PRIME MINISTRY HOLDS ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul held a meeting with economy officials yesterday at the Prime Ministry to discuss recent negative developments in financial markets. Present at the gathering were State Ministers for the Economy Abdullatif Sener and Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, State Planning Organization (DPT) Undersecretary Ahmet Tiktik, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti. Speaking after the meeting, Sener said that the officials had agreed to take needed measures on budget preparations and the primary surplus. He also said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government would work to establish fiscal discipline. Sener stated that during the meeting, the participants had also discussed measures needed for the government to increase revenues and bring down expenses, adding that the AKP administration was determined to achieve its economic targets. /Aksam/
YAKIS: “TURKEY AND THE US HAVEN’T SIGNED ANY MILITARY AGREEMENT YET”
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis stated yesterday that although Turkey had recently authorized US military officials to conduct inspections at Turkish bases, the two countries hadn’t yet signed any agreement on US-Turkish military cooperation in case of an Iraq operation. Stating that the US hasn’t had yet to officially respond to a draft agreement recently proposed by Turkey, Yakis said, “Turkish military institutions are quite sensitive on the matter of US troops deployed on home soil. Our nations have to sign an agreement laying out the official status of the US troops stationed here as soon as possible.” /Cumhuriyet/
TALABANI: “IN CASE OF A WAR, THE IPUK WILL BLOCK TURKEY FROM ENTERING NORTHERN IRAQ”
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani yesterday stated that the IPUK wouldn’t cooperate with Turkey in case of a war in Iraq. According to Iranian news reports, Talabani remarked that the IPUK wouldn’t let additional Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) units enter northern Iraq if the US launches a war against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Stating that if Saddam didn’t end his dictatorship, a war was inevitable in the region, Talabani said, “A new democratic government should be formed in Iraq.” /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA TO SEE HEAVY DIPLOMATIC TRAFFIC THROUGH MONTH’S END
Ankara is set to receive a host of important international visitors through the end of this month. Seeking support for a possible military operation in Iraq, British Defense Minister Geoff Hoon and Chief of General Staff Sir Michael Boyce arrived in Ankara last night. In addition to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, the British officials will meet with Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. Other upcoming visits include:
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani is expected to arrive in Ankara today. * United Nations Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto will visit Ankara on Friday. * Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk El Sara will hold meetings in Ankara starting next Monday. * European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen is expected to visit Ankara in the last week of the month. US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers will hold contacts in Ankara on Jan. 24-25.
In addition, as part of the EU troika meetings to be held in Ankara on Jan. 31, George Papandreou and Franco Frattini, the Greek and Italian foreign ministers, respectively, are expected to visit Ankara. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: “THE UN’S CYPRUS PLAN AIMS TO MAKE TURKISH CYPRIOTS INTO A MINORITY”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal charged that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) had taken a wrong turn with its recent Cyprus policies. Baykal said that the AKP government should determinedly put forth its stance on the Cyprus issue, adding that he didn’t understand what the government’s aim could be in branding 40 years of policy as “unsuccessful.” He also said that any solution plan that threatened to make the Turkish Cypriots on the island into a minority would not be acceptable. “UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan aims to do just that,” added Baykal. /Milliyet/
NY TIMES: “ACCEPTING ANNAN’S PLAN WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR CYPRUS’ FUTURE”
The island of Cyprus can look forward to a more promising future if Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) leader Rauf Denktas accepts a United Nations plan paving the way for a united Cyprus to join the European Union, said a New York Times editorial published yesterday. “If the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, succeeds in blocking the agreement, the pain and unfairness of Cyprus's armed partition could be locked in for years to come,” said the influential US daily. “Polls show that an overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots favors the UN plan. Last month tens of thousands of them took to the streets demanding its acceptance. As important, the Turkish political leadership in Ankara on which Mr. Denktas's power ultimately depends is also pressing for a swift negotiated settlement. Unfortunately, Mr. Denktas refuses to get the message.” The paper added, “Mr. Annan’s plan may not be perfect, but rejecting it would be a worse alternative for both Cyprus communities.” /Sabah/
ERDOGAN MEETS AZERI PRESIDENT ALIYEV
At the first stop of his five-day tour of Central Asian countries, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan. After being received by Azeri President Haydar Aliyev, Erdogan said that their meeting had been fruitful. Stating that the two countries enjoyed very friendly relations, the AKP leader said, “Further developing our bilateral relations will serve the interests of both our countries.” For his part, Aliyev said that it was a pleasure to host Erdogan in Azerbaijan. “There aren’t problems between our countries which can’t be worked through,” he added. /Turkiye/
KANADOGLU: “AKP LEADER ERDOGAN CANNOT RUN IN THE UPCOMING SIIRT ELECTIONS”
High Court of Appeals Republican Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu said yesterday that any person who had been ineligible to stand in last November’s general elections would be similarly ineligible to run in upcoming by-elections in the southern city of Siirt. Such a stance would effectively block the candidacy of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who gained eligibility under AKP-passed constitutional amendments just this month. Kanadoglu’s court has no jurisdiction over the elections process, but the senior jurist’s views could be influential. Claiming that the Siirt elections were not true by-elections, but rather a continuation of the Nov. 3 elections, Kanadoglu stated that the ban on Erdogan was therefore still applicable. Asked about Kanadoglu’s statements, Tufan Algan, chairman of the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK), told reporters that they represented the chief prosecutors’ own personal opinion. Stressing that the elections in Siirt would be held according to standard legal procedures, Algan said when an application for candidacy in the polls was made, objections, if any, would be considered then. The new elections, meant to address irregularities in the Nov. 3 polls, are due to be held next month. /Turkiye/
EUROPEAN COUNCIL INVITES GUL TO STRASBOURG
The European Council Parliamentarians Assembly yesterday invited Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to Strasbourg to attend its general assembly sessions to be held at the end of this month. Gul reportedly accepted the invitation, and is planning to travel to Strasbourg on Jan. 27. /Star/
TURKISH, GREEK CYPRIOT DELEGATIONS HOLD FIRST MEETING
Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot delegations recently put together at the behest of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met for the first time yesterday to discuss Cyprus’ future. The two eight-member delegations met at Lefkosha’s UN Conference Center, where they addressed the island’s problems and prospects for a settlement. /Cumhuriyet/
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATED
The 57th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party (DP) was commemorated yesterday. Speaking at a press conference, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar praised the performance of the now-defunct party, and in particular the role of the late-1950s DP government in brokering an independence arrangement for a united Cyprus. The late Adnan Menderes, the DP’s chairman and then government leader, was remembered along with other prominent DP officials. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION