GUL VISITS JORDAN’S KING ABDULLAH, PUSHES FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION IN IRAQ
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday paid a visit to Jordan, his final stop on a three-nation Middle East tour to push for a peaceful resolution in Iraq rather than United States-led intervention. During his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Gul said that to head off a possible operation, Turkey would hold joint conferences, make declarations, and pay further visits to Middle Eastern countries. Gul also met with Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Ebu Ragip. Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Gul said that the Iraq issue constituted a grave crisis, and that his only aim was to defuse this crisis without the need for a military operation. Asked about a possible visit to Iraq, Gul said that he would probably pay a visit there, but that this was not yet certain. “I am doing my utmost to prevent a United States operation against Iraq, and now it’s Iraq’s turn,” said Gul. “It should comply with the UN resolutions. I want the Iraqi administration to act in good faith.” Gul added that all the leaders of Middle Eastern countries had pledged to continue their efforts to reach a peaceful solution in the region. Gul stated that last-minute maneuvers had averted wars many times. “The leaders I visited are most concerned about conditions after an operation,” he added. “They fear that such an operation could trigger terrorist activities.” /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN RECEIVES GREEK POLITICAL PARTY LEADER
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received Costas Karamanlis, the leader of Greece’s opposition New Democracy Party. Following their meeting at AKP headquarters in Ankara, Erdogan told journalists that he had no doubt that during its current European Union term presidency, Greece would contribute to Turkey’s EU membership bid. For his part, Karamanlis stated that Greece had long supported Turkey’s EU membership. He added that a settlement should be reached in Cyprus for the benefit of both sides. /Turkiye/
MILITARY OFFICIALS BRIEF YAKIS, FOREIGN MINISTRY BUREAUCRATS ON IRAQ ISSUE
Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu and Adm. Kadir Sagdic yesterday briefed Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and a number of Foreign Ministry bureaucrats along with the members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission on the Iraq issue. The military officials reportedly requested that the government clarify Turkey’s stance towards a possible US-led military campaign in Iraq. /Aksam/
ERDOGAN’S SIIRT CANDIDACY ON HOLD TILL JAN. 20
The Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) yesterday decided not to declare its nominees for deputy in upcoming by-elections in the province of Siirt until Jan. 20, which is the last day to apply to the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK). AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that Merve Gul, who was elected deputy for Siirt in last November’s elections, which were later invalidated for the province due to irregularities, had not officially withdrawn her candidacy, and that that was necessary before he could proceed with his own candidacy. Meanwhile, Gul yesterday stated that she was ready to withdraw for the sake of Erdogan whenever she is asked to do so. Newly eligible to become a parliamentary deputy by virtue of a constitutional change, Erdogan’s winning the seat for Siirt is expected to pave the way for his assuming the prime ministry. /Turkiye/
YAKIS: “TURKEY IS INVESTIGATING ITS RIGHTS TO OIL IN MOSUL AND KIRKUK”
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said yesterday that he had instructed government legal advisors to examine a number of treaties in order to evaluate Turkey’s rights over oil fields in the Mosul and Kirkuk regions of northern Iraq. Stressing that the regions were traditionally areas where ethic Turkmens reside, Yasar said, “If we prove that Turkey has rights to oil in the region, we should clearly explain this to both the international community and related countries.” In addition, appearing on television, Yakis stated that Turkey favored the Iraq issue being resolved through peaceful means. “However,” he added, “we are taking into consideration all eventualities.” Regarding the Cyprus issue, the foreign minister said that the issue was not just the concern of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas but also of the people of Cyprus and Turkey itself. Yakis added that the problem would be solved through a common consensus. /Turkiye/
EROGLU: “THE TRNC COULD MAKE TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT FOR CYPRUS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said yesterday that the TRNC could make territorial concessions in order to reach an agreement on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. The issue of the balance of land between the TRNC and Greek Cyprus has been one of the main sticking points in Annan’s plan. “Our main aim is for as few Turkish Cypriots as possible to have to leave their houses,” said Eroglu. He added, however, that the UN’s plan failed to take into account the existence of two equal states on the island. “Disregarding the fact that there are two nations on the island, and then trying to form one nation, is not workable,” he stated. “The Turkish Cypriots will remain Turk, and the Greek Cypriots will remain Greek.” /Hurriyet/
ARINC PAYS COURTESY VISITS TO CHIEF OF STAFF OZKOK, OTHER TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday paid separate courtesy visits to Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman, Air Force Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Bulent Alpkaya and General Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Sener Eruygur. /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN TO BEGIN CENTRAL ASIAN TOUR IN AZERBAIJAN
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set today to begin a five-day tour of Central Asian countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. First Erdogan will travel to Baku, Azerbaijan and meet with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to meet with Azeri Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and then is to proceed to Ashkhabat, Turkmenistan’s capital. After meeting with Turkmen President Saparmurat Turkmenbasi on Friday, the AKP leader will fly to Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, where he is set to meet with President Nur Sultan Nazarbayev. He will return to Turkey on Saturday. In addition, Erdogan will pay a visit to Beijing, China on next Monday. A delegation of ministers, deputies, businessmen, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and journalists will accompany Erdogan during his visits. /Turkiye
TURKEY’S ECONOMY ACHIEVES HIGHEST GROWTH RATE IN EUROPE
Turkey’s economy grew by 7.9% last year, a growth rate higher than that of any other European country, said a report appearing in British newspaper The Guardian yesterday. The report stated that Turkey’s industrial output achieved a “miraculous” growth rate of 12%. Yet, the report added, high inflation still plagued the country and was hobbling further economic development. According to official figures released last week, Turkey achieved a 29.7% inflation rate last year, bettering a 35% government target and down sharply from about 70% at the end of 2001. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION