ERDOGAN: “TURKEY’S REGIME ISN’T UNDER DISCUSSION”
Speaking to a meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) provincial chairmen in Ankara yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was no discussion about Turkey’s regime for any reason. Stressing that certain circles that lacked grounds to criticize the government were resorting to “regime discussions,” Erdogan said, “Turkey is satisfied with its regime designated by the Constitution. All institutions in Turkey, the government and Parliament in particular, are determined to carry on this regime forever.” He stated that democracy wasn’t only a manner of administration, but a way of life. In the runup to next spring’s local elections, Erdogan also urged party leaders to work hard to promote the AKP and its candidates. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS TO ASSIGN TASK OF ESTABLISHING TRNC GOVERNMENT
Work to establish a new government in the Northern Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is ongoing, with President Rauf Denktas expected today to assign a party leader for that task. The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) is seeking this duty, as it received more votes than any other party in the Dec. 14 elections. At the same time, two other parties, the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and the Democratic Party (DP), are also suggesting that the CTP get the assignment in line with tradition. /Turkiye/

CABINET TO DISCUSS FORMATION OF NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT
The Cabinet is set to convene today to discuss the formation of a new Turkish Cypriot government following general elections earlier this month in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In related news, Foreign Ministry officials are set to brief Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tomorrow on the ministry’s plans to help reach a resolution on the island. This week a summit on Cyprus is also set to be held as chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The summit will seek to firm up Ankara’s stance on the formation of a new TRNC government. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL: “ANNAN’S CYPRUS PLAN SHOULD BE DISCUSSED”
We must discuss the United Nations plan for Cyprus, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday. Emphasizing that there is no other choice besides the plan for the island proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Gul said, “There’s no other choice because after next May, there will be another member [Greek Cyprus] which will have a say in the European Union. This would be against the interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC].” Gul added that the Foreign Ministry had prepared an extensive report on the issue for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Hurriyet/

BABACAN: “FOR THE SOCIAL GOOD, WE’RE CONSIDERING BOOSTING THE MINIMUM WAGE ABOVE INFLATION”
Appearing on television yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that Turkey’s falling debt stock would help to reduce interest rates, which in turn would also boost the nation’s growth. “Last year’s primary surplus target was 6.5%, but we hit 3.9%,” said Babacan. “This was due to a lack of budgetary discipline and the 2002 elections.” One of the most important events of the past year was the war in Iraq, added Babacan. Touching on local elections, set for next spring, Babacan said that the government wasn’t implementing populist policies, but social welfare policies, adding that it was considering raising the minimum wage more than inflation. /Milliyet/

SEZER, ERDOGAN, GUL CONDEMN BOMB ATTACK AGAINST EU COMMISSION HEAD PRODI
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday issued separate messages condemning a weekend bomb attack on European Union Commission President Romano Prodi. The parcel bomb left Prodi unhurt. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH AID RUSHED FOR IRAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Turkish officials are continuing their efforts to aid Iran after a devastating 6.3 earthquake hit the southeastern city of Bam on Friday, destroying most of its houses and killing tens of thousands of people. Turkey has sent six trucks carrying medical supplies, generators, blankets and body bags for the deceased as well as five cargo planes carrying search and rescue and first aid personnel, four rescue vehicles, food and medicine. In related news, Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen yesterday received Iranian Ambassador Firuzi Devletabadi. Expressing the condolences and sympathy of the Turkish government and its people over the recent disaster, Ergezen said that in addition to the aid already sent, Turkey would soon dispatch additional help to speed the healing of the country’s wounds. He stressed that some 800 containers and 700 prefabricated houses previously used to help survivors of Turkey’s 1999 Marmara earthquake were ready to be dispatched. In addition, 10 geologists and five civil engineers might be sent to the region to help find a suitable site to erect the houses. For his part, Devletabadi expressed his country’s gratitude for Turkey’s concern over the terrible disaster. /Turkiye/

NEW MINIMUM WAGE TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
The commission to set a new minimum wage is expected to reach a figure tomorrow and to have it announced by Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu. The new amount will be effective as of this Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004. /Hurriyet/

TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT PREPARES SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PLAN
The Foreign Trade Undersecretariat has prepared an export strategy plan for next year through 2006. The plan predicts that Turkey’s exports will increase by 60% to reach an annual figure of $75 billion by the end of 2006. The plan further aims to form an export structure to achieve sustainable growth and overcome problems caused by the Customs Union. /Aksam/