SEZER MEETS WITH IRANIAN FM MOTTAKI
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who is currently paying an official visit to Ankara. During their meeting, Mottaki was accompanied by a six-person delegation. Mottaki stated that Iran would continue to pursue its peaceful nuclear program. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN: "HURDLES TO INVESTMENT WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that his government was making efforts to lift all obstacles facing would-be investors. Addressing businessmen at a gathering organized by the Chamber of Maritime Trade (DTO) in Istanbul, Erdogan said that since his government came into office, it had tried to solve the issues hindering business. He added that the Turkish maritime sector had made great strides in recent years. In related news, Erdogan also received Congressman Jane Harman and US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson. During their talks, regional and international issues, as well as the so-called Armenian genocide resolution in the US Congress, were taken up. /Turkiye/
GUL MEETS WITH MAHDI, URGES IRAQ TO BLOCK TELEVISED PKK PROPAGANDA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, who is currently paying an official visit to Ankara. Speaking at a joint press conference, Gul said that he had urged the Iraqi government to stop the terrorist PKK from televising its propaganda on Iraqi TV stations, adding that such promotion was unacceptable. Gul stressed that Ankara has no designs on Iraqi territory, but added, "It's clear that we have a problem concerning terrorism originating from northern Iraq." For his part, Mahdi stated that he knew all terrorist groups in Iraq were taking advantage of the country's situation, adding that the government was trying to prevent PKK attacks on Turkey. He further stressed that the Iraqi administration wouldn't welcome a Turkish military operation in northern Iraq and that neighboring countries should respect Iraq's sovereignty and independence. Later, Gul attended a ceremony in Ankara organized by groups from the Black Sea city of Trabzon. Addressing the gathering, Gul urged people not to fall into despair over last month's murder of Turkish journalist of Armenian descent Hrant Dink, since such murders were isolated incidents. Dink's assassin came from Trabzon. /Hurriyet/
TRNC'S TALAT MEETS WITH LINDEN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday received Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Chairman Rene van der Linden in the capital Lefkosha. Speaking to reporters after their talks, Linden said that his trip aimed to establish a bridge between the two sides on the island, adding that the issue should be dealt with urgently without delay. Talat, for his part, stressed that he had expressed his government's opposition to the embargo imposed on the TRNC, adding that his ultimate goal was a comprehensive, permanent settlement on the island. /Turkiye/
US STATE DEPARTMENT: "THE IRAQI GOVT IS DETERMINED TO COOPERATE WITH TURKEY AND THE US TO FIGHT THE PKK"
US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey yesterday stated that Washington believes the Iraqi government, including Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and other ethnic Kurdish officials from the northern Kurdish region, were determined to cooperate with both Turkey and the US in the fight against the terrorist PKK. He stressed that the US placed importance on the issue, as shown by its appointment of retired Gen. Joseph Ralston as special envoy to counter the PKK. /Cumhuriyet/
IRAQ, STEMMING INTERNAL MIGRATION TO TOP MGK MEETING
In its first meeting of the new year, the National Security Council (NSC) will discuss two important issues: the possibility of the country establishing dialogue with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's suggestion that people seeking to move to Istanbul be required to obtain official permission. The meeting will be chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, one of his last NSC meetings before his tenure ends in May. /The New Anatoian/
RICE SPEAKS OUT IN FAVOR OF TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that her country supported Turkey's European Union membership bid. During a one-hour-plus meeting with representatives from Turkish and Muslim groups in Berlin, Rice listened to their opinions and exchanged views on various topics. Also attending the gathering, Cem Ozdemir, a Turkish-origin European Parliament deputy from Germany, said that Rice had expressed the US' support for Turkey's EU membership and also stated that her country was not against Muslims. /Star/
PARLIAMENT PASSES MORTGAGE BILL
Parliament yesterday passed a bill designed to enable people to buy houses through long-term loans with low interest rates. Under the new mortgage system, interest rates will be either fixed or variable. State Minister Abdullatif Sener hailed the law as a landmark reform. /Star/
COSKUN: "INVESTORS CAN BE CONFIDENT WE WILL STICK TO THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
Addressing the International Investors' Association (YASED) yesterday, Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun pledged that the government wouldn't change the economic program in order to gain advantage in the elections set for this fall. "All investors can invest without reservation," said Coskun. Stressing that Turkey had faced a number of economic crises in past years but had overcome them, he added, "Turkey has become a stable country in its region with sustainable growth." Also addressing the gathering, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that Turkey was a country of opportunities, adding that its economy was among the world's 20 largest. /Aksam/