ERDOGAN SPEAKS WITH LEBANESE PM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the telephone with his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora over the weekend. Siniora called Erdogan and told him about the UN Security Council resolution for a cease-fire. The two exchanged information about how the process will continue afterwards, and Siniora thanked Erdogan for his help. Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to exert efforts to establish peace and stability in the region, as it has up through today. /Cumhuriyet/
PM, COMMANDERS TO DISCUSS SENDING SOLDIERS TO LEBANON
During a meeting today, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to discuss the number of the Turkish soldiers to be sent to Lebanon with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Military sources said that Turkish soldiers to be assigned to the UN's peacekeeping force in Lebanon, set to include 15,000 soldiers, would number in the range of 800 to 1,200. Turkish soldiers won't assume the task of combat for establishing peace but will perform peacekeeping tasks and assume an active role in reconstructing regions devastated by the Israeli attacks. /Hurriyet/
FM GUL: "THE TERRORIST PKK SOWS DISCORD BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday welcomed the news that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tell him that they had closed the terrorist PKK offices in Iraq. "This isn't only Turkey's problem, but also Iraq's," said Gul. "A country which lets people attack its neighbor from its territory would certainly feel indisposed. The Iraqi government feels indisposed about this. They said this during our meetings." He added, "Turkey and Iraq have always been together throughout history. The terrorist PKK sows discord between us. Iraqis should know this." /Star/
ARINC: "AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE THRESHOLD WOULD BE UNDEMOCRATIC"
Speaking in Balikesir over the weekend, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said yesterday that introducing a special election threshold for independent candidates would be undemocratic. Arinc predicted that certain pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) members could establish a party group in Parliament after being elected as independent deputies in the next general elections set for fall 2007. He added that he found the current 10 percent threshold very high. /The New Anatolian/
AKP TO CELEBRATE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) today will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Turkish political life. AKP leader and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to hold a press conference to evaluate his party's fifth year and the government's performance during its rule. In addition, Erdogan is set to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilimi Ozkok and Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. /Turkiye/
MINE EXPLOSION KILLS TWO POLICEMEN
Two policemen were killed and one was injured yesterday by a mine laid on a road in Tunceli by terrorists. The bodies of Recep Tokur and Abdulgafur Erkan were laid to rest in their hometowns, Samsun and Sanliurfa respectively, and mourners at the funerals denounced terrorist PKK militants. /Milliyet/
TURKEY WELCOMES UN RESOLUTION ON LEBANON
Turkey has welcomed the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution on Lebanon. A written statement released by the Foreign Ministry over the weekend said that the resolution passed last Friday was a noteworthy step and would pave the way for a permanent solution to the conflict to stop clashes before the crisis grows worse. Furthermore, Turkish scholar Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary-general of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), also welcomed the resolution, hailing it as "a step forward." /Turkiye-Turkish Daily News/
IRAN'S OIL MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY TOMORROW
Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vazari-Hamaneh, accompanied by a delegation of oil producers, is scheduled to pay a visit to Turkey beginning tomorrow. Expanding bilateral relations between the two countries, exports of Iranian natural gas to Turkey and transporting this gas to Europe via Turkey are reportedly among the main topics expected to be discussed during the visit. /Turkish Daily News/
BAYKAL: "THE CHP WON'T ALLOW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OR RELIGIOUS LAW IN TURKEY"
Speaking in Kahramanmaras over the weekend, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that his party wouldn't allow religious education or religious law in Turkey, adding that people couldn't be discriminated against due to their religious beliefs. Commenting on general elections to be held in fall 2007, Baykal predicted that CHP would come to power in those elections. "We'll come to power and a new day will dawn in Turkey," said Baykal. /Sabah/
MUMCU: "YILMAZ'S STATEMENTS WERE MISUNDERSTOOD"
Appearing on television yesterday, Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) Party leader Erkan Mumcu answered questions on how the balances would change if former ANAVATAN leader Mesut Yilmaz came back to the party. "Yilmaz is the founder of the party and he didn't go anywhere," said Mumcu. "There is no need to make conclusions from his statements," he said, adding that those statements had been misunderstood. He also briefed reporters on his recent meeting with Yilmaz, saying that they didn't agree on a plan or project. /Sabah/