SEZER: “WE’RE CONTINUING OUR REFORMS TO BEGIN EU ACCESSION TALKS”
Addressing a conference at the War Academy in Istanbul yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer commented on a number of issues, including Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Sezer said that Turkey was waiting for Oct. 3 to begin its accession talks, adding that it was continuing its reforms towards this end. “In our country there is social harmony on our EU membership aspirations,” he said. “We expect the EU not to use reasons not related to us to delay our talks.” Sezer complained that the EU had tried to put forth certain conditions for the nation’s EU bid which are unrelated to its membership. “This is not fair,” he said, stressing that Ankara would take every step for its EU bid and that it had proven this. Touching on the so-called Armenian genocide claims, Sezer stated that these accusations had disappointed the nation. The president stressed that Turkey’s goal of modernization and integration with the West includes both the EU and the US, adding that for Turkey, they weren’t alternatives but complementary. “Our relationship with the US is sound enough to overcome disputes,” he said. “I’m sure that our relations will continue to be based on mutual understanding and respect.” Finally, Sezer said that he was concerned about the terrorist PKK’s presence in Iraq, adding that he expected Ankara, Washington and Baghdad to cooperate on the issue. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO THE VATICAN TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by State Minister Mehmet Aydin and a group of deputies, yesterday flew to Rome to attend the funeral services of Pope John Paul II to be held today at the Vatican. /Star/

ASO DELEGATION VISITS ERDOGAN
Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Caglayan and newly elected ASO executive board members yesterday visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Caglayan said that they had expressed their satisfaction with Turkey’s recent historic economic figures. Pointing to the record growth rate of 9.9%, he said, “This is a tremendous development. Turkey needs to grow.” Remarking on the minimum wage, which is the same nationwide, Caglayan stated that the wage should be adjusted by region. “The living conditions are not same in Mus as in Istanbul,” said the ASO chairman, adding that his group would prepare a report on the matter to present to the premier in the coming days. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL MEETS TRNC’S DENKTAS
As part of his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday met with President Rauf Denktas. Afterwards, Baykal said that the April 17 presidential elections would a “historic milestone,” ushering in a new era for the TRNC. Commenting on Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat’s criticisms of the timing of his visit, less than two weeks before the elections, as inappropriate, Baykal said his visit was not aimed at influencing Turkish Cyprus domestic policy, adding that the Cyprus issue was a national cause for Turkey. In related news, Talat also criticized Denktas’s recent remarks to Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. “The world will not welcome disputes between the TRNC leadership and Turkey. This situation doesn’t serve our interests, but rather those of the Greek Cypriots,” added Talat. /Star/

FM UNDERSECRETARY TUYGAN TO VISIT WASHINGTON
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan is due to travel to the US next week for an official visit. In Washington, Tuygan and a delegation will meet with members of the Turkey Friendship Group, US congressmen, and Nick Burns, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. /Cumhuriyet/

FM: “WE BELIEVE WE CAN WORK WITH TALABANI”
In a press conference yesterday, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials told the press that Ankara believes it can cooperate with Iraq’s newly elected president Jalal Talabani. Ministry spokesman Namik Tan referred to Talabani as a statesman who knows Turkey well and added, “We believe we can work with him.” /Hurriyet/

DYP DECIDES TO HOLD CONGRESS IN MAY
The opposition True Path Party’s (DYP) Genaral Administrative Committee (GIK) yesterday decided to hold its regular congress on May 14. The GIK meeting was chaired by DYP leader Mehmet Agar. /Turkiye/

ARSLAN: “THE OLD TCK HAS RUN ITS COURSE”
Speaking at a symposium yesterday in Ankara, High Court of Appeals head Osman Arslan said that the current Turkish Penal Code (TCK) fell short of meeting modern requirements. Stressing that laws, especially penal codes, need periodic revision, Arslan said, “Laws are like people. They are born, they live, and then they die.” Remarking that laws could never be perfect, he stated that the new code also had certain shortcomings. “With cooperation between lawyers and the academic community, I hope that revisions to it will be made within two months,” added Arslan. /Turkiye/

FIRST INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC ARCHEOLOGY CONGRESS TO BEGIN TODAY
The first International Islamic Archeology Congress organized by the Islamic Culture Art and Research Center is due to begin in Istanbul today. Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is also expected to attend the congress. /Turkiye/

EP’S GREENS CALL ON ERDOGAN TO PROTECT NOVELIST PAMUK
The Greens group of the European Parliament this week sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling for improved freedom of expression in Turkey and an immediate end to a so-called "hatred campaign" against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the EP’s Greens group head, Joost Lagendijk, co-chair of the Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, and Cem Ozdemir, a German Green of Turkish origin, signed the letter criticizing the attitudes of some Turkish politicians and press organs against Pamuk. They called on Erdogan to protect freedom of expression in Turkey. /Sabah/

TEXTILE SECTOR RELEASES MANIFESTO ON BOOSTING PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT
The ready-to-wear clothing and textile sector yesterday released a manifesto entitled the “Production, Employment and Social Tranquility Are in Danger.” It urged the government to reduce tax and premium burdens and energy costs in order to boost production. Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Clothing Exporters’ Union (IHKIB) Chairman Suleyman Orakcioglu said that the textile sector couldn’t compete due to high taxes, and he further complained that the government didn’t listen to their problems. /Aksam/

COMPOSER MELIH KIBAR DIES
Prominent composer Melih Kibar died of cancer yesterday in Istanbul at the age of 54. Kibar has bestowed dozens of well-known songs to Turkish music. /All Papers/