SEZER RECEIVES SWEDEN'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Lena Hjlem-Wallen yesterday in Ankara. Sezer told Hjelm-Wallen that the Turkish people appreciated Sweden's support for Turkey's bid for full EU membership. Remarking that Turkey was still doing its utmost to meet the EU criteria, Sezer stated that there was a strong political will behind efforts towards this goal. /Cumhuriyet/
ECEVIT VISITS BULGARIA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday left for Bulgaria for a two-day official visit. As part of his first day's contacts, Ecevit met with his Bulgarian counterpart and the country's former king, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. During their meeting, bilateral relations, regional developments and agreements on cleaning up mines on the country's mutual borders were discussed. Speaking at a state dinner in his honor, Ecevit pointed to Turkey's years-long struggle against terrorism. Stressing that both countries wanted to further develop bilateral relations on all fronts, Ecevit added that Turkey and Bulgaria would fill an important gap in the EU when they became members. Previously, before his departure from Turkey, Ecevit told reporters that as soon as he returned from his trip he would begin initiatives to help end Israel's pressure on the Palestinian territories. Earlier this week, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat sent a message to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Ecevit asking for their immediate help in resolving the situation. /All Papers/
ECEVIT TO SEND LETTER TO SADDAM
A draft of a letter to be sent to Iraqi leader Saddam Husein by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has been prepared by Turkish Foreign Ministry officials. The draft reportedly points to the importance that Turkey attaches to its neighbor Iraq and then calls on Saddam to allow international weapons inspectors into the country and also to cooperate with the UN. If he does not do these things, the letter continues, there could be negative consequences, and mentions US President George W. Bush's determination in this regard. /Turkiye/
YILMAZ SPEAKS ON TURKEY'S EU HARMONIZATION
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz told his party's group meeting yesterday that the regulations Turkey must formulate on freedom of thought and expression should be in compliance with the rulings of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights and warned that otherwise, they would have to be changed later. "We briefly discussed this issue during the leaders' summit and the coalition parties decided to work on preparing these regulations in their own groups," he said. "I believe that the coalition parties will reach a consensus in terms of our targets. We have to be in compliance with the EU point of view." Addressing the recent petition drive for Kurdish-language education, Yilmaz stated, "Turkey's official language is Turkish, and education cannot be given in any other language. We never made any promises to accept this, and the EU hasn't asked us to. The parties behind this campaign are trying to trap Turkey. A handful of separatists don't have the right to stand in the way of Turkey's road to development." /Sabah/
TURKISH COMMANDER: "IF CYPRUS NEGOTIATIONS FAIL, CRISIS COULD ENSUE"
Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said yesterday that the current negotiation process between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and his counterpart Glafcos Clerides could lead to a new crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean should the two leaders be unable to reach a solution at the conclusion of the process. In such an eventually, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would play a part, Ozkok added. Gen. Ozkok made the remarks while on visit to the island to carry out inspections of the Turkish Cypriot Peacekeeping Force and to attend military seminars. Ozkok also said that in the absence of a solution for the island, Turkey would remain opposed to European Union membership for Greek Cyprus. /Hürriyet/
SESSION ON TURKEY AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
The 2002 World Economic Forum (WEF) begins today in New York City, a shift from its usual venue of Davos, Switzerland made to show solidarity in the wake of last September's terrorist attacks. Since the nations of the world have been caught in a global economic recession, this year's meeting will focus on restoring sustained economic growth. A session titled "Turkey's Vision" will be held on Feb. 3 as a part of the Forum. Foreign investors will be informed about the recent measures taken by the Turkish government to improve domestic economic conditions. In addition, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is expected to hold bilateral meetings with US Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as his Greek, Afghan and Israeli counterparts George Papandreou, Abdullah Abdullah and Shimon Peres. He is also expected to meet with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The issues to be spotlighted during his meetings with Powell and Abdullah are the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Turkey's role in that process. He will also convey Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's recent messages to Peres. /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN: "EU AID WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE ON CYPRUS"
In a speech at a European Parliament (EP) meeting yesterday, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen briefed the EP members on financial aid to be delivered to 10 EU candidate countries by the EU Commission. Verheugen stated that if a permanent solution was reached on Cyprus, the EU was ready to grant 206 million euros to the northern part of the island. Remarking that this proposal was a significant opportunity for the Turkish Cypriots, Verheugen reiterated his prediction that the island might become a full EU member if a political solution was found. Meanwhile, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas remarked that such EU aid must be delivered directly to the TRNC, not via the Greek Cypriot administration. /Cumhuriyet/
TAYLOR: "TURKEY COULD WRITE A SUCCESS STORY FOR THE WORLD"
US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs John Taylor said yesterday that if Turkey continues to maintain its present stability, it could eventually write a "success story" for the world. Speaking on the Turkish economy, Taylor also predicted that the International Monetary Fund would approve Turkey's Letter of Intent. Turkey is now facing the important tasks of implementing its economic program and achieving economic growth, after having passed numerous reform laws it pledged to international lenders. /Hürriyet/
BANKING BILL RE-APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT
The Banking Bill was approved in Parliament yesterday by a vote of 211-71 without any amendments. Last week President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the sixth, seventh and first provisional article of the bill and sent it back to Parliament for reconsideration. Under the Constitution, the president cannot veto the bill again. However, he can appeal to the Constitutional Court to have the law annulled. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN WASHINGTON
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday held a meeting in Washington with members of the Turkish media. Erdogan is currently visiting the US to attend this weekend's World Economic Forum. Erdogan told the journalists that his party was planning to open an office in the US capital. /Cumhuriyet/
WORLD BANK LOAN MEETINGS TO END THIS WEEK
World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chibber stated yesterday that the bank was very close to concluding its meetings concerning Turkey's Public Sector and Financial Sector Harmonization Loan. Chibber met with US Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor yesterday morning. Afterwards, Chibber said that the meetings were about to come to an end and that an announcement on the loan would come by this weekend. Talks concerning the $1.3 billion WB loan to Turkey have been continuing for nearly two months. /Aksam/
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SPEAKS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
Israel's Ambassador to Turkey David Sultan said yesterday that the cooperation between the two countries against terrorism would continue. Sultan, who took his post in Ankara six months ago, told the Aksam daily Turkish-Israeli bilateral relations were in very good shape. Saying that the two countries were as one on many issues, Sultan said that strengthened cooperation on defense was of critical importance. He added, "Our cooperation has become stronger in terms of the common front against terrorism. In addition, Israel wants to increase its transfers of military technology to Turkey, technology which also has civilian applications. Although the Middle East peace process is currently stalled, sooner or later it will be revived. But Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat must decisively move against terrorism and terrorists. During the Clinton administration, Arafat had a great opportunity for make peace but he passed on it and then failed to take a stance against terrorism." In related news Turkey has reportedly been continuing to forward suggestions to Israel and the Palestinian leadership in order to help end the terror and violence in the Middle East. Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that Turkey was maintaining contacts with both sides. /Aksam/
PANGALOS: "GREECE SUPPORTED OCALAN"
Former Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday that several years ago the highest levels of Greece's government had supported terrorist PKK head Abdullah Ocalan's taking refuge in his country, adding however that he had not given such support. Appearing on Greek TV station MEGA, Pangalos claimed that Ocalan had been brought to the country without his knowledge, and that when he knew of Ocalan's presence he offered to deliver him to the European Parliament. "But Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the other Cabinet ministers rejected my proposal," he added. He claimed that his only role in the case had been approving Ocalan's stay at the Greek Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Costas Baduvas, a former Greek transportation minister, also appeared on MEGA and said that Greece's policy of supporting the terrorist PKK had begun during the term of late prime minister Andreas Papandreou and had continued under Simitis. /Turkiye/
TURKISH "WOLVES" ON SCREEN AT BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL
A Turkish movie "Hungry Wolves" directed by Yilmaz Guney will be screened at the 52nd Berlin Film Festival this year. The Festival is set to begin on Feb. 6. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH PIANIST RECEIVES GRAND PRIZE IN RUSSIA
Turkish pianist Gokhan Aybulus was awarded the Grand Prize for his performance at the Fourth International Marina Yudina Piano Contest in St. Petersburg, Russia. Aybulus is an undergraduate student at Moscow's Tchaikovsky Conservatory. /Cumhuriyet/
TURK NAMED TO TOP PEPSI POSITION
The Pepsi-Cola Company announced yesterday that it was naming Okay Egdirci to the post of deputy marketing chairman for Europe and Central and Southern Africa. In his new position, Egdirci will market Pepsi products to over 50 countries. /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION