PRESIDENT GUL RECEIVES EU TALKS NEGOTIATOR BAGIS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday received newly appointed chief European Union talks negotiator post Egemen Bagis, who was paying a courtesy visit. The two reportedly discussed recent developments in Turkey's EU membership process. /Star/
No one can act to manipulate the judiciary, said Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Hasan Gerceker yesterday. Speaking to Star daily, Gerceker underlined the importance of dialogue for solving problems. Touching on critical remarks by officials of the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the wake of recent detentions and arrests under the ongoing Ergenekon probe, he called for calm and dialogue on all sides. Discouraging any comments on the probe, he added, "Such comments can be misinterpreted. The judiciary can solve all its problems by itself." Pointing also to the court's heavy workload, he stated that the judiciary needs comprehensive reform. /Star/
BABACAN MEETS WITH KOSOVAR BUSINESSMEN
On the second day of his visit to Kosovo, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with Kosovar businessmen and shared Turkey's experience dealing with economic crises. Visiting historical sites, Babacan and his delegation attended the dedication of a building constructed by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA for the village of Mamusa, the only majority-Turkish municipality in Kosovo. Turkish soldiers serving in the Kosovo Force (KFOR) were among those at the dedication. /Sabah/
PUOICM: "ISRAEL SHOULD HALT ITS ATTACKS"
An extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (PUOICM) Executive Board was held at Istanbul's Hilton Hotel yesterday. The participants called on Israel to immediately end its attack on Gaza. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani implicitly criticized Turkish-Israeli relations and the Turkey-Israel Friendship Group within Parliament. In response, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said that all the members of the group had left it. Palestinian Deputy Khalid Mismar said that war crimes are being committed in Palestine and innocents are being killed, and added, "All Palestinians are under the threat of an occupation government." For his part, Jordan Parliament Speaker Abdul Hadi Al-Majali said, "We should mobilize the Islamic world and show Israel's assassinations. The Muslim world should support the Palestinian issue." /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL: "THE AKP IS USING ERGENEKON TO MUZZLE ITS OPPONENTS"
At a meeting of his party's Central Executive Committee (MYK), main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday claimed the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was using the ongoing Ergenekon probe to muzzle its opponents. In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chairman Oktay Vural criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling the MHP a "baby opposition," saying the remarks were inappropriate. /Sabah-Milliyet/
KANADOGLU: "THE ERGENEKON CASE NEEDS AN IMPARTIAL, THOROUGH INVESTIGATION"
Commenting yesterday on the Ergenekon probe, former Supreme Court of Appeal Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadodlu, whose house was searched under the probe, said that distinguished civilians and former officers who had served the state for many years in high-level positions were being detained based on groundless claims. Kanadoglu said that he was concerned that basing the probe on such shaky grounds undermined it. Saying that there is in fact an illegal organization within the state, Kanadodlu added that a better, non-politically motivated investigation is needed to expose it. Citing the Susurluk case of the late 1990s, before he retired, Kanadoglu said had been unable to expose illegal organizations within the state due to obstruction by politicians, their immunity from prosecution, and their protection for suspected bureaucrats. He also urged the government not to interfere in the ongoing Ergenekon probe, criticizing what he claimed was illegal phone taps under the probe. In related news, foreign media reports on the probe are focusing on rising political tension due to the recent detentions, expressing concern that this tension could harm Turkey's political stability. US daily the Boston Globe urged the incoming Obama administration to pay more attention to Turkey. /Milliyet/
AKARCALI GETTING AKP NOD FOR ANKARA'S CANKAYA
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will reportedly nominate former Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) Istanbul Deputy Bulent Akarcali to run for the mayor of Ankara's Cankaya district. The Cankaya mayoral post is known as a main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) stronghold. Speaking to reporters at the entrance to AKP headquarters yesterday, Akarcali said the decision to offer him the candidacy was made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that he was honored by the nomination. /Today's Zaman/