ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO SOUTH KOREA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun plus businessmen, yesterday left for Seul, South Korea, to pay an official visit. Speaking to reporters on plane board, Erdogan said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) prepared itself very well for local elections to be held on March 28. Stressing that his party was trying to elect best candidates to serve to the public, the premier claimed that his party would receive more votes than Nov. 3 elections. Concerning his contacts in Seul, Erdogan said that Turkey aimed at further developing trade relations with South Korea. On the first day, Erdogan visited Ankara Park and Ankara House in the city, and then met with Chairman of Daewoo Company. During their meeting, Erdogan called on the company to invest in Turkey stating that it was an attractive country for foreign investors. /All Papers/
GUL VISITS POLAND
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday flew to Warsaw, Poland to pay a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airpot, Gul said that Turkish side would go to New York with goodwill and intent of finding a just and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue. Regarding his visit to Poland, Gul remarked that Turkish and Polish relations were very good. “However,” he added, “We want to further develop our economic and trade relations.” After his arrival, Gul attended a banquet in his honor hosted by Turkey’s Ambassador to Warsaw Candan Azer. The Turkish Foreign Minister is set to begin his official contacts today. He is expected to meet with Cimoszewicz, President Alexander Kwasniewski, and Premier Leszek Miller as well as Parliament Deputy Speaker Tomasz Nalecz. /Turkiye/
DENKTAS TRAVELS TO NEW YORK TO NEGOTIATE WITH GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER TO REACH A RESOLUTION ON THE ISLAND
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday flew to New York to begin negotiations with Greek Cyprus leader Tassos Papadopoulos to reach a resolution on the island. The negotiations are expected to begin tomorrow. During his visit, Denktas would be accompanied by TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas, Presidential Undersecretary Ergun Olgun. Speaking before leaving for New York, Denktas said that they were going to New York with good will, but that he still had some concerns, adding that he would never allow any pressure. “Our nation knows that we’re going with good will,” he said, adding that he hoped to return with good news. “Our aim is to reach a sound, just and permanent agreement which satisfies both sides. This depends on steps which will be taken by both sides.” In related news, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to brief the UN Security Council on the Cyprus issue before the negotiations. Asked if this could put a pressure on the Turkish side, Denktas said that he had some concerns. “We will never accept any pressure,” he stated, adding that satisfaction of the two sides was important for a resolution. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal is set to travel to the United States today to participate in the negotiations which would begin tomorrow. /Aksam/
ARINC: “ON WEDNESDAY THE GOVERNMENT WILL BRIEF PARLIAMENT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON CYPRUS”
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said yesterday that the Cyprus issue became chronic and that a resolution could be reached as soon as possible. Arinc said that he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that on Wednesday the government would brief Parliament on recent developments on the Cyprus issue. “Parliament, being a legislative body, wants to be briefed on the issue,” added Arinc. /Turkiye/
IRISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: “A CYPRUS RESOLUTION IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE FOR TURKEY TO GET A DATE FROM THE EU TO BEGIN ACCESSION TALKS”
Irish Ambassador to Turkey Sean Whelan said yesterday that a Cyprus resolution was not the only issue for Turkey to get a date from the European Union, adding that implementation of the recently passed reforms would play a key role for getting a date to begin accession talks. “Implementation of reforms are very important for us Touching on the Cyprus issue, Whelan said, “The EU wants a resolution to be reached before May, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the EU.” Ireland currently holds the EU’s rotating six-month term presidency. /Cumhuriyet/
GONUL: “NATO SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE”
NATO’s 40th Security Conference yesterday ended in Munich, Germany where Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul represented Turkey. “The NATO summit to be held in Istanbul is of great importance, during which seven new countries are to join the ranks of the organization,” said Gonul. “This will be the greatest enlargement ever in the history of NATO. In Istanbul summit, important decisions regarding the organization’s future are expected to be taken.” He added that the conference focused on the issue of global terrorism as well as significant regional problems such as the Iraq issue and the Middle East peace process. “Although all NATO members pledge to crack down on terrorist organizations, there are still certain disagreements in the definition of the very term itself,” added Gonul. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH-JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP VISITS TOKYO
On its visit to Japan, the Turkish-Japanese Parliamentary Friendship Group met with Turks living in Japan at the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo. Addressing the meeting, group’s Chairman Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the friendship group had 384 members, which was the biggest friendship group in the Turkish parliament. Later the delegation attended an international panel held by Middle East Cooperation Center on investment opportunities in Turkey. The mission also visited Japanese Foreign Trade Organization (JETRO), Japanese Association of Travel Agencies (JATA), Japanese Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japanese businessmen association Keidanren. The delegation also asked Japanese Foreign Ministry officials to take Turkey out from the list of second-degree countries which were named as “dangerous for traveling.” /Turkiye/
BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT’S CYPRUS POLICY
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, who attended Socialist International meetings in Madrid over the weekend, criticized the government’s Cyprus policy. He accused the government of making concessions from Turkey’s national Cyprus cause for the sake of the EU membership bid. Noting that Turkey's desire to join the EU was a 40-year process, Baykal said, “Even EU countries officially voiced that Turkey's membership process was not related to the Cyprus issue. If you give Cyprus today, the problems in Aegean will be put in front of you tomorrow.” /Cumhuriyet/
CEM KARACA PASSES AWAY
Famous musician Cem Karaca yesterday died in Istanbul at the age of 59 due to heart failure. Karaca was born in Istanbul in 1945 and started his professional music life as singer in “Apaslar” music band in 1967. Later leaving this band, he joined “Mogollar” music band in 1972. Karaca recorded many albums in his music life. /All papers/