TURKEY SAYS FINANCIAL AID TO KKTC TO CONTINUE DESPITE SPAT
Turkey announced yesterday that its financial aid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) will not be affected by a high-level political spat over a Turkish Cypriot protest against Ankara. “The aid to the KKTC is continuing and will continue as announced previously,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said at a press conference. He also said the recent tension will not affect negotiations between Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias on reunification of the island. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has harshly condemned the anti-Turkey slogans during a demonstration in the KKTC late last month to protest Turkey-backed austerity measures. Noting that some protesters told Turkey to “get out,” Erdogan said: “Who are you to tell me to get out? I have martyrs [who died during Turkey’s 1974 intervention in Cyprus to protect Turkish Cypriots from Greek Cypriot attacks], I have strategic interests.” /Today’s Zaman/

ECRI REPORT LAUDS TURKEY’S PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS BUT STILL HAS CONCERNS
A new report published by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) on Turkey has said Turkey has made significant progress since the commission’s last report on Turkey in 2005, but expressed concerns regarding some issues that still need to be addressed by the Turkish government. The ECRI published its latest report on Turkey on Tuesday, in which it said since the publication of the ECRI’s third report on Turkey on Feb. 15, 2005, progress has been made in a number of fields covered by that report. One of the issues that the report highlighted was the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) 2009 initiative, which is intended to expand the rights of previously disadvantaged groups and communities such as Kurds, Alevis and Roma. The ECRI also applauded measures taken by Turkey to prevent misconduct by law enforcement officers, including towards members of minority groups. The commission also welcomed Turkey’s preparation to set up an ombudsman institution and an independent national human rights institution to review individual human rights complaints and monitor human rights in the country. Applauding the many initiatives taken by Turkey to fight discrimination and human rights, the commission also highlighted some concerns. The commission stated that there is no definition of racial discrimination in Turkish law, and comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation is not yet in place. /Today’s Zaman/

BAHRAIN SEES NO ‘DOMINO EFFECT’ IN PROTESTS IN EGYPT
Bahrain’s crown prince, in a visit to Ankara, said he did not believe that protests in Egypt and other countries in the Arab world will spread to the entire Middle East, creating a “domino effect” across the region that is home to numerous kingdoms, sheikdoms and autocratic regimes. Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa said at a joint news conference with Turkish PM Erdogan in Ankara late on Tuesday it was obvious that the Egyptian people are not comfortable with the current situation and that they had expressed their distrust. Al Khalifa reiterated that the economic meltdown has shaken countries, adding that people first want economic reforms, transparency in competition and the establishment of social justice. During Al Khalifa’s visit, Turkey and Bahrain have also agreed to take bold steps to boost economic transactions and the trade volume amid Turkey’s aspirations to redefine its economic and political position in the Gulf. Erdogan said chiefs of investment agencies from both countries clinched a deal and that the two countries will now hold consultations on further steps that need to be taken. Hailing his talks with Al Khalifa as “very beneficial,” Erdogan said Turkey and Bahrain will continue their meetings and strengthen political dialogue in upcoming periods. Reiterating that economic, military, cultural and political ties between Bahrain and Turkey are flourishing day by day, Erdogan said recent high level reciprocal visits between the two countries have also strengthened ties between businessmen from both countries. Al Khalifa said Turkey has recently turned its face toward the East and stated, “I support this,” during a business breakfast hosted by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday. /Today’s Zaman/

TURKISH PARLIAMENT PASSES MOST LEGISLATION AMONG WORLD PARLIAMENTS
The Turkish Parliament is one of the most prolific legislative bodies in the world, with nearly 14,000 laws passed since the Parliament was first established in 1920. According to . a report prepared by the deputy director of law and decisions in Parliament, Associate Professor Seref İba İba, the Turkish Parliament has worked like a “law producer” since it was established. In comparison, in European countries, parliaments pass at most 150 laws during the four to five year period that deputies are in office. In Turkey, on the other hand, Parliament passes an average of 555 laws each year.In the past few years the Turkish Parliament has turned into a “lawmaking” machine in line with Turkey’s bid to become a full member of the European Union. /Today’s Zaman/

NEW YORK MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO BECOME PART OF TOPBAS-LED UCLG
Istanbul Greater Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, who is also the president of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), yesterday met with Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg as part of his visit to the city. During the meeting, Topbas and Bloomberg exchanged views on common problems facing their cities. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Topbas said, "I invited New York municipality to take part in the UCLG, and Bloomberg asked his assistans to start the required work for this." /Hurryet/

LEADERS OF TURKISH, GREEK CYPRUS TO HOLD WEEKLY TALKS
Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders will meet once a week to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue, Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu said yesterday that he and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias had discussed the need to intensify their efforts to reach a solution to the island’s division. Yesterday’s meeting was the first one between Eroglu and Christofias after the two had a trilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva on Jan. 26. Eroglu and Christofias discussed the issues taken up in Geneva along with other issues concerning the two parties. The leaders will meet next Thursday while their envoys will gather together again the day after, the agency reported. /Hurriyet Daily News/

ROMANIA VALUES TURKEY’S PARTNERSHIP, STATE SECRETARY SAYS
Turkey is a trustworthy, sincere and honest partner willing to promote cooperation in the region, especially considering its current foreign policy of “zero problems with neighbors,” according to Romania’s State Secretary for Strategic Affairs Bogdan Aurescu.”I have highlighted the potential for cooperation between Romania and Turkey, and I think our bilateral relations are of strategic character,” Aurescu said, speaking to private channel Skyturk yesterday. “I think we have to work a little bit more, including this year, in order to put value on this potential.”Aurecu said from the perspective of Romania there are three main benefits of Turkey’s accession into the EU. He said the benefits of Turkey’s membership included a further increase in security for the European Union, further enhancement of economic benefits for EU members, including Romania, and the expansion of more EU border on the Black Sea. /Hurriyet Daily News/

ANKARA TO SEND COUNTER-LETTER TO EGYPT TO CLARIFY POSITION
The Foreign Ministry says Turkey will send a counter-letter to clarify Ankara’s position regarding to the ongoing events unfolding in Egypt. According a ministry spokesman, another element to be included in the letter is Turkey’s view that the transition period should be concluded as soon as possible. Prime Misnister Erdogan’s repeated calls to President Mubarak to go immediately irked the Egyptian administration but increased Turkey’s growing popularity in Arab Streets. “We will respond to this letter. We are preparing this respond letter but we haven’t sent it yet”Foreign Ministry Spokesman Selçuk Unal said a weekly news conference yesterday. Turkish letter will not be a letter of apology but instead will clarify Turkey’s position regarding the recent developments unfolding in Egypt and how Turkey attaches importance to this process being concluded peacefully through dialogue, The Hurrıyet Daily News & Econumic Review has learned from sources. /Hurriyet Daily News/

GERMAN COURT’S RULING EXCLUDES TURKS FROM VISAS
Germany’s Munich administrative court ruled yesterday that Turks can visit Germany free from visa requirements. The court upheld that Turks can enter Germany without visa to get and give services and stay in Germany without visa for up to three months.The court kept visits to relatives living in Germany outside the scope of this decision. Courts decision constitutes a precedent./Hurrıyet/