SEZER VISITS MALATYA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer arrived in the eastern Anatolia province of Malatya yesterday. Speaking at a meeting with businessmen in the Malatya Organized Industrial Region, Sezer called the province one of Turkey’s most important, both economically and socially as well as culturally. Sezer alluded to the economic crisis which began in Turkey last year, saying that positive steps had been taken in overcoming the crisis. The president is set to proceed to Elazig today. /Turkiye/
CEM, PAPANDREOU PLAN JOINT MIDEAST TRIP TO PUSH PEACE
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece yesterday agreed on a historic joint initiative to help end the turmoil and bloodshed in the Middle East. Following Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou’s visit to Egypt last week, he phoned his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem to discuss the deteriorating situation. Both men agreed that action was needed, and soon, and so they resolved to work together. Cem and Papandreou then separately made calls to Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian officials proposing that the two men make a joint trip to the region. Israel’s response to the proposal was generally positive. One firm condition for the visit is that we must be able to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, said Cem. Plans call for the joint trip to take place following US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit later this week, but no definite date has been set. /Hurriyet/
BAHCELI: “PROSPECTS FOR PEACE DIM WITHOUT CEASEFIRE”
Speaking to his group meeting yesterday, Nationalist Action Party leader (MHP) and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that the hopes for establishing peace in the Middle East were decreasing every day that a ceasefire was not established. Bahceli also proposed that the United Nations convene a conference to address the subject of “The Struggle Against International Terrorism.” There are many Western countries which support terrorism directly or indirectly, Bahceli added. /Star/
TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: “MAY GOD HELP THE MIDDLE EAST”
Speaking at the Armenian Church of Kumkapi in Istanbul yesterday, Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II yesterday expressed his deep sorrow and regret over the ongoing violence in the Middle East, adding that the two peoples living in the Holy Land had been struggling for many years. The patriarch said that he hoped that the bloodshed and violence would end as soon as possible and that God would place love, tolerance and understanding in the hearts of both sides. /Aksam/
NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen is scheduled to pay a one-day official visit to Turkey tomorrow. Petersen is expected to be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. He will discuss recent regional and international developments with Turkish officials. /Cumhuriyet/
YILMAZ: “EU MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP TURKEY OVERCOME ITS PROBLEMS”
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz yesterday spoke on recent developments concerning Turkey’s bid for European Union membership at a panel entitled “The Impact of Turkey’s Full EU Membership on the Turkish Economy and Business World” hosted by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) in Ankara. Remarking that EU membership for Turkey would greatly help the nation greatly in overcoming its economic problems, Yilmaz said that accession negotiation process should begin as soon as possible in order to attract more foreign investment in Turkey. “Contrary to allegations from certain circles that the EU is demanding that Turkey make concessions on its national interests, I believe that our nation will grow more powerful both economically and politically if it takes the steps to fulfill the EU criteria,” said Yilmaz. “The ideals of freedom and security are not incompatible. The EU’s demands shouldn’t be considered sacrifices or concessions.” At the same panel, EU Term President Spain’s Ambassador to Ankara Manuel De La Camara stressed the importance of the Copenhagen criteria, adding that the EU expected Turkey to make further reforms to advance human rights and democratization. /Cumhuriyet/
EU URGES GREECE TO SETTLE ON ESDP
European Union’s Term President Spain has urged Greece to come to terms with EU’s deal on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), a deal on which Greece is the only holdout. Spanish Defense Minister Trillo Figuero said yesterday that Athens should bring itself around by the end of Spain’s tenure at the rotating post, which ends on June 30. Speaking at a press conference at the European Parliament, Figuero said that Ankara had worked hard to help reach the London agreement and that now it was Athens’ turn. /Aksam/
TURKEY, GREECE TO DISCUSS AEGEAN ISSUES
Turkey and Greece are to hold a joint meeting this week to discuss their disputes in the Aegean region and to propose possible solutions. Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Greek Political Director Anastasias Skopelitis will represent the two countries at the meeting in Athens on Friday, as the second round of a series of talks which began last month. Among the subjects to be discussed at the talks are territorial waters of the two countries, the armament of eastern Aegean islands and the issue of the continental shelf. /Cumhuriyet/
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION APPROVES RTUK BILL
A bill containing amendments to the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Law which had been previously vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was approved without changes yesterday by Parliament’s Constitutional Commission. During debates on the bill, RTUK Chairman Nuri Kayis criticized it as overly broad and ambiguous. “The bill says that the RTUK can ban a broadcast if it causes ‘bad feelings’ among the public,” he said. “That means that if a station reports on an inflation increases or unfavorable exchange rates, or even on a possible earthquake in Istanbul, that could be grounds for a temporary blackout.” The bill would also give the owners of radio and television stations the right to enter state tenders. /Turkiye/
HISARCIKLIOGLU: “EU DEVELOPMENT AID IS ALLOCATED UNEQUALLY”
One of Turkey’s top business leaders yesterday pushed the European Union to give Turkey a more concrete accession timetable, while also charging that the Union was not doing its fair share financially to move the process along. Speaking at a panel on “The Impact of Turkey’s Full EU Membership on the Turkish Economy and Business World” held in Ankara by the Turkish Association of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the EU should give Turkey an accession negotiations timetable by the year-end Copenhagen summit. At the same time, he charged that the paltry amount of EU aid granted Turkey was making its accession only more difficult. “On paper, Turkey’s membership in the Customs Union should make things easier,” he stated. “But while the EU is giving accession aid in Eastern and Central European countries of about 30 euros per capita, its proposed per capita aid to Turkey amounts to only 2.8 euros. Clearly this situation doesn’t represent a fair or equal approach to the membership process.” /Cumhuriyet/
EX-DPT CHIEF CHOSEN TO HEAD EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Orhan Guvenen, a former chairman of the State Planning Organization (DPT), has been chosen as the new president of the European Development Bank, it was announced yesterday. Guvenen’s candidacy for the post was supported by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Hurriyet/
ALGERIA HOSTS TURKISH PRODUCTS FAIR
The weeklong third annual Turkish Products Fair in Algeria came to a successful close yesterday. At the fair some 125 Turkish companies exhibited their wares, including auto parts and accessories, industrial machinery and equipment, electronics, construction materials, food, textiles and durable consumer goods. /Turkiye/
NEW LAW ENDS TREASURY GUARANTEES ON LOANS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed into law on Monday a bill concerning the government’s relationship with loans and debts. Under the legislation, the Treasury will no longer automatically issue guarantees for loans taken by public or private institutions from domestic or foreign sources, but will instead do so only at its discretion. Government ministers responsible for the Treasury will have the authority to issue such guarantees and to accept donations, as well as to allow the use or allocation of foreign financial resources, debt transfers or the taking on of additional financial liabilities. /Turkiye/
TURKISH PAINTERS SPOTLIGHTED IN AUCTION
Istanbul’s Hotel Ceylan InterContinental will host an art auction next week centering on the theme “Natura Magistra Artis,” a Latin phrase meaning “Nature, Art’s Master” or “Nature is the Greatest Artist.” Works by Turkish painters as well as Eastern-themed work by Western artists will be for sale. A preview exhibit of the works for sale begins tomorrow and will last through next Monday, and the auction itself is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 16. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION