ERDOGAN: "TURKEY WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING UNTIL THE TERRORISTS LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS"
Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the fight against terrorism and national security issues are matters that transcend parties. "Not announcing beforehand the date our troops would return home was a necessity," he said. "People trying to interfere cast a shadow over Turkey's fight against terrorism and don't respect our fallen soldiers." Criticizing main opposition party leader Deniz Baykal, Erdogan said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should not be fodder for arguments, and that anyone with something to say should speak to him instead. "The TSK knows how to conduct the cross-border operations, and what is needed," he said. Erdogan added that Turkey will continue to fight terrorism until the terrorists lay down their arms. /Sabah/
GENERAL STAFF BLASTS CRITICISM OF TSK AS "UNFAIR AND WORTHLESS ATTACKS"
The General Staff issued a statement yesterday blasting recent remarks critical of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) as "unfair and worthless attacks." "Remarks made by circles other than the press were targeted at an institution that fights terrorism and sacrifices soldiers," said the statement. "These remarks are unfair and worthless attacks." Saying that the TSK doesn't want to get into arguments with either politicians or political institutions, the statement added that such attacks damage both the TSK itself and its determination to fight terrorism. /Hurriyet/
BAYKAL: "THE OPERATION'S END WAS A SURPRISE TO THE WORLD"
Speaking to his main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) group meeting yesterday, CHP leader Deniz Baykal said that the aim of sending Turkish forces into northern Iraq should have been ending the terrorist PKK. "I don't believe that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) could conduct an operation for only eight days, and the operation's end was a surprise to the world," Baykal added. "The question of why the TSK ended its ground operation on the eighth day is still open, especially when you consider that the operation had been going successfully." /Hurriyet/
BAHCELI CRITICIZES GOVT OVER WITHDRAWAL FROM N.IRAQ
Speaking to his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized the surprise withdrawal late last week of the Turkish Army from northern Iraq. "The public is suspicious about these developments," said Bahceli. "There is a serious lack of harmonization between state organs." Calling official explanations following the withdrawal unsatisfactory, Bahceli claimed that the operation was launched with permission from the US. Saying that establishing a secure region in northern Iraq is a must for stopping PKK terrorism, the MHP leader urged both the US and the government to cut off Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's direct or indirect support to the PKK. /Turkiye/
NEW SARKOZY, MERKEL PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE "MEDITERRANEAN UNION" OPEN TO ALL EU STATES
French and German leaders yesterday reworked a proposal for a "Mediterranean Union," long seen as a ploy to distract Turkey from its European Union membership goal. Under a compromise between French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, membership in the proposed bloc would be open to all EU member states, not just countries on the Mediterranean coast. Meeting in Germany, Merkel had objected to Sarkozy's more restrictive view of the union. Sarkozy, an opponent of Turkey's EU bid, first proposed the idea. /Sabah/
TALABANI DUE IN ANKARA THIS WEEK
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is set to arrive in Ankara on Friday to pay an official working visit at the invitation of President Abdullah Gul. In addition to Gul, Talabani, accompanied by four Iraqi Cabinet ministers, is scheduled to meet with Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His two days of talks with top Turkish officials are expected to focus on cooperation against PKK terrorism. The visit comes one week after the Turkish military withdrew troops from northern Iraq following an eight-day ground offensive against the PKK. This will be Talabani's first visit to Turkey as Iraq's president. /Aksam/
US VICE PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY
US Vice President Dick Cheney is set to pay an official visit to Ankara in the coming weeks. Cheney will be accompanied by top military and civilian officials and will have talks with President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. During his one-day stay, the fight against PKK terrorists and the Iran and Afghanistan issues are expected to dominate his talks with Turkish leaders. Cheney last visited Turkey six years ago. /Turkiye/
TRNC'S TALAT TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat is set to arrive in Ankara for a one-day working visit. During Talat's joint talks with President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recent developments on the Cyprus issue and efforts to restart the process of peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations will be taken up. /Aksam/
FENERBAHCE MAKES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
Football side Fenerbahce yesterday defeated Spain's Sevilla 3-2 on penalties to reach the European Champions League quarterfinals for the first time after drawing 5-5 on aggregate. Fenerbahce is the second Turkish team to reach that stage, after its archrival Galatasaray. /All Papers/