ERDOGAN: "DEADLINE FOR DECLARING THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS APRIL 25 MIDNIGHT"
Speaking yesterday after the General Assembly of the Turkish Agricultural Credit Center Union, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on May's presidential election. Asked about when the presidential candidate would be declared, Erdogan said that the deadline for declaring the candidate was April 25 midnight. Later, Erdogan met with his party's deputies. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan stressed that his basic goal wasn't to be elected president, but to raise the national income to $10,000 and to create a livable country. He further stated that the person to be elected the president should embrace the whole nation. In related news, Erdogan commented the remarks of Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, saying that he spoke within democracy and law. "He made a speech which befits a statesman," added Erdogan. /Milliyet/

GEN. BUYUKANIT: "CROSS-BORDER OPERATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL"
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday said that the Kurdish leader Barzani's recent remarks were very worthless and that an operation into northern Iraq was necessary. Stating that a cross-border operation would be beneficial, Gen. Buyukanit said, "There should be a political decision for a cross-border operation. Conducting a military operation out of Turkey's borders, if it's not within the context of NATO, is subject to the parliament's approval. If this authorization will be given to us, we can do it and be successful." Speaking at a press conference at the General Staff Headquarters, which he informed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan beforehand, Gen. Buyukanit gave important messages about terrorism, cross-border operation, and presidential election. Noting that the intelligence reports claiming that terrorism activities would rise in May, Gen. Buyukanit said northern Iraq is a training field giving logistical support to the PKK. Touching on the presidential election, Gen. Buyukanit said that he hoped that someone who is loyal to the principles of the republic, not just in words but also in essence, would be elected president. /Star/

BAYKAL: "BUYUKANIT SAID THAT ERDOGAN SHOULDN'T BE PRESIDENT"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday spoke about Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit's statements about the presidential election and said, "Chief of General Staff stated his views that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shouldn't become president." Baykal said, "This is surely not a memorandum. Chief of General Staff openly underlined that they didn't want a president like Premier Erdogan." Touching on Gen. Buyukanit's remarks on Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's recent statement, Baykal said, "This is a clear and sharp expression of attitude against the US." In related news, opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu said that Gen. Buyukanit's statement about the presidential election was mature and serious. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

ARINC: "I'LL START THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WHEN I SEE 184 DEPUTIES IN PARLIAMENT"
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc commented on approaching presidential election, saying that Parliament had been electing the president for 84 years and it wouldn't share its authority with any person or institution. "Parliament is the symbol of democracy," he said. "We are carrying out this duty on behalf of our nation. We'll choose our 11th president on behalf of our nation." Commenting on arguments that 367 deputies needed to be present in Parliament on the day when the first round of elections to be held, Arinc said that this claim was fully wrong, adding that the claim wasn't only forcing the law, but also violating it. "When I see 184 deputies in Parliament on that day, I will start the election," added Arinc. /Turkiye/

GUL, TALAT DISCUSS DIRECT TRADE REGULATION
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday received Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Speaking afterwards, Talat stated that the steps to be taken by the European Union on Direct Trade Regulation would also contribute to a resolution on the island. He stressed that the EU should approve the regulation as soon as possible, adding that he was waiting for the EU to keep its promise. For his part, Gul said that the regulation became an issue of the EU, adding, however, that the TRNC wouldn't lose anything if the EU approves the regulation or not. /Sabah/

US' MCCORMACK: "IRAQIS AND TURKISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD COOPERATE IN ELIMINATING PKK THREAT"
US Assistant of Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean McCormack yesterday spoke about Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit's recent remarks about a cross-border operation into northern Iraq and said, "Now, Turkey faces a real threat from the PKK," and added, "It's a terrorist organization that has killed innocent Turkish citizens, and it's a problem that needs to be dealt with. The way we suggest it be dealt with is to have the Iraqis and Turkish Governments working together to try to eliminate this threat and we have lent our good offices to that effort in the form of retired General Joe Ralston, former SACEUR. And he has had good discussions working with the Iraqis and the Turks on this issue. It's clearly a very emotional issue I think on both sides. Everybody understands that. But the focus should be on trying to resolve this in a cooperative way, in a joint way, rather than to resort to unilateral actions." /Aksam/

IMF'S RATO SAYS TURKISH ECONOMY FORMED ONE OF BIGGEST SUCCESS STORIES OF RECENT YEARS
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato said yesterday that the Turkish economy constituted one of biggest success stories of recent years, adding that both the government and the nation needed to be celebrated. Asked how election atmosphere would affect Turkey's economy, Rato said that elections had its own dynamic and this wasn't peculiar to only Turkey. "Of course, we believe that general macro economic strategy shouldn't disregarded eveN during election campaign period," said Rato. Also present at the meeting, IMF First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky said that he was optimistic that the Turkish government would continue to implement proper economy policies. /Sabah/