GUL: "TURKEY ACTED IN A RATIONAL, LOGICAL WAY OVER RASMUSSEN APPOINTMENT"
Turkey has been the most active member of NATO and a major contributor, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. In an interview with Britain's Financial Times, asked about Turkey's objections to the appointment of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as NATO secretary general, Gul said, "In this present case, if a country has a significant and vital contribution to the organization, if they have concerns, rational concerns on a concrete subject, it is very natural that this should be listened to and responded to. So these points should not be underestimated." He added, "We neither engaged in blackmail nor did we have an irrational request. We acted in a rational logical and in a modern way within the compromise which is a European culture." /Aksam/
GOVT STARTS LEGAL PROCEDURES TO MAKE MAY 1 OFFICIAL HOLIDAY
The government yesterday began legal procedures to make May 1 an official holiday, in a bid to meet longtime demands of workers and trade unions. At the behest of Primer Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik yesterday met with union representatives to hear them out on the issue. The unions welcomed the government's attempt, but also aired their requests for more rights and freedoms after the meeting. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal expressed support for the initiative. In a statement, he encouraged the government to make not only May 1 but also Nevruz a public holiday and to open up Istanbul's Taksim Square for celebrations. /Hurriyet Daily News/
BAGIS: "EVERY COUNTRY WHICH STARTED ACCESSION TALKS IN THE END JOINED THE EU"
Speaking in Ankara at a meeting on the translation of the European Union acquis and Turkish legislation, State Minister and chief negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis reiterated Turkey's determination to join the EU. Stating that no country which started accession talks has ever been refused eventual EU membership, Bagis said Turkey is continuing its determined reform efforts to this end. Saying that when the accession talks end successfully Turkish will become one of the Union's official languages, Bagis added that no one should doubt Turkey's European identity. "Turkey has already been a part and had an active presence in European institutions," he said. "It joined the customs union with EU member countries nearly 15 years ago. There are millions of Turks living in European countries and they make remarkable contributions to the economic, social and cultural lives of their host countries." On the outspoken French opposition to Turkey's bid, Bagis said, "They have the right to oppose Turkey's EU membership bid, but Turkey is resolved to continue its accession talks, which started with the approval of the 27 members of the Union. Turkey has the necessary determination to continue accession talks without considering such opposition." In related news, the number of Turkish entrepreneurs living in the European Union has reached 131,500, and their current investment stock presently totals approximately _14.4 billion. In a written press release the Turkish-German Education and Scientific Studies Foundation (TAVAK) said there are currently more than 4.2 million Turkish immigrants living in EU countries. Faruk Sen, chairman of the board of trustees of the Turkish-European Business Association (BTEU), commended the growth of Turkish entrepreneurship in Europe, noting that the number of Turkish entrepreneurs had risen dramatically from about 62,000 in 1997. The TAVAK said one of the most important results of the entrepreneurial success of Turks in Europe is that these entrepreneurs have created jobs for 500,000 people in Europe and that their annual sales reportedly amount to _48 billion. /Turkiye/
TURKISH-AZERI INTERPARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP TO VISIT BAKU
In the wake of reports that the Turkish-Armenian border may be opened, Turkish-Azeri Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chair Mustafa Kabakci and a delegation are set to visit Baku. Stating that Turkey's policy on Azerbaijan hasn't changed, Kabakci said, "Turkey won't take any steps on the Armenian issue without reaching a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Turkey wants the Armenian side to withdraw from Azeri territory." In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the absence of a resolution between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is hindering negotiations on normalizing ties between Yerevan and Ankara, calling on the UN and other international actors to help resolve the problem. "We have been saying this very clearly: As long as the problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain in place, it will be difficult for us to make progress in talks with Armenia," said Erdogan, speaking to reporters at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Istanbul headquarters late on Wednesday after a meeting with successful Istanbul AK Party candidates and the party's provincial officials. /Star/
TUSIAD TO VISIT THE US ON MONDAY
A Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) delegation led by Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag will visit Washington and New York next Monday and Tuesday to promote a report entitled "Reconstructing the Alliance: The New Era in Turkish-US Relations - A Turkish Perspective." The report, to be given to members of the US Congress, covers issues such as Turkey's European Union bid, regional security, the Armenian issue, energy policies, and economic relations, as well as concrete policy proposals on these issues. On the sidelines of the visit, the delegation will meet with former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright, International Monetary Fund Deputy Head John Lipsky, and officials from the US State Department and the National Security Council, and will hold working meetings with prominent think-tanks such as the Brookings Institution and German Marshall Fund. /Milliyet/
DESPITE CRISIS, THY PROFITS JUMP MORE THAN THREEFOLD
Turkish Airlines' (THY) net profit skyrocketed 327 percent in 2008 over 2007, hitting TL 1.13 billion, the company announced yesterday. THY's consolidated financial statement for 2008, sent to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), said the airline's income from sales increased last year, too, with a more modest 26 percent rise to TL 6.1 billion. The number of aircraft in its fleet also rose, from 102 at the beginning of the year to 127 at the end. Parallel to its investments and new destinations, the number of passengers flying THY increased by 15 percent to 22.5 million last year. The amount of cargo carried by THY planes also rose 8 percent to 203,000 tons. Seventy-eight percent of the airline's revenues from scheduled services came from international flights, while the remaining 22 percent was earned from domestic routes. /Today's Zaman/
GALATASARAY'S WOMEN BECOME EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS
Turkish basketball team Galatasaray yesterday claimed the EuroCup Women title. Galatasaray defeated Cras Basket Taranto of Italy 82-61 in the final game of the FIBA EuroCup Women in Istanbul to become the champions. This is the first time a Turkish women's basketball team has won the title. /Turkiye/