ERDOGAN: "ISTANBUL WILL BECOME A CITY OF MUSEUMS"
Speaking at the reopening yesterday of a restored Ottoman era housing project, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Istanbul will be made into a city of museums. "An excessive influx of migrants threatens Istanbul, but this megalopolis will change through the new Local Governments Law," he added. "We decided that many historical buildings will be turned into hotels, so we can both promote our historical sites and boost the bed capacity for tourists." /Star/
BABACAN: "THERE'S NO DECISION YET WHETHER TURKEY WILL SEND MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN"
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with his visiting Afghan counterpart Rengin Dadfar Spanta. "Turkey hasn't decided yet if it will send more troops to Afghanistan," Babacan told reporters after the meeting. "Turkey will make its decision clear in the days to come." He stressed that Ankara will try to strike a balance between its own fight against terrorism and how it can help the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. Babacan also said that at next month's NATO summit, a comprehensive strategy against terrorism in Afghanistan would be discussed, and Ankara would strongly support Kabul. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL CRITICIZES PROPOSAL BY MHP'S BAHCELI TO MAKE CLOSING PARTIES HARDER
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's proposal for constitutional changes to make it harder to close political parties. Speaking at his party's group meeting, Baykal said that the main problems facing Turkey are violations of the constitutional principle of secularism and the actions of some parties and politicians. He added that the changes proposed by Bahceli are "irregular" and that if they passed, the CHP would challenge them in court. /Aksam/
SEZER: "CHANGING THE RULES ON PARTY CLOSURES DURING THE AKP CASE WOULD HARM THE RULE OF LAW"
Commenting on proposals for constitutional changes by both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition National Movement Party (MHP) to make it harder to close political parties, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer yesterday warned these changes could lead to fresh chaos. Making such proposals in the midst of the closure case against the AKP would hurt the rule of law, he added. Stating that the DSP opposes party closures but encourages calm and respect for the law, Sezer said if the AKP had followed the DSP's advice on the headscarf issue, this problem could have been avoided. /Cumhuriyet/
TRNC'S TALAT: "THE LOKMACI GATE WILL REOPEN NEXT MONTH"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to meet tomorrow with Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Hristofias. Talat said yesterday that the Lokmaci Gate, a key opening from the TRNC's capital Lefkosha into Greek Cyprus which has been closed since 1963, will be reopened within weeks. Stating that opening Lokmaci will have a symbolic meaning as it will make the two communities feel as if they belong to the same city, Talat added that they will open the gate at the beginning of next month. German-Turkish Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chair Claudia Roth, currently visiting the TRNC, yesterday said that eliminating the barrier will help overcome hurdles in people's minds. /Hurriyet/
US' BRYZA: "THE US WILL STAND BESIDE TURKEY AS IT DEALS WITH THE PKK"
US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Matt Bryza yesterday said that bilateral cooperation against the terrorist PKK has revitalized relations between Ankara and Washington, adding, "Military cooperation against the terrorist PKK will continue." Speaking to Milliyet daily, Bryza said that US President George W. Bush had assured Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the US would stand beside Turkey as it continues dealing with the PKK issue, and added, "We think a multi-level, multi-pronged approach is needed on this issue." Touching on US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Turkey next week, Bryza said, "I expect the vice president to speak about the cooperation against the terrorist PKK which started during Premier Erdogan's visit to the US last November." Also commenting about a prosecutor's indictment to close down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Bryza stated that Turkey is facing a difficult time, but added, "Turkish democracy has the ability to get through difficult periods." /Milliyet/