GUL: “OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO AVERT A WAR”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is opposed to a US-led operation in Iraq, and it is continuing to do its utmost to avert war, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday. Speaking at the AKP’s group meeting, Gul addressed recent criticisms of the government’s stance on Iraq. “The AKP government is acting responsibly,” he asserted. “It is trying to find a way to end this crisis without war.” Also touching on his recent tour of Middle Eastern countries to promote efforts at peace, Gul said that the leaders he had met with were concerned about conditions in Iraq after a possible war, adding that a peaceful resolution to the issue was still possible. Gul said that the government had to consider the interests of the Turkish nation in case of an operation, but that the government’s most important responsibility was to prevent war before it had a chance to begin. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN BEGINS VISIT TO CHINA
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a delegation of over 200 state officials, businessmen, and journalists, yesterday arrived in Beijing, China, to pay a three-day official visit. On the first day of his trip, Erdogan was received by People’s Republic of China Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. Following their meeting, during a joint press conference, Erdogan said that there were no political problems between Turkey and China. Stressing that Turkey fully supported China’s territorial integrity without reservation, Erdogan stated that Turkey stood opposed to any and all terrorist activities and advocated international cooperation along these lines. For his part, Rongji remarked that China had very good relations with Turkey. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “TURKEY SHOULDN’T TAKE PART IN A WAR”
Warning the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government not to get involved in any Iraq conflict, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Turkey shouldn’t take part in a “meaningless and useless” war in the region. Speaking at his party’s group meeting, Baykal criticized the government’s stands towards recent developments in international politics and the economy. Claiming that the ruling government had failed to put together a coherent and effective policy on foreign policy issues, Baykal stated that the government was simultaneously sending messages of friendship to both US President George W. Bush and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. “The government is trying to make political and commercial connections with Iraq before a war, while at the same time it is signing an agreement with the US to upgrade our air bases,” said Baykal. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he also criticized statements indicating a policy shift on Cyprus. “We couldn’t alter Annan’s plan, so let’s change our national policy, is that what this amounts to?” he asked. “This is not a coherent policy.” Charging that the government’s economy policy depended on price increases, Baykal said that the nation’s poor citizens would suffer because of it. /Turkiye/

YAKIS RECEIVES SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AL-SHARA
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis yesterday received his Syrian counterpart Farouk al-Shara at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara. During the meeting, Yakis and al-Shara discussed a possible Iraq conflict as well as opportunities for further developing bilateral relations between their countries. Al-Shara also told Yakis that Syria had included KADEK, the terrorist successor to the PKK, on its official list of terrorist organizations. Following their talks, Yakis and al-Shara signed a protocol for establishing a political consultation mechanism between Ankara and Damascus. /Hurriyet/

PEARSON: “THE US IS READY TO COMPENSATE TURKEY FOR ECONOMIC LOSSES INCURRED DUE TO WAR IN IRAQ”
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson yesterday held a meeting with a group of Turkish businessmen in Ankara. During the gathering, Pearson said that the US was determined to see through “regime change” in Iraq, meaning the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. He predicted that the impact on Turkey’s economy of a war in Iraq wouldn’t be as high as some publicized estimates, adding, however, that the US was preparing a package to compensate for Turkey’s losses. Speaking after the meeting, Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that the US was determined to carry out an operation against Iraq. /Milliyet/

DENKTAS, CLERIDES, AND DE SOTO TO MEET TODAY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is set today to meet with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides and UN General-Secretary Kofi Annan’s Special Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto to discuss Annan’s Cyprus plan. The leaders will be seeking ways to reach an agreement on the plan before Feb. 28, a European Union-set deadline to facilitate a united Cyprus joining the EU. Many observers, however, predict the deadline will not be met, in part because Clerides has to attend to Greek Cypriot elections also scheduled for February. Tomorrow de Soto is set to go to Greece to meet with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou. In related news, David Hannay, Britain’s special envoy to Cyprus, is also expected to travel to Cyprus tomorrow. /Milliyet/

40,000 TURKISH CYPRIOTS MARCH IN SUPPORT OF UN CYPRUS PLAN
In a repeat of similar public demonstrations held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) late last year, an estimated 40,000 Turkish Cypriots took to the streets yesterday in support of the United Nations’ Cyprus plan and the TRNC’s joining the European Union alongside its neighbor, Greek Cyprus. During the rally in the capital Lefkosha, the demonstrators expressed frustration with TRNC President Rauf Denktas’s “overly rigid” stance towards negotiations on the island’s future, urging him to sign UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan before Feb. 28, the deadline the EU has set for reaching an agreement. In related news, Denktas said yesterday, “Unfortunately, no peace deal seems likely before Feb. 28, as there are too many points in the current UN proposal requiring serious revision.” Denktas added that if no agreement is reached before the deadline, the TRNC might hold a referendum on the UN proposal. Meanwhile, speaking about yesterday’s public demonstrations, Annan said that he appreciated the Turkish Cypriots marching and striving for peace and reunification on the island, adding that he was hopeful that a peace deal could be reached soon. /Cumhuriyet/

US CYPRUS COORDINATOR WESTON VISITS ANKARA
Tom Weston, the United State’s coordinator for Cyprus, paid a visit to Ankara yesterday to promote UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s solution proposal for the island. Weston spoke with Foreign Ministry Assistant Undersecretary Baki Ilkin, and then met with opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Inal Batu. Following their meeting, Batu said he had told Weston that Annan’s proposal needed to be revised to better reflect the realities on Cyprus, adding that no just and fair settlement would be possible without this. /Cumhuriyet/

US STATE DEPARTMENT: “TURKISH CYPRIOT DEMONSTRATORS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING”
Commenting on recent popular public demonstrations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in favor of a UN solution proposal, US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday that the Turkish Cypriots marching for peace were doing the right thing. “Large demonstrations in Cyprus show that the Turkish Cypriots understand the significant benefits of achieving a comprehensive settlement and achieving it now,” Boucher told a daily press briefing. “The UN's revised settlement plan currently on the table provides a basis for such a settlement, and we believe a settlement in Cyprus can and should be achieved by February 28.” /Hurriyet/

IN BID FOR TURKISH APPROVAL, BUSH ADMINISTRATION REPORTEDLY PARES DOWN TROOP-STATIONING REQUEST
As part of its continuing efforts to secure the Turkish government’s full cooperation ahead of a possible Iraq operation, the Bush administration is reportedly paring down its request to station US troops on Turkish soil, reducing the number of soldiers involved from 80,000 to 15,000. This last-ditch effort is seen by the US as essential to position its forces for a possible northern offensive into Iraq. Turkey recently authorized US military officials to carry out inspections of Turkish air bases and harbors, but has yet to make a decision on the US request to station troops within its borders. /Hurriyet/

GERMANY AND THE NETHERLANDS TO SOON TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND FROM TURKEY
International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman Gordon McKenzie yesterday said that Germany and the Netherlands were nearly ready to take over the ISAF command from Turkey, ending its six-month-plus tenure leading the force in Afghanistan. Stressing that German Gen. Norbert Van Heyst would arrive in Kabul on Feb. 2, McKenzie stated that Dutch military officials would serve as deputy commanders. Some 2,500 German, 550 Dutch and 1,800 soldiers from other countries will make up the fresh force. Turkey is the second nation to command the ISAF since its formation in January 2002. /Turkiye/

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