ERDOGAN ADDRESSES AGRICULTURE MEETING, DECLARES THE GOVT SUBVENTIONS TO THE SECTOR
Addressing a meeting of agriculture volunteers in Ankara yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the agriculture sector carried great importance for Turkey, declaring subventions which the government would provide the sector with this year. He stated that the government’s goal was to increase the number of agricultural projects from 1,000 to 3,000. He further stated that livestock would be very important for the future of agriculture. Erdogan stressed that during Ankara’s European Union membership process, there was need to transfer the population in the agricultural sector to the industrial sector. “Turkey is among the most developed 20 economies of the world,” said Erdogan, adding that it was continuing to grow rapidly. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO SOUTH ASIA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday called for help for the victims of the southeastern Asian countries which were hit by last month’s quake and tsunamis. Erdogan yesterday said that he would travel to the disaster region on Feb. 5, adding that he wishes to take with him the aid donated by the Turkish citizens to the region. “Many people from very different religions were killed by the quake and tsunamis in the region,” he said. “We should consider this issue more sensitively and we must do our utmost to help the victims.” /Hurriyet/

SCREENING PROCESS TO START OCT. 4
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that European Union would start Turkey’s screening process on Oct. 4. He remarked that screening process might last one year. The EU commissioner added that Turkey was expected to extend the Ankara Treaty to all 25 EU members before Oct. 3, and that there would be no obstacle to begin negotiations. /Aksam/

GREEK MAIN OPPOSITION HEAD TO VISIT ANKARA
Upon the invitation of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Greek main opposition party DISI’s head Nikos Anastasiades is expected to pay an official visit to Ankara next month to discuss the Cyprus issue with Turkish officials. Anastasiades yesterday said that he wanted to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital. Honorary chairman of the party and former Greek leader Glafcos Clerides is also expected to come to Turkey with the DISI delegation. Clerides and DISI had lent their full support to the United Nations Cyprus plan, known as the Annan plan, conflicting with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos. /Hurriyet/

VAT MEETING CANCELLED, RUSSIA WANTS TO ACT AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA
The Viennese Armenian-Turkish Platform (VAT) yesterday announced that it would not carry through its starting initiative "The First Viennese Armenian-Turkish Round Table" originally planned for spring 2005. The reason is that the Armenian side has failed to provide the platform with the necessary confirmation as agreed in August 2004. The Turkish side accepted to participate in the dialogue, in which each part was supposed to present 180 documents on the year 1915 showing their understanding of the so-called Armenian genocide. In July 2004, the first 100 documents each from the Armenian and Turkish side were exchanged to get the dialogue started. The VAT was founded by four Austrian historians as a neutral platform serving as an intermediary for Turkish and Armenian researchers scientifically investigating the Armenian-Turkish Question. In related news, the Moscow radio yesterday announced that the Russian Federation is ready to act as a mediator between Turkey and Armenia as well as the guarantor of any possible agreement to be signed between the two countries. /Hurriyet/

TRANSPORTATION MINISTER VISITS ETHIOPIA
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim who is currently paying a visit to Ethiopia, yesterday met with Premier Meles Zenawi. Stressing his satisfaction from the recent efforts to develop bilateral relations with Turkey, Zenawi invited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit his country in coming days. Speaking at a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, Yildirim talked about Turkey’s GAP project and said that Turkish firms might work on building dams on Awash and Nile rivers. He added that in the near future, Turkish businessmen from different sectors would pay visits to Ethiopia to seek ways to make investments in the country. During a series of contacts with Ethiopian officials, Yildirim signed agreements proposing cooperation in air and sea transportation. /Turkiye/

ISLAM WORLD TO AID SOUTH ASIA
At a press conference in Istanbul, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) said that the organization would aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami hit-south Asia. “Emergency aid will be made to some 40,000 orphan children, and $500 million will be donated to contribute to the reconstruction of the disaster region,” said Ekmeleddin. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “THOUGH THE CONGRESS IS WANTED TO BE DIRECTED, THE CHP WILL DETERMINE ITS FUTURE WITH ITS OWN PRINCIPLES AND UNDERSTANDING”
In the runup to a key party congress to be held on Jan. 29, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday sought support in Nevsehir where he met with the delegates of his party. Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Baykal said that the congress would be more than a “inter-party problem,” adding that the congress was wanted to be directed by some circles but that the CHP would determine its future with its own principles and understanding. “Some circles are trying to corrupt our party, but we will protect its principles,” said Baykal, stressing that the importance of the party would further increase with the congress. Later, Baykal proceeded to Erzurum to meet with the party’s delegates. /Cumhuriyet/

LIVANELI: “I WILL ANNOUNCE MY FINAL DECISION ON CHP LEADERSHIP CANDIDACY NEXT WEEK”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy from Istanbul Zulfu Livaneli said that next week he would announce his final decision whether to be a candidate or not for the CHP leadership, adding that his possible leadership would ensure peace and integrity within the party. He further called his possible candidacy “Mevlana project.” Livaneli stressed that the left-wing wanted change, adding that even the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) was passing through a process of change. “I don’t believe that delegates will be against change,” added Livaneli. /Cumhuriyet/