SOLDIERS SLAIN IN AKTUTUN LAID TO REST
The funerals of 15 fallen soldiers who lost their lives in a terrorist PKK attack on a military outpost in Aktutun, Hakkari last Friday were held in their hometowns yesterday. Among the thousands of mourners were President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at the funeral of specialist sergeant Hasan Aygor at Kirikkale, Erdogan said that the Higher Counterterrorism Board (TMYK) will be held this week. /All papers/
TOP COMMANDER CHARGES REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN N. IRAQ WITH HARBORING TERRORIST PKK
Deputy Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hasan Idsyz yesterday held a press conference at the General Staff headquarters and briefed media members on the recent terrorist PKK attack targeting a military border outpost in Semdinli district of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Stating that there is no problem with the sharing of intelligence between Turkey and the US against the terrorist PKK, Igsiz said, "But we cannot receive any support from the regional administration in northern Iraq." He accused the regional administration of supporting the terrorist group by allowing the terrorist PKK members to use hospitals, roads and basic facilities in northern Iraq. He urged the regional administration to label the PKK as a terrorist organization and cut the support extended to them. He said, "The terrorist organization is moving towards a breaking point, and looking for a way out by conducting sensational actions." Gen. Igsiz said, "The martyred soldiers didn't die in vain. They fought back successfully till the end and protected the outpost." Touching on the General Staff's legal demands to more effectively fight the terrorist group, he said, "There should be a balance between the security needs and human rights." Gen. Igsiz added, "23 terrorists were killed during the clashes. We predict that this number could be more due to the intensified artillery fires and air strikes by the Turkish army." He also said that efforts had been initiated last year to move five military outposts at border areas with Iraq and Iran to more secure places. Gen. Igsiz also warned that some malicious groups were trying to foment ethnic conflicts among people. In related news, Turkish war planes hit the terrorist PKK bases in northern Iraq yesterday. /Turkiye/
UN CONDEMNS THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN HAKKARI
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday condemned the terrorist attack on Aktutun military outpost in Hakkari which killed 15 soldiers. Moon's spokesperson Michelle Montas said, "The secretary-general expressed his deepest sympathies with the Turkish government and people of Turkey in the face of violence of terrorism," and added, "Ban wanted continued cooperation between the governments of Turkey and Iraq to address this threat and to promote peace and stability along their border." US State Department spokesperson Robert Wood on Saturday released a statement on the attack in Hakkari and said, "The United States condemns the PKK attack in Semdinli on October 3. We offer our deep condolences to the families of the soldiers who died in this vicious act of terrorism. We mourn this tragic loss with the citizens of Turkey. The United States considers the PKK a common enemy of Turkey, the United States, and Iraq. We reiterate our longstanding call for the PKK to lay down its arms and cease its violence once and for all. We stand in solidarity with Turkey in our commitment to defeat these terrorists." British Foreign Secretary also condemned the attack and said, "The United Kingdom utterly condemns last Friday's terrorist attack in Hakkari, Turkey. There can be no excuse for the use of violence to achieve one's aims. The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Turkey in its fight against terrorism and strongly supports ongoing efforts between the Turkish and Iraqi authorities to prevent the PKK from using Northern Iraq as a base from which to mount attacks against Turkey." In related news, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt issued a press release on the terrorist attack and said a firm stance against this kind of attacks should be adopted. /Milliyet/
TMYK TO RECONVENE ON THURSDAY
The Higher Counterterrorism Board (TMYK), led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was held over the weekend following deadly attack of terrorist PKK in Aktutun, Hakkari. TMYK will be reconvened on Thursday, and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is reportedly set to prepare a presentation proposed new changes in some laws to fight against the PKK more effectively. /Star/
GERMAN FM: "WE SHOULD BENEFIT FROM TURKEY'S BRIDGE ROLE"
Speaking at a gathering in Hannover, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Turkey can make contribution to the solution of the crisis in the Middle East region and added, "Turkey's role as a bridge should be benefited." He also said that the harmonization of three million Turks to the German society should be provided and a multi-identity life should be accomplished and accepted. /Milliyet/
SIMSEK: "TURKEY COULD TURN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL INTO AN OPPORTUNITY"
In a televised interview yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet _im_ek said that the current US-oriented economic crisis had effects on all countries in the world and that no country can remain immune to a global crisis. He added that but Turkey would be limitedly affected by the crisis thanks to its sound financial markets. "Turkish banks' rate of capital adequacy is strong. They don't invest in high-risky financial instruments. That's why Turkey could be affected by the crisis indirectly," Simsek said. He added that Turkey could make the current crisis into an opportunity in the long term, adding that foreign investors also share this opinion. /Turkiye/