ISRAEL'S PERES, PALESTINE'S ABBAS ADDRESS HISTORIC SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
Parliament yesterday held a historic session. Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, both visiting Ankara, addressed the assembled deputies. Peres, the first Israeli president to speak before the legislature of a majority-Muslim country, expressed Israel's gratitude to the Turkish people for opening their doors to Jews in 1492 when they were expelled from Spain. "Here, they found a home of tolerance where they could freely practice their religion," said Peres in his speech in Hebrew to 550 lawmakers and Palestinian President Abbas, as well as Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also addressing Parliament, Abbas became the first Palestinian leader to take the floor there. He thanked Turkey for its support to the Palestinian cause. Stating that the Israeli occupation doesn't "bind with any religious or humanitarian views," Abbas added that it also doesn't contribute to an atmosphere of trust. The Palestinian leader said his administration was preparing for an upcoming Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland aimed at reviving peace talks between the two sides after they broke down amid violence seven years ago. "We're doing all we can to ensure that the meeting in Annapolis is a success," he said. The two leaders' visit to Parliament was marked by tight security. /Turkiye/
FRANCE'S SARKOZY: "TURKEY'S EU BID ISN'T AN URGENT ISSUE"
At a private meeting this week at the European Parliament before addressing the full body, French President Nicholas Sarkozy reportedly said that the issue of Turkey's European Union membership isn't an urgent issue but should be dealt with in about 15 years. "Sarkozy said that for the last 20 years nobody took an open, honest stance against Turkey, everybody promised it full membership, but this never happened and now it's time to be honest," according to French MEP Joseph Daul, who heads the European People's Party-European Democrats (EPP-ED) group in the EP. "And Sarkozy said France doesn't see any problems on opening 30 out of 35 chapters (of its membership talks), which won't bring Turkey to full membership." /Aksam/
ANNAN PREDICTS "VERY BRIGHT" FUTURE FOR TURKEY
Speaking at the 16th Quality Congress co-hosted by the Turkish Society for Quality (KalDer) and the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that he sees Turkey's future as being "very bright." "Geography is one of Turkey's biggest advantages," he said. "Besides, you're very close to the European Union. There's also the Russian Federation. You're also very close to Asia. Consequently, I see a very bright future for Turkey." Touching on the Cyprus issue, Annan said that the matter would eventually be solved. In related news, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) head and former Turkish Economy Minister Kemal Dervis also addressed the congress, saying that Turkey's global importance is on the rise and its economy is also growing rapidly. /Aksam/
ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN LEADERS AGREE ON TURKISH-SPONSORED INDUSTRIAL PARK IN WEST BANK
As part of the Ankara Forum, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, held a meeting yesterday to establish a Turkish-sponsored industrial park in the West Bank. The project is expected to generate jobs for thousands of Palestinians and build confidence between Israelis and Palestinians. Following the signing of a declaration for the venture, Gul stressed that peace and stability should be ensured in the region for the sake of prosperity in the Mideast. Also speaking to the gathering, Peres and Abbas expressed their hope for peace in the Mideast and that the venture would aid such efforts. /Milliyet/
TALABANI: "IRAQ OPPOSES ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST TURKEY"
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said yesterday that Iraq is opposed to all forms of violence against Turkey. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa in Cairo, Talabani said that he views any kind of armed attack on Turkey as an attack on Iraq itself. Stressing that his administration recently began to focus on ending the terrorism which threatens both Turkey and Iraq, Talabani added that most effective way to do this is to urge the terrorists to lay down their arms through media and political pressure. /Sabah/
JUSTICE MINISTER SAHIN: "ARTICLE 301 WILL BE REVISED"
Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday said that a review of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was continuing and that the article will be revised, not abolished. "I expect Parliament to take steps to revise this article before year's end," he added. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL: "THE GOVT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT ACTING ON TERRORIST ATTACKS FROM N.IRAQ"
The government is guilty of inaction in the face of terrorist attacks from northern Iraq, charged main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday, "Even though the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is said to be awaiting direction for a (cross-border) operation, the consequences of just watching this situation passively belong to the government," he told a party group meeting. "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not taking action, despite his calling a cross-border operation `inevitable,' is sad. What is needed now is a national policy developed by cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. The TSK said that it had completed all preparations for a military operation. The government hasn't taken the necessary decision concerning this issue, and the conflict rages on. Turkey is at a sensitive point, and we need to take critical decisions. If the government has a project in mind, we're ready to support it." In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticized the government's terrorism policy. Bahceli also lashed out at Baykal, saying, "His stance is like an insurance policy that paves the way for (Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud) Barzani and his peshmerga soldiers to found an independent state."/Hurriyet/
TOBB'S HISARCIKLIOGLU RECEIVES ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN BUSINESSMEN
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, organizer of the Ankara Forum, said yesterday that they hope to implement a new industrial park project in the West Bank as soon as possible. Receiving Israeli and Palestinian businessmen who accompanied their presidents during their visit to Turkey, Hisarciklioglu urged both sides to do their best to make the venture a reality. Israeli Union of Industrialists head Shraga Brosh said that the project would help promote peace in the region, while Palestinian Federation of Chambers of Trade, Industry and Agriculture head Ahmet Hashem Elzogheir expressed his hope that the embargo on the Palestinian people would soon be lifted. /Turkiye/