SEZER FINISHES SYRIAN VISIT
After completing a historic two-day visit to Syria, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday returned to Turkey. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Sezer said his visit had contributed to developing bilateral relations both politically and economically. Stressing that he had held fruitful meetings with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad as well as Premier Naci Otri, Sezer said that during their talks both regional and international issues had been taken up. He added that he had pointed to the importance of Syrian troops’ pulling out from Lebanon before elections in that country. The president also stated that good relations between those two countries would help to promote regional peace and stability. /Turkiye/

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ANKARA
South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit. He is the first South Korean president to visit Turkey in the last 50 years. Roh, who will be accompanied by a delegation of businessmen during his visit, is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bilateral relations, economic ties, the North Korean situation and the Iraq issue. During his meeting with Erdogan, Roh is also expected to propose establishing a Korean-Turkish Information Technology Center. /Aksam/

US URGES SYRIA TO CHANGE ITS STANCE
During at a press conference on Wednesday, commenting on Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s visit to Syria this week, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that his administration would welcome everybody giving messages to Syria as to how it can play a “more harmonious role in the region.” He added that, however, it was important that how Syrian officials receive such messages and how they act on them. Boucher also urged Syria to end its support for terrorists in the region. "We certainly think that Syria needs to look at its role in the area, needs to look at its relationships with its neighbors, needs to look at ... allowing support for groups that are trying to blow up the peace process, to sabotage the attempts at peace in the Middle East," added Boucher. "And Syria needs to change its behavior." /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN AWARDED LEADER OF YEAR
In a survey conducted by the Imedya Interactive Publication Group on the Internet, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was voted “Leader of the Year.” During an awards ceremony yesterday, Erdogan said that all leaders of the European Union member countries had experienced certain difficulties during their EU membership process. He said that if Turkey is to be a world country rather than a closed one, all difficulties on its road to EU membership must be overcome. /Star/

BAYKAL: “SYRIA SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE WORLD”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Syria should be integrated into the world rather than isolated. Speaking to Syrian television yesterday, Baykal said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s visit to this country had taken place in accordance with the people’s wishes. “There’s no need for concern about this visit,” said Baykal. Stressing that recent Syrian actions had been in line with the international community’s expectations, Baykal said that steps taken in Lebanon were a good example of this. The CHP leader added the terrorism was a regional issue and called on every country to take a firm anti-terrorist stance and join international efforts to stop it. /Turkiye/

FM UNDERSECRETARY TELLS WASHINGTON THAT SEZER URGED DAMASCUS ON DEMOCRATIC REFORM
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, during his official visit to Washington this week, met with officials at the US State Department and National Security Council. During his meetings, Tuygan reportedly said that Ankara’s dialogue with Damascus and Tehran were not in conflict with the vision of the US administration. He added that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, during his visit to Syria this week, had urged Damascus to pursue democratic reform. Tuygan also met with US congressmen to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations and the so-called Armenian genocide. /Milliyet/

TRNC’S TALAT: “WE CANN’T PURSUE POLICIES WHICH FAIL TO FACILITATE A RESOLUTION”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that policies which fail to help a resolution on the island can no longer be pursued, adding that implementing a policy not in accordance with Ankara was out of the question. Talat, the frontrunner in this Sunday’s presidential elections in the TRNC, said that if elected president he will promote a Cyprus resolution and try to establish good relations with the European Union. /Cumhuriyet/

CHIRAC: “TURKEY SHOULD WORK VERY HARD TO RAISE ITS STANDARDS TO THE EU LEVEL”
French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday that Turkey’s religion wasn’t a problem for its European Union membership bid, adding however that Turkey’s traditions weren’t in sync with Europe’s. “They should work very hard to raise their standards to the EU’s level,” he said during a television debate over a referendum on the EU Constitution. Chirac stressed that Ankara would soon begin its EU accession talks, but that he didn’t know when Ankara will reach EU standards, adding that even it does so, the French nation will have the final say on its EU membership. /Milliyet/

THREE TURKISH SOLDIERS KILLED BY PKK NEAR SYRIAN BORDER
Three Turkish officers, one first lieutenant and two senior sergeants, were killed yesterday during a firefight with PKK terrorists in Sirnak’s Pervari municipality, near the Turkish-Syrian border. According to military sources, 21 terrorists were killed during the firefight. /Sabah/

IMF’S RATO: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IS IMPRESSIVE”
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato yesterday praised Turkey’s economic performance, calling it “impressive.” Rato stated that the IMF could handle Turkey’s new standby agreement in May, adding that with the standby, the Fund will release $10 billion in economic aid to Turkey. In related news, IMF First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger said yesterday that in the past she had never suspected that Ankara and the Fund would reach an agreement on the new standby. Last week, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that issues regarding the new Letter of Intent (LOI) for the standby had been resolved. /Milliyet/