PM ERDOGAN VISITS LEBANON
After meeting in Beirut with his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that the risk of conflicts between religious groups in the country is growing. Stating that he attaches great importance to Lebanon's political unity and domestic order, Erdogan expressed Turkey's readiness to mediate to solve Lebanon's ongoing political crisis. "If the political parties want us to mediate, we're ready to do so," said Erdogan. He also underlined the importance of dialogue among the parties. "Our priority is to preserve the political unity in Lebanon and the international security ... This can be achieved through national dialogue," he said. Following his meetings in Beirut, Erdogan visited Turkish troops serving with the UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL. /Star/
ERDOGAN: "THE US APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL ENVOY TO COUNTER THE PKK HAS FAILED"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday strongly criticized the US and Iraqi administrators for not keeping their promises to take concrete steps to counter the terrorist PKK. Erdogan made his critical remarks during a conversation with journalists en route to Lebanon for a one-day official visit. He underlined that the US move to appoint a special envoy to counter the PKK has so far failed to bring about any positive results. "We were waiting for serious steps, but this hasn't happened," Erdogan said. In response, US Embassy spokesperson Kathy Schalow said, "We attach great importance to the fight against the PKK." /All papers/
D'ALEMA: "TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BE NECESSARY"
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema implied in a message sent to the Vatican to mark World Peace Day 2007 that Turkish membership in the European Union will be needed in the future. D'Alema said, according to a Monday Anatolian news agency report from Rome, that a decision would be needed on how far the borders of Europe would extend and also suggested that the bloc determine a common horizon that could encompass Turkey, something the pope also made encouraging remarks on during his visit to Turkey late last year. /Turkish Daily News/
EU TO CONVENE TO CONSIDER CYPRUS
The first issue concerning Turkey on the EU's plate will be regulations aiming to ease the economic isolation on the Turkish Cypriot of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The direct trade regulations are expected to be discussed during the EU Foreign Ministers Council to be held in Brussels on Jan. 22. /Aksam/
TURKISH CYPRIOTS APPLY TO ECHR TO REGAIN PROPERTY
Four Turkish Cypriot siblings have applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) complaining of being denied access to their property in Limasol, which is now under Greek Cypriot rule. The Turkish Cypriots are claiming restitution and compensation for their property, which they inherited from their father, who has been missing since 1964, during the Greek Cypriot suppression against Turks. The case constitutes the first example of such a legal move by Turkish Cypriots, hundreds of whom left their property in the Greek Cypriot south, following the inter-ethnic conflict on the island during the 1960s. /The New Anatolian/