SYRIAN PRESIDENT DUE TO VISIT TURKEY
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is set to arrive in Ankara tomorrow to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During Assad’s visit, recent developments in northern Iraq as well as the fight against terrorism are expected to be taken up. In addition, Turkey’s offer to mediate between Israel and Syria to settle the issues dividing them is also to be discussed. Assad’s visit will be the first ever from a Syrian president to Turkey. /All Papers/

ERDOGAN: “WE’RE WORKING TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT”
Speaking yesterday in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 2003 had been a challenging year, but despite that his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had accomplished a great deal. Stressing that this spring the AKP was set to compete in local elections for the first time, Erdogan stated that local administrations and the government would work together to invest in the nation. Pointing to recent historic low inflation figures, Erdogan called these one of his government’s most important successes. He added that the government was working to reduce unemployment through creating jobs in the construction sector. /All Papers/

GUL: “WE WANT DENKTAS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOTS TOWARDS A CYPRUS RESOLUTION”
Appearing on television yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Ankara deserved to begin accession talks with the European Union, adding that if Turkey didn’t get a date for these talks it would stay on its course. “If we can’t get a date, that won’t be the end of the world,” said Gul. He also stated that even through Turkey’s relations with Russia and Iran were important and would be developed, these countries couldn’t be an alternative to joining the EU. Touching on the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) stance on Turkey’s EU bid, Gul said that the TSK’s approach was realistic and that it supported the accession reforms. The foreign minister further pledged that the government would fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria by the EU summit scheduled for December and also would do its best to help reach a resolution on the Cyprus issue, adding however that the Greek Cypriots should also work for this. Gul stated that Ankara wanted Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas to negotiate with the Greek Cypriot administration to reach a resolution on the island. “We hope a government will be formed in the TRNC as soon as possible” in the wake of last month’s elections, said Gul. The TRNC’s Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat is currently negotiating with national Unity Party (UBP) leader Devis Eroglu to form a government. /Cumhuriyet/

BRITISH AMBASSADOR WESTMACOTT: “IF A CYPRUS RESOLUTION ISN’T REACHED BY MAY, THIS WILL COMPLICATE THINGS”
Peter Westmacott, Britain’s ambassador to Ankara, said yesterday that the wave of recent terrorist attacks late last year in Istanbul had only strengthened the international community’s resolve to fight terrorism. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Westmacott said that if a resolution could not be reached on the island by May, when Greek Cyprus is set to join the European Union, then this would make things much more difficult. “A resolution on the island would also help Turkey’s own EU bid,” he added. /Cumhuriyet/

BABACAN: “THE CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT WILL NOT THREATEN OUR ECONOMY”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said yesterday that Turkey’s current acount deficit for the preceding year was expected to reach $7.7 billion, adding that this wouldn’t pose any problem for the economy. Babacan added that raising taxes would help to achieve this year’s 6.5% primary surplus target. /Aksam/

SCHROEDER: “WE CAN’T REJECT TURKEY”
We can’t reject Turkey’s bid for European Union membership, said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in an interview with a leading German news magazine. “Since 1963, Europe has promised Turkey to give it full membership in the EU,” Schroeder told Der Spiegel. “It is clear that Turkey’s current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to create a society that synthesizes Islam and Western values. If this happens, it will be an important contribution to strengthening Europe’s security,” he added. /Hurriyet/

SHP MAYORAL BID GETS YOUNG PARTY SUPPORT
The Young Party (GP) declared its support this weekend for another party’s candidate in Ankara mayoral elections set for this spring, namely Social Democrat People’s Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin. The GP said it was ready to extend such support in other regions as well. “I know the GP supports me,” said Karayalcin. The GP barely missed the threshold for entering Parliament in the fall 2002 general elections, but since then the family identified most with the party, the Uzans, has been dogged by a web of legal problems and accusations of wrongdoing. /Sabah/

YTP’S CEM SEEKS SUPPORT FROM LEFT
This weekend New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem sought the support of two fellow leftist parties, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Social Democrat People’s Party (SHP), in local elections set for this spring. The YTP’s candidate for Istanbul mayor is Ercan Karatas. Cem wrote a letter to his SHP and CHP counterparts pledging that the YP would support their candidates in other regions in return. /Sabah/

FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY TO TRAVEL TO SYRIA
Foreign Trade Undersecretary Tuncer Kayalar is set to travel to Damascus, Syria today to attend the opening of the four-day “Second Machine and Machine Equipment Fair.” Some 150 Turkish firms will display their products on a 5,000-square-meter area at the fair. /Turkiye/