GUL VISITS TURKMENISTAN
In a press conference yesterday before leaving for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, President Abdullah Gul said, "My visit will be an opportunity to review our common vision for the future in light of past experiences." Gul also said that his visit would be the first from a Turkish president in seven years. /Star/
ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS ANKARA
Albanian Parliament Speaker Josefina Topalli Coba yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Coba's Turkish counterpart Koksal Toptan. Afterwards, Coba, together with Toptan, was received by President Abdullah Gul. /Star/
DEFENSE INDUSTRY STEERING BOARD REVIEWS HELICOPTER, ANTI-TANK NEEDS
The Defense Industry Steering Board, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, convened yesterday at the Defense Industry Undersecretariat. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and defense industry executives also attended the meeting. The board reviewed the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, including helicopters, heavy-lift helicopters, and anti-tank systems. Gonul said that Turkey will explore domestic opportunities, adding that infantry guns and machine guns will be produced in Turkey. /Turkiye/
HIGHER COUNTER-TERRORISM BOARD CONVENES
The Higher Counter-Terrorism Board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, convened yesterday at the Prime Ministry. At the meeting, participants discussed what additional measures may be taken since the Turkish Armed Forces got authorization to launch a cross-border operation into northern Iraq. "We reiterate that all state institutions are determined on our fight against terrorism," said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office in a statement afterwards. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: "WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR CONCRETE STEPS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ"
The northern Iraqi administration still has yet to show a clear expression of will against the terrorist PKK, said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. After his visit to Athens, Babacan told a press conference, "They are taking some steps. They show us photos and video footage, but if you ask us whether we've seen concrete steps towards fighting the terrorist group, no we haven't." Stating that a cross-border operation into northern Iraq has already gradually begun and that cooperation with the US is continuing, Babacan said, "If those in northern Iraq want to say something, they know how to say it. They understand what we're saying here." In related news, Babacan visited Greece's Western Thrace region after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and then returned to Turkey. /Sabah/
CALIK OFFERS $1.1 BLN FOR ATV-SABAH
Calik Group subsidiary Turkuaz Radio and Television, the only remaining contender in the sale of the ATV-Sabah media group by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), submitted a $1.1 billion offer on Wednesday. Only three pre-qualification applications were submitted for the long-awaited sale, including those from the Nurol-Carlyle and RTL-Ipek-Sancak consortiums and Calik's Turkuaz. However, the first two withdrew just two days before the tender. The tender took place at the Ahmet Nazif Pasa mansion, seized from the Uzan Group by the TMSF for their debts. The tender commission opened the sealed bid and as the Calik Group was the only bidder, commission head Fethi Calik requested that the group raise its $1.1 billion bid, but Serhat Demir, Calik's legal counsel, said they were tied to the offered amount and couldn't authorize an increase. Calik then announced the offer had been accepted and that they would submit their bid to the TMSF for its approval. /Today's Zaman/