SEZER BRIEFED ON QUAKE PREPAREDNESS IN ISTANBUL
While in Istanbul yesterday for the OIC-EU Joint Forum, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer toured the city and was briefed by Governor Erol Cakir on the province’s problems. During Sezer’s visit to the Disaster Administration Center, Cakir briefed the president about the precautions taken to minimize damage in a possible earthquake in the city. /Turkiye/
ECEVIT: “SADDAM MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY THE US’ WARNINGS”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Iraqi Foreign Minister Naci Sabri had sent a message to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, saying that Iraq was ready to address their differences without any preconditions. However, he stated, Annan has not yet replied to the letter. Ecevit also reiterated his call on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to take seriously the US administration’s warnings, saying that the US had its mind set an military intervention in the country. /Turkiye/
YILMAZ: “IN CONSIDERING IRAQ INTERVENTION, THE US MUST THINK OF IMPACT ON TURKEY”
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz spoke yesterday about possible US intervention in Iraq, saying, “The losses which would affect Turkey directly or indirectly should be well taken into consideration by the US as it weighs any operation against Iraq.” We don’t want chaos with our neighbor, Yilmaz remarked. He added that Turkey was against any operation which would harm the territorial integrity of Iraq, balances in the region or Turkey’s security. Yilmaz also said that Turkey would not tolerate an operation which could work against Turkey’s interest, without being consulted or informed. /Hurriyet/
CEM, PAPANDREOU WORK TO ELIMINATE MUTUAL PREJUDICES
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou yesterday attended a discussion panel entitled “Who is ‘the Other?’ Does it Really Exist?”, the final panel of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-European Union Joint Forum in Istanbul. The two ministers stressed the importance of mutual respect and understanding to surmount the current problems between Turkey and Greece, which have mutually considered each other “the Other” at times in the past. In his speech at the panel moderated by European Council Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer, Turkish Foreign Minister Cem stated that although just five years ago the Turkish and Greek nations considered each other “the Other,” the two countries had recently entered a period of rapprochement which altered the prevailing negative value systems. “The concept of the other, at one time, had negative connotations since countries used it to indicate countries which they considered as their enemies,” said Cem. “There were national interests behind this mentality. However, the term is changing nowadays. It is being redefined in line with universal values rather than national interests. The concept of the other is used today to refer to groups which work to destroy universal values. For example, terrorist organizations which have no regard for universal human rights can be considered ‘the other.’” Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou expressed his wish that Turkey and Greece could overcome all their bilateral problems and praised recent mutual efforts aimed at bolstering relations. “Although we still have certain problems, I believe we can eliminate all the established clichés which have alienated the two nations from each other,” said Papandreou. “We should educate our nations and encourage them to contribute this rapprochement process.” /Cumhuriyet/
OIC-EU JOINT FORUM ENDS
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-European Union Joint Forum ended yesterday in Istanbul. A joint press statement was issued at the end of the forum, which was held with the participation of 71 countries from Europe, Asia and Africa at the invitation of the Turkey’s foreign minister, Ismail Cem. Cem remarked that Turkey’s initiative was of great importance not only for the region, but also for all worldwide nations. The press statement said, “History has taught us that a lack of mutual knowledge and respect among civilizations can greatly affect world stability and peace. Harmony and welfare are nurtured when different peoples make communication a priority, taking the time to express and listen to each other’s views and interests, acknowledging and tolerating differences, while at the same time seeking out commonalities that can help build strong relationships and promote political and economic cooperation.” Despite some disagreements among the attendees over certain sensitive issues such as Israel-Palestinian dispute, significant decisions were taken at the end of the forum. The following points were agreed upon: “1) The Forum reaffirms its strong belief that cultures, in their diversity, complement and enhance one another. 2) The main means to support unity and solidarity and to avoid racial, religious and cultural prejudices is to enhance our knowledge of one another through communication and cooperation for the promotion of common universal values. 3) The Forum affirms that terrorism cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever. It recognizes the joint responsibility to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations within the framework of the UN, in conformity with its Charter and its resolutions. 4) The Forum underlines that in order for peace, stability and harmony to prevail, the Middle East conflict must be settled in a just and comprehensive manner and in accordance with international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions.” /All Papers/
LINN IN ANKARA TO PUSH ACTION PLAN
Johannes Linn, the World Bank vice president in charge of Europe and Central Asia, arrived in Ankara yesterday in advance of a WB Executive Board meeting scheduled for March 15. Linn is expected to ask Turkey to approve an anti-corruption action plan in the lead up to the meeting. While in Turkey, Linn is scheduled to attend a series of conferences in Ankara and Istanbul. He will also meet Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, government economy ministers and other officials. If Turkey does not approve the action plan, then the Executive Board meeting will be delayed. /Hurriyet/
BILL IN US CONGRESS CALLS FOR BETTER TIES WITH TURKEY
Four congressmen from the US House of Representatives have introduced a bill to that body calling on the US to support and increase its political, cultural, economic and military relations with both Turkey and Israel. /Hurriyet/
GORE CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR TURKEY
Speaking to the Foreign Political Institute in New York yesterday, former US Vice President and presidential contender Al Gore said that in case of a military operation in Iraq, Turkey’s interests in the region must be protected. /Sabah/
AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH PRAISES TURKEY’S COOPERATION
The Afghan interim government’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah yesterday expressed satisfaction over Turkey’s decision to take over command of the international peacekeeping force in his country in March when the British command expires. Responding the questions of the Turkish press at the end of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-European Union Joint Forum yesterday, Abdullah stated that Afghanistan highly appreciated Turkey’s efforts to help the country restructure its social and economic fabric. He evaluated Turkey’s efforts as “a positive contribution to establish stability in the region.” /Cumhuriyet/
VERHEUGEN TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAY
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen is to arrive in Turkey today to pay a two-day visit. An EU spokesman said that among the subjects he was planning to discuss with Turkish officials were Turkish-EU relations, recent reforms and the issue of Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN CALLS FOR RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan called yesterday for a ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public buildings. Speaking to his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan said, “We have declared our party’s program and asked for the people’s vote. If the public doesn’t like it they will not vote for us and we will be unable to come to power.” He added that if the AKP did assume leadership of the country, it would privatize the state tobacco and alcohol monopoly TEKEL as soon as possible. /Turkiye/
DEMIREL CUTS RIBBON ON NEW CAMPUS
Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel officially opened the campus of Kadir Has University in Cibali, Istanbul yesterday. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, businessman and university namesake Kadir Has said, “A former TEKEL factory which was granted to our university has been restored in the best possible way and outfitted with educational and scientific equipment. This project is one of my most important charity works. I can only hope that this campus finds favor among Turkey’s students. True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller also participated in the ceremony. /Milliyet/
TURKISH COCA-COLA OFFICIAL MEETS PAKISTAN’S MUSHARRAF
Cem Kozlu, a Turkish citizen who heads Central European and Middle Eastern operations for the Coca-Cola Company in New York city, met with Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf yesterday to speak about investment and business opportunities in that country. Their meeting in Washington DC’s Cosmos Club took place just prior to a roundtable gathering held by Coca-Cola Chairman Douglas Daft. Kozlu supervises Coca-Cola’s operations in nearly 50 countries. /Milliyet/
TURKISH DESIGNER’S WARES ATTRACT ATTENTION IN NEW YORK
Turkish fashion designer Atil Kutoglu’s fashion show, this week held as part of the annual New York Fashion Show turned the heads of industry leaders and potential buyers. Hundreds of press and broadcast institutions from the US and Europe attended the top fashion show. Kutoglu’s 65 creations were presented on the catwalk by 20 models. /Aksam/
TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO SIGN DEAL FOR EGYPTIAN INDUSTRIAL AREA
Under a new agreement, an industrial region similar to Ankara’s Ivedik Organized Industrial Region will be opened with Turkish participation in Cairo with the name “Kivedik.” Ivedik Organized Industrial Region Executive Board Chairman Hasan Gultekin and a group of 29 businessmen went to Cairo this week and are expected to sign an agreement to establish Kivedik. Gultekin said that 100 firms would work in Kivedik in the first stage and that the land for the project would be allocated to the investors for 99 years for free. Meanwhile, Egyptian Prime Minister Atif Ubeyt welcomed the Turkish delegation and said that he would do his best to prepare an area of 1 million square meters with infrastructure within two years for the Kivedik project. /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION