O'NEILL: "TURKEY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK"
During talks with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit last week, US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill told him that Turkey was on the right track but cautioned that if it doesn't move forward quickly, it could find itself run over. Ecevit replied that his government was indeed working hard to bring the country forward. Ecevit also said that even if the coalition government faces some difficulties while enacting new reforms and laws, they would do their best to continue to follow the proper course. /Hürriyet/
CHENEY: "WE COULD PROVIDE $2.5 BILLION FOR BAKU-CEYHAN"
US Vice President Dick Cheney told Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in talks last week that US would give full support to the Baku-Ceyhan project and added, "We are looking to it as a strategic project. If there is a need, we could provide $2.5 in billion additional financing." For his part, Ecevit explained the difficulties that Turkey has had in getting additional World Bank financing for the pipeline. Ecevit thanked Cheney for his support. /Hürriyet/
YILMAZ: "TURKEY COULD BE IN THE EU BY 2007"
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday that if Turkey used this year 2002 effectively, it could gain full EU membership by 2007. In an interview on news channel, CNN Turk, Yýlmaz pointed out that Turkey should implement all its short-term targets in the next two-and-a-half months, as this was its commitment to the EU. Yilmaz also said that the EU was not satisfied with a mere "limitation" of the death penalty and that capital punishment must be completely removed from the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). /Sabah/
EUROPEAN COUNCIL PROGRAM TO HELP TRAIN TURKISH POLICE
The EU's European Council took a decision yesterday to support Turkey's National Program in order to bring it to the level of EU countries. The Council accepted a one-year program as prepared by the Council and Turkish authorities designed to train Turkey's police and gendarmerie in the protection of human rights. /Hürriyet/
NEW FILM PRAISES TURKEY'S ROLE DURING HOLOCAUST
Yesterday CNN touted a new documentary which details the role that Turkey held in providing refuge for European Jews from the Holocaust and in aiding their escape to Palestine. The channel aired three segments from the documentary, entitled "Desperate Hours", and also interviewed its producer, Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum. The five-part film will be shown on Jan. 22 in Atlanta through the joint efforts of the Atlanta Jewish Committee and the Turkish Cultural Association. Stating that Turkey had welcomed Europe's Jews during World War II and was a safe haven for them, Berenbaum said, "Very few people know the opportunities which Turkey gave to Jews during the Holocaust years. This film aims to demonstrate the important role Turkey played during that terrible time. Interviews with survivors show that they met unprejudiced, warmhearted Turks and spent happy times in the country. Close to 200,00 Jews came to Turkey and participated in academic studies and education in universities there. Many Turkish diplomats also supported victims of the Holocaust who entered their country as fugitives." /Hurriyet/
DENKTAS AND CLERIDES TO MEET TODAY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides will meet today for the second time as part of the direct talks process, which began on Jan. 16 to find a lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue. Last Wednesday, the two leaders decided to meet three times this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with accompanying delegations from both sides. The leaders will meet will be held at the Lefkosha Airport and UN Envoy Alvaro de Soto will attend as an observer. /All Papers/
BAHCELI: "THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE"
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday attended the MHP Mayors Working Meeting in Nevsehir. Economy and terrorism were the major topics discussed in the meeting. At a press conference, Bahceli said that 2001 had been a year full of difficulties both in Turkey and the whole world. He stated, "Whatever the outcome is, Turkey will continue its fight against the terrorism which threatens our existence in so many ways." /Turkiye/
IZGI: "2003 WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR TURKEY"
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi told journalists in the Parliament building yesterday that Turkey was on the right track for this year and that 2003 would be a great year for the nation. Turkey's businessman will get the chance they are looking for as economic relations develop with the United States, he predicted. Izgi described the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's recent trip to the United States as "wonderful." /Star/
CAKAN TO VISIT IRAN TOMORROW
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan will go to Iran tomorrow to attend the opening ceremony of a natural gas measuring station there. The Energy Ministry stated yesterday that Cakan would go to Erzurum and Agri in Turkey today and proceed to Bazargan, Iran tomorrow. Cakan will go to Iran through the Agri Gurbulak border gate, and is scheduled to be welcomed by Iranian Petroleum Minister Zanganeh, who will preside over the opening ceremony. A 22-year trade agreement on natural gas deliveries from Iran to Turkey was signed between the two countries in August 1996. /Cumhuriyet/
BRITISH PATIENTS COULD RECEIVE TREATMENT IN TURKEY
According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, the British National Health Service (NHS) has begun talking to officials from private hospitals in nine countries, including Turkey, to set up a system whereby British patients could receive treatment abroad pending increases in domestic healthcare resources. NHS foreign relations official Kenneth Taylor told Telegraph yesterday that the UK's Department of Health had established positive contacts with the countries and received attractive price offers. He added, "Nine patients have already had operations in France." Taylor emphasized the attractive prices, appropriate security measures, and good conditions in the countries being looked at. Besides Turkey, the NHS is also considering Tunisia, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and France. /Cumhuriyet/
ISTANBUL SECURITY DIRECTOR TO VISIT JAPAN
Istanbul Security Director Hasan Ozdemir will go to Tokyo today as the guest of the Japanese government in order to exchange views concerning security issues. Ozdemir has prepared a report entitled "Istanbul and Security" for the meetings, and will talk with his Japanese colleagues on issues such as terrorism, transportation and airport security. Ozdemir is also due to tour the Japanese Supreme Court as well as prisons. /Milliyet/
OKUYAN: "LABOR SECURITY LAW WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TWO MONTHS"
Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan predicted yesterday that a labor security law would emerge from Turkey's Parliament within two months. Speaking to the Turkish Labor Organization (Ýþ-Kur) Executive Board, Okuyan said, "We are preparing a bill to postpone Social Security Administration (SSK) premiums and tax deductions for a year without any interest. This bill will be presented to Parliament in a week. Okuyan further remarked that problems of unemployment and employment were not only Turkey's, but were also present in the world's most developed countries." /Aksam/
MOBILE POWER STATION PLANNED FOR TRNC
Plans for a mobile power plant designed to meet the short-term emergency needs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have been completed, and the project is now awaiting approval from the Turkish Treasury Undersecretariat. As part of Turkey's economic and technical support to the TRNC, the Directorate General of Electrical Production (EUAS) is slated to oversee the power station project that could meet Turkish Cyprus' energy needs for five years. An international bid for building the power station will be opened by the EUAS after getting approval from the Treasury. /Aksam/
TURKISH BUSINESSMEN PLEASED WITH VISIT TO US
Turkish businessmen who accompanied Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in his visit to the US last week are saying that the trip was generally a positive one. TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan stated, "I've been to the US before on a number of visits, but none of them managed to get such concrete results. If a trade agreement is signed at the US-Turkey trade commission meeting in February in Ankara, Turkey can raise its export to the US from $3.5 billion to $10 billion." /Sabah/
PRIVATE SECTOR LOOKS FOR SHARE IN AFGHAN PROJECT
Turkish businessmen are looking to establish a share in a project for transporting aid to Afghanistan and for reconstructing of that country. Turkey is hoping for a 7% share of the $40-billion project. /Sabah/
PINAR WATER COMPANY RECEIVES WORLD PACKAGE DESIGN AWARD
Turkey's Pinar Drinking Water Company yesterday received an international award for outstanding package design. Last year Pinar received the 2001 Turkish Golden Package Award given by the Turkish Standards Institute and was thereby also entered into the World Stars Packaging Competition, sponsored by the World Packaging Organization. Pinar received the Best World Package Award for its 2.5-liter drinking bottle. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION