FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CEM PASSES AWAY
Former Foreign Minister and veteran politician Ismail Cem passed away yesterday at Istanbul's Cerrahi Hospital, losing his long battle against cancer. Cem, 67, who had been thought to defeat the disease, was hospitalized for the last time with a lung infection on Dec. 26. His daughter Ipek Cem said his body would be laid to rest on Friday at Istanbul's Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. /All Papers/

ERDOGAN ADDRESSES ISTANBUL INDUSTRIALISTS
Speaking yesterday at a meeting of Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has reached stability and economic confidence, adding that under his government the nation had forgotten talk of crises. Saying that the work of industrialists had contributed to the economic successes over the last four years, Erdogan stressed that Istanbul's industrialists were leaders towards this end. "Stability and confidence are very important for the future of our country," he said. Commenting on this year's general and presidential elections, Erdogan stated that no one should expect him to declare whether he would run before April, one month before the presidential election. "This is not today's issue," added Erdogan. Later, Erdogan visited the family of murdered journalist Hrant Dink to express his condolences. Asked following his visit what the government would do about controversial Article 301, which gave Dink great legal trouble last year, Erdogan said that work on the issue was continuing. "We're looking for ways to solve this," added Erdogan. /Turkiye-Star/

GUL GOES TO PARIS FOR CONFERENCE ON LEBANON RECONSTRUCTION
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday flew to Paris to attend a conference to lend support to the reconstruction of Lebanon. Speaking at a press conference before his departure, Gul commented on last week's murder of Armenian-origin Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, saying that security forces had caught the trigger man in a short time. "We'll also find any organizations or circles behind this murder," said Gul. Asked about the slaying's possible effect on Turkish-Armenian relations, Gul said that Turkey had no hatred of its neighbors. "We're developing our relations with all our neighbors within respect and confidence," added Gul. "But this isn't only up to us. The neighboring country should also revise its views and feelings towards us." Asked if Article 301 would be changed this year, Gul replied that this was up to Parliament. /Turkiye/

NECHIRVAN BARZANI: "THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ WILL ONLY HARM TURKEY"
The Kurdistan regional parliament in northern Iraq yesterday debated Ankara's recent statements on northern Iraq and Kirkuk. Taking the floor at the meeting, held in the wake of the Turkish Parliament's closed session on Iraq, Iraqi Kurdish region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said, "If Turkey wants to solve its problems by threats, it will do nothing but damage its stature." He added: "Turkey was one of the parties which protected the Kurdish region in 1991 [after the Gulf War]. We never let our territory be used for any action threatening our neighbors. There was much unfairness against the Turkmens under [Saddam Hussein's] Baath rule. Where was Turkey then? Nobody suffered from the PKK as much as we did. The PKK isn't a military question. Turkey should solve this problem through political means. The era of solving problems through threats is over now. Cyprus is being cited as an example for intervention on Kirkuk. There are some states supporting Turkey on the Cyprus issue, but nobody wants them here." /Cumhuriyet/

GREEK PM: "THE PRESENCE OF TURKISH TROOPS ON CYPRUS IS UNACCEPTABLE"
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday claimed that the presence of Turkish troops on Cyprus in the 21st century was morally, politically and logically unacceptable. Delivering a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Karamanlis answered parliamentarians' questions concerning Cyprus. Stating that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was a consequence of what he called the "Turkish occupation," he said that despite this, a decision for financial aid for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was taken in order to facilitate unification. /Hurriyet/

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM: "YEREVAN IS READY FOR UNCONDITIONAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ANKARA"
In Istanbul for the funeral of slain Armenian-origin journalist Hrant Dink, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian yesterday said that Yerevan was ready for unconditional diplomatic relations with Ankara. "The pain of those who attended the funeral made a huge impression on me," he said. Speaking to reporters about the situation between Turkey and Armenia, Kirakosian said, "I attended Dink's funeral to represent the Armenian Republic, not upon the invitation of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. But Armenia is ready for unconditional diplomatic relations with Turkey." /Hurriyet/

BABACAN ATTENDS WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday travelled to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, which began yesterday. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is also expected to attend the forum, whose main theme tomorrow is "Shaping the Global Agenda-Changing the Balance of Power." During the summit, a number of issues, including the share of rising markets such as Turkey in the changing balance of power, will be discussed. Global warming will be one of the most important topics of the forum. /Milliyet/

WB'S NEW TURKEY DIRECTOR PRAISES STATE OF THE ECONOMY
The World Bank's newly appointed Turkey Director Ulrich Zachau said yesterday that the Turkish economy has been recovering since 2001, adding that in the years ahead high growth is expected to be accompanied by structural transformations. "Last year's growth rate was 7.8%," he said. Stressing that the progress Turkey has made is amazing, Zachau added, however, that there was still much to do modernize economic institutions and improve structural transformations. "The Turkish economy is continuing to grow in a healthy way," he added. "It's among the fastest-growing countries. I expect sound growth this year." /Aksam/