STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH TBILISI

Turkey and Georgia are currently improving bilateral relations towards a strategic partnership. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, currently visiting Turkey as President Sezer's official guest, signed two agreements detailing cooperation in the defense industry and mine sweeping along the borders. Russian regional policies were discussed during the meetings. President Shevardnadze visited Ataturk's Maseolum (Anitkabir) yesterday and then met with President Sezer. Inter-delegations meetings were also held. Officials said Mr. Shevardnadze showed how important Turkey was to Georgia by including many high-level bureaucrats from foreign affairs, defense, agriculture, energy and transportation ministries in the delegation. After the meetings, statistics cooperation protocols and agreements on minesweeping, defense industry cooperation and foreign trade were signed. President Sezer said after the signature ceremony, "We have emphasized the importance Turkey attaches to the independence and unity of Georgia one of Turkey's closest friends and strategic partners. We expressed that Turkey would support Georgia's attempts to improve its political stability at all costs." President Shevardnadze said in return that Turkey's friendship was very important for Georgia. /Cumhuriyet/

YILMAZ: "SOME PEOPLE WANT TO BLOCK TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP"

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that there were some internal and external circles which want to block Turkey's EU membership. He added: "A powerful consensus should be provided in Turkey in order to prevent these kinds of initiatives". Yilmaz attended a panel discussion entitled "Evaluation of the Customs Union and the EU Full Membership Process" yesterday. EU Representative to Turkey, Ambassador Karen Fogg, also participated in yesterday's panel organized by the Customs Undersecretariat to mark the 26 January World Customs Day and said that concrete steps were being taken in Turkey on the path toward transparency. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/

SECOND SANCTION AGAINST FRANCE

Because France has not cancelled the so-called Armenain genocide law despite all of Turkey's warnings, Turkey has begun to implement certain sanctions against France. Just four days from the appeal deadline for the Constitutional Court to annul the law, Turkey began to discuss cancellation of the bid won by the Dassault firm. If France does not take any steps toward cancellation, Dassault will be the second French firm to be excluded from defense bids. The deadline for appeals to the Counstitutional Court is February 2. However, because of the upcoming elections, officials say the French President and Prime Minister are not in favour of the law's annulment. /Cumhuriyet/

SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN PARIS

The Paris Municipality Assembly has decided to erect a monument representing the so-called Armenian genocide in Paris. Paris Mayor Jean Tiberi claimed the law and the monument were not directed against the Turkish nation. Tiberi said, "Approval of the Armenian bill was just a simple recognition of a historical fact. It's untrue to say that the approval was a result of vote buying because all the groups in the parliament voted unanimously for the bill's approval." Meanwhile, Ankara has harshly reacted to the Paris Municipality decision. Deputy Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Huseyin Dirioz said, "This is another mistake which is nothing but a new blow dealt to our relations. We strongly condemn this decision aiming to revive the hostilities of the past. Such attempts can not damage Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/

HIGHT COURT OF APPEALS PRESIDENT SELCUK SENDS A LETTER TO FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC

President of the High Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk sent a letter to French President Jacques Chirac criticisizing approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill. In his letter, Selcuk said the approval decision was contradictory to French intellectual history as well as the historical facts. He asked, " Can France be in such an ethical collapse, ignoring the dream she created, and violating the ideals which emerged from her own past ? How can members of the French Parliament be in contradiction with scientific ideals by deciding on an historical issue and acting like historians or lawyers ? We all must object this in the name of science, law and peace. "/Turkiye/

SUPPORT FROM BERLIN

Owner and editor of the German weekly, Die Zeit, Josef Joffe critisized the French National Assembly's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill. Joffe said, "The nations who are digging into another nation's past will find themselves in one of the holes they have dug." /Turkiye/

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE

A businessman delegation chaired by the Head of Turco-French Business Council Aldo Kaslowski, will travel to France today. The delegation which includes Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) executive council members, Sadi Gucum, and Lutfi Yenel, TUSIAD Brussels representative Bahadir Karayalcin and Turco-French Business Council Coordinator Yasemin Oncel, will support the attempts aimed at cancelling the so-called Armenian genocide law. /Turkiye/

PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY

Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Panayotis Beglitis announced that Foreign Minister George Papandreou will come to Turkey in the spring, although a firm date has not yet been determined, the Anatolia News Agency reported yesterday. Beglitis recalled that several meetings planned by both Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, for last year had to be postponed for various reasons. Beglitis also noted it was in Greece's interest for Turkey to remain on the path to EU accession. /Turkish Daily News/

DISASTER IN BLACK SEA: 14 DEAD

A ship traveling from Istanbul to Crimea sank yesterday in the Black Sea. 32 of the 51 passengers were rescued from the accident which left 14 dead. The search is continuing for the five still missing. The officials stated the ship might have sunk because it was overloaded. /Cumhuriyet/

WEAPONS CAPTURED

Teams from Sanliurfa Province Gendarmerie Command captured a truck loaded with guns and ammunition coming from Northern Iraq in an operation called Flash-1. Three suspects were detained. Officials are stil investigating to find out if the weapons and detainees were affiliated with any terrorist organization and if the weapons were used in any terrorist activity. /Cumhuriyet/

BLUE STREAM PROJECT DISCUSSED

Political consultations between Turkey and the Russian Federation were held between the delegations chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk Logoglu and Russian Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Alexander Aydeyev. Bilateral relations, security issues, the Caucasus, and relations with Armenia were discussed during the meetings as well as various energy projects including Blue Stream. Russian officials asked if the Blue Stream project would be affected by the results of the "White Energy Operation" investigation held recently. /Cumhuriyet/

TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU'S STATEMENT ON PROXIMITY TALKS

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister, Dervis Eroglu, in Izmir as the guest of Aegean Region Industry Chamber, delivered a speech at the airport. Mr. Eroglu said, "The world must understand the reality of two different nations living on Cyprus. However, they ignore us at the negotiation table. If we can express our views to the world, with the support of Turkey, a peace agreement might be signed on Cyprus in the future. We hope the world will see the truth in the future." /Turkiye/

SWOBODA: "OUR AIM IS NOT TO DIVIDE"

European Parliamentarian, Johannes Swoboda, preparing a report for the Framework Regulation towards the completion of the legal procedure regarding Turkey's Accession Partnership Document, provided interesting statements at a meeting following his contacts. Swoboda said that their goal was not to divide Turkey by bringing the Kurdish issue onto the agenda. He said: "We support Turkey and its territorial integrity". In his report, he pointed to his statement which only said cultural rights should be ensured. He condemned the assassination of Diyarbakir's Police Chief Gaffar Okkan. He also stated that the F-type prisons were in line with the EU standards. /Aksam/

DSP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN DIES

The Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Deputy from Konya, A.Turan Bilge, died yesterday in Ankara. Bilge has been receiving treatment for the past year ever since he underwent two surgeries for a brain tumor last year. /Sabah/

GEN.KIVRIKOGLU: "OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST PKK WILL CONTINUE"

Chief of the General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said with the amnesty law foreseeing release on parole, 1,660 members of the PKK terrorist organization have been set free. He pointed out that the parolees could hold contacts with the PKK again. Gen.Kivrikoglu participated in a reception given by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday in honour of Georgian Head of State Eduard Shevardnadze. Gen.Kivrikoglu added: "Our struggle against the PKK terrorist organization will continue until no PKK member remains". /Sabah/

TURKISH AIRPORT IN GEORGIA

It is reported that the military airport restored by Turkey in Georgia will be used jointly by the air forces of the two countries. Turkey will have a logistic opportunity for the first time with the utilization of the Manoli Military Airport, 40 km far away from Tbilisi. The Manoli Airport is important to both Georgia and Turkey. /Milliyet/

TURKEY IS A STORY OF SUCCESS

The CEO of the Renault, Louis Schweitzer replied to questions posed by the 'Hurriyet' correspondent during the World Economic Forum in Davos, and said that relations between Turkey and Renault were a story of success. He added that this relationship could not be blocked by anything. /Hurriyet/

AZERBAIJAN ALWAYS SUPPORTS TURKEY

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Ankara denied the complaints claiming that Azerbaijani Head of State Haydar Aliyev had not showed the necessary reaction to France regarding the so-called Armenian genocide resolution recognized by the French Assembly. Aliyev paid an official visit to France. A written statement issued by the Azerbaijani Embassy said Aliyev sent his protest to the French Parliament and stated that Azerbaijan always sided with Turkey. The statement added that Aliyev also expressed his protest regarding the resolution during his meeting with French President Jacques Chirac. /Hurriyet/

SUPPORT FOR CERAMISTS

The Council of Ministers at a meeting yesterday launched initiatives to remove the unfair competition conditions between the institutions which produce and export ceramics using natural gas and LPG. Government Spokesman Sukru Sina Gurel said: "It was decided that all measures would be taken to remove the conditions which cause unfair competition". He added that this regulation could be made either through a law or a decree with the power of law. /Milliyet/

SPANISH GUEST TO RED CRESCENT

The Head of the Spanish Red Cross, Juan Manuel del Toro Rivero, in Turkey as the official guest of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay), met the Head of Kizilay, Ertan Gonen yesterday. A statement issued by the Office of the Kizilay Chairman, said that two agreements and relevant protocols envisaging the 'Standardization of the Emergency Aid Training' and the 'Development of the Kizilay Blood Collecting System' would be signed between the Spanish Red Cross and the Kizilay Association. /Turkiye/

MARKET MONITORING SYSTEM

Chairman of the Capital Market Council (SPK) Dogan Cansizlar stated that by establishing a monitoring system in the capital market, the Council would begin observing and following all the manipulations and the mobilities of the system. Cansizlar said, "With this new system, our experts will be able to observe all the market's mobility. If there are any abnormal ups and downs in the market, experts will immediately be able to intervene." /Cumhuriyet/

FORD OTOSAN BEGINS ITS TRIAL PRODUCTION

The first trial production run the Ford Otosan factory in Golcuk started yesterday. The factory, which cost nearly $650 million, is expected to open after a ceremony to be held in the second half of the year. 95 % of the production will be exported to Europe and Asia. /Aksam/

1 BILLION DM FOR KOBIS

It is reported that within the context of Turco-German cooperation, 92.3 million DM for six big projects throughout Turkey and 1.021 million DM for regional projects will be extended to Turkey. A statement issued by the German Embassy in Ankara said that for the projects within the context of the financial cooperation between Turkey and Germany, investments worth 1 billion DM would be made in Turkey to support the small and medium-scale enterprises (KOBIs). /Turkiye/

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

GOOD NEWS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohhen writes on the new developments regarding Turco-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows: "There is good news regarding relations with the EU. The news coming from the EU gives hope that the hitches on the way to full EU membership can be smoothed out in the coming weeks. Part of the news comes from Davos, which was the scene of contacts held between Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and various EU officials. The influential figure in the EU Commission, Gunther Verheugen, made a statement to journalists saying the EU needed Turkey more than Turkey does the EU. This meaningful and important message has been sent to Euro-sceptics in Turkey and Turco-sceptics in the EU. Certainly, there are those in the Union who do not favor Turkey's membership, just as there are those in Turkey who do not look warmly upon being a member. The statements by the officials are more important as is the stance of the official EU bodies. When the European Parliament and the EU Council approves the Accession Partnership Document around mid-February, and Turkey declares its National Program at the end of February, a new stage will be set on the road to membership. No problem is expected from the European Parliament or the EU Council. This bit of good news came after Yilmaz's meetings with Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Davos. Both Ministers gave the same message- their countries would not pose any problems for Turkey. Certainly both of them have expectations and reservations on different issues. Sweden is interested in human rights and Greece is interested in Cyprus. However, these do not seem to pose an obstacle for the approval required. Nowadays both the EU commission members and the officials from member countries are saying Turkey can take her place within the next 10 years perspective. In other words, if all goes well for Turkey , she can be a member in 2010. The most important part of it all is the negotiation process can start in 2002 or 2003 if the National Program is speedily implemented. According to an EU diplomat, the speedy enforcement of the National Program is as important as its context. This should be known not only by the Government and Foreign Ministry, but also by all institutions, political parties, TGNA and the public. This requires determination, patience and trust."

CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE TO SPITE EUROPE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

Columnist Semih Idiz comments on the recent developments. A summary of his column is as follows: "Looking at the recent incidents in Turkey I believe we are undergoing a trial by fire. There is no doubt, these events have a foreign dimension. At the moment we are faced with ignorant and very conceited Western countries. Looking at the events in England, after France, we see they have commemorated an expanded Jewish Holocaust. Everybody from gypsies to gays, from Bosnians to Armenians, was there. The names of countries and nations were pronounced and Turkey and Turks were among them. It was a sort of genocide carnival. Certainly, there must be a reason why Queen Elizabeth avoided participating in these ceremonies. If we discuss the Bosnian massacre, which the British Government said should never happen again, who do you think was among those obstructing an intervention by the international community while all the news broadcasts in England were reporting the massacres? Could they be Lord Carrington and David Owen? I do not know if those two attended the Holocaust Commemoration Ceremonies but I believe their attendance would be the greatest irony. After 50 years, documents were released disclosing the fact that Winston Churchill knew what was happening to the Jews, as well as what awaited those who had not yet perished in the gas ovens, and that he kept it secret. I do not know if this was referred to during the London ceremonies. Meanwhile, the crimes against the Cossacks, remembered by no one, and attributed to the British should not be forgotten. Tens of thousands of Cossacks and their families, taking refuge with the British forces, in Austria, were returned to Stalin at the instruction of the London Government as Nazi collaborators. The mothers, knowing full well what they would face at the hands of the Russians, jumped from bridges with their children to their death. This was recorded by Nikolai Tolstoy, grandson of the famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The name of his book is 'The Victims of Yalta.' Another book by Tolstoy titled 'The Minister and the Massacres' published in 1986, which laid bare the guilt of the British Prime Minister, Harold Mac Millan, was banned in England. It is true, the book was banned. If there was any reference to this event during the ceremonies held on Saturday I do not know. The list goes on. However, we should take a glimpse at the trial of our patience within the country. We have arrived at a point where we are confusing European values, which are in fact universal, with the Europeans we had to face. We are in danger of reacting against one because of the other. These values were not created in a day. They stemmed from the complex and bloody history of Europe. There is also the 'sociological inevitability' of these values within the evolution process. The Virtue Party's acceptance of these values, that it was opposed until a few years ago, shows this process.The bridling or restraining of this social evolution has always backlashed on the society itself and others. We have to understand the presence of diversity which increase our cultural riches, and melt them in the pot of universal values, and thus progress collectively. Otherwise we shall be the ones who will bear the brunt of our fury."

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