IN BID TO DEFUSE TENSION, GUL TO MEET WITH FORMER CHIEF OF GEN. STAFF OZKOK
President Abdullah Gul will meet today with former Chief of General Staff retired Gen. Hilmi Ozkok at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to help defuse political tension amid the ongoing Ergenekon probe into an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Ozkok has recently warned that the country is in a very dangerous political crisis and suggested that an official actor with the support of the people should act to ease the tension. Implying that Gul should intercede in the dispute over Ergenekon, Ozkok had said that the Constitution makes it clear which figure bears responsibility for coordinating various state institutions. Gul has already held a number of meetings with civil groups and political party leaders in an effort to halt worsening political polarization. As part of these efforts, next week he will also meet with former European Court of Human Rights Judge Ryza Turmen. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN TO ATTEND WEEKEND MEDITERRANEAN UNION SUMMIT IN FRANCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Paris this weekend to attend the Mediterranean union summit to officially launch the union project, at the invitation of French President Nicola Sarkozy. The French leader telephoned Erdogan on Tuesday to invite him to the meeting. Ankara has been hesitant to embrace the union, an initiative spearheaded by Sarkozy, known for his strong opposition to Turkey's EU accession bid, over suspicions that it may be an attempt to deflect Turkey's full EU membership goal. Erdogan has said that Turkey won't take part in the proposed union without assurances that it isn't meant as an alternative to EU membership. In related news, French Ambassador to Ankara Bernard Jean Maurice said that France has no plans to suggest an alternative to Turkey's EU accession, adding that the project aims to boost cooperation among Mediterranean countries. "Turkey is a key country in the region, and that's why France wants Turkey to be a part of the Union," he added. Maurice also said that France will take a very objective approach to Turkey's EU accession talks during its six-month term presidency which began on July 1. /Star/
TERRORISTS ATTACK POLICE POINT OUTSIDE US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
Four gunmen attacked a police outpost in front of the US Consulate yesterday around 11:00 am in Istanbul's Istinye district, killing three policemen and injuring two others. Three attackers died in the assault and one fled. No one inside the consulate was injured in the assault, described by the authorities as a terrorist attack. Speaking to reporters, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that security forces had identified the assailants and were trying to learn about their connections. In messages issued after the incident, President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey will fight terrorism resolutely, adding that terrorists will never achieve their goals through attacks against security forces. /All Papers/
WHITE HOUSE, EU CONDEMN ATTACK ON US CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
The White House yesterday condemned the attack on the US Consulate in Istanbul. "We strongly condemn the attack," said White House spokesperson Tony Fratto. Asked whether the US sees it as a terrorist attack, Fratto said, "I'm not yet in a position to comment on the facts or nature of the attack." In related news, en route to Tbilisi, Georgia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that she appreciated the quick official response to the attack, and thanked the Turkish government. "The US expresses sorrow about the loss of lives, and it expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the three Turkish police officers killed," she added. European Union Term President France stated that the EU firmly condemns the attack and that they stand in full solidarity with the Turkish and US governments. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, the European Parliament's rapporteur for Turkey, also expressed her indignation and strongly condemned the attack. The attack underlines the necessity to be vigilant and to stand together with Turkey in the fight against international terrorism, she added. She also expressed her deepest sympathy to the families of the victims. /Milliyet/
US AMBASSADOR WILSON: "WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT TURKISH POLICE OFFICERS DO"
After yesterday's attack on the US Consulate in Istanbul, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said, "First, I want to express my condolences and those of the US government to the families of three Turkish police personnel who were killed in the attack that took place earlier today on our consulate general in Istanbul. I understand there may be an additional two Turkish police who are wounded, and they and their families and all of their loved ones are very much in our thoughts and prayers." He added, "The police responded effectively and quickly. We are deeply grateful for the work that they do to protect our official US government establishments here. We are of course cooperating closely with them now." He also said, "I spoke with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary (Ertugrul) Apakan very shortly after the attack earlier today, (and) he conveyed the government's condolences and commitment to protect our embassy, our consulates, and our official establishments here and their personnel, for which I'm very grateful." He added, "It is, of course, inappropriate now to speculate on who is responsible for this or why they carried out this action. It is an obvious act of terrorism. Our countries will stand together to confront this, as we have confronted similar problems in the past." /Milliyet/
PKK KIDNAPS 3 GERMAN MOUNTAINEERS IN AGRI
Three members of a 13-person mountaineering team were kidnapped late Tuesday by five PKK terrorists from a camp on Mt. Agri (Ararat) at an elevation of 3,200 meters. The terrorists reportedly said that the kidnapping was in response to recent action taken by the German government against PKK sympathizers and associations linked to the group. Agri Governor Mehmet Cetin said that the gendarmerie had launched a sweeping search and rescue operation, and that the other mountaineers had been safely brought to the town of Dogubayazit. /All papers/
NEW COMMANDER FOR KFOR'S TURKISH BATTALION
Command of the Turkish battalion serving as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) changed hands yesterday at a ceremony held in Prizren. Lt. Col. Kerim Acar handed the helm of the Turkish troops over to Lt. Col. Mehmet Nail Yigit. "The services offered by the Turkish battalion are an indication of the Turkish nation's love for the people of Kosovo," Acar said. The Turkish battalion has served in Kosovo since 1999. /Turkiye/