SEZER: “OUR CIVIL CODE WAS A MILESTONE IN TURKEY’S ENLIGHTENMENT”
The Republic of Turkey’s Civil Code was one of the most important steps in the nation’s enlightenment, said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in a message yesterday marking the 79th anniversary of the code’s passage. “Ataturk’s reforms are the most important milestones in guaranteeing the secular and democratic character of the Turkish Republic,” added Sezer. “The Civil Code is the touchstone document for women’s economic, social and political rights.” /Milliyet, Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN: “THE UN FAILED ON BOTH IRAQ AND CYPRUS”
On the second day of his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Sarajevo’s rotating three-person presidential council. Borislav Paravac, Dragan Cavic and Sulejman Tihic, representing the country’s Serbs, Croats and Bosnians respectively, attended the meeting. Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay and Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim were also present. During their talks, Erdogan said that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be a model in the region for the peaceful co-existence of people from different cultures. In addition, the three representatives called on Turkish businessmen to invest in their country. After the meeting, speaking to reporters, Erdogan said that the United Nations had been unable to resolve disputes both in Iraq and Cyprus. Referring to Turkish Cypriots’ “yes” vote in last April’s referendum on the UN Cyprus plan, Erdogan stated that despite this positive stance, the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was still continuing. “The UN didn’t keep its promises,” charged Erdogan. Then, after paying a visit to the grave of Bosnian President Alija Izletbegovic, the Turkish premier proceeded to Mostar where he visited historical sites, including the Mostar Bridge which was damaged in the Balkan wars before being rebuilt last year with Turkey’s help. After completing his mini tour of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Erdogan returned to Ankara last night. At Esenboga Airport, he told reporters that his trip had been very fruitful. /Turkiye/
GUL EXTENDS CONDOLENCES FOR HARIRI
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday visited Lebanon’s Embassy in Ankara and signed the book of condolences for slain former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri. Stressing that the Turkish nation was greatly saddened by the statesman’s assassination in a car bombing early this week, Gul wrote that Hariri was a respected leader as well as a friend of Turks. Afterwards, Gul accompanied by his wife, traveled to the Lebanese capital of Beirut. During their surprise visit, Mr. and Mrs. Gul met with Hariri’s family to extend their condolences. The visit came a day after Hariri’s funeral ceremony with Turkey represented by its ambassador to Beirut, Celalettin Kart. After the visit, Gul returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/
US BUSINESSMEN VISIT TRNC
Representatives of US companies arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday to explore business opportunities in the country, a move hailed by Turkish Cypriots as a landmark step towards breaking their international isolation. The visit irked the Greek Cypriot government. The delegation, accompanied by the US Embassy in Turkey’s trade attaché, was to meet Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs before leaving later in the day. The US has pledged to support Turkish Cypriot businesses as a reward for the “yes” the Turkish Cypriots gave last April to a UN plan to resolve Cyprus’ division. Washington has allocated $30.5 million to assist the development of Turkish Cypriot businesses and help narrow the wide gap between the economies of the North and the south. The head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade, Ali Erel, hailed the visit as “a milestone” with not only economic, but also political significance. “Cooperation with US companies, the presence of US brands here will have a great influence on the Greek Cypriots,” Erel told Turkish news channel NTV. “It is important to motivate the Greek Cypriots towards a settlement in Cyprus.” The Greek Cypriot government’s objection to the visit was because the businessmen were accompanied by a US diplomat who entered Cyprus through an “illegal port” in the North, spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said in remarks published yesterday in the Cyprus Mail newspaper. Turkish Cypriots were long seen as an obstacle to a settlement on Cyprus, but the outcome of last year’s referendum has shifted some of the international pressure on the Greek side. /Aksam/
US EMBASSY DENIES THAT MILITARY BUILDUP IN N.IRAQ IS DIRECTED AGAINST TURKEY
Responding to a recent report in British daily The Guardian about US forces fortifying positions in northern Iraq in anticipation of ethnic conflict or possible Turkish intervention, the US Embassy in Ankara said yesterday that the deployment of American forces in Iraq is determined by the needs of the mission. “Any suggestion that any US military activity in northern Iraq is directed against Turkey, a longstanding ally and NATO partner, is false,” said the statement. “Speculation over Turkish military intervention in northern Iraq is irresponsible . . . Turkey knows this well, and we have no reason to think that Turkey would undertake such action.” /Star/
FRANCE PAVES WAY FOR REFERENDUM ON TURKEY’S EU ENTRY
France’s Parliament yesterday approved an amendment to the country's Constitution greenlighting a referendum later this year on the EU's new Constitution. The bill passed 263-27, with 30 abstentions. Under the measure, the EU Constitution is to be put to the French people in a referendum by the end of June. One of the articles also allows France to hold a referendum if the EU accepts any new member country after 2007, a provision which concerns Ankara the most because voter opposition to Turkey's membership is strong in France, largely due to fears of Muslim immigration. Turkey is the only EU candidate whose possible membership is envisaged after 2007. /Cumhuriyet/
TALAT: “PAPADOPOULOS WILL BE OVERTHROWN IF HE DOESN’T CHANGE HIS NO-COMPROMISE STANCE”
In the runup to Sunday’s elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday warned Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadapoulos to change his “no-compromise” stance if he wants to remain in power. “If Papadapoulos doesn’t change his attitude, our island will face the risk of being permanently divided without any further prospect of solution,” said Talat. “I believe that he will have to retreat [from his stance] sooner or later. Otherwise, he will be marginalized or overthrown by the Greek Cypriots.” Talat also added that the TRNC would suffer great economic losses if a protocol extending Ankara’s Custom Union is signed before the TRNC’s economic isolation is ended. Turkish Cypriots will elect a government on Sunday as the TRNC was forced to call early elections after the ruling coalition lost its slim majority last May. Opinion polls predict Sunday's elections will produce as fragmented a political picture as the last general elections. /Cumhuriyet/
TUSIAD DELEGATION VISITS SENER, EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER INCENTIVES SCHEME
On the second day of its two-day visit to government officials in Ankara, a Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’ Association (TUSIAD) delegation yesterday met with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener. TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci told Sener about his group’s concerns over a recent government proposal to expand its incentives program to enterprises doing business in underdeveloped regions, an issue which has also recently been a hot potato between Ankara and the International Monetary Fund. Sabanci said that incentives must be offered in line with the development levels of the targeted provinces. For his part, Sener said that the government would take measures against any additional burden that the scheme would impose on the budget. He added that there was no delay in Turkey’s timeline either with the IMF or the European Union. /Hurriyet/
OZTURK ESTABLISHES NEW POLITICAL PARTY
After submitting a petition to the Interior Ministry to found a new political party, independent Istanbul Deputy Yasar Nuri Ozturk said yesterday that now was the time to act for the country’s honor and independence. He stressed that his party, called the People’s Ascent Party (HYP), would be in the political center and ready to defend social democracy. With the establishment of the HYP, the number of opposition parties represented in Parliament rises to three. The HYP’s sole parliamentary deputy is Ozturk himself. /Star/