DNA TESTS CONFIRM IDENTITIES OF SUICIDE BOMBERS; ATTACKS SIMILAR TO AL QAEDA
DNA tests have confirmed the identities of both terrorist suicide bombers as Turkish nationals, Mesut Cabuk (29) and Gokhan Elaltintas (22), announced Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler yesterday. Speaking to the press alongside Chief of Security Forces Celalettin Cerrah, Guler said that the style of last weekend’s attacks, which killed 25 and wounded hundreds, was similar to those carried out by Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terror network. “The target, method of attacks and connections of the people who carried them out are parallel with terrorist attacks undertaken by al Qaeda in other parts of the world,” stated Guler. /All papers/

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: “WE WILL COOPERATE WITH TURKEY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM”
Appearing on Turkish television yesterday, visiting Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that it would be wrong to call any terrorist attack part of a fight for freedom. He added that Israel and Turkey would cooperate in the fight against terrorism. /Aksam/

TALABANI VOWS NO REFUGE FOR TERRORISTS IN IRAQ
Current Iraqi Governing Council President Jalal Talabani arrived in Ankara yesterday and met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During their one-hour-plus meeting, Erdogan warned Talabani about the threat posed by PKK/KADEK terrorist group’s continued presence in northern Iraq. Talabani reportedly assured the premier that the new democratic Iraq would not allow terrorist groups to take refuge there. In addition, Talabani met with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and told him that Iraqis wanted to have good relations with Turkey. He also pledged to protect the safety of Turkish businessmen and drivers in Iraq. /Milliyet/

DENKTAS: “GREECE IS BLOCKING A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS”
Speaking at Yeditepe University in Istanbul yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas charged that Greece was blocking a resolution on the island. “It is using the European Union, the United States, and Britain as tools for its own ends,” said Denktas. “When I explain my reasons for not accepting the United Nations’ Cyprus plan, some claim that I’m the obstructionist. But as for Greek leaders who hail Annan’s plan as a great step forward for Enosis [political union between Greece and Cyprus], these critics are silent.” /Cumhuriyet/

CETIN NAMED NATO’S TOP CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR IN AFGHANISTAN
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson announced yesterday that former Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin had been appointed the alliance’s top civilian administrator in Afghanistan. Cetin is to be responsible for the coordination and implementation of NATO’s political and military assistance to the Afghan provisional government. Robertson added that Cetin would work in close cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United Nations and various international coordination organizations. /Sabah/

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS WASHINGTON FOR DEFENSE MEETINGS
Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday attended high-level joint defense group meetings in Washington and also met with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. After the meetings, Basbug spoke with US Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris. Basbug is also expected to attend a meeting of the American-Turkish Council and have talks with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. /Turkiye/

VERHEUGEN: “DENKTAS IS STANDING IN TURKEY’S WAY”
Speaking yesterday after meeting with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) opposition party leaders, European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen charged that TRNC President Rauf Denktas was “solely responsible” for the lack of a resolution on the island, branding him a “significant obstacle” to both the TRNC and Turkey. ”Denktas is not only an obstacle to the Turkish Cypriots, but also to economic aid they could receive from the EU,” said Verheugen. “Denktas is also an obstacle to Turkey.” /Hurriyet/

AKP REQUESTS INQUIRIES INTO YILMAZ, TANER
Following last week’s inquiry motions into four former government ministers, 65 ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) deputies yesterday submitted another inquiry motion to the Parliament Speaker’s Office, this time for former Premier Mesut Yilmaz and former Cabinet Minister Gunes Taner. The motion alleges corruption in the Turkbank tender during Yilmaz and Taner’s terms in office. /Turkiye/

IMF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING POSTPONED TO DECEMBER
International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Odd Per Brekk said yesterday that an IMF Executive Board meeting originally set for November had been postponed to Dec. 12. At the meeting, the board is expected to release a $500 million credit tranche to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

AGREEMENT REACHED ON BLUE STREAM PROJECT
After 11 months of talks, the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and Russian Gazprom’s sales division Gasexport finally reached an agreement yesterday on Turkey’s purchase of natural gas from Russia. In a press conference, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that terms of the agreement regarding the Blue Stream Project had been changed. Under the changes, both the amount of gas purchases and the price will be reduced. /Hurriyet/

COUNCIL OF EUROPE GIVES ONE-WEEK EXTENSION ON LOIZIDOU CASE
Last night marked the deadline for Turkey to pay some $900,000 in compensation to Greek Cypriot citizen Titina Loizidou, but an extension came at the last minute. Officials from the Council of Europe said they pushed the deadline back one week and that meetings would continue to discuss the issue. /Turkiye/

CHE GUEVERA’S SON VISITS ANKARA
Camilo Guevera Marc, the son of legendary Latin American revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevera, yesterday met with Ankara’s Cankaya District Mayor Haydar Yilmaz. Guevera Marc is in Ankara to attend a series of activities to celebrate Cuban Culture Week. /Turkiye/