GUL MEETS WITH OZKOK TO DISCUSS IRAQ
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok to discuss a possible US-led operation against Iraq. Also present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. During the gathering, Ozkok briefed participants on his meeting earlier this week with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers, and also on joint Turkish-US military plans in case of war. Gul stated that he would meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell during the World Economic Forum which begins in Davos, Switzerland today. The participants also discussed today’s summit for peace in Iraq to be held in Istanbul with the participation of the Turkish, Jordish, Eygptian, Irani, Syrian, and Saudi Arabian foreign ministers. In related news, Gul is expected to meet with German Chancellor Joschka Fischer today. During their meeting, Gul and Fischer are to discuss bilateral and regional issues in addition to the situation in Iraq. /Milliyet/
GUL BRIEFS DYP LEADER AGAR ON IRAQ
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar to brief him on a number of issues, including a possible US-led operation against Iraq. Agar is one of only two DYP deputies currently in Parliament. During their meeting, Agar stressed the need for Turkey to have skilled, capable soldiers stationed in northern Iraq, an assertion that Gul seconded. Turkish forces are ready to face whatever may come, the prime minister added. Gul also said that he was concerned about the future and territorial integrity of Iraq should Saddam Hussein be deposed. “This is the critical issue,” he stated. “Our talks with US officials are continuing to grapple with this matter.” /Milliyet/
GUL, ERDOGAN TO ATTEND DAVOS ECONOMIC FORUM
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a number of government ministers and businessmen, are set to attend the World Economic Forum which begins in Davos, Switzerland today. Among other events, the gathering is set to host a seminar on recent developments in Turkey and the nation’s economic future. /Aksam/
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DISQUALIFIES ERDOGAN FROM AKP LEADERSHIP
The Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that it did not recognize Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In its decision handed down concerning Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu’s request for suspension of Erdogan’s AKP leadership, the Court refused the request on the grounds that Erdogan had already withdrawn from the leadership by surrendering his AKP ‘founding member’ status last October. “Erdogan should have resigned the chairmanship along with his founding membership," said Judge Hasim Kilic, the Constitutional Court’s chief justice. "The fact that he has not resigned does not mean that he is chairman." The ruling could endanger Erdogan’s bid to become prime minister through a Parliament by-election in March, though AKP members said yesterday that would join the party and be re-elected its leader. /All Papers/
PEACE SUMMIT ON IRAQ BEGINNING IN ISTANBUL
A summit to promote peaceful resolution of the Iraq issue is set to begin today at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace with the participation of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Prime Minster Abdullah Gul will chair the gathering. Following the Istanbul summit, another meeting is planned to be held in Damascus, Syria with the attendance of the heads of state and government or foreign ministers of the above countries, plus Kuwait and, in the latter arrangement, Iraq itself. /All Papers/
MILITARY OFFICIALS, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
British Chief of General Staff Adm. Michael Boyce is scheduled to arrive in Ankara today to meet with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and discuss a possible military operation in Iraq. Tomorrow, NATO Allied Forces Commander Gen. James Joyce is also scheduled to visit Ankara. His visit comes on the heels of a successful German-French effort to forestall any declaration of support for an Iraq operation, including measures to defend longtime alliance member Turkey against possible Iraqi attacks. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer is set to arrive in Istanbul today. Fischer will be received by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and meet with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis. During their meetings, regional issues and Turkish-EU relations as well as bilateral relations will be discussed. /Turkiye/
DENKTAS, CLERIDES DISCUSS PROPOSED REVISIONS TO UN PLAN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides yesterday met for talks to seek a solution to the Cyprus issue. During their two-hour-and-a-half meeting in the island’s buffer zone, the two leaders discussed revisions that they are separately seeking to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. As part of the Cyprus direct talks process, Denktas and Clerides are set to meet again tomorrow. /Turkiye/
MHP LEADER BAHCELI VISITS TRNC
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli accompanied by a delegation yesterday arrived in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). On the first day of his trip, Bahceli met with Parliament Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter and then visited Turkey’s ambassador to the TRNC, Hayati Guven. The MHP delegation is set to be received by President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu today. /Turkiye/
RUMSFELD: “AN IRAQ WITHOUT SADDAM WOULD SERVE TURKEY’S BEST INTERESTS”
Ahead of a possible war in Iraq, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told a Washington press conference yesterday that Turkey’s economy would benefit tremendously should a moderate administration take Iraq’s reins in a post-Saddam period, branding the current Iraqi leader “a serial liar.” Rumsfeld added that the US appreciated Ankara’s cooperative attitude on its concerns about the Iraq issue. Also participating at the press conference along with Rumsfeld, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers, just back from a visit to Turkey, reiterated that the US was not at all impatient to get a response from the Turkish government to US requests regarding war preparations. Stating that Turkish-US relations would continue on the same path they have taken in the past, Myers added that both countries shared a common vision that Iraq should rid itself of weapons of mass destruction. /Sabah/
IRAQI AMBASSADOR AL-DULEYMI: “TURKEY CAN SAY NO TO A WAR”
Iraq’s Ambassador to Ankara Talip Abid Saleh al-Dulymi said yesterday that Turkey could say no to a possible US-led military campaign in Iraq. Charging that the US’s real aim was to redraw the map of the Middle East and control its oil resources, al-Duleymi underlined that Iraq’s goal was peace. “Turkey can play a major role in heading off a war by rejecting saber-rattling threats as any solution to the problem and then by sharing its attitude with the international community,” he said. “By doing so, Turkey could leave the US, Great Britain and Israel alone in their cause.” /Cumhuriyet/
TRADE MINISTER TUZMEN TO VISIT SYRIA
Trade Minister Kursat Tuzmen is set to pay a visit to Syria at the end of the month to promote further development of economic relations between the two countries. A large group of Turkish businessmen is expected to accompany Tuzmen. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH TEXTILE PRODUCTS DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK
The third Turkish Fashion Fair began in New York yesterday. More than 60 Turkish textile and ready-made firms will display their spring and summer offerings for coming fashion seasons at the two-day show. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION