ERDOGAN: "THOSE WHO RECEIVE AND HARBOR TERRORISTS WILL ALSO FACE SANCTIONS"
Speaking to reporters yesterday after addressing a symposium on Turkish constitutional issues, Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan said that economic sanctions on northern Iraq would not only cover the regional administration but also those who receive and harbor terrorists. "We will impose some sanctions on them," he said. Erdogan explained that no decision has gone into effect yet and that the timetable would be announced later, adding that there has been no order to close Turkish airspace to flights to northern Iraq. /Sabah/
FM BABACAN: "TURKEY ONLY TARGETS THE TERRORIST PKK"
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said yesterday that Turkey's efforts to combat terrorism cannot suffer delays. Speaking at a press conference on the Iraq summit to be held in Istanbul tomorrow, Babacan said that planned economic sanctions would be only imposed against the terrorist group PKK and its supporters, adding that Ankara doesn't want the Iraqi people to suffer. The foreign minister also said that Turkey would take certain measures that would not be made public against the terrorist group and its supporters. Stressing that Turkey believes the Iraqi government sincerely opposes the PKK, he added, however, that it lacks the ability and wherewithal to fight the group. Pointing to Turkey's resolve to fight the terrorist PKK, Babacan stated that certain international media outlets had deliberately misrepresented Turkey's possible military incursion into northern Iraq as an invasion. Turkey targets only PKK terrorists, not Iraq, added the foreign minister. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: "BARZANI IS TRYING TO PROVOKE US"
Speaking at his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Central Executive Board meeting last night, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that recent remarks by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani were meant to provoke Ankara. He said Barzani had goaded Turkey to take measures against not only the terrorists but also the Iraqi people. But Erdogan stressed that Ankara would not be manipulated and that it would impose sanctions only against terrorists and their supporters. /Star/
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN: "WE'VE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE"
We've run out of patience with the lack of action against continued terrorist attacks, said Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday. Asked by German daily Frankfurter Rundschau why Parliament had authorized a possible cross-border operation into Iraq, Toptan said, "The terrorists have conducted many heinous attacks," adding, "Their bases are in northern Iraq. We've had long discussions with the Iraqi government through diplomatic channels, but unfortunately to no avail. Now we're out of patience." /Sabah/
ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH US PRESIDENT ON MONDAY
US President George W. Bush yesterday said that he hoped to have a productive meeting next Monday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Erdogan on this important subject as to how we can work together to prevent people from coming out of mountain ranges to do harm to Turkish troops," he said. Erdogan will be accompanied by the Turkish Armed Forces' (TCK) Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun and Gen. Kenan Kocak, who is in charge of a planning a possible cross-border operation. In related news, after his US visit, Erdogan will proceed on Wednesday to Italy, where he will stay as the official guest of his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi. /Aksam/
RICE DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Ahead of tomorrow's ministerial conference of Iraq's neighbors and major Western powers in Istanbul, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to arrive in Ankara today to have talks with President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the PKK terrorist issue. Ankara is urging both the US and Iraqi administrations to take urgent action amid rising pressure following the deaths of dozens of Turkish soldiers in terrorist PKK attacks. Rice will proceed to Istanbul tonight to attend a dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. During her stay in Turkey, tight security measures are expected. /Hurriyet/
IRAN'S MOTTAKI STOPS BY ANKARA ON WAY TO IRAQ MEETING
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday paid a surprise visit to Ankara. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport, Mottaki said that he had come to Turkey to attend tomorrow's Iraq summit in Istanbul and was in Ankara in the hope of having talks before the summit. Mottaki met with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan and is expected to be received today by President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Turkiye/
INONU'S BODY TO BE FLOWN FROM HOUSTON TO ANKARA
The body of elder statesman Erdal Inonu, who passed away on Wednesday in Houston, Texas from cancer at age 81, will be flown to Ankara today. A ceremony will be held for Inonu, former deputy prime minister and former leader of the Socialist People's Party (SHP), in Parliament tomorrow. He will be laid to rest in Istanbul on Sunday. /Star/