ERDOGAN STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF HANDS-ON EDUCATION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday gave a lecture on “Entrepreneurship in Turkey” at the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges’ (TOBB) new Economy and Technology University. In his lecture, Erdogan underlined the importance of practical education, remarking that theories must be complemented by hands-on training and exercises. “Academic institutions themselves should first demand a more qualified, liberal and modern education and training system,” he added. “Our country urgently needs to restructure our education system. Our goal must be to nurture modern citizens capable of questioning and reasoning.” The premier yesterday also met Ankara’s Kecioren district Mayor Turgut Altinok for breakfast at the historic Estergon Castle. Erdogan complained about illegal and improper settlements, particularly in big cities. “Ensuring the aesthetic of cities is one of the most important tasks of our municipalities,” he added. “City governments have broad powers on this issue, so they must exercise them to stop illegal settlements. Every city and building should have its own spirit and style.” For his part, Altinok said that the restored Estergon Castle was one of the capital’s most attractive sites, and had drawn considerable attention from foreign tourists and diplomats. /Hurriyet/

GUL: “THE DELEGATION FOR OUR EU TALKS WILL BE NAMED SOON”
Following talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, visiting Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabrikis yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul to exchange views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. After their one-hour meeting, Gul told reporters that the government was continuing its hard work on Turkey’s quest for European Union membership, adding that over three separate Cabinet meetings, all the ministers had been thoroughly briefed on their duties. Stressing that the chief negotiator and delegation for this fall’s EU talks would be named soon, the foreign minister said the group would attend the EU Troika meeting on March 7. He also denied Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopulos’ recent allegations that Turkey had sent weapons to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In addition, Gul reiterated that Ankara would not recognize Greek Cyprus before a permanent settlement is reached on the island. /Turkiye/

TURKEY SEEKS NEW IRAQI CENSUS BEFORE YEAR-END ELECTIONS
After Turkey expressed concern that Iraq’s Jan. 30 elections were fraught with irregularities, lamenting that not all groups participated in the polls at the desired level, Ankara has reportedly demanded that a national census be held prior to the general elections set for the end of this year. Turkish diplomats argue that only 8 million out of 14 million potential voters are registered in Iraq, with only 6 million casting ballots in January’s polls. Ankara has conveyed this request to the US and all other relevant parties. After the Jan. 30 polls, Kurdish groups argued that the power of native ethnic Turkmen groups in Iraq was limited as they only received 73,000 votes. /Hurriyet/

CHP, AKP EACH SHED DEPUTY
Opposition People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Zulfu Livanelli resigned from his party yesterday. Criticizing the CHP administration, Livanelli charged that it had become an anti-democratic organization which blocked people from having a say in party policies. In addition, yesterday ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy from Hatay Mehmet Eraslan quit his party, saying that he no longer had any opportunity to help steer its direction. With these resignations, the CHP’s seats in Parliament fell to 170, while the AKP now holds 364 seats. /Turkiye/

TURKISH DELEGATION TO MEET WITH TALABANI
Following last month’s Iraqi elections, a Turkish delegation yesterday traveled to northern Iraq to meet with Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani. The delegation headed by Ambassador Osman Koruturk is expected to express the Turkish government’s views on the future of Iraq. The situation of the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk will dominate the talks. Ankara will underline the importance of Iraq’s territorial integrity and urge Talabani to embrace all ethnic groups in the country and fight against the terrorist PKK, if he becomes the head of state. /Turkiye/

ANKARA, WASHINGTON TO SET UP CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON EURASIAN ISSUES
Turkey and the United States yesterday signed a historic agreement to establish a consultative forum on Eurasian issues. Halil Akinci, the Foreign Ministry’s director general for Russia-Caucasus and Central Asia, yesterday met in Washington with Laura Kennedy, the US deputy assistant secretary of state for European & Eurasian affairs, to discuss the latest developments in Georgia, Russia and the Caucasus as well as Armenia. ”As part of the strategic dialogue between the United States and Turkey, the Department of State and an interagency team led by … Ambasador Laura Kennedy hosted … Ambassador Halil Akinci to discuss Eurasian issues,” said a State Department press release. “The bilateral meetings provided a forum for us to discuss common interests and explore ideas for greater collaboration on issues including, inter alia, the resolution of frozen conflicts in the region, energy, and political and economic reform. The Turkish delegation invited the United States side to come to Turkey for the next session of what our two countries agree should become a permanent consultative forum.” /Turkiye/

AGAR: “THE HANDOVER OF SSK HOSPITALS IS A FIASCO”
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday criticized the recent handover of Social Security Authority (SSK) hospitals to the Health Ministry, calling it a “fiasco” and hardship to hospital patients. He stressed that red tape had led to unreasonably long queues, adding, “People can’t even buy medicine.” But Agar praised the recently passed student amnesty, saying that it represented a new opportunity for many expelled students. /Turkiye/

FRENCH PARLIAMENTARIAN PUSHES “GENOCIDE” ISSUE AS CONDITION FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
Turkey’s relations with neighboring and regional countries, especially Armenia, Greece and Greek Cyprus, were discussed at the Turkish-European Union Joint Parliamentary Commission’s 53rd meeting yesterday. Addressing the gathering, French parliamentarian Jacques Toubon said that Turkey should recognize the so-called Armenian genocide and the Treaty of Sevres in order to join the EU. “The EU Parliament made a decision concerning the ‘genocide,’ and so Ankara needs to recognize it,” he said. For his part, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Sukru Elekdag called the “genocide” claims unfounded, adding that they should be the province of historians. Also addressing the gathering, Oguz Demiralp, Turkey’s permanent representative to the EU, said that accepting the Treaty of Sevres was out of the question. The 1920 pact, an attempt to abolish Turkish sovereignty and divide its territory, was superceded by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, to which the Republic of Turkey is a signatory. /Cumhuriyet/

SUPREME COURT REJECTS AYDIN’S OBJECTIONS
Supreme Court Chief Justice Mustafa Bumin yesterday rejected procedural objections from former Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin and scheduled Aydin’s next hearing for March 30. Aydin is facing charges of irregularities in state tenders and other matters during his tenure at the ministry. Aydin served under the three-party coalition of then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. /Milliyet/

COSKUN KIRCA DIES
Former Foreign Minister, ambassador and journalist Coskun Kirca died yesterday in Istanbul of heart attack at the age of 78. Kirca had served in many high-level state posts and represented Turkey abroad. He will be laid to rest tomorrow. /Turkiye/