GUL BRIEFED BY ERDOGAN, BABACAN ON SITUATION IN GAZA
President Abdullah Gul yesterday received Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and several Foreign Ministry officials at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. During the meeting, Babacan briefed Gul about the recent situation in the Gaza Strip in the face of Israeli attacks and Turkey's stance on the issue as a regional country and non-permanent UN Security Council member. Turkey will reportedly step up its efforts to push for an immediate cease-fire and end to Israel's blockade on Gaza. For a lasting cease-fire, Turkey reportedly believes that an UN observer force, consisting mostly of Arabs, should be deployed on the border between Gaza and Israel, and this force should assume responsibility for border crossings and delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. Turkey reportedly also believes that the various Palestinian groups should end disputes among themselves, and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries and the international community should take responsibility for the reconstruction of Gaza. Over the weekend, Gul also had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the situation in the region. Erdogan briefed Gul about his talks in regional countries such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Gul and Erdogan are also expected to meet today to discuss the issue in detail. In related news, in a TV interview yesterday, Gul criticized indiscriminate Israeli attacks on Palestinians as "ruthless." Also a Foreign Ministry statement yesterday called Israel's ground operation on Gaza in the face of widespread international opposition "unacceptable." The Israeli airstrikes and ground operation were protested by thousands of people in demonstrations across Turkey and the world over the weekend. /Turkiye-Star/
IN ANTALYA, ERDOGAN LAMBASTES ISRAEL
Israel's use of disproportionate force will cause a humanitarian crisis, warned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. In Antalya, Erdogan stated, "This humanitarian drama will condemn Israel to many internal difficulties." Erdogan said that Turkey is a responsible country and added, "We will calculate the steps we'll take. We have to make our diplomatic efforts non-emotionally. Then Turkey will do what is appropriate in its historical mission." /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN CONTINUES EFFORTS TO HALT ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON GAZA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday telephoned his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek, whose country just took over the rotating term presidency of the European Union from France, as part of his diplomatic efforts to halt Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. Following his three-day Middle East tour including Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, Erdogan also telephoned French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Spanish counterpart and Alliance of Civilizations Co-Chair Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, calling on them to actively engage in international efforts to halt Israel's attacks in Gaza. /Star/
MHP ANNOUNCES MAYORAL CANDIDATES IN ANKARA
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday attended a ceremony announcing his party's mayoral candidates for this March's local elections. Speaking at Ankara's Anadolu Show and Congress Center, Bahceli criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its media allies and called on those who want to serve the country. In related news, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Secretary-General Mehmet Sevigen announced Cemil Eksi as the CHP mayoral candidate for Istanbul's Tuzla district. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
SYRIAN FM DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem is set to pay a one-day visit to Ankara today at invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan. The two top diplomats will discuss recent developments in the region, including Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. Afterwards, Muallem will meet separately with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Aksam/