ERDOGAN MAKES CAMPAIGN STOPS IN SANLIURFA, DIYARBAKIR
In campaigning yesterday in the runup to the March 28 local elections, Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the southeastern Anatolian cities of Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir. Addressing campaign rallies, Erdogan alluded to the recent riots in Syria, some near the Turkish border, reassuring his audience that this violence was not expected to spread. Stressing that his government was opposed to nationalism based on regional, ethnic or religion differences, Erdogan said that there was no discrimination among the 72 million people of the Turkish Republic. The premier added that his government was there to serve the citizens. “Serving the people is serving God,” said Erdogan. He also attended a number of opening ceremonies in both cities and then returned to Ankara. In addition, speaking on television last night, Erdogan said that he hoped Syria would effectively deal with the recent Arab-Kurdish conflict in that country, but that in any case the tension would not affect Turkey. /Aksam/
SYRIA CLOSES NUSAYBIN BORDER GATE INTO TURKEY
In the wake of rioting and fights between Syrian Arabs and Kurds in the town of Kameshli after a Friday football match, Syrian officials yesterday closed the Turkish border gate at Nusaybin. Meanwhile, Turks in Kameshli for business purposes reportedly left the town, and many of their vehicles were destroyed during the violence. /Turkiye/
TALAT: “IF TURKISH CYPRIOTS REJECT THE UN CYPRUS PLAN AT REFERENDUM, THIS WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS”
Appearing on television yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat warned that if his countrymen reject the United Nations Cyprus plan at a referendum scheduled for April 20, this would create serious problems. “Rejecting the plan is tantamount to the Turkish Cypriots committing suicide,” said Talat, adding that a resolution should be reached by May 1, when Greek Cyprus is scheduled to join the European Union. He further stated that failure to reach a resolution on the island would also hurt Turkey’s EU membership bid. TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos are due to meet today to continue the give-and-take process in negotiations. If the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administrations fail to reach an agreement by next Wednesday, March 24, then a four-way Cyprus summit is due to be held with the participation of Ankara and Athens. In related news, the draft of a new TRNC constitution was released yesterday. The constitution would come into force if both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots accept the UN Cyprus plan in the April referendum. /Cumhuriyet/
OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS LOOK FOR VOTER SUPPORT
Opposition party leaders continued to seek voter support ahead of March 28 local elections over the weekend. Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal campaigned in the southern province of Antakya, while True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar did the same in Burdur. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also held campaign rallies in Denizli. /Cumhuriyet/
GEORGIAN PROVINCIAL LEADER ASKS ANKARA TO ACT AS GUARANTOR
Aslan Abashidze, the leader of Georgia's autonomous Black Sea region of Adzhara, yesterday sought help from Turkey and Russia as “guarantor countries” after armed troops prevented Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili from entering Adzhara over the weekend. Following the incident, which pushed the country to the brink of civil war, Saakashvili put the military on alert and threatened to punish the region with an economic blockade. Abashidze then asked for help from Turkey and Russia, which he called “guarantor states” under the 1921 Kars Agreement. “Both countries must back this international pact, which supercedes even their own constitutions,” added the Georgian leader. Meanwhile, Ankara has called on both sides to act with care and moderation. /Hurriyet/
AHEAD OF INVESTMENT MEETING, BABACAN HOSTS BANQUET FOR INTERNATIONAL CEOs
Prior to the premier meeting of the Turkish Investment Consultative Council scheduled to begin today in Istanbul, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan hosted a weekend banquet for prominent international CEOs. Along with leaders from 20 international companies and top Turkish businessmen, World Bank President James Wolfensohn and IMF European Director Michael Deppler also attended the banquet, where Babacan delivered a brief opening speech. Though the gathering was closed to the press, Wolfensohn reportedly called establishing the new investment council “a key step” for aiding and boosting investment in the country. The first council meeting is to begin today with opening speeches by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as Wolfensohn and Deppler. Today’s main topics will be “Turkey in the Globalized World Economy” and “How Can Turkey’s Investment Climate Be Improved?” /Sabah/
TURKEY, IMF AGREE ON COST-CUTTING AND TAX MEASURES TO COVER REVENUE SHORTFALL
Turkey and the International Monetary Fund have agreed on a number of cost-cutting and tax measures to cover a revenue shortfall, prior to the IMF review of Turkey's progress under a $16 billion loan agreement, Economy Minister Ali Babacan told a joint press conference over the weekend alongside IMF Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam. “We have reached agreement on measures to close the gap, caused by hikes in the minimum wage and pensions as well as lower-than-expected tax revenues,” Babacan said. For his part, Moghadam praised Turkey's recent success in bringing down chronic inflation and keeping interest rates under control. “Macroeconomic performance during 2003 has been impressive and the outlook for this year is also positive,” he said. However, he also called on the government to stick to macroeconomic policies and pursue structural reforms more aggressively. /All Papers/
MUMCU TOUTS TOURISM SECTOR AT BERLIN FAIR
Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu yesterday attended an international tourism fair in Berlin. Speaking to reporters, Mumcu touted Turkey’s combination of quality service and low prices for both tourists and travel agencies. Stressing that there were more tourism promotional campaigns in the pipeline, the minister pedicted a 20% rise in German tourists visiting Turkey this year. /Turkiye/
VAKIFBANK GUNES SIGORTA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM TAKES TOP EUROPEAN SPOT
Representing Turkey at the Women’s European Top teams Cup Final Four, the Vakifbank Gunes Sigorta volleyball team won the cup yesterday by defeating German’s Ulm Pharma 3-0 in the final match in Bursa. /All Papers/