PRIME MINISTER GUL TO ATTEND OIC MEETING
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting. The OIC meeting is expected to focus on the Iraq and Palestinian crises. /Star/

ERDOGAN: “TURKEY SHOULDN’T BE JUST AN ONLOOKER TO DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey shouldn’t be just an onlooker to the developments in its neighbour country due to both its own security and Iraq’s territorial integrity. “Our approach to the problem shouldn’t be as Australia or Norway because a possible US-led operation against Iraq won’t negatively affect them,” said Erdogan. “However, the operation will have negative affects on Turkey and we should take necessary measures.” He stated that the US should consider Turkey’s sensitivities while pursuing a policy on Iraq since Turkey wanted to continue its good relations with the US. /Milliyet/

US AMBASSADOR PEARSON VISITS PRIME MINISTER GUL
US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson yesterday visited Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. Pearson stated that the Bush administration still hoped that a second proposal authorizing the US to deploy troops at Turkey’s military facilities might be prepared and accepted by the Turkish Parliament. “I want to emphasize that there is a strong friendship between Turkey and the US,” said Pearson. “I believe that these two countries will work and overcome this crisis together.” He also stated that the US would not provide Turkey with financial assistance before an agreement on Turkey’s Iraq policy was reached. /Cumhuriyet/

CHP LEADER BAYKAL ASKS: “DOESN’T WAR HAVE A COST”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday strongly criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government as 2003 budget bringing $9.5 billion additional tax burden to people, was presented as the cost of peace. Baykal asked the government, “Doesn’t war have a cost?” Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said, “I hope Turkey will not be forced to accept a proposal which it rejected recently. If that happens, Turkey will then face a greatest damage.” Remarking that before elections the AK Party had asked for votes of citizens who had low income, the CHP leader claimed that then those would suffer under the government’s rule. /Turkiye/

AIR FORCE COMMANDER GEN. ASPARUK: “TURKISH AIR FORCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN READY TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY”
Air Force Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk said yesterday that the Turkish Armed Force (TSK) had taken necessary measures to defend Turkey against possible threats in the event of a war in Iraq. Before meeting with his Dutch counterpart Lt. Gen. D.L. Berlijn who is currently paying a visit to Turkey, Asparuk answered reporters’ questions regarding the recent developments in the northern Iraq. “Our measures are taken to defend our country, rather than for involvement in any attack,” said Asparuk. The commander said that the Patriot missile defense systems which arrived in Turkey last week and were deployed in southeastern Anatolia would be ready on Wednesday. He said that it was up to NATO to decide on whether the Patriots could stay in Turkey longer than originally proposed. “NATO will withdraw its forces here as it agrees that the threat has disappeared. If the threat escalates, then it will be ready for action at full capacity. In this case, the number of AWACS early warning aircraft will be increased from two to four,” he said. A parliamentary vote not allowing deployment of US troops in Turkey didn’t affect Turkish army’s preparations as they were all for defense, added Asparuk. /Turkiye/

STATE MINISTER BABACAN TO TRAVEL TO THE US
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan is set to travel to Washington on March 15, to meet with International Monetary Fund and World Bank officials regarding Turkey’s economic program and their support. He is also expected to meet with officials from the United States Treasury and other economic officials as well as international investment banks and credit rating institutions on March 20-21 in New York. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS TO VISIT TURKEY TODAY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is to pay a visit to Ankara today to discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue with the Turkish officials. He is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently wanted Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to put his peace plan for Cyprus directly to referendum on the island if they cannot agree on it in the coming days. However, Denktas opposes such an idea criticizing the UN Cyprus plan for ignoring Turkish Cypriots’ interests. /Star- Cumhuriyet/

VERHEUGEN: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP IS UP TO A RESOLUTION IN CYPRUS”
Guenter Verheugen, European Union commissioner for enlargement, said yesterday that Turkey’s EU membership was up to a resolution in Cyprus. Verheugen stated that the Greek Cyprus would be a member of the Union next year. He added that if Turkey didn’t recognize Greek Cyprus after it joins the EU, he didn’t know how the accession negotiations could begin with Turkey in 2004. Verheugen added that there was a golden chance to resolve the Cyprus issue and that if the two sides wouldn’t reach an agreement, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) could face economic and political isolation. /Milliyet/

RUSSIA, IRAN APPRECIATE TURKEY’S STANCE ON THE IRAQ CRISIS
Russian head of state Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi recently stated that they appreciated Turkey’s stance on the Iraq issue as the Turkish Parliament recently rejected a proposal authorizing US to deploy troops on Turkish soil. “Russia finds Turkey’s reluctant stance understandable,” said Putin. “I’m not surprised with the decision of the Turkish Parliament. We understand Turkey’s concerns.” In addition, Iranian Foreign Minister Harrazi yesterday remarked that Iran appreciated Turkey’s Iraq policy. /Cumhuriyet/

DAWSON: “AKP’S ECONOMIC MEASURES ARE VERY POSITIVE”
Tom Dawson, International Monetary Fund external relations director, said yesterday that the measures declared by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul were very positive and pleased the IMF. Speaking at a press conference, Dawson said that the process of writing the Letter of Intent (LOI) was still continuing. Asked about recent developments on the assistanse package the US would provide Turkey, Dawson stated that if there was such a package the sides would discuss its effects on Turkey’s economic program. “However, the program doesn’t depend on such a package,” he added. /Milliyet/

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