ERDOGAN: "WITHOUT JUSTICE, THERE CAN BE NO PEACE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Public Works and Housing Minister Faruk Nafiz Ozak, yesterday opened a modern courthouse in Istanbul's Bakirkoy district. Addressing a crowd at the opening ceremony, Erdogan said that his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had made the greatest investment in the history of the Republic of Turkey in justice and the judiciary. "We built 76 court houses and service buildings," said the premier. Stressing that his government has done its best to better Turkey in terms of four fundamentals they made pledges on when they came to power -- namely education, health, justice and security -- Erdogan said that if there is no justice then there is no development or peace. Also speaking at the ceremony, Cicek lashed out at allegations that the judiciary has become politicized. "What has this government done to politicize the judiciary?" asked Cicek. "It is the same judges, and the same laws have been in place since the government came to power." Cicek also underlined that such a politicization would be an unprecedented disaster. Cicek has been accused by the judiciary of blocking appointments to the Court of Appeals and the Council of State. The premier and his fellow Cabinet ministers also laid the foundation for a future courthouse in Istanbul's Kartal district. /Hurriyet-Turkiye/
GUL OPENS DAM IN KAYSERI
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler yesterday attended a series of openings in Kayseri. Speaking at an opening ceremony of the Sarioglan Dam, Gul said that after construction lasting 17 years, the dam has finally been completed and put into service during his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) rule. Touting the government's accomplishments, Gul compared Turkey to one huge construction site. Gul added that they were working hard to further develop the country. /Aksam/
BAYKAL: "IF THE AKP SEEKS A COMPROMISE, WE CAN DISCUSS THEIR CANDIDATE"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal over the weekend criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over May's presidential election, saying, "Different names came up the in the (ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP) in-house surveys because they could see that Erdogan insisting (on running for president) would upset Turkey." Baykal said that if the AKP seeks a compromise, they could discuss who the party could field as a candidate. Stating that he expects Erdogan not to seek the presidency, Baykal said that he wasn't awaiting a loud statement from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). He said that he didn't mean to provoke the military and wasn't expecting a statement from the National Security Council (NSC) either. /Milliyet/
DSP LEADER SEZER: "THE PRESIDENT SHOULD PROVIDE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE STATE"
Speaking to a weekend meeting of his Democratic Left Part (DSP) in Edirne, Zeki Sezer said that Turkey should get through May's presidential election without any tensions. He also said that the person to be elected president should provide proper coordination between the public and the state. /Cumhuriyet/
BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN ANKARA
British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett will pay an official visit to Turkey beginning tomorrow. During her stay, Beckett is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and also be received by Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Furthermore, Beckett is set to meet in Istanbul with Ali Babacan, the state minister and chief negotiator for European Union talks. Her talks with officials are expected to focus on the Iraq and Iran issues, and Turkey's EU membership process. The Cyprus issue will also be one of the main topics of the talks. /Aksam/
GREEN MEP COHN-BENDIT: "TURKEY WILL BECOME AN EU MEMBER IN 2022"
In an interview with French daily Le Figaro last week, European Union Term President Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "There's no hope for Turkey's EU membership even 50 years from now." In response to her statement, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a Green MEP, wrote a column for German daily Frankfurter Rundschau arguing to the contrary that Turkey would be a full EU member in 2022. He said that the hurdles put before Turkey, which lies along natural gas and oil transportation lines, had caused pain over the entire continent and that it was difficult to reach an agreement on Turkey. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin also said that he supported Turkey's EU bid. /Sabah/
MIRONOV: "THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS' ISOLATION IS UNACCEPTABLE"
Sergey Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, said over the weekend that he wouldn't accept any approaches such as an embargo or isolation in the 21st century, referring to the embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Speaking to reporters prior to his visit to Turkey set for today, Mironov said imposing an embargo or isolation on a nation was senseless. Mironov said the Turkish Cypriots should have the same rights as their Greek neighbors, particularly the right of free movement and doing business, adding that these rights should be regulated by international law and rules. Noting that he would arrive in capital Ankara today at the invitation of Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Mironov said that issues such as the situation in Iraq and steps to be taken in order to provide stability in this country would be discussed during his talks in Turkey. /The New Anatolian/
ONE OF LAST TWO SURVIVING WAR OF INDEPENDENCE VETERANS DIES
One of Turkey's two surviving veterans from the War of Independence lost his life in Konya late last week. Veysel Turan, who was 107, was buried yesterday in a military funeral. The last living veteran of the War of Independence, 112-year-old Yakup Satar, currently lives in the central Anatolian city of Eskisehir. /Star/
TURKISH NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM DEFEATS GREEKS
During a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying soccer match in Athens on Saturday, the Turkish national team defeated Greece with a score of 4-1. The Turkish team stands at the top of its group C and will play Norway in Frankfurt on Wednesday. /All Papers/