ERDOGAN CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Terrorists who think that they can sway people by setting off bombs will soon learn that they are mistaken, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan called on the entire world to cooperate in fighting terrorism and to keep their pledges on the issue. Reiterating that terrorism couldn’t be linked to any religion, the premier said, “Terrorists should know that nothing can cast a pall over our nation’s integrity and unity.” /Milliyet/

GUL: “TURKEY WILL SUPPORT GEORGIA IN ITS NEW ERA”
Following the turmoil after Georgia’s elections last month, which led to the resignation of its president and the rise of an interim government, Turkey has begun contacts with the country’s new administration. Georgian Ambassador to Turkey Tariel Lebanidze yesterday paid a visit to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Stressing that Georgia had entered a new era, Gul said that Turkey expected that the country would soon be able to establish stability. Remarking that Turkey and Georgia share the same geography, Gul stated that Turkey would do all it could to extend financial and moral support to its neighbor. /Turkiye/

AL QAEDA CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISTANBUL ATTACKS
In a statement sent yesterday to British-based El Mecelle magazine, Ebu Muhammed El-Eblec, an al Qaeda so-called commander for attacks, claimed that the group had carried out the recent deadly terrorist attacks in Istanbul. El-Eblec also warned of future attacks. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “TURKEY HASN’T PROPERLY NAMED TERRORISM”
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday lashed out at the government, charging that it had avoided revealing the links of the terrorists who carried out the recent attacks in Istanbul to Turkish Hezbollah, referring to a Sunni terrorist group unrelated to the Lebanon group sharing the same name. Speaking to his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that using religion for political ends had a long history in Turkey, adding the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had partaken of this tradition and should take a clear stand in the current period. “The government has still not revealed the origins of the terrorist attacks and their main target,” said Baykal. “An official name for the terrorism that we must fight is still lacking. The government’s approach remains unclear.” /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY PAYS LOIZIDOU COMPENSATION
Following a longstanding dispute over a controversial verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Turkey yesterday paid 1.12 million euros as compensation to Titina Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot citizen. Ankara has long insisted it should not be held responsible for property claims on Cyprus because the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is an independent state. Loizidou is one of hundreds of Greek Cypriot applicants to the ECHR who sued Turkey on the grounds that the Turkish military presence on the north of the island meant denial of access to their property and thus loss of income. In related news, TRNC President Rauf Denktas charged that the ruling was politically motivated. “The Republic of Turkey was obliged to pay the compensation in order to save the honor of the court,” said Denktas. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY, GREECE SIGN PACT TO END DOUBLE TAXATION
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and Greek Economy and Finance Minister Nikolaos Christodoulakis yesterday signed a pact on behalf of their respective countries to end the practice of double taxation. Christodoulakis was later received by State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan to discuss a number of issues, including last month’s Istanbul terrorist attacks. Speaking afterwards, Babacan said that he believed the attacks would have no direct impact on foreign investment in Turkey. Touching on the nation’s economic program, Babacan pledged that the government would continue to adhere to the program. He added that trade ties between Turkey and Greece would be strengthened. Later, Christodoulakis was received by State Minister for the Economy Kursat Tuzmen. During their talks, Tuzmen said that the taxation pact would help boost the two countries’ bilateral trade volume, adding that mutual investments should also be increased. /Turkiye/

TUZMEN RECEIVES UKRAINIAN PM YANUKOVICH
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday received Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich. During their talks, Tuzmen said that he hoped to see the nation’s bilateral trade volume rise to some $3 billion annually. “Some products needed by Turkey are in Ukraine, and some that Ukraine needs are in Turkey,” he stated. “So we should boost trade ties.” /Turkiye/

VERHEUGEN: “THE EU WILL RECOGNIZE TRNC ELECTIONS IN CASE OF AN OPPOSITION VICTORY”
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union commissioner for enlargement, warned yesterday that Turkey would suffer both economically and politically if a resolution is not reached on Cyprus. Verheugen also said that he hoped opposition parties would win in the Dec. 14 general elections set for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), adding that the EU would recognize the TRNC’s election results only if the opposition emerges victorious. /Milliyet/

ANAP LEADER OZDEMIR ANNOUNCES HE WILL STEP DOWN
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Ali Talip Ozdemir announced yesterday that at its convention scheduled for Dec. 13-14, he would not stand for reelection to the party helm. Ozdemir was elected the party’s chairman last year when former ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz resigned from his post after its failure in general elections. /Cumhuriyet/

CB HEAD: “NOTHING STANDS IN THE WAY OF OUR HITTING THIS YEAR’S 20% INFLATION TARGET”
Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti yesterday briefed reporters on the CB’s just-released Monetary Policy Report. Serdengecti said that nothing stood in the way of Turkey fulfilling this year’s 20% inflation goal, not even excess demand. Serdengecti also touted the nation’s rising exports, adding that if this positive trend continues, then companies’ production capacity would also increase, which would in turn boost investments. /Aksam/

GALATASARAY DEFEATS JUVENTUS, 2-0
In a match last night in UEFA Champions League Group D, Turkish side Galatasaray defeated Italian team Juventus through two goals by Hakan Sukur in the 47th minute and in extra time. Due to the last month’s terrorist attacks, UEFA decided to relocate the football match from Istanbul to Dortmund, Germany. Galatasaray is set next week to play against Spain’s Real Sociedad. /All papers/