SEZER: “THOSE TAKING PART IN IRAQ WAR SHOULD CONSIDER HOW LONG IT COULD LAST”
I have always been opposed to the war in Iraq, and countries who choose to participate in it should bear in mind how long the war might last, said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. “The US thought that the war would be a short one,” stated Sezer, referring to a widespread perception the US forces’ campaign had been stalled. “We will see how long it will last.” Asked about the northern Iraq issue, Sezer said that he had spoken his mind at last week’s National Security Council (NSC) meeting and so had no more to say for now. Also asked about rumors of additional requests from the US for cooperation with its military, Sezer replied that nothing was on the table now but Turkey would consider such requests if they were made. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN: “MY COUNTRY IS A LOYAL FRIEND AND ALLY TO THE US”
Turkey and the United States remain close friends and allies in the midst of difficult times, asserted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an opinion piece published in today’s Wall Street Journal European edition. Addressing the northern Iraq issue, Erdogan said that Turkey would not send troops into the region unilaterally but that it did need to maintain the ability to defend itself against any terrorist infiltration. “Turkey's military presence in northern Iraq is envisaged with full cooperation and coordination with the US, as well as with the Kurdish groups in the region," he added. He also rejected accusations that Turkey had been “bargaining for dollars” during recent long and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations on deploying US troops in Turkey. Reiterating that Turkey and the US have a close and friendly relationship, Erdogan wrote, “We have maintained the understanding that in bad days the two allies need to act shoulder-to-shoulder.” /Star/

GUL: “TURKEY IS NOT PURSUING AN ADVENTUROUS FOREIGN POLICY”
In its foreign policy agenda, Turkey is not pursuing an “adventurous” program, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. Turkey’s foreign policy is being carried out determinedly, Gul stated in the remarks delivered to the incoming class at Ankara’s Foreign Ministry Academy, in an apparent further attempt to reassure the world on Turkey’s intentions in northern Iraq. Gul told the aspiring diplomats that individual foreign service officials should be able to think freely about the issues, yet still decisions must be made within a collective framework. Speaking later to reporters, Gul disputed the notion that the Cyprus issue one was holding back Turkey’s European Union membership bid. “EU membership has always been a top foreign policy goal,” said Gul. “We’re focused on getting maximal results from this year’s progress reports so our accession talks can begin ahead of the end-2004 schedule.” The foreign minister is set to pay a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Thursday. /All Papers/

GEN. RECEP WARNS TERRORISM SEMINAR OF CONTINUED PKK/KADEK THREAT
The terrorist group PKK/KADEK still has thousands of armed members in northern Iraq and supporters in Europe as well, warned Brigadier Gen. Abdullah Recep yesterday. Speaking at the three-day “Terrorism: A Threat to Regional Stability” seminar in Istanbul, Recep said that the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks had demonstrated the need for international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, adding that terrorism had wounded Turkey grievously and so it hoped to see more joint efforts. “KADEK [the PKK’s new label] has targeted women, children, the elderly and even babies in its terrorist campaign,” he explained. “Yet still it has supporters abroad. It took 30,000 lives and attacked a total of 2,000 facilities, including 250 schools and over 100 mosques and 50 health centers.” Warning that terrorists have weapons of mass destruction as well as psychological weapons and other tools at their disposal, Recep warned, “KADEK still has a force of 5,000-6,000 strong in northern Iraq and nearly 3,000 active members in Europe. Despite their illegal activities in Europe, the host countries have turned a blind eye, in a misguided attempt to preserve the peace.” /Star/

US ENVOY KHALILZAD, TURKISH OFFICIALS REACH UNDERSTANDING ON ANKARA’S NORTHERN IRAQ CONCERNS
The United States understands Turkey’s concerns about the northern Iraq situation underlying its possible troop deployment there, said US presidential envoy Zalmay Khalilzad after a meeting with Turkish officials yesterday. Khalilzad held talks with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Ali Tuygan, the deputy foreign undersecretary for the Middle East, on such issues as averting a refugee crisis, possible terrorist threats, regional instability and the status of northern Iraq’s oil-rich Kirkuk. “Turkey has legitimate concerns and interests, we recognize that and understand that we will do everything we can with cooperation with Turkey and also the [Kurdish] locals,” said Khalilzad afterwards, adding, “We both agreed that Turkish forces going into northern Iraq is not an end in itself.” Khalilzad also pledged that the Iraqi Kurdish groups “will be controlled and commanded by the US and will not act alone.” /Sabah/

POWELL TO VISIT TURKEY TO DISCUSS IRAQ
US Secretary of State Colin Powell will pay a visit to Ankara tomorrow to discuss the war in Iraq, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced yesterday. Boucher said that during the visit, Powell and Turkish officials would discuss Turkey’s possibly sending troops into northern Iraq, the fight against terrorism, the Cyprus issue and other issues related to Turkish-US relations. After visiting Turkey, Powell is expected to stop in Brussels to discuss recent developments in the Iraq war with NATO officials. In related news, speaking to reporters in the US, Powell yesterday warned Syria and Iran against pursuing weapons of mass destruction, supporting terrorism, and giving aid to Iraq. /Aksam/

SWISS PRESIDENT COUCHEPIN: “THE IRAQ WAR IS MAKING TURKEY SUFFER GREATLY”
Turkey is suffering greatly due to the fallout from the war in Iraq, said Swiss President Pascal Couchepin yesterday. “Turkey has suffered great political and economic losses, even as the European Union shut its doors to the country, and it lost the support of one of its closes allies, the US,” said Couchepin. “Turkey is going through a difficult period. It would be a mistake to diplomatically isolate such an important country.” /Cumhuriyet/

PRESIDENT SEZER VETOES JOB SECURITY POSTPONEMENT BILL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday vetoed a bill designed to postpone job security measures for three months, on the grounds that the legislation would shake confidence in the state. The vetoed bill would have postponed the measures until June 30, from a previously set effective date of March 15, a proposal that attracted major opposition from labor unions. /All Papers/

CABINET DISCUSSES ECONOMIC ISSUES
The Cabinet met yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a number of issues, including the economy. Speaking after the meeting, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that Turkey was leading an economic offensive against high inflation. “This war is even harder than the war in Iraq,” Cicek stated. “Our nation understands that Turkey is going through a difficult period.” He added that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had paid off $20 billion of Turkey’s debt in the first three months of this year. /Aksam/

TENDER COMPLETED ON IRAQ-TURKEY OIL PIPELINE MODERNIZATION
A tender for the modernization of the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline was completed last week. Among four international companies bidding, German firm Siemens reportedly made the best offer. The modernization work expected to cost some $1 million will be carried out under the supervision of the Turkish Pipeline Transportation Directorate (BOTAS). Following the signing of contracts, the German firm is set to begin to modernization work on the pipeline, which currently has a 35-million ton transportation capacity. /Turkiye/

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