First Guests

SABAH- Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on Turkey's first foreign guests in the New Year. A summary of his column is as follows:
This week Turkey will host a number of important guests. The first guests of the New Year are 10 congressmen from the US Senate. They are beginning their tour of countries active in the fight against terrorism with a stop in Turkey. They will be received by both the Turkish president and prime minister. This is an opportunity, which can be used to send important messages regarding not only Iraq and Afghanistan but also Cyprus, in the leadup to Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Washington. Ecevit's suggestions have played an important role in persuading Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas regarding the latest initiatives for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Reportedly, if both sides abandon their calls for compensation a solution will be very close. Denktas is going to begin talks with Clerides in a fortnight. TRNC President is expected to go to the meeting with a roadmap or a document. If an agreement is to be reached on the island, there must a document on hand to be discussed. This will be the blueprint of the agreement. Denktas should keep in mind that the initiatives he recently launched have created a favorable climate for Turkey both in the US and the EU. In his meeting with President Bush, Prime Minister Ecevit must tell him that Turkey will do everything it can for the Cyprus negotiation process to be concluded in a way which can please everyone.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION