NEW CABINET CONVENES, DISCUSSES IRAQ CRISIS
The new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened yesterday to discuss recent developments in the Iraq crisis. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed his fellow ministers on the situation. Speaking to the press afterwards, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government’s decision on Iraq would be one made to protect Turkey’s interests. Erdogan later met with Peter Westmacott, the British ambassador to Ankara. /Aksam/
POWELL URGES AKP GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT US TROOP DEPLOYMENT, REITERATES US COMMITMENT TO IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Speaking at a Washington press conference yesterday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that negotiations between Turkey and the US on the Iraq issue were still continuing. “We are in the closest touch with [the new Turkish government] on the possibility of resubmission [of a proposal to deploy US troops in Turkey], and [Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan] has committed to do that at a time that he believes is appropriate,” said Powell. “And we have also assured the Turks that in anything the future might hold, we are committed to the territorial integrity of Iraq.” Later Powell made a telephone call to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, reportedly telling him that the US administration wanted Parliament to approve the proposals on cooperation with the US military as soon as possible. /Aksam/
GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO SUBMIT US TROOP PROPOSAL FOR RECONSIDERATION
As the prospect of a US-led war against Iraq drew closer than ever on the eve of US President George Bush’s expected ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government yesterday signaled that it could introduce a second proposal allowing deployment of US troops in Turkey for a northern offensive into neighboring Iraq. Following a late-night meeting between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok as well as other top-level officials, presidential spokesman Tacan Ildem told reporters that recent political developments had made military intervention inevitable and that Turkey had “decided to take urgent steps to protect its national interests.” After the meeting, Erdogan and his close aides as well as senior ministers held a second meeting at the Prime Ministry to discuss recent developments. The Cabinet is expected to discuss the US troop proposal today and introduce it to Parliament for a fresh vote tomorrow. Earlier this month, the Turkish Parliament narrowly rejected a bill which would have let US forces use Turkey as a launchpad for an invasion of northern Iraq. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH MIT UNDERSECRETARY ATASAGUN TO DISCUSS IRAQI REFUGEES
Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogn yesterday met with National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun in order to discuss recent developments concerning Iraq. During their talks, Erdogan asked Atasagun how many refugees would try to enter Turkey in case of a US-led war against Iraq and what measures the MIT would take in such a situation. After the meeting, Erdogan met with members of the AKP Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK). Members of the board reportedly said that the AKP government should accept a US troop deployment proposal, arguing that the current atmosphere of uncertainty was damaging Turkey. /Milliyet/
NORTHERN IRAQ OPPOSITION LEADERS MEET IN ANKARA
Kurdish opposition group leaders yesterday met in Ankara with Turkish officials to discuss northern Iraq and the future of the country in the event of a war. Before that meeting, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal met with Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani as well as Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) representatives Nechirvan Barzani and Hoshyar Zebari. Talabani and Barzani told reporters that their talks and exchange of views had been very fruitful. The talks are to continue today. /Turkiye/
SYRIA DELIVERS TWO CAPTURED TERRORISTS TO TURKEY
Two terrorists captured in Syria have been delivered to Turkey, sources reported yesterday. Selahattin Canavar and Hayri Kaner, so-called Syria and Lebanon representatives of the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK, were arrested in Syria over the weekend, the sources added. The terrorist organization PKK/KADEK is responsible for claiming over 30,000 lives in southeastern Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
88TH ANNIVERSARY OF GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN COMMEMORATED TODAY
The 88th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, a victory by Turkish troops defending the Dardanelles during World War I, is being commemorated today. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul issued messages yesterday to mark the anniversary. Meanwhile, more than 3,000 students coming from throughout Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday arrived in Canakkale to attend various commemorative activities to be held today in the city. /All Papers/
BABACAN: “US ECONOMIC PACKAGE HINGES ON UPCOMING VOTE”
Following the government’s indication yesterday that reconsideration of a US troop deployment proposal was in the offing, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said yesterday that an economic package from the US depended on Turkey’s passing such a proposal, adding that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to make sure there were sufficient votes to pass the proposal. The measures were narrowly defeated in Parliament two weeks ago, and over the weekend some US officials indicated that the economic package was “off the table.” Babacan also stated that Turkey would like to see the US Congress approve the package before Parliament does so. /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION