GUL, TRNC'S TALAT TO ATTEND OIC SUMMIT IN SENEGAL
President Abdullah Gul and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) leader Mehmet Ali Talat are due to travel to Dakar, Senegal, to attend a two-day Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) heads of state and government summit. The meeting, which starts on Thursday, will focus on a wave of Islamophobia in the West and ways to repair Islam's image. The OIC is also expected to make moves to end the international isolation of the TRNC. Gul is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of Islamic countries on the sidelines of the gathering. In related news, an OIC foreign ministers meeting began in Dakar yesterday, with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan representing Turkey. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN TO TOUR SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to southeastern Turkish provinces this weekend. He will attend his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) women and youth congress in Siirt and Batman on Saturday, and then Sanliurfa and Mardin on Sunday. During his two-day trip, Erdogan will reportedly promote his government's initiatives for the region. /Cumhuriyet/
BUYUKANIT: "OPPOSITION CRITICISM INSULTED THE TSK AND OVERSHADOWED OUR SUCCESS"
Recent opposition criticism of Turkey's cross-border land operation into northern Iraq insulted the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and overshadowed its recent successes, charged Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday. He made the remarks to reporters before the beginning of the Second International Symposium on Global Terrorism and International Cooperation, organized by the Ankara-based Centre of Excellence Defense Against Terrorism (TMMM). Asked if he had overreacted to opposition party criticism that the land operation had ended prematurely, Buyukanit said that he never allows someone to insult the TSK. "A shadow was cast over operation's success," he added. Delivering the symposium's opening speech, Buyukanit said that terrorist groups are trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear ones. "Terrorists see the nation-state as a major threat to their survival," he continued. "It is clear that no nation-state can succeed against terrorists without international cooperation. For that reason, nation-states should think internationally and act regionally." Buyukanit stated that terrorist groups use modern communication technologies to influence the international public. After the symposium, Buyukanit said that he had "unfortunately" been pulled into arguing with opposition parties over the cross-border operation. /Hurriyet-Sabah/
US' CHENEY SET TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK
US Vice President Dick Cheney will reportedly begin a trip to the region, including Turkey, this Sunday. "President (George W.) Bush has asked the vice president to travel to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Turkey for discussions with these key partners on issues of mutual interest," said a White House statement. "The vice president will meet with Sultan Qaboos of Oman, King Abdullah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert of Israel, President (Mahmoud) Abbas and Prime Minister (Salam) Fayyad of the Palestinian Territories, President (Abdullah) Gul and Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan of Turkey, as well as senior officials of their respective governments." /Star/
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER RECEIVES DTP DEPUTIES
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday received Democratic Society Party (DTP) group leader Ahmet Turk. DTP Diyarbakir Deputy Selahattin Demirtas also attended the meeting. In related news, President Abdullah Gul today will receive Turk, Demirtas and DTP Co-Chair Emine Ayna and the party's deputy group leader, Fatma Kurtulan. /Hurriyet/
GONUL TO MEET WITH BALKAN DEFENSE MINISTERS IN SOFIA
Defense ministers from Balkan countries will meet in Sofia today under the auspices of the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP). Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul will represent Turkey at the meeting, where security, cooperation, and defense policies for development in Southeastern Europe will top discussions. Another subject will be recent developments in Kosovo. /Turkish Daily News/
CHP: "WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF INSULTING OR DEMORALIZING THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Mustafa Ozyurek yesterday said that his party has gotten the impression that the US pushed for a swift end to Turkey's recent cross-border land operation into northern Iraq. "We have no intention of insulting the success of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) or demoralizing them," he added. "We're not seeking to lengthen our discussion with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)." /Hurriyet/