ERDOGAN, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT TO MEET TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today is set to meet with Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at the Prime Ministry. Their meeting is to focus on the conflict between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. /Sabah/
PM, FOREIGN MINISTER URGE PEACEFUL DIALOGUE TO RESOLVE CONFLICT OVER SOUTH OSSETIA
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan over the weekend had telephone conversations with his US, Russian and Georgian counterparts on recent armed clashes between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Babacan expressed Turkey's concern that the clash between the two countries could escalate. Stressing that the conflict had done great harm to the region's security atmosphere, Babacan said this poses a great risk to peace and stability in the Southern Caucasus. Babacan also expressed Turkey's deep sorrow over the resulting civilian losses, and said Turkey is ready to provide humanitarian aid to the people affected by the war. He called on both the Russian and Georgian sides to act with moderation and common sense and to begin direct talks to solve the issue. He also stressed the importance of Georgia's territorial integrity. In related news, speaking with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on the telephone last Friday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has been watching with concern the clashes, which have killed many people, and urged that the problem be solved through peaceful means and dialogue. Erdogan expressed Turkey's uneasiness at the clashes and underlined the importance of Georgia's territorial integrity. Erdogan also called on the sides to solve the issue through direct talks. Armed clashes broke out between Russia and Georgia last week over the breakaway region of South Ossetia . Georgian armed forces entered South Ossetia after it unilaterally declared its independence from Georgia. After four days of clashes, Georgia began to pull its soldiers out of South Ossetia and called for a cease-fire, but Russia has not reciprocated. Countries in the region and the international community fear the clashes could spread into a regional war. /Milliyet-Turkiye/
AKP TO PREPARE PACKAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is waiting for the publication of the full text of the recent Constitutional Court decision not to close down the party to prepare a package of constitutional changes to 40 articles. The package will focus on changes to human rights and democratization legislation meant to strengthen Turkish-European Union ties, and will propose ending practices towards political parties and elections seen as anti-democratic, particularly the 10% election threshold, and would also change partially parliamentary immunity. /Sabah/
TURKISH RED CRESCENT AID CONVOY SENT TO GEORGIA
A Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) aid convoy has crossed into Georgia at the Sarp Border Gate to help people affected by the recent armed conflict between Russia and Georgia. The convoy includes foodstuffs, tents and blankets. A Kizilay delegation and trucks carrying humanitarian aid will also go to the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the group said. /Turkiye/
93TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANAFARTALAR VICTORY MARKED YESTERDAY
Ceremonies were held yesterday on the Gallipoli peninsula to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the Anafartalar Victory and to commemorate military commander Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and all the heroes who lost their lives in the pivotal battle. President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday released messages marking the anniversary of the victory against occupation forces in the Turkish War of Independence. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY PLANS MISSILE AND AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS
Turkey plans to establish long-range missile and air defense systems to protect itself from possible missile and aerial threats. To this end, it has been holding talks with defense companies from the US, Russia, China and Israel. The systems are expected to be operational by 2010. /Turkiye/
TRT TO START BROADCASTS IN KURDISH AND OTHER REGIONAL, LOCAL LANGUAGES
Speaking to Aksam daily yesterday, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) head Ibrahim Sahin said that next year the TRT would begin broadcasts in Kurdish and other regional and local languages such as Arabic and Persian. He said TRT staff was preparing for this change. Sahin also said that TRT would make large investments to improve its technical infrastructure. /Aksam/
SIMSEK: "THE GOVT WILL REPLACE PROVINCIAL INCENTIVES WITH REGIONAL ONES"
Speaking at a meeting organized by the Confederation of Young Turkish Businessmen in the eastern province of Bitlis, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said the government has been working to reduce inequality in income distribution. He said thanks to measures implemented by the government, in recent years Turkey has showed great development towards more equal income distribution. Simsek also said that starting next year, the government would begin offering regional incentives in place of province-based ones. He said that though the old system worked in some provinces, it had failed to bolster the economy in such areas as the east and southeast. /Sabah/