SEZER: “FREEDOM OF BELIEF IS PROTECTED BY THE SECULAR REGIME”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message to mark the 67th anniversary of the secularism principle, saying that freedom of belief was protected by the secular regime. However, he also added that beliefs shouldn’t be used as a political tool. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also issued a message to mark the issue, saying that basic rights were protected by the secularism principle. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN VOWS TO PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KONYA TRAGEDY
Rescue workers yesterday pulled 16 more bodies from the ruins of a collapsed apartment building in Konya, raising the death toll to 43. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to punish those responsible for the collapse of the building. “This incident cannot be left without an answer,” said the prime minister after inspecting the site. “There should be a price for it, and there will be.” /All Papers/

GUL MEETS WITH EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE SOLANA IN BRUSSELS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Brussels to attend the 16th congress of the European People’s Party, yesterday addressed the congress and briefed the participants on Turkey’s reforms and on Turkish-EU relations. The foreign minister expressed that Turkey was a part of the Europe. “The EU has a great potential and capacity,” he said, adding that it was further a civilization. Later, Gul met with European Union High Representative Javier Solana to discuss a number of issues. Speaking afterwards, Gul and Solana said that they had discussed such issues as Cyprus, Middle East and Turkish-EU relations. “Cyprus [...] dominated our discussions,” said Solana. “I am optimistic about Turkey’s role in the search for a solution. I am also confident that the efforts recently deployed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, will bring the two parties back to talks.” For his part, Gul said that Turkey wanted the Cyprus issue to be solved by May, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the EU. Later, Gul met with Luxembourg Foreign Minister Lydie Polfer and Greece’s New Democracy Party leader Costas Caramanlis. Speaking afterwards, Gul said that they had discussed Turkish-Greek relations. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Caramanlis said that if a resolution could be reached on the island on the basis of the UN plan, then Greece would support Turkey’s EU membership. /Turkiye/

PRODI: “THE COMMISSION WILL BE IMPARTIAL ON TURKEY’S ACCESSION”
Speaking to a Belgian daily La Libre Belgique yesterday, European Union Commission President Romano Prodi said that the Commission would be impartial regarding Turkey’s accession, adding that the political decision would be given by the EU Commission and the European Parliament. “The EU will enlarge with 10 countries in May,” he stated, adding that the EU also wanted Turkey to join the EU. He further stated that the EU also wanted to cooperate with such countries as Morocco, Ukraine, and Moldova. /Aksam/

ANNAN CALLS ON CYPRUS TALKS TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 10
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday called on Cypriot leaders to begin Cyprus talks on Feb. 10. Annan’s spokesman said that the secretary-general had written to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, inviting them to New York on Feb. 10 to resume negotiations on his reunification plan. The object he said would be “to put a completed text to referenda in April, in time for a reunited Cyprus to accede the European Union on May 1.” The spokesman also said Annan has also send letters to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis, “asking them to have representatives on hand in New York for that occasion.” Annan has also invited United States and Britain, the third guarantor power for Cyprus together with Greece and Turkey, to send “observers” to talks. President Denktas reacted those reports yesterday saying there was no need for having European Union, or American observers at the Cyprus talks. /All Papers/

TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERS DISCUSS ANNAN’S INVITATION
Arriving in Ankara at the beginning of this week to meet with Turkish leaders to discuss the Cyprus issue, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas prolonged their visit to Ankara to evaluate United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s invitation to resume Cyrus talks on Feb.10. Last night Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Turkish Cypriot leaders. During the meeting, reportedly conditions of Annan’s invitations were discussed. Speaking to reporters Denktas said that he might travel to New York after evaluations both with Turkish and then TRNC officials. /Turkiye/

US STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: “THE US DOESN’T INTENT TO ESTABLISH A BASE ON CYPRUS”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher declined a rumor that the US wanted to establish a base on Cyprus. He added that State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Tom Weston would take part during the Cyprus talks expected to begin on Feb. 10 in New York. According to diplomatic sources, the US administration, which has been “deeply engaged” in Cyprus settlement efforts, wants to establish a military presence on the strategic eastern Mediterranean island. /Turkiye/

GREEK GOVERNMENT: “WE ARE READY TO NEGOTIATE ON THE ANNAN PLAN”
Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas yesterday announced that the Greek government received a letter by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan which calls on the relevant parties to begin negotiations on the UN resolution plan for Cyprus, known as the Annan plan. Protopapas stated that Athens and Nicosia were ready for talks, adding that it remains to be seen whether the Turkish side will be sincere. Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis confirmed Greece's firm support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General. The Greek Cypriot administration also announced that it received Annan’s letter. Meanwhile, according to the Greek Cypriot daily Politis, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen is to attend the negotiations as an observer. /Turkiye/

TURKEY TO HOST EUROPEAN CUP FINAL
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) chose the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul to stage the 2005 European Champions League final. “It has a huge capacity and it is an area (of Europe) that has not hosted a final before,” Lars-Christer Olsson, the UEFA chief executive, said. “They have complied with everything we asked of them.” UEFA stated that it had received the necessary assurances from the Turkish authorities. “The conditions there are the same, generally, as for all countries and they have given guarantees,” Olsson said. “We have also asked for additional investments in the infrastructure around the stadium and they have agreed to this, too.” Meanwhile, Vice President for UEFA Senes Erzik said that it was very important that the UEFA wants Turkey to stage next year's final of European club football's most prestigious competition. “It will be the first in our region, including the Balkans,” added Erzik. “Besides, it is meaningful that it would happen during the process of Turkey's European Union membership.” /All Papers/