COMMENTING ON MIT STATEMENTS, ERDOGAN SAYS THERE SHOULD BE NO SPECULATION ABOUT THE AGENCY
Appearing on television yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on recent statements by the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) head advocating that Turkey take a more active policy in its region, saying that the agency was one of the nation's most important institutions. "There shouldn't be any speculation about the agency," said Erdogan. "This statement was made to mark the 80th anniversary of the institution, and it shouldn't be blown out of proportion. I attended a ceremony of the agency before coming on this program." Commenting on US President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy, Erdogan said that Ankara wanted concrete steps to be taken in Iraq. "Otherwise we consider these remarks a diversion," he said. "I personally told the president this." Also commenting on this year's general and presidential elections, Erdogan said that some circles were speculating about how much support his party has. "Everyone should respect the will of the nation," added Erdogan. "If the nation is pleased with us, then it will vote for us." /Turkiye/

MIT CELEBRATES 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT) celebrated its 80th anniversary yesterday. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit attended a reception marking the anniversary. /Star/

BUYUKANIT CONGRATULATES BULGARIA, ROMANIA ON THEIR NEW EU MEMBERSHIP
Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit and other high-ranking military officials yesterday attended a reception celebrating the new EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania. Regarding the US new strategy on Iraq, Buyukanit said that said that US President George W. Bush had addressed incidents on the Turkish-Iraqi border. "I think he was talking about border security," Buyukanit said. "I will visit the US on February 11-16." /Hurriyet/

GUL: "WE HOPE THE US NEW STRATEGY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL"
Commenting yesterday on US President George W. Bush new strategy for Iraq, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said he hoped it would be successful and bring peace to the nation. Nobody can say at the moment whether it will be successful, but Turkey will continue its support and contribute to stability in Iraq, Gul told a joint press conference after meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit. /Star/

BAYKAL ACCUSES PM OF "AGGRESSIVENESS," SAYS HE NEEDS REST
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was pursuing an aggressive attitude and that he needed to take a rest. Baykal said that the ruling party hadn't displayed its recent controversial holiday posters in Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions, adding that he was aggressive due to this. "He's trying to bluster through the issue with a harsh style," claimed Baykal. /Sabah/

MHP's BAHCELI BRANDS ERDOGAN "SEASONAL NATIONALIST"
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said yesterday that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a "seasonal nationalist," adding that Erdogan had shifted his rhetoric due to this year's approaching general elections. Commenting on the debate over the ruling party's holiday posters, Bahceli said that he wasn't interested in the issue. /Milliyet/

PAPADOPOULOS: "THE LOKMACI GATE WON'T BE OPENED BEFORE TURKISH SOLDIERS WITHDRAW"
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that the Lokmaci Border Gate wouldn't be opened before the Turkish soldiers stationed there withdraw. Papadopoulos further stated that preliminary groundwork needed to be laid before he could meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat. /Star/

BASER DISPLEASED ABOUT LACK OF PROGRESS AGAINST TERRORISM
Turkey's special envoy for countering terrorism, retired Gen. Edip Baser, yesterday said that he was satisfied with the mechanism established between Turkey and the US on countering terrorism, but was displeased about a lack of positive developments from it. "It is among Turkey's options to intervene in this problem with or without the US," said Baser. /Cumhuriyet/

CB HEAD: "WE AREN'T PLEASED WITH 9.65% INFLATION LAST YEAR, AS THE TARGET WAS 5%"
Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz said yesterday that the CB wasn't pleased with last year's 9.65% inflation since the target was 5%. "If we're looking for who's responsible here, the CB is responsible for this," said Yilmaz. "We aren't making excuses." Asked if the CB's inflation targeting timing was inappropriate, Yilmaz said that it wasn't. /Sabah/