NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) is due to convene today under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The terrorist PKK and northern Iraq are expected to top the meeting. During the gathering, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit is expected to provide video evidence of his recent assertions in Washington that the Iraqi border is under the control of the PKK. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: "WITH ITS RECENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, TURKEY IS BEING CALLED A COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITY"
Speaking at a conference entitled "Turkey: Country of Opportunities" in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that with its growth and development in recent years, Turkey has started to be hailed as a country of opportunity. Stressing that the government had succeeded in strengthening the rule of law with growth, development, democracy, political confidence and stability, Erdogan added that the West appreciated these accomplishments. Erdogan stated that when his party came to power in fall 2002 inflation was about 30%, and had been high for nearly three decades, but now it has fallen to single digits. "In 2002 exports stood at $36 billion, but now they total $85 billion," added Erdogan. In related news, Erdogan is due to travel to Saudi Arabia today to attend the Eighth Jeddah Economic Forum. During his short stay in the country, Erdogan is also expected to meet with Saudi King Abdullah. /Turkiye-Sabah/
HIGH ANTI-TERROR COUNCIL GATHERS IN ANKARA
The High Anti-Terror Council chaired by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul gathered yesterday. In attendance at the nearly three-hour meeting were Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, National Security Council (NSC) Undersecretary Yigit Alpogan, Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer, Turkish Intelligence Agency Undersecretary Emre Taner and retired Gen. Edip Baser, Turkey's special anti-terror envoy. "Current efforts to fight terrorism and future activities towards this end were discussed during the meeting," said a statement released afterwards. "Within this context, work especially on protecting our borders and preventing illegal traffic and the measures to be taken were discussed." /Turkiye/
GUL: "MEETING WITH TALABANI OR BARZANI WOULDN'T MEAN RECOGNIZING AN INDEPENDENT STATE"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday said that if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan becomes president this May this will not present any problems to either Turkey or the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaking to Kanal 7, Gul said that his recent talks with US Vice President Dick Cheney had been very fruitful. Regarding the possibility of meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, Gul said, "If we can reach a solution on such meetings, Erdogan is ready to meet anyone. Meeting with Talabani or Barzani wouldn't mean recognizing or approving an independent state. But these issues could be discussed." /Hurriyet/
DUTCH QUEEN TO VISIT TURKEY
Dutch Queen Beatrix is due to arrive in Ankara next Tuesday upon the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During her stay in Turkey, Queen Beatrix is also expected to visit Istanbul and Kayseri. She will be accompanied by Dutch Prince Willem Alexander and her daughter-in-law Maxima. Beatrix will be the first Dutch queen to visit Turkey. During her four-day stay, Beatrix will meet with Turkish officials to discuss a number of issues, including Turkey's European Union bid, bilateral ties, tourism, and dialogue between cultures and civilizations. /Star/
PACE HEAD: "THE MEETING BETWEEN YONLUER AND CHRYSOSTOMOS IS A STERLING EXAMPLE OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE"
Ahmet Yonluer, the head of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' Religious Affairs Directorate, and Greek Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos II yesterday met at the Ledra Palas Hotel at a gathering hosted by Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Chair Rene van der Linden. At the meeting, the two resolved to act together to encourage respect for places of worship of both Islam and Christianity. In a statement, Linden said that the historic meeting of the two religious figures was a sterling example of intercultural and interfaith dialogue, which is a priority of his presidency. /Star/