GUL MEETS WITH CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. OZKOK
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. During their meeting, the prime minister and Ozkok reportedly discussed Gul’s recent tour of the Mideast and a message from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein conveyed by State Minister Kursad Tuzmen as well as other developments in the region. Following the meeting, sources said that there was no distance between the government and the military on the Iraq issue, that in fact there was full cooperation and consensus. Reportedly it was also decided that Turkey’s efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Iraq issue would continue until the very end. /Turkiye/

US AMBASSADOR PEARSON MEETS WITH ZIYAL
The United States is closely following Turkey’s recent high-level contacts with Middle Eastern countries, and US Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson yesterday visited the Turkish Foreign Ministry to be briefed on these contacts. Pearson met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and exchanged views with him on Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran as well as State Minister Kursat Tuzmen’s visit to Baghdad. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Pearson remarked that he believed the Turkish and American governments would soon reach a settlement on US demands regarding the Iraq issue. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis held a meeting with top-level Foreign Ministry bureaucrats to evaluate Pearson’s visit. /Cumhuriyet/

SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AL-SHARA PAYS VISIT TO ANKARA
Ahead of a possible war in Iraq, Middle Eastern countries are seeking new ways to improve regional cooperation. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara yesterday paid a visit to Ankara to discuss recent developments in the region with Turkish officials. Speaking to journalists at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, al-Shara stated that he was very pleased to pay a visit to a friendly neighboring country. Answering questions on the Iraq issue, al-Shara added that he would discuss recent “significant and dangerous” developments with Turkish officials. “Turkey and Syria share common concerns on the Iraq issue,” said the Syrian minister. “That’s why I believe that our countries will establish a strong partnership.” Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis welcomed his Syrian counterpart in Ankara. Afterwards, al-Shara was received by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and also met with ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After these meetings, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received the Syrian minister, who conveyed a message from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to him. Al-Shara told Sezer that Assad also wanted to pay a visit to Turkey. The two officials reportedly stressed that both countries believed Iraq’s territorial and political integrity should be protected. For his part, Sezer remarked that Turkey always advocated peaceful resolutions to the problems of the Middle East and wanted the Iraq issue to be solved in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. /Cumhuriyet/

US MILITARY OFFICIALS ARRIVE AT INCIRLIK AIRBASE FOR INSPECTIONS
A delegation of 150 US military officials yesterday arrived at Turkey’s Incirlik Airbase in Adana to carry out inspections. Ahead of a possible Iraq conflict, the military delegation is to conduct inspections at Turkey’s bases and ports over the next 10 days. /Star/

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC VISITS TRNC
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc accompanied by a delegation of 20 deputies yesterday arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). At the airport, Arinc told reporters that the Turkish Parliament had always supported the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots. “Responsibility for the Cyprus issue belongs not only to the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, but also to others trying to do away with the Turkish Cypriots.” Arinc then visited TRNC President Rauf Denktas. The president briefed the delegation on recent developments and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. Denktas claimed that if Annan’s plan were implemented as it stands now, in 5-10 years not even a single Turk would remain on the island. For his part, Arinc pointed to recent demonstrations on the island in favor of a settlement, adding, “These are normal occurences in democracies.” Stressing that the Turkish Parliament was made up of deputies from two parties working together in harmony, Arinc said, “This should serve as an example for the Turkish Cypriots as well.” /Turkiye/

DE SOTO: “YOU SHOULD CHOOSE EITHER THE UN PLAN OR A NO-SOLUTION IMPASSE”
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto yesterday remarked that he believed that the parties on Cyprus could still reach a settlement on Annan’s Cyprus plan by Feb. 28, the deadline set by the European Union. “The leaders should choose either the UN plan or a no-solution impasse,” said de Soto. He stated that he would meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Galfcos Clerides on the island tomorrow. “The two leaders are carrying a great responsibility on their shoulders,” said the UN official. “This is a historic opportunity that should not be missed. Cyprus will be united or remain as a divided island.” Agreement on Annan’s plan is seen as necessary for the TRNC to take part in the already begun EU accession of Greek Cyprus. /Hurriyet/

DENKTAS TO MEET WITH CLERIDES, DISCUSS UN PLAN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is set to meet with Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides tomorrow at a lunch. Denktas yesterday met with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto. After the meeting, the president said that de Soto would also attend tomorrow’s meeting where the three men would exchange views on the plan proposed by Annan, for which a Feb. 28 deadline has been set for agreement. /Turkiye/

YSK POSTPONES SIIRT BY-ELECTION UNTIL MARCH
The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) yesterday announced that it was postponing a by-election in Siirt for one month, pushing back the date to March 9. The board cited “new legal arrangements” for its decision. It was not clear what impact, if any, the postponement would have on the bid of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run in the special election, a move designed to pave the way for his assuming the prime ministry. /Turkiye/

OZILHAN: “THE AKP GOVERNMENT SHOULD CLARIFY ITS STANCE ON IRAQ”
Tuncay Ozilhan, head of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), yesterday urged the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to clarify its stance on a possible United States operation against Iraq. “If Turkey doesn’t decide as soon as possible what to do in case of such an operation, this could affect Turkey’s economic balances negatively,” he told a TUSIAD meeting in Istanbul. “Turkey standing alone on this would undermine our future.” Ozilhan added that Turkey, as a democratic country, should not be seen as cooperating with a totalitarian regime. Ozilhan also criticized the government for what he called “populist economic policies.” Also speaking at the meeting, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that as Iraq was Turkey’s neighbor, any operation in the country would have a great impact. “Since delicate issues are involved, decisions should be taken very carefully and within the framework of democracy,” added Babacan. Responding to Ozilhan’s criticisms, Babacan denied that the government’s policies were populist, adding that its performance, dynamism, and determination were as fresh as the day it was elected over two months ago. /Milliyet/

AKP LEADER ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO CHINA
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to the People’s Republic of China to pay an official visit. Erdogan was accompanied by State Ministers for the economy Kursat Tuzmen and Ali Babacan, Transportation Minister Binali Yildrim, Tourism Minister Guldal Aksit, as well as various deputies, businessmen and journalists. /Turkiye/

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government yesterday unveiled its privatization program. Speaking at a press conference, State Minister for Economy Abdullatif Sener called the program “bold,” and said the government was determined to carry it through. “This privatization program will encourage entrepreneurs in Turkey,” said Sener, adding that the government’s privatization target for this year was $4 billion. The program indicated that institutions such as the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), the Istanbul Gold Exchange (IAB), and the National Lottery would be slated for selloff. /Milliyet/

TOP IMF AND WORLD BANK OFFICIALS DUE IN TURKEY ON THURSDAY
Two top officials from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are set to arrive in Ankara on Thursday for talks with state economic officials. Anne Krueger, first deputy managing director for the IMF, and Johannes Linn, the WB’s vice president for Europe and Central Asia, are expected to discuss recent economic developments and Turkey’s economic program with government officials. /Aksam/

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