PRESIDENT GUL VISITS RUSSIA
President Abdullah Gul yesterday arrived in Russia for a four-day visit as the official guest of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. Accompanied by State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and a business delegation, Gul was welcomed by Russian Energy Minister Victor Khristenko. Following an official welcoming ceremony at the Kremlin today, Gul will meet with Medvedev. Issues on the table include bilateral political issues, recent developments in the Caucasus and Nagorno-Karabakh, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy cooperation, the ruble, and customs problems faced by Turkish businessmen. In line with his visit, Gul will also pay a visit to Tatarstan tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/

ERDOGAN RECEIVES TUSIAD DELEGATION
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag along with TUSIAD High Consultation Board (YIK) President Mustafa Koc to discuss recent economic developments such as ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund on a new standby agreement and measures to fight the global economic crisis. Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren and Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan and several other TUSIAD officials were also in attendance. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Yalcindag said that the government had achieved significant progress in talks with the IMF on a possible loan agreement. Yalcindag said that they had discussed several issues concerning the state of Turkey's economy amid the global financial crisis, as well as measures to fight the crisis. "We saw that the government sees such measures the way we do," she said, adding that TUSIAD expects more action from the government, especially to protect the country's real sector from the crisis. She also said that a new package of economic incentives should be passed as soon as possible. Erdogan reportedly assured his visitors that several disagreements would be soon overcome to finalize talks with the IMF, adding that the government would determinedly continue to take all necessary measures to protect the real sector from the crisis. /Sabah/

BABACAN VISITS LATVIA
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with his Latvian counterpart Maris Riekstins in Riga. Afterwards, he told reporters that the US, NATO and the European Union shouldn't take a confrontational stance in relations with Russia. He added that Turkey and Russia have a friendly relationship and that it is Turkey's biggest trade partner. He also said that Turkey will fulfill all the EU membership criteria by 2012 and then become a member. For his part, Riekstin said that Latvia, which joined the EU in 2004, fully supports Turkey's membership bid. Riekstin stated that Turkey's EU membership process isn't proceeding fast enough for either Ankara or Riga and that every candidate which fulfils the EU criteria has a right to join the bloc. /Star/

GENERAL STAFF REITERATES COMMITMENT TO RULE OF LAW
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) General Staff released a statement yesterday expressing concern about recent news stories claiming links between some TSK members and Ergenekon, an illegal secret organization alleged to have plotted a government coup. The statement said the TSK, as an institution committed to the rule of law, one of the pillars of the Turkish Republic, could never have any relationship with individuals or groups involved in illegal activities. "The way the judiciary is being drawn into everyday debates concerns us," said the statement. "Sowing doubts about the Turkish judiciary is the worst thing that can be done to it." The statement comes on the heels of controversy over a retired general suspected in the Ergenekon probe who is awaiting trial being released from jail. The statement also accused some newspapers of trying to smear the military by running stories that violate the confidentiality of the ongoing probe. The General Staff also reiterated earlier statements rebuffing the testimony of former National Police Department Special Operations Unit deputy chief Ibrahim Sahin, who was also arrested under Ergenekon, who said he was ordered by a general to assemble former members of the unit to form a new group. /Sabah/

GOVT TO ANNOUNCE NEW INCENTIVES SOON
Speaking at a conference in Istanbul entitled "Turkey the Land of Opportunities: A Safe Haven for Investment," sponsored by the International Investors' Association (YASED), State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that accusing the government of failing to take necessary measures against the ongoing global economic crisis was unfair. Stating that work on a new incentives system has been completed, he said, "First we will encourage new investments. Secondly, we will make some rearrangements based on industrial and regional priorities. The arrangements will put the economic potential of cities at the forefront. The incentives will not be the same everywhere. Finally, we will provide special incentives for big investments which will attract a large amount of capital." He added that the new incentive system would include customs exemptions, reduced corporate taxes, and property support. On talks with the International Monetary Fund, Simsek said, "These talks have gone on so long because we're trying to produce a program that will support Turkey's economy. That's why it's taking so much time. We won't take steps or do things that could hurt us in the long run, instead of helping us." /Hurriyet Daily News/

EMITT TOURISM FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay yesterday attended the opening of the 2009 EMITT Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Show at Istanbul's TUYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center. In a speech, Gunay said that tourism is one of the best ways for nations and countries to get to know each other. Some 3,000 firms from 50 countries are attending this year's fair, with Syria as the guest country of honor. /Cumhuriyet/