ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO RUSSIA TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by five Cabinet ministers, over 500 businessmen and some 100 journalists, is set to travel to Moscow today to pay an official visit just one month after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s historic trip to Turkey. This evening, Putin is expected to host Erdogan for a dinner. During his three-day stay, Erdogan will meet with Russian officials to discuss the Cyprus and Middle East issues, as well as joint energy ventures. Erdogan and Putin are scheduled to attend the opening of a new Turkish Trade Center in Moscow on Wednesday. /Star/
ERDOGAN EXHORTS YOUTH TO READY THEMSELVES FOR THE FUTURE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the first Youth Congress of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Istanbul Province. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and State Ministers Kursad Tuzmen and Guldal Aksit also were present at the gathering. Addressing the congress, Erdogan urged the young people to prepare themselves well for the future. Stressing that a politics is fraught with difficulties, Erdogan asked the young party members to work hard to understand the day’s important issues, both domestic and foreign. /Hurriyet/
CHP SENDS TWO YDK MEMBERS TO DISCIPLINARY BOARD
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) party assembly yesterday decided to send two members of the party’s Supreme Disciplinary Board (YDK), Cafer Dursun and Engin Baba, to the YDK itself to face disciplinary charges related to bribery. These two will not vote during the party congress scheduled for the end of this month. In related news, Istanbul’s Sisli district Mayor Mustafa Sarigul has opened an office in Ankara expected to be the headquarters of his campaign for the party leadership in the leadup to the congress. In addition to Sarigul, Istanbul Deputy Zulfu Livanelli reportedly is laying the groundwork to announce his candidacy at the coming congress. /Turkiye/
ABBAS WINS PALESTINE POLLS, TURKISH OBSERVER LAUDS ELECTIONS AS A SUCCESS
Mahmoud Abbas has claimed victory in the Palestinian presidential elections held yesterday, dedicating his victory to late leader Yasser Arafat who passed away late last year. The elections were Palestine’s first since 1996. Following his victory declaration, Abbas pledged that he would end the suffering of the Palestinian nation. His rival Mustafa Barghouti called the elections a win for Palestinian democracy. Some 800 international observers were present to witness the polls, including former US President Jimmy Carter and former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard. Ethem Tokdemir, who headed the Turkish delegation of observers, lauded the elections as a success. /Milliyet/
PEPE: “TURKEY WON’T FORSAKE ITS NATIONAL VALUES”
Turkey will become an EU member without giving up its national values, including its Muslim and Turkish identity, said Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe yesterday. Stating that as it stands now the EU cannot be a global power, Pepe added, “Ankara will join the EU. However, being an EU member doesn’t mean giving up our national values, because the EU needs this diversity, cultural richness and dynamism.” /Star/
GEN. OZKOK VISITS BRITAIN
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday flew to Great Britain to pay an official visit at the invitation of his British counterpart Gen. Michael Walker. During his three-day stay, Ozkok will hold a series of contacts with high-level British military officials. /Turkiye/
TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
Under decisions taken at last June’s NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey is due soon to take over the command of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Speaking to Hurriyet, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that a ceremony would be held in Ankara to mark the command, adding that a Turkish division could be initially sent to Kabul. Turkey also commanded the ISAF three years ago. /Hurriyet/
EUROPE TO PROPOSE NEW CYPRUS PLAN
European constitutional experts have reportedly prepared a new Cyprus plan as an alternative to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan, and the plan is expected to be presented in a month’s time to Ankara, Athens, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot administration. The experts will then urge the European Parliament and European Commission to intervene in favor of their plan. /Milliyet/
ANKARA TO HOST TRIPARTITE MEETING ON IRAQ SECURITY ISSUES
A tripartite meeting between Turkey, the US and Iraq will he held in Ankara tomorrow to discuss security issues, and in particular the PKK terrorist threat. US sources believe a military operation against the PKK is impossible right now due to the Iraqi insurgency. /Cumhuriyet/
ATO OPPOSES LOWER ELECTION THRESHOLD
The Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) yesterday issued a report on recent controversial proposals to lower the nation’s 10% election threshold. Opposing lowering the current threshold, the report warned that parties representing ethnic groups would easily win Parliament seats in such a case, which would lead to coalitions and instability in the country’s political life. Speaking to reporters, ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun said that current conditions in Turkey make retaining the 10% level necessary, adding that the Turkish business world did not wanted to return to the days of ruling coalition governments. /Turkiye/
REPORT: ANKARA GAVE $3.071 BLN IN CREDITS TO TRNC SINCE 1974
Financial aid from Ankara to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from 1974 to the present totals $3.071 billion, says a new report prepared by Turkey’s Embassy in the TRNC. Turkey has supported the Turkish Cypriot economy through defense expenditures, electricity investments and investor credit and other projects, and additional credit of $356.9 million is planned for 2005. /Sabah/
WB DIRECTOR: “TURKEY WON’T NEED MORE IMF SUPPORT FOR ITS EU BID”
World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink said yesterday that as long as Turkey meets the economic and structural conditions of the European Union, it won’t need additional IMF support for its accession. “As long as Turkey meets the economic criteria, it would be subject to only its routine IMF payments. Budgetary discipline, macroeconomic stability and structural reforms are needed not only by the IMF, but also the EU. During Turkey’s EU membership talks, the IMF and the World Bank will serve as institutions in a secondary role.” /Aksam/