TOP STATE OFFICIALS MEET WITH CHILDREN VISITING TURKEY FOR APRIL 23 HOLIDAY
Ahead of the April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, top state officials met with children coming from 59 countries throughout the world to attend Thursday's celebrations. The visiting children were separately received by President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. During the meetings, the children presented gifts from their countries and got gifts in return. The April 23 holiday belongs to not only Turkish children but to children from all over the world, Gul told the young visitors. He also said establishing the holiday shows the greatness of the vision of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. This vision considers the future of children from Turkey and across the world as well as making Turkey an independent nation, Gul said. Speaking to the children, Erdogan said, "We want to leave a world full of peace, fellowship and love to children." He added, "We believe that seeing children happy, rejoicing, laughing, playing and delighting is worth the entire world." In related news, First Lady Hayrunnisa Gul hosted a reception yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to promote a new campaign to empower the disabled through education. The campaign, called Education Enables, the biggest such campaign in Turkey, aims to better equip schools and other educational institutions so that they can be accessible to and provide opportunities for the disabled. Among the guests at the reception were Education Minister Huseyin Celik, Board of Higher Education (YOK) Chairman Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, and former Galatasaray football player Hakan Sukur. /Sabah-Turkiye/
FRESH FROM ELECTION VICTORY, TRNC'S EROGLU PLEDGES TO CONTINUE COMPREHENSIVE TALKS WITH GREEK CYPRIOTS
The Turkish Cypriot right-wing National Unity Party (UBP) swept to victory in parliamentary elections on Sunday in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The UBP won a single-party turn in government with 44% of the vote, while the ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) came in a distant second with 29%. The faltering economy and the continuing isolation of Northern Cyprus is believed to be one of the reasons for the CTP's defeat. In the 2005 elections, the CTP garnered 44.5% of the vote, winning 24 seats in Parliament. UBP leader Dervis Eroglu, who has twice served as prime minister, said yesterday that continuing comprehensive negotiations with the Greek Cypriot administration is a priority for his party. "We will support President Mehmet Ali Talat continuing negotiations," he added. "We'll act in unison to make progress in negotiations by thoroughly discussing Cyprus policies with the motherland Turkey. Nobody has the right to brand the UBP as opposed to an agreement." CTP leader and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said the election results would not sway his party from its path and backing every step towards finding a solution to the issue. "As the opposition party, the CTP will not oppose any positive step taken by the UBP-led government. We'll be encouraging, because resolution of the Cyprus problem is essential," said Soyer. Commenting on the results, Talat said, "The European Union breaking its promises to the TRNC had a big impact on the election. Turkish Cypriots were disappointed by the EU and the international community after they supported a UN plan in 2004 to solve the Cyprus issue. The UBP benefited from this disappointment." /Turkiye/
CICEK: "TURKEY NEVER WOULD TAKE ANY STEPS THAT COULD HURT AZERBAIJAN"
After yesterday's Cabinet meeting, government spokesperson and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek told a press conference that Turkey will not enhance its relations with Armenia without first seeing a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Stating that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are based on friendship and fellowship, not interests, he added, "Turkey will never take any steps nor do anything that could hurt Azerbaijan." Touching on Sunday's general elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Cicek said that Turkey will continue to support the TRNC and do whatever is necessary to establish lasting peace on the island. /Star/
TURKEY-EU TROIKA TO MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY
A semi-annual Turkey-EU Troika meeting, led by EU Term Czech Republic Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, will take place today in Prague. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and chief European Union talks negotiator Egemen Bagis will represent Turkey at the meeting. European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country next holds the presidency, will also attend the meeting, where Turkey's EU reform process, membership negotiations, energy security and the Middle East will be discussed. /Star/
MGK TO CONVENE NEXT WEEK
The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Abdullah Gul, is set to convene next week at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Issues to be discussed at the gathering include the fight against the terrorist PKK and recent global developments. /Today's Zaman/
STATE MINISTER AYDIN TRAVELS TO BELGIUM
State Minister Mehmet Aydin will travel to Belgium to attend a Somali donors conference tomorrow and Thursday. The pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden last week directed the world's attention to the increasing problem of Somali piracy. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is hosting the meeting. /Hurriyet Daily News/
STATE MINISTER YAZICIOGLU VISITING TAJIKISTAN
State Minister Said Yazicioglu left for Tajikistan yesterday to attend the seventh meeting of the Turkey-Tajikistan Joint Economic Commission. The meeting aims to boost economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Yazicioglu is also set to meet with President Emomali Rahmon, Parliament Speaker Mehmedsaid Ubaydullaev and Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov. /Hurriyet Daily News/
THREE TURKS AWARDED BRAVERY MEDALS IN GERMANY
Germany's Bavaria County Prime Minister Horst Seehofer yesterday awarded three Turkish citizens, Erdal Tokat, Huseyin Buz and Yasar Simsek, with bravery medals for displaying courage in the face of adversity. /Milliyet/