GUL: "DEMOCRACY CAN ISOLATE TERRORISTS"
New measures can be taken to combat terrorism, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. Before leaving for official visits to Finland and Estonia , Gul told reporters that guns must be fought with guns, but added, "We shouldn`t lose our belief in democracy. Terrorists can be isolated through democracy." There is a power vacuum in northern Iraq , which is why the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is continuing to carry out cross-border operations there, Gul said. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN PLEDGES NEW ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURES
Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party`s (AKP) group meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that new anti-terrorist measures will be taken after Parliament extends the military`s authorization to carry out cross-border operations. Touching on last week`s deadly terrorist PKK attack on a military outpost in Hakkari, Erdogan defended the General Staff, saying, "We believe that our security forces are doing their genuine best." He added, "The fight against terrorism will continue. We`ll take all necessary measures to stop this bloodshed. We`re exercising our rights under international law." /Milliyet/
SAHIN: "DEMOCRACY AND SECURITY SHOULD BOTH BE ENSURED"
Commenting on the recent debate over the balance between security and democracy, amid security forces` requests for greater latitude to fight terrorism, Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday said that Turkey doesn`t have to choose between democracy and security, but instead should ensure both. "Turkey shouldn`t retreat from democracy or security, but must achieve both together," he added. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: "THE GOVT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND TERRORISM"
Turkey`s fight against terrorism has been marked by weaknesses, said main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday, adding, " Northern Iraq should no longer be a safe haven for the terrorist PKK." Speaking at his party`s group meeting, Baykal said that before the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in fall 2002, terrorist attacks had almost come to a halt. "The government has either been unable to understand the terrorism issue or it has chosen not to understand it," he claimed. "It has not grasped the significance of the fight against terrorism." He said that last week`s PKK attack on a military outpost in Hakkari exposed negligence and shortcomings in the fight against terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
BAHCELI URGES BUFFER ZONE IN N.IRAQ TO PROTECT AGAINST TERRORIST PKK
Speaking at his party`s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should cross into northern Iraq in pursuit of PKK terrorists who last week killed 17 soldiers in the southeastern province of Hakkari,. Bahceli also urged the government to establish a buffer zone in northern Iraq to prevent any future attacks. "Under international law, Turkey has the right to carry out hot pursuit against the terrorist PKK members who fled to northern Iraq after their deadly attack, and it should exercise this right," he said, adding that all the requirements for using this right have been fulfilled. In related news, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that the government would consider Bahceli`s proposal, if necessary. /Turkiye/
RUSSIAN FM LAVROV PRAISES TURKISH DIPLOMACY
Turkey`s active role and initiatives to restore peace and stability to the Caucasus during the recent crisis in the region reflect the experience of Turkish diplomacy, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday. Speaking to Russian daily Rossiskaya, Lavrov also touched on Turkish-Armenian relations, saying, "The Upper Karabakh issue should be solved to end Armenia `s isolation. After solving this, Turkey can normalize its relations with Armenia and help the country connect with the outside world." He added, "Immediately after the crisis broke out in the Caucasus, Ankara realized the importance of the developments in the region and saw that the situation in the Caucasus presented a great opportunity to stress Turkey`s presence in the region." /Milliyet/
ISTANBUL TO HOST CONFERENCE ON EU
Ahead of the release of the European Commission`s fall progress report on Turkey , a conference co-organized by the British Council, the Centre for European Reform and the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) will be held this week in Istanbul. Relations between Turkey and the European Union will be discussed at the meeting, and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will be among those present. /Star/
CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF BASBUG MEETS WITH THINK-TANK REPRESENTATIVES, ACADEMICS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday met with representatives from local think-tanks and a group of academics to exchange views on the fight against terrorism. Among those attending the meeting were Nihat Ali Ozcan from the Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), Ihsan Bal from the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), and Abdulkadir Cevik, head of the Political Psychology Association. Basbug was reportedly presented with reports on terrorism, and the participants discussed recent developments. Basbug is today expected to visit main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli on Friday. /Cumhuriyet/