SEZER, ARINC, AND ERDOGAN ISSUE MESSAGES HONORING SECULARISM
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday all issued messages marking the 70th anniversary of the inclusion of the principle of secularism in the Constitution. In his message, Sezer said that it was improper to try and redefine secularism when Constitutional Court decisions and the Constitution itself have clearly defined the concept. Sezer stressed that secularism was the foundation of modernism, and acted as a safeguard for all freedoms. Arinc, in his statement, said that secularism provided people with freedom of religion. In his message, Erdogan said that it was everyone's duty to protect the concept of secularism. /Cumhuriyet/
PAKISTANI PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF VISITS TURKEY
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday arrived in Ankara for a two-day working visit. After meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer hosted a dinner in honor of Musharraf and his wife. The Pakistani president is expected to exchange views with Turkish officials on the Mideast issue and efforts to end the violence in the region. /Hurriyet/
IN WASHINGTON, GUL MEETS WITH CHENEY
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday began his contacts in Washington. First Gul met with Vice President Dick Cheney and then held talks with National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. Gul reportedly conveyed Ankara's concerns over an Armenian resolution possibly reaching the floor of the House of Representatives, warning that should the measure pass, relations between the two allies could be seriously damaged. He also stated that Turkey has had enough of the terrorist PKK and expressed Ankara's impatience on the issue, urging US officials to take concrete steps, and soon. Furthermore, he touched on the Kirkuk issue, adding that Ankara favors the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity. As part of his contacts, Gul today is expected to meet with his counterpart Condoleezza Rice at a noontime luncheon. Tomorrow the foreign minister is scheduled to have talks with congressmen from the House of Representatives to seek support to prevent the Armenian resolution from reaching the House floor. In addition, Gul will address during a gathering of the German Marshall Fund think-tank. After completing his contacts in Washington, Gul will proceed to New York. /Turkiye/
SENER: "THE GOVT IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING TURKEY'S EU PROCESS"
State Minister Abdullatif Sener said yesterday that the government was closely following developments in Turkey's European Union membership process. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Sener said that Economy Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan had briefed the government ministers on recent developments in the EU process. Asked about Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, Sener said that similar laws have long existed in Western countries, but no action had been taken and nobody has been punished, adding that through a new understanding and modern interpretation the issue could be resolved. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: "RATHER THAN RETREAT INTO THE PAST, TURKEY MUST ADAPT TO TODAY'S WORLD"
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday attended a meeting of the Investment Climate Improvement Coordination Committee (YOIKK) held at the Treasury Undersecretariat. Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu and Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) Chairman Oguz Satici were also present. Addressing the gathering, Babacan rebuffed claims that a recently passed oil law would put the country's resources in the hands of foreigners, calling such charges inaccurate. He further stated that Turkey should adapt itself to the world as it is instead of trying to retreat into the past. Stressing that Turkey paid $29 billion to import energy last year and that it was dependent on foreign countries, Babacan added that he didn't believe that energy investments could be made through public resources alone. Babacan also stated that the method and timing of the privatization of Halkbank would be decided after current conditions are evaluated. /Milliyet/
IN WESTERN THRACE, BAKOYANNIS PLEDGES "NEW PAGE" IN HOW GREECE TREATS ITS MINORITIES
Visiting Turkish villages in Greece's Western Thrace region yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis pledged that Athens would solve all of the problems of Greece's minorities. Speaking at the Gumulcine Chamber of Commerce, Bakoyannis stated that Greece was determined to turn a new page in its relations with minorities, adding that the government would do work on a number of issues such as education, development, funds, and citizenship. /Sabah/
WILSON MEETS WITH BAHCELI TO GAUGE MHP VIEWS ON NATIONALISM
US Ambassador Ross Wilson yesterday visited opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli to discuss a number of issues. During their meeting, Wilson asked Bahceli his views about nationalism, and Bahceli told the ambassador about his own and his party's views on the issue. Bahceli stressed that Turkish nationalism isn't based on racism, adding that his party accepts as Turkish anyone who is a Turkish citizen. /Sabah/
ISRAELI PM OLMERT TO VISIT ANKARA
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due to arrive in Ankara next Thursday to pay an official visit. During his short stay in Ankara, Olmert is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a number of issues, including last month's murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian descent. Olmert is expected to express support for Turkey in its relations with Armenia following the killing. The two premiers are also expected to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This will be Olmert's first visit to Turkey as prime minister. /Hurriyet/
IHSANOGLU MEETS WITH EGYPT'S MUBARAK
Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, on a visit to Egypt, yesterday met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Speaking afterwards, Turkish scholar Ihsanoglu said that they had discussed the problems of Islamic countries and that their meeting had been very fruitful. /Sabah/
AZERBAIJAN'S DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH BUYUKANIT
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Sefer Abiyev, paying an official visit to Turkey, yesterday met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. The two top commanders reportedly discussed bilateral and regional issues. /Hurriyet/