US DEFENSE SEC'Y HOLDS TALKS IN ANKARA
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates yesterday held separate talks with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanyt. At a joint press conference with Gonul, Gates said that Turkey 's cross-border operation in northern Iraq should be as short and precisely targeted as possible. Stating that striking a balance between Iraq 's territorial integrity and Turkey 's right to self-defense is important, he added, " Turkey should work closely with all Iraqis officials, including Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani." For his part, Gonul said that the operation was contributing not only to the safety of the Turkish public but also that of Iraqis as well as the stability of the region. " Turkey will end its operation after achieving its goals," he added. Afterwards, Gul received Gates and US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson. Later in the day, Gates also met with Erdogan. Erdogan reiterated that Turkish troops would return after achieving their goals. Responding to remarks by Gates on the duration of the operation, Buyukanit said that short-term is a relative concept, sometimes meaning a day, and sometimes a year. "We've been fighting terrorism for 24 years," he added. "That's why our fight against terrorism will continue." Following the completion of his talks, Gates left Turkey . /Cumhuriyet-Star/
SEVEN FALLEN SOLDIERS LAID TO REST
Seven 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, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. The funeral of Gendarmerie Senior Sgt. Huseyin Dogan was held at Ankara 's Kocatepe Mosque. Cpl. Fatih Gok was laid to rest in Kahramanmaras, and First Class Pvt. Ahmet Beyazit was laid to rest in Ordu. The funeral of infantry Cpl. Serdal Cecen was held in Tokat, that of Pvt. Ibrahim Okur was held in Mersin , infantry Cpl. Dursun Demirkol was laid to rest in Corum, and Gendarmerie Commando Cpl. Mustafa Yusuf was laid to rest in Cankiri. /Milliyet/
BUSH: "TURKS SHOULD MOVE OUT FROM IRAQ AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE"
Turkish forces in northern Iraq should achieve their goals as quickly as possible and then pull out, said US President George W. Bush yesterday. "The Turks, the Americans, and the Iraqis, including the Iraqi Kurds, share a common enemy in the PKK," Bush told reporters. "It's in nobody's interests that there be safe haven for people who . have the willingness to kill innocent people . I strongly agree with the sentiments of (Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates, who said that the incursion must be limited, and must be temporary in nature. In other words, it shouldn't be long-lasting. But the Turks need to move quickly, achieve their objective, and get out." /Hurriyet/
TURKEY: "WE WANT TO PULL OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ AFTER THE REGION IS PURGED OF THE PKK"
US and Iraqi officials agree that the terrorist PKK is a common problem, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy adviser Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday. In Baghdad to hold talks with top Iraqi officials, Davutoglu said they had explained to Iraqi and US officials that Turkey wants to pull its troops out of Iraq after the region is purged of the terrorist PKK. /Star/
EP SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR TURKEY 'S CROSS-BORDER OP INTO NORTHERN IRAQ
The European Parliament yesterday made a move signaling support for Turkey 's cross-border operation into northern Iraq . A report written by Portuguese MEP Ana Maria Gomes was passed by the EP Foreign Relations Commission. Before the vote, the committee rejected changes to make the report critical of Turkey , including one warning the operation would cause instability in the region. The report is expected to be passed by the full EP on March 12. /Hurriyet/
INTER-UNIVERSITY COUNCIL URGES YOK HEAD TO RESIGN
Turkey's Inter-University Council (UAK), an official platform for university rectors, yesterday called on Board of Higher Education (YOK) head Yusuf Ziya Ozcan to resign. During an extraordinary meeting in Ankara , the rectors discussed the issue of allowing headscarves at universities. A statement signed by 90 rectors and read out by UAK head Mustafa Akaydin said that Ozcan was incapable of representing Turkish universities. Instead of creating favorable conditions for university institutions to work cooperatively, Ozcan has erected an autocratic, centralist structure, the rectors said, and called on the president to remove him from office. In related news, the Ankara Prosecutor's Office launched a probe into Ozcan's statement that recent constitutional changes were enough to lift the headscarf ban at universities. The move followed several official complaints filed against Ozcan, one by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). A probe can turn into an investigation only upon approval by the education minister, Huseyin Celik. /Aksam/
AKP'S FIRAT: "RECTORS EXCLUDING STUDENTS WEARING HEADSCARVES ARE COMMITTING A CRIME"
University rectors who don't allow students wearing headscarves on campus are committing a crime, said ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat yesterday. Accusing the rectors of acting unlawfully, Firat called on prosecutors to bring charges against these rectors. /Aksam/
PARLIAMENT COMMISSION APPROVES ESTABLISHMENT OF 43 NEW TOWNS
Parliament's Local Affairs Commission yesterday passed a bill proposing the establishment of 43 new towns and closing municipalities with populations less than 2,000. Before the vote, opposition party deputies boycotted the session, charging that the government was pushing the legislation for political reasons. The bill was subsequently passed by ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies. /Turkiye-Aksam/