IN MANISA, ERDOGAN URGES PUBLIC TO RESIST EFFORTS TO RAISE TENSION
Speaking at a festival in Manisa yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that there are people in Turkey trying to raise tension and called on the public not to fall for these tricks. Erdogan also said that the media should act responsibly by helping to strengthen the country's atmosphere of peace. Criticizing recent statements by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Erdogan said, "If there's a deep state in this country, you are its architect." /Star/
TURKMEN PRESIDENT DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov will visit Ankara today at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. During his visit, which will be his first to Turkey as Turkmenistan's president, several economic and cultural agreements are expected to be signed. /Milliyet/
NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST RELEASED AFTER DETENTION IN ERGENEKON PROBE
Veteran journalist Ilhan Selcuk, 83, the chief columnist for Cumhuriyet daily, was released yesterday after being detained along with 12 other well-known figures, including Worker's Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek and former Istanbul University Rector Kemal Alemdaroglu, as part of the ongoing Ergenekon investigation. Selcuk was questioned for more than four hours on suspicion of being the mastermind behind the armed right-wing Ergenekon gang. Perincek was arrested on charges of being a top leader of the terrorist gang and possessing confidential documents about the state, while Alemdaroglu was sent to the court. /All Papers/
CHENEY EXPECTED IN TURKEY TODAY
US Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to visit Turkey today as part of his Middle East tour. Cheney is expected to meet separately with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit to discuss Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Cheney is also expected to bring up issues such as a request to send additional Turkish troops to Afghanistan and a planned US missile defense system. /Aksam/
FINAL MEETING ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS TODAY
Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik will hold a final meeting today with representatives of labor unions and employers to discuss proposed social security and health insurance reforms, after overall compromise was reached on the legislation last week. A final statement on the social security bill is also expected today. /Sabah/