ERDOGAN: "OUR NATION IS THE CHIEF SAFEGUARD OF TURKEY'S REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY"
Addressing his party's group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that over the last four years his government had not only fought simple offenses, but also countered circles seeking to create privileged areas for themselves, and that it would continue to do so. Stressing that the nation had embraced the basic principles of the republic and assimilated democracy and the rule of law, Erdogan stated that the nation was the chief safeguard of the Turkish Republic and democracy. Commenting on the 70th anniversary of the inclusion of the principle of secularism in the Constitution, Erdogan said that he had tried to hold the principle above political disputes in order to pass it on to future generations and make it a unifying principle. Later Erdogan met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is paying an official visit to Turkey. Speaking at a joint press conference, Musharraf said that they had discussed current issues and also hailed relations between the two countries. For his part, Erdogan said that all regional countries bear a responsibility to promote peace in the Middle East, adding that he believed in a new peace initiative towards this end. Erdogan also praised Pakistan's anti-terrorist efforts. /Turkiye/
FM GUL MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE RICE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, currently in Washington, yesterday met with US Vice President Dick Cheney, President Bush's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. After their meeting, the two top diplomats held a press conference. Asked about the so-called Armenian genocide resolution set to be debated in the US Congress, Gul said that Turkey and the US were longtime allies and friends. Stating that the two countries are partners in the areas of global strategy and culture, Gul added, "Turkish-US relations shouldn't be held captive to this issue. This isn't a political issue. I consider this issue a real threat to our relationship. Why do we fight shoulder to shoulder if such a resolution were adopted? Why do we support each other? I believe this won't happen. If it does, it would be a real shock. Passage of such a resolution would seriously damage our bilateral relations. I believe that Turkish-US relations don't deserve such an unfortunate development." /Star/
INTERIOR MINISTER AKSU: "NOBODY INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF DINK WILL BE TOLERATED"
Displaying and distributing images painting Hrant Dink murder suspect Ogun Samast in a flattering light can't be reconciled with reason or logic and isn't part of anyone's job, said Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu yesterday. Speaking at Parliament, Aksu said, "Turkey is a state of law and all our work is being conducted on legal grounds. We will reveal negligence (in the Dink case), if there has been any." /Cumhuriyet/
WILSON: "TURKISH OFFICIALS' VISITS TO WASHINGTON WILL AID EFFORTS AGAINST THE ARMENIAN RESOLUTION"
US Ambassador to Washington Ross Wilson said yesterday that the recent and current visits of Turkish officials to Washington such as Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul would help efforts against the so-called Armenian genocide resolution in the US Congress. Wilson added that he would travel to the US next month and make efforts against the resolution himself. /Hurriyet/
GOVT TOUTS ANTI-DROUGHT MEASURES
In an attempt to ease fears about falling water supplies in much of the country, the government yesterday revealed a plan in the works to combat the effects of global warming, focusing mainly on schemes that would make better use of Turkey's limited water supplies. Environment and Forest Minister Osman Pepe, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker held a press conference in Ankara under the banner "Climate change, drought and water management." The assembled officials stated that there was currently no drought in Turkey, though Pepe noted that since last October there has been 8% less rain than in the same period in 2005-06. /Turkish Daily News/