ERDOGAN REITERATES COMMITMENT TO FIGHT TERRORISM
Speaking to his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated the government's commitment to fight terrorism in the wake of a double terrorist bombing in Istanbul that killed 17 people and injured dozens more. "This country responds to terrorism with one heart and one voice," said Erdogan. "Whoever believes Turkey can be dragged into instability through terrorism, murder and violence should know that will never happen." He said that Turkey would never retreat from fighting terrorism and added, "Those who are responsible for the attacks will be apprehended sooner or later." Referring to the timing of the attacks, Erdogan said, "These heinous designs and plans will fail in their attempt to wound the unified soul of our nation." /Turkiye/
TALABANI SENDS GUL CONDOLENCES OVER ISTANBUL TERRORIST ATTACKS
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani telephoned President Abdullah Gul yesterday to offer his condolences over Sunday's terrorist attacks in Istanbul's Gungoren district, said the president's press office. Talabani condemned the terrorist attacks and also spoke with Gul about a suicide bombing attack this week at a protest rally in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk which killed 23. In the aftermath of that attack, Kurdish protestors attacked an Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) office, and clashes broke out between protestors and guards protecting the office. Talabani then told Gul that peace was later restored in the city. He also condemned the attack on the ITF office and said that all ethnic groups in Kirkuk should learn to live together in peace. Gul thanked Talabani and expressed his condolences for the loss of life in the suicide attack in Kirkuk. The president said the attack had been meant to stir up ethnic violence and underscored the importance of working against such a trend. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN: "TURKEY'S FOREIGN POLICY HAS GROWN MORE ACTIVE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey has been pursuing a more active foreign policy in recent years, in line with its geopolitical and strategic position, and added that it has played a key role on many international issues. Speaking at a ceremony finalizing a tank contract set to be carried out by the Defense Industry Undersecretariat in cooperation with Koc Holding's Otokar, Erdogan said, "Turkey has taken an active role in solving many regional and global problems. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) must have a national defense industry to help our armed forces improve its supplies and capabilities. Our goal is to carry our necessary activities through making as much use of the facilities and capabilities of the national industry as we can. There have been many projects in recent years to meet the needs of the TSK. I would like to reaffirm my belief that by 2011, we will exceed our target to meet at least half of the needs of the TSK through local resources." /Sabah/
BABACAN: "WE'RE TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO SOLVE THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE PEACEFULLY"
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, on the sidelines of the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, Iran, yesterday met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. He also held talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. Babacan's talks were dominated by bilateral relations, the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, and Ahmedinejad's forthcoming visit to Turkey. Afterwards, Babacan told reporters that the nuclear dispute could be solved through dialogue. "What is important is that the parties to the issue must understand each other clearly and continue talking," he said, and added that Turkey was taking the initiative to seek a peaceful solution to the issue. Babacan is expected to meet today with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Laricani. / Star/
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS CONDEMN ISTANBUL BOMBINGS
Leaders worldwide issued firm condemnations in the wake of Sunday's deadly terrorist attack in Istanbul. The leaders said the heinous, brutal attack targeting innocents could not be justified for any reason and expressed their condolences for the people killed and injured. Among those condemning the attack were the White House, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Livni, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, and the Spanish and Iranian governments. Two bombs exploded minutes apart in one of Istanbul's busiest districts on Sunday night, killing 17 and injuring over 100 others. /Star/