SEZER RECEIVES ERDOGAN
In the offcials’ regular weekly meeting, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also in attendance was State Minister for Economy Ali Babacan, who briefed Sezer on the new Turkish lira. In related news, referring to recent media speculation about a looming Cabinet reshuffle, Erdogan said, “We won’t reshuffle the Cabinet at the media’s behest, but only when the time is right.” /Star/

ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO SOUTH ASIA, URGES TOP BUSINESSMEN TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Addressing his party’s Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK) yesterday, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would travel to South Asia to see the damage wrought late last month by a devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis. “This is truly a terrible disaster,” he said. “I’ll go to the region to make observations.” In related news, Erdogan telephoned leading Turkish businessmen urging them to aid survivors of the natural catastrophe. /Milliyet/

TURKEY LOWERS FLAGS IN MEMORY OF TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Turkey shared in the grief of people around the world mourning the hundreds of thousands of victims who lost their lives in the recent Asian tsunami by lowering flags in all provinces yesterday to half-mast until sunset. In related news, joining similar campaigns already underway in Turkey, Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu announced yesterday that a nationwide fund-raising campaign would begin to help survivors of the disaster. /Turkiye/

GUL PLEDGES SUPPORT TO PALESTINIANS
As part of his three-day visit to the Mideast, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Palestinian counterpart Nabil Shaat in Ramallah. At a joint press conference, Gul reiterated that Ankara was ready to play an active role to promote peace in the Mideast. Stressing that Turkey would continue to lend support to Palestinians and their just cause, Gul stated that Ankara was planning to help Palestine both economically and socially. For his part, Shaat said that Palestinians would welcome Ankara’s efforts for peace, adding, “Turkey has always been one of our strong, true allies.” Then Gul met with other Palestinian officials including Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Mahmoud Abbas, a leading contender for Palestine’s presidency. Officials also briefed Gul about the presidential elections set for this Sunday. After completing his contacts in Palestine, Gul proceeded to Amman, Jordan to attend a meeting of Iraq’s neighbors on the Iraq issue. /Turkiye/

GUL ADDRESSES PALESTINIAN PARLIAMENT
During his visit to Palestine, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday addressed the Palestinian Parliament. Stressing that Turkey had fully supported the Palestinian people and their just and legal cause at every opportunity, Gul urged both parties in the region to return to the negotiating table to seek peace. He stated that the future of Palestine and Israel depended on each other, adding that making peace would only be possible through common sense and compromise. Calling on both sides to stop the violence, Gul said, “Israel also favors peace, but Israeli officials first want the suicide attacks to stop.” Violence, the use of excessive force and terrorism only serve the interests of those opposed to peace, he argued, adding that both Israeli and Palestinian officials now have a historic responsibility. /Turkiye/

NATO COMMANDER TO VISIT TURKEY
Gen. James L. Jones, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe (SACEUR), is set to arrive in Ankara today to pay an official visit at the invitation of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN: “OUR ECONOMY IS ON SOLID GROUND”
Addressing a Turkish Regional and Sectoral Economy Council meeting yesterday organized jointly by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) and private sector representatives, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the stability of the Turkish economy, saying that it was based on sound foundations. “We’ll continue to build on these sound foundations to establish a modern, advanced and productive economy,” said Erdogan. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Erdogan said that during Ankara’s upcoming EU accession talks, the government would avoid mistakes which were made in the past. “Both the private and public sectors will work together for the nation’s EU membership,” he added. For his part, TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that by overcoming its crises Turkey had created confidence in the country. Hisarciklioglu added that recent positive economic developments were due to both Erdogan’s successful political leadership and the determination of industrialists. /Aksam/

DISSIDENT CHP DEPUTIES CALL FOR BAYKAL’S RESIGNATION
A group of 14 dissident deputies from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), all supporters of Istanbul Sisli district Mayor and challenger for the CHP leadership Mustafa Sarigul, yesterday called on CHP leader Deniz Baykal to resign. At a press conference in Parliament, Mersin Deputy Ersoy Bulut read out a statement asking Baykal not to “sacrifice the party for his own ambition and greed.” Concerning Baykal’s accusations against the party’s Supreme Disciplinary Board (YDK), which this week decided not to dismiss Sarigul from the party, Bulut said, “Never before have we seen a party leader making such harsh accusations against a party organ whose members were chosen by him.” He charged that Baykal had called for a party congress out of panic and called for him to resign. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAQI CITIZENS IN TURKEY CAN VOTE IN THIS MONTH’S ELECTIONS
Iraqi citizens residing in Turkey can vote in the month-end Iraqi elections, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. The Iraqi Independent Election Commission has authorized Iraqi citizens abroad to use the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to cast their ballots. A total of 14 countries, including Turkey, are using the IOM mechanism. “Our aim is to contribute to establishing democracy, security and stability in Iraq, as well as to help reach a national consensus,” said the ministry. Iraqi citizens will be able to vote on Jan. 28-30 in venues in Ankara and Istanbul. /Sabah/

OECD FORECASTS 5.7% GROWTH IN 2006-2009
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) yesterday forecast that Turkey would enjoy growth of 5.7% in 2006-2009, a rate higher than those of the European Union member states and other OECD members. Under the OECD forecast, Turkey’s inflation for 2005 would be 10.2%, falling to 6% in 2009. The OECD further projected that unemployment be at 11.2% by the end of this year and fall to 9.5% by 2009. The organization further forecast long-term interest rates of 18.1% for this year. /Aksam/