SEZER TO CHAIR GOVERNMENT, MILITARY SUMMIT ON IRAQ
A summit chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to be held this morning at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to discuss recent developments on the Iraq issue. In addition to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and other high-level officials connected to the topic are expected to attend the meeting. /Turkiye/
TURKEY PROPOSES INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT FOR PEACE IN IRAQ; GUL TO UNDERTAKE SECOND MIDEAST TOUR
In its latest move to avert a possible war in Iraq, the Turkish government yesterday proposed a summit of Middle Eastern nations to seek a peaceful solution to the issue. After Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal met with the Ankara ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iran and Syria, ministry spokesman Yusuf Bulunc said that the heads of state of all five nations had been invited to a summit next Thursday to address the crisis. The countries are expected to answer Turkey’s invitation over the weekend. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is planning to hold a second tour of Mideast countries next week, details of which are still pending. /Turkiye/
GUL: “THE AKP GOVERNMENT WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS”
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul declared yesterday that even though citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had apparently been provoked against their government and Turkey itself, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government would always stand behind TRNC President Rauf Denktas, no matter what. Gul added that Turkey had serious concerns about the United Nations Cyprus plan currently on the table. “Our chief concern is the future migration of Greek Cypriots to the TRNC,” said Gul. “In a matter of just a few years, this [migration] could endanger the presence of Turkish Cypriots on the island. This wouldn’t be a problem if Turkey was part of the European Union.” /Milliyet/
TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU VISITS ANKARA
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu yesterday arrived in Ankara to attend a symposium and panel in Ankara on the Cyprus issue. Speaking to reporters, Eroglu stated that the TRNC would continue to defend its just cause during negotiations over the island’s future. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN PROMOTES IMPROVED TURKISH-CHINESE ECONOMIC TIES
Continuing his visit to the People’s Republic of China, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke at a Chinese-Turkish Economic summit held in Shanghai. Erdogan said that Turkey wanted to improve economic relations with China, adding that China’s recent induction into the World Trade Organization would help this process. Erdogan added that Chinese businessmen could invest in any number of fields in Turkey, such as transportation and telecommunications. /Aksam/
ANAP HEAD OZDEMIR: “ERDOGAN SHOULD ENTER PARLIAMENT SO AS TO END TURKEY’S BIPOLAR LEADERSHIP”
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan should use a March by-election to enter Parliament and so end Turkey’s “bipolar leadership” situation, Ali Talip Ozdemir, the recently elected chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said yesterday. “This bipolarity is hurting the government, which is why ANAP supports Erdogan entering Parliament,” stated Özdemir. During last November’s general elections, Erdogan was under ban from holding political office, a ban since lifted by the AKP government. Current Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is widely expected to step aside for Erdogan should the party leader run and win a seat in Parliament at the March 9 by-election in Siirt, a southeastern Anatolia province. /Cumhuriyet/
KRUEGER: “GOOD TURKISH-IMF RELATIONS DEPEND ON CONTINUED STRUCTURAL REFORM”
Anne Krueger, first managing director of the International Monetary Fund, yesterday held a series of meetings in Ankara with Prime Minister Adullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti. During these meetings, Krueger asked about the government’s problems in implementing its economic program. She also reportedly expressed concern about a recent downward trend in economic signs following largely positive trends in the wake of last November’s elections. In her meeting with Unakitan, Krueger reportedly expressed opposition to any government plan for tax amnesty. Speaking later to reporters, Krueger said that continued good relations between the IMF and Turkey depend on the Justice and Development (AKP) government carrying out needed structural reforms as soon as possible. She also said that its recently announced privatization program and budget plans were good beginnings for the new government. She added that an IMF delegation would come to Turkey in February, but that an exact date hadn’t been set. /Aksam/
GEN. BUYUKANIT: “THE MILITARY CAN’T MAKE PLEDGES ON IRAQ TO US JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN MYERS”
In the absence of a political decision on Iraq from Turkey’s civilian government, the Turkish military cannot make any binding pledges to the US’ top military officer during his visit this weekend, said Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday. Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, is due to arrive in Ankara on Sunday. “Gen. Myers is a military official, and our contacts will be conducted accordingly,” Buyukanit told a diplomatic reception. Myers is expected to reiterate Washington’s request that the Turkish government clarify its stance on the scope of Turkish-US cooperation in a possible war against Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
US AMBASSADOR PEARSON TO BRIEF TURKISH DEPUTIES ON IRAQ ISSUE
United States Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson is scheduled to brief a group of deputies from both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on the Iraq issue today. The briefing is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the ambassador’s residence. /Cumhuriyet/
US EXIMBANK APPROVES HELICOPTER LOAN FOR TURKEY
The US Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) yesterday officially approved a loan of $324 million to Turkey to be used in the purchase of eight S-70B Sea Hawk and six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the Turkish Navy. The helicopters will be bought from US company Sikorsky. The loan was an extension of a loan first granted in 1990, and as such has already been authorized by the US Congress, with no need for additional approval. /Turkiye/
TURKMEN ASK FOR PROTECTION IN CASE OF IRAQ WAR
Lands inhabited by ethnic Turkmen in northern Iraq would likely be the scene of chaos following a US-led conflict, warned Iraqi Turkmen Front Ankara Representative Mustafa Ziya yesterday, underscoring his countrymen’s need for protection in such a situation. Stressing that the Kirkuk and Mosul regions in northern Iraq had been Turkmen land for thousands of years, Ziya said, “In case of a war, certain groups may try to slaughter the Turkmen living there in order to seize our land.” Pointing out that the Turkmen were largely unarmed and lacked a standing army, Ziya said he hoped his brethren in Turkey together with other countries would safeguard the Turkmen’s security. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION