PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TRNC PRESIDENT EROGLU
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu in Ankara. During the meeting, the two discussed the ongoing negotiation process on the island, Greek Cypriot administration decisions which have damaged the negotiations, and Ankara and Nicosia's new negotiation policy. Afterwards, Eroglu met with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Chief EU Talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis. /Milliyet/
US HOUSE PANEL PASSES ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE" RESOLUTION, THREATENING TURKISH-US TIES AND TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAPPROCHEMENT PROCESS
Despite pressure from Turkey and last-minute warnings from the White House to turn down a resolution seeking to officially recognize the so-called Armenian "genocide" claims, a key congressional panel voted yesterday to label as "genocide" the incidents of 1915 during World War I, in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. The controversial bill passed the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee in a closer-than-expected vote of 23-22. Turkey strongly rejects the genocide allegations and regards the incidents of 1915 as civil strife in wartime which claimed lives of many Turks and Armenians alike. Prior to the vote, Turkish parliamentary delegations held talks with senior US officials, businesspeople and congressmen to block passage of the resolution. Top Turkish officials warned of fallout if it passed, saying that it would harm not only Turkish-US ties but also the ongoing rapprochement process between Turkey and Armenia, thus endangering peace and stability in the Caucasus. Though Turkey had urged the Obama administration to press the committee to defeat the non-binding resolution since the beginning of the process, officials kept their silence until the last minute. A White House spokesman said yesterday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned Howard Berman, the committee's chairman and a fellow Democrat, and warned him of the negative impact that passage of the resolution would have on the reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia. In 2007 a similar resolution passed 27-21, but as a result of then President George W. Bush's intervention, the resolution never reached the House floor. Turkey will continue its intensive lobbying efforts in the weeks to come to stop the resolution from going to a full House vote. /Turkiye/
TURKEY CONDEMNS US HOUSE COMMITTEE'S PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE" RESOLUTION
Immediately after a US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee yesterday narrowly passed a resolution calling on the US government to officially recognize the so-called Armenian "genocide" claims, Turkey recalled its newly appointed Ambassador Namik Tank for consultations. In an official statement, President Abdullah Gul expressed his deep sorrow over the resolution's passage. "This decision is not a reasonable one," he said. "I strongly condemn it. It means nothing to the Turkish people. Turkey will not be responsible for the negative fallout in various areas from passage of this resolution, which is both biased and divorced from the historical truth, including ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus. This resolution is unworthy of Turkish-US ties." Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sharply criticized passage of the resolution. "We condemn this resolution, which charges the Turkish nation with a crime that it did not commit," he said in a statement. He added that he is seriously concerned that the non-binding resolution could harm Turkish-US ties and efforts by Muslim Turkey and Christian Armenia to bury a century of hostility. Prior to the vote, Turkey warned that its ties with the US could be damaged and Ankara's efforts to normalize relations with Armenia could be harmed, even though the resolution is non-binding. Turkey insists that World War I-era incidents should be examined by historians using scientific tools and archives, not by lawmakers and parliaments. "Influenced by political motives, supporters of this resolution have taken a wrong and unjust stance, ignoring historical facts and the differences of opinion among experts," the statement said. "The resolution includes tangible errors related to the incidents of 1915, and it reflects a wholly one-sided approach." /Sabah/
TURKEY WELCOMES BELGIAN CRACKDOWN ON TERRORIST PKK
Turkey is pleased with this week's operation in Belgium against the terrorist PKK, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday. Speaking to reporters in Ankara alongside his visiting New Zealander counterpart Murray McCully, Davutoglu thanked Belgian authorities for their cooperation. Belgian police launched a wide-scale operation against terrorist groups on Thursday morning, raiding 25 locations, including the studios of Rok-TV, the PKK's broadcast arm, in the town of Denderleeuw near Brussels. The police arrested several members of the organization, including Remzi Kartal, a former legislator of the dissolved Democratic Party, and his assistant Zubeyr Aydar. "We are very pleased because Belgium fulfilled its responsibility," said Davutoglu, declining to elaborate on details of the operation. "We truly appreciate the responsible and determined stance of the Belgian authorities. We hope that terrorists won't be able to find suitable platforms for their acts in Europe. Belgium's stance, following actions by Italy and France, is a clear message to those who provide resources to acts of terror." For his part, McCully said they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, including trade and economic relations. McCully said New Zealand's prime minister would attend the commemoration ceremonies in Gallipoli this year, adding that with such high-ranking visits opportunities would be created for meetings of representatives not only from politics but also from the business world. He also said that they exchanged views on the key role Turkey has taken in the region. Touching on joint efforts against terrorism, McCully said New Zealand recently declared the PKK a terrorist group, adding that it would continue to work with Turkey against terrorism. In related news, French, Italian and German security forces staged similar crackdowns on terrorist PKK-affiliated individuals, groups and organizations yesterday. /Star/
ERDOGAN ATTENDS PATENTS AWARD CEREMONY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the Turkish Patent Institute's (TPE) annual awards ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan said, "Everyone producing information, developing technology, establishing a trademark or producing original designs for this country are welcome." Stating that with its young, dynamic, energetic population, Turkey has an enormous potential, Erdogan said, "The world is getting smaller but Turkey is growing. We promoted Turkey from 26th place to 17th among world economies. But this isn't enough; we have the potential to make ourselves an enduring place in the top 10." /Hurriyet/
TURKEY APPOINTS CONSUL TO ERBIL
The Foreign Ministry has appointed young diplomat Aydyn Selcen as consul to Erbil, the capital of Iraq's regional Kurdish administration, in line with a decision to improve and advance relations with the administration in northern Iraq taken by the National Security Council (NSC). Turkey opening a consulate was decided at last year's high-level strategic cooperation committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki. Selcen will arrive in Erbil on March 15 in the wake of the Iraqi general elections set for this coming Sunday. /Hurriyet/