ERDOGAN: "THE AKP BROUGHT NEW IDEAS AND POLICIES TO TURKISH POLITICAL LIFE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials yesterday attended a meeting in Kizilcahamam, Ankara as part of preparations for next year's local election. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan urged all the candidates to conduct themselves in a friendly, democratic way during the campaign. "Our motto is 'a race with peace'," he added. "We will conduct our campaign in line with this principle, and we're determined to act with common sense and moderation on the campaign trail." Chairing his party Central Executive Board (MYK), Erdogan said that they set the government's roadmap for next year, stating, "The AKP brought new ideas and policies to Turkish political life. No other party has convened its MYK as regularly as we have." /Aksam/
PM ERDOGAN WARNS AGAINST PESSIMISM
In a televised address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that rising state investments in southeastern Anatolia are taking a heavy toll on the terrorist PKK. Stressing that the government is now taking public services to all parts of the country, Erdogan expressed determination to continue to this policy. "We're determined to bring all public services and the state's compassionate hand to every corner of the country, and to improve public facilities in every part of the country." Erdogan said the state investments have panicked the terrorist group, adding, "That's why it is resorting to cruel, atrocious attacks and plans in the region." Touching on the impact of the global economic crisis on Turkey, Erdogan warned against pessimism. "We believe that the crisis has started to decline, but its effects will continue over a long period, and relief from the crisis will take more time," he said, adding that the crisis' affect on Turkey has been minimal. Decrying those who are trying to exploit the crisis by spreading pessimism, Erdogan said, "Turkey will come out of this crisis with minimal damage thanks to its strong economic structure, determination and stability. We're taking all necessary measures to counter the crisis and even turn it into an opportunity for the country." He also said that the government will soon announce new measures to protect the real sector from the crisis. /Sabah-Turkiye/
ERDOGAN WORKS TO DEFUSE TENSION BETWEEN PAKISTAN, INDIA IN WAKE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani telephoned his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend in a bid to help defuse tension between Pakistan and India in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Afterwards, Erdogan telephoned his British and Israeli counterparts Gordon Brown and Ehud Olmert, and reportedly expressed his concerns about escalating tension in South Asia. Erdogan also telephoned UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying that the UN could mediate between the two countries. Erdogan also telephoned his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to tell about his conversation with Gilani, and Singh thanked Erdogan for his efforts to help defuse tensions. /Star/
IN IZMIR, BAYKAL TOUTS CHP MAYOR
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday attended two opening ceremonies in Izmir. First he attended the opening ceremony of Ahmet Pristina Caddesi, named after a late, beloved CHP mayor of the city, and afterwards attended the opening of a park in the Cigli district. In a speech, Baykal praised Greater Municipality Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu, Pristina's successor, hinting that he may run for a second term next March. In related news, Mustafa Sarigul, the mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district and a former CHP dissident, yesterday joined the opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) in a ceremony. /Milliyet/
NEW US AMBASSADOR ARRIVES IN ANKARA
James Jeffrey, the new US ambassador to Turkey, yesterday arrived in Ankara. Speaking at Esenboga Airport, Jeffrey said, "I am very happy to be back in Ankara." Jeffrey has served in Turkey three times, in both Ankara and Adana. /Cumhuriyet/
State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen yesterday said Turkey is working to diversify its export markets in response to shrinking demand from European markets. "There is stagnation in the world economy and Turkey's exports to these markets have been hurt, but we're diversifying our export markets, particularly at a time when demands from European markets are shrinking," he said. "We're planning to respond to this by turning to regional and neighboring countries." He said exports to countries such as China, India , Iran , Iraq , and Syria as well as countries in the Gulf region, North Africa and Central Asia would continue to grow in the months to come, adding that acting to fight the global crisis in coordination with neighboring and regional countries would benefit everyone. In related news, Tuzmen and Jia Qinglin, head of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, participated in a Turkish-Chinese Trade and Economic Opportunities Forum in Istanbul over the weekend. Speaking at the forum, Tuzmen said that Turkey's exports to China had risen from just $550 million in 2005 to over $1 billion last year. He said that Turkey's exports to China rose 50 percent this January to September year-on-year. He added that they expected exports to reach $1.5 billion by year's-end. Urging Chinese businessmen to import more from Turkey, Tuzmen called on them to help narrow the bilateral trade deficit. Also speaking at the forum, Qinglin said that last year Turkish-Chinese trade totaled $10 billion, adding that this year it is expected to reach $13 billion. /Turkiye/