TURKEY STRONGLY CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S BOMBING
The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a statement strongly condemning Israel's bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana and calling for an immediate cease-fire. The statement criticized Israel's use of disproportionate force and targeting civilians which has so far in this operation caused the death of more than 600 innocent civilians and the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure as well as brought the country to a serious humanitarian crisis. /The New Anatolian/
OIC MEETING TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL TOMORROW
The extraordinary meeting of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) is due to be held in Istanbul tomorrow. During the extraordinary meeting, Israel's recent bombings of Lebanon and how to provide assistance to the Lebanese and Palestinian nations will be discussed. The meeting will be organized jointly by the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce. /Milliyet/
BAHCELI: "TURKEY FACES SERIOUS PROBLEMS BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD"
Speaking at a meeting of his party in Konya over the weekend, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that Turkey faces serious problems both at home and abroad. Commenting on recent conflicts in the Mideast, Bahceli said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan should look at the Mideast from the Turkish nation's point of view. Also commenting on Iraq, Bahceli stressed that Iraq was being divided and that the deaths of people in the country exceeded deaths during the Iraq war. /Turkiye/
FEMINIST WRITER DUYGU ASENA PASSES AWAY
Leading Turkish feminist journalist-writer Duygu Asena died yesterday after fighting a brain tumor for two years. Asena, who was 60, published a book in 1987 entitled "Woman Has No Name," which led to discussions and controversy. In the book, Asena evaluated woman's place in the society and family. /Cumhuriyet/
ENERGY SUMMIT TO BE HELD TODAY
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, and Energy Minister Hilmi Guler are expected to gather today to discuss energy issues. The energy summit, which will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, will focus on formulas to find a solution to Turkey's energy needs. /Aksam/
TUZMEN: "WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUR EXPORT TARGET FOR THIS YEAR"
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen said yesterday that the exports target for this year has already been achieved. Saying that the 2006 export target was $79 billion, Tuzmen added that goal had been achieved this month. "We've already met the program target," he said. "Exports in the next five months will surpass the program's target. We predict that we'll reach $82-84 billion in exports by the end of the year." Tuzmen added that difficulties exporters face due to recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate were being overcome. /Aksam/