SEZER, ERDOGAN MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk put into practice landmark legal reforms to put an end to discrimination against women, said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in a message released to honor today, International Women’s Day. “But despite this progress, we cannot say that equality between the sexes has been truly attained,” he added. “Many women are unable to exercise their rights and freedoms and are subject to violations within the family, discrimination and various pressures, including religious ones, yet stay silent due to social and economic worries.” I hope that more women will get involved in politics, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking yesterday in Istanbul at his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) first women’s caucus. Erdogan stressed that many women are standing as candidates in this month’s local elections. “Unfortunately, women bear a heavy burden in the modern world,” lamented the premier. /Milliyet/

PARTIES CAMPAIGN OVER WEEKEND FOR LOCAL MARCH 28 POLLS
Party leaders yesterday continued seeking voter support ahead of the March 28 local elections, now less than three weeks away. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan campaigned in Kayseri and Sivas, while True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar did the same in Izmir. In addition, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli spoke to rallies in Gebze, and Great Union Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu campaigned in Samsun. /Milliyet/

US STATE DEPARTMENT’S SILVERMAN: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP IS A TOP PRIORITY”
Larry Silverman, the top US State Department official responsible for relations with Turkey, said yesterday that Turkey joining the European Union was one of the US administration’s top priorities. Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish-American Association, Silverman praised Ankara’s reforms for its EU bid, adding that it expected to get a date from the Union this December to begin accession talks. “We want Turkey to be officially part of the EU,” stressed Silverman. /Turkiye/

EU DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ANKARA
Ankara is set today to host a meeting between the European Union troika and Turkish officials. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot and Brian Cowen, the foreign minister of current EU Term President Ireland, arrived in Ankara yesterday to attend the gathering. /Turkiye/

LUXEMBOURG PM: “I BELIEVE THIS YEAR ANKARA WILL BE GIVEN A DATE FOR EU ACCESSION TALKS”
I believe that this December the European Union will agree to give Turkey a date for its accession talks, said Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker in an interview published in today’s Turkish daily Hurriyet. Adding that Ankara had made important steps in its reforms for EU membership, Juncker said that a date would depend upon the European Commission’s progress report on Turkey this fall. “However, the accession negotiations won’t be easy,” he cautioned. “They are no mere formality.” /Hurriyet/

TUZMEN MEETS WITH SYRIAN OFFICIALS
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who is currently paying an official visit to Damascus accompanied by a delegation of bureaucrats and some 200 businessmen, yesterday met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Prime Minister Naji Otari as well as other officials. During their meetings, bilateral trade ties were discussed, with both sides resolving to work to boost them. /Turkiye/

MINES TO BE CLEARED ALONG TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that starting this May, a 550-kilometer area along the Turkish-Syrian frontier is set to be cleared of mines beginning in Nusaybin, a southeastern border town. He said that after the region is completely swept, oil exploration would be carried out. In addition, certain parts of the land could be used for agriculture, with others focusing on border trade. /Turkiye/

IMF DELEGATION MEETS WITH BABACAN
An International Monetary Fund delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam for the seventh review of the nation’s economic program yesterday met yesterday in Ankara with Ali Babacan, state minister for the economy, to discuss recent economic developments. This week Moghadam is due to meet with officials to discuss needed economic measures. The delegation is expected to leave Turkey on Friday. /Aksam/

INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS TO CONVENE IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul is set to host a meeting of the Investors’ Advisory Council on next Monday, March 15. In addition to World Bank President James Wolfenson and IMF Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger, a host of CEOs from some 20 multinational firms are expected to attend the gathering. /Cumhuriyet/