TURKISH LEADERS CONVEY CONDOLENCES TO SPAIN OVER TERROR ATTACK

In the aftermath of yesterday’s bloody terrorist attacks in Madrid, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent messages of condolence messages to Spanish King Juan Carlos I and Premier Jose Maria Aznar. The two leaders conveyed the Turkish nation’s deep sorrow over the attacks, which killed nearly 200 people while injuring some 1,500 others. In addition, expressing his sympathy over the death of so many innocents, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul harshly condemned the attacks. /All Papers/

ERDOGAN, BAYKAL CONTINUE CAMPAIGNING FOR VOTER SUPPORT

Political party leaders yesterday continued to seek voter support ahead of the March 28 local elections. Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday campaigned in Bingol, the scene of a deadly dormitory collapse last year. Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, meanwhile, made a campaign stop in Yalova. /Aksam/

GUL: “WE WILL STRENGTHEN TURKEY’S TIES WITH THE PHILIPPINES”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Philippine counterpart Delia Domingo Albert, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey. Speaking to reporters after their meeting, the two leaders pledged to work to boost bilateral ties. /Turkiye/
 

EP VETS ANNAN PLAN, URGES ANKARA’S COOPERATION

The European Parliament yesterday approved a report expressing support for UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan’s plan for Cyprus. The report echoed the European Commission’s view that failure to reach a resolution on Cyprus would create serious obstacles to Turkey’s European Union membership and furthermore urged Ankara to do its utmost to speed a settlement. The EP also approved reports on the preparations of countries expected to join the Union. /Sabah/
 

ARINC URGES GOVERNORS TO IMPLEMENT EU REFORMS

Speaking to a gathering of recently appointed provincial governors yesterday, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc urged the officials to make sure Turkey’s reforms for European Union membership were carried out throughout the country, not just in law books. “The reforms should be implemented without hesitation,” said Arinc. “Neither you nor I have the right to hesitate in implementing these reforms.” While EU has lauded Ankara’s legislated reforms, it has complained of a lack of consistent implementation nationwide. /Star/
 

DEPUTY PM SAHIN, EC’S KRETSCHMER DISCUSS TURKEY’S EU PROGRESS

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday met with Hansjoerg Kretschmer, the European Commission representative in Turkey, to discuss Turkey’s progress on its EU membership bid. Speaking afterwards, Sahin reiterated Ankara’s determination to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. For his part, Kretschmer praised the recent reforms passed by the government, adding however that more needed to be done to implement them. /Cumhuriyet/
 

TALAT: “A FOUR-WAY CYPRUS SUMMIT WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 24”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Premier Mehmet Ali Talat and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas to discuss the current Cyprus negotiations. Speaking afterwards, Talat said that with the participation of Ankara and Athens, a four-way summit would be held in Zurich, Switzerland on March 24, adding that the TRNC would not leave the negotiating table until a resolution is reached. Talat further stated that both the TRNC administration and Greek Cyprus wanted an agreement reached as soon as possible without the need for intervention by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Asked about the prospects for success of the give-and-take process due to begin today, Gul said that both sides should put forth their determination for a resolution. /Milliyet/
 

GENCLERBIRLIGI DEFEATS VALENCIA

In UEFA Cup third round football action last night, Ankara’s Genclerbirligi defeated Spanish side Valencia, 1-0. The return match is set to be played in Spain on March 25. Before the game, a minute of silence was observed for the victims of yesterday’s deadly terrorist attacks in Madrid. /All Papers/
 

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

GOOD WILL FOR A SOLUTION
ERDAL GUVEN (RADIKAL)

Columnist Erdal Guven comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:

“There are two key elements necessary for a lasting solution on Cyprus: good will, and political will. While the former is crucial for the ongoing negotiations, the latter will be tested in the referendums to be held after Annan puts final form to his plan.

During the negotiations, not only the spirit of the UN plan but also its technical details are on the table. One of them, the issue of federal laws, has led to widespread confusion due to a dearth of information. Since these laws concern how the future state structure will actually work, they aren’t merely technical but actually quite important.

The Greek Cypriot side wants these laws to be given their final form during the negotiations. This would be ideal. However, the Turkish side sees this as impossible, owing to the laws’ complexity. Therefore, Lefkosa and Ankara want to focus on merely the most important laws for the time being.

Under these circumstances, the UN has to find a middle ground. Annan has suggested focusing on the laws which need to be completed prior to the island’s EU accession. Although technical committees are currently working on these laws, signs of significant progress are lacking.

The main reason for the current frenzied countdown is Denktas himself. At the October 2002 New York summit, Annan asked Denktas and then Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides to start working on the federal laws as soon as possible. However, Denktas failed to set up a technical committee to deal with the issue, which is why so much time was wasted.

But what happened after the technical committees were established? ‘The Turkish committee seemed reluctant to hold meetings, and consequently the committees failed to make progress,’ complained Annan. However, the UN is still hopeful. ‘A solution might be reached in line with Annan’s proposal,’ said one UN official. ‘We might overcome these problems by satisfying both sides. The only thing we need now is good will.

That’s the point: good will.”

LOCAL ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the nation’s upcoming local elections. A summary of his column is as follows:

“Our local elections are drawing near, and their results may be important. Despite his busy agenda, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been busy crisscrossing Anatolia with campaign rallies. Polls are pointing to a landslide for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). This will be dangerous for democracy. You might consider the word ‘dangerous’ to be alarmist or downright wrong. However, when there’s no hope for a viable political alternative, the ranks of the AKP’s enemies will swell. If it succeeds with Cyprus, the EU and US relations proportional to its voter mandate, it will pursue a radical agenda and draw increased ire. Already there was this week’s terrorist attack against the Masonic lodge in Istanbul. Similar actions threatening to destabilize the nation might follow.

I wonder if the AKP might help other parties boost their votes. Yes, you read that right, and our history provides precedents. Polls predicting that the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) could have trouble passing the 10% threshold are distressing, because a healthy democracy requires a powerful ruling party plus a powerful opposition. I even consider it bad for a party to rule for more than two terms. I really wonder what will happen.”