PRESIDENT GUL RECEIVES CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF, OTHER MILITARY COMMANDERS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday received Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug. Also attending the regular meeting were Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Atila Isik. /Cumhuriyet/
ANTI-TERRORISM SUMMIT HELD IN ANKARA
A summit on the threat of terrorism, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, convened in Ankara yesterday to discuss security and the legal, economic, social, cultural, psychological and international aspects of anti-terrorist efforts. Attending the meeting were Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and other military commanders, government ministers, and intelligence and security officials. According to a statement released after the two- hour-plus meeting, the fight against the PKK is nearing an end, as the terrorist group is nearing its breaking point. Turkey's determination to continue its anti-terrorist efforts both regionally and internationally was reiterated at the meeting, which was Ilker Basbug's first at the General Staff helm. A Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) action plan also was discussed during the meeting. /Aksam-Star/
BABACAN DISCUSSES ARMENIAN TIES WITH US, SWISS COUNTERPARTS
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday telephoned his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice. After Babacan told her about President Abdullah Gul's recent visit to Armenia, Rice reportedly said that the US welcomed Ankara's efforts and would support it in this process. Babacan also reiterated that Turkey will continue to support the Organization for Cooperation and Development's (OSCE) Minsk process, which aims to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabagh issue, and that solving this would have a positive effect on Turkish-Armenian relations. Turkish officials are set to meet with Armenian diplomats in Geneva, Switzerland and will work on a joint declaration to be made later in New York or Istanbul. In related news, Babacan met yesterday with his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey in Bern, Switzerland. Stating that Turkey will not retreat from its current course on Armenia, he added, "Gul's visit to Yerevan was an important step for boosting relations." For her part, Calmy-Rey said that her country welcomes dialogue efforts between the two countries. /Sabah/
CHP LEADER BAYKAL MAKES CONGRATULATORY VISIT TO NEW CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday paid a courtesy visit to Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, who rose to the position late last month, to congratulate him on his new post. /Cumhuriyet/
TRNC'S TALAT, CHRISTOFIAS CONTINUE COMPREHENSIVE TALKS
As part of comprehensive talks on the Cyprus issue which began earlier this month, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot administration leader Demetris Christofias yesterday met in the island's UN-controlled buffer zone to discuss administrative and power-sharing issues towards a just and lasting solution to the issue. Also attending the talks were Special UN Special Cyprus Envoy Alexander Downer and Taye-Brook Zerihoun, chief of UN operations on Cyprus. Afterwards, Downer told reporters that the meeting had gone well, characterizing it as fruitful. "The comprehensive talks are continuing and the two leaders are doing their best," he added. "But there's a long road ahead." Downer also said that Talat and Christofias had agreed not to talk to the press about their meetings. The two leaders will meet later this month to deal with property issues and continue to discuss administration and power-sharing. /Turkiye/
LUXEMBOURG ECONOMY MINISTER SEEKS STRONGER TRADE TIES WITH TURKEY
Luxembourgian Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Jeannot Krecke, accompanied a large business delegation, yesterday arrived in Istanbul in a bid to improve trade ties with Turkey. Stating that Turkey's great potential and growing economy offer important opportunities for Luxembourg, Krecke expressed his country's strong will to boost trade relations with Turkey, especially in the banking, automotive, chemistry and service sectors. He also characterized Turkey as a catalyst country between Europe and Islamic world. /Turkiye/
US STATE DEPT: "WE ENJOY UNIQUE COOPERATION WITH TURKEY AGAINST TERRORISM"
The US and Turkey share a "unique cooperation" against terrorism, said the US Department of State's coordinator for counterterrorism, Dell Dailey, yesterday. Speaking at a meeting in Washington, Dailey said that the two countries have cooperative, problem-free relations in many areas. He also said that his country would welcome tougher laws against terrorism in Turkey. /Turkiye/