RETURNING FROM ARAB SUMMIT, ERDOGAN CALLS HIS MEETING WITH IRAQ'S TALABANI "POSITIVE"
During the just-concluded two-day Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also held bilateral contacts in the country. Speaking to reporters while returning to Turkey, Erdogan said that his meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had been positive, adding that Talabani had told him that his country needs Turkey. "They're uncomfortable about press reporters about a dispute between our states," said Erdogan. Commenting on Talabani's proposal that Turkey send a delegation to Iraq to study its demographic makeup, Erdogan said that proposal would be evaluated and a response given to Talabani. In related news, during his contacts, Erdogan said that a summit could be held in Istanbul to resolve the dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf are expected to meet in May. A summit on Iraq is also due to be held in Istanbul next month. Erdogan places great importance on this to make Istanbul the "heart of a solution." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iran's foreign minister are expected to meet during the summit. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/
GUL TO BE ABSENT FROM EU LUNCHEON
In light of the European Union's failure to invite Turkey and other candidate countries to its ceremonies marking the bloc's 50th anniversary, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly will not attend a luncheon as part of an unofficial meeting of EU foreign ministers to be held today in Bremen, Germany. Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said yesterday that Ankara will be represented at the luncheon by ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan. /Turkiye/
FOREIGN MINISTRY: "US SENATE'S RESOLUTION ON DINK MURDER WON'T SERVE ANYONE'S INTEREST"
A Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday that a resolution passed by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee condemning the murder of journalist Hrant Dink, who was convicted with "insulting Turkishness," a crime under controversial penal code Article 301, would not serve anybody's interests. The resolution reopened the question of whether Congress should weigh in on the debate over the Armenian genocide allegations. The Foreign Ministry also said that the resolution would only help those who want to illicitly link the murder with the events of 1915. /Star/
HISTORIC AKDAMAR CHURCH REOPENED AS MUSEUM
Van's Akdamar Armenian church, restored at a cost of $1.5 million, was reopened yesterday as a museum in a ceremony with the attendance of Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koc and Armenia's Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjan. Addressing a crowd, including leading Armenian figures from the US, Koc said that Turkey has always respected different cultures and their artwork, pointing to the need for their protection for future generations. Also speaking, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II thanked Turkish officials on behalf of the Armenian community. /Cumhuriyet/
ANTI-TERROR BASER MEETS WITH US' RALSTON IN WASHINGTON
Turkey's Special Envoy for countering terrorism Edip Baser yesterday met with his US counterpart Joseph Ralston in Washington. Speaking afterwards, Baser stated that there were issues which both sides are working on, adding that they had discussed details of these issues. "There have been a number of developments and we discussed these," said Baser. "We also spoke of handled our expectations for the future. Ralston briefed us on about what the US is planning to do." Baser further stated that if a military operation is needed against the terrorist PKK, Turkish officials and institutions would decide on this. "No one should worry about this," added Baser. /Sabah/
DEFENSE INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONVENES TODAY
The Defense Industry Executive Committee, consisting of Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, will convene today to decide on four important ventures, including the production of tanks and attack helicopter. /Turkiye/
FEHRIYE ERDAL COULD FACE TRIAL
A Belgian court ruled yesterday that fugitive from Turkish justice Fehriye Erdal would be tried in Belgium for crimes she is accused of committing in Turkey. The decision made by the Gent Court has been sought by Turkey for years. After the decision becomes final, Erdal could be tried in absentia, as her whereabouts are currently unknown. /Milliyet/
SPEAKING TO AMERICAN-TURKISH BUSINESS GROUP, HISARCIKLIOGLU TOUTS TURKISH ECONOMY
Addressing the American-Turkish Commercial and Industry Chamber yesterday, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu touted the Turkish economy, saying that it was the European Union's seventh-largest and the world's number 19 economy with its gross national product (GNP) of $400 billion. Stressing that Turkey was an industrial giant in its region, Hisarciklioglu stated that it was time to invest in Turkey. Later Hisarciklioglu met with Daniel Sullivan, the US assistant secretary of state for economic, energy, and business affairs. During their meeting, Sullivan said that the US supported a proposal to revive a Palestinian industrial zone, which came up via the Ankara Forum. /Milliyet/
ITALY AWARDS THREE TURKS ORDERS OF MERIT
Italy has awarded Orders of Merit to former NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin and parliamentarians Zeynep Karahan Uslu and Muharrem Kilic. The awards were presented to the trio by Italian Ambassador to Turkey Carlo Marsili in a ceremony at Ankara's Italian Embassy. /Sabah/
ISTANBUL FILM FESTIVAL TO BEGIN TODAY
The 26th International Istanbul Film Festival will commence today with Turkish director Ferzan Ozupek's latest work "Saturno Contro." During the festival, which lasts until April 15, 41 long and 10 short films will compete in four different sections. /Cumhuriyet/