TURKEY, GREECE COMMIT TO CYPRUS REFERENDUMS
Turkey and Greece yesterday sent commitments to the United Nations giving their approval for April 24 referendums on Cyprus over the UN peace plan. After presenting the final version of the plan last week, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked for written commitments from all sides on the issue. The two sides on the island have to give commitments to hold referendums, while the guarantor countries – Turkey, Greece and Britain – also have to commit to the referendums and then present the plan to their respective Parliaments for approval before the agreement is signed on April 29, just two days before Greek Cyprus’s scheduled EU accession. Speaking to reporters, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that after the plan’s approval in Parliament, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s approval was also needed. /Turkiye/

TURKEY, MOROCCO VOW TO COOPERATE IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with his Moroccan counterpart Driss Jettou, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey. In a joint press conference, the two leaders stressed that they had agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS SHOULD BE TOLD WHAT THEY STAND TO LOSE UNDER THE UN PLAN”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that Turkish Cypriots should be told clearly what they stand to lose under the UN Cyprus plan, scheduled for an April 24 referendum, adding that he was just the man to do this. Denktas further charged that the European Union was not acting with good will on the issue. “A Cyprus resolution is a condition for Turkey’s EU membership, but not for Greek Cyprus’,” he said. “This proves that the EU doesn’t want Turkey to join it.” He added that he wanted a resolution which protects the interests of the Turkish Cypriots but that the UN plan failed to include the Turkish side’s sine qua nons and so would not meet this test. /Cumhuriyet/

ARINC TRAVELS TO SYRIA
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday left for Damascus, Syria to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Syrian counterpart Mahmoud Al Abras. After meeting with Abras, Arinc said that commonalities and friendship based on faith made up the strongest tie between Ankara and Damascus. Stressing that that Islamic world should renew itself, Arinc said that Turkey would not accept any threat to its neighbors. “Turkey will not allow any territorial breakup in this region,” vowed the Parliament speaker. /Turkiye/

TALAT: “I BELIEVE THAT MOST TURKISH CYPRIOTS WILL VOTE FOR THE UN CYPRUS PLAN”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that he believed most Turkish Cypriots would vote for the UN Cyprus plan at a referendum scheduled for April 24. “Since the plan is one which meets the needs of both sides, we can easily accept it,” he stated, adding that he found Ankara’s stance on the matter “encouraging.” But he lamented, “Despite the determination of the Turkish government, the TRNC government has yet to make a decision.” The premier also said he had welcomed the decision taken this week by Ankara’s National Security Council (NSC) to support the plan, and reaffirmed his party’s (TRNC senior coalition partner the Republican Turkish Party) group decision in favor of the plan. /Cumhuriyet/

VERHEUGEN: “IF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS ACCEPT THE UN PLAN BUT GREEK CYPRIOTS DON’T, THEN GREEK CYPRUS WILL JOIN THE EU ALONE”
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels yesterday, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that if the Turkish Cypriots accept the UN plan in an April 24 referendum but Greek Cypriots don’t, then Greek Cyprus would join the EU alone, representing the whole island. The EU commissioner urged leaders from both nations to do their best to convince their peoples to support the plan, which he called a final historic opportunity. “The alternative to this plan is no resolution at all,” he added. /Milliyet/

PAPADOPOULOS CALLS ON GREEK CYPRIOTS TO VOTE AGAINST UN CYPRUS PLAN
Appearing on television yesterday, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said that he wouldn’t accept the UN Cyprus plan at a referendum scheduled for April 24 and called on his countrymen to do the same. He said that the risks of saying yes to the plan outweighed the benefits of saying no, adding that though the plan had been somewhat improved, it still fell short of the Greek Cypriots’ needs. /Hurriyet/

FRENCH FM: “FOR NOW, PARIS OPPOSES TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP”
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said yesterday that his government opposed Turkey’s European Union membership “under current circumstances.” Speaking to the French Parliament, Barnier claimed that although Ankara was carrying out certain reforms, it had yet not implemented the criteria necessary for becoming an EU member. “Turkey does not respect the conditions, even if it is preparing to do so,'' he said, adding that there was “no question'' of Turkey's joining the EU for now. Barnier became foreign minister only last week in a Paris Cabinet reshuffle. Commenting on the remarks, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, “Such statements are not official. We have things to do in line with the EU’s progress report, and we’ll continue to do them.” /Turkiye/

JOINT CHIEFS HEAD MYERS: “TURKEY IS A RELIABLE US ALLY”
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers said yesterday that Turkey and the US should cooperate in all areas, not just the military, but also in politics and trade. Speaking at a Washington banquet organized by the American-Turkish Council, Myers stated that when bilateral cooperation is strengthened, a common strategy and its results would prove both effective and successful. Pointing to the importance of Turkish-US relations, Myers said that Ankara had been a very valuable friend and ally. The commander also underlined Turkey’s key role in NATO. /Sabah/

BABACAN: “UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH, BUT WE’LL REDUCE IT THROUGH INVESTMENTS”
Speaking at a press conference before flying to France yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that the International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board could convene nest Friday, April 16 to conclude the seventh review of Turkey’s economic program. “When the date is set, the Treasury Undersecretary will announce this,” he said. Asked about the Central Bank’s (CB) recent reduction of interest rates, Babacan replied that the CB was an independent body. Touching on last year’s banner 5.9% growth rate announced on Monday, Babacan said that increases in productivity had fueled this growth. “Unemployment in Turkey is high, but even in the US it’s 9%,” stated Babacan, adding that the government would create new jobs by increasing investments. /Hurriyet/