ECEVIT WARNS SADDAM
In a letter sent to Iraqi embassy in Turkey this week, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that he should allow United Nations weapons inspectors back into his country to carry out their work. Otherwise, Ecevit warned, US intervention in Iraq might follow. "Turkey may also be adversely affected by the severe consequences which could come if Iraq does not allow in the UN inspectors," Ecevit stated. Turkey is concerned that a military operation to Iraq would compromise the country's territorial integrity, and has taken pains to stress its opposition to such an operation. But of course the success of its efforts requires some important steps to be taken by Saddam, Ecevit added in his letter. /Hurriyet/
ECEVIT: "ALL NEEDS OF THE QUAKE VICTIMS WILL BE MET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"
The Cabinet met yesterday to evaluate developments in the wake of Sunday's earthquake which struck the Western Anatolian province of Afyon. Stating that state institutions had learned important lessons from previous earthquakes, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit remarked that the government had mobilized rapidly after the quake and immediately dispatched teams to the quake-hit region to help the victims. The members of the Cabinet were briefed on the current situation in Afyon, the numbers of dead and injured people, collapsed and damaged buildings as well as ongoing search and rescue efforts. "Our civil defense units are continuing their work in the region," said Ecevit. "I believe the needs of quake victims will be met as soon as possible." The Interior Ministry's Crisis Management Center also announced yesterday that 43 people had been killed and 300 others injured by the quake. /Cumhuriyet/
DERVIS: "STOP COMPARING TURKEY TO ARGENTINA"
Speaking to French daily Le Figaro yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis asserted that Turkey's situation was very different from Argentina's, adding in a plea, "Stop comparing Turkey to Argentina." Speaking also at the World Economic Forum in New York, Dervis said that Turkey has received the support of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank at the right time. Dervis also said that Turkey should break out of the boom-and-bust economic cycle and work to establish a pattern of steady growth. /Hurriyet/
CEM MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU, ANNAN
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papendreou, both of whom are attending the World Economic Forum in New York, met yesterday for talks. During their one-hour meeting, the two ministers reportedly agreed to begin work to explore controversial issues between the two countries concerning the Mediterreanean. Meanwhile, Cem also met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday and exchanged views, on the Iraq and Cyprus issues in particular. /Turkiye/
DENKTAS, CLERIDES DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides met yesterday in the third week of the their direct talks process to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. Following their one-and-a-half-hour meeting, Denktas told reporters that the two sides were negotiating security issues and that after completing discussions on it, they would take up discussions of land and ownership. /Turkiye/
BAHCELI VISITS QUAKE-STRICKEN AREAS
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli yesterday visited the areas which were hit by Sunday's earthquake. He first visited the crisis center in the town of Bolvadin in the Afyon province. Proceeding to the town of Sultandagi, where the quake was centered, accompanied by State Minister Faruk Bal, Bahceli said that the government and all other state authorities had mobilized to heal the damages wrought by the quake. He also visited the town of Cay, one of the locales hit hardest. Talking to citizens whose shops in the small industrial compound were destroyed by the quake, Bahceli vowed to reconstruct them. /Turkiye/
GREECE, FRANCE, GERMANY OFFER AID AFTER QUAKE
In the wake of the earthquake which hit the towns of Afyon on Sunday morning and left 43 dead and some 300 wounded, as well as scores of collapsed buildings, the first offer of international aid came from Greece. It was soon followed by offers from Germany and France. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu also expressed their grief and condolences to the Turkish nation. During his meeting yesterday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in New York at the World Economic Forum, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou conveyed his condolences and said that Greece was ready to extend any help necessary to Turkey. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sent a message to Cem offering whatever help was needed. In addition, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit conveying their condolences and offers of aid. /Turkiye/
TAYLOR: "TURKEY HAS IMPRESSED ME GREATLY"
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in New York yesterday, John Taylor, the US Treasury's undersecretary for foreign affairs, said, "Turkey has impressed me greatly." He also stated that the US was very happy with Turkey's performance and that it should continue to make reforms. /Hurriyet/
$9 BILLION ON THE WAY FROM IMF
The International Monetary Fund Executive Board yesterday approved Turkey's new standby agreement. Under this agreement, Turkey will receive $16.2 billion over the period 2002-2004, with $9 billion of that sum on the way immediately. /Hurriyet/
WORLD BANK BOARD MEETING POSTPONED
A World Bank Executive Board meeting which had been scheduled for today has been postponed. The Reuters news agency reported yesterday that the bank would instead hold the meeting in March, where it will discuss a $1.3 billion Programmatic Financial and Public Sector Adjustment Loan (PFPSAL) to be given to Turkey. The WB loan will be used for completing the reconstruction of Turkey's banking sector, the privatization and reconstruction of its public banks, and the improvement of the entire banking sector. In the public sector, this loan is to be used for work on Procurement Law and Public Investment Law, improving the tax system and management, and initiating public expense reform. /Aksam/
WORLD BANK DELEGATION VISITS TOBB
A World Bank delegation chaired by Regional Manager Joseph Battat yesterday paid a visit to Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Risat Hisarciklioglu. Stating that the two had discussed establishing an Investment Promotion Agency in Turkey to attract more foreign investment, Hisarciklioglu said, "The delegation requested our help on the issue." Another meeting is expected to be held with the delegation today to discuss preparations for the next Turkish-American Business Council meeting. /Cumhuriyet/
ISRAELI NAVAL OFFICIAL VISITS TURKISH COUNTERPART
Israeli Naval Chief Vice Admiral Yedidia Yaari, who is currently visiting Turkey, met with Turkish Naval Chief Admiral Bulent Alpkaya yesterday. Alpkaya stated that he believed the Israeli vice admiral's visit would greatly contribute to the improvement of relations between the two nations' navies. Vice Admiral Yaari is to leave Turkey on Feb. 8. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN SELECTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND RAPPORTEUR
The Council of Europe Parliamentarians Assembly (COEPA) announced yesterday that it had selected Democratic Left Party (DSP) Izmir Deputy Atilla Mutman to a post where he would be assigned to study Catholic-Protestant clash in Northern Ireland. In the leadup to a planned bureau in Northern Ireland, the council said, there is a need for an interim representative, which is where Mutman comes in. As a Muslim, the council reasoned, Mutman can be more objective and help to facilitate peace. Mutman is currently waiting for the council's Secretariat to complete a preliminary study and will soon thereafter go to the country. There he will listen to the various parties and after completing his investigation, he will prepare a report for the COEPA. /Milliyet/
FOREIGN MINISTRY REBUKES SWEDISH AMBASSADOR OVER BROCHURE
The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Sweden's Ambassador in Ankara Anne Dismorr yesterday to express Turkey's official dissatisfaction with a brochure which was prepared and recently distributed by the Sweden Institute in Izmir. The brochure titled "Sweden and Turkey" included certain statements alleging that Turks do not constitute a nation. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ugur Ziyal received Dismorr yesterday and stated that he considered the distribution of the brochures a grave mistake which could seriously damage relations between Sweden and Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
CHIBBER: "TAXES SHOULD BE CUT FURTHER"
World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chibber visited Istanbul Greater Municipality Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna yesterday and received a briefing on the municipality's investments from Dursun Ali Codur, the city's deputy secretary-general. Following the briefing, Gurtuna spoke about a new law that would reduce the municipalities' share of task revenues from 5% to 4%. Chibber stated, "In spite of its problems, the situation of Istanbul has improved. The government should make further cuts to taxes and interest rates. Istanbul has many needs, and we want to support this city." /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION