SEZER, ARINC RELEASE MASSAGES MARKING 98TH ANNIVERSARY OF END OF CENSORSHIP
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday released a statement marking the 98th anniversary of the end of press censorship, saying that the press should be free. Sezer stressed that the press, one of the pillars of democracy, was indispensable. In his message to mark the day, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc stated that press institutions should act with responsibility, adding that they should be free and impartial. In related news, Sezer will leave for Hungary today upon the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart Laszlo Solyom. Sezer will have talks with Hungarian officials on regional and international issues concerning Turkey and Hungary, as well bilateral relations and cooperation opportunities. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN: "THE PROBLEMS IN THE MIDEAST WILL CERTAINLY BE RESOLVED"
Speaking in Balikesir yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his belief that the problems in the Middle East would certainly be resolved, adding that Israel would sit at the negotiating table with Palestine and Lebanon. "There is no other way," he said. "If a solution can't be found, then the sides will face serious harm. Hatred leads nowhere. Israel and Palestine should solve their problems with bilateral understanding." Saying that innocent children were being killed in the Middle East, Erdogan added that bridges and power stations were being blown up while nature suffers harm as well. The premier added that he had spoken about the issue with US President George W. Bush, adding that a foreign ministers' meeting would be held in Rome tomorrow with the participation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul will also attend the meeting," said Erdogan. Answering questions about a possible military operation against the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq, Erdogan said that they couldn't just stand and watch terrorism. /Turkiye/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO ITALY FOR MIDEAST PEACE CONFERENCE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due today to travel to Rome to take part in an international conference on ending the violence in the Middle East. Ways to secure a cease-fire in the region, opening up a secure corridor for humanitarian aid, and deployment of an international force will be discussed at the conference to be held tomorrow. Gul will deliver a speech at the conference, which will end with a joint declaration the same day. The United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, EU Term President Finland, Spain, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as Turkey will all be represented at the conference. The UN secretary-general and World Bank president will also attend. /Aksam/

TURKISH AND US MILITARY OFFICIALS START TO DISCUSS ANTI-PKK MEASURES
Turkish and US military officials are starting to discuss measures to be taken against the terrorist PKK presence in northern Iraq, in the wake of Turkey signaling a possible military operation. Talks between the US and Turkey will be held in Ankara and Baghdad simultaneously. The talks in Ankara will be held between US Gen. Peter Satten and the General Staff. /Aksam/

TURKEY CALLS ON OIC TO URGE A CEASEFIRE
Turkey and Iran yesterday called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to hold an extraordinary session to urge an end to the aggression in the Middle East. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed the idea during a telephone conversation. "Firstly, regional countries should provide humanitarian aid for the Lebanese people and the OIC should be active in developing cooperation in the regional countries for a cease-fire," said Erdogan. /Sabah/

LEBANESE AMBASSADOR: "TURKEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE PEACE FORCE"
George Siam, Lebanon's ambassador in Ankara, yesterday said that his country would be glad to see Turkey in a peacekeeping force for the Middle East. A possible peace force is being discussed to be formed after a cease-fire is reached in the region. /Milliyet/

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR: "WE ARE COOPERATING WITH TURKEY AGAINST TERRORISTS"
Firooz Devletabadi, Iran's ambassador in Ankara, said yesterday that Turkish and Iranian military officials are cooperating in the fight against the PKK. "Military officers of both countries are working together," said Devletabadi. /Cumhuriyet/

WILSON: "THE US ADMINISTRATION IS ACTIVELY SEEKING WAYS TO FIGHT THE TERRORIST PKK"
Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said that the US administration was actively working on ways to fight the terrorist group PKK. "I assure you that the US is working to take more effective measures in the fight against terrorism," said Wilson. Wilson further commented on the recent Turkish-US strategic vision document, saying that with the document, relations between Washington and Ankara had been reevaluated. Wilson further said that he appreciated Ankara helping the evacuation of people from Lebanon. /Hurriyet/

1,200 TURKISH CITIZENS EVACUATED FROM LEBANON BY NAVAL FORCES
Some 1,200 Turkish citizens stranded in Beirut due to Israel's bombings were evacuated yesterday from Lebanon by a troop carrier of the Naval Forces Commandership sent from the port of Mersin. SAT and SAS commandos took security measures before the troop carrier came closer to the shore. Turkey's Ambassador to Beirut Irfan Acar said that they had evacuated about 2,000 Turkish citizens from Beirut in the last two weeks. "The carrier has everything to meet the needs of the people," he added. /Milliyet/

BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT'S ANTI-TERRORIST PERFORMANCE
Speaking in Divrigi yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized the government's policies, saying that it had no determined stance against the terrorist group PKK. "The government passed a law, but released arrested terrorists," added Baykal. /Star/

TURKISH, US REPRESENTATIVES SIGN PACT TO BOOST BUSINESS TIES
In Ankara yesterday Turkish and US representatives signed for a project to enhance bilateral business ties. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), and US Chamber of Commerce Executive Board member John Bachmann were the signatories. In his keynote speech at the ceremony, Hisarciklioglu said that their strong friendship and alliance are the main pillars of the Turkish-US relationship. "We have to enhance relations between our nations, and trade and investments will contribute to this," he stated. "Turkey's exports to the US are only equal to 0.03 percent of overall US imports, or a total of $1.7 trillion last year. The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and the United States was only $10 billion last year." Hisarciklioglu added that problems Turkish businessmen face in getting US visas also have a negative impact on bilateral trade. /Star/