ECEVIT PLEASED WITH US VISIT
After meeting with the US President George W. Bush yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit answered reporters' questions at a press conference. Ecevit said that he was very satisfied with how the two leaders' talks had gone, adding, "Our strategic partnership had so far focused on political and security issues, but now we would like to see our economic cooperation at the same level." He said that Turkey and the US had established an Economic Partnership Commission in order to discuss how to improve trade and commercial relations, with its first meeting to be held in Ankara on Feb. 26-27. Turkey has now become a powerful state dealing with world problems, or in other words a world state, Ecevit stated. He recounted that the question of Iraq had been discussed in his talks with Bush, but nothing was said about an operation, and Ecevit remarked that it was understood that there were no plans for an operation at this stage. Bush also assured Ecevit that he would consult Turkey about any possible military strike against Iraq as part of the war against terrorism. Ecevit also said the US administration would continue to support Turkey in its relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Ecevit also thanked Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill for the US' support. At the same press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey had received US support for its bid to assume lead roles in the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan as well as the reconstruction of that country. Turkey would work together with the World Bank on this issue, Cem added. /Hürriyet/
DERVIS: "LETTER OF INTENT TO BE SIGNED"
Yesterday at a press conference in Washington, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit referred a question about his country's Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund over to his economy minister, Kemal Dervis. "The Letter of Intent is ready, aside from a few details, and it will be signed today, Dervis said. "According to our timetable, Turkey's economic program must meet certain criteria before the end of this month. If we can do this, then the IMF Executive Board is expected to convene and make a decision at the beginning of February. There is of course a difference between completing the Letter of Intent and meeting the criteria laid out in it. As usual, we will release the Letter to the public after it is finalized." /Aksam/
ADVANCE TURKISH FORCE TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN TODAY
An advance military delegation of 20 soldiers which is to lay the groundwork for the full Turkish contingent of 261 soldiers in the Afghanistan peacekeeping force will travel to Kabul today. Brigadier Gen. Emin Alpman will reportedly command the advance group. Col. Tuncer Erinmezler, the highest-ranking officer slated for the main unit of the peacekeeping force, will also go to Afghanistan today. A half-dozen liaison officers will also take part in the team that will have duties at the peacekeeping force's headquarters. After doing preliminary work in the Afghan capital, the group is expected to go back to Turkey, excepting Col. Erinmezler and six liaison officers. Those remaining will wait at Kabul until the main unit arrives. /Sabah
AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL DOSTUM VISITING TURKEY
Gen. Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in Afghanistan's interim government, arrived in Ankara yesterday to visit his family living in the city and to carry out a series of meetings with Turkish officials. Dostum is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Turkiye/
CYPRUS MEETINGS TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK
Following a historic meeting with his Greek counterpart earlier this week, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that he and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides would evaluate their previous negotiations next Monday and then discuss the functions of both sides in a proposed new republic on the island. Speaking to reporters, Denktas stated that after this week face-to-face meetings, inter-delegationary meetings would begin at the scheduled meeting on Monday. He said, "We will preview our previous negotiations and then determine the controversial points. The next step will be to discuss the functions of the both sides in a new republic to be established." He added that at an appropriate time UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is attending the talks as an observer, would travel to New York to report on developments in the meetings. /Turkiye/
HOPE SPRINGS TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS
The press on both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus gave wide coverage yesterday to the meeting between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Wednesday of this week. The two leaders had agreed to return to the negotiating table last month after a groundbreaking meeting in early December and to furthermore meet three times a week. The Turkish and Greek Cypriot took hope from the two leaders' commitment to a series of talks with a view to finding a solution to the island's problems. Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris evaluated the meeting as a "good beginning which is expected to pave the way for positive new developments on the island." Another daily, Halkin Sesi stated that talks were an encouraging start for new developments towards reaching a permanent solution on the island. Yet even while describing the meeting as a turning point and despite the relevant air of optimism, a number of dailies from both the north and the south sounded a note of caution. "The real test of this new beginning" they said, "will come when the two leader discuss the major issues which have traditionally stood in the way of progress on the island." /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN: "GREEK CYPRUS SHOULD BECOME AN EU MEMBER"
Speaking yesterday on the BBC's "Newsnight" program, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said, "Greek Cyprus should become an EU member. A step like that would encourage efforts to reach a settlement on the island." Verheugen added, "For the first stage of EU enlargement, Cyprus membership is a sine qua non. We will make our decision at the end of this year. We have to take Greece's views seriously, as they have clearly stated that they wouldn't sign the enlargement agreement if Greek Cyprus didn't become an EU member." /Turkiye/
IMF LOAN WAITS FOR SEZER
Turkey's new stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund is now awaiting President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's signature on Banking bill which recently passed Parliament. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis told a press conference yesterday that Turkey's Letter of Intent was ready and would be signed today in Washington. /Milliyet/
IMF DIRECTOR DAWSON PRAISES REFORMS IN TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Affairs Director Tom Dawson yesterday praised recent reforms in Turkey and stated that the nation had recently taken more significant steps when compared to the past. Noting that Turkey's Letter of Intent was expected to be approved at the end of this month, Dawson added, "Turkey has recently made good progress and everything is going well." /Cumhuriyet/
TOBB TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S VIEWS TO THE WORLD
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday announced plans for new initiatives to promote Turkey's views on the international stage. Recalling that Spain's Union of Chambers had played an active role in Spanish-EU relations, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that his group was currently launch campaigns to bring Turkey's views to European countries as well as help the Turkish government on its path towards EU membership. Hisarciklioglu stated that he believed that TOBB's initiatives would help improve Turkey's commercial relations with European countries. /Cumhuriyet/
TURK EXIMBANK TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS
Turk Eximbank Director General Ahmet Kilicoglu said yesterday that his bank would provide exports with total financing support of $6.7 billion this year, $3.4 billion of which will be in cash. Kilicoglu added the financing to be extended this year constituted a fully 21% of the targeted exports. He added, "Last year we extended financing support for exports totaling $5.6 billion, and we're increasing our support this year by 19.6%. This year we expect exports worth $32 billion, but I hope that they will reach $34 billion." /Milliyet/
INTERNATIONAL SHOE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
Turkey is Europe's third biggest shoemaker country, and it is proving at the 26th International Shoe Fashion Fair (AYMOD 2002) that it has a great potential not only for making shoes, but also for designing them. Nearly 300 Turkish and foreign companies are taking part in AYMOD 2002, which was opened in Beylikduzu, Istanbul yesterday by the RDF Fair company. The fair's opening ceremony was attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu. Speakers at the ceremony stated that Turkey's number three status in European shoemaking was boosting its exports and that Turkey's shoe sector made up fully 20% of its leather exports. Shoe Industrialists Association Chairman Selahattin Akaydin recalled that his group had helped to set up a foreign trade company with 43 partners and also open a retail store in Prague. He added, "From now on, the sector needs to cooperate with the state and to strive to improve. We have to increase the number of our shops to around 100. The state has promised to support us concerning this issue." /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION