ECEVIT: "THE WORLD CANNOT REMAIN SILENT IN THE FACE OF MIDEAST VIOLENCE"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that the world was remaining too silent in the face of escalating violence in the Middle East. Appearing on TRT-1 on Sunday, Ecevit called upon the US to pressure both sides to calm the situation in the region. He remarked that Israel's stance had become more rigid under Ariel Sharon's prime ministry. Speaking on a possible intervention in Iraq, Ecevit said, "The Turkish economy is still in a very sensitive phase, and any such operation could do it great harm." Regarding the recent disputes between Turkey's coalition partners, the prime minister said, "We are aware that the Nationalist Action Party [MHP] is sensitive on certain topics. However, we expect to overcome this difficulty given time. At our leaders' meetings, we can solve every problem among us. But later conflicting expressions may come out in the public, as it is nature of politics." /All Papers/
CILLER: "TURKEY CANNOT FORSAKE ITS EU MEMBERSHIP BID"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that Turkey could not forsake its EU membership bid and that no one had the right to sabotage the bid by making naked political ploys. Addressing her party's meeting in Mersin, Ciller said, "Turkey has gone a long way on its road towards EU membership. This bid has become official state policy. Previously, while we were struggling to integrate with the EU, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Motherland Party [ANAP] leader Mesut Yilmaz, and the Nationalist Action Party [MHP] and the Welfare Party [RP] were against the idea. Now, a consensus has been reached, it is satisfactory." Ciller also added, "However, at the same time Turkey should improve its relations with its other neighbors and not neglect them." /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: "NOBODY CAN PREVENT TURKEY FROM JOINING THE EU"
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal yesterday stated that no European country had the right to hamper Turkey's bid for EU membership and added that since Turkey deserved to join the Union, Turkey's admittance should not be seen as a "favor" to be granted by the European countries. Reiterating that Turkey was the only Muslim member of NATO and the OECD as well as one of the founding members of the European Council, Baykal said, "I have no doubt that Turkey will join the EU. There are 4 million Turks living in Europe today. We have geographical, cultural and historical ties with Europe. Nobody can prevent Turkey from joining the EU." /Star/
DOGAN: "KILINC'S REMARKS WERE MISUNDERSTOOD"
Commander of the 1st Army, Gen. Cetin Dogan said yesterday that remarks made last week by National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Turcer Kilinc had been misunderstood. Dogan told reporters that Kilinc was in favour of modernism and that his comments were a reflection of Turkey's displeasure that the terrorist group PKK had not been included in the European Union's recent list of terrorist groups. There was no need to look for another meaning behind his words, Dogan added. /Sabah/
CHENEY TOURS REGION TO DRUM UP SUPPORT
US Vice President Dick Cheney began his tour of 12 Middle Eastern and European countries, including Turkey yesterday. During his tour, Cheney will discuss the struggle against terrorism as well as the troubled Middle Eastern situation with regional authorities. Additionally, Cheney is expected to seek support for a possible US intervention in Iraq. As his first stop, he will meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair today. Besides Turkey and Great Britain, Cheney is scheduled to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. /Turkiye/
WOLFOWITZ: "TURKEY COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD"
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said yesterday that the world should support moderate Muslim countries in order to ensure victory in the war against terrorism. Wolfowitz also said that Turkey, as a moderate Muslim country which has successfully synthesized Islam and liberal democracy, could be a model for the Muslim world in the fight against terrorism. /Milliyet/
PAPANDREOU EVALUATES TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
Appearing on Greek state TV channel ERT 1 yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou offered his evaluations of recent developments in Turkish-EU relations, the Cyprus issue and Turkish-Greek relations. Papandreou stated that it was normal for Turkey to face certain problems on its path towards the EU. He argued that there were certain circles in Turkey which were trying to hamper Turkey's bid for EU membership. /Star/
TURKEY TO OVERHAUL FISCAL SYSTEM
The government is preparing to effect a complete overhaul of its fiscal system, under which it will require watchdogs to report to Parliament and will make budgets for three-years instead of one. The Finance Ministry has completed work on planned amendments to General Accounting Law No. 1050. The new legislation containing 100 clauses will sweep away the existing law almost entirely while at the same time aligning Turkey's fiscal system to that of the European Union. The Finance Ministry will circulate the draft to concerned public agencies for consultation in the coming weeks and it plans to submit it to the Prime Ministry in May and to Parliament in June. The draft proposes drastic changes to the state's fiscal system, including extension of the central government budget to public institutions with special budgets other than social security agencies and local administrations. /Turkish Daily News/
BLUE STREAM SECOND PIPELINE SLATED FOR COMPLETION IN MAY
Work has now begun on the second line in the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline project. Project manager Guido Bressani said yesterday that the line would be completed in May. Stressing that there were no delays in the project, Bressani said that 11,500 12-meter pipes had been welded, and that 2,500 pipes were still in the factory waiting to be welded. "When the project is finished some 60,000 pipes will have been welded," he added. /Turkiye/
NEW PRIVATIZATION BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED
The Turkish government is preparing to establish a new independent privatization board. The rights and authority of the Privatization Administration (OIB) and the Privatization High Council (OYK) will be made null and void and handed over to a new board to consist of seven members. /Cumhuriyet/
AKCAN: "JAPAN WILL ACCELERATE ADDITIONAL CREDITS FOR TURKEY"
Speaking upon his return to Turkey after an official visit to Japan concerning $100 billion additional in credits for the strengthening of bridges and viaducts in the Marmara region, Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan said that the Japanese authorities had told him that they would accelerate delivery of the credits to Turkey. /Hurriyet/
ISRAEL TO MODERNIZE TURKISH TANKS
Turkey and Israel have decided to sign an agreement under which Israeli company IMI will modernize 170 M-60 Turkish tanks. The ASELSAN and MKEK companies will also contribute to the modernization process. /Star/
NY TIMES FEATURES ARTICLE ON OTTOMAN JANISSARY MUSIC
Prominent US daily New York Times recently featured an article on the Ottoman janissary music style or "Mehter." The piece argued that the music of Mehter had inspired such great Western composers as Mozart and Beethoven. /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION