FORMER IRAQI PM MEETS WITH GUL
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi yesterday met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Allawi said that Iraq needed regional and international support to ensure peace and stability. Stressing that the problems of the Iraqi nation couldn't be solved under the current conditions, Allawi stated that the nation needed international support for stability in their country. Allawi added that he had a plan to peacefully solve the country's problems, but declined to disclose details of the plan. Allawi further stated that he and Gul had not discussed the possibility of Ankara sending troops to Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
ARINC MEETS WITH FAMILY OF FASTING LAWYER
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday met with representatives of non-governmental organizations and family members of lawyer Behic Asci, who has been on a "death fast" for 265 days to protest conditions in F-type prisons. During his contacts, Arinc stated that Asci was continuing his fast and was successful in protesting the conditions of F-type prisons. Arinc further stressed that a delegation would start working next month to address the issue. Saying that he wanted Asci to end his fast, Arinc added that he would be pleased with positive developments on the issue and that Parliament couldn't be unresponsive to the efforts of a lawyer endangering his own life to protest prison conditions. /Sabah/
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SAYGUN VISITS ISRAEL
Turkey's Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun held key talks with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv yesterday on recent developments in the Middle East and the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region. Gen. Saygun was accompanied by a military delegation of experts on terrorism, intelligence and the defense industry. /The New Anatolian/
THE WASHINGTON TIMES: "THE EU IS MAKING A STRATEGIC BLUNDER ON TURKEY"
US daily The Washington Times said yesterday that the European Union's recent decision to halt Turkey's accession talks on eight chapters had not served the bloc's interests. Calling the decision a sign of Europe's putting Turkey at a distance, the daily claimed that it would be a "strategic blunder" if Turkey were to move closer to the Middle Eeast due to that mistaken policy. Stressing that Turkey's sense of disappointment was gradually rising, the editorial said a failure of accession talks would hurt both Turkish-EU relations and Turkey itself, adding that the Cyprus issue should not negatively affect Ankara's EU process. /Aksam/
TUZMEN TO VISIT EGYPT TO BOOST TRADE TIES
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and a delegation of Turkish businessmen will visit Egypt on Jan. 9-12. The visit is part of efforts to improve relations with African countries. During the visit, Turkish export materials will be promoted, in a bid to increase the collaboration between the two countries and boost the market share of Turkish exports in Africa. /Turkish Daily News/
NEW MINIMUM WAGE SET AT 403 YTL
The Minimum Wage Determination Committee yesterday set the minimum wage for 2007 after completing its meetings. Accordingly, the minimum wage will be increased 6 percent to a net 403.03 YTL in the first half of the year and another 4 percent to 419.15 YTL in the second half. Speaking to the press, Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu said that the hike was the best that the government could afford, although it was not at the level they really desired. /Star/