ERDOGAN HARSHLY REBUFFS BARZANI'S REMARKS; TALABANI CALLS PREMIER TO EXPRESS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT
Speaking yesterday after attending an opening ceremony of 84 schools, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly rebuffed Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's remarks that if Turkey intervenes in Kirkuk, then they would intervene in Iraq, saying that Barzani went too far again with this statement. "I don't know whether he satisfies himself with these remarks, but the Turkish Republic doesn't need such satisfactions," he said. "They need to determine their place and position very well. Otherwise they will be hurt by their own remarks." Erdogan stressed that northern Iraq, which has a border with Turkey, was making serious mistakes and that price of these could be high. In related news, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani yesterday called Erdogan, saying that he was disappointed with Barzani's remarks and that he placed great importance on relations with Turkey. For his part, Erdogan said that there was need to be careful, while making such statements. Talabani further stated that he shared his sensitivity. /Sabah/

GUL: "YOU'LL SEE OUR RESPONSE"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday attended a ceremony marking the 162nd anniversary of the foundation of police organization. Later, upon a question about his response to Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's remarks that if Turkey intervenes in Iraq, then they would intervene in Diyarbakir, Gul said, "You will see our response." He declined to make further statement. It is reported that Gul made a phone call with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Saturday to convey Ankara's disappointment about the issue, adding that Barzani should be warned about not reiterating such remarks. /Aksam/

NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) convenes today. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, whose term in office is due to end soon, is expected to participate in the NSC for the last time. It is reportedly stated that President Sezer is expected to make a brief evaluation of his term at the beginning of the meeting and that presidential election to be held in May will be discussed. The PKK terrorist organization will be the main issue of the meeting. The NSC is expected to issue a written response to the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's recent statements. /Star/

CICEK: "THERE'S AN EXTERNAL DIMENSION OF TERRORISM"
After yesterday's Cabinet meeting, which lasted for five hours, government spokesperson Cemil Cicek told a press conference that, the Foreign Ministry delivered a note on terrorism and Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's recent statements to the Baghdad administration. Cicek said, "We're not paying attention to Iraq because of the piquant prosperity. We're not caring for Iraq from colonialist and ethnic standpoint." Underlining that the government sided by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements on Barzani, Cicek said, "If there wasn't an external dimension behind terrorism, these organizations couldn't survive." /Star/

VISITING MIT, ARINC IS BRIEFED ON DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SECURITY ISSUES
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday visited the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) Undersecretary Emre Taner. During his visit, Arinc was briefed on the history and work of the organization, and also on domestic and foreign security issues. It was stressed at the meeting that MIT didn't predict any problem about security. Speaking afterwards, Arinc said that the meeting was very fruitful. /Turkiye/

ANKARA DELIVERS A NOTE TO IRAQ
Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday warned Iraq with a harsh note. The note requires Iraq to take urgent and determined precautions against the terrorist PKK. The foreign ministry's note delivered to Iraq due to the escalation of terrorism and the lack of interest of the Baghdad administration said that Turkey had warned Iraq many times on the terrorist PKK. The note also asks Iraq to close down the political parties related to the terrorist PKK, stopping its armed activities within Iraq's territory and getting Turkish-Iraqi border under control. /Cumhuriyet/

OPPOSITION LEADERS REACT HARSHLY TO BARZANI'S STATEMENTS
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar reacted harshly to recent statements of the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani and said, "The only capital city where destiny of this region's geography would be dominated is Ankara. Everybody should know the limits of his/her capacity. Nobody should test Turkey's power." In related news, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said, "Turkey's friendly hand is very hot, powerful, cordial, sincere. But Turkey's hand is very strong for those who deserve its hand instead of friendship." Opposition Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin said, "It is obvious that Barzani doesn't know that Diyarbakir is a Turkish city. Our people's reaction, especially those of Kurdish origin, should be very strong." Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Vice Chairman Haluk Koc said, "10 Turkish soldiers died in the last two days. While we're experiencing all these, just within Turkey's border, somebody is talking nonsense." Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said, "Provocations and assaults, which are impudently being carried out, will get a national response sooner or later." /Hurriyet/

US STATE DEPARTMENT: "BARZANI'S REMARKS ARE REALLY UNHELPFUL"
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reacted against Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's remarks that if Turkey intervenes in Iraq, they would intervene in Diyarbakir, saying that such remarks wouldn't help solution. "We think that those kinds of statements are really unhelpful and they certainly do not further develop the goal of greater Turkish-Iraqi cooperation," said McCormack. "We think that Iraqi leaders should focus on how they might work together closely with the Turkish government to improve their mutual interests in a stable, secure Iraq." /Milliyet/

MONACO'S PRINCE ATTENDS CIESM CONGRESS IN ISTANBUL
Prince of Monaco Albert II, currently paying an official visit to Turkey, attended the 38th Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) Congress which started in Istanbul yesterday. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim also participated in the congress. Addressing the gathering, Albert II praised Istanbul, saying that it brings together different ethnic structures and cultures. /Milliyet/