TOP LEADERS TO HOLD TERROR SUMMIT
A terror summit chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be held today in Ankara. During the late afternoon gathering, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Osman Gunes and top commanders led by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit are expected to discuss recent terrorist attacks and what security measures should be taken in response. /Star/
SENER: "ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE"
State Minister Abdullatif Sener said yesterday that the government is doing its best to end PKK terrorism. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Sener said that the assembled ministers had focused on a recent escalation in terrorist attacks and measures to be taken in response. "Our government and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are working together decisively to end PKK terrorism," said Sener. "The government is ready to meet all the equipment needs and other requirements of our army to back their anti-terror efforts." /Sabah/
ERDOGAN ATTENDS INVESTMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday attended a meeting of the Turkish Investment Advisory Council. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that Turkey has been developing and growing in recent years, adding that trust between the government and the nation's productive sectors is a must for economic progress. The premier added that strong democracy was the most important guarantee of a strong economy. "Our government has done its best to achieve economic development hand in hand with democratic development," said Erdogan. "Our determination to promote democratization and the rule of law was the guarantee of Turkey's successes in all fields." /Milliyet/
NATO'S SCHEFFER ARRIVES IN ANKARA
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit. Asked about a possible cross-border operation by Turkey into northern Iraq, Scheffer said that Turkey was a member of NATO, reiterating that the alliance considers the PKK a terrorist group. He stressed that during his contacts, the issue of terrorism will also be discussed. Touching on Ankara's decision to withdraw military support for the European Union within the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Schheffer said that he believed Turkey would act constructively on the issue. /Milliyet/
REHN: "IF SARKOZY BLOCKS TURKEY'S EU BID, HE COULD SPARK A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS"
Turkey's European Union membership will be one of the defining issues of the 21st century, said European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn yesterday. Rehn further issued a warning to Nicolas Sarkozy, saying that if the French president blocks Turkey's EU bid, he could set off a clash of civilizations. Rehn also stated that Turkey was a symbol of stability in the world's most unstable region. /Aksam/
FALLEN SOLDIERS LAID TO REST
Lt. Col. Melih Gulova, Maj. Cmdr. Ramazan Armutcuglu, and Pvt. Hasan Guresen, who were killed on Saturday by a remote-controlled explosive planted by the terrorist PKK, were laid to rest in their hometowns of Ankara, Manisa, and Istanbul yesterday. Among the mourners at Armutcuoglu's funeral in Ankara were President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. /Hurriyet/
ITALIAN FM TO VISIT TURKEY
Italian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema will arrive in Ankara today at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. D'Alema is also expected to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In 1998, D'Alema, then Italy's prime minister, refused to deliver terrorist Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey, claiming that Italian law wouldn't allow it. In recent months, D'Alema has made a number of public statements backing Turkey's European Union membership bid. /Sabah/
TOP JUSTICE TUGCU TO RETIRE
Tulay Tugcu, the chief justice of the Constitutional Court, will retire today. Tugcu, the first female chief of Turkey's top court, has held the position since July 2005. After she steps down, the new chair will be elected from among the 11 permanent members of the court. /Turkiye/