PEARSON: "ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE US WAS SUCCESFUL"
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson said yesterday that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the US last week had been very successful, adding that the US administration was greatly satisfied with the visit. Talking to reporters during his visit to Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Pearson said of Ecevit's US trip, Pearson said, "Our political leaders have established a very important agenda for both countries, and now our duty is to work hard to reach those targets." Underlining that all textile quotas between Turkey and the US would be removed by 2005, Pearson said, "Up to now, the 50% of them were already lifted." /Turkiye/
DENKTAS, CLERIDES MEET
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides met yesterday as part of the direct talks process begun last week to reach a lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue. Following the meeting at Lefkosha International Airport, Denktas told reporters that the two sides had discussed main principles of an agreement as well as exchanged views. /Turkiye/
TURKEY REACTS AGAINST DECISION IN FAVOR OF EMBASSIES IN GREEK CYPRUS
Turkey reacted negatively yesterday to decisions by European Union term president Spain as well as Sweden to open embassies in Greek Cyprus, saying that such a move would not be conducive to finding a solution for the island. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz pointed out yesterday that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots have only just started new negotiations for a lasting solution on the island. "So right now both sides are experiencing a sensitive period," he said. "During this process, we do not favor any initiative that might favor only one side." /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PLANNED FOR AFGHANISTAN
Turkey has begun exploring the possibility of opening a religious school in Afghanistan. A delegation from Turkey's Religious Directorate will go to Afghanistan this week to investigate if the Turkish Islamic model can be implemented in that country. The US has been pointing to Turkey's approach to Islam as an example to Afghanistan, and a recent meeting of US officials' with directorate head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz has accelerated Ankara's efforts on this issue. First on the agenda in investigating establishing a school is looking at Afghanistan's sociological and religious structure. Turkey wants to open a religious faculty in the former Taliban strong hold of Mezar-i Sherif as a first stage. Investigations into doing this will focus on Turkey's contributions towards religious education in the context of Afghanistan's new economic program. /Cumhuriyet/
CEM SPEAKS ON ENERGY TRANSPORT THROUGH AFGHANISTAN
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday spoke on the impact of developments in Afghanistan on a possible project to transport Caspian energy resources through that country. Responding to a question from Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Deputy Huseyin Kansu, Cem stated that it would be difficult to transport such energy to Pakistan and India through Afghanistan under the current unstable security situation. "Such a project idea is overly optimistic right now," he added. /Cumhuriyet/
DOSTUM: "WE NEED TURKEY'S HELP"
Gen. Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in Afghanistan's interim government, met yesterday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Dostum briefed Cem on the situation in his country and cautioned Turkey about Iran. Dostum said that Iran is taking advantage of the devastation in Afghanistan and fomenting sectarianism in the region to become more powerful. Dostum also said that Afghanistan needs Turkey's help to train a national army and a police force as Turkey had helped train Afghan officers in the past. "We need Turkey's help for a disciplined army," ha stated. For his part, Cem said that Turkey had always had close ties with Dostum and would continue to give its full support. /Hürriyet, Aksam/
ISRAEL SENDS MESSAGES TO ARAFAT THROUGH ANKARA
Israel sent a message to Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat through Turkey yesterday that its has three preconditions for peace in the region. Israeli Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Avi Gil, who is currently in Ankara, spoke to Turkish daily Cumhuriyet about his country's conditions. "First of all, I want to say that Israel wants to strengthen its cooperation with Turkey," he said. "We have tried to explain our approach and position. Firstly we want the Palestinian administration to stop the violence and to take serious measures in the struggle against terrorism. When they do it, we can take action in line with the 'Mitchell report and the Tenet plan.' We are committed to peace in all respects. However, the only way we can get out of the current terrible situation is by the Palestinian administration changing its approach towards terrorism. It should pursue its struggle against terrorism in a serious and effective way, contrary to their current manner. If Arafat wants peace, then he should make a strategic decision consisting of three planks. Firstly, Arafat should stop inciting provoking Palestinians against Israel. Secondly, he should give firm, systematic regulations to his security units in terms of the struggle against terrorism. Thirdly, he should cut ties with Islamic terrorist organizations and arrest or expel them. Otherwise, the terrorist organizations will take action not only against Israel, but also against his own Palestinian administration." /Cumhuriyet/
ITALY ACCUSES PKK WITH HUMAN SMUGGLING
This week Italy has for the first time accused the PKK terrorist organization of being involved in human smuggling. The Anti-Mafia Division of the northeastern city of Trieste's Security Directorate has discovered that a human smuggling gang that it has tracked for six months is connected to the PKK ad includes Kurds among its ranks. The Italians found that the gang smuggled 9,000 Kurdish illegals from Anatolia to Europe via land and sea last year and that a large part of the illicit gains from this smuggling was channeled to the PKK. Trieste Prosecutor Federico Frezze stated that three PKK members, Mehmet Dimez, Mehmet Aslan and Mahir Dah, had been captured and had confessed their crimes, but that their leaders code-named "Apo," had escaped at the last minute and the Trieste's Security Directorate announced that it will cooperate with the Istanbul Security Directorate. /Hurriyet/
SIGNS INCREASE OF TURKISH-BULGARIAN RAPROCHEMENT
The beginning of this year is seeing further signs of a Turkish-Bulgarian rapprochement. Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz went to Sofia this week to meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburgotski and ask him to act against the PKK terrorist organization. An economic cooperation agreement was also recently signed between the two countries. In addition, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay an official visit to Sofia on Jan. 30-31, with a program to be determined later. /Star/
TURKISH SCIENTIST TO HEAD IMO COMMITTEE
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has selected a Turkish scientist to chair one of its main committees. Osman Kamil Sag will be the new chair of the IMO's committee overseeing standards of training and certification for watchkeeping and seafarers. The IMO is a specialized United Nations agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from sea vessels. /Aksam/
DERVIS TO BRIEF SEZER ON ECONOMIC MATTERS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will receive state Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis and a group of accompanying bureaucrats today. Dervis is expected to brief the president on a bill that would rework payment plans for real sectors debt, Treasury support for banks and related issues. /Sabah/
IMF TO MEET ON FEB. 4 TO DISCUSS TURKEY
The International Monetary Fund Board of Directors will meet on Feb. 4 in order to discuss Turkey's Letter of Intent and its new standby agreement, said IMF spokesperson Conny Lotze yesterday. Under the new agreement the IMF would provide Turkey with $10 billion this year and $2 billion in additional financing in 2003-2004. /Milliyet/
WORLD BANK TEAM VISITS VILLAGE-CITY PROJECTS
A World Bank team is expected to visit the Black Sea township of Mesudiye today, where the village-city project is being implemented in the villages of Yuvali, Kislacik, Cardakli, Gocbeyi, Turkkoy, Dayili, Ilýsar and Esatli. The WB is expected to give credit to Turkey in order to support the project. /Aksam/
"TURKISH GIANTS" TAKE THE LEAD
The Turkish national basketball team defeated the Dutch team last night in the Netherlands with a score of 89-73. Following this accomplishment, in the fourth group qualifications match of the 33rd European Men's Basketball Championship, the Turkish team has become group leader. /All Papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION