SAKIP SABANCI LAID TO REST IN STATE FUNERAL
Businessman and philanthropist Sakip Sabanci, who died this weekend at the age of 71 of kidney cancer that had spread to his liver, was laid to rest in a state funeral in Istanbul’s Zincirlikuyu Cemetery yesterday. Politicians, businessmen, artists, Sabanci employees and members of the public all attended in order to pay their last respects. Speaking at the funeral, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, “Striving to improve our country is the most fitting way to honor Sabanci. Words cannot express our loss. I lost a friend, a mentor and a person I was very proud of.” President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was unable to attend the funeral but sent a message, saying, “Sakip Sabanci took upon himself key roles in promoting Turkey’s industry and economy. The nation will always remember him with appreciation.” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also unable to attend the funeral since he is in Japan for a state visit. /All papers/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH JAPANESE PREMIER, ROYALTY AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Japan for an official visit, yesterday met with Premier Junichiro Koizumi, Prince Tomohito Mikasa, and Emperor Akihito to discuss bilateral relations. Later, at a gathering of Turkish businessmen, Erdogan said that he was pleased to visit a friendly Japan, adding that Ankara wanted to strenghten trade ties between the two countries. “In our world politics doesn’t direct the economy, but vice versa, and we must recognize this,” he said. Erdogan added that he was the first Turkish premier to visit Japan in nearly a decade. /Aksam/
DENKTAS: “ERDOGAN HAS BEEN DECEIVED ON CYPRUS”
Claiming that Ankara had not been fully informed about the United Nations’ Cyprus plan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas alleged yesterday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been “deceived” on the matter. “Greece wants Turkey to surrender,” said the TRNC president, who has come out publicly against the UN plan. “Is Turkey kowtowing to all of Greece’s wishes just to get into the European Union?” Arguing that that Ankara’s current stance was not Turkey’s official policy, Denktas said, “In my opinion, Erdogan has been deceived.” The president said that he had not yet signed a bill authorizing an April 24 referendum on the plan but that he would soon declare his stance on the matter, adding that postponing the referendum was not possible. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN: “I WAS NOT DECEIVED”
In the midst of his visit to Japan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday rejected Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas’s contention that he had been deceived on the Cyprus issue. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said that Denktas had long experience with the issue and so had earned his respect. “But,” added the premier, “my colleagues and I have been involved in politics for years, and we are working with a team that includes experts on the issue.” He reiterated that the UN plan was not the best conceivable, but the optimal one, and one which could be agreed on. “We’ve tried to do our best, and now it’s the Turkish Cypriots turn to decide whether to approve it,” said Erdogan. Meanwhile, Erdogan reportedly began a campaign for approval of the Cyprus plan in April 24 referendums by assigning Cabinet ministers to promote it to the public. Following his Japanese visit, Erdogan is also expected to address the nation on television. /Turkiye/
ARINC INVITES DENKTAS TO ADDRESS TURKISH PARLIAMENT
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday invited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas to address the Turkish Parliament this Thursday. In his invitation, Arinc said, “You have an honor above that of parties and associations. If you wish to express your ideas on the Cyprus issue, we await your address to the Turkish Parliament.” /Hurriyet/
TRNC PRIME MINISTER TALAT REJECTS CALLS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUM
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that his nation’s official policy was to hold a referendum on the UN Cyprus plan on its scheduled date, April 24, without any postponement. “Though there may be differences of opinion on the plan,” he added, “all TRNC leaders want the referendum to go forward as scheduled.” Meanwhile, Talat is set to travel to Greek Cyprus today in the first-ever visit by a TRNC premier. In related news, TRNC Foreign Minister and Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas is expected this Friday to announce the DP’S opposition to the UN plan. In addition, a demonstration by groups supporting the plan will be held in the TRNC tomorrow. /Turkiye/
OZKOK PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS CYPRUS ISSUE
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is expected to hold a press conference today to brief reporters on a number of issues, including Cyprus and the most recent meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on the issue. /Milliyet/
STATE MINISTER ATALAY: “THE NEW PRESS LAW IS THE FREEST IN 50 YEARS”
State Minister Besir Atalay yesterday acclaimed the new draft Press Law as the freest in over 50 years. Commenting on the bill which was sent to Parliament commissions this week, Atalay called it the fruit of a year-and-a-half of hard work in coordination with many experts and organizations. Saying that the original 1950 Press Law had included certain limitations, he stressed that the new one was in line with European Union norms and Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights. /Sabah
AZERBAIJAN’S ALIYEY DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is expected to arrive in Ankara today to pay his first visit since succeeding his late father. Aliyev is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and to address the Parliament tomorrow. During his visit, Aliyev is due to seek further support from Ankara in his nation’s Upper Karabakh dispute with Armenia. He is also expected to sign agreements with Turkish officials to strengthen bilateral trade ties and to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. /Cumhuriyet/