ANKARA OFFICIALS MEET TO DISCUSS RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION OF BREAKAWAY GEORGIAN PROVINCES
Russia's recognition yesterday of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway Georgian provinces, has shocked Ankara. Following the Russian move, top Turkish diplomats met at the Foreign Ministry to discuss the situation. In addition, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan briefed President Abdullah Gul about recent developments. Moscow's move was also notable for coming just as Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Unal Cevikoz was discussing a proposed Caucasus platform with his Russian counterparts. /Hurriyet/
US SENATOR THINKS DISCUSSIONS ON PROPOSED CAUCASUS PLATFORM LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED
In Ankara yesterday, US Senator Richard Lugar yesterday met with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. Asked about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposed Caucasus platform, meant to help restore regional peace and security following the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, Lugar told reporters, "I think discussions on the proposed platform will probably be postponed until Russia fully pulls out its soldiers from the region, and peace and stability has completely been established in Georgia." Lugar, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relation Committee, is currently leading a congressional delegation on a nine-nation trip in the wake of the Russian-Georgian conflict. /Turkiye/
BAHCELI: "MHP DEPUTIES ARE READY TO HELP ENACT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES"
At a press conference at Parliament, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday called for a broad-based consensus on Constitution changes to help defuse recent political tension. Bahceli in particular mentioned changing how the Constitutional Court works and making party closures more difficult. Saying that the MHP's 70 parliamentary deputies are ready to help make those changes a reality, he also spoke about the recent failed closure case against the ruling Justice and development Party (AKP) and its impact. Stating that the case brought the Constitutional Court's legitimacy into question, he added, "In this atmosphere, political institutions and other institutions got hurt." /Star/
GEN. KOSANER BLASTS BASELESS MEDIA SPECULATION ABOUT THE GENDARMERIE
Gen. Isik Kosaner, the new commander of the Turkish Land Forces, yesterday handed over the helm of the Gendarmerie to Gen. Atilla Isik in a ceremony. Among the officials at the handover ceremony were President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Interior Minister Besir Atalay, and Council of State Chief Justice Mustafa Birden. Speaking at the ceremony, Kosaner denounced recent media speculation about the possible role of gendarmerie officers in the Ergenekon probe. "Placing responsibility for several incidents on the Gendarmerie as a whole, and painting it as guilty, as well as targeting the institution through fictional scenarios has deeply offended our members." He also complained that recent legal changes for European Union harmonization had limited the powers of the Gendarmerie and hurt its ability to fight crime. "Taking advantage of these changes, the separatist terrorist organization (the PKK) and its legal extensions have stepped up their activities and started to act more freely by abusing the freedoms under the legal changes," he said. Kosaner added that public safety should not come at the expense of human rights. /Milliyet/
EDUCATION MINISTER CELIK SET TO PROMOTE TURKISH STUDIES DEPTS IN IRANIAN UNIVERSITIES
Education Minister Huseyin Celik yesterday left for an official visit to Iran at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart. Before leaving, Celik told reporters that thanks to his ministry's efforts, Tehran had agreed to allow an Iranian university to open a Turkish studies department. Saying how over a half-dozen Turkish universities currently have Persian language and literature departments, Celik said that he would speak with Iranian officials about the universities of Tehran and Tabriz opening Turkish studies departments. Celik also said Iranian students were very welcome to seek an education in Turkey. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN TO HELP PROMOTE NEW TL
Meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz yesterday briefed him about next year's planned changeover from new Turkish liras (YTL) to Turkish liras. Erdogan reportedly will help a campaign to promote acceptance of the revised currency, set to go into circulation next January. /Aksam/
RUSSIAN FM TO VISIT TURKEY
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will reportedly visit Turkey next week. During his visit, Lavrov is expected to discuss Turkey's proposal for a Caucasus cooperation and stability platform with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Cumhuriyet/