ERDOGAN VISITS TURKISH TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN
On the second day of his trip to Afghanistan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday visited the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters and met with both NATO Senior Civilian Representative Hikmet Cetin and current ISAF Commander Gen. Ethem Karadagli. Speaking at a press conference prior to his departure from Kabul, Erdogan expressed his pleasure at the Afghan people’s interest in and sympathy for Turkey. He emphasized the Turkish military’s success in the country in the face of difficult conditions. Pointing to Turkish businessmen’s investments in Afghanistan, Erdogan said the country still needed significant international help for its reconstruction. After completing his contacts, the premier returned to Ankara last evening. /Turkiye/

GUL TELLS POLISH COUNTERPART OF DISAPPOINTMENT OVER SO-CALLED GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, currently in Vilnius, Lithuania to attend an unofficial meeting of NATO foreign ministers, yesterday met with his Polish counterpart Adam Daniel Rotfeld to discuss the recent decision of Poland’s Parliament recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide. During their meeting, Gul expressed Ankara’s disappointment with the Polish Parliament’s decision. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Gul said that Rotfeld had told him that the decision was a result of the political stance of some deputies and that Parliament had been caught unprepared. “He told me that he had done his best to prevent such a decision, but had been unsuccessful,” said Gul. “He further told me that the government didn’t share the same view concerning the genocide and that that it always supported Ankara.” Gul also said that he had also met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss a number of issues, and that Rice said that the US stands with Ankara on the so-called genocide issue. In related news, addressing a dinner for the diplomats, Rice cited Turkey as an example proving that there is no conflict between the Muslim world and democracy. /Milliyet/

ARINC TO PRESENT NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AWARD TO RENOWNED BRAIN SURGEON
Speaking after yesterday’s Presidential Board meeting, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the board had decided to present Dr. Gazi Yasargil, a world-famous brain surgeon, with this year’s National Sovereignty Honorary Award. “Nearly 150 people were nominated for the award, and Dr. Yasargil won the votes of 14 out of 15 members of the Parliament Speaker's Office,” added Arinc. Dr. Yasargil, who was elected Neurosurgeon of the Century in 1999 by the Journal of Neurosurgeons, is a Turkish medical scientist and neurosurgeon. He is a pioneer in micro-neurosurgery and has won many honors for his work. Yasargil developed special instruments for treating epilepsy and brain tumors. /Sabah/

AUSTRALIAN CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS TURKEY
Australian Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Cosgrove yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. After an official ceremony, the two top officials held face-to-face talks. /Hurriyet/

PARLIAMENT COMMISSION TO BEGIN DISCUSSING REVISED TCK
A draft including amendments to the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) set to be put into effect on June 1 will begin to be discussed today by Parliament’s Justice Commission. Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy and commission member Orhan Eraslan criticized the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, saying that the draft had been prepared without consulting them. Charging that there was not enough time to discuss the necessary amendments to the law, Eraslan claimed that at least one year would be needed for such revisions. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek submitted the draft to the prime minister at the beginning of this week. /Star/

ARMENIA’S KOCHARIAN WELCOMES ERDOGAN’S PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH JOINT COMMISSION
Armenian President Robert Kocharian said yesterday that his country had no precondition for developing relations with Turkey. During an official to France, Kocharian commented on Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent proposal to establish a joint commission consisting of historians from both countries. Stressing that the two countries should look ahead within the framework of bilateral ties, Kocaryan welcomed Erdogan’s offer. “If Turkey wants to discuss the issue, Armenia prefers that it be done at the highest level and in the largest scope possible,” said the Armenian president. In related news, after their talks today, Kocharian and French President Jacques Chirac are expected to visit so-called Armenian genocide monument in Paris and lay a wreath. /Hurriyet/

AKP EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR OZKOK’S STATEMENTS
Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat yesterday expressed support for Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and his Wednesday speech warning of reactionary elements in Turkey, adding that the government was capable of fighting these reactionary forces. “I listened closely to Ozkok’s statements and I appreciated them,” he said. “Turkey faces a number of problems, and reactionary elements are one of these. Eliminating these elements is our government’s duty.” Firat added that the government was determined to counter any action which threatens the Republic of Turkey, adding that reactionary actions were among these. /Cumhuriyet/

TALABANI: “WE’RE AWARE OF THE PKK PRESENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AND WE’RE DETERMINED TO FIGHT IT”
Appearing on CNN Turk yesterday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that he was aware of the PKK presence in northern Iraq, adding that the Iraqi government was determined to fight against it. “We’ll never allow foreign forces to stage activities in Iraq,” he said. “Our government has decided to end the presence of foreign armed forces in Iraq.” Talabani stressed that Iraqi security forces were not yet fully prepared and that US forces will remain in the country for at least one more year. “I think that the US forces also want to leave Iraq, and they will do so when we’re ready,” said Talabani. He further stated that he was grateful to Ankara for its support of Iraq, adding that he would do his utmost to develop relations with Turkey. /Aksam/

CHP DEPUTY LEADER: “OZKOK’S LAUDABLE STATEMENTS ECHO WHAT BAYKAL HAS SAID FOR TWO YEARS”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Haluk Koc said that Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok’s statements on Wednesday were true, adding that CHP leader Baykal has been emphasizing the same points for the last two years. “The CHP has expressed almost all of the views which Ozkok laid out during his speech,” he said, adding that the media had failed to cover these earlier remarks. /Cumhuriyet/

17 DEAD IN GAS EXPLOSION IN GEDIZ
A gas explosion in a coal mine in Gediz, Kutahya yesterday killed 17 miners. Rescue teams were immediately deployed to the area of the explosion, but only two people were able to emerge alive from the mine, which is 400 meters below the ground. /Star/

ANKARA TO HOST EUROPEAN CAPITALS CONFERENCE
Ankara will host the Ninth Conference of EU Capitals today organized by the Ankara Greater City Municipality. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will deliver an opening speech at the gathering. Mayors from European Union member and candidate countries, including Greek Cyprus’ Lefkosa Mayor Michalis Zabelas, are expected to take part in the conference. After attending celebrations marking April 23 Children’s Day tomorrow, the visiting mayors are set to proceed to Cappadocia on Sunday. /Star/