YAS CONVENES
The Supreme Military Council (YAS) convened yesterday to make decisions on the promotion, retirement, and disciplining of members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The council was chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and outgoing Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. Yasar Buyukanit, the newly appointed chief of General Staff, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and the naval, land, and air force commanders also attended the meeting. The YAS meeting will end on Friday. YAS members visited Ataturk's mausoleum, Anitkabir, after yesterday's meeting. /Star/
OIC HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FORUM PLEDGES TO HELP LEBANESE, PALESTINIAN RECONSTRUCTION
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Humanitarian Relief Forum, composed of representatives of humanitarian aid groups operating in OIC member countries, convened in Istanbul yesterday to discuss how to provide assistance to the Lebanese and Palestinian nations. During the meeting, the participants pledged to help in the reconstruction of Lebanon and Palestine. Addressing the gathering, the OIC's secretary general, Turkish scholar Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said that the situation of Lebanon under the Israel's bombs was worsening with each passing day, adding, "Israel is continuing to use disproportionate force in Lebanon and killing civilians. The people there are helpless. We should provide immediate assistance to the region. The European Union and the United Nations should work for a cease-fire." Also addressing the gathering, Lebanon's Ambassador to Turkey George Siam said that some 750 people had been killed by Israel's attacks and criticized the insensitivity of the world. Siam said that Turkey had provided the enormous assistance to Lebanon and that he had appreciated this. /Turkiye/
AGAR: "BOMBINGS CAN'T BRING STABILITY TO THE MIDEAST"
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday issued a written statement commenting on recent conflicts in the Mideast. Agar said that the situation of the region was growing more complex every day, adding that such bombings couldn't bring stability to the region. He added that Turkey should do its utmost for a permanent solution in the region. /Sabah/
ISRAELI DEPUTY PM: "TURKEY IS AN EXEMPLARY COUNTRY IN THE MIDEAST WITH ITS MODERN, MUSLIM POPULATION"
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said yesterday that Turkey was an exemplary country in the Mideast with its modern, Muslim population. Speaking at a meeting in New York, Peres said that some countries were both Muslim and modern, and Turkey was a leading example of this. /Milliyet/
IRAQI FM: "THE PKK OFFICE IN BAGHDAD WILL BE CLOSED IMMEDIATELY"
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said yesterday that the Iraq government was serious about fighting the terrorist PKK, adding that the PKK's office in Baghdad would be closed immediately. Zebari stated that the PKK couldn't hold activities in Iraq. Saying that he had discussed the issue with the Turkish government in detail, Zebari added that he had proposed to establish a committee on the issue. /Cumhuriyet/
FAREWELL TO FEMINIST PIONEER ASENA
The Ataurk Culture Center's (AKM) main hall was filed to capacity yesterday with people paying their respects to late writer and journalist Duygu Asena, who brought women's struggle for a decent life to nationwide attention in Turkey. Present at the funeral were prominent figures from the arts, media, and academia along with Asena's sisters in arms and her many readers from different generations. /The New Anatolian/
TURKEY PLANS TO PURCHASE 30 NEW F-16s
Turkey plans to purchase 30 new F-16s, reported US magazine Defense News. A Turkish official told the magazine that Ankara's negotiations with US company Lockheed Martin concerning the issue were continuing. The article said that Turkey wanted to purchase the F-16 Block 52+ model, the most modern version, at a cost of about $1.5 billion. /Turkiye/