GUL EXPECTED TO AGAIN MEET WITH SARKISIAN UNDER CAUCASUS PLATFORM UMBRELLA
A preliminary organizational meeting of the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform led by Turkey will take place this Thursday and Friday in Helsinki, Finland as part of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit. The first meeting will focus on technical issues, to be followed later by high-level meetings bringing together heads of state and foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Abdullah Gul and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian are expected to meet as part of those planned meetings, in the wake of their first meeting this September when Gul came to Yerevan to see a World Cup qualifying match. This also means that Turkey and Azerbaijan will sit down at the same table with Armenia to discuss their differences. The Caucasus platform is expected to be modeled on the platform of countries neighboring Iraq, which meets twice a year and has no secretariat. /Sabah/
BRITAIN'S BROWN PRAISES ERDOGAN'S MEDIATION BETWEEN INDIA , PAKISTAN
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's efforts to defuse tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of complicity in the attacks. Pakistan denies the claims, but the tension is continuing to escalate. Premier Erdogan spoke to leaders of both countries over the weekend and also to Brown. Erdogan told Brown that in his conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, he had stressed the gravity of the situation and called for more international initiatives to solve the issue. In response, Brown thanked Erdogan for his efforts, saying that they were aware of the seriousness of the situation. He said the international community needs Erdogan, as Turkey has good relations with both countries and so could influence them to help defuse the tension. /Sabah/
SOUTH KOREAN PM VISITS ANKARA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with his South Korean counterpart Han Seung-Soo at the Prime Ministry with an official ceremony. Afterwards, Han was received by President Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Erdogan later hosted a dinner in Han's honor. /Milliyet/
SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT BEGINS VISITS TO TURKEY
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday arrived in Turkey for an official visit. Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold separate meetings with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan today. Proceeding to Istanbul tomorrow, Rajapaksa will also meet with representatives of the defense and maritime industries and other Turkish businessmen. /Hurriyet Daily News/
BLAST AT AKP ISTANBUL OFFICE WOUNDS NINE
A blast occurred yesterday at the entrance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) branch in Istanbul's Sisli district. The explosion wounded nine, including two police officers. Prime Minister and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the attack, adding, "Fighting with guns is not the way to seek freedom in democracy." /Star/
SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY
The Supreme Military Council (YAS), chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will convene today. Issues expected to be discussed at the regular annual meeting include personnel, education and disciplinary problems within the Turkish Armed Forces. /Aksam/
ADANA MAYOR RESIGNS FROM AKP
Adana Greater Municipality Mayor Aytac Durak yesterday resigned from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In a letter, Durak, who is also head of the Turkish Union of Municipalities, told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he was leaving the party due to Erdogan's recent statement that the mayoral candidacies will be subject to a survey of party members, calling this unacceptable. /Cumhuriyet/