ERDOGAN: “WE RULE ON THE PEOPLE’S BEHALF”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony to mark the opening of Antalya Airport’s second departure terminal constructed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan expressed his wishes for a great tourism season ahead for Turkey. He stated that the state and people would work hand in hand on the road to development. Pointing to recent positive figures in the economy, the premier vowed to carry Turkey even further. Stressing that Turkey is among the world’s 20 countries largest economies, Erdogan said his government was ruling on behalf of the nation. After completing his contacts in Antalya, Erdogan returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/

NSC TO CONVENE TODAY TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD
The National Security Council (NSC) is due to convene today to discuss developments both at home and abroad. The meeting will be chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu will also be present at the meeting. /Turkish Daily News/

TALAT ELECTED TRNC PRESIDENT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday was elected the new president of his nation with 55.6% of some 150,000 votes in the first round. Talat will serve for five years, as the successor to veteran politician Rauf Denktas. Following the announcement of results, Talat hailed the election as a historic one, adding that he would serve with a great sense of responsibility and protect the rights of all Turkish Cypriots. He urged Greek leader Tassos Papadopulos to act with common sense and answer United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s calls to begin dialogue. “Papadopulos should convey his views and proposals to Annan,” said Talat. Stressing that he would also express his views on the issue to the UN secretary-general, the newly elected president said he would begin a new process to resolve the Cyprus issue as soon as possible. In related news, US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli congratulated Talat and welcomed his renewed commitment to work for a settlement on the island. In addition, outgoing President Denktas and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed their congratulations to Talat. TRNC Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Serdar Denktas stated that he would carry out work with the new president in harmony and cooperation. /Turkiye/

PAPADOPOULOS: “I’M PLEASED DENKTAS DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN”
Speaking before yesterday’s presidential elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said that he was pleased that longtime TRNC President Rauf Denktas had decided not to run for reelection. Touching on the matter of the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement, Papadopoulos said that the protocol was being prepared and that there was consensus with Ankara concerning the issue. “The protocol will be submitted to the EU General Council and after being endorsed by the council, Ankara will sign it,” he said, adding that just signing the protocol wasn’t enough, that implementation was also very important. /Cumhuriyet/

GREEK CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: “I HOPE TALAT WILL WORK FOR A REUNIFIED CYPRUS”
Greek Cyprus Parliament Speaker and AKEL party General-Secretary Dimitris Hristofyas said yesterday that he hoped Mehmet Ali Talat, who was elected the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) new president over the weekend, would work for a reunified island. He stated that the Turkish Cypriots had elected their new leader and Cyprus negotiator. He further called for Talat to act on the basis of a “leftist vision.” /Cumhuriyet/

GREEK OFFICIALS APOLOGIZE FOR FLAG DESECRATION INCIDENT
Greek military officials have vowed to launch an investigation into a desecration of the Turkish flag during a goodwill visit by Turkish officers and military students to the Greek War College last week. Two officers and five students from the Turkish Military Academy were sent to the Greek War College last Monday as part of confidence-building measures between Ankara and Athens. The students discovered a Turkish flag defaced with inflammatory remarks written in English in their guest room. Following the incident, the Greek Land Forces commander called his Turkish counterpart Gen. Yasar Buyukanit to express his great regret at the incident. Then upon the General Staff and Foreign Ministry’s request for an official apology, Greek officials made statements condemning the incident and pledging to find and punish the perpetrators. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL: “THE VILLAGE INSTITUTES WERE A GREAT VENTURE”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP leader Deniz Baykal yesterday attended a festival in Hasanoglu, Ankara, marking the 65th Anniversary of the Village Institutes. Speaking at the opening of the ceremonies, Baykal said that the project of ‘village institutes’ was still a valuable idea even after the passage of some 65 years. Stressing that the project was an original venture of the Turkish nation, the CHP leader stated that it had also drawn attention also from academics abroad. The project, which began to be carried out in 1940, was ended by a law in 1954. /Turkiye/

AGAR: “THE AKP DIDN’T KEEP THE PROMISES IT MADE BEFORE COMING TO POWER”
Speaking at a meeting of his party in Hatay over the weekend, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar charged that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had failed to keep the promises it made before coming to power. “The AKP can no longer hold onto the reins of power in this country,” said Agar, adding that production was stalled and unemployment was rising throughout Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

GONUL: “THE TSK ISN’T CONSIDERING PAYMENT IN LIEU OF MILITARY SERVICE”
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said yesterday that for the time being, payment in lieu of obligatory military service was not being considered by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), since the current manpower meets the needs of the TSK. Responding to a question posed by Justice and Development Party (AKP) Trabzon Deputy Asim Aykan, Gonul said, “This question depends on the TSK’s need for manpower, which is determined by the General Staff.” /Cumhuriyet/

GREEK PUBLIC FAVORS “TOUGHER” STANCE AGAINST TURKEY
A public survey conducted in Greece by To Paron daily in the wake of last week’s dispute between Ankara and Athens over Kardak revealed that 79.9 percent of the Greek population is in favor of pursuing a “tougher” policy against Turkey. The survey also showed that the Greek public is overwhelmingly against Turkey’s European Union membership. According to the survey, only 16.8 percent of Greeks favor Turkey’s EU aspirations. /Star/

BABACAN TO MEET WITH WB’S WOLFENSON IN WASHINGTON TODAY
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, who is currently in Washington to attend the World Bank’s spring meetings, said yesterday that he will meet on Monday with WB President James Wolfenson, who will turn over his post to former US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz in July. Babacan said that Wolfowitz had undertaken important duties in various positions, adding that he was pleased to see Wolfowitz win the top WB post. Babacan also touted recent positive economic developments in the country, adding, however that some circles were ignoring these developments. “Our economy’s power to withstand adverse developments both at home and abroad has risen,” said Babacan, adding that economic policies were being implemented determinedly and consciously. /Milliyet/

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT VISITS HYUNDAI FACTORY IN IZMIT
South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, visiting Turkey, yesterday visited the Hyundai automotive factory in Izmit. Stressing that Hyundai was one of his country’s sources of pride, Roh said that success of the factory would also serve the Turkish economy. He also expressed his pleasure to hear that the factory would double its capacity in the coming days. After completing his contacts in Turkey, the president and his companying delegation returned to South Korea. /Sabah/