TURKEY CRITISIZES ISRAEL
In the face of Israel’s continued military incursion in the West Bank and siege of Palestinian headquarters in an apparent effort to further cut off Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Turkey has stepped up its criticism of Israel. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday stated that Israel was violating the human rights of Palestinians, adding that Arafat had become a “prisoner” in his own territory. Speaking to the press prior to a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem commented on recent developments in the Middle East. Cem’s remarks can be summarized along the following lines: 1) The UN Security Council’s latest resolution calling for Israel to pull back from Palestinian cities including Ramallah and urging both parties to carry out a ceasefire agreement must be implemented as soon as possible. 2) Turkey strongly denounces the terrorist activities and suicide bombings in the Mideast. Any act of terrorism targeting innocent people cannot be justified. 3) Since Yasser Arafat is a leader whom Turkey has officially recognized, there is no way for Turkey to accept what the Israeli government has recently been doing against him. 4) Escalating violence poses a major threat not only to Israel and the Palestinian territories but also to all neighboring countries in the region. The US has a fundamental role in the Middle East peace process and should never for sake it. The US must adopt an important position, in order to end the violence and the Israeli siege. 5) The two parties should come together to find a peaceful and permanent solution under the guidance of the Madrid and Oslo agreements. “Turkey strongly condemns the Israeli government’s recent attitude,” said Cem. “Since the administrative mechanism of the Palestinian Authority has been dissolved and its leader has been isolated, it would not be realistic to expect it to take action against the terrorist attacks.” /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
Turkey has reached an agreement to assume command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. A statement issued yesterday by the office of Turkey’s Chief of General Staff said that following lengthy negotiations with US and British officials, Turkey had accepted in principle to take over the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) command from Great Britain. A delegation headed by Maj. Gen. Akin Zorlu will leave for Afghanistan tomorrow to evaluate the current situation in the region and to coordinate with officials there. After preparations are completed, a delegation of the ISAF command, headquarters staff and additional units will travel to the region. /Turkiye/
TOSKAY CONVEYS MESSAGE TO SADDAM FROM ECEVIT
State Minister Tunca Toskay yesterday met with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, carrying with him a message from Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to Saddam. In his message, Ecevit said, “The situation is still serious. The US is preparing for an operation, so you should let United Nation inspectors enter your country.” The Middle East cannot withstand any more tension, Ecevit added, and he stressed Saddam’s critical role in protecting Iraq’s territorial integrity. Toskay said that Saddam had given him a message for Ecevit in response, but supplied no further details. The state minister also characterized the meeting as “very positive.” /Hurriyet/
CABINET: “UN RESOLUTIONS ON MIDEAST MUST BE IMPLEMENTED”
State Minister and government spokesman Yilmaz Karakoyunlu answered journalists’ questions following yesterday Cabinet meeting. Karakoyunlu said that both the prime minister and foreign minister had made important contacts to promote the implementation of recent UN Security Council resolutions to end the violence in the Middle East. He stated that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had remarked that US involvement was a must to resolve the volatile situation. Karakoyunlu noted that the future of an agreement with Israel regarding Turkish tank modernization was also discussed at the meeting. Turning to economic topics, the minister reiterated projected figures for Turkey’s growth and inflation for all of 2002 as 3% and 35%, respectively. /Turkiye/
EU TO RECONSIDER TERRORIST LIST
The Foreign Ministry is busy preparing for an April 9 meeting in Brussels on the subject of terrorism which European Union representatives and terrorism experts are due to attend. Just three days later, on April 12, EU member country representatives are due to meet to discuss the EU’s list of terrorist groups drawn up after last September’s attacks on the US. There is a good chance that the terrorist DHKP-C could be added to the list, diplomatic sources said. /Aksam/
DANISH PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is scheduled to visit Ankara next Friday as the official guest of Turkish Prime Minsiter Bulent Ecevit. Denmark is due to assume the European Union rotating term presidency in July and hold it through year’s end. Turkey attaches great importance to Rasmussen’s visit since it wants to begin its negotiations for full EU membership at the Copenhagen summit, which is to take place in December. The main issues to be spotlighted during Rasmussen’s meetings are expected to be Turkey’s bid for EU membership and steps recently taken by the Turkish government concerning human rights and democratization. /Cumhuriyet/
CHHIBBER: “WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT TURKEY’S GROWTH”
A World Bank delegation arrived in Ankara yesterday and visited the headquarters of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) to hear out the group’s views. WB Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said after the meeting, “We are ready to support Turkey to help its growth.” Chhibber also indicated that discussions were still ongoing as to how much to lend Turkey for corporate sector restructuring, but added that an announcement on the exact amount could come after the WB’s meeting on the matter on April 5. /Hurriyet/
CULTURE MINISTER TALAY KICKS OFF “TURKISH WEEK” IN EGYPT
Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, who is currently visiting Egypt, opened a cemetery for Turkish martyrs yesterday in Cairo. He also met with his Egyptian counterpart Faruk Husni and made the opening speech of a “Turkish Week” celebration which will last through Friday. /Cumhuriyet/
TALKS ON ISTANBUL APPROACH SCHEDULED THIS WEEK
Speaking at a Turkish Association of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) meeting held yesterday to promote the International Finance Corporation (IFC), TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that he was hopeful about talks scheduled for this Friday to discuss the Istanbul Approach, a public-private oversight board. Saying that the daylong meetings would be attended by officials from the World Bank, the TOBB, the Union of Banks and the Treasury as well as State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, Hisarciklioglu added that he hoped that the talks would bear fruit. In addition, a five-person delegation from the World Bank came to Ankara yesterday to discuss the Istanbul Approach and to visit TOBB headquarters. The delegation is also due to have contacts with representatives from the real sector and the economic bureaucracy and to attend Friday’s meeting. Stating that the Istanbul Approach was still in the discussion stage, IFC Turkey Director Sujata Lamba said, “If Turkey needs help, we will of course help it.” /Aksam/
TALABANI INKS DEAL WITH TURKISH INDUSTRIALISTS
The Ankara Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (ASIAD) has established a joint venture called the “Dost Partnership” with northern Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, reports said yesterday. Dost was founded with a 50% interest held by the ASIAD Partnership and the Nazar Company, the latter of which is attached to the PUK. The company hopes to broker United Nations bids in northern Iraq, particularly in the Suleymaniye region, and to market grains from the region through Turkey to third countries. The contract for the venture, which was discussed during Talabani’s recent visit to Ankara, was signed by PUK financial director Dara Nuri Benzinci and ASIAD Executive Board Chairman Cengiz Bozbeyoglu. /Aksam/
OIL PRODUCTION BEGINS IN DIYARBAKIR
Oil drilling started yesterday morning in Ergani, a town in the southeastern province of Diyarbakýr. The high-quality oil extracted from the well, called “Gokici-1,” was transferred by tractor tralier trucks to facilities in Diyarbakir’s Pirinclik district. On the first day, enough oil to fill eight trucks was drilled. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION