EARTHQUAKE ROCKS EASTERN TURKEY, KILLING ONE, DAMAGING BUILDINGS
A strong earthquake shook the town of Pulumur in the Eastern Anatolian city of Tunceli yesterday, leaving at least one person dead and several others injured. The magnitude 6.5 quake seriously damaged houses and government buildings and was felt in the nearby provinces of Erzincan, Erzurum and Sivas. In 1967 an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale killed 97 people in Pulumur. More than 650 people lost their lives when another 6.8-magnitude quake hit nearby Erzincan in 1992. /All Papers/
GUL: “TURKEY WILL NEVER FORSAKE ITS EU MEMBERSHIP BID”
Speaking yesterday at a meeting of the Parliamentarians Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey would never forsake its European Union membership bid. Turkey would benefit from joining the EU, but so would the Union, added Gul, predicting Turkey would be a valuable EU member. Outlining the government’s reforms on human rights and democracy towards EU membership, Gul said that his Justice and Development Party (AKP) administration was striving its utmost on democratization. Touching on the Cyprus issue, Gul said that his government wanted a just and lasting settlement which would satisfy both sides on the island. “But if the solution doesn’t satisfy both sides, then the peace won’t last long,” he warned. Speaking on a possible US-led operation against Iraq, he said that Iraq should comply with the relevant United Nations resolutions. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: “BOTH THE TRNC AND GREEK CYPRIOTS NEED TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR AN AGREEMENT”
Appearing on television yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriots needed to make sacrifices in order to reach an agreement on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan. “Cyprus is a national cause for the Turkish nation as well as the Turkish Cypriots,” said Erdogan. “We should work to solve the problem together, with both sides making sacrifices.” /Turkiye/
GROUND FORCES COMMANDER YALMAN VISITS TRNC
Gen. Aytac Yalman, commander of the Turkish Ground Forces, yesterday flew to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to meet with its President Rauf Denktas. During their talks, Yalman urged Denktas to reject any solution proposal which could jeopardize the TRNC’s future security. Yalman added that any agreement should have a firm basis in a negitioted peace. “Otherwise a crisis in the region is inevitable,” added Yalman. For his part, Denktas said that he was very pleased by Yalman’s visit. /Milliyet/
PERLE: “TURKEY’S INDECISION ON IRAQ HAS DISAPPOINTED THE US”
Turkey’s delays in definitively responding to US requests on preparations for a possible Iraq war have disappointed Washington, said Richard Perle yesterday, chairman of the Defense Policy Board, an advisory panel to the Pentagon. Speaking to Turkish news channel NTV, Perle urged Ankara to make an immediate decision, warning, “Tardy support is effectively no support at all.” Perle added that a military operation in Iraq was drawing nearer and that the US would go to war by itself if need be. “However, a common Turkish-US policy would constitute the best option regarding northern Iraq,” said Perle. “Ankara could miss certain opportunities should it fail to support Washington in a possible Iraq offensive.” /Cumhuriyet/
TOP EU OFFICIALS TO VISIT ANKARA IN BID TO PUSH CYPRUS PLAN
Four of the European Union’s top officials are due to visit Ankara on Friday to promote quicker progress on the Cyprus issue. EU Term President Greece’s Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen are expected to urge Turkey to help efforts to reach agreement on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s solution proposal before a Feb. 28 deadline. /Cumhuriyet/
IMF DIRECTOR KRUEGER: “TURKEY’S ECONOMY IS NOW STRONGER AND MORE RESISTANT TO CRISIS”
International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger said yesterday that Turkey’s economic program had made the nation’s economy stronger than ever, adding that now it was much more resistant to crises. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Krueger stated that Turkey’s success in reaching its economic targets had exceeded all expectations. “If the new government conscientiously sticks to the current program without cutting corners, I’m hopeful that Turkey’s economy will see further progress and realize sustainable growth,” said Kruger. “The Justice and Development Party [AKP] government is working hard to boost the economy.” In related news, two IMF officials arrived in Turkey yesterday to discuss economic issues such as the budget with government officials. /Hurriyet, Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION