ERDOGAN SAYS HE HOPES FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO IRANIAN PROBLEM
Speaking to Kuwaiti daily El-Anba over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he hoped the Iranian problem would be solved peacefully, adding that Ankara wouldn't allow other countries to use Turkish land to attack its neighbors. Stressing that all countries had the right to have nuclear energy on the condition they use it for peaceful purposes, Erdogan stated that Turkey has friendly relations with Iran. He further stated that both countries have developed mechanisms to cooperate in the field of security. Erdogan called on all regional and international organs to play an active role to stop violence in Iraq. Erdogan pointed to how the violence in Iraq has turned into sectarian clashes between Sunis and Shiites, adding that such clashes would harm not only Iraqis but all regional countries. Stressing that Ankara was carrying out contacts with all parties in Iraq without any prejudice, Erdogan added that Turkey wanted Iraq to protect its political sovereignty and demographic makeup, as well as develop good relations with its neighbors. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN OPENS TWO HOTELS IN ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the opening ceremonies of two hotels in Istanbul built with foreign capital. Addressing the gatherings, Erdogan said that Turkey's peaceful, stable atmosphere was attracting foreign investors. Stressing that investments in tourism will continue at full speed, the premier said that about 40 million tourists are targeted to visit Turkey this year, adding that efforts are continuing to woo visitors not only in summer but throughout the year. /Turkiye/
CICEK: "THE US COULD DO A LOT TO COUNTER TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that the US could do many things to improve the problem of terrorists in northern Iraq. "At least they could hand over terrorist leaders to us," said Cicek. Appearing on TV, Cicek said Turkey has carried out a fight against the PKK single-handedly using its own resources, and that it had not been supported by the international community on the issue. Stressing that the terrorist group couldn't survive for even a day without the support of foreigners, Cicek said that Ankara expected that important figures of the PKK in Iraq would be captured and handed over to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL: "LEGAL CHANGES ALONE AREN'T ENOUGH TO SOLVE WOMENS' PROBLEMS"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal over the weekend attended observances of March 8, International Women's Day. Addressing one such gathering, Baykal said that the problems of women lie at the basis of all problems and that reforms alone weren't enough to solve these, as a change in mentality is also needed. Stressing that many sweeping and important legal changes were recently made in this area, Baykal added, however, that this wasn't enough to change the reality on the ground. Baykal further stated that the nation had no concerns about May's presidential election, but rather about whether or not Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for the office. "He's trying to distract the nation," said Baykal, claiming that he fears if he says he will run tension will follow. /Star/
RUBIN: "DON'T MAKE THE TURKS ANGRY"
US expert on Iraq Michael Rubin said yesterday that the Iraqi Kurds want independence and give support to the terrorist PKK. In an article called "Enabling Kurdish Illusions" in the conservative Weekly Standard magazine, Rubin, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, criticized the US State Department for encouraging Iraqi Kurds by indulging them, adding that US officials posted in northern Iraq have sympathy for the Kurds. Stressing that weapons supplied to Iraqi peshmerga by the US end up in the hands of the terrorist PKK, Rubin said northern Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani isn't limiting the movement of the terrorists. He stated that the Iraqi Kurds underestimate Turkey's resolve. If Turks want to conduct a cross-border operation in the region, they won't be deterred by others, disapproval, wrote Rubin. /Hurriyet-Turkiye/
BABACAN: "COUNTRIES COMPETE TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN CAPITAL, WHICH HAS NO COLOR"
Speaking to Turkey's Bulletin magazine over the weekend, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan criticized the opposition parties' stance on the sale of property to foreigners and foreign capital, adding that capital has no color. "Gulf capital is trying to find places in the world to go," he said. "Britain, the US, and Germany are wooing it, but in our country capital is labeled for its origin. This stance is disturbing investors." Babacan said that countries compete with each other to attract more foreign capital, adding that claims that the government is selling off the country are indications of mistrust. Pointing to the important contributions of foreign capital to the Turkish economy, Babacan stated that there were no such arguments even in China. He stressed that four years ago, the amount of foreign capital entering Turkey was less than $1 billion, adding that the government made foreign capital inflow easier with a 2003 law. /Cumhuriyet/