ERDOGAN: “THE TERRORIST ATTACKS TARGETED TURKISH CITIZENS, REGARDLESS OF FAITH”
Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his condemnation of Saturday’s terrorist attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul. “If these terrorists wanted to send a message, then rest assured they will find no audience here,” he said. He lamented that the attacks had cast a shadow over Turkey’s peaceful atmosphere, adding that such slaughter of innocents was inhuman. “All those who lost their lives or suffered injuries are citizens of Turkey, regardless of their religion,” said Erdogan. He added that Turkish security forces had gathered important clues in the search for the attacks’ culprits and that DNA test results would be pivotal in this effort. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE TURKMEN IN IRAQ’S RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received visiting Iraqi Turkmen Front head Faruk Adullah Abdurrahman. During their talks, Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to support Iraq’s ethnic Turkmen in the nation’s reconstruction process. He said that he wanted the Turkmen to be prepared for elections in the country, adding that he had no wish to see a Turkmen-Kurdish conflict. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL: “AN AFGHAN TERROR GROUP IS LINKED TO SATURDAY’S TERRORIST ATTACKS”
Speaking yesterday at a seminar on obstacles to peace in the 21st century, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that investigators had uncovered a link to Saturday’s deadly synagogue bombings and a terrorist group in Afghanistan. “It has emerged that there is a link with an organization in Afghanistan in terms of belief and understanding,” said Gul. “The emerging evidence demonstrates that the security services have been very successful in their work. A trail has been found and relationships have emerged.” Though Gul declined to provide any further details, his comments were the clearest statement to date pointing to a connection with the al Qaeda terrorist network. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN REPORTEDLY ASKS WASHINGTON TO LIFT POLITICAL PROVISIONS OF $8.5 BILLION LOAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last night met with US Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman. On the eve of Edelman’s departure for a visit to Washington, Erdogan reportedly conveyed Turkey’s request that the US lift the political provisions in an $8.5 billion US loan pledged to Turkey following the Iraq war. Pointing to instability in Iraq and the ongoing PKK/KADEK terrorist threat, Erdogan argued that conditions in Iraq had changed and so the conditions of the agreement should also be changed. Edelman reportedly pledged to convey Ankara’s concerns to Washington, but added he was not hopeful the terms of the agreement could be changed. /Sabah/

BAYKAL: “LACK OF LEADERSHIP, NOT INTELLIGENCE FAILURES, ENABLED THE TERRORIST ATTACKS”
Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal charged that a lack of leadership, not intelligence failures, had made Saturday’s deadly terrorist attacks possible. He added that the attacks had not just targeted two Istanbul synagogues, but in fact the entire nation. /Milliyet/

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS ISTANBUL; SIX JEWS LAID TO REST
In the wake of Saturday’s deadly terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin accompanied by Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Pinhas Avivi yesterday visited the Beth Israel and Neve Shalom Synagogues, which were the targets of the attacks. After surveying the damage in the area, Rivlin told reporters that as the attacks were acts of international terrorism, international cooperation was needed to fight this menace. Meanwhile, six Jewish victims of the attacks were laid to rest in Istanbul yesterday. Speaking at their funerals, Chief Rabbi Ishak (Yitzhak) Haleva blamed terrorism for their tragic deaths. /Sabah/

REGULATION READY FOR BROADCASTS IN TRADITIONAL LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS
Regulations prepared by the Radio and Television Higher Board (RTUK) for broadcasts in traditional (mother-tongue) languages and dialects were sent to the Prime Ministry yesterday. At a press conference, RTUK Chairman Fatih Karaca said that as an initial phase, stations with a nationwide reach would be able to produce broadcasts in traditional languages, including news shows, music, and promotion of traditional culture. Under the regulations, radio stations and TV channels can broadcast such programs for up to five hours a week. In addition, Turkish subtitles of the texts must be simultaneously broadcast. /Sabah/

ANKARA SEEKS COMPROMISE ON LOIZIDOU CASE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Turkey was willing to pay some $900,000 in compensation and accrued interest to Greek Cypriot citizen Titina Loizidou if a compromise could be reached on the issue, and particularly it was established the case wouldn’t set a precedent for similar cases in the International Court of Human Rights. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport before leaving for Sweden, Gul said both Turkey and the Council of Europe were working on the issue. Regarding the weekend synagogue attacks, Gul stated that far too many people had lost their lives due to terrorism. “Making peace in a country is only possible through united efforts against terrorism, one including all neighboring countries as well,” he added. /Turkiye/