GUL HOLDS PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS RUSSIAN, GEORGIAN COUNTERPARTS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday spoke separately on the telephone with his Russian and Georgian counterparts to assess recent developments in the armed conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. "During his conversations, President Gul expressed his deep sorrow over the death of civilians during the clashes," said the Presidential Press Center. "President Gul also reiterated that Turkey places great importance on Georgia`s territorial integrity and sovereignty, solving regional problems peacefully, and the integrated implementation of initiatives to promote peace, stability and prosperity in all countries of the region." Hundreds of people have died and hundreds more have been injured and left homeless since Georgia launched a crackdown on South Ossetia last week, drawing a harsh response from Russia. Russia halted its military operations against Georgia on Tuesday, but the two have already traded charges over alleged violations of the recent cease-fire agreement. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN IN RUSSIA TO SEEK SOLUTION TO GEORGIAN CRISIS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, yesterday arrived in Moscow to hold talks with top Russian officials on the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia issue, with an eye to aiding efforts to secure sustainable peace and stability in the Caucasus. During his visit, Erdogan was received by his Russian President Dmitry Medmedev and also met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Afterwards, Erdogan told reporters that his proposal to establish a Caucasus cooperation and stability alliance would be discussed by the two countries` foreign ministers. Erdogan said that his talks in Russia would be pave the way for the alliance, and added, "This cooperative platform should assume the responsibility for solving disputes before they break out, and it should also manage crises in the region after they start." Touching on the issue of bilateral trade, Erdogan said, "Turkey`s trade with Russia has developed remarkably in recent years, with Russia topping Turkey`s foreign trade partners." Erdogan will today proceed from Moscow to Tbilisi to hold talks with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. /Turkiye/
MGK TO MEET NEXT WEEK
The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Abdullah Gul, is set to convene next week in Istanbul, with Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit attending for the last time, as he is retiring at the end of this month. Issues expected to be discussed at the gathering include the Georgian crisis in the Caucasus, the fight against the terrorist PKK at home and abroad, and the future of the Iraqi province of Kirkuk. Possible changes in relations between countries of the Caucasus in light of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, and their possible effects of energy supplies, will also be taken up at the gathering. /Hurriyet/
AHMADINEJAD: "TURKEY AND IRAN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT POWERS"
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive today in Istanbul for a visit at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. Ahmadinejad is set to meet with Gul at the Ciragan Palace, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, as part of his two-day working visit. Meetings between delegations of the two countries, led by Ahmadinejad and Gul, will reportedly focus on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. Ahmadinejad will also meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to Turkish reporters before leaving for Istanbul, Ahmadinejad said that Turkey and Iran have always been great powers. Stating that the two countries` strength lies in friendship and efforts for peace, not aggression, he added, "We have not occupied any country`s territory or been unfair to anyone. Turkey and Iran working together benefits everyone, but there are some who don`t want that cooperation." Pointing to the terrorist PKK and its Iranian branch PJAK, Ahmadinejad reiterated that bilateral cooperation against the terror groups will continue. /Star-Sabah/
CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT CONTINUES FAREWELL VISITS
On another farewell visit ahead of his Aug. 30 retirement, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday met with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. Buyukanit is today set to visit main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. /Milliyet/
BAYKAL AGAIN URGES RULING AKP TO LEARN LESSONS FROM TOP COURT RULING
Speaking to his party`s Central Executive Board yesterday, main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal reiterated that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should engage in self-criticism in light of a recent narrow Constitutional Court ruling to penalize it financially rather than close it down, but added, "The AKP doesn`t seem to be eager to make such criticism." Stressing that the court had said the AKP was the focal point of activities working against the principle of secularism, Baykal said, "After this decision, the AKP should have signaled that it had gotten the message and would make necessary changes. But recent moves by the party, especially preparations for a constitutional change to make party closures impossible, show that it won`t do the required self-criticism." /Milliyet/