SAKIP SABANCI LAID TO REST IN STATE FUNERAL

Businessman and philanthropist Sakip Sabanci, who died this weekend at the age of 71 of kidney cancer that had spread to his liver, was laid to rest in a state funeral in Istanbul’s Zincirlikuyu Cemetery yesterday. Politicians, businessmen, artists, Sabanci employees and members of the public all attended in order to pay their last respects. Speaking at the funeral, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, “Striving to improve our country is the most fitting way to honor Sabanci. Words cannot express our loss. I lost a friend, a mentor and a person I was very proud of.” President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was unable to attend the funeral but sent a message, saying, “Sakip Sabanci took upon himself key roles in promoting Turkey’s industry and economy. The nation will always remember him with appreciation.” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also unable to attend the funeral since he is in Japan for a state visit. /All papers/

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH JAPANESE PREMIER, ROYALTY AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Japan for an official visit, yesterday met with Premier Junichiro Koizumi, Prince Tomohito Mikasa, and Emperor Akihito to discuss bilateral relations. Later, at a gathering of Turkish businessmen, Erdogan said that he was pleased to visit a friendly Japan, adding that Ankara wanted to strenghten trade ties between the two countries. “In our world politics doesn’t direct the economy, but vice versa, and we must recognize this,” he said. Erdogan added that he was the first Turkish premier to visit Japan in nearly a decade. /Aksam/

DENKTAS: “ERDOGAN HAS BEEN DECEIVED ON CYPRUS”

Claiming that Ankara had not been fully informed about the United Nations’ Cyprus plan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas alleged yesterday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been “deceived” on the matter. “Greece wants Turkey to surrender,” said the TRNC president, who has come out publicly against the UN plan. “Is Turkey kowtowing to all of Greece’s wishes just to get into the European Union?” Arguing that that Ankara’s current stance was not Turkey’s official policy, Denktas said, “In my opinion, Erdogan has been deceived.” The president said that he had not yet signed a bill authorizing an April 24 referendum on the plan but that he would soon declare his stance on the matter, adding that postponing the referendum was not possible. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN: “I WAS NOT DECEIVED”

In the midst of his visit to Japan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday rejected Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas’s contention that he had been deceived on the Cyprus issue. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said that Denktas had long experience with the issue and so had earned his respect. “But,” added the premier, “my colleagues and I have been involved in politics for years, and we are working with a team that includes experts on the issue.” He reiterated that the UN plan was not the best conceivable, but the optimal one, and one which could be agreed on. “We’ve tried to do our best, and now it’s the Turkish Cypriots turn to decide whether to approve it,” said Erdogan. Meanwhile, Erdogan reportedly began a campaign for approval of the Cyprus plan in April 24 referendums by assigning Cabinet ministers to promote it to the public. Following his Japanese visit, Erdogan is also expected to address the nation on television. /Turkiye/

ARINC INVITES DENKTAS TO ADDRESS TURKISH PARLIAMENT

Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday invited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas to address the Turkish Parliament this Thursday. In his invitation, Arinc said, “You have an honor above that of parties and associations. If you wish to express your ideas on the Cyprus issue, we await your address to the Turkish Parliament.” /Hurriyet/

TRNC PRIME MINISTER TALAT REJECTS CALLS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUM

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that his nation’s official policy was to hold a referendum on the UN Cyprus plan on its scheduled date, April 24, without any postponement. “Though there may be differences of opinion on the plan,” he added, “all TRNC leaders want the referendum to go forward as scheduled.” Meanwhile, Talat is set to travel to Greek Cyprus today in the first-ever visit by a TRNC premier. In related news, TRNC Foreign Minister and Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas is expected this Friday to announce the DP’S opposition to the UN plan. In addition, a demonstration by groups supporting the plan will be held in the TRNC tomorrow. /Turkiye/

OZKOK PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS CYPRUS ISSUE

Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is expected to hold a press conference today to brief reporters on a number of issues, including Cyprus and the most recent meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on the issue. /Milliyet/

STATE MINISTER ATALAY: “THE NEW PRESS LAW IS THE FREEST IN 50 YEARS”

State Minister Besir Atalay yesterday acclaimed the new draft Press Law as the freest in over 50 years. Commenting on the bill which was sent to Parliament commissions this week, Atalay called it the fruit of a year-and-a-half of hard work in coordination with many experts and organizations. Saying that the original 1950 Press Law had included certain limitations, he stressed that the new one was in line with European Union norms and Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights. /Sabah

AZERBAIJAN’S ALIYEY DUE IN ANKARA TODAY

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is expected to arrive in Ankara today to pay his first visit since succeeding his late father. Aliyev is expected to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and to address the Parliament tomorrow. During his visit, Aliyev is due to seek further support from Ankara in his nation’s Upper Karabakh dispute with Armenia. He is also expected to sign agreements with Turkish officials to strengthen bilateral trade ties and to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. /Cumhuriyet/
 

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

WILL SOUTHERN CYPRUS CHANGE ITS MIND?
BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)

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

“Is it possible that Southern Cyprus, which is leaning towards a ‘no’ vote in the upcoming referendum, will change its mind and vote ‘yes’ instead? The Greek Cypriot Communist Party (AKEL), an influential political power there, has asked that the referendum be delayed (adding that it would vote ‘no’ if there’s no delay), and so ruined the balances and surprised the United Nations, the United States and the European Union. I spoke to a Greek colleague about AKEL’s stance and the possible consequences of a ‘no’ vote in the Greek south. We reached the following conclusions:

There is no chance AKEL will change its decision. Since Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos also opposes the plan, the outcome of the referendum is obvious. The Greek Cypriot people’s view is that the UN Cyprus plan is unfair to them. Most of them are nervous about approving it, as they believe it carries serious risks for the future. Those planning to vote ‘no’ are aware that this would exacerbate the division on the island and make the ‘green line’ a permanent border. But they find this less objectionable than what they fear the UN plan would bring.

Chances that the plan will be approved in the referendum are weak, so what should we expect? The answer of Nicosia diplomats is this: ‘The Greeks could hold one more referendum (there is a precedent for this in the EU). But since the Greek part will become an EU member on May 1, it wouldn’t make any more difference to the Turkish part than a delay of the referendum.

Some believe that that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would benefit if the Greek Cypriots reject the plan while the Turkish part accepts it. According to this view, the embargo on the TRNC would be lifted and some countries besides Turkey would even recognize it. The realization of this prospect depends on the formation of the required provisions. A ‘no’ vote from the Greek part would bring pressure from the EU and the US. Though there could be a more understanding attitude towards the Turkish part, we shouldn’t look for ‘important’ states (or the UN and EU) to recognize the TRNC and lift the embargo. Let’s say that the conditions turn in the TRNC’s favor. Could there be trade with the southern part of the island? No. What about with EU countries? It’s important at this point whether EU members or the US would recognize the TRNC. So a close look at the matter brings little optimism for an end to the embargo if the Greeks vote no.”