ERDOGAN: "WE CAN DISCUSS AND SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS THROUGH DEMOCRACY"
Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that nobody should see democracy and the law as benefiting only themselves or try to block others from exercising their democratic rights. Erdogan added that to develop itself, Turkey must boost its unity through tackling longstanding problems, saying, "We can discuss and solve all our problems through democracy, and our democracy and principle of the rule of law have reached that level." Erdogan stated that ignoring the problems of the people serves neither peace nor democracy. "The Turkish people gave our policies a vote of confidence in last summer's general elections, and they urged us to meet their expectations and demands," he added. In related news, in a last-minute move, citing a busy schedule, Erdogan cancelled his plans to attend the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. /Aksam/
IN LONDON, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT MEETS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, currently on a visit to London, yesterday met with British Foreign Secretary David Millaband. Buyukanit said that their meeting focused on the terrorism issue, the Middle East, and Kosovo. Afterwards Buyukanit declined to take questions about the headscarf issue, saying that he does not comment on domestic matters while abroad. /Star/
BAYKAL: "CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION CAN'T SOLVE THE HEADSCARF ISSUE"
At his party's group meeting yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal spoke about recent developments, including the headscarf issue. Saying that it isn't possible to solve the issue through the Constitution, Baykal argued, "An arrangement to give a right only to those in higher education to wear headscarves is incompatible with the logic of the Constitution." /Turkiye/
BAHCELI: "TO SOLVE THE HEADSCARF ISSUE, NO ONE SHOULD EXPLOIT IT"
Speaking to his Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) group meeting yesterday, opposition leader Devlet Bahceli reiterated that the headscarf issue could be resolved by changing Article 10 of the Constitution. Bahceli added that solving the issue requires that it not be exploited. Saying that it has been acknowledged that headscarves pose no threat to the regime, he urged that everyone act in line with the Constitution. /Aksam/
AHEAD OF HISTORIC VISIT, GREEK PM REITERATES SUPPORTS FOR TURKEY'S EU BID
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who is due in Ankara today for a historic visit, yesterday sent messages of goodwill and peace. Expressing Athens' support for Turkey's European Union bid, Karamanlis said, "Europe is compelled to send a clear message to all candidate countries, including Turkey." He added, "Greece believes that if Turkey fully adjusts itself to the EU acquis, this should lead to full membership. Of course, there are many things left to be done. We hope Turkey is going to meet the conditions put forth by the EU. It should also accommodate its relations with the Greek Cypriot administration and recognize it." Touching on Turkish-Greek relations, he said, "The two countries should exert efforts to solve disagreements peacefully and in line with international law," adding, "We hope that our Turkish friends will clasp Greece's hand extended in friendship." /Turkiye/
TUSIAD: "OBJECTING TO TURKEY'S EU BID IS AGAINST EU LAW"
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said yesterday that objecting to Turkey's prospective full membership in the European Union was against the law and the EU as an institution, adding that TUSIAD was watching the situation closely. She made the remarks during a meeting in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier and Federal Commissioner for Migration Maria Boehmer. During her talks with Steinmeier, Turkey's EU accession was discussed. Yalcindag said that Turkey's reform process, developing democracy and its determination for EU membership would help make its bid a reality. /Milliyet/