ERDOGAN: "THE TERRORIST PKK IS A TEST OF EVERYBODY'S SINCERITY"
Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting at Parliament, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke about his meeting next Monday with US President George W. Bush in Washington. "I will openly tell him that we expect concrete, immediate steps against the terrorists," said Erdogan. "The problem of the terrorist PKK is a test of sincerity for everybody." He added, "I will tell him that this test carries great importance for the region and in determining the fate of our future relations." The premier also spoke about his administration's diplomatic efforts on the issue over the past 10 days. Saying that Foreign Minister Ali Babacan had visited 11 countries, the prime minister also pointed to the meeting in Istanbul starting Friday of Iraq's neighbors and other relevant parties. /Aksam/
PM ERDOGAN TO VISIT WASHINGTON
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to fly to the US on Saturday for official talks with top US officials, talks expected to focus on PKK terrorism. During his three-day stay, the premier, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, as well as high-level military officials, will also meet with President George W. Bush. /Milliyet/
CABINET TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE EMBARGO ON NORTHERN IRAQ
The Cabinet, chaired by Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan, is set to convene today to discuss possible sanctions against Iraq. Ankara, frustrated by a lack of concrete steps against PKK terrorists by both the US and Iraq, is ready to take measures on its own. In line with the recent National Security Council (NSC) recommendation that the government impose economic sanctions on Iraq to pressure it to fight the terrorist PKK, the Cabinet ministers will decide on a possible economic embargo of the country. /Turkiye/
MHP LEADER BAHCELI: "THE PM VISITING WASHINGTON WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING"
Speaking at his party's group meeting, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli yesterday said that the prime minister's visit to the US next week would serve no good purpose but would only delay Turkey taking military action against the PKK in Iraq. Decrying US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's description of northern Iraq as "Kurdistan," Bahceli called on Erdogan to cancel his US visit. "With a motion, the Turkish nation gave Parliament the authorization to take a cross-border operation," said Bahceli. "There's no need to seek authorization anywhere else. Now it's time to use this authorization." /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL: "NOW IS THE TIME FOR TURKEY TO DECIDE"
Speaking at his party's group meeting, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday said that Turkey now stands at a decisive moment. "A cross-border operation would show that Turkey is a serious country that deserves respect," he said. Baykal added that what is at stake is the prestige and respect of the Turkish Republic. /Hurriyet/
EU'S VERHEUGEN: "NO ONE CAN IGNORE TURKEY"
European Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen said yesterday that considering its importance for world history, he cannot believe any politician in Europe wants to take responsibility for halting Turkey's European Union membership process. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Verheugen said he still backs Turkey's EU membership bid. I support it more and more each day, said the vice president. Verheugen said Turkey's EU membership process would continue and a political decision would be made one day on Turkey's membership. The issue of Turkish membership is important for global politics, Verheugen added. /Milliyet/
EU URGES ANKARA TO CONTINUE REFORMS
The European Union's new draft Accession Partnership Document calls on Turkey to continue its reforms to harmonize with the Union. It urges Ankara to end the military's involvement in politics, recognize Greek Cyprus, lift Article 301 and give the right to education in Kurdish. The 81-page document to be officially released next week, together with the progress report on Turkey, lays out steps for Turkey to take on its road to full EU membership. /Cumhuriyet/
US SENATORS PRESENTS RESOLUTION CONDEMNING PKK TERRORISTS
Two US senators, the Democrats' Robert Byrd and the Republicans' Gordon Smith, yesterday submitted a Senate resolution both highlighting the importance of the Turkish-US friendship and cooperation and condemning PKK terrorism. The resolution said Ankara has proven its anti-terror credentials and called on the international community to stand against the terrorist threat. Pointing to the important ties between Turkey and Israel, the resolution stressed that Ankara has worked to play a constructive role in the Mideast peace talks. It also condemned over two decades of terrorist PKK violence in the country. /Turkiye/
AHEAD OF KEY VISITS, US OFFICIALS STRESS STRONG TIES
Speaking to reporters yesterday, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that the US and Turkey enjoy good, strong relations. Addressing the perception of tense relations, McCormack said, "These perceptions of public strains emanate from what is very sensitive topic for the Turkish people and Turkish government, and that is the continuing violence and terrorist attacks by the PKK." He stressed that first the terrorist PKK should stop its attacks and then urged a wider, more permanent, durable solution to eliminate the terrorist group. He added that during her visit to Ankara tomorrow, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will underline the good state of relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also set to meet next week with US President George W. Bush. /Turkiye/
ISRAELI PRESIDENT PERES: "TURKEY IS A MODEL COUNTRY"
Turkey's Republic Day was also celebrated abroad this week. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other high-level diplomats attended a reception at the Turkish Embassy in Washington. Another reception was hosted by Turkish Ambassador Namik Tan in Tel Aviv. Attending the reception, Israeli President Shimon Peres praised Turkey as a model country, adding, "Turkey is the only Muslim country that actively works for peace in the Middle East." /Star/
NORTHERN IRAQI OFFICIALS VOICE READINESS FOR JOINT MEASURES AGAINST PKK
Representatives from the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), chaired by regional Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, convened yesterday in Erbil to discuss Turkey's possible military incursion into northern Iraq. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Barzani said that they want a peaceful solution to the problem. If Turkey wants to combat the PKK, they can do it on the other side of the border, he said. We don't want them to clash in northern Iraq, he added. He stated that they had reached out to Turkey for peace, saying, "We can solve all problems through friendship, not threats." An IKDP-IPUK statement released after the gathering said they were ready to act with both the Iraqi administration and US forces to stop all activities threatening peace in neighboring countries. /Sabah/
TUSIAD DELEGATION MEETS WITH ITALIAN PM
In Rome, a Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) delegation yesterday asked for Italy's support for Turkey's fight against terrorism. The TUSIAD delegation, led by Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, yesterday met with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. "We asked him to support us as our ally in our fight against terrorism," she said. "Prodi told us he understood our anger very well." Prodi also expressed concern over a possible cross-border operation into northern Iraq by Turkey, hinting that Turkey shouldn't act in haste. The TUSIAD delegation told Prodi that rather than mere verbal support to Turkey's fight against terrorism, what is vitally needed is cutting EU countries' financial support to the terrorist organization as well as making sure no terrorists can seek shelter in the EU but are instead arrested. /Hurriyet/