PM ERDOGAN VISITS THE US

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today will meet with US President Barack Obama, followed by a joint press conference. After meeting with Obama, Erdogan will deliver a speech at John Hopkins University. Later Erdogan will meet with opinion leaders, and attend the opening of the new Washington office of the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA). Erdogan tomorrow will receive top members of the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) and be interviewed on PBS' "Charlie Rose Show." He will attend a German Marshall Fund meeting and will speak on Turkish-US ties. Following his contacts in the US, Erdogan will proceed to Mexico. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN COLD TOWARD SENDING COMBAT TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN

Speaking to a group of Turkish reporters en route to Washington yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed unwillingness to send combat troops to Afghanistan in the wake of US President Barack Obama's call for NATO allies to beef up troop numbers. Erdogan was, however, warm to training the Afghan army. "We could open a center for training Afghan soldiers in Afghanistan," he said. "We could train one Afghan battalion in Turkey and another in Afghanistan. If Afghanistan calls for its police officers to be trained, our police departments are ready." NATO member Turkey is a supporter of the US-led campaign in Afghanistan but Turkish leaders said Ankara wouldn't be sending soldiers for combat purposes, fearing that participation in combat operations could alienate Muslims in Afghanistan and the larger Muslim world. "We have no objective to participate as combat troops in Afghanistan," said Erdogan. "Our ties with the Afghan people are aimed at eliminating deficiencies in terms of logistics in Afghanistan. There is a good dialogue between the Turkish and Afghan peoples. We've made serious investments in regional development there." Last month, Turkey took over the Kabul regional command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for one year, boosting the number of its soldiers from around 900 to 1,750. But unlike other European members of ISAF, Turkey's mission is limited to patrols, and its troops do not take part in combat operations. Asked about Iran's controversial nuclear program, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey opposes nuclear weapons in its region and the world, adding that the issue should be solved through diplomacy and peaceful matters. Stressing the growth of bilateral trade ties, Erdogan said Iran is Turkey's second-biggest natural gas supplier. Afghanistan and the rising international tension over Iran's nuclear program are expected to be major items during Erdogan's meeting with Obama today. /Today's Zaman/

IMF REPORT PREDICTS TURKEY'S GDP WILL EXCEED $1 TLN BY 2014

New International Monetary Fund figures paint Turkey as one of the world's fastest-growing economies in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) over the last 15 years. The figures, which covered 28 countries, show that Turkey was number eight among countries whose gross domestic product (GDP) enjoyed rapid growth between 1994 and 2009, by increasing its GDP from $352.1 billion to $869.1 billion in that period, despite severe crises in 1995, 2000 and 2001 and the recent blow of the 2008 global economic meltdown. Turkey's annual average growth rate in current prices was 6.2 percent. The report also predicted Turkey's GDP will reach $1.13 trillion by 2014. /Today's Zaman/

BANKER MAGAZINE SELECTS YAPI KREDI AS BEST TURKISH BANK

The Banker magazine has chosen Yapi Kredi as the 2009 Bank of the Year in Turkey. Yapi Kredi said the magazine had evaluated banks based on their financial performance and competitive position during 2009. Yapı Kredi was chosen for the award for its rising profitability as well as its strong capital, successful fiscal management and implementation of risk policies, technology, development of human resources, and customer satisfaction. The Banker presented the award to Yapi Kredi CEO Faik Acikalin in a ceremony in London. In 2007 Yapi Kredi was also The Banker's Bank of the Year for Turkey. /Hurriyet Daily News/

TURKISH-GREECE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKS TO BOOST TOURISM SECTOR COOPERATION

Turkey and Greece have great opportunities for cooperation, Panagiotis Koutsikos, head of the Turkish-Greek Chamber of Commerce, said on Saturday. During a visit to Enver Tuna, the head of the Milas Chamber of Trade and Industry, Koutsikos said his group had developed a project to boost tourism between the two countries. Speaking to reporters, Koutsikos said his chamber wants to promote cooperation between Turkish and Greek tour operators. /Hurriyet Daily News/