PRESIDENT SEZER VETOES TAX AMNESTY LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday vetoed a tax amnesty popularly known as the ‘tax peace’ law. In a statement, Sezer said that since 1980 Turkey had seen a tax amnesty roughly every two years, a trend which encouraged tax evasion and damaged the sense of justice among citizens who paid their taxes properly and on time. /Hurriyet/
TURKISH MILITARY BEEFS UP AMMUNITION, EQUIPMENT ON IRAQI BORDER
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) yesterday began sending additional ammunition and materiel to the Iraqi border so as to forestall “adverse developments” in northern Iraq in case of war in the region, said a TSK statement yesterday. The additional buildup comes on the heels of a meeting between Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. The TSK statement stressed that these protective measures should not misconstrued as preparations for an offensive into Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
PEARSON TO VISIT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC
Robert Pearson, the United States ambassador to Turkey, is set to visit Parliament Speaker Bulenc Arinc today to discuss a number of issues, most notably recent developments on a possible US-led operation against Iraq. /Turkiye/
IRAQI, US AMBASSADORS TO SEPARATELY BRIEF PARLIAMENTARIANS
Following a request from Iraq’s Ambassador to Ankara Talip Abid Saleh al-Duleymi, Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission announced yesterday that the diplomat would brief parliamentarians on his country’s take on current developments between Iraq and the world. No date was specified for the briefing. In related news, US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson is also scheduled to address a group of parliamentarians on the Iraq issue next Monday. Pearson’s briefing was postponed for a week so as to come after US President George W. Bush’s Speech of the Union Address delivered on Tuesday. /Star/
DENKTAS, CLERIDES DISCUSS TRNC’S PROPOSED CHANGES TO UN PLAN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday met with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides to discuss the United Nations Cyprus plan. Speaking after the meeting, Denktas said that Clerides had responded to some of the TRNC’s proposed changes to the UN plan and that he would respond to others tomorrow. He stated that when this process was finished, the two sides would re-evaluate the situation. Denktas remarked that if Greek Cyprus rejected the TRNC’s proposed changes, no agreement would be possible, but that this would not be a “tragedy.” He added, “However, efforts to reach a settlement on the island will continue no matter what happens.” /Milliyet/
DE SOTO MEETS WITH ERDOGAN TO DISCUSS CYPRUS PLAN
Alvaro de Soto, the United Nations’ special envoy for Cyprus, yesterday met with ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the UN Cyprus plan. Speaking after the meeting, de Soto said that he and Erdogan had discussed the Cyprus issue in general terms, and that he hadn’t presented a map to the AKP leader. De Soto stated that he had been heartened by Erdogan’s evident resolve to reach an agreement on the island. He added that if Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides were defeated in elections scheduled for Feb. 28, which is also the deadline set by the European Union and the United Nations for a settlement on the island, this would seriously damage the negotiations process. “Thus, the two sides should reach an agreement before that date,” urged de Soto. /Milliyet/
PAPANDREOU: “I CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE TURKISH MILITARY’S SECURITY CONCERNS OVER CYPRUS”
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said yesterday that he was at a loss to understand why the Turkish military placed so much emphasis on the island of Cyprus for Turkey’s security. “The United Nations Cyprus plan is itself about security,” Papandreou told Greek reporters. “And Cyprus’ EU accession will guarantee the security of the island.” Characterizing Turkey as a nation on the road to EU membership, Papandreou added, “So why then should Turkey feel insecure about Cyprus?” /Cumhuriyet/
ECEVIT: “TURKEY IS SUFFERING FROM BIPOLAR LEADERSHIP”
Bulent Ecevit, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and former prime minister who was roundly defeated in last November’s elections, yesterday charged that Turkey is suffering from a case of “bipolar leadership.” On the one hand we have a regular prime minister and on the other an irregular one, said Ecevit, clearly referring to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who currently is barred from holding the premiership. The former prime minister added that the nation could not bear this anomalous situation for long and so should end it immediately. Erdogan is widely expected to become prime minister after a special election overcomes the legal barriers in March. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION