GUL VISITS BAGHDAD FOR HISTORIC VISIT
President Abdullah Gul yesterday traveled Iraq to hold bilateral meetings, the highest-level visit between the two countries since 1976. Speaking to reporters en route to Baghdad, Gul said that he was visiting a new Iraq and that ensuring Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity is very important for Turkey. Touching on a meeting of Iraq's neighboring states, Gul said that Turkey has a large role to play in Iraq's territorial integrity. "A high-level cooperation council was established between our countries, and its first meeting will be held next month" he added. Stating that the trilateral mechanism between Turkey, the US and Iraq to fight the terrorist PKK has grown more effective, he reiterated that Iraq should not give terrorists to a chance to use its soil. Gul and his delegation were greeted by his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani at the airport. Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference, Gul said that they talked about security problems and resolved to address them. For his part, Talabani stated that the Iraqi Constitution forbids terrorist groups, including the PKK, from operating on or using Iraqi soil, adding, "Turkey is not the only country suffering from terrorism." Afterwards, Gul met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. /Star/
IN BILECIK, BAYKAL LAMBASTES AK PARTY
Campaigning in Bilecik yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal reiterated his call for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to appear with him on a public affairs television program before the local elections, now just five days away. Baykal also criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on corruption allegations regarding the Lighthouse Foundation, a German-based charity run by Turks, charging that corruption has become better organized in recent years. In related news, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday campaigned in Konya and slammed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN CONTINUES TO SLAM OPPOSITION LEADERS ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Campaigning in both Bolu and Duzce yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to criticize main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. /Hurriyet/
GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER CHRISTOFIAS: "IF WE CAN'T REACH A SOLUTION ON THE ISLAND, WE'LL BLAME TURKEY"
Greek Cypriot administration leader Dimitris Christofias yesterday said that if the current peace talks on Cyprus fail, they plan to blame this on Turkey. Speaking at a conference, Christofias said that for the last five months they have been trying to overcome hurdles on the Cyprus issue, adding that he can't promise that these efforts will lead to a solution. He also said, "I won't say the negotiations are going well, but we're defending basic principles." /Milliyet/
SIMSEK ANNOUNCES NEW AID PACKAGE FOR SMEs
State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek yesterday announced a new package of measures to blunt the impact of the global economic crisis. Aimed at easing the burden on companies and minimizing economic losses due to the crisis, the package introduces credits for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). /Aksam/