly by Turkey and Italy, shows how the cultural aspects of bilateral relations have gained importance. Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koc was also present at the opening of the exhibit. Addressing the gathering, Sezer said that Turkey places great importance on its ties with Italy and wants to further develop these ties. He also stressed that the exhibit would help strengthen relations between the two countries. Later, Sezer met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. During their meeting, Prodi expressed his condolences to Sezer over Tuesday's plane crash near Baghdad which took the lives of over 30 Turks. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN REBUFFS BAYKAL'S CRITICISMS OF AKP POSTERS WITH TURKISH FLAGS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday rebuffed the criticisms of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal of posters with Turkish flags promoting the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Baykal charged that the posters, prepared for the recent Feast of the Sacrifice holiday, had not been hung in Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions, but Erdogan countered that in fact they had been displayed nationwide. Charging that Baykal was trying to sow tension within the country with such criticisms, Erdogan stated that no one had the right to question his government's love of the flag. "No one can compete with us for venerating our flag," said Erdogan, adding that some people were trying to cast aspersions on the government's attitude. /Turkiye/

FM GUL: "2007 WON'T BE A LOST YEAR"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday chaired a meeting of senior Turkish officials dealing with the European Union where the 2007-2013 roadmap for Turkey was formulated. Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan, EU Secretary-General Oguz Demiralp, and all the undersecretaries of ministries and relevant state bodies attended the meeting held at the EU Secretariat General. During his opening speech, Gul said that despite the EU's recent decision to partially freeze Turkey's accession talks, technical preparations for these chapters will continue. Gul said that the majority of the reforms are in the interests of the Turkish people. "Turkey needs the reforms. They are necessary to raise the standards of living of our people," he said. Gul also criticized the opposition's describing the priorities of the EU as "impositions" and steps by the government as "concessions" to the EU. /Star/

JOURNALISTS DAY CELEBRATED
Yesterday, Jan. 10, was celebrated as Working Journalists Day in Turkey. "Employers, professional organizations and the state share the responsibility to improve the working and living conditions of journalists and to secure their rights", said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in a statement marking Working Journalists Day. In his message, Sezer said the press is one of the main pillars of a pluralist, participatory democracy, and it plays an indispensable role in a robust and working democratic order. "The improvement of journalists' working and living conditions and the protection of their rights will ensure them a comfortable environment in the exercise of their duties. This falls in the responsibility of employers and professional organizations, as well as the state. On the other hand, media workers must protect their rights, respect ethical values in every respect and stay vigilant against those seeking to usurp the power of the media for their own ends," Sezer said. /Cumhuriyet

EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY TODAY
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit will arrive in Turkey today for talks on bilateral issues and tensions in the Middle East, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Gheit will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Turkish-Egyptian ties and international issues during his stay, which lasts until tomorrow, said a statement released by the ministry. /Turkish Daily News/

AGAR PLEDGES TO RESTRICT IMMUNITY IF DYP COMES TO POWER
Speaking at a conference organized by his party yesterday, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar pledged that the DYP would restrict parliamentary immunity if it comes to power. Decrying a loosening of moral standards in the country, Agar stated that this had led to a rise in crime. /Turkiye/

TRNC'S TALAT: "WE EXPECT BRUSSELS TO RETURN OUR GOODWILL GESTURE ON LEDRA ST."
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday said that the Turkish Cypriots wanted the demolition of the bridge over Ledra St. but wouldn't take any steps before the Greek Cypriot administration demolishes the wall in the southern part. According to Internet portal AB News, Talat told BRT 1 TV in Turkish Cyprus, "(Greek Cypriot leader Tassos) Papadopoulos still says he won't demolish the wall, but will continue to wait. This wall of shame should be demolished now." Talat also said that he expects an initiative from the European Union in return for the well-intentioned move of the Turkish side. /Star/

BODIES OF BAGHDAD PLANE CRASH VICTIMS BROUGHT TO TURKEY
The bodies of Turkish passengers who lost their lives in a plane crash in Baghdad Tuesday were brought to Turkey yesterday. A cargo plane carrying 33 bodies landed at Adana Airport. The plane, which took off from Adana, crashed as it was trying to land at Baghdad's Alasad Airport, killing 34 people. /All papers/

US AMBASSADOR TO EU: "THERE'S LITTLE WE CAN DO FOR TURKEY'S EU BID SINCE IT'S AN INTERNAL EU MATTER"
C. Boyden Gray, the US Ambassador to the European Union, said yesterday that Washington wasn't lobbying EU member states for Turkey's EU bid. Asked about Washington's stance on Turkey's EU bid, Gray stressed that it hoped Ankara would finally join the Union, but that there was little for the US to do on the issue since it's an internal EU matter. "We can't go beyond this," he added. /Milliyet/