ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that he wouldn't speak with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal about his presidential candidacy. Erdogan responded to reporters' questions after an award ceremony held by his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and said that he was planning to meet with political party leaders who hadn't expressed their views. Erdogan will meet with opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar. He is also expected to meet with Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin and People's Ascent Party (HYP) leader Yasar Nuri Ozturk. /Star/
GUL: "WE DON'T SIT AND WATCH THE DEVELOPMENTS"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Ankara which wants Iraq to protect its unity, cannot only sit and watch the developments against it. Speaking to reporters before a meeting in Ankara with the representatives from economy and business world to discuss ongoing studies on Turkey's United Nations Security Council temporary membership bid, Gul said Turkey would like a formation in Iraq depending on friendship and fraternity, adding that it would only be possible with respect for rights of all groups in the region. Turkey will protect itself, if harmful attacks continue against it, added Turkey's top diplomat. /Turkiye-Sabah/
ANKARA PREPARES AN IRAQ PLAN
Ankara is preparing an Iraq plan to be implemented if the Iraqi administration doesn't take steps against the terrorist group PKK. Under the action plan being prepared by the Foreign Ministry, Turkey will carry the issue to international platforms including the United Nations and lower political relations with Iraq. Afterwards, economic sanctions will be imposed. If no positive developments are recorded, then military operations will be on the agenda. Closure of Habur border gate, cutting energy power transferred to northern Iraq and delivery of construction materials as well as petroleum products, and diminishing dispatch of food are among the economic sanctions to be imposed. Furthermore, private airlines' direct flights from Istanbul to Iraq are planned to be cancelled. In related news, Levent Bilman, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said yesterday that the note submitted to Iraq earlier this week urged the administration to ensure security along the Turkish border, capture of the PKK militants and surrender to Turkey, as well as implement its responsibilities within the framework of the United Nations. He added that Ankara awaits the reply of the Iraqi administration soon. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ANNOUNCES ELECTION SCHEDULE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday met with deputy group chairmen of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and presented a schedule for the upcoming presidential election. He proposed two alternatives referring to the election schedule. First formula calls for holding the first round of elections on April 26, the second round on May 1, the third round on May 8 and the forth round on May 15. According to the second formula, elections will start on May 3, the second round on May 7, the third round on May 11 and the last round on May 15. /Hurriyet/
FM GUL TO TRAVEL TO TRNC
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). During his two-day stay, Gul is expected to meet with President Mehmet Ali Talat and Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Lieutenant-General Hayri Kivrikoglu and attend a series of opening ceremonies. /Turkiye/
GUL AND BABACAN GIVE SIGNALS ON EARLY ELECTIONS
State Minister for Economy Ali Babacan supported some ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) official's statements on early elections and strengthened the thesis on AKP to bring forward the elections. Speaking to Milliyet daily, Babacan said, "Presidential election ends in May," adding, "There's no need to wait for months for the general elections. My personal opinion is that we should bring forward the elections in order to provide the new parliament to begin new legislative term as of Oct. 1. If we held elections in November it requires additional budget. Parliament will begin to work in February. If we bring forward general elections two months we will bring in four months to the parliament and the government. Meanwhile, after being asked about Babacan's statements on early elections, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, "Date of the elections is certain, but if there will be a change due to technical reasons, that's different." /Cumhuriyet/
BUYUKANIT TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
Chief of General Staff Gen.Yasar Buyukanit is set to hold a press conference this afternoon. A written statement released by the Office of General Staff said Buyukanit will inform the public concerning the recent developments related to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). It is highly expected that Buyukanit mention the press reports arguing that top commanders of the army planned to stage a coup in 2004, based on the alleged diary of retired Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ozden Ornek. The conference will be the first press conference at the General Staff headquarters after 21 months. In related news, Buyukanit yesterday paid a courtesy visit to newly appointed Security Director General Oguz Kaan Koksal in Ankara. Stressing that policemen and soldiers are integral parts, the top commander said the two organizations are working together to ensure peace in the country. /Milliyet/
WASHINGTON BACKS TURKEY
While the US evaluates Turkey's note to Iraq following Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's recent statements as Turkey's appreciation, the Washington administration states that northern Iraq is the unique stable region of the country and sends messages to Turkey not to damage stability. The US doesn't want Turkey to impose economic sanctions on the region. Meanwhile, the US conveyed to Turkey's Special Envoy for Iraq Oguz Celikkol, currently in Washington, that they would do their utmost to make Iraqi-Turkish Commission on the Fight Against Terrorism functional again. But Ankara opposes to this. In related news, French daily Le Figaro claimed that the crisis between Turkey and the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani reflected the sensitivity of the Kurdish issue. The paper drew attention to the Iraqi conference to be held in Egypt instead of Istanbul and claimed that Turkey had difficulty in imposing itself in the diplomacy game in the region. /Cumhuriyet/