ERDOGAN: “EVERYBODY SHOULD RESPECT FOR PARLIAMENT’S DECISION”
Following rejection of a proposal on Iraq at the Parliament, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Decision and Administration Board headed by its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened yesterday. Talking to reporters, Erdogan said that everybody should respect to Parliament’s decision on the proposal. Turkish Parliament rejected Saturday the proposal empowering the government to allow US troops to be stationed in Turkey and sending Turkish troops to northern Iraq with a vote of 264-251 with 19 abstentions where 267 votes are required for its approval. Stressing that the government’s only concern was to raise Turkey’s respectability, ensure peace and protect national interests, Erdogan warned certain circles not to use the matter as a political material. “Every condition also serves an alternative. However, it should be kept in mind that every alternative has its own cost,” said the AK Party leader. Speaking on Turkish-American relations, Erdogan said, “As Turkish-American strategic partnership and deep relations were not established in one day, they can’t be destroyed in one day.” Following about 10-hour meeting, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said journalists that after a period of discussion, the government would declare its stance on the matter. Reportedly, under a strategy established during the gathering, Turkey will put forward three following provisions for the US to be fulfilled: a written commitment regarding the final situation of the discussions between Turkey and the US, a demand for a consortium including Turkey to decide on the weapons to be distributed and collected in the northern Iraq, as well as an equal status for Turkmen. In addition, Erdogan stated that a proposal wouldn’t be sent to Parliament until the US came up with a new demand. /All Papers/
PM GUL ASKS IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO OBEY UN RESOLUTIONS
Talking to reporters before a gathering of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Central Decision and Administration Board yesterday, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey was the only democratic country in the region and that the decision about a proposal on Iraq was made in a democratic process. Stating that the public had witnessed all the developments, Gul said that Parliament had displayed its own will and that it should be respected. He also sent a message to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein warning him to fully fulfill UN Resolutions soon to avoid a war. Stressing that the government and his party would comprehensively evaluate the final situation, Gul said that all measures needed would be taken. In the meantime, the Prime Minister will hold a press conference today regarding the recent developments. /Turkiye/
POWELL: “THE US RESPECTS TURKEY’S DECISION ON IRAQ PROPOSAL”
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday received a phone call from the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell on Parliament’s decision over the weekend which rejected a proposal to allow US troops to be stationed on Turkish soil. During their talks, reportedly, Powell said that the US administration respected the decision, but that it expected that the proposal would be passed. He added, however, that the decision wouldn’t cause any problems between the two countries and that the US would continue to support Turkey’s economy. For his part, Gul stressed the priority and importance of strategic relations between the two countries, and that these relations would continue in many realms. Gul added that it wouldn’t be appropriate to present the proposals to Parliament within a week and that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) needed time for a new proposal. /Milliyet/
OZKOK VISITS GUL TO DISCUSS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON IRAQ
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday visited Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to evaluate Parliament’s decision rejecting the proposals on Iraq. During their meeting, Ozkok briefed Gul on the recent situation of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). “If Turkish troops enter the northern Iraq, this would cost to Turkey,” he said. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for the TSK to enter the northern Iraq under these conditions as it didn’t get enough support from the US.” Gul stated that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government asked for the US administration to warn the Iraqi opposition leaders who declared that they would consider Turkish troops as enemy if they enter northern Iraq, but that it wouldn’t get a positive response from the US. /Aksam/
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: “PARLIAMENT’S DECISION WILL STRENGTHEN RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAQ AND TURKEY”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naci Sabri yesterday said that the Iraq administration had welcomed a decision of Parliament on Iraq over the weekend which rejected to allow the United States troops to be stationed in Turkey and that this decision would strengthen relations between the two countries. “Turkey is a neighbour of Iraq and they have historical and culturel ties and common interests,” said Sabri. “A possible war against Iraq will negatively affect Turkey.” He also remarked Turkey’s economic losses due to the 1991 Gulf War and said that if Turkey supports a possible US-led operation against Iraq, this would hurt the interests of the Turkish nation. Sabri stated that Iraq respected Turkey, adding that the Iraq administration wanted to continue good relations with Turkey which based on cooperation and common interests. /Aksam/
GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER TO PAY A VISIT TO TURKEY
German Interior Minister Otto Schily is today to pay a visit to Turkey. Schily will meet with Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek. He is expected to sign an agreement with Justice Minister Cicek to improve bilateral cooperation on security issues. /Cumhuriyet/
US PRESS ON TURKEY’S REJECTION TO DEPLOYMENT OF US TROOPS
The US press gave wide coverage to Saturday’s parliamentary vote on a proposal authorizing US troops to be deployed at Turkey’s military facilities, which was rejected by the Turkish Parliament by three votes. “The Turkish Parliament today dealt a heavy blow to the Bush administration's plans for a northern front against Iraq, narrowly rejecting a measure that would have allowed thousands of American combat troops to use the country as a base for an attack,” said the New York Times. “The defeat posed immediate military problems for American officials, who had been counting on Turkey's support to bring as many as 62,000 American troops into the country to build a northern front. A senior Pentagon official said today that the American military would be able to stage the operation without Turkey's help, but most military analysts agreed that it would be extremely difficult without a northern base.” Meanwhile, the Washington Post said, “A senior administration official in Washington described the Turkish vote as ‘absolutely a big deal,’ and said the administration must now decide whether to wait and see what the Turkish government does next, or immediately move forward with a backup plan to deploy the Army's 4th Infantry Division to Kuwait instead of Turkey. The defeat in the Turkish parliament was another setback in US efforts to win international support for a war against Iraq. The US push was further complicated today as Iraq began destroying its banned Al Samoud-2 missiles under the supervision of UN inspectors.” /All Papers/
DENKTAS’S ADVISOR SOYSAL CRITICIZES ANNAN’S CYPRUS PLAN
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Union of Bars over the weekend held a joint meeting entitled “International Cyprus Conference.” Delivering a speech at the conference, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas’s constitutional advisor Mumtaz Soysal criticized UN Cyprus plan prepared by Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Soysal remarked that UN plan, which he believes ignores Turkish Cypriots’ concerns, was prepared in line with Greek Cypriots’ national interests. /Turkiye/
GUL TO TRAVEL TO QATAR TO ATTEND OIC MEETING
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is to travel to Qatar tomorrow to attend an Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting. The OIC meeting is expected to focus on the Iraq crisis and possible ways to find a peaceful resolution to the problem. /Star/
STATE MINISTER TUZMEN VISITS SUDAN
As part of his tours of various countries to booster Turkey’s trade relations, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen is paying a visit to Sudan. Stating that Sudan had similarities with Turkey, Tuzmen said that the country had many opportunities for Turkish businessmen. “Turkey should act soon to enter Sudan market before other countries,” said Tuzmen. The state minister added that he would continue to visits to certain countries to develop economic relations with them. /Turkiye/
RALLY OF TURKEY TAKES START IN ANTALYA
The third leg of the “World Rally Championship”, Rally of Turkey, ended in Antalya over the weekend. While some 58 automobiles participated in the race, Carlos Sainz from Citroen placed the first. /Hurriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION