ERDOGAN, KARAMANLIS TO ATTEND SWISS SUMMIT ON CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart have both accepted UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s invitation to attend next week’s four-way Cyprus summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, the premiers’ offices announced yesterday. Both are to arrive on Sunday. Meanwhile, commenting on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s recent decision not to attend the meeting, Erdogan told reporters that contacts with Denktas were continuing. “We’re trying to solve the issue together,” said Erdogan. In related news, following Denktas’s announcement, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos has reportedly decided to review his own decision to attend. /All Papers/
GUL ATTENDS TURKISH-GERMAN COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETING
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday attended the 10th term meetings of the Turkish-German Cooperation Council as hosted Ýn Ankara by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Addressing the meeting’s opening session, German Foreign Undersecretary Klaus Scharioth said that Turkey had made important strides on its path towards the EU membership, adding that if Ankara maintains its progress he believed this fall the EU would set a date for the beginning of its membership talks. Also speaking at the gathering, Wolfgang Koberski, the head of the German Economy and Labor Ministry’s European Department, noted that over the last decade the trade volume between Turkey and Germany had doubled, adding that German firms’ investment in Turkey were a vote of confidence. For his part, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul underlined the close ties between the two countries. /Turkiye/
GUL SAYS NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF DENKTAS’S DECISION NOT TO ATTEND SWISS TALKS
Commenting yesterday on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s recent decision not to attend next week’s four-way summit on Cyprus, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that he had not been informed about the decision beforehand. Stressing that the matter would be discussed by officials, he added, “The most important thing is to preserve the TRNC and Turkey’s rights by considering their future, and to work hard together towards that end.” In related news, speaking to a symposium in Istanbul, Foreign Ministry official Baki Ilkin pointed to the limited time left to solve the Cyprus issue. He called on everybody to act calmly in this critical period, rather than exacerbating tensions. /Turkiye/
TRNC PREMIER TALAT: “DENKTAS’S DECISION WAS NO SURPRISE”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Denktas’s recent decision not to attend next week’s four-way Swiss summit came as no surprise, said TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday. Stressing that he hoped that Denktas would review his recent statement and make a positive decision on the matter, Talat added that difficulties felt due to the talks so far could get harder as the deadline for a settlement draws closer. /Turkiye/
NATION’S LEADERS COMMEMORATE 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN
A ceremony was held in Canakkale yesterday to mark the 89th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, a key victory by Turkish troops defending the Dardanelles during World War I. Present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and other top officials. Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan urged the entire nation to strive to make Turkey a strong, stable and productive country in the years to come. A ceremony was also held at the Naval Forces Command to mark the day, with the attendance of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Chief of Genaral Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok. /Aksam/
IN CAMPAIGNING, BAYKAL LEVELS CHARGES OF DECEPTION AT AKP GOVERNMENT
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday campaigned for voter support in Gelibolu (Gallipoli) ahead of the March 28 local elections, while main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal did the same in Usak. Speaking to campaign rallies, Baykal charged that Erdogan had “deceived the nation” by saying that the government had lifted quotas on sugar beet and tobacco. In addition, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday sought voter support in Bartin. /Milliyet/
CITIGROUP CEO PRAISES ANKARA’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
Michael Klein, the CEO of global banking and investment giant Citigroup, told journalists yesterday that his firm sees Turkey as “a priority market” for investment. But Klein also called on the government to take stronger measures to establish transparency in the economy, which he said would attract even more foreign investors. “Ankara is pursuing a successful stability program backed by international finance institutions, and has made significant reforms which would give fresh impetus to the economy’s integration with the global marked,” added Klein. He also touted the great potential of the Turkish economy. /All Papers/
ISO REPORT PREDICTS BANNER YEAR FOR TURKEY’S ECONOMY
A new Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) report predicts a bullish year for the Turkish economy especially in agriculture, industry and public services sectors. However, the report, entitled “The Turkish Economy 2004,” also warned that despite positive trends such as the recent decline in once-chronic inflation, the government should not neglect certain persistent deficiencies. “All officials and citizens should act in line with their responsibilities to help the economy grow,” urged the report. /All Papers/