ERDOGAN: “LAST YEAR’S POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS WILL SPUR THE SAME IN 2005”
Addressing his party’s group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan touted the positive economic developments over the last year in Turkey, adding that these developments would spur the government to further successes this year. He also extolled the historic economic figures released on Monday showing Turkey’s first single-digit Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in nearly a decade. “We’ll score further economic successes this year,” he predicted. Turning to the new Turkish lira (YTL), which this year will be used alongside the old lira, Erdogan urged the nation to be careful in spending the YTL and in dealing with prices marked in both currencies, a practice required by law. /Star/

GUL: “FOR THE FIRST TIME, I’M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PEACE IN THE MIDEAST”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently visiting Israel and Palestine, yesterday met with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. At a joint press conference, Gul said that for the first time he was optimistic about prospects for peace in the region. “It’s not only me, but Israel and Palestine, as well as Syria and Lebanon, who are also optimistic,” stated Gul. “We shouldn’t let this opportunity pass us by.” Stressing that Turkey was ready to do its best to promote peace, Gul stated that violence could be stopped by all sides working together. Shalom, in response to Gul’s call for renewed peace efforts, said that Palestinian groups must stop their terrorist attacks for a resumption of the peace process. He also welcomed Ankara’s pressure on Palestinians to cease violence. In addition, Gul and his wife paid a visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City. /Turkiye/

US STATE DEPT: “TURKEY CAN HELP SETTLE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DISPUTE”
Turkey can positively contribute to settling the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, US State Department Deputy spokesman Adam Ereli told a press conference yesterday. Asked about Ankara’s role in finding Mideast peace, Ereli said, “Turkey can play, I think, a positive and constructive role in encouraging the abandonment of terror . . . by terrorist groups operating in territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey can play a positive role in supporting efforts by the Quartet and others to help promote engagement between Israelis and Palestinians in ways that enhance the security of Israel and meet the needs and the aspirations of the Palestinian people.” /Aksam/

BABACAN: “AS OF 2007, THERE’LL BE NO NEED FOR IMF STANDBYS”
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) group meeting yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan predicted that there would be no need to sign a another standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund as of 2007, when the current agreement is expected to end. “Our friendly relations with the Fund will continue, but there’ll be no agreements,” he said. “We won’t get any more credit from the IMF after 2007.” Babacan said that to date Ankara had received a total of $30 billion credit from the IMF and that by 2007 Ankara would pay back all but $9.5 billion of this. “The interest we pay to the Fund ranges from 3.5 percent to 5 percent,” he stated. Babacan added that priority should be placed on such areas as banking and finance, social security reform, and health care. /Sabah/

DEMIREL AWARDED MOLDOVAN STATE MEDAL
In Moldova’s capital Kishinev to attend a conference yesterday, former President Suleymen Demirel received a State Medal from Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. Demirel said that Turkey and Moldova were friendly countries who were willing to develop bilateral relations. “I’m happy to hear that Turkish business investments in Moldova are rising, with the number of Turkish firms in the country now reaching 100,” said Demirel. /Turkiye/

TURKEY TO TAKE OVER COMMAND OF ISAF IN AFGHANISTAN
Turkey is expected to take over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Feb. 11. The Turkish 28th Mechanized Infantry Brigade will take over the command of the Kabul Multinational Brigade under the ISAF on Jan. 27, and responsibility for Kabul Airport on Feb. 1. The brigade, which is due to hold the ISAF command for six months, has completed its preparations. At a press conference yesterday, Gen. Umit Dundar told reporters about the preparations and plans of his brigade, which will leave for Kabul on Jan. 23-26. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will have 900 military staff in the brigade. Turkey previously led the ISAF in 2002 with nearly 1,500 of its soldiers in Afghanistan. /Turkiye/

ANOTHER TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER KILLED IN IRAQ
A Turkish truck driver was killed yesterday in northern Baghdad, announced Iraqi security officials yesterday. The truck driver, who was carrying goods for the US army, was slain by Iraqi armed insurgents. There was no immediate information available about the attackers or the identity of the truck driver. Some 80 Turkish citizens have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the Iraq war. /Milliyet/

TRIPARTITE SECURITY SUMMIT TO DISCUSS ANTI-PKK MEASURES
Turkey, the United States and Iraq are set to hold a security summit next week in Ankara to discuss measures needed to crack down on the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq. The date of the meeting has yet to be set, but diplomatic sources stated that it is expected to be held on Jan. 11-14. Turkey’s Special Representative to Iraq Ambassador Osman Koruturk is to chair the Turkish delegation. While Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Al Bayati together with an accompanying delegation will represent his country at the summit, it is not yet known what US officials will attend. /Star/

RED CRESCENT SENDS $400,000 IN AID TO DISASTER REGION
A Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) team yesterday took $400,000 in aid to regions hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunamis last week in southern Asia. A coordination and logistical team will be deployed in Thailand, and other teams will be sent to Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The target population of each team will be a minimum-500-person village or town. The teams include doctors and psychologists to help the recovery of the survivors. /Hurriyet/