CAMPAIGNING OVER THE WEEKEND, PM CONTINUES TO LAMBASTE OPPOSITION
At campaign rallies in Mersin and Antalya over the weekend ahead of March 29 local elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to slam main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. "We do fruitful things for our country, but unfortunately the CHP and the MHP only produce empty words," said Erdogan. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/

BAHCELI: "ERDOGAN SHOULD STAY IN ANKARA TO WORK TO DISPEL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY"
At campaign rallies in Mugla over the weekend, ahead of local elections at the end of this month, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for using state resources to pay for his traveling to political rallies. Stating that Erdogan should instead stay in Ankara to work to dispel economic uncertainty, he also accused him of branding people who don't support the ruling party as "enemies." He added that neither national solidarity nor territorial integrity can be protected in an environment where unemployment, poverty and corruption are endemic. /Aksam/

BAYKAL CRITICIZES AK PARTY ECONOMIC POLICIES
Addressing a weekend main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) campaign rally in the central Anatolian province of Kirsehir for the March 29 local elections, CHP leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey's debt has more than doubled from $220 billion when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) took office in 2002 to $500 billion today. Stating that Turkey's economic state isn't a reflection of the world crisis, he said, "It was caused solely by bad economy policies." /Star/

US SEC'Y OF STATE CLINTON VISITS TURKEY
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid a working visit to Ankara over the weekend. Clinton was received by President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and met with her Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan. During the meetings, issues such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the terrorist PKK, the Armenian allegations, and Cyprus were taken up. In related news, in an interview with news channel NTV yesterday, Babacan said that US President Barack Obama will pay a visit to Turkey next month. As this is one of his first visits abroad, it will send an important signal to the world, he added. /All papers/

FIRST LADY GUL HOLDS WOMEN'S DAY RECEPTION
First Lady Hayrunnisa Gul held a reception yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to mark March 8, World Women's Day. Speaking to the event, Gul said that in recent years Turkish women have been taking a more and more active and productive role in the nation's economic, social and political life. Stating that besides their roles as wives and mothers, women are individuals with their own thoughts, dreams and feelings, Gul said that women should improve their skills to overcome the hurdles facing them. Also speaking at the reception, public relations expert Betul Mardin said that if a woman sets a goal for herself, she will certainly achieve it. In related news, in ceremonies across Turkey marking World Women's Day, Turkish women made calls for equal rights and improved participation in social life. /Sabah/

TWO SOLDIERS LAID TO REST
Two soldiers were killed Saturday in the central Anatolian province of Kayseri in a crash of a Cobra-type helicopter. Commemorative ceremonies for Faik Simsek and Volkan Kocyigit, both army lieutenants, were held at Ankara's Kocatepe Mosque, with the attendance of President Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and other military commanders. Afterwards, the two were laid to rest in their hometowns. /All papers/

SIMSEK: "IN THE FACE OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, OUR ECONOMY IS IN GOOD CONDITION"
State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek held talks over the weekend in the southeastern Anatolia province of Mardin as part of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) campaign for local elections set for late this month. During his talks, Simsek told local businesspeople about government measures to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis. Stating that the crisis is affecting all countries worldwide, including Turkey, as a country well integrated with the global economy, Simsek said that Turkey's young population and great entrepreneurial spirit would help blunt the crisis' impact. "The world economy was hit hard by bad loans in the housing markets, which had been given to people who obviously wouldn't be able to afford to repay them," he said. "The US economy lost $14 trillion in the housing and finance markets due to the crisis. There is a serious decrease in world credit markets, exports, and industrial output. Compared to other countries in the world, we can say that Turkey's economy is in good condition in the face of the crisis." Simsek also attended an event marking March 8, International Women's Day. Touting government efforts to give equal social, economic and political opportunities to women, Simsek stressed the importance of boosting the social participation of educated women for the country's development. /Turkiye/

2,000 TURKISH BUSINESSPEOPLE TO GATHER IN ISTANBUL NEXT MONTH
Some 2,000 Turkish businesspeople active throughout the world will gather in Istanbul on April 10-11. State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said that Turkey would fight the current global economic crisis with the help of Turkish entrepreneurs doing business abroad. "There will be a big gathering in Istanbul next month," he said. "We will get together with 2,000 Turkish entrepreneurs doing business in foreign countries. Businesspeople from Turkey will also attend the meeting. I believe we will take important decisions during the meeting." Stating that Turkish firms working abroad import a large amount of products from Turkey, Tuzmen said, "This way, they make a remarkable contribution to Turkey's exports and economy." He added that the problems faced by Turkish entrepreneurs and how to solve them would be discussed at the meeting. /Turkiye/