ERDOGAN: "VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS EQUIVALENT TO IGNORANCE"
Speaking at his party's group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on March 8, International Women's Day, saying that he considered violence against women as being equivalent to ignorance. "Discrimination against women is more dangerous than racism," he said, adding that there should be no gender discrimination. Criticizing the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Erdogan stated that his government, not the CHP, started a landmark campaign to encourage girls to go to school. "They say we're telling lies about women, but we know their actions," said Erdogan. "They say that the CHP was Turkey's first party, but what has it done for our women? You can't come to power single-handedly, because Turkish women don't trust you." In related news, Erdogan is expected to attend a forum in Azerbaijan on Friday. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is also expected to be present. /Sabah-Turkiye/
PM ERDOGAN INVITES PUTIN TO BSEC SUMMIT
In a telephone conversation yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited him to attend the 15th summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) to be held on June 25 in Istanbul. Putin stated that he had supported efforts for developing cooperation in the Black Sea region. /Cumhuriyet/
GUL TO VISIT MOROCCO, MACEDONIA, AND GREECE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due to travel to Morocco on March 15 and Macedonia on March 22 to pay official visits. Gul is expected to pay an official visit to Athens at the end of this month, but the visit could be pushed back to the beginning of April if Gul's program is too busy before then. During his stay in Athens, Gul is expected to meet with his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis to discuss bilateral ties and stress that Ankara has friendly relations with Athens. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: "WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AGAINST SEPARATISTS"
At his party's group meeting, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday said that a debate over a proposed new provincial system arose just as some were trying to provoke internecine conflict in Turkey. Stating that some people don't favor Turkey's unity and integrity, Baykal said, "While the whole world is trying to develop unity, here some are trying to divide Turkey into provinces. Is this progress? We must frustrate these efforts." /Turkiye/
AGAR: "TURKEY CANNOT ABANDON ITS UNITARY SYSTEM"
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday met with earthquake victims in Elazig. Speaking to reporters about former President Kenan Evren's recent proposal that Turkey adopt a provincial system, Agar said, "Who would accept a provincial system in Turkey? Besides, that's not what he's saying. Turkey cannot abandon its unitary system." /Star/
US MUSLIM LEADER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY AGAINST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Turkish Parliament with Egemen Bagis, a Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul deputy and chairman of the Turkey-US Interparliamentary Friendship Group, US Muslim leader Warith (Wallace) Deen Mohammed expressed support for Turkey against the US Armenian resolution, saying that he would lobby against the measure. For his part, Bagis said that he appreciated Mohammed's support for Turkey on the resolution, which may soon face a vote in the US Congress. /Turkiye/
GEN. BASBUG MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN'S ALIYEV
Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, currently in Azerbaijan, yesterday met with President Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Sefer Abiyev. During their meeting, Aliyev said that the cooperation between the two countries was developing successfully, adding, "We need this cooperation also in the military realm." Basbug said that he was ready to do his utmost as land forces commander. /Turkiye/
US SENATE VOTE ON RESOLUTION CONDEMNING DINK MURDER POSTPONED
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday postponed its vote on a resolution condemning the murder this January of journalist Hrant Dink. The delay came from Senator Richard Lugar, who objected to the text of the resolution. A vote on the resolution, which was submitted by committee Chairman Joe Biden, is reportedly set for two weeks from now. /Hurriyet/
ARMENIAN FM CLAIMS TURKEY IS TRYING TO PUNISH US OVER RESOLUTION
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian yesterday claimed that Turkey was trying to punish the US for the Armenian resolution now before Congress. In Washington, Oskanian said that he thought governments shouldn't intervene on the issue, but adding that since the Turkish government lobbied against passage of the resolution, his government also had to take action. /Sabah/
IMF DELEGATION VISITS UNAKITAN
A delegation from the International Monetary Fund yesterday visited Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan in Ankara. The delegation is headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Lorenzo Giorgianni and Turkey Representative Hugh Bredenkamp. During the meeting, a number of issues such as the 2006 budget, the budget for this year, and a new value-added tax (VAT) regime were discussed. /Sabah/