Başlık: KRONOLOJİ :JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2003Yazar(lar):Cilt: 34 Sayı: 0 DOI: 10.1501/Intrel_0000000070 Yayın Tarihi: 2003 PDF

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JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2003

January 16- Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis gave support to Turkey's being in the EU family, adding that Greece vvould back the realization of EU reforms by Turkey, in his speech at the European Parliament's general assembly session on the occasion of Greece's taking över the EU term presidency.

January 17- Secretary - General of the Council of Europe Walter Schvvimmer qualifıed Turkey's signing of the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights as a significant step to continue vvith the democratic reform process Turkey had begun.

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January 29- Turkey and the European Commission signed a series of agreements in preparation for the Community's Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and youth programs. Accordingly, Turkish students, apprentices and teachers vvould be able to set up projects or undertake periods of study of teaching in EU countries as of 2004 on condition of Turkey's making the necessary amount of contribution to the programs' budgets.

January 31- EU Troika arrived in Ankara, marking the first high-level gathering since the Copenhagen Summit of December 2002.

February 3- The Treaty of Nice, vvhich was designed to set out changes in the EU decision-making process to pave the vvay for enlargement, came into force.

February 4- Six lavvs, including the reforming of several lavvs in order to bring them in line vvith the EU standards, commonly referred as the second democracy package vvas approved by the President. The package also contains provisions to allovv retrial of convicts vvhen so requested by the European Court of Human Rights.

February 5- Turkey and Greece signed an agreement to promote tourism in the Aegean Sea.

March 3- German Interior Minister arrived in Ankara to sign a security agreement on struggling against terrorism and organized erime.

March 14- The first political dialogue meeting betvveen Turkey and the EU in accordance vvith the Copenhagen Summit of December 2002 took place in Brussels to assess Turkey's recent efforts to harmonize vvith the EU.

April 4- Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geona and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül held a joint press conference in Ankara during vvhich Turkey's support for Romania's membership to NATO vvas reiterated.

April 7- The representative of the European Commission in Turkey,

Ambassador Hansjoerg Kretschmer, addressing the 15lh meeting of the Turkey - EU

Joint Consultation Committee, stated that he considered Turkey as a developed and povverful country, yet she should fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria to start accession negotiations vvith the EU.

May 3- The foreign ministers of EU member and candidate states coming together vvithin the framevvork of unoffıcial meetings held tvvice a year gathered in Meis and Rhodes islands of Greece and then proceeded to Turkey's coastal tovvn of Kaş.

May 9- Hansjoerg Kretschmer, the European Commission representative in Turkey, speaking on the occasion of Europe Day, stated that Turkey and the EU needed each other, qualifying Turkey's accession to the EU as beneficial for both sides.

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May 26- Turkey and Albania signed an air transportation agreement during Albanian President Alfred Moisiu's visit to Ankara. In his meeting vvith his Albanian counterpart Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed Turkey's support for Albania's NATO membership.

May 26- Turkey and Greece agreed on a series of high-level military exchange visits to be held regularly and establishing and internet-based information sharing system betvveen their military hospitals.

May 28- Turkey signed a multinational contract vvith Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain on the joint production of 180 A400M cargo planes to be completed by 2008.

June 4- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended the trilateral Balkan Summit in Romania. The Presidents of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania agreed on setting up a mechanism to enable regular consultations on issues of common interest regarding the integration process vvith the EU. President Sezer, in a joint declaration vvith his Bulgarian and Romanian counterparts Georgi Parvanou and Ion Illiescu called on the EU to give clear perspective for Turkey's full membership.

June 4- Turkey and Moldavia signed six bilateral agreements vvhich vvould strengthen the legal infrastructure needed by the businessmen of both countries during Moldavia Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev's offîcial visit to Ankara.

June 4- In response to the request of the European Council made at its Copenhagen Summit of December 2002, the European Commission proposed a package of fınancial assistance vvorth e 12 million for promoting economic development of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and easing a final settlement of the Cyprus problem.

June 5 The European Parliament approved the report drafted by Christian -Democrat parliamentarian Arie Oostlander on Turkey's performance to meet criteria for accession to the EU. The report drevv criticism from some EP members for being too critical and being indifferent to the progress made by Turkey tovvards meeting the Copenhagen criteria. Speaking at the European Parliament session discussing the report, the European Commissioner responsible for enlargement Guenther Verheugen stated that the EU countries should clarify their position on Turkey and avoid sending confusing messages since Turkey vvas determined to go ahead vvith the reform process.

June 10- Turkey and Luxembourg signed bilateral agreements on prevention of double taxation and on improving cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism, during Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junker's official visit to Ankara.

June 10- Turkish General Staff dismissed the claims by Greece that tvvo Turkish jets harassed a passenger plane, stating the claims to be totally false.

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June 20- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül attended the European Council summit held in Thessaloniki, Greece.

June 20- The sixth EU reform package, envisaging the abolition of the eighth article of the Anti-Terror Law and allowing broadcasting in other languages, was approved by the Parliament.

June 25- Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected allegations of the Greek government that Turkish military aircrafts had violated Greek air space över the Aegean Sea.

July 1- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer came together with his Macedonian counterpart Boris Trajkovski in Skopje. President Sezer underlined the importance attached by Turkey to Macedonian's integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions, while Macedonian President stated that cooperation betvveen the tvvo countries vvould continue.

July 2- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Portuguese Premier Jose Manuel Durao Barroso met in Portugal to assess the developments regarding Cyprus issue and the EU.

July 3- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met Croatian President Stipe Mesic in Zagreb and agreed on exchanging vievvs concerning the EU membership processes of the tvvo countries to create nevv areas of bilateral cooperation as vvell as on improving the economic relations expected to be taken further by the free trade agreement.

July 3- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül met British Foreign Secretary Jack Stravv in London to discuss the Cyprus question and Turkey's EU membership.

July 10- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Austria to hold talks vvith Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel on Turkey's EU membership.

July 16- Turkey signed the European Prevention of Terrorism Contract, vvhich includes certain standards for extradition proceedings in accordance vvith the principle of respect for human rights.

July 16- The EU harmonization package's provisions designed to annul Article 8 of the Anti-Terror Lavv and formerly vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vvere re-approved by the Parliament.

July 17- The visiting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern stated that his country vvas ready to give ali kinds of support to Turkey's EU membership bid.

July 24- Turkey and Greece agreed on cooperation betvveen their national defense colleges and exchanging of their military personnel betvveen the NATO's Partnership for Peace training centers in Ankara and Kilkis, Greece.

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July 24- A nevv project aiming to give education in both Turkish and German languages in nine schools in the German city of Köln vvas unveiled at a press meeting jointly organized by Turkish Embassy in Germany and the governor of Cologne.

July 25- Turkey took över the rotating command of the Southeastern Europe Peacekeeping Force, vvhich had been established to contribute to security and stability in the Balkans and improve good neighborly relations, for the next tvvo years in a ceremony held in Romania.

July 30- Parliament passed the seventh EU harmonization package, including the limiting of the number of times the National Security Council meets and greater parliamentary scrutiny of military expenses.

July 31- The Turkish Secretariat-General for European Union Affairs briefed diplomatic representatives of the EU countries on the recent progress of Turkey tovvards meeting membership criteria.

July 31- The European Commission vvelcomed the passage of the seventh harmonization package.

August 26- Turkey reiterated support to Estonia's joining NATO, vvhile Estonia gave support to Turkey's EU membership during Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland's visit to Ankara.

August 29- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, speaking to foreign press members in Germany, expressed support to Turkey's accession to the EU.

September 2- Gerhard Schroeder, the German Chancellor, stated that every German government had been in favour of Turkey's EU membership perspective and he found it unacceptable that German opposition parties tended to use Turkey's EU bid as a tool to serve their political aims.

September 10- The head of the federal assembly group of the German Christian Social Unity Party Michael Glos claimed that Turkey's membership to the EU vvould be likely to undermine the EU's economic povver.

September 15- Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio expressed support to Turkey's EU membership, follovving a meeting vvith his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer during vvhich the tvvo countries adopted a joint declaration stressing mutual determination to improve bilateral relations.

September 17- Turkey and Greece signed an agreement on the nevv traffic net över the Aegean Sea to ease traffic at the 2004 Olympic Games, as a result of the bilateral negotiations initiated by the International Air Transport Association.

October 7- Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov visited Ankara to discuss cooperation in struggling international terrorism and improving bilateral relations.

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October 8- Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende held offıcial talks in Ankara on Turkey's EU membership.

October 10- Turkey and Greece agreed to cancel military maneuvers to take place around Cyprus.

October 22- Turkey and Greece agreed on basic points of a bilateral financial agreement for avoiding double taxation, during Turkish foreign minister's visit to Athens, paid as a part of the bilateral high-level contacts regularly held since 2000.

October 28- European Commissioner for enlargement Guenther Verheugen criticized Germany's opposition for objecting Turkey's joining the EU, underlining Turkey's importance as a geographical bridge and the EU's common interests vvith Turkey.

November 3- Turkey and Belgium signed an agreement on furthering cooperation betvveen the tvvo countries' customs authorities.

November 4- The second of the Turkey-Bulgaria Exchange of Unit Maneuvers to foster friendly ties betvveen the armed forces of the tvvo countries vvas performed in Bulgaria.

November 4- Bilateral negotiations betvveen Turkey and Greece on security of civilian flights and technical cooperation betvveen Athens and İstanbul Flight Information Regions did not yield any results.

November 4- Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt stated, at a press conference in Ankara, that though Cyprus issue vvas not a condition for Turkey's EU membership, fınding a solution vvould ease the process of accession for Turkey.

November 5- The European Commission released its annual report on Turkey's performance to meet the criteria for EU membership.

November 6- Norvvegian Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik held talks in Ankara to discuss bilateral cooperation vvith Turkey concerning the training of poliçe forces in the Central Asian republics and possible contribution to be made to a settlement of the Middle East issue.

November 6- Turkey and Greece agreed to increase the number of air corridors from tvvo to eleven, in a move vvhich vvould increase transportation revenues for Turkey.

November 12- Turkey ratifıed the sixth protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

November 19- Turkey and Svveden expressed their sharing of the same vievv that both the Union and Turkey vvould benefit from Turkey's EU membership, vvhile Svveden's nevvly elected foreign minister Laila Freidvals underlined the necessity for

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the continuation of Turkey's progress vvith the reforms to meet the criteria for full membership.

November 21- The European Commissioner for enlargement Guenther Vergeugen, after meeting the leaders of the three Turkish Cypriot opposition parties stated that Cyprus issue vvould make Turkey's membership diffıcult.

November 21- British Foreign Secretary Jack Stravv stated that the devastating bomb attacks in İstanbul vvould strengthen rather than undermine the determination on Turkey's EU membership.

November 30- German Foreign Minister Joscka Fischer, speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Naples, expressed that keeping the door open to Turkey vvould be to the benefit of Europe.

December 10- French Justice Minister Dominique Perben visited Turkey to shovv friendship and solidarity vvith Turkish people after the terrorist bombings.

December 11- European Commission's representative in Ankara Hansjoerg Kretschmer criticized Turkey's nevvly planned penal code bili for not ensuring gender equality.

December 13- Turkish Foreign Ministry assessed the references made to Turkey's membership in the declaration issued after the European Council summit held in Brussels on December 12-13, 2003. Foreign Ministry statement reiterated Turkey's determination to fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria to start accession negotiations right after the European Council in December 2004. Foreign Ministry, referring to economic issues indicated in the conclusions of the summit, emphasized that fulfıllment of the Copenhagen economic criteria vvas not a precondition for starting accession negotiations but only to be accomplished before accession. Foreign Ministry also dismissed any linkage betvveen settlement of the Cyprus question and Turkey's EU membership process, stating that connecting these tvvo issues vvould not help Turkish-EU ties.

December 16- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer came together vvith Slovakian President Rudolf Schuster in Ankara to discuss the vvays to increase bilateral trade alongside regional and international issues.

December 17- Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned and rejected the move by Svviss Parliament to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide. Foreign Ministry statement stated that the said decision ignored the relations betvveen Turkey and Svvitzerland. The Foreign Ministry summoned Svvitzerland's ambassador to Turkey to hand dovvn Turkey's protest note. Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Şensoy told the Svviss ambassador that the decision vvas unjust and vvrong.

December 19- Turkish parliamentary delegation visited Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Plamen Panayetov, vvho thanked for Turkey's support for his

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country's NATO membership bid and proposed Turkish-Bulgarian ties to serve as a model for other neighboring countries.

December 23- Turkey and Greece signed an energy agreement in order to construct a pipeline connecting Turkish and Greek natural gas infrastructures, paving the way for transporting natural gas from Turkey to the rest of Europe via Greece by

2006.

December 26- Turkish ambassadors in the capitals of EU countries, the U.S., the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the United Nations gathered in Ankara for holding consultations for developing a strategy to give impetus to fully meet the EU's membership criteria in the first six months of 2004.

Cyprus issue

January 10- Alvaro de Soto, the U.N. special envoy for Cyprus, expressed his hope that an agreement on the Cyprus issue could be reached by February 28.

January 13- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş complained of the demonstrations calling for the reunification of Cyprus, stating that his negotiation position at the talks aiming a settlement on the island vvould be hurt.

January 15- U.S. Special Envoy for Cyprus Thomas Weston held contacts vvith Turkish Foreign Ministry officials on the recent developments on Cyprus and the U.N. Secretary General's plan designed to form a basis, envisaging a loose government linking tvvo parties vvith a rotating presidency, for Cyprus negotiations.

January 16- Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman stated no change in Turkey's policy on Cyprus, expressing Turkey's vvish for a settlement based on the sovereignty of the tvvo sides on the island.

February 24- U.N. Secretary-General arrived in Ankara together vvith his special Cyprus envoy Alvaro de Soto to help a political settlement on Cyprus by the end of February.

March 9- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş stated he vvould seek revisions to the U.N. Secretary-General's settlement plan on Cyprus.

March 11- Cyprus talks ended follovving an inconclusive meeting in the Hague, bringing together the tvvo Cypriot sides vvith the U.N. Secretary-General.

April 2- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş presented the Greek Cypriot side a package of confidence-building measures, including the lifting of restrictions on both sides follovving the transfer of Varosha to Greek Cypriot control for resettlement, facilitation of freedom of movement betvveen

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the tvvo sides and the establishment of a bilateral reconciliation committee to promote mutual understanding and respect.

April 4- President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus requested the Greek Cypriot leader to revise his decision on the Turkish side's proposal of confıdence building measures.

April 22- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus authorized the daily opening of checkpoints on the cease-fıre line vvhich has separated the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south since 1974, in a move to bolster confıdence betvveen the tvvo sides.

April 29- The government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) approved to extend the scope of the cross-border trips to the north by the Greek Cypriots up to three days as a part of the confıdence-building measures. Opening a fourth crossing across the border vvith the Greek Cypriot side vvas also authorized by the KKTC government.

May 18- Turkey declared she has decided to lift the travel ban on Greek Cypriots imposed in early 1964 follovving the attacks by Greek Cypriots on the Turkish Cypriot people vvhich leaded Turkey not to recognize the Greek Cypriot -administered Cyprus Republic as the legitimate government on the island any longer. Though visas vvill not be required for the Greek Cypriot citizens entering Turkey, the move does not mean the recognition of the Greek Cypriot state.

May 22- The first group of Greek Cypriots entered Turkey vvithout visas after Turkey had lifted the travel ban on Greek Cypriots.

June 3- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş branded the EU package proposed to improve the republic's economic development and integration vvith the Union as unacceptable unless substantially revised to cope vvith the realities of the island. After meeting the EU Special Representative for Cyprus Andrean Van der Meer President Denktaş especially criticized the EU proposal requiring the KKTC to make exports through the Greek Cypriot ports vvith the permission of the Greek Cypriot administration since, he stated, accepting that proposal vvould be tantamount to surrendering authority by the Turkish Cypriot people.

June 12- The U.N. Security Council extended the mandate of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for another six months.

June 25- Turkey dismissed a report adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe vvhich claimed that the demographic structure of Cyprus had been continuously modified since the partition of the island, as false and one-sided.

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June 30- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Parliament approved a bili, vvhich would pave the way for hearing compensation claims of Greek Cypriots, vvho had left their property in the north and migrated to the south in 1974.

July 7- The representatives of Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties came together at a meeting organized by the Council of Europe in order to support the United Nations Secretary-General's peace initiatives on Cyprus.

July 15- The Greek Cypriot National Council decided to reject the proposal put forvvard by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş to open the Varosha suburb of Famagusta to Greek Cypriot settlement under interim United Nations rule in exchange for the opening of the Nicosia international airport to the common use of the two sides on the basis of the U.N. confıdence building measures package of 1993-1994 and through the good offices of the U.N. Secretary-General.

July 20- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş, speaking on the occasion of the July 20 Peace and Freedom Festival in Nicosia, stated that a solution in Cyprus should be based on the equality of the two communities and added that Greek Cypriots should also take steps for a solution, mentioning the need to lift the sanctions subjected by the Turkish Cypriots for forty years.

July 21- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş stated that he had received via the United Nations a letter from Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos rejecting the confıdence building measures the Turkish side had proposed and instead appealing for the resumption of negotiations within the framevvork of the plan prepared by the U.N. Secretary-General Kofı Annan.

July 28- Greek Cypriots ratified the treaty for accession to the EU.

July 30- The U.S. State Department vvelcomed the readiness of Turkish and Greek Cypriots to negotiate vvith U.N. officials the demeaning of areas in and around Nicosia.

August 1- The European Court of Human Rights charged Turkey to pay costs for violation of Articles 1 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, but it did not decide on compensation and instead referred the cases for the first time to Turkish Cypriot courts established according to the Property Claims Compensation Law adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side.

August 8- Turkey signed customs union framevvork agreement vvith the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) to help bring about an economic recovery in the KKTC by easing the economic restrictions on the country as a result of the international embargo.

August 10- European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer criticized Turkey's signing a customs union agreement vvith the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for not consulting vvith the EU before the signature, adding that the

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Commission vvould check the agreement vvith regard to ali association and customs union agreements vvith Turkey.

August 11- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş presented the applications of Greek Cypriots to Turkish Cypriot courts for deciding on compensation claims involving the denial of access to the abandoned properties in the Turkish section of the island since 1974.

September 5- Turkish Cypriot opposition parties decided to join forces in the upcoming general elections to achieve a solution on the basis of the Annan plan.

September 11- Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, after meeting vvith representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, stated that Greek Cypriots' joining the EU vvould contribute to a settlement on the island as vvell as easing of the Turkish-Greek relations.

October 9- The opposition, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared their plan to hold a referendum follovving the general elections in December on a possible settlement for the Cyprus issue and EU membership.

October 12- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş denied claims concerning attempts to influence the upcoming general elections by granting mainland Turks Turkish Cypriot citizenship.

October 21- U.S. State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli stated that Turkish Cypriot general elections to be held in December vvould provide an opportunity to disclose Turkish Cypriot opinion on a settlement based on the Annan plan and EU membership.

October 25- Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) signed an agreement to facilitate transportation of drinking vvater to KKTC.

October 26- President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Rauf Denktaş stated that the parliamentary elections vvould serve to clarify the realities required for a settlement on the island.

November 15- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus marked the 20,h

anniversary of her establishment.

November 19- Leaders of the three Turkish Cypriot opposition parties in favor of a settlement based on the UN. Secretary-General's plan on Cyprus explained their vievvs at a joint meeting of the foreign, defense, human rights and EU-Greek Cypriot Joint Parliamentary Group.

November 23- U.S. Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston expressed his belief that a substantial chance vvas present to reach a settlement on the

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Cyprus issue by May 2004, after holding separate meetings with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders.

December 2- Turkey paid compensation to Titina Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot who claimed that she had been deprived of access to her property in the Turkish section of Cyprus as ruled by the European Court of Human Rights in 1998. The Committee of the Council of Europe adopted tvvo resolutions, one noting Turkey's declaration that the payment of compensation by Turkey vvould not set precedence for other applications and the other, that consideration on restorations of Louzidou's property rights in the north, forming the second element in Loizidou's application, vvould not resume before the end of 2005.

December 14- Parliamentary elections vvere held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

December 17- President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Rauf Denktaş started contacts vvith leaders of the four parties represented in Parliament after the elections.

December 18- U.S. Special Envoy for Cyprus Thomas Weston met Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktaş, vvith no full consensus achieved during the talks.

December 19- The leaders of Turkish Cypriot parties discussed prospects for a coalition government.

December 29- The mandate to form a nevv government in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus vvas given to the leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Mehmet Ali Talat.

III. RELATİONS VVİTH THE UNITED STATES AND NATO

January 1- Turkey, together vvith the U.S. and Israel, started annual naval maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean.

January 15- The U.S. formally asked her NATO allies for indirect military assistance in the event of a vvar vvith Iraq, including the deployment of missiles to protect Turkey.

January 16- The U.S. administration cleared the vvay for a loan facility allovving Turkey to purchase U.S.-made military helicopters.

February 6- Turkish Parliament voted to allovv the U.S. technicians and military personnel to begin renovating military bases and ports in Turkey.

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February 11- Turkey handed över leadership of peacekeepers to Germany and Holland within the framework of International Security Assistance Force (İSAF) headed by Turkey since June 20, 2002.

February 12- The renovation on military bases and ports the U.S. wished to use in a probable war against Iraq started.

February 20- NATO Defense Planning Committee, follovving a deadlock brought about by some NATO members' reluctance, finally approved the deployment of defense equipment, including AWACS early vvarning aircraft, Patriot air defense missile system and chemical-biological response units to protect Turkey in the event of a counterattack caused by a vvar in Iraq.

February 26- Hungarian Parliament approved to allovv her territory and airspace to be used to carry military support to Turkey to enhance her defense capabilities.

March 1- Turkish Parliament turned dovvn a government motion to allovv deployment of U.S. troops.

March 11- Turkey's ambassador to Washington, D.C. Faruk Loğoğlu stated that talks vvere undervvay for opening Turkish airspace to U.S. planes in case of a vvar vvith Iraq.

March 16- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stated, in a message to the AmericanTurkish Council's annual convention in Washington, D.C., that Turkish -U.S. relations based on shared values and upgraded to the level of strategic partnership in the post - Cold War era, vvould continue to yield successful results and contribute to peace and stability.

March 20- Turkey and the U.S. reached agreement to transit Turkish airspace in and out of Iraq.

March 22- U.S. military abandoned plans to open a northern front against Iraq.

April 4- Turkey and U.S. agreed to establish a coordination mechanism to be the basis for providing supply through Turkey for the U.S. troops in Iraq and humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians, during U.S. Secretary of State Colin Povvell's visit to Ankara.

April 16- NATO stated that a phased vvithdravval of defense equipment from Turkey vvas considered to be appropriate since Iraq vvas in no position to generate the military capability to threaten Turkey's security any longer.

May 1- The U.S. put an end to Operation Northern Watch since the outcome of the Iraq vvar made missions to monitor no-fly zones in Iraq obsolete.

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May 6- The cooperative Poseidon 2003 exercise of NATO aiming to adopt common safety procedures and understanding to minimize the risk of submarine accidents started in İstanbul with the participation of three Partnership for Peace countries, namely Bulgaria, Svveden and Ukraine.

June 17- Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Uğur Ziyal, after meeting U.S. Assistant Secretaries of State Marc Grossman and Richard Armitage, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Assistant Secretary of State responsible for economic affairs Alan Larson, stated that the tvvo countries agreed to continue close relations. Mr. Ziyal presented a package of proposals concerning Turkish assistance to meet urgent needs of the Iraqi people such as providing electricity, medical services and communications. The tvvo sides also discussed details of delivery of $ 1-billion aid package pledged by the U.S. to Turkey as part of a supplementary vvar budget.

June 26- U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated support for Turkey's EU membership.

June 26- The U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher expressed his satisfaction vvith Turkey's decision to open her air bases and ports to the coalition forces to provide logistics support and delivery of humanitarian aid to Iraqi people in a bid to facilitate Iraq's reconstruction.

June 29- The U.S. sent a letter to Turkish General Staff praising Turkish military's contribution during the Iraq vvar.

July 7- Detained Turkish soldiers from a special forces unit vvere released after being held in custody since July 4l h by the U.S. forces in northern Iraq.

July 10- A U.S. military team led by Lt. Gen. John Sylvester from European Central Command met Turkish military officials to discuss the details of the probe to be conducted jointly for clearing the detention of Turkish soldiers by the U.S. forces in northern Iraq.

July 15- The U.S. Senate approved a draft bili foreseeing cuts in the fînancial assistance to be delivered to certain countries, including Turkey, vvhich vvere indebted to Nevv York municipality.

July 18- The U.S. Supreme Allied Commander Europe General James L. Jones and head of U.S. Central Command General John Abizaid held talks vvith Turkish officials in Ankara on possible cooperation vvith Turkey in the post-vvar Iraq. The tvvo sides agreed on cooperation in efforts to eliminate the terrorist organization presence in northern Iraq and on establishing mechanisms to coordinate activities of Turkish troops and the coalition forces in the region.

July 25- U.S. requested Turkey to send troops to Iraq, during the talks held by the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül.

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July 30- Turkish Foreign Ministry disclosed a non-paper presented by the U.S. in response to Turkish proposals for non-military contributions to the restructuring of Iraq. In the non-paper it vvas stated that the U.S. side vvas stili considering the Turkish proposals.

August 13- Turkish, U.S. and Israeli naval and air forces jointly performed the Reliant Marmaid sea search and rescue military exercise in international vvaters of the eastern Mediterranean.

August 19- Turkey received an unoffıcial paper from the U.S. on a possible contribution by Turkish peacekeeping troops to be sent to Iraq.

August 29- The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers stated that the U.S. vvanted to vvork vvith Turkey in Iraq, but Turkey vvould make its ovvn decision on sending peacekeepers.

September 4- A U.S. delegation of military officials held technical talks vvith their Turkish counterparts on details of a possible deployment of Turkish peacekeeping mission in Iraq such as size, location and command structure.

September 11- Turkey vvas moved up to Tier 2 in the U.S. State Department's üst included in the annual report on traffıcking in persons, marking progress made by Turkey in fighting against human traffıcking.

September 12- Turkish and U.S. officials agreed on a joint plan of action to tackle the terrorist presence in northern Iraq.

September 14- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressed his belief that Turkey vvould decide to send troops to Iraq.

September 21- Turkish General Staff sent a liaison team to U.S. army headquarters in Baghdad for coordination betvveen Turkish and U.S. troops in northern Iraq.

October 7- Parliament voted in favour of a government motion to deploy peacekeeping troops in Iraq for a year, leaving up the specification of number and location of the troops to the government.

October 8- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Povvell vvelcomed the Turkish Parliament's decision to send Turkish troops to Iraq.

October 9- The head of the U.S. administration in Iraq Paul Bremer came together vvith the members of the Iraqi Governing Council in a bid to overcome the council's opposition to plans to deploy Turkish troops in Iraq.

October 10- NATO Secretary-General George Robertson stated that the alliance could provide the same support as it extended to other NATO member countries vvhich deployed troops in Iraq.

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October 14- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman paid a visit to the Turkey-U.S. Inter-Parliaments Friendship Group.

October 23- NATO's Secretary-General George Robertson requested a larger contribution from Turkey to the alliance's peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, following the authorization of the NATO-led International Security Force to dispatch troops anyvvhere in Afghanistan by the U.N. Security Council.

November 11- The Turkish Minex-2003 naval exercise started to be performed in the Aegean in order to improve cooperation betvveen naval forces of NATO countries.

November 19- Former speaker of Turkish Parliament and former foreign minister Hikmet Çetin vvas appointed as NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan.

November 20- The first exercise of the NATO Response Force to demonstrate the force's capabilities of conducting a maritime presence, shovv of force, counter-terrorism, non-combatant evacuation and embargo operations vvas performed in Doğanbey, İzmir vvith Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Norvvay, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom as participants alongside Turkey.

November 20- Turkey vvelcomed the appointment of Hikmet Çetin as NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, in a statement vvhich touched upon the friendly ties based on historical roots betvveen Turkey and Afghanistan.

November 20- Deputy Chief of General Staff General İlker Başbuğ stated that Turkey and U.S. vvorked on plans to disarm PKK terrorists in northern Iraq.

December 2- Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Uğur Ziyal attended the Economic Partnership Commission meeting held in Washington, D.C.

December 5- Turkey and the United States agreed to enhance security cooperation and coordination in Iraq. Turkey vvas included in a list of countries to have privileged status for participating in restructuring tenders in Iraq, follovving Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Uğur Ziyal's visit to Washington, D.C.

December 7- The U.S. Department of Commerce, stating that the U.S. and Turkey agreed to discuss improved trade links betvveen Turkey and Iraq including transportation and the possibility of providing additional electricity povver by Turkey as vvell as fully operationalising Kirkuk-Yumurtalık oil pipeline, expressed the U.S. plan to host a series of conferences in Turkey on the reconstruction of Iraq in January 2004 in a bid to give an enhanced role to Turkish companies in rebuilding Iraq.

December 8- Turkish Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Özkök held meetings in NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo.

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December 9- U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman briefed Turkish officials on U.S. plans to undertake a majör realignment of her global defense posture, stating that İncirlik base in Turkey vvould not be affected by the plans to realign U.S. forces abroad.

December 16- U.S. President George W. Bush's Advisor for resources in the Caspian Seabed Ambassador Steve Mann expressed U.S. vvish for broader cooperation vvith Turkey in utilizing the natural resources located in the Caspian.

December 25- U.S. vvelcomed the signing of Turkish-Greek agreement on the construction of a natural gas pipeline. U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher stated that the pipeline vvould be an important economic link betvveen Turkey and Greece, also developing alternative export pipeline routes for delivery of the Caspian natural gas.

IV. RELATİONS WITH THE MİDDLE EAST

January 9- Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, on a visit to Ankara, emphasized his strong vvill for improved relations vvith Turkey.

January 15- Syrian Foreign Minister held talks in Ankara finally to declare jointly vvith his Turkish counterpart the support to a peaceful solution to the Iraqi

crisis, vvith both sides underlining the need for preserving Iraq's territorial integrity. January 23- The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria met in İstanbul and called on Iraq to fully cooperate vvith U.N. arms inspectors and to demonstrate a more active approach in full conformity vvith U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, to confirm its commitments under relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding the ongoing monitoring and verifıcation and to respect internationally recognized boundaries in accordance vvith the existing treaties, vvhile giving support to the territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq.

March 4- Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmad Chalabi, on a visit to Ankara to give information concerning the meeting of the Iraqi opposition group meeting held the previous vveek, stated that he savv no benefıt of deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq.

March 11- Turkey and Syria signed tvvo military cooperation agreements to enable the tvvo countries to exchange military students and conduct joint military exercises.

March 19- Iraqi opposition groups holding a meeting in Ankara issued a final statement expressing the agreement reached by the parties on preserving Iraq's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

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April 5- Turkey ordered the expulsion of three Iraqi diplomats for engaging in activities unrelated to their missions.

May II- Turkey's ambassador to Iraq resumed offıce in Baghdad for the first time in the aftermath of the war.

May 14- Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the sending of a diplomatic delegation to northern Iraq to make on -the- spot assessments regarding the recent political and military developments in the region.

May 15- Turkey's offıce of commercial counselor in Baghdad expected to support Turkish businessmen's efforts to undertake projects in a period of reconstruction for Iraq was reopened.

May 16- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met his Tunisian counterpart Zeinal Abidin Bin Ali during his official visit to Tunisia. President Sezer expressed the importance attached by Turkey to finding a peaceful solution to the Middle East dispute and to preserving the territorial integrity of Iraq.

May 18- Turkish delegation visiting northern Iraq held contacts with the ethnic groups in the region.

June 12- Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Turkey condemned the terrorist attacks in the Middle East and called on Israel and Palestine to decisively implement the Road Map, previously accepted by both sides.

June 19- Türkmen delegation headed by Iraqi Türkmen Front Chairman Sanan Ahmet Ağa vvas received by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül.

June 22- The first crude oil export to international markets from Iraq since the vvar started through Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

July 2- Turkish Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Özkök arrived in Israel for an official visit.

July 8- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed Turkey's readiness to make every contribution possible to peace efforts in the Middle East, during his meeting vvith Israeli President Moshe Katsav vvho agreed vvith Turkey's role as a contributor to the normalization of relations in the region.

July 16- Turkish and Palestinian foreign ministers expressed their mutual consensus on Turkey's playing an active role in the Middle East peace process.

July 17- Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the establishment of the Iraqi governing council marked the beginning of a process of a nevv sovereign political structuring in Iraq. The Foreign Ministry added that Turkmens should be represented according to their real population in the Iraqi governing council since the number of their representation, as it stood, vvas not satisfying.

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July 29- Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, paying the first visit by a Syrian premier to Turkey in seventeen years, held negotiations in Ankara. Turkey and Syria reached agreement on resuming the negotiations över the issue of water dispute.

July 29- Turkey and Syria signed an agreement on cooperation in the fıelds of crude oil exploration, natural gas and mining betvveen the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and the Syrian Petrol Company.

August 4- U.N. Special Representative for Iraq Sergio de Mello, on an offıcial visit to Ankara, called on Turkey to give support to the Iraqi governing council and to undertake the training of Iraqi poliçe force.

August 15- Turkish Foreign Ministry, qualifying the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1500 on Iraq as being in line with Turkey's approach on the issue, reiterated Turkey's support for the transition period to pave the vvay for ensuring Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

September 2- Governor of Iraqi tovvn Falluja Taha Bedevi Elvan stated that they preferred deployment of Turkish peacekeepers above the soldiers of other countries.

September 8- Israel's Land Forces Commander Maj.Gen.Yiftach Ron Tal met Turkish Land Forces Commander Aytaç Yalman in Ankara to hold talks on the defense industry component of the existing cooperation betvveen the tvvo partner countries in military training as vvell as in science and technology.

September 9- Spokesman for the acting head of the Iraqi governing council Ahmad Chalabi stated that Turkish forces vvould be vvelcome if deployed under a U.N. resolution to establish peace and prosperity in vvestern area of Iraq.

September 10- Ahmad Chalabi, holding the rotating presidency of Iraqi governing council, stated that the council had not yet made any decision on vvhether or not Turkish troops should be deployed in Iraq.

September 11- Iraqi governing council members held talks in Ankara. October 3- Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Yasef Paritzky expressed agreement to buy 15 million cubic meters of vvater from Turkey for tvventy years.

October 14- Turkish Embassy in Baghdad vvas attacked.

October 22- The humanitarian aid material dispatched by Turkey arrived in Baghdad.

October 22- Ambassador Osman Taney Korutürk vvas appointed as Turkey's special envoy for Iraq to coordinate efforts regarding the restructuring of Iraq and improvement of bilateral ties.

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November 2- Foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuvvait, Saudi Arabia and Syria gathered in Damascus to deal with the latest situation in Iraq. The ministers, in a joint statement, called for cooperation to improve security at Iraq's borders and condemned terrorist attacks in Iraq.

November 11- Turkish government declared to clear the mines on Turkish-Syrian border in order to enable these areas to contribute to the national economy in accordance with the provisions of the U.N. Ottawa Treaty foreseeing the clarifıcation of mine fields across the globe vvithin ten years.

November 11- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, speaking at a parliamentary session on the 2004 budget for Foreign Ministry, stated that Turkey would not hesitate to intervene if any threat arose from northern Iraq, rejecting any link betvveen this and a U.S. loan worth of $8.5-billion.

November 16- The leader of the Iraqi Türkmen Front Farouk Abdullah Abdurrahman underlined the necessity of establishing peace and stability in Iraq and of providing ali sorts of assistance to Iraq in this regard by friendly countries.

November 20- An Iraqi delegation led by the term president of the governing council held talks in Ankara to enhance economic cooperation vvith Turkey.

November 24- Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül stated that Turkey vvould not send troops to Iraq unless asked to do so.

November 21- Turkey and Iraq signed a protocol to improve bilateral trade relations and agreed on a series of measures including the opening of a second border gate in order to ease the transportation of commercial goods and humanitarian aid from Turkey to Iraq as vvell as increasing security of the oil pipeline carrying Kirkuk oil to Turkish facilities in the Mediterranean region.

December 2- Turkey's ambassador to the U.N. Ümit Pamir, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly's special session held on the situation in the Middle East, stressed the need for every kind of effort to be made by the international community in order to lead the Israeli and Palestinian sides to a peaceful settlement.

December 17- Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hüseyin Diriöz said, concerning the capture of Saddam Hussein, that if the trial process of Saddam Hussein took place in Iraq it should be conducted seriously, expressing Turkey's hope of Iraq's succeeding in the democratization and stabilization of the country.

December 17- Syrian Foreign Minister held talks in Ankara concerning the terrorist attacks committed in İstanbul.

December 24- Turkey and Israel signed a joint protocol to increase intelligence cooperation betvveen poliçe forces of both countries.

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December 25- The Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was hit by a rocket, leaving no casualties.

December 25- Turkey and Iran signed an agreement on developing the road, railways, maritime and air transport systems, international cooperation in the customs and telecommunications sectors and the establishment of a joint transportation commission.

December 26- Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the formation of future Iraqi constitution and the legal arrangements to lead that process should be accomplished with the consensus of ali Iraqi people, underlining that otherwise it vvould be contrary to the approach adopted at the meeting of 19 March 2003 held in Ankara.

December 27- Turkey extended help to Iranian earthquake victims.

V. RELATİONS WITH RUSSİA, CAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASİA January 3- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that trust among naval forces operating in the Black Sea vvould be increased through the cooperation agreement, committing Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine to enhancing contacts, increasing exchanges of information betvveen their naval forces and furthering cooperation in struggling against ecological threats, terrorism and organized erime.

January 12- Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov said that documents vvere prepared to allovv the handing över of six Turkish citizens vvho had been detained in connection vvith the assassination attempt against him.

February 28- Turkish Foreign Ministry announced the completion of ali approvals necessary to start Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project aiming to transport Azeri natural gas to Europe via Turkey. Foreign Ministry statement underlined the strengthening of Turkey's role as an energy bridge betvveen the Caspian Basin and European markets vvith the realization of the project.

April 17- Turkish Chief of Staff General Hilmi Özkök met Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze, Georgian Chief of Staff Joni Pirtskhalaishvili and vvas later received by Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze in Tbilisi and agreed on developing the existing military cooperation agreement envisaging a training programme for Georgian military personnel.

May 7- Turkish and Ukrainian foreign ministers came together in Ankara. While Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül stated that the tvvo countries should increase their present trade volume vvorth of $1.3 billion, his Ukrainian counterpart Anatoli Zlenko expressed that Turkey and Ukraine agreed on maintaining peace and

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stability in the Black Sea region, struggling against terrorism, furthering economic relations and keeping close contact vvith the EU.

May 14- Turkey and Kyrgyzstan signed three protocols aiming to further commercial and economic cooperation as vvell as joint undertakings in the construction sector, during Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev's visit to Ankara.

May 23- The groundbreaking ceremony of the Georgian part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, vvhich vvas designed to transport Caspian oil to international markets through Georgia and Turkey by early 2005, vvas held. In a message to mark the occasion President Ahmet Necdet Sezer qualifîed the pipeline project as an example of the common success of long-term and far-sighted cooperation betvveen Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the United States, vvhich had given strong support for the project. President Sezer also stated that the project vvould also contribute to diversifıcation of energy supplies and to peace, stability and security in the region.

June 6- The construction phase in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project started vvith the vvelding of the pipes to carry Azeri oil to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

June 19- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer reiterated Turkey's support for Ukraine's Euroatlantic integration process, after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma. During President Sezer's official visit to Ukraine the tvvo sides signed protocols on exchanging land for Turkish and Ukrainian diplomatic missions and on alteration and supplement to the navigation trade agreement as vvell as memorandums on strategic research and international security cooperation.

June 19- Turkey and Azerbaijan signed a Cooperation Programme agreement to enable the former bilateral agreements to go into effect.

July 23- Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed a protocol in Baku on ensuring international oil companies on safety of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project.

July 30- The international arbitration process brought about by a deadlock in negotiations betvveen Turkish and Russian officials on pricing formula vvithin the framevvork of Blue Stream natural gas project vvas suspended as a result of the agreement reached by the tvvo sides on making revision in the bilateral natural gas purchase agreements on the basis of other Russian gas sales.

September 8- Azerbaijan's Prime Minister İlham Aliyev held talks in Ankara över a number of bilateral issues, including Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project.

October 22- Turkey and Kyrgyztan agreed to increase the bilateral trade volume and to improve military cooperation.

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October 23- Turkey and Tajikistan signed three agreements on bilateral cooperation.

November 1- Turkey and Ukraine discussed the security issues and bilateral cooperation for the reconstruction of Iraq, during Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko's visit to Ankara.

November 4- The World Bank agreed to provide $250 million for the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

November 13- Turkey expressed her belief that peace and unity would be restored in Georgia through a political compromise to be reached betvveen the country's authorities and the opposition, for the country to continue progress in the direction of democracy.

December 12- Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych visited Ankara to enhance bilateral trade relations.

December 12- Turkish Armed Forces donated military vehicles to the army of Uzbekistan.

December 15- Top Turkish leaders including President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended the funeral of former Azeri President Haydar Aliyev.

December 19- Turkey and Uzbekistan signed protocols on cooperation against terrorism, exemption from visa requirements for diplomatic personnel and establishment of a joint economic commission.

December 26- Turkish Red Crescent sent humanitarian aid to Georgia.

VI. OTHERS

May 20- Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül met Pakistani Defense Minister Rao Sikander İkbal vvho vvas in Ankara for contacts on cooperation in the defense industry.

June 29- Chairman of the Australian Heritage Commission Tom Harley gave support to Turkey's proposal to include Anzac Cove in the World Heritage citation due to its moral value.

July 17- Turkey vvas fulfılling the commitments under the principles of the Bonn Treaty and the decisions adopted at the Tokyo Conference to help Afghanistan's reconstruction in the fields of health, education, social rehabilitation and agriculture, Turkey's ambassador to Afghanistan said.

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August 4- Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha held talks in Ankara on bilateral relations and regional issues. During the meetings foreign ministers of India and Turkey agreed on supporting a possible U.N. initiative for Iraq's restructuring.

August 14- Turkey and Brazil signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement, envisaging the sharing of information and experience in maintenance of international peace and security as well as strengthening the existing bilateral cooperation betvveen the tvvo countries.

August 18- After meeting his Pakistani counterpart Riaz H. Khokhar, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Uğur Ziyal stated that both sides discussed the issue of sending peacekeeping troops to Iraq and decided to keep in contact.

September 5- Turkey and Algeria signed a memorandum of understanding to improve cooperation in the fîeld of security, especially struggling against international terrorism.

September 7- A Japanese parliamentary delegation headed by Deputy Spokesman of the Upper House of Parliament Shoji Motooka held talks vvith Turkish parliamentarians on the issue of reconstruction of Iraq.

September 17- Turkey and India agreed to improve bilateral ties, especially in the fıeld of economy, during Indian Primer Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Ankara.

October 10- The foreign ministers of Mediterranean Forum (FORUMED), bringing together Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia, underlined the necessity of the U.N. to play a central role in the restructuring of Iraq, in a joint declaration issued at their meeting in Antalya.

October 15- Turkey and South Africa signed bilateral agreements, foreseeing improved cooperation in the fields of education, culture, arts, science and sports, during South Africa's First Deputy President Jacob Zuma's visit to Turkey.

October 24- Turkish and Pakistani military officials finalized a joint venture deal in the fıeld of defense production.

November 20- The U.N. Security Council condemned the terrorist attacks in Turkey in a unanimously adopted resolution urging ali states to cooperate to fınd and bring to justice the perpetrators. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his part emphasized the need for a genuine international cooperation to fıght terrorism.

December 2- Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Şensoy underlined the need for international cooperation in struggling against terrorism, expressing his appreciation for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in

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Europe's nevv strategy against nevv security threats, during the organization's foreign ministers meeting held in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

December 11- Turkey signed the U.N. convention to combat corruption. December 11- Pakistan's Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani visited Ankara at the invitation of Gendarmerie Chief Lt. Gen. Hakkı Kılınç to discuss furthering cooperation betvveen the lavv enforcement agencies of Turkey and his country.

December 15- Turkey and Mongolia signed an agreement on mutual cooperation combating erime, during Mongolian Justice and Interior Minister Tsend Nyamdorj's visit to Ankara.

December 18- Turkish Foreign Minister held talks in Tokyo vvith Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to explore possibilities of joint participation by Turkish and Japanese fırms in contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq.

December 19- The International Monetary Fund approved a loan of $ 502 million for Turkey. In a statement issued follovving the approval IMF President Hoerst Koehler, expressing the strengthening of market confıdence in Turkey's economic programme being implemented after the fınancial crisis in 2001, reminded of the signifıcant reform agenda stili lying ahead.

December 24- Turkey pledged contributing $ 10 million to Afghanistan's restrueturing.

Başlık: KRONOLOJİ :JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2003Yazar(lar):Cilt: 34 Sayı: 0 DOI: 10.1501/Intrel_0000000070 Yayın Tarihi: 2003 PDF

JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2003

CONTENTS