GUL MEETS WITH PM ERDOGAN, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. His regular weekly meeting with Turkey's top general lasted for an hour. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN: "NO ONE SHOULD PAINT THE GOVT OR TSK AS WEAK ON TERRORISM"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday commented on Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug's criticism of media claims of military negligence in a recent terrorist PKK attack which left 17 soldiers dead. Urging full unity and solidarity in the fight against the terrorism, Erdogan said, "Turkish security forces are valiantly fighting the terrorist group. Ignoring this is unfair to our fallen soldiers." He added, "Of course the press is free and has the right to criticize. But the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) also has the right to defend itself against criticisms. Those who complain about the tone and sharpness of Gen. Basbug's recent remarks should also look at their own situation. The press has a mandatory code of professional ethics. Criticizing and waging a biased and excessive campaign are two different things. No one should try to paint the government or the TSK as weak on terrorism." He also warned the media of the "dangerous and depressing" effect certain stories can have on soldiers. Stressing that press shouldn't fall into a PKK propaganda trap, Erdogan also said, "All of us should be on the same side against terrorism. No one has the right to encourage terrorism. It is terrorism and the terrorist group that should be targeted, criticized, grilled and discouraged, not the army." Echoing Basbug, Erdogan called on everyone to take the "right stance," saying that this is not a matter of choice but a human, legal and moral obligation. "We are right and standing in the right place," he said. /Sabah/

TURKEY'S BID FOR SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT FACES ELECTION TODAY
The election to select new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2009-2010 will take place today in New York. Speaking to Reuters in New York, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Wednesday that Turkey, which has not served on the Security Council since 1961, is gaining support for its efforts to secure one of 10 nonpermanent seats on the 15-member council. Babacan added that the balloting is secret and that Turkey will continue its campaign until the last second. The winners, chosen on a region-by-region basis, will serve a two-year term beginning next January alongside permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. /All papers/

TURKEY, CHINA START TALKS ON NEW SILK ROAD PROJECT
Turkish and Chinese officials have started talks on a planned revival through high-speed trains of the Silk Road, the historic trade route between the East and the West. State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said he had had talks with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Minister for Railways Peng Kaizhou. "China has a huge population and a great potential in global railway and road transportation," he added. "China has a trade volume of $2.3 trillion, and this will grow to $10 trillion in the next few years. Joint projects with such a country will speed up our own growth." He also said, "We aim to bring transportation routes from China to our Mediterranean port city of Mersin via Kazakhstan and to make a Silk Road for speed trains." Tuzmen said both countries support the project and that officials from both sides would work on it. /Turkiye/

TALAT: "EVEN THE TRNC IS FEELING THE GLOBAL CRISIS"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday stated that despite its isolation, the TRNC economy is also indirectly feeling the effects of the global economic crisis. Speaking on a visit to Istanbul, Talat said, "Our biggest source of income is tourists coming from Turkey." He added, "Since the crisis is affecting Turkey, it indirectly affects Cyprus. As we are largely isolated, we feel the crisis the least. But it's such a large crisis that it also influences Cyprus indirectly." /Milliyet/

FIVE SOLDIERS SLAIN IN HAKKARI
Four soldiers were killed late Wednesday by PKK terrorist gunfire in the southeastern province of Hakkari, said a General Staff statement yesterday. "Another soldier was killed in a helicopter crash due to technical error while trying to block the terrorists' escape route," it added. "Fifteen security personnel were also slightly injured in the crash." /All papers/