SAKIP SABANCI TO BE LAID TO REST TODAY
Sakip Sabanci, who died this weekend at the age of 71 of complications related to a kidney tumor and cancer that spread to his liver, is set to be laid to rest in Istanbul today with a state funeral. Sabanci was the chairman of the board of Sabanci Holding, one of the two largest family-owned industrial holdings in Turkey. The holding’s 60-plus firms are involved in tourism, textiles, food, autos, tobacco, chemicals and banking. /All Papers/

ERDOGAN DECRIES DENKTAS’S MEETINGS WITH “MARGINAL” DOMESTIC GROUPS
Speaking to reporters yesterday en route to an official visit of Japan, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan decried the tactics of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas in opposing the UN plan for the island. “I’ve seen with regret Denktas’s meetings with marginal groups in Turkey, and I told him so,” he said, adding: “If something is to be done, do it in Cyprus. Say what you have to say there.” In related news, Denktas said yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots should be told why the plan is unacceptable. “We should explain to our nation why they should reject the plan,” said Denktas, adding that his countrymen would decide on the island’s future at a referendum set for April 24. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN ARRIVES IN JAPAN FOR THREE-DAY VISIT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday travelled to Tokyo accompanied by a group of businessmen to pay a three-day official visit to discuss bilateral relations. Today Erdogan is due to meet with Prince Tomohito Mikasa, Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Jonichiro Koizumi. The premier is expected to meet with representatives of Japanese business groups and visit Toyota’s main factory in Nagoya before his departure on Wednesday. /Aksam/

GUL: “REFERENDUMS ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE HELD BEFORE MAY 1”
Rebuffing calls for postponement, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that referendums on Cyprus over the United Nations’ peace plan should be held as scheduled before May 1, the day Greek Cyprus is set to join the European Union. He warned that if Greek Cyprus enters the EU by itself ostensibly representing the whole island, this would block everything. Speaking to a press conference after meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Jean Obeid, Gul stated that during their meeting bilateral and regional issues had been discussed. Commenting on the call of the Greek Cypriot Akel party to the UN to postpone the April 24 referendums for two months, Gul stressed that granting this request would violate the recent agreement reached by all sides under the UN auspices. “Holding referendums after May 1 would alter many things in Turkish Cyprus,” said Gul. /Turkiye/

TALAT: “ANY REFERENDUM DELAY IS UNACCEPTABLE, SINCE THIS WOULD MAKE GREEK CYPRUS JOIN THE EU ALONE”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said Saturday that any delay of referendums on the UN Cyprus plan set for April 24 would be unacceptable. “Accepting such a delay is out of the question, since this would cause Greek Cyprus to join the European Union on May 1 alone, representing the whole island,” the premier said on Cypriot television. Rejecting arguments that there was too little time to discuss the plan, he added, “The UN secretary-general’s plan has long been on the table, and it’s been discussed and evaluated by the two nations as well.” /Aksam/

CICEK: “DENKTAS SHOULDN’T LET HIMSELF BE EXPLOITED BY MARGINAL GROUPS”
Appearing on television yesterday, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas shouldn’t let “marginal” groups in Turkey exploit him. Echoing Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent criticism of meetings with such groups, Cicek branded them “inappropriate” and charged that the Cyprus issue was being used by some as a domestic political issue. /Aksam/

POLL FINDS 63% OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS SUPPORT UN PLAN
A solid majority of voters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) support the UN Cyprus plan and intend to cast ballots in its favor in an April 24 referendum, according to a new opinion poll. The poll, conducted by a magazine among more than 1,000 adults, shows 63% support for the plan and 17% opposition, with 19% undecided. Support for the plan was greatest among the TRNC’s younger citizens, the 18-25 age group. /Turkiye/

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT DUE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is due to arrive in Ankara tomorrow for an official visit upon the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During his visit, Aliyev is expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bilateral relations. Before leaving on Friday, he is expected to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. /Cumhuriyet/

GERMAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER REITERATES BERLIN’S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
German Parliament Speaker Wolfgang Thierse yesterday reiterated his country’s support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Speaking to Welt am Sonntag, Thierse remarked that the accomplishments of an Islamic country on the road to the West served the interests of Europe and the world alike. He also underlined that Turkey’s EU membership was possible only when it fully implements reforms in the economy, human rights and the rule of law. /Turkiye/

TURKEY WINS 2 GOLD MEDALS AND ONE BRONZE IN EUROPEAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At the 51st European Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships held in Sweden this weekend, Turkish wrestlers Nazmi Avluca and Bayram Ozdemir both won gold medals in their respective weight categories. Wrestler Bunyamin Emik also scored a bronze medal. /Sabah/