GUL: "IF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS HADN'T REJECTED THE 2004 PEACE PLAN, TODAY THERE WOULD BE NO TURKISH SOLDIERS ON CYPRUS"
If the Greek Cypriots hadn't rejected the 2004 UN peace plan, today the soldiers Turkish stationed on Cyprus would have withdrawn, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. In an interview with Euronews TV, Gul stated that everyone, including the European Union, knows that Turkey isn't opposed to a solution on the island. Asked about the terrorist PKK, Gul said, "Until now the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq has refused to do what is necessary, but I'm pleased to say during our meetings with them over the last few months they realize that these terror groups are bad news for them as well." He added, "Those who want to fight to the death and not give up their weapons, then our military must tackle that and fight these people to the end." /Aksam/
LAST RESPECTS PAID TO BBP LEADER YAZICIOGLU
Grand Unity Paty (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu, who lost his life in a helicopter crash last week along with five others, was laid to rest yesterday after an official ceremony in Parliament and funeral prayers at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara. Yazicioglu's body was first brought to Parliament for an official memorial ceremony. Present at the ceremony were President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Cabinet members, former President Suleyman Demirel, former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, and many deputies and governors. Those at the ceremony offered their condolences to Yazicioglu's family. An even larger crowd gathered at Kocatepe Mosque, where thousands of people from nearby cities came to participate in the prayers, led by Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu. Yazicioglu was later buried on the grounds of the Taceddin Dergahy in Ankara's Altyndag district, where poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy lived when he wrote the lyrics to the Turkish national anthem. Born in the central province of Sivas in 1954, Yazicioglu graduated from Ankara University. He joined the MHP when he was a university student. After parting ways with the MHP, he formed the BBP in 1993 and served as its leader until his death. He was also elected deputy from Sivas in the 2007 parliamentary elections. Yazicioglu was married and had two children. In related news, the body of Ihlas News Agency (IHA) reporter Isamil Gunes, found five days after the helicopter crash, was sent to his hometown Sivas for burial yesterday. /Turkiye/
CHP'S BAYKAL: "THE OUTCOME OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS SHOWED A POLITICAL BREAK"
The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) declining share of the vote in Sunday's local elections shows a significant political break, said main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking to reporters at CHP headquarters, Baykal said that the opposition parties are on the rise and that the ruling party should admit that it's losing popular support. He also said that the election shows that the CHP should prepare itself for new tasks. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA TO HOST THIRD TURKEY-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN SUMMIT TODAY
Ankara will host a third Turkish-Afghan-Pakistani trilateral summit today to discuss the problems between the other two countries and the future of the region, and to find solutions to rising security concerns in the region. The summit will be hosted by President Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will attend the summit, along with foreign ministers, chiefs of staff and senior intelligence officials from their countries and Turkey. "The main purpose of the meeting is to strengthen solidarity among the three countries and help stability and development of the region," the Presidential Press Office said yesterday. The office also said that the three leaders will exchange views on joint projects to contribute to peace, stability and welfare in the region. In an attempt to help reconcile the two neighbors, Turkey hosted the first trilateral summit in April 2007, followed by a meeting last December. /Turkiye/
US' OBAMA TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK
US President Barack Obama is set to visit Turkey next week as part of an eight-day European tour which started yesterday. Obama's visit will begin with a ceremony at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, followed by a meeting with President Abdullah Gul. Obama will hold talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of addressing Parliament. In related news, Erdogan next week will chair the Second Summit of the Alliance of Civilizations. Erdogan will also hold talks with the alliance's co-chair, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. /Sabah/
EU'S REHN: "THE EU IS MONITORING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN TURKEY"
Speaking before the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee yesterday, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn stressed the importance the EU places on freedom of expression, the bedrock of any liberal democracy. "Last year there were positive developments, as the infamous Article 301 was revised," he said. "We are monitoring its implementation and will present an assessment in the context of the next enlargement package. Unfortunately certain recent developments bring me back to this topic yet again." He explained, "I'm thinking this time of freedom of the press, in particular the recent procedure (tax evasion fine) launched against the Dogan press group. Let there be no misunderstanding: one thing is a tax dispute between the state and a private company, and obviously the commission cannot and does not intend to interfere in this. Another thing is the lack of any conciliation and a financial sanction which challenges the economic viability of an independent press group. This clearly touches upon freedom of expression, which is the cornerstone of any open society. I understand there is a legal procedure ongoing; the commission will follow this very closely, keeping in mind the principles of proportionality, impartiality and independence of the judiciary." /Hurriyet/
TREASURY TO GIVE CREDIT GUARANTY FUND TL 1 BLN
Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren yesterday announced that the Treasury would transfer TL 1 billion to the credit guaranty fund as part of government measures to blunt the impact of the global economic crisis on Turkey's real economy. Stating that the crisis requires meaningful and effective cooperation between the public and private sectors, Ekren said that the credit guaranty fund would be very helpful in this respect. Ekren also said the new move aims to fix the vital credit flow between the financial sector and the real economy by making the credit guaranty fund more effective. Turkey will be better positioned to weather the crisis, largely due to the strength of its banking system, he added. /Sabah/