GUL: "TURKEY'S MAJOR PROBLEMS COULD BE SOLVED BY REDRESSING CONSTITUTIONAL SHORTCOMINGS"
President Abdullah Gul yesterday received Fermani Altun, head of the World Ehl-i Beyt Foundation, a religious group. During their meeting, Gul said that the major problems facing Turkey could be solved by redressing certain democratic shortcomings in the current Constitution. For his part, Altun said that putting regulations in the Constitution concerning attire is unnecessary. In related news, Gul is due to meet today with Council of Higher Education (YOK) head Erdogan Tezic, who is expected to tell Gul about the academic and financial problems facing universities as well as university rectors' stance on the headscarf issue. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN SPEAKS AT UN CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT
After completing his contacts in Washington, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday proceeded to New York to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting. During the day, Erdogan held bilateral meetings with world leaders, including French President Nicholas Sarkozy. Then, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Erdogan attended a UN summit on climate chance. Addressing the gathering, the premier warned that climate change is the gravest environmental threat humanity has ever faced. Erdogan said that Turkey was looking into signing the Kyoto Protocol, and places great importance on reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The premier also invited all those at the gathering to attend the March 2009 World Water Forum in Istanbul. /Turkiye-Star/
ADDRESSING MILITARY ACADEMY, GEN. BASBUG STRESSES SECULARISM, UNITARY NATION-STATE
Speaking yesterday at the opening of the school year at the Land Forces Academy, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug commented on a number of issues, including the nation-state and Turkey's unitary and secular structures. Basbug said that the founding philosophy of the Turkish Republic aims to protect the country's territorial integrity. "The chief pillars of this founding philosophy are formed by the nation-state, unitary state, and secular state," said Basbug. "What is interesting is to see is that the country's nation-state structure is being targeted by both anti-secularists and ethnic nationalists." He said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would always stand with those who want to protect the nation-state and would thus defend secularism. Basbug said that some groups are trying to change the "social structure" established by Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk into one based on religion. Touching on the US stance on Turkey's anti-terror efforts, Basbug criticized it for not waging a direct fight against the PKK and far allowing an estimated 4,000 members of the group to remain sheltered in northern Iraq. He added that Washington should see that the presence of the terrorist group in northern Iraq poses a threat to Turkey. /Aksam/
PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OPENS ITS DOORS TO JOURNALISTS
While preparations to open the Cankaya Presidential Palace to the public are continuing, the palace yesterday played host to some 100 reporters. Print and electronic journalists toured the new service building, the Pembe Kosk, social facilities, and the offices of top presidential aides. The president's chief press advisor, Ahmet Sever, and several staffers serving President Abdullah Gul accompanied the journalists. /Sabah/
IRAQI KURDS: "THE PKK AND ITS OFFSHOOTS ARE ILLEGAL GROUPS"
Kurdistan regional government spokesman Cemal Abdullah said yesterday that the administration considers both the PKK and its PJAK offshoot to be illegal organizations. He said that they want to live peacefully and establish good ties with neighboring countries, adding that they are doing their best to stop attacks from Iraqi territory into neighboring countries. /Turkiye/
IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad Bolani is set to arrive in Ankara today. During his two-day stay, Bolani is expected to hold talks with officials from the Interior Ministry, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and General Staff to work on an anti-terror agreement between Turkey and Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/