GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS ANKARA
German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung, paying a visit to Turkey, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul in Ankara. Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Gonul said that Turkey would not participate in the US' proposed missile defense project. "Turkey will produce its own missile defense shield using its own resources," said Gonul. For his part, Jung criticized France's recent defense cooperation agreement with the Greek Cypriots and said that Germany shares Turkey's concerns over the matter. He added that Germany is acting with consciousness of its responsibility during its current European Union term presidency. Moreover, the German official had separate talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. One of the main topics of the talks was reportedly Greek opposition to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) assuming command of the UN peacekeeping fleet off Lebanon. After completing his contacts, Jung left the Turkish capital. /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS WASHINGTON IN PUSH AGAINST RESOLUTION
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Deputy Egemen Bagis said yesterday should the US House of Representatives pass the Armenian resolution, Turkish-US ties will be damaged and Armenia's hopes of opening to the West may fade. A delegation of Turkish lawmakers, including Bagis, is continuing contacts with their American counterparts to convince them to oppose the resolution. Speaking to reporters, Bagis said that the group would have a series of meetings under the authority given it by the Turkish Parliament and people to prevent the US Congress from making a historic mistake. In related news, the delegation yesterday met with press representatives, attended a Turkish-American Council meeting and spoke with Jewish groups. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY, EU GATHER FOR TROIKA MEETING
A Turkey-European Union Troika Political Directors' meeting at the assistant undersecretary level will take place in Ankara today. The last two Troika meetings were held at the ministerial level with the participation of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The government is opting to keep a low profile on EU-related issues this year due to an EU decision late last year blocking the opening of eight chapters for negotiations. Convening every six months, the Troika discusses Turkey's negotiation process and other important international issues. The Troika consists of the current Term President Germany, the next President Portugal, as well as officials from the European Commission and the Council of Europe. /Turkish Daily News/

BAYKAL CRITICIZES ERDOGAN OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Speaking at his party's group meeting, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday spoke about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's possible presidential candidacy, saying, "May's presidential election isn't some recipe that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) can just whip up. Don't turn the presidency into a fixed menu which you'll put before us." Baykal also lashed out at the government over rising crime rates in Istanbul, saying that the situation in the city shows the decadence and corruption plaguing Turkey. /Hurriyet/

MUMCU: "WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR AN ALLIANCE"
Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday ruled out his taking part in any efforts for an alliance on the right. Speaking at his party's group meeting, Mumcu said, "We're not looking for either a union or an alliance," adding, "What Turkey needs is a democratic national center, a move of the social center to politics." /Star/

AGAR: "I'M TRYING TO TAKE MOSUL RATHER THAN ALLOWING DIYARBAKIR TO SEPARATE"
Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish Contractors' Union yesterday, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar said that his aim is to try to take Mosul in northern Iraq rather than allow Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir to separate. Responding to claims that he has been in touch with former President Suleyman Demirel for a pre-election alliance, Agar said that there's no possibility of such a gathering under any party other than the DYP. /Aksam/

RICE, GATES WARN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AGAINST PASSING ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote a letter this week to the leaders of the House of Representatives warning of the consequences should the Armenian resolution win approval. The letter, sent to the House speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, as well as Republican Minority Group leader John Boehner and Foreign Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, stated that the resolution may cause serious problems in relations between Turkey and the US. /Cumhuriyet/

MARCH 14 MEDICAL DAY TO BE MARKED
March 14 Medical Day will be observed today with activities to be held in Ankara. Problems of the healthcare system and healthcare workers are expected to be discussed at the gatherings. Meanwhile, the Turkish Doctors Union (TTB) called on health workers to protest government healthcare policy through demonstrations. /Milliyet/

KANDILLI OBSERVATORY SETS UP EARLY QUAKE WARNING, PLANS MORE SENSORS
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Gulay Altay, the head of Kandilli Observatory's Earthquake Research Institute, said the observatory had set up an early warning system giving alerts of quakes six seconds in advance, adding, however, that which institutions would respond to the warning is not yet clear. She stated that activity in the eastern Anatolia fault, especially around Bingol, has been detected. Altay added that under a new project, sensors would be placed under the Marmara and Black Seas to detect possible tremors. /Milliyet/