ADDRESSING NATION, ERDOGAN HAILS TURKEY'S PROGRESS UNDER HIS GOVT
Addressing the nation on television yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the progress made in Turkey over the four years of his administration, adding that it was making steady investments in all provinces, not just certain ones. Erdogan said that recent changes to the Oil Law were a key step in fighting corruption. Stressing that the number of provinces using natural gas has more then quadrupled from nine to 43, Erdogan stated that his government aimed to further increase this number to 60. The premier stressed that people can't live in the past, adding that future needs must be considered. "We have to lay the proper legal infrastructure in line with these needs," he stated. /Turkiye/

QUEEN BEATRIX VISITS KAYSERI, AND WITH PM EROGAN MEETS WITH TURKISH AND DUTCH BUSINESSMEN
Queen Beatrix, currently paying an official visit to Turkey, yesterday visited the central Anatolian city of Kayseri. She was accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa. In Kayseri, Beatrix held a meeting with industrials and businessmen in the Kayseri Industrial Zone. During the meeting, the businessmen told Beatrix about Kayseri's economic situation and their work. Beatrix asked them how workers organized in Turkey and whether its union situation was like Europe's or not. Later, Beatrix returned to Ankara and attended a meeting with Turkish and Dutch businessmen together with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also among the participants were State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan and Rifat Hisarciklioglu, head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). /Cumhuriyet/

GUL MEETS WITH VISITING DUTCH FM
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen, who is accompanying Dutch Queen Beatrix during her stay in Turkey. During their meeting, Verhagen stressed Turkey's obligations for its European Union membership bid. Addressing the Cyprus issue, she said that Turkey was not the sole party responsible for the situation, but Greek Cyprus also bore responsibility. Commenting on the so-called Armenian genocide, Verhagen said that Armenia and Turkey should discuss the issue and reach an agreement. "The issue should be followed by both historians and politicians," she added. /Hurriyet/

WATER SUMMIT HELD IN ANKARA
A water summit was held in Ankara yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan serving as chair. During the meeting, the water problems of Ankara, which is now experiencing a record dry winter, was discussed, and it was decided to bring water into the province from the Kesikkopru Dam over the Kizilirmak River. State Minister Besir Atalay, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, and Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek were present at the meeting. /Milliyet/

CICEK: "TURKEY'S SOUTHEASTERN NEIGHBOR IS IRAQ"
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Turkey's southeastern neighbor was Iraq, and that it did not recognize any others. In a TV interview, Cicek responded to US Condoleezza Rice's recent remark calling northern Iraq "Kurdistan." Stressing that Iraq is going through a very complex and complicated period, Cicek said that southeastern Turkey has a border with Iraq. Criticizing Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's statements that Turkey should "get used to an independent Kurdistan," Cicek said that both Barzani's wording and stance were unacceptable. He added that Barzani had not made a sound analysis of the situation in his country. /Sabah/

RICE: "THE US IS WORKING TO COUNTER THE PKK"
Testifying before the US Senate yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the terrorist PKK acting on the border between Turkey and the northern Iraqi area of "Kurdistan" was responsible for attacks on Turkish territory. She stated that the US, Turkey and Iraqi administration had formed a tripartite commission to counter the terrorist PKK, adding that Iraqi officials and the US didn't want attacks on Turkey from Iraq. She said that Joseph Ralston, the US special anti-terrorist envoy, was taking part in the commission to help end the PKK's ability to attack Turkey. /Aksam/

IRAQ'S NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES SET TO MEET IN BAGHDAD
Iraqi officials have invited its neighboring countries to discuss the situation in the country on March 10 in Baghdad. Representatives from Egypt, the UN Security Council permanent member states, the Arab League and the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) are also expected to take part in the meeting. /Turkiye/

US INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR: "TURKEY WILL FIGHT IF THE IRAQI KURDS TRY TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT STATE"
Speaking at a conference on global threats yesterday, US National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said that Turkey would fight if the northern Iraqi Kurds try to establish an independent state. "If the Arab Sunni minority in Iraq is subjected to a massacre, then the Arab Sunni state will intervene in this," he added. /Sabah/

FRENCH SORBONNE RECTOR: "TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP WOULD BENEFIT THE EU"
Henri Menudier, the rector of Paris' Sorbonne Nouvelle University, said yesterday that Turkey's European Union membership would be a great boon to the bloc. Speaking at a gathering in Hamburg, Germany, Menudier said that his negative thoughts about Turkey's EU membership had changed after he visited the country. Pointing out that Turkey had already fulfilled a number of membership criteria, Menudier added, however, that it still has not recognized the Greek Cypriot administration. He stated that the chaos in the Mideast would be ended by Turkey's EU membership, and that the bloc was not a Christian club, as Europe includes people from a number of different faiths. /Turkiye/