SEZER VISITS ELAZIG
After completing his visit to Malatya, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer travelled to Elazig yesterday morning. Sezer first met with Osman Aydin, the governor of the province, and Lt. Gen. Engin Alan, the commander of the eighth army corps stationed there. Proceeding to Firat University and visiting its rector, Professor Fevzi Bingol, the president then spoke to its students. In his speech, Sezer said that universities were universal establishments where science and wisdom reigned and knowledge was explored in the service of humanity. “Turkey’s success on the path to modernization depends on our universities and the accomplishments of their students,” the president said. “Towards this end the quality of our education should be raised, and the best educational possibilities should be pursued.” Later Sezer went on an inspection tour of Elazig’s organized industrial region. Meanwhile, Semra Sezer, the president’s wife, attended a meeting at the Elazig Teacher’s House and gave certificates to participants in literacy courses given as part of the “Support for National Education” campaign. /All Papers/

CEM: “TURKEY IS READY TO HOST A MEETING WITH ARMENIA”
In the leadup to April 24, the day Armenian lobbies commemorate a so-called genocide, Ankara has reiterated its call for the establishment of more dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated that Turkey was ready to host a meeting in which the disputes over the Caucasus region would be discussed among Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, Turkey has also recently launched new initiatives to boost its cooperation with Russia in order to help efforts for establishing permanent peace and stability in the Caucasus. A decision was made at a recent Eurasian Joint Cooperation Group meeting in Moscow to establish a special subcommission to deal with issues concerning the southern Caucasus. The most important issue the subcommission is expected to address is Turkey’s relations with Armenia and developing solutions to the region’s problems. Ankara has demanded that Yerevan withdraw from Azerbaijani territories and cease pursuing policies against Turkey in the international arena. /Cumhuriyet/

CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF KIVRIKOGLU HONORED IN HUNGARY
Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu yesterday paid an official visit to Hungary and was received by Hungarian President Ferenc Madl. Following a private meeting, Madl decorated Gen. Kivrikoglu with an “order of merit,” Hungary’s highest decoration for a non-citizen. The Hungarian president said that Turkey and Gen. Kivrikoglu had played a critical role in Hungary’s integration into NATO. “When he visited Hungary in 1992, Gen. Kivrikoglu was the first NATO official to do so following our proclamation of democracy two years earlier,” Madl recalled. “His visit to the Hungarian Parliament then was welcomed with great enthusiasm.” Kivrikoglu also remarked that bilateral military relations between the two countries were at a very good level and expressed Turkey’s willingness to forge even better ties in the future. /Turkiye/

IMF’S BREKK: “$1.1 BILLION WILL BE RELEASED TO TURKEY”
Speaking at a conference organized by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday, IMF Turkey representative Odd Per Brekk spoke about the IMF Executive Board’s scheduled April 15 meeting, at which the board is to discuss matters relating to Turkey. Brekk also stated that Turkey had so far done what the IMF had asked of it. “I don’t see any problem in the release of a first loan tranche to Turkey totaling $1.1 billion,” Brekk added. /Hurriyet/

YUGOSLAVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS TURKEY FOR RENEWED TIES
Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic will travel to Turkey today in order to renew good relations between Turkey and his country, official sources said yesterday. /Hurriyet/

IRAN: “WE ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE ISSUE OF CEMIL BAYIK”
The Iranian government sent an official message to Turkey yesterday saying that the issue of Cemil Bayik, the head of the PKK terrorist organization’s so-called chairmanship council, was being closely followed but that no definitive results had yet been obtained. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also requested detailed information on the issue from the Turkish Foreign Ministry to help the ongoing investigations and went on to express its dissatisfaction with accusations in the Turkish press that Iran was “embracing” Bayik. /Cumhuriyet/

RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO CALL FOR PEACE IN MIDEAST
Leaders from the three monotheistic religions in Turkey are to meet today in Istanbul to voice their call for peace in the Middle East. The meeting will be chaired by Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz. Among the leaders scheduled to attend the meeting are Fener Patriarch Dimitri Bartolomeos, Chief Rabbi in Turkey David Aseo and Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan. /Cumhuriyet/

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SECURITY CELEBRATES 157TH ANNIVERSARY
The Directorate General of Security celebrated the 157th anniversary of its establishment yesterday with various ceremonies throughout the country. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi issued messages remarking on the security organization’s importance in ensuring public order and congratulating the directorate for its accomplishments. Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen attended a ceremony held at Ankara’s Police Academy and addressed the gathering. Stressing that role of the security forces before crimes are committed was as important as its role in the wake of such crimes, Yucelen said, “We are trying to train our policemen to be ready for every possible challenge in line with the rule of law and respect for humanity.” /Turkiye/

MEETINGS TO DISCUSS DIFFICULTIES OF EXPORTERS
A series of meetings is planned to bring together exporters with public sector representatives to address the problems of Tureky’s exporting sectors, the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat announced yesterday. The first such meeting, scheduled for April 24 in Istanbul, will focus on the chemical, iron and steel sectors. Further meetings planned for Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya and Gaziantep are to be held throughout the year. /Turkiye/

BAYTAS HONORED WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE
Turkish Promotion Foundation Chairman Kemal Baytas is set to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Kutahya’s Dumlupinar University this summer, the university announced yesterday. This will be Baytas’ second such degree, having previously been so honored by Gazi University. Dumlupinar’s Senate decided earlier this year to grant Baytas a degree from its Social Science Institute’s Management Department in light of his outstanding contributions to boost Turkish tourism. The degree ceremony will coincide with June’s 10th anniversary of Dumlupinar. /Aksam/

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION