GUL, US' OBAMA TELEPHONE AZERBAIJAN'S ALIYEV TO REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO STRONG RELATIONSHIP
President Abdullah Gul on Monday and US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called their Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, after he reacted negatively to unconfirmed reports that the Turkish-Armenian border would be opened. "We're ready to do whatever we can to reach a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue," said Gul. "Azerbaijan is a very important country for us." A White House statement said, "The president had a good conversation with President Aliyev. He reaffirmed US commitment to a strong relationship with Azerbaijan and to supporting progress toward a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The president also underscored the importance of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, which will lead to greater peace and security in the region." Aliyev also reportedly told Gul about his conversation with Obama. /Star/
ERDOGAN WORKING TO MAKE MAY 1 AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik, and State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis at his house in Istanbul's Uskudar district. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Erdogan said he told Celik to speak with trade unions about making May 1 an official holiday, adding that the government wants to pass laws on unions and collective bargaining as soon as possible as part of Turkey's European Union accession reforms. Asked about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Erdogan criticized media speculation, saying that when the time comes he will make a statement on the matter. Asked whether Azeri President Ilham Aliyev opposes Turkey's efforts to normalize its relations with Armenia, Erdogan said, "As long as the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain unresolved, progress towards the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia will be very difficult. The UN Security Council should adopt a resolution declaring Armenia an occupying country and urge it to withdraw from Azeri territory." Erdogan also accused opposition parties of distorting facts about government efforts to normalize relations with Armenia. /Turkiye-Sabah/
ERDOGAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO ITALY'S BERLUSCONI OVER EARTHQUAKE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday offered his condolences to his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi for a devastating earthquake in the city of L'Aquila on Monday which killed 260 people and left thousands homeless. Telephoning Berlusconi, Erdogan said he hoped people injured in the quake would recover quickly, adding that the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) stands ready to help if assistance is needed. In related news, during a joint press conference after their meeting on Monday, both President Abdullah Gul and US President Barack Obama expressed their condolences to the Italian people. Gul said Turkey shares the sorrow of the Italian people, while Obama stressed his hope that speedy rescue efforts could minimize casualties. Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan also sent a message of condolences to Italian Senate President Renato Schifano and Gianfranco Fini, the chairman of the Italian Parliament's House of Representatives. /Turkiye/
SIMSEK: "A NEW IMF LOAN DEAL IS VERY CLOSE"
In a televised interview yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that great progress has been made in talks with the International Monetary Fund towards a new loan agreement, adding that they expect to sign a deal by the Fund's spring Executive Board meeting later this month. Saying that during the recent G-20 meeting in London, the Fund tripled its budget for loans to countries hurt by the global economic crisis, Simsek added that this could help Turkey get a bigger loan with better terms. /Turkiye/
EP'S SWOBODA CRITICIZES GERMANY'S MERKEL
Hannes Swoboda, the vice chair of the European Parliament's second-biggest group, the Socialists, and former Turkey EP rapporteur, yesterday criticized the attitude of German Chancellor Angela Merkel towards Turkey's prospective European Union membership. Stating that everything had changed except Merkel, he added, "Policies and politicians left over from World War II will get us nowhere." Swoboda said the negotiation process with Turkey is stalled and also criticized Greek Cyprus blocking negotiations with Turkey on certain chapters. /Star-Aksam/
NATO'S RASMUSSEN: "WE'VE SOLVED OUR PROBLEMS WITH TURKEY"
In the wake of his election to the NATO secretary general post, which Turkey initially opposed, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday that all his problems with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been solved. After attending the Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Istanbul, Rasmussen stated that after holding bilateral talks with Erdogan, they no longer have any problems. /Star/