PRESIDENT GUL TO VISIT RUSSIA
President Abdullah Gul will visit Russia on Dec. 26-28 and meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. Gul will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. During their talks, issues such as relations between the two countries and recent developments in the Caucasus will be discussed. Gul is expected to proceed to Kazan, Tatarstan on the last day of his visit and meet with his Tatar counterpart Mintimer Shaimiev. In related news, on Jan. 5-8 Gul will make his first official visit as president to Israel and Palestine. /Turkiye/
HUNGARIAN PM GYURCSANY VISITS ANKARA
In Ankara, visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Afterwards, asked by reporters about a possible agreement with the International Monetary Fund, Erdogan denied claims that Turkey had asked for $26 million in credits but would get only $19 million. "Right now we're negotiating with the IMF," he added. "We haven't agreed on the principles yet. The amount of credits is the simplest side of the issue." /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN: "IMPOSING A QUOTA FOR WOMEN CANDIDATES WOULD MEAN DISREGARDING WOMEN"
Imposing a quota for women candidates in elections would mean disregarding women, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Addressing his ruling Development and Justice Party's (AKP) congress on women in international business, Erdogan said, "Imposing a quota would mean putting women under male hegemony." He said Turkey will have more women mayors after local elections next March. Condemning unregistered employment as cruel exploitation, he added, "We have to improve this situation. Women becoming active actors in the business world is very important for the development of society." The gathering brought together successful women from various sectors in Turkey and abroad. /Turkiye-Star/
PM ERDOGAN SENDS CONDOLENCES OVER MUMBAI TERRORIST ATTACKS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday sent a message to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh expressing his deepest condolences for coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital, this week that left some 125 people dead. Erdogan condemned the attacks, saying, "When I visited India last week, we had a change to talk about the fight against international terrorism. I would like to reaffirm our commitment to enhance our cooperation with India to fight terrorism." /Star/
PKK KILLS TWO POLICE OFFICERS
Three PKK terrorists yesterday morning killed two police officers and injured six others, including three other officers, on a roadblock on a major highway in the southeastern province of Hatay. Investigation of the incident is underway. /Hurriyet/
EP REPORT URGES DTP TO SHUN TERRORISTS
European Parliament Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten yesterday released a new report on Turkey. Condemning terrorist attacks by the terrorist PKK and similar groups, Oomen-Ruijten urged the members of Turkey's Democratic Society Party (DTP) to shun the PKK, and to work for the country's stability, prosperity and unity. In addition, she stressed her concerns over what she called a continued slowdown of reform efforts, calling on the government to prove its political will to continue political reforms. The report is scheduled to be discussed next Tuesday by the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee, and will face a vote in the full EP next March. /Hurriyet/
ALBANIAN PRESIDENT WOOS TURKISH INVESTORS
Turkey is a very special country for Albania, according to Albanian President Bamir Tobi, who is in Turkey for an official visit. Addressing a working dinner yesterday, organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), Tobi invited Turkish businessmen to invest in Albania, adding, "Albania is doing a great deal to ease things for businessmen." For his part, TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu urged Turkish contractors urge to do more business in Albania. /Turkiye/
SIMSEK MEETS WITH IRANIAN PRESIDENT
State Minister Mehmet Simsek met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday as part of his official visit to the country. Simsek, in Tehran for the 20th Turkey-Iran Joint Economic Commission meetings, discussed the global economic crisis with the Iranian president and exchanged views on what both countries can do to take protective measures. /Hurriyet/