ERDOGAN, GUL BRIEFED ON TERRORISM AT OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday visited the General Staff to be briefed on terrorism, and especially the recent state of domestic security operations and claims that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) lacks equipment effective in countering terrorist PKK mines. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit was accompanied by other top commanders at the meeting. Erdogan and Gul were also briefed on the presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq. After departing from the Office of the General Staff, Erdogan appeared on television and commented on a possible cross-border operation, saying that the government was in contact with all security forces. "We're taking some steps and holding meetings," he added. /Hurriyet/
SENER MEETS WITH SEZER, WILSON
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday met separately with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson. Sener and Wilson reportedly discussed Turkey's ties with the US and the European Union besides developments in northern Iraq. Following his meetings, Sener declined to give any information about his contacts. /Hurriyet/
US STATE DEPT SPOKESPERSON: "WE HAVE FAITH IN TURKEY'S SECULAR DEMOCRACY"
During his daily press briefing, upon a question about the meeting held in Hudson Institute last Wednesday, US State Department Spokesperson Sean McCormack said that he had no information about the issue but made a general comment saying, "And as in the Turkish Government and we have faith in Turkey's secular democracy and we believe that that secular democracy is supported by all aspects of Turkish political life, including the Turkish military and by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government." /Cumhuriyet/
US SPECIAL ENVOY RALSTON: "I'D LIKE TO SEE KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ OUSTING THE PKK"
US Special Envoy for countering the terrorist PKK retired general Joseph Ralston yesterday said that the Kurds in northern Iraq should adopt a more effective attitude against the terrorist PKK, adding, "I would like to see the Kurds in northern Iraq oppressing the terrorist PKK and ousting terrorists. Speaking at a think-tank in Washington, Ralston said that the PKK was a terrorist organization which kills innocent people and added, "You can't indulge them. Everybody, including the US, should treat them as they are, as murderers." Recalling that the US doesn't favor a possible cross-border operation by Turkey, Ralston said, "I hope Turks would take into consideration their long term interests, not short term ones." /Star/
GERMAN PRESIDENT HONORS TWO TURKISH WOMEN WITH MEDALS OF MERIT
German President Horst Koehler yesterday honored two Turkish women named Zulfisiyah Kaykin and Seyran Ates with medals of merit for their work on women rights. Kaykin was chosen as a recipient of the German Medal of Merit based on her efforts to bring together people of different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Kaykin, who is the Executive Director of Duisburg Religious Affairs Turkish Islamic Union, established an association of parents and organized countless cultural activities. Meanwhile, Ates received the German Medal of Merit for her efforts in helping battered women and women forced to get married. /Turkiye/