ERDOGAN METS WITH GEORGIAN PM NOGHAIDELI
After meeting for talks, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his visiting Georgian counterpart Zurab Noghaideli yesterday held a joint news conference in Ankara. Erdogan said there is political, economic and cultural cooperation between Turkey and Georgia, underlining the two countries' efforts to boost this cooperation. "We discussed bilateral, regional and international issues," said Erdogan. "We are pleased that a decision was made by the Georgian Parliament to repatriate Meskhetian Turks (to Georgia from Central Asian countries), as Turkey requested," Erdogan said. "I would like to again stress that Turkey may promote projects to assist the repatriation of Meskhetian Turks and ensure rapid development of the region. We believe the Meskhetian Turks can be a new bridge of friendship and cooperation." The premier also said that they came to an agreement on two pacts, one on free trade and one to prevent double taxation. Erdogan said the Turkish-Georgian bilateral trade volume has reached some $1 billion. "A new step, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, was made in the wake of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects," said Erdogan. "Turkey has completed its work on projects within Georgia's borders. Work on a tender is underway on the Turkish side. We want to lay the railroad's foundations soon. Georgia has also expressed its readiness to lay the foundations. The railroad will not only carry cargo but also passengers." Noghaideli said that much like a new Silk Road, the Kars railway would be would not just connect three countries but also play an important role in the region stretching from China to Western Europe. He added that the railway's construction would start soon. The Georgian premier also said Georgia has long supported Turkey in its fight against terrorism and is ready to do its best to help with this. /Turkiye/
PM ERDOGAN REBUFFS CLAIMS CROSS-BORDER OP HAS BEGUN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday rebuffed allegations that Turkey had already launched a cross-border operation into northern Iraq. "A cross-border operation isn't at issue," said Erdogan. "Security forces are continuing their operations within the framework of precautionary measures." Before leaving for the Czech Republic, Erdogan told reporters, "Whatever is necessary about this issue is being done politically, diplomatically and militarily. I want you to be clear about this. Everything is moving in agreement and coordination." /Aksam/
AT NATO MEETING, BUYUKANIT SPEAKS ON WAYS TO COMBAT TERRORISM
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday told fellow NATO members about Turkey's fight against terrorism. Speaking to the chiefs of staff of 26 NATO member countries at a regular year-end military committee meeting, Buyukanit spoke about the attacks of the terrorist PKK and ways to combat it. The representatives of the allied countries reportedly said they are ready to support Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
BRITISH AMBASSADOR BAIRD: "WE APPLAUD THE TURKISH ARMY AND GOVT'S ANTI-PKK STANCE"
Speaking to Milliyet, British Ambassador to Ankara Nick Baird said yesterday that the EU is working seriously to cut off the terrorist PKK's channels of support. "We condemned the PKK's latest attacks," said Baird. "These attacks were truly brutal and dreadful. We applaud the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Turkish government's stance on this issue." /Milliyet/
US STATE DEPT: "THE PKK IS A THREAT TO ORDINARY TURKS"
The terrorist PKK poses a continuing threat not only to the Turkish military, but also to ordinary Turks, said US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey on Tuesday. "[Recent attacks show] a need for us to continue to work with the Turkish government as well as with the Iraqi government to make sure that we're all doing what we can to combat this serious problem," he stated. "Again, I think we've had ongoing discussions with both the government of Turkey as well as the government of Iraq on this issue. It's a positive sign that there have been diplomatic exchanges between the two to try and work out some common approaches to this problem, and that's certainly a process we want to see." /Turkiye/
ITO'S YALCINTAS: "INVESTORS CAN TRUST IN TURKEY"
Turkey is a country people can trust for business and investments, said Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) head Murat Yalcintas yesterday. "Turkey is a trustworthy country, as it always has been," he told Fox Business Channel. "It's an island of stability and confidence in the region. Our US friends can come safely to Turkey just as if they were in their own country." Yalcintas, currently visiting the US with a delegation, also met with American businessmen and urged them to invest in Turkey. /Star/