SEZER: “A NEW UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IS NEEDED”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday stated that the US should first win international legitimacy before launching any military operation in Iraq, saying that a second UN Security Council resolution beyond Resolution 1441 was needed. He reiterated that the decision-making body in Turkey for an official decision to authorize stationing US troops on Turkish soil was the country’s Parliament. “Turkey has to take every possible measure to avert a political crisis or any foreign intervention in its domestic politics,” said Sezer. “The Turkish Parliament has the final say on whether to allow the deployment of US soldiers at Turkey’s airbases and ports.” /All Papers/

GUL: “OUR PROPOSAL AWAITS AN ANSWER FROM THE US”
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned from Brussels after attending an emergency summit of European Union leaders on the Iraq issue, representing Turkey as an EU candidate and neighbor of Iraq. At a press conference at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul said that during his two-day visit he had had the opportunity to meet with many European leaders. Stressing that the 28 European countries had a common stance on the Iraq issue, Gul said, “European countries have been supporting Turkey’s initiatives in the region to resolve the issue through peaceful means.” Asked about the fate of two separate proposals designed to allow US troops to be stationed in Turkey and to send Turkish troops to Iraq, both of whose consideration has been delayed, the prime minister stated that Turkey had certain economic, political and military concerns about the proposals. “We’ve conveyed these concerns to the US, but we’ve yet to receive a reply,” he said. Without a reply, it will be difficult to debate the proposals in Parliament, added Gul. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: “THE AKP GOVERNMENT WON’T MAKE UNILATERAL COMMITMENTS TO THE US ON IRAQ”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged that the AKP government wouldn’t make unilateral commitments to the United States on the Iraq issue, calling such a move on Turkey’s part “impossible.” Erdogan also said that Turkey and the US were strategic allies, adding that since Parliament would soon make a decision on the stationing of US troops on Turkey’s soil, the days to come would be very crucial. If Turkey’s strategic alliance carries importance for the US, he remarked, then it should also meet Turkey’s demands. “If not, then only one country would be making concessions to the other within a framework of friendship and cooperation between two countries,” he said. “Parliament’s decision depends on our nation.” He added that the government couldn’t accept any arrangement that it couldn’t explain and justify to the nation. /Milliyet/

BAYKAL CRITICIZES AKP GOVERNMENT’S IRAQ POLICY
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday criticized the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) policy of negotiating with the United States on Turkey’s support for a possible Iraq war while at the same time trying to prevent the very same war, suggesting that such a policy was “contradictory.” Baykal added that there was no legal, moral, or political justification for a war against Iraq. /Aksam/

BUSH: “TURKEY HAS NO BETTER FRIEND THAN THE US”
US President George W. Bush yesterday stated that he hoped Turkey and the US government would soon reach an agreement on the Iraq issue which would satisfy both sides. “The US is Turkey’s best friend,” said Bush. “We’re working closely with Turkish officials and you all know that we have great respect for the Turkish government. Turkey does not have a better friend than the US.” Meanwhile, when asked by a reporter about the US impasse with Turkey over a deal to ensure its support for a US-led operation, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer yesterday said that now was “decision time” for the Turkish government. Fleischer told reporters the debate about US forces using Turkish bases would be "settled one way or another rather soon." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH OFFICIALS MEET WITH US OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS IRAQ
Turkish officials chaired by veteran diplomat Deniz Bolukbasi yesterday met with United States officials under former US Ambassador Marisa Lino to discuss a possible US-led operation against Iraq. During the meeting, Lino proposed that US troops would protect the security of Mosul and Kirkuk, two strategic oil-rich cities in northern Iraq. Bolukbasi said that observers from Turkish foces should also be present in those cities, adding that the entire region on the Turkish-Iraqi border should be under Turkey’s control. Ankara has long expressed its interest in the fate of the two cities, and in particular making sure the region’s Kurds do not attempt to seize them during a war. /Hurriyet/

ANNAN TO VISIT CYPRUS NEXT WEEK AHEAD OF DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENT
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to pay a visit to Cyprus next week. According to diplomatic sources, Annan’s visit is intended to give a final push towards both sides on the island signing his Cyprus proposal before next Friday’s Feb. 28 deadline. Meanwhile, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday criticized UN Special Cyprus Envoy Alvaro de Soto’s recent stance on the Cyprus issue. Denktas remarked that de Soto was treating the issue as if it were his own personal problem and trying to force both sides to reach an agreement as soon as possible, an approach Denktas called unhelpful. /Cumhuriyet/

DE SOTO: “THERE MAY BE A THIRD UN PLAN, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR YET”
Alvaro de Soto, the United Nations special envoy to Cyprus, said yesterday that a third UN Cyprus plan may be presented to both sides on the island but that this was not yet clear. Speaking after meeting with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, de Soto said that the two sides needed to negotiate first before making a statement to the public. De Soto is set to meet today with Tassos Papadopoulos, Greek Cyprus’ new president-elect and its new representative at the island’s bargaining table. /Aksam/

GREEK PM SIMITIS: “IN CASE OF AN IRAQ WAR, THE EU WILL CONSIDER SPECIAL AID TO TURKEY”
Speaking at a closed meeting at the European Union’s Iraq summit in Brussels yesterday, EU Term President Greek’s Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that in case of a war in Iraq, the EU would discuss granting special aid to Turkey. Addressing Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s stated concern about a wave of immigration at the nation’s borders with Iraq, Simitis stated that the EU shared his concern and would look into the situation. /Sabah/

TUZMEN SEEKS TO BOOST TRADE TIES WITH ALGERIA
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen accompanied by a delegation of 200 bureaucrats and businessmen is set to travel to Algeria today. During his four-day visit, Tuzmen will meet with Algerian officials to help develop bilateral trade relations. After completing his contacts, Tuzmen will then fly to Great Britain to attend the “Turquality-Elite” fashion show in London. /Turkiye/

NUREMBERG HOSTS TURKISH-GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL
Nuremberg, Germany is set today to begin hosting a Turkish/German Film Festival. The one-week festival is aimed at improving cultural dialogue between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/

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