SEZER APPROVES TOUGHER STRAITS PROTECTION LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday approved a new law on the Turkish Straits. The law is designed to reduce the risk of pollution in the Straits by not allowing the passage of uninsured ships in Turkish territorial waters. In addition, ships which fail to meet world environmental standards won’t be allowed to pass through the straits. Turkish vessels which don’t meet these standards will also be barred. All ships except warships and official government vessels (Turkish and otherwise) will have to submit information on their cargo to the Undersecretariat of Navigation. /Hurriyet/

ERDOGAN: “THE MEDIA SERVED FOREIGN INTERESTS IN EXAGGERATING POLICE ACTIONS”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday before flying to Spain to attend a security summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged that the media had served foreign interests by exaggerating Sunday’s police crackdown on an unauthorized International Women’s Day demonstration in Istanbul, adding that the incident had been blown out of proportion. The media effectively denounced Turkey to the world, he said, adding, “The police may sometimes act in the heat of emotion, but this incident wasn’t serious.” Erdogan added that the Interior Ministry was investigating the incident and that such things also happen in Western countries. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN ATTENDS TUBITAK MEETING
Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of achieving progress in science and technology. Erdogan stated that the defense industry and space work were Turkey’s priorities, adding that the government had prepared a strategic framework document to coordinate science and technology with research and development (R&D) efforts. “This document will lay out our objectives through 2010,” he said. The premier also lamented that the resources currently allocated to science and technology were insufficient for the country’s goals, but urged the need for patience. /Milliyet/

GUL MEETS WITH GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Georgian counterpart Salome Zurabisvili in Ankara. At a joint press conference, Gul said that Turkey and Georgia were not only neighbors but also friendly countries, adding that Ankara backed peaceful solutions to conflicts in the country’s South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions in line with political and territorial integrity. Touching on a number of joint ventures with Caucasian countries, Gul said that the long-awaited opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was expected later this year. For his part, Zurabisvili stated that Tbilisi attached importance to Turkey’s political support in its relations with Russia. She also remarked that Turkey’s European Union membership was needed for the region. Meanwhile, the two ministers signed a joint protocol on cooperation against human trafficking. /Star/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO BRITAIN
At the invitation of his British counterpart Jack Straw, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is scheduled to travel to London for an official working visit over the weekend. The talks of the two top diplomats will focus on Turkish-European Union relations and the Cyprus issue. In addition, political, economic, cultural relations, as well as the Mideast issue, are expected to be taken up. During his stay, the Turkish foreign minister will also visit an exhibition entitled “Turks: A Journey of a Thousand Years, 600-1600” at the Royal Academy of Arts. /Turkiye/

GEN. OZKOK VISITS AFGHANISTAN
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok accompanied by his wife yesterday flew to Kabul, Afghanistan to pay an official visit. On his first day, Ozkok met with Vice President Ahmed Ziya Massoud, and then officials from the country’s General Staff and Defense Ministry. He also met with Turkish soldiers serving in the country’s stabilization force, which Turkey currently commands. Pointing to a history of good relations between Ankara and Kabul, Ozkok pledged that Turkey would do its best to promote peace and stability in the country. /Turkiye/

BUYUKANIT: “THERE ARE STILL MANY TERRORISTS IN OUR SOUTHEAST”
There are still many PKK terrorists in southeastern Turkey, warned Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at the International Defense Fair at Ankara’s Sheraton Hotel yesterday. “The number of terrorists in Turkey equals the number at the time of PKK head Abdullah Ocalan’s 1999 capture,” added Buyukanit. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and US Ambassador Eric Edelman also attended the fair. /Star/

TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS VISITS GEN. TOLON
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday visited First Army Commander Gen. Hursit Tolon to discuss a number of issues. During their meeting, Denktas said that the additional Customs Union protocol, an agreement including Greek Cyprus which Turkey is obliged to sign before its European Union accession talks begin, would not amount to recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration. /Cumhuriyet/

AGAR CRITICIZES GOVT’S “CLUMSINESS” IN POLICE CRACKDOWN
Speaking at a meeting of his party yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar criticized Sunday’s police crackdown on an unauthorized International Women’s Day demonstration in Istanbul, adding that the government’s actions in the incident had been “clumsy.” Agar stated that the government was responsible for the safety of women. Touching on women’s rights, Agar said that Political Parties Law needed to be changed in order to facilitate more political participation by women. /Cumhuriyet/

AKP CONTINUES TO SHED DEPUTIES
Sait Armagan, an Isparta Deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), yesterday resigned from his party. In a written statement, Armagan claimed that the AKP’s policies fell short of serving the nation’s interests. With his resignation, the ruling party’s number of seats in Parliament fell to 361. /Milliyet/

CANDIDATES READY FOR TRNC PRESIDENTIAL RACES
Today is the last day for presidential candidates in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to apply to the Supreme Board of Elections to run during the April 17 elections. The Democrat Party (DP), the junior partner of the newly established coalition government, yesterday declared Mustafa Arabacioglu as its candidate. With his candidacy, the number of nominees reached seven, including Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the winner of last month’s general elections. /Turkiye/

TURKISH JOURNALISTS’ ASSOCIATION REJECTS ERDOGAN’S CRITICISM
Turkish Journalists’ Association head Orhan Erinc yesterday criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent accusations that the media had aired “exaggerated stories” concerning police actions against Women’s Day protesters last weekend. “While trying to defend the police, the prime minister is being unfair to publishers who value their independence,” said Erinc. /Sabah/

SEKA’S IZMIT FACTORY TO BE TRANSFERRED TO IZMIT MUNICIPALITY
The government yesterday successfully proposed that SEKA’s Izmit paper factory be transferred to the Greater Izmit Municipality. After Turkish Labor Union (Turk-Is) head Salih Kilic suggested that SEKA workers should have the last word, the workers voted in favor of the transfer, and a protocol to that end was signed. /Star/