GUL, VISITING YEMENI PRESIDENT PLEDGE STRONGER RELATIONS
Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh yesterday arrived in Ankara at the official invitation of President Abdullah Gul. After talks at the Cankaya Presdential Palace, Gul told a joint press conference, "We decided to especially improve bilateral economic ties between Turkey and Yemen." Saleh reiterated Yemen's support for Turkey's candidacy for a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council as well as Izmir's candidacy to host Expo 2015, adding that he hopes Turkish entrepreneurs will invest in his country. /Sabah/
GENERAL STAFF BRIEFS GUL, ERDOGAN ON CROSS-BORDER OPS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday gave separate briefings to President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the ongoing cross-border operation into northern Iraq. The briefings at General Staff headquarters lasted about 40 minutes. In related news, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson yesterday met with Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy adviser, at the Prime Ministry. /Sabah/
TURKEY TO SEND DELEGATION TO IRAQ
Turkey will send a special delegation of both Foreign Ministry and military officials to Iraq tomorrow to reiterate that the target of Turkey's cross-border operations into northern Iraq is the terrorist PKK and that great efforts are being made to avoid harming civilians. The delegation will meet with the government's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish representatives, and is also expected to be received by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. /Turkiye/
MORE FALLEN SOLDIERS LAID TO REST
Five soldiers killed during the current cross-border operation against the terrorist PKK were laid to rest yesterday. Among the thousands of mourners were President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. The funerals of Maj. Zafer Kilic, Land Forces pilots Capt. Tekin Isik and Spc. Sgt. Gurcan Ulucan were held at Ankara's Kocatepe Mosque. First Lt. Serkan Cakal was laid to rest in Izmir, and Commando Pvt. Atalay Seker was laid to rest in Ardahan. /Hurriyet/
CICEK: "ONCE THIS OPERATION REACHES ITS GOAL, OUR TROOPS WILL RETURN"
Speaking after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said that nothing besides its mission should be attributed to the current Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) ground operation into northern Iraq. Stating that the operation targets only the terrorist PKK, he added, "Once this operation reaches its goal, our troops will come home." He added, "Northern Iraq has become a nest for terrorists. Cross-border operations take place for a reason, and Turkey did everything to avoid getting to this point." /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
WHITE HOUSE URGES SPEEDY END TO CROSS-BORDER OP AIMED NARROWLY AT PKK
Speaking to reporters yesterday, White House spokesman Dana Perino said that the US hopes Turkey's current cross-border operation in northern Iraq against the terrorist PKK will be short and narrowly targeted to hit only the PKK. Stating that the PKK's presence in Iraq should end, she reiterated that the terrorist group is the common enemy of both Turkey and the United States. The US hopes no civilians are hurt in the operations, she added. /Milliyet/
US DEFENSE SEC'Y DUE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is due to arrive in Ankara tomorrow for a two-day visit, during which he is set to meet with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul as well as President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their talks are expected to focus on issues such as bilateral relations, Iraq, the Middle East and Afghanistan. In related news, US Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to visit Turkey next month. /Turkiye/
EU CALLS FOR RESUMPTION OF TALKS ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE
Dimitris Christofias' recent presidential election victory in Southern Cyprus has raised hopes for a solution to the Cyprus issue. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso yesterday telephoned Christofias to congratulate him, saying, "This outcome gives a very important chance to overcome prolonged obstructions to talks. The EU calls for the resumption of talks towards a comprehensive solution under UN auspices, without any delay." He stressed that the EU would strongly support collective efforts by the two sides to reach a solution. In related news, Christofias asked the UN to determine a date for the talks to resume. /Aksam/