ERDOGAN VISITS TSUNAMI-HIT REGIONS IN SRI LANKA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to the tsunami-hit regions in Sri Lanka, first visiting the capital, Colombo, and then proceeding to the region of Matara together with an accompanying delegation. The group was welcomed by a group of parents and children affected by the tsunami. “Turks share the grief of Sri Lankans and want to help them reconstruct their country,” said Erdogan in Matara. The premier also laid the foundation of a $5 million, 500-unit Thewatta housing project to be constructed by the Turkish government. Erdogan also had dinner with Maldives President Abdul Gayoom, who expressed his concerns about the island nation’s future in the face of global warming. For his part, Erdogan proposed the establishment of high-elevation areas on the islands for use in building housing projects safe from rising waters. /Aksam/
ARINC RECEIVES GREEK JUSTICE MINISTER
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday received Greek Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras. Arinc said that he was pleased about improved relations between Turkey and Greece. For his part, Papaligouras reaffirmed Athens’ support for Ankara’s EU membership. /Star/
GUL TO WITNESS ISAF HANDOVER IN KABUL
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to Kabul today to attend the ceremony transferring command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Turkey for six months. While in Afghanistan, Gul is expected to meet with President Hamid Kharzai and former King Mohammed Zahir Shah. Beside Gul, First Army Commander Gen. Hursit Tolon, high-level diplomats and military officials will also attend the ceremony. In related news, Gul yesterday announced that as part of Turkey’s harmonization with the European Union, henceforth Iranian, Bosnia-Herzegovinian, Macedonian, Kyrgyz, Moroccan and Tunisian citizens will need visas to enter Turkey. “We need to impose visa regulations on these six countries,” said Gul. “Trade and tourism won’t be affected, because we’re working to establish a streamlined, red-tape free system.” /Cumhuriyet / Aksam/
GUL MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov in Ankara. The Azerbaijan-Armenian dispute over the latter’s occupation of upper Karabakh dominated the two top diplomats’ talks. Gul pledged that the Turkish-Armenian border gate would remain closed until Armenia ends its occupation, adding, “Our bilateral ties with Armenia can be normalized when the occupation ends.” Bilateral economic relations, including energy ventures, were also taken up. In addition, Gul sought Baku’s backing for ending the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) international isolation. He urged Mammedyarov to become a model for other countries to take steps towards that end. /Star/
GREEK CYPRIOT PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH GUL
Nikos Anastasiadis, visiting leader of the Greek Cypriot Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI), met yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. “In our talks, we resolved to strengthen our relations,” added Anastasiadis. “Steps should be taken to encourage Creek Cypriots, and the UN plan should clearly state Turkey’s rights as a guarantor.” Gul, for his part, said, “Firstly Turkish and Greek Cypriots must both show their willingness to reach a solution.” /Cumhuriyet/
PACKAGE CAUSES PANIC AT ANKARA’S ESENBOGA AIRPORT
Yesterday a suspicious package from China addressed to the Chinese Embassy led to a panic at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. Some 40 people were hospitalized and quarantined after the package leaked gas, but were later discharged from the hospital. Officials stated that leaks were not of any hazardous gas, but rather from a garlic concentrate in the plane’s cargo hold. An investigation of the incident is underway. /Turkiye/
TURKISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP HOLDS INAUGURAL RECEPTION IN WASHINGTON
A Congress Work Group on Turkey founded to develop close relations with US Congressmen and Turkish parliamentarians yesterday officially began its operations after a reception at the US Capitol building. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent the ceremony a congratulatory message expressing his confidence that the group would make substantial contributions to improving cooperation towards both nations’ shared interests and goals. /Turkiye/
BAHCELI CRITICIZES US POLICY IN IRAQ
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticized the US administration’s policy in Iraq. Speaking to reporters before an MHP Central Executive Council meeting, Bahceli charged that the US is collaborating with Iraqi Kurdish groups as a strategic partner in the region. “Instead of telling Kurdish leaders [Jalaal] Talabani and [Massoud] Barzani their place, a decision was made to begin talks with Turkey to use Incirlik Airbase more often and for many purposes,” added Bahceli. /Turkiye/
ENERGY CORRUPTION PROBE BEGINS
The biggest corruption and bribery probe since the “White Energy” case has begun with the approval of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler. Under the investigation, an Energy and Natural Resources Ministry Review Committee and security officials are working together to examine all tenders from the last two years. Guler told reporters yesterday that some 20 high-level bureaucrats and businessmen have been taken into custody over corruption allegations. /Turkiye/
TRNC FOREIGN MINISTER: “TURKISH TROOPS WON’T WITHDRAW WITHOUT A JUST SOLUTION”
Turkish troops won’t withdraw before a just solution is reached on Cyprus, said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas yesterday. Rejecting Greek Cypriot Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI) leader Nikos Anastasiadis’ call for Turkish troops to withdraw as a “gesture,” Denktas charged that the Greek Cypriot administration is avoiding dialogue and thus frustrating efforts to find a solution. /Sabah/
IN JERUSALEM, AMBASSADOR OZER TO BECOME TOP ENVOY TO PALESTINIANS
Ercan Ozer is set to soon take the helm of the Turkish Consulate-General in Jerusalem with the rank of ambassador. The appointment of a diplomat with ambassadorial rank follows Ankara’s decision last year to upgrade the level of its diplomatic representation in the Palestinian territories, in an effort to boost solidarity with the Palestinians. /Hurriyet/
PROPOSAL FOR STUDENT PARDONS SENT TO PARLIAMENT
The Parliament Chairmanship yesterday received a proposal for student pardons, a bill to reverse all the dismissals of students from universities since 2000, no matter the reason. Parliament Education, Culture and Sports Commission head Tayyar Altikulac yesterday said that the measure would reverse some 667,000 dismissals. In related news, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Deniz Baykal criticized the proposal, branding it irresponsible populism. Fierce debate is expected over the issue, as female students dismissed for refusing to take off their headscarves would be among those covered. /Aksam/
IMF, GOVT SPAR OVER EXPANDED INCENTIVE SCHEME
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday expressed concern over a Turkish government proposal to expand its incentives program to the enterprises doing business in underdeveloped regions. IMF representative in Turkey Hugh Bredenkamp earlier this week said that the Fund was worried about legislation to expand the incentive scheme. Under the initial version, assistance would be given to enterprises operating in provinces where the per capita income is below $1,500. However, the new legislation would increase the number of regions eligible to benefit from the incentives from 36 to 49. “In most of the countries we have worked with, such programs are rarely successful,” Bredenkamp said. “We believe that Turkey will have to pay high costs to afford this program.” Responding to Bredenkamp, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that it was up to Ankara to decide the scope and operation of the incentives. “This is our decision to make,” he added. “We’re not being reckless, the necessary funds are there in our budget.” /Milliyet/
BANK PROJECTS TURKEY AS TOP DEVELOPING COUNTRY IN 2006-2020
International development bank Deutsche Bank yesterday released projections saying that in 2006-2020, Turkey’s would be the world’s fifth-fastest developing economy. According to a report prepared by the bank, if Ankara can sustain its reforms on its path towards European Union membership, Turkey will then undergo a radical transformation during which its economy will stabilize. /Cumhuriyet/