PRESIDENT GUL VISITING THE US THIS WEEK
President Abdullah Gul yesterday flew to Washington for an official visit. He will meet with his US counterpart George W. Bush as well as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gul will proceed to New York on Wednesday to meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Gul is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and State Minister Mehmet Simsek. /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN: "THE AKP IS FAMED WORLDWIDE"
Speaking in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that since it was founded in 2001, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has moved forward with determination to become known and distinguished worldwide. "Wisdom, scholarship and experience have shaped our work," he said. "If we continue this way, the AKP will grow more and become even stronger." He also touted the AKP's political, social and economic record. /Turkiye/
SACRIFICE OF SOLDIERS IN SARIKAMIS COMMEMORATED
The sacrifice of thousands of Turkish soldiers who froze to death in the Allahuekber Mountains in 1914 during World War I was commemorated yesterday in a ceremony. The gathering in the village of Sarikamis in Kars drew Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay, Education Minister Huseyin Celik, soldiers, students, and crowds of people. /Aksam/
BAYKAL VISITS DIYARBAKIR IN WAKE OF BOMBING
In the wake of a deadly terrorist bombing last week, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday arrived in Diyarbakir. He first met with 7th Corps Commander Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu, and then visited people who were wounded in the attack. Afterwards he met with Diyarbakir Governor Avni Mutlu and visited the scene of the blast. "Whatever their ethnic origin, every citizen of the Turkish Republic is equal," he said. Baykal said that threatening peace and fellowship helps nobody, adding that no one should try to impose their identity on others. People will coexist and live hand in hand under the Republic of Turkey, he said. /Cumhuriyet/
DP ELECTS NEW LEADER
The opposition Democrat Party (DP) yesterday held its fourth extraordinary party congress in Ankara to replace its leader. Outgoing Chairman Mehmet Agar, in his opening speech to the congress, announced that he had officially stepped down. From a field of 16 candidates, Suleyman Soylu, backed by former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, was elected the new DP leader. /Hurriyet/