SERBIAN PRESIDENT TADIC VISITS ANKARA
Serbian President Boris Tadic yesterday arrived in Ankara for an official visit at the invitation of President Abdullah Gul. Speaking at a joint press conference after exchanging views on the ongoing Kosova talks and the situation in the Balkans, Gul said that Turkey wants the issue to be settled in a peaceful manner. "Serbia will continue to meet on the issue of Kosovo in a patient and calm manner," Tadic said. Tadic also met with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Turkiye/
SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL CONVENES
The Supreme Military Council (YAS) convened yesterday under the chairmanship of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss planned activities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) as well as personnel, training and disciplinary issues. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, force commanders and other top officers attended the regular two-day meeting at General Staff Headquarters. The decisions of the council will be presented today for the approval of President Abdullah Gul. /Sabah/
GERMANY EXTRADITES TWO MEMBERS OF THE TERRORIST PKK
The Justice Ministry yesterday announced that Germany has extradited to Turkey two members of the terrorist PKK long sought by Turkish officials. Mehmet Iltas and Mehmet Esref Kizilay, both members of the terrorist group, were taken into Turkish custody upon their arrival from Germany, the ministry said in a written statement. The ministry said that intensified efforts and a diplomatic push to get back PKK members who fled Turkey after staging attacks have started to bear fruit. /Aksam/
PRINCE CHARLES VISITS ANITKABIR
Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, yesterday visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum in Ankara. Charles laid a wreath at the mausoleum and signed the Anitkabir Memorial Guestbook at the Misak-i Milli Tower. "I am glad to pay homage to Mustafa Kemal in front of his mausoleum," he wrote in the book. "Turkey and Britain will continue to work for world peace." Charles also visited the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Rehabilitation and Care Center and met with soldiers being treated there. /Cumhuriyet/
BABACAN ATTENDS OSCE SUMMIT IN MADRID
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is representing Turkey at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council, which began yesterday in Madrid. In related news, answering a question from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Mustafa Ozyurek about Turkey being absent from the map printed on new euros, Babacan said that he had registered Turkey's displeasure over the matter with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. /Star/
HILLARY CLINTON APPOINTS TURKISH BUSINESSMAN AS DELEGATE FOR DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Senator Hillary Clinton, who currently leads her rivals to win the Democratic nomination for president next year, has appointed a Turkish businessman to serve as one of her delegates at next summer's Democratic convention, where the nominee will be formally chosen. Chicago businessman Mehmet Celebi, a longtime Clinton supporter, will serve as a delegate from the Midwest City next year. /Turkiye/
TURKISH BUSINESSMAN HONORED IN BERLIN
Turkish businessman Ozan Taner, who was selected this year's most successful entrepreneur in Berlin, was awarded yesterday at a ceremony honoring the most successful businessmen in Germany. /Milliyet/