GUL: "TURKEY FAVORS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE"
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday arrived in Istanbul to pay a two-day working visit, the first by an Iranian president in 12 years, amid the continuing international dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad met with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, and the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional and international issues as well as the nuclear controversy. Afterwards, Gul told a joint press conference that Turkey favors a diplomatic solution to the issue. "Any solution should take into consideration the international community's concerns and should also protect Iran's legitimate rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," he said. Gul also urged Iran to continue negotiations on the issue, saying, "Turkey hopes the talks between Iran and six major world powers will yield positive results." Stating that in recent years the Turkish-Iranian bilateral trade volume has risen to $10 billion, he added that during their meeting, they confirmed their goal to double this to $20 billion as soon as possible. "We also agreed to celebrate 2009 as a Turkey-Iran Year of Culture to mark the 50th anniversary of a bilateral culture agreement," he said. For his part, Ahmadinejad thanked Turkey for supporting Iran's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and its efforts to solve the issue through diplomacy. He said Iran would continue negotiations on its nuclear program so long as its rights are protected. Ahmadinejad also said that Iran would welcome proposals by friendly countries on the issue during the negotiation process. Iran is pleased with Turkey's development and growing power, he added. On the 2009 Turkey-Iran Year of Culture, he said, "This will provide the peoples of our countries an important opportunity to get better know each other's culture and civilizations." Following a meeting between delegations chaired by the two presidents, various cooperation agreements were signed by government ministers of the two countries. Ahmadinejad will today attend the Turkish-Iranian Business Forum in Istanbul, and later meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Turkiye-Sabah/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH GEORGIAN'S SAAKASVILI
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili as part of his tour to help end the conflict between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Speaking at a joint press conference afterwards, Saakashvili thanked Turkey's efforts to end the conflict. Stating that they discussed issues such as reconstructing areas damaged in the recent attacks, as well as restoring peace to the region, he added, "We will pursue an extensive dialogue. We will also continue to work for peace and ending occupation in the region." Expressing appreciation for Turkey's humanitarian aid and its determination to solve the crisis, Saakasvili said that Georgia's recovery is very important. For his part, Erdogan said that he came to Tbilisi to hear of its pains and express his concerns as well as to exchange views about the recent conflict. Stating that Turkey favors Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is closely interested in peace and prosperity for its neighbor, he added that Turkey has proposed establishing a Caucasus cooperation pact to establish and protect peace in the region. "We believe that this platform will have many important missions, and the Russian side is interested in the project," he added. Erdogan is expected to proceed to Azerbaijan to speak with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev about the situation as well. /Milliyet/
CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BUYUKANIT MAKES FAREWELL VISIT TO CHP LEADER
On another farewell visit ahead of his Aug. 30 retirement, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday met with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. During the gathering, they discussed issues such as the fight against the terrorist PKK and the conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. /Turkiye/
SAHIN MEETS WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART AIYING
Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, currently in Beijing for the 29th Summer Olympics, yesterday met with his Chinese counterpart Wu Aiying. Speaking to reporters, Sahin said that as Turkish-Chinese economic and trade ties have multiplied, the number of commercial disputes has also recently risen. Referring to a judicial aid agreement between China and Turkey which took effect in 1995, Sahin added that it needs revision in light of growing relations. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH-AFRICAN NGOs GATHER AT ISTANBUL FORUM AHEAD OF SUMMIT
Representatives from Turkish and African non-governmental organizations met yesterday at an Istanbul forum hosted by Turkey's Turkish-Asian Center for Strategic Studies (ASAM) ahead of next week's Turkish-African Cooperation Summit. Representatives from over 100 non-governmental organizations in 45 African countries are participating in the two-day event, which will end tomorrow with the release of a final declaration. Addressing the forum, ASAM head Suleyman Sensoy said that the meeting would help identify areas of cooperation between Turkey and Africa. United Nation Development Program (UNDP) Turkey Representative Mahmoud Ayyup said, "The UN welcomes Turkey's aid efforts for African countries. It is a very important country for the continent with its aid institutions like the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay)." He also said ties between Turkey and African countries will improve rapidly with the opening of new Turkish embassies across the continent. TIKA head Musa Kulaklykaya stressed the key role of NGOs in international aid activities. TIKA has extended around $2 billion in annual development aid to Africa, and it runs an agricultural development program in 13 African countries. /Turkiye/
SIMSEK: "THE NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM AIMS TO BOOST JOB OPPORTUNITIES"
Touting the government's new economic program yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said, "The new program has four important goals: Strengthening Turkey's competitive edge, transforming Turkish into an information society, boosting infrastructure investments, and completing the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP)." The government will give priority to developing job opportunities, he said. Simsek also said that the social security reforms passed earlier this year will protect Turkey's social security institutions for future generations. /Star/
MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE HOLDS INTEREST RATES STEADY
At its meeting yesterday, the Monetary Policy Committee, chaired by Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz, kept interest rates unchanged. "International credit conditions and global economic problems have continued to restrict total demand, but decreasing domestic uncertainty is expected to increase domestic demand," said a statement released by the committee. "As global crises and risks will continue, it is necessary to be deliberate about monetary policy." /Star/