ERDOGAN VISITS TURKISH HOUSE IN THE US, SPEAKS AT THE TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in the United States for an official visit, yesterday visited the Turkish House. Erdogan said that he wanted Turkish people living in the US to lobby for Turkey and be more active in politics. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Erdogan said that the Turkish Cypriots would never avoid negotiating with the Greek side for a resolution on the island. Later, speaking at the Turkish-American Business Council, Erdogan called on the American businessmen to invest in Turkey, adding that the US administration should encourage its businessmen to invest more in Turkey. “We know the problems of the American businessmen investing in Turkey and we’re determined to solve their problems,” he said. Touching on the Iraq issue, Erdogan said that founding a federation in Iraq wouldn’t be healthy, adding that such an act would hurt Iraq’s territorial integrity. The premier stated that Turkey expected the US to impose sanction on the PKK/KADEK terrorist organization, the presence of which was still continuing. Erdogan is set to meet with US President George W. Bush today to discuss a number of issues including Turkey’s European Union membership bid, the Cyprus issue and a possible federation in Iraq. /All papers/

ERDOGAN SCHEDULED TO MEET BUSH TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to meet with US President George W. Bush today at the White House. Five ministers will accompany Erdogan at the meeting, where the premier is expected to focus on the Cyprus issue. Erdogan is to request the support and active participation of the Bush administration regarding the Cyprus peace process. The premier is expected to ask Bush to persuade US Secretary of State Colin Powell to act as a mediator between the Turkish and Greek sides. /Sabah/

GUL TRAVELS TO THE US
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to the US to accompany Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his current visit to this country. Before his departure, Gul commented on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’ recent statement pointing to the fact that finding a settlement to the Cyprus issue by May 1 would be difficult. He said, “Everybody knows that it was a difficult period, however, theTurkish side, for its part, would do everything to reach a solution.” Regarding Greek officials’ critics about Turkish approach on the Cyprus issue, Gul said that Turkish side’s stance was very clear and definite. Concerning Ankara’s desire for a new mediator, the foreign minister said that the person should be trustable and an important one with political power. /Turkiye/

TALAT: “FINDING A SETTLEMENT TO THE CYPRUS ISSUE SERVES TURKEY’S INTERESTS”
Speaking at Ankara Chamber of Industry’s Assembly meeting, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that a settlement reached before May 1 on the Cyprus would serve Turkey’s interests. He claimed that on the other hand, Greek side was holding maneuvers to postpone solution after that date. Stressing that a solution to issue before May 1 would ensure Turkish Cypriots to be included in European Union acquis communautaire, the premier said this opportunity should be put to use. /Turkiye/

US VICE-PRESIDENT CHENEY: “TURKEY DESERVES TO BE SUPPORTED ON ITS PATH TOWARDS THE EU”
United States Vice-President Dick Cheney, who is on a tour of Europe to ease tensions caused by the Iraq war, yesterday met with a number of columnists and editors from 10 prominent European dailies. Urging the EU to admit Turkey, Cheney said, “Turkey is a very important ally, not only to the US, but also to NATO.” Recalling Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s current visit to the US as an example of close and sincere bilateral relations, Cheney added, “Turkey is located in a very strategic region. We’re very well aware of this fact. Turkey has boundaries not only with the Middle East but also with Europe. Our administration wants to continue working hand in hand with the Turkish government.” Cheney had also previously stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Turkey must be supported on its path towards the EU membership. /Hurriyet/

GREEK CYPRUS LEADER: “WE WILL BE PLEASED IF TURKEY PUTS FORTH POLITICAL STANCE TO HELP A RESOLUTION ON THE ISLAND”
Greek Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that he would be pleased if Turkey puts forth political stance to help a resolution on the island. Papadopoulos, who flew to Strasbourg to attend a European Council meeting, reiterated that Greek Cyprus was ready to begin negotiations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) within the framework of the United Nations plan. He added that it was known that the United States supported Turkey’s European Union membership bid. In related news, Greek Cyprus Foreign Minister George Yakovu said that Ankara’s stance on the Cyprus issue was not clear yet. /Aksam/

BARZANI THREATENS TURKEY
Nechirvan Barzani, a top official of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) said yesterday that Turkish troops in northern Iraq deployed to prevent any clashes between Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and IKDP should be retreated. Speaking to AP, Barzani said that if needed, demonstrations would be hold and Turkish military officials’ bureaus in the region would be closed. Stressing that Kurdish parliament sent a letter both to London and Ankara in last October asking for Turkish troops’ retreat, the Kurdish leader said that if their demands were not obeyed, then they would dare everything. In related news, US official served in the region James Bullion stated that there was no probability that Kurdish groups would use force to expel Turkish troops. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL EXPRESSES HIS SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT’S CYPRUS EFFORTS
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal yesterday expressed his support to government’s Cyprus efforts. Stating that the government recently launched a good-will campaign on the Cyprus issue, Baykal said he wished success to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently paying an official visit to the US, in his contacts with the American officials. “The Cyprus issue is very important for Turkey’s future,” added Baykal. “The government has displayed its goodwill with its latest efforts to reach a permanent solution on the island. The Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) efforts are satisfactory, trying to change certain points in the Annan plan which are unacceptable to Turkey. The solution to be found must recognize the existence of two nations on the island, without restricting the status of the Turkish Cypriots to a minority. I hope prime minister will manage to positively contribute to the Cyprus peace process, a development which would make us very happy.” /Hurriyet/

FINANCE MINISTER UNAKITAN ANNOUNCES LAST YEAR’S BUDGET FIGURES
Speaking at a press conference yesterday to announce budget figures, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that last year Turkey’s budget deficit fell to 11.2% of the gross national product (GNP), which was 14.7% in 2002. “Last year’s budget deficit was $30 billion, below our target of $40 billion,” he said. He said that last year the government reached 5.03% primary surplus, above the target of 5%. The finance minister stated that the government was doing its best not to increase prices and impose new taxes, adding however that it would decide whether or not to increase prices after negotiating with an International Monetary Fund delegation next month. /Milliyet/