PRESIDENT SEZER TO VISIT SYRIA TO DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL ISSUES WITH ASSAD
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is due to travel to Damascus on Wednesday to pay a two-day official visit. During his short stay in Syria, Sezer is expected to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations and regional issues. Sezer is expected to tell Assad that Ankara wants to continue its close dialogue with Damascus in the interest of stability and reduced tensions in the region. Sezer will also reportedly tell Assad that Ankara is pleased with Syria’s beginning its withdrawal from Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. /Cumhuriyet/

SEZER ISSUES MESSAGE TO MARK 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLICE DIRECTORATE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message to mark the 160th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Police Directorate, saying that he was confident the police would refrain from actions that could harm the people’s overwhelming trust in the police force. “Police have been contributing to the public peace with their self-sacrifice,” he said. “I believe they will continue providing the best service to the nation.” /Sabah/

ARINC VISITS LUXEMBOURG
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday flew to Luxembourg at the invitation of his Luxembourg counterpart Lucien Weiler to hold a series of contacts with the nation’s officials. /Star/

ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO NORWAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to Norway to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Norwegian counterpart Kjell Magne. Before his departure, Erdogan told reporters that Turkey and Norway had friendly relations and shared similar views on a number of international issues. During his two-day stay, the premier, accompanied by his wife as well as Transportation Minister Banali Yildirim and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, is also expected to meet with top Norwegian officials including the Parliament speaker, Foreign Affairs Commission head and foreign minister in a bid to seek ways to develop bilateral ties. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN CALLS ON SECURITY FORCES TO LEND SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony at the Police Academy marking the 160th anniversary of the Turkish Police Directorate. Speaking at the gathering, the premier remarked that Turkey had been taking important steps on the road to peace as it enters a very significant process in its European Union membership bid. He called on all police officers and citizens to contribute to the peace of the country. Erdogan yesterday also attended the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) First Ordinary Youth Congress in Ankara. Addressing young party members, Erdogan stated that from the very beginning he had worked hard in youth organizations before rising to the nation’s top post. He also urged the young people, the future of the nation, to think and take a serious interest in national issues. /Star-Turkiye/

GUL VISITS ALGERIA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on a two-day visit to Algeria, yesterday met with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Belkhadem. Their talks focused on the problems of Turkish businessmen seeking to invest in this country. Gul attended a Turkish-Algerian businessmen’s meeting on the last day of his stay. Addressing the gathering, Gul said the two countries were working to strengthen cooperation in all fields. Then Gul was received by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. After completing his contacts in Algeria, Gul returned to Turkey. /Hurriyet/

AGAR VISITS MALATYA, ELAZIG
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday attended meetings of his party in Malatya and Elazig. Criticizing the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s policies, Agar said that the nation’s real growth was closer to 2.2% rather than the 9.9% official figure. “A growth which doesn’t create jobs is something that the world has never seen,” said Agar. He added that the DYP’s struggle was a noble one based upon on defending the citizens’ rights. /Turkiye/

STRAW: “ANKARA WITHDRAWING ITS TROOPS FROM CYPRUS WOULD HELP REACH A RESOLUTION”
Addressing Britain’s House of Commons, Foreign Minister Jack Straw briefed the assembled MPs on the Cyprus issue, saying that Ankara withdrawing its troops from the island would be helpful for efforts to reach a resolution. “We believe that the Turkish government could contribute to a resolution,” he said, adding that it should withdraw its troops from the island. Straw further signalled that direct trade with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) could begin soon. “It’s embarrassing that direct trade hasn’t yet begun with the TRNC,” he said. “This is hindering the reunification of the island.” Straw stated that he was discussing the issue with officials of EU Term President Luxembourg who have pledged to do their best to bring the TRNC’s isolation to an end. Straw further stated that if the two sides fail to reach a Cyprus resolution, this wouldn’t prevent Ankara’s accession talks. Britain will take over the EU’s term presidency from Luxembourg in July. /Turkiye/

IMF’S KRUEGER PRAISES TURKEY’S REFORMS, BUT WARNS OF HIGH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DEBT STOCK
Anne Krueger, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, yesterday praised Turkey’s successful reforms, but warned that both the domestic and foreign debt stock of the country were still too high. “Ankara should continue to pursue its disciplined policies,” she said, adding that the country had faced crises in the past due to governments not fully implementing economic programs. She said that primary surplus last year was above the Turkish government’s expectations. Krueger further praised the high growth rate and falling inflation, adding however, that it was more important to follow up on these positive developments. /Milliyet/

WB OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
A delegation from the World Bank currently visiting Ankara yesterday met with Turkish officials to discuss recent economic developments and the nation’s European Union membership bid. During the meeting, the bank’s officials expressed support for Turkey’s EU bid, adding that the WB wanted to work with Ankara to prevent possible adverse effects of the EU process on Turkey’s growth. /Aksam/