YAS MEETING CONCLUDES
The yearly regular meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS), which began earlier this week to discuss the promotion, retirement, and disciplining of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) members, ended yesterday after the defense minister hosted a luncheon for the participants. Present at the luncheon were outgoing Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and other council members. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan couldn't attend the final meeting since he is in Malaysia to attend a meeting of the Organization for the Islamic Conference. (OIC). YAS decisions are expected to be presented to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer today for approval. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN ADDRESSES OIC, URGES INTL INSTITUTIONS TO STOP ISRAELI BOMBINGS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended an extraordinary meeting of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan urged international institutions to help stop Israel's bombings of Lebanon. "If we don't stop these bombings, it could be too late tomorrow," he said. Stressing that Israel was using disproportionate force, Erdogan added that women and children were being killed. "This war can't be accepted as legitimate," said Erdogan. "This war isn't just, and there will be no winner since it fuels hatred. It doesn't take a fortune teller to say that a big global fire is waiting for us." Erdogan warned that the fire in the Mideast had the potential to set off a clash of civilizations. /Cumhuriyet/
GUL: "THE US SHOULD SHOW LEADERSHIP, STOP ISRAELI OFFENSIVE"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday harshly criticized the US for its support of Israel's offensive on Southern Lebanon, saying it calls into question the US' proud legacy of leadership in the realms of freedom and justice. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post yesterday, Gul said that his generation grew up with an image of the US standing for the revered values of democracy but that this image is being tarnished today as millions around the world watch events in Lebanon in complete horror. In his article entitled "An appeal for leadership," Gul asked, "Why has the sole superpower, which alone has the capability to stop this tragedy, turned a blind eye to the images of suffering and a deaf ear to the crisis for mercy?" /The New Anatolian/
SAUDI KING TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK
Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz is due to arrive in Ankara next Tuesday to pay an official visit. During his two-day stay, King Abdullah will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. Sezer and Abdullah are expected to sign agreements in six areas, including tourism, transportation, health, and investments. /Milliyet/
ISRAELI PM: "TURKEY COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN INTL MILITARY FORCE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON"
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday that Turkey could contribute soldiers to an international military force to be deployed in Southern Lebanon. Olmert stated that he wanted the military force to have about 15,000 troops. /Star/
TALAT TO MEET WITH PAPADOPOULOS NEXT WEEK
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is expected to meet with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos next Thursday to discuss the Cyprus issue. During the meeting, Talat and Papadopoulos are expected to discuss technical committees between the two nations. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Talat said that the Turkish side has always been ready to meet with Papadopoulos. /Aksam/
JULY INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The Turkish Statistics Institution (TUIK) yesterday released inflation figures for July. Last month's increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0.85%, while the producer price index (PPI) was 0.86%, pushing the yearly CPI to 11.69% and PPI to 14.34%. /Sabah/