US VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY VISITS TURKEY
US Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday visited Ankara following his visits in the Middle East. Cheney first met with President Abdullah Gul and then with Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at the Cankaya Palace. During their meetings, the fight against terrorism was discussed, and the top officials agreed to continue bilateral cooperation on this issue. Iraq in particular was one of the topics of the meetings, and Cheney expressed his country's approach on Iraq. The prospect of a US withdrawal from Iraq was also reportedly discussed, along with issues such as Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine, and Kosovo. Afterwards, Cheney met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and they discussed issues such as the terrorist PKK, Iraq and Afghanistan. /Turkiye/

TURKMEN PRESIDENT VISITS ANKARA
Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. Gul welcomed his counterpart with an official ceremony at the Cankaya Palace. Afterwards, Gul told a press conference that the two countries have opportunities to improve their economic and commercial ties. For his part, Berdimuhammedov said that Turkish firms were active and successful in Turkmenistan and that his countrymen would continue to work effectively with Turkish businesses. Then Berdimuhammedov met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Erdogan hosted a luncheon for the Turkmen president. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN CRITICIZES ATTEMPTS TO LINK ERGENEKON PROBE WITH AKP CLOSURE CASE
The prosecutor's indictment seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) speaks volumes, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Rejecting attempts to link the Ergenekon probe into a right-wing gang with his party's closure case, Erdogan complained that some people are trying to drag the probe off course. "Why I can't stand up to an attempt to close my party?" asked Erdogan. "If I have enough power, I'll block the AKP's closure case. The executive and judicial powers are clashing due to this shameful slander. The judiciary is doing its duty." /Star/

BUYUKANIT: "WHETHER TO SEND MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN IS A FOREIGN POLICY DECISION"
Whether Turkey will send more troops to Afghanistan isn't up to the army, but is instead a foreign policy decision, said Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday. Asked by reporters about his meeting on Monday with US Vice President Dick Cheney, Buyukanit declined to comment, saying the talks were between himself and Cheney. The US has been urging Turkey to send more troops to NATO's Afghan mission. /Milliyet/

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS HEADED FOR PARLIAMENT
Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik yesterday held a final meeting with representatives of labor unions and employers on proposed social security and health insurance reforms. "We agreed on the number of workdays needed for retirement, namely 7,200," said Celik. Adding that the parties had been unable to reach agreement on the retirement age, he stated, "We worked for a compromise, and the demands should be met, as is their due. The ministry and other parties should be flexible." Parliament is expected to receive the reform bill soon. /Aksam/

TUSIAD URGES GOVT, OPPOSITION TO PULL BACK FROM BRINK OF POSSIBLE CRISIS
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) yesterday called on both the ruling and opposition parties to act with common sense, stressing that it is worried that Turkey is moving towards polarization and a possible regime crisis. In a statement, TUSIAD said Turkey could only overcome this crisis through lessened tension, dialogue, full democracy and respect for the rule of law. It further warned the government that pushing through legal changes to make closing parties more difficult in the midst of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) own closure case would only make things worse. Instead, the group said the government should focus on the nation's prosperity and stability, and consider other people's viewpoints. It also urged opposition parties to offer alternative solutions to Turkey's problems in step with the realities of the global economy. /Milliyet/