IN ANTALYA, GUL MEETS WITH KAZAKHSTAN'S NAZARBAEV
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev at an iftar fast-breaking dinner in Antalya. Gul today is set to visit neighboring Azerbaijan to discuss the latest developments in the Caucasus with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev. In related news, Gul yesterday appointed 23 university rectors. Gul appointed 12 rectoral candidates who won the largest number of votes in elections at their respective universities, along with 11 candidates who got the second-largest number of votes, and three who got the third-largest. /Sabah-Aksam/
ERDOGAN: "NO ONE CAN STIFLE TURKEY'S DEVELOPMENT"
Addressing an inaugural ceremony in Istanbul's Tuzla district yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has made remarkable economic progress in recent years. "If Turkey had continued to suffer from the corruption it saw in past years, then such progress would never have happened," Erdogan said. "Thanks to the government's determined anti-corruption efforts, Turkey is now enjoying notable economic development." In an apparent reference to his argument with the Dogan media group over corruption allegations, he added, "There are those who cannot accept this transformation, and are trying to smear the government. But no one can derail Turkey's path towards development, and the government will never bow to pressure from those slanderers." Stating that government efforts to remove hurdles to foreign investment over the last five years have produced record results, Erdogan said Turkey must maintain its stability and self-confidence to continue this trend. After the ceremony, Erdogan also attended an iftar fast-breaking dinner with a group of workers. In related news, Spanish Prime Minister and Alliance of Civilizations Co-Chair Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will meet with Erdogan for a fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul next Monday. /Star-Turkiye/
BABACAN BRIEFS NGOs ON DRAFT NATIONAL PROGRAM
The government's draft national program has been sent to 84 non-governmental organizations, and efforts to meet with opposition party leaders to discuss it will continue, said Foreign Minister and chief negotiator for Turkey's EU Talks Ali Babacan yesterday. Speaking at a conference in Ankara, Babacan spoke about the preparation and content of the draft program. He also criticized main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli for rebuffing his efforts to meet with them to discuss the program. Babacan has met so far with the leaders of two minor parties, the Grand Unity Party's (BBP) Muhsin Yazicioglu and Ufuk Uras of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP). Saying he hopes the program is not sacrificed to political concerns ahead of next year's local elections, and that Turkey's European Union membership bid isn't exploited, he added, "The government's approach is focused on compromise, as there is no room in modern democracy for avoiding dialogue." Babacan yesterday gave an iftar fast-breaking dinner to foreign diplomats serving in Ankara, including US Ambassador Ross Wilson and British Ambassador Nick Baird. /Star-Aksam/
BAHCELI ACCUSES AKP OF SOWING TENSION, URGES TOUGHER FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
Turkey is moving into an atmosphere of conflict, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been sowing societal tension and discord, said opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday in a statement. Addressing the conflict between the prime minister and a prominent media group over fraud allegations, he called on state prosecutors to enforce the law in the case. Also urging the State Control Commission (DDK) under President Abdullah Gul to take action, Bahceli said Turkey needs an autonomous commission to fight corruption. /Sabah/
EU'S LAGENDIJK STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE PRESS
Turkey-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk yesterday said that the media in Turkey, as in all countries, should be free. Speaking to Milliyet daily on a recent dispute between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Dogan media group over allegations concerning a charity association, Lagendijk said that media criticism of politicians is a part of political life which should be routine. If a prime minister believes that the media is reporting false news, the solution for that lies in the courthouse, said Lagendijk, adding that this is the usual practice in many countries. Pointing to the importance of a fair and balanced but critical press for the government, the Dutch politician warned against steps to put pressure on reporters, editors or media owners. /Hurriyet/
TERRORISM SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ANKARA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tomorrow will chair a terrorism summit in Ankara. Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and other military commanders, government ministers, and intelligence and security officials will attend the meeting, where important decisions on the social, cultural and economic aspects of terrorism are expected to be taken. In related news, next Tuesday and Wednesday Basbug will speak with editors and Ankara representatives of newspapers and TV stations at General Staff headquarters. /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
GULER: "NABUCCO WILL ENSURE ENERGY SECURITY NOT ONLY IN TURKEY BUT ALSO IN EUROPE"
Speaking at a conference in Baku on "Oil and Gas Potential in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan: Energy, Economy and Ecology Cooperation Strategy," Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler yesterday said Turkey is working on a number of new goals, including the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project. He said that Nabucco will be accomplished, just like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects. Guler also said that Nabucco would ensure energy security not only in Turkey but also in Europe. /Star/
The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) yesterday elected Mehmet Buyukeksi its new president in a regular general assembly meeting in Istanbul. Buyukeksi, succeeding Oguz Satici, won the votes of 201 delegates, compared to 125 for Adnan Dalgakiran, the only other candidate. State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen also attended the meeting. Congratulating the new president, Tuzmen said, "I believe that Turkey's exports will reach $200 billion during Buyukeksi's tenure. We can realize this goal by 2012 at the latest. Our target for 2023 is $500 billion." Stressing that Turkey has shaken off economic weaknesses to become stronger and more resistant to global shocks, Tuzmen also touched on recent global economic woes, saying, "The US government just took control of the world's biggest mortgage finance companies. The situation in the global economy is changing considerably. Turkey's economy should be prepared for the impact of this change. This process poses great risks, but also offers important opportunities." /Turkiye/