DUTCH QUEEN BEATRIX MEETS WITH SEZER, ERDOGAN, ARINC
After arriving in Ankara yesterday for an official visit, Dutch Queen Beatrix had separate meetings with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. During their talks, Erdogan and Beatrix discussed a number of issues such as violence, conflict, and the threat of terrorism across the globe. Erdogan stated that he appreciated Dutch support for Ankara's European Union membership bid. The premier also decried the $1 trillion spent worldwide on arms each year, saying that if this money were instead spent to fight poverty and illiteracy, the world would be very different. For her part, Beatrix stressed that the world couldn't be indifferent to these problems. Later, Sezer hosted a banquet in Beatrix's honor. Addressing the guests, Beatrix reiterated Dutch support for Turkey's EU bid. For his part, Sezer said that he hoped this support would continue. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN ACCUSES OPPOSITION OF SCAREMONGERING ON MAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Addressing his party's group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the opposition parties' stance on May's presidential election, accusing them of scaremongering. "They say that they're trying to protect the republic," said Erdogan, adding that this was the president's duty. "They don't have this authority, and they're only trying to protect their own interests. Turkey is a country of hope, not fear." The premier stated that the timing of the declaration of presidential candidates was very important. Erdogan also stressed that the next parliamentary elections would be held this November as scheduled. /Aksam/
FM GUL: "IRRATIONAL LEADERSHIP HAS ALWAYS BROUGHT TROUBLE TO THE MIDEAST"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday joined the Turkish government's chorus against the recent remarks of Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, who said that Turkey and Iran should "get used to" the idea of an independent Kurdistan. Returning from a visit to Afghanistan, Gul said that irrational, unrealistic leadership had brought the people of the Middle East nothing but trouble. Stating that at a time when the region and especially Iraq are going through a critical period and Turkey was pursuing comprehensive, constructive policies, Gul said that statements like Barzani's were either tendentious or an example of irresponsibility. /Star/
CHP'S BAYKAL CRITICIZES ERDOGAN OVER REMARKS ON NORTHERN IRAQI ADMINISTRATION
Addressing his party's group meeting yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for saying that Turkey's relations with the northern Iraqi administration could develop. "Our national sovereignty and territorial integrity can't be a matter for talks, and shouldn't be," said Baykal. "Some issues are non-negotiable. What will you talk about with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, who said that Iraq wouldn't fight the terrorist PKK?" /Sabah/
AGAR CRITICIZES EFFORTS TO UNIFY RIGHT-WING PARTIES
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday criticized efforts for unification among right-wing parties, saying that such plans come from people sitting comfortably in luxury hotels. "But as for us, we're traveling across the country together with non-governmental groups and trying to practice politics," he said. "This is how politics should be done." /Turkiye/
TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS WITH US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE BRYZA
A Turkish parliamentary delegation, currently in Washington to discourage passage of the so-called Armenian genocide resolution by the US House of Representatives, yesterday met with Matt Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. Bryza reportedly told the Turkish deputies that the Bush administration was opposed to the resolution. The delegation of deputies includes Murat Mercan, Saban Disli, Necdet Budak, and Muzaffer Gulyurt from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and Haluk Koc and Mehmet Nessar from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). /Star/
TRNC'S TALAT: "DIRECT TRADE REGULATIONS WOULD HELP THE TURKISH CYPRIOT NATION"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat, currently in Brussels to hold various contacts, said yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots would be relieved if the European Union were to implement direct trade regulations. Talat said that the proper place to solve the Cyprus problem was the UN but that after the Greek Cypriots joined the bloc the EU had developed a parallel process. /Cumhuriyet/