SEZER MEETS WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO PRESIDENT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday met with Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic, who arrived in Ankara yesterday for an official visit. “Although we don’t share common borders, we see each other as neighbors and want to further develop our relations to highest possible level,” stated Sezer, adding that this would also contribute to the regional peace. He further praised reform efforts in Serbia and Montenegro over the past three years. For his part, Marovic said that his visit was of great importance since Turkey was one of the most influential countries of the region. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SECRETARY GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL AMNESTY
International Amnesty Deputy-Secretary Irene Khan yesterday visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the one-hour meeting, pointing to the pleasure of the Amnesty International upon Turkey’s recent reforms on human rights and freedom of speech, Khan requested DEP deputies Leyla Zana and Hatip Dicle to be released. Erdogan said that the topic was a matter of judgment. He criticized the Amnesty International for its stance to different ideologues. Stating that the organization didn’t interested in him during his trial due to a poem he read out, Erdogan charged of the Amnesty International to apply double standards. /Turkiye/
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM PREVAILS IN THE THIRD DAY OF CYPRUS TALKS
Greek and Turkish Cypriots yesterday talked for a third day and into the night, amid cautious optimism a deal was within reach to reunite Cyprus before it joins the European Union. The talks between Un Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas began two hours later than scheduled, and no reason was given for the delay. The negotiations stretched past nine hours, alternating between face-to-face and indirect sessions. Greek, Turkish, British and US envoys shuttled in and out of the talks as the evening progressed, seeking to move things along and keep the pressure on both sides to reach agreement. Prospects for an agreement improved after Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas proposed a tight timetable that appeared to satisfy a key condition set out by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Denktas’ timetable broadly incorporated Annan's insistence the parties agree in advance to submit any final agreement to separate referendums in the Turkish Cypriot north and Greek Cypriot south on April 21. The Greek Cypriots yesterdau called for EU involvement in the Cyprus negotiations. Greek Cypriot envoys also questioned whether a new UN Security Council resolution would be needed to authorize Annan to resolve disputes in place of the parties. /All Papers/
GUL: “THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BEFOREHAND”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that there was not any pressure on Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue. “The steps we have taken have been determined beforehand,” said Gul, addressing a conference organized by Strategic Researches Center. “Whatever we have done have been determined beforehand,” stated the foreign minister. “Things that have been planned step by step continue. Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) together decided for the steps that would be taken.” Gul added, “Turkey has carried out a very fastidious work over the issue. We have been pursuing a national policy. Therefore, we listen to the views of everyone.” /Aksam/
DENKTAS: “ANKARA AND ATHENS SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, currently in New York, yesterday met with Greek Cyprus leader Tassos Papadopoulos and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the Cyprus issue. Speaking afterwards, Denktas said that he did not think that Greek Cypriot administration would refuse the TRNC administration’s proposal to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN, adding that Annan also welcomed the Turkish side’s proposals. “The formula found by Turkey for a resolution is a good one,” he said, adding that Ankara and Athens should also participate in negotiations. /Milliyet/
CoE SECRETARY GENERAL SCHWIMMER CALLS ON THE LEADERS OF CYPRUS TO REUNITE THE ISLAND BEFORE EU ACCESSION
Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer yesterday appealed to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders not to miss the historic opportunity to reunite Cyprus before its accession to the EU on May 1. “Never has the hope for a breakthrough towards a settlement been higher,” said Schwimmer. “I fully share the desire of the Cypriot people that their leaders reach an agreement.” He also announced that he planned to invite Cypriot party leaders to Strasbourg at the beginning of March, as a follow-up to a similar meeting held in July last year. Representatives of other international bodies concerned with the Cyprus issue will also be invited to this meeting. “It is important that the international community stands ready to assist in the implementation of a solution,” added Schwimmer. /Turkiye/
ATHENS HOLDS AN EMERGENCY SUMMIT TO RESPOND DENKTAS’ PROPOSAL
After Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas proposed a new timetable aimed at breaking a deadlock in Cyprus peace talks in the second day of the peace talks, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday canceled at the last minute a visit to Cyprus to court Greek voters there to hold a emergency summit with Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens. Greece yesterday said that it had made no decision yet on whether to accept the plan. “We need to have a clear view of the ideas that are on the table (before making a decision),” Papandreou told reporters after an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. “We are in a very close contact with Papadopoulos, so that we guarantee that those procedures lead to a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue,” Papandreou said. Government sources said Simitis would discuss the plan with Papadopoulos later in the day before meeting Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos. “Our decision, whatever that is, will be a common one with the Greek Cypriot side,” he told reporters. /All Papers/
BAHCELI VISITS AGAR
As part of his tour of political parties’ leaders to discuss the Cyprus issue, yesterday Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli visited True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar. After their meeting, stressing that the Cyprus issue was a national case, Bahceli said that up to now all governments had taken up the topic as a matter above parties. For his part, Agar said that his party was patiently waiting for the results of the ongoing talks in New York. He added that he expected the government to brief on recent developments on the Cyprus case next week in Parliament. /Turkiye/
PERES: “TURKEY CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST”
Israeli former Foreign Minister and leader of Labor Party Shimon Peres yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. Peres met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and then Baykal. During the meetings, Peres said that Turkey was a sole example among Muslim countries with its modern structure. Stressing that Turkey would be a bridge between the Middle East and the European Union when it becomes a EU member, he claimed that the EU could play more active role in the Middle East to solve its problems through Turkey. Peres added that Turkey could play a key role during a peace process in the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/