GUL RESIGNS, OPENS WAY FOR ERDOGAN TO PM POST
Abdullah Gul, who had held the prime ministry post since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) swept to power last November, resigned yesterday to open the way for AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to become prime minister. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer assigned Erdogan with forming a new government. Erdogan is expected today to submit a Cabinet list to the president. Gul will remain in office until Sezer approves Erdogan’s Cabinet. /All Papers/

US STILL HOPEFUL FOR TURKEY’S SUPPORT
Although preparations for a “B plan” are ongoing, the US officials still hope Turkey would allow opening a front in northern Iraq. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday, “We are still hopeful that Turkey will cooperate with us to enter northern Iraq.” “However, in any case, we are continuing our preparations for another plan,” said the spokesman. Stressing that US administration was in a close dialogue with ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Boucher said the two sides had agreed on basic points of a package of compromise. /Turkiye/

US MILITARY BUILDUP IN TURKEY CONTINUES
As part of a US military buildup in southeastern province of Mardin, dispatch of military vehicles and equipment from Iskenderun Harbor, and Incirlik Airbase as well as Mersin continued yesterday. Meanwhile, Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman went to Mardin yesterday to inspect developments in Southeastern Anatolia ahead of the looming Iraq war. /All Papers/

CHP LEADER BAYKAL CRITICIZES US MILITARY ACTIVITIES
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that the first parliamentary authorization couldn’t be a legal foundation for military cooperation and that it was only a permission given for the modernization of existing bases. Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that although a second proposal had been rejected in Parliament, US buildup had increased. The CHP leader stated that he predicted that a secret deal had been signed with the US officials regarding passage of the second proposal to allow US troops to open a northern front in Iraq. “However, it didn’t work as they predicted,” said Baykal. He stated that saying no at this stage would cost less to Turkey, adding that the country might have to pay heavier costs later. /Turkiye/

ANNAN: “NEGOTIATIONS ON CYPRUS FAILED SINCE BOTH SIDES DIDN’T ACCEPT TO HOLD REFERENDUMS UNTIL MARCH 31”
Speaking after the Cyprus Summit in Hague, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that negotiations on Cyprus failed since the two sides didn’t accept to hold referendums until March 31. He also said that to find a resolution to the Cyprus issue was impossible until April 16, date Greek Cypriot administration would sign the accession agreement with the European Union. Annan stated that the two sides didn’t accept to hold referendums until March 31 and that the negotiations had failed. “We came to the end of the road,” he said, adding that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas had objections to the main points of the revised plan. /Milliyet/

DENKTAS: “PAPADOPOULOS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT REACHING AN AGREEMENT ON CYPRUS”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was responsible for not reaching an agreement on the Cyprus issue. “Papadopoulos wanted two months for a referendum,” he said. “However, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan didn’t accept this.” Denktas also said that the Greek Cypriot administration didn’t want a resolution to the Cyprus issue since it would join the European Union no matter what. He stated that it was impossible for him to accept any agreement which would force Turkish Cypriots to migrate. “There is no need for a disaster scenario,” said Denktas. “All we have to do is to trust ourselves and prove that we are right.” In related news, Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) yesterday issued a statement and said that Turkey would face some difficulties since Cyprus negotiations failed, adding that Turkey’s national interests should be considered while handling the issue. /Aksam/

VERHEUGEN: “IN THE ABSENCE OF A SETTLEMENT ON CYPRUS BEFORE MAY 2004, TURKEY WOULD BE AN OCCUPYING FORCE ON EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER SOIL”
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said yesterday that units of Turkish military in Cyprus would be an “occupying force” on European Union member soil if a settlement on the issue couldn’t be reached before May 2004, the date when the Greek Cyprus administration is scheduled to become an EU member. In related news, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul took sharp exception to Verheugen’s statements, saying that they were unfortunate and unacceptable. “Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) presence on the island is legal under an agreement as Turkey is a guarantor state,” stated Gul. “TSK intervened to Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots from ethnic cleansing by the Greek Cypriots.” /Cumhuriyet/

US STATE DEPARTMENT UNDERSECRETARY DEWEY VISITS ANKARA
Arthur Dewey, US State Department assistant secretary for Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, arrived in Ankara yesterday. Dewey told reporters that he came to Turkey alongside a delegation of officials from various departments of the US State Department to hold contacts regarding humanitarian dimensions of a possible war in Iraq. Dewey said that they aimed at preventing migration and working in cooperation with the United Nations. He is scheduled to meet with officials from the Foreign Ministry, the General Staff and the Red Crescent today. /Turkiye/

SERDENGECTI: “THERE MAY BE SOME DEVIATIONS IN INFLATION TARGET DUE TO A US-LED OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ”
Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti said yesterday that it was an extraordinary period for Turkey due to a looming United States-led operation against Iraq. Serdengecti stated that a prospect of a US-led war in Iraq meant that temporary deviations from the falling trend of inflation would be expected. He added, however, that this wouldn’t hinder Turkey’s long-term goal of slashing high prices. Evaluating February inflation, he said that bringing the inflation down depended on continuing to implement the economic program determinedly. “A possible US-led operation against Iraq and an increase in oil prices will cause some deviations in the inflation target,” he stated. /Milliyet/

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