ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan flew yesterday to Moscow for a three-day official visit. During his stay in Russia, he is due to be accompanied by four Cabinet ministers, 52 deputies, 650 businessmen and 90 journalists. Speaking before his flight, Erdogan said that the trip had been planned during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Ankara late last year, adding that he and the Russian leader would discuss a number of issues, including bilateral political and economic relations and recent regional and international developments. The premier further stated that he would try to reassure Putin that Ankara’s European Union membership bid wouldn’t hurt its ties with Russia. After the delegation’s arrival, Putin hosted Erdogan and Energy Minister Hilmi Guler for a dinner yesterday to discuss a number of issues, including Turkey’s natural gas needs, Russian energy investments, the Cyprus issue and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Addressing the dinner, Erdogan said that he expected Russia’s support for a Cyprus resolution, adding that Ankara and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had done their best for a settlement on the island. /Aksam/
GUL RECEIVES VISITING US SENATORS TO DISCUSS IRAQ, TURKEY’S EU BID AND THE MIDEAST
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday received a visiting US delegation led by Sen. Jon Kyl, chairman of the Senate’s Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee, along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mel Martinez. Speaking afterwards, Kyl said that they had discussed Iraq’s security, Ankara’s European Union membership bid and Israeli-Palestinian relations. The delegation also met with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. /Cumhuriyet/
NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL ATTENDS ASO MEETING
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan yesterday attended a meeting of the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) led by ASO Chairman Zafer Caglayan. Later, speaking at a press conference alongside Caglayan, Alpogan said that he has briefed the gathering on the NSC’s mission and function in Turkey’s new legal order, adding that economic security had also discussed at the meeting. “ASO members briefed me on the link between political developments and the economy, and they said that that the NSC should also deal with economic issues,” he said, adding that he would look into this idea. For his part, Caglayan said that the country’s economic security was as important as its social and political security. /Aksam/
US IRAQ CMDR GEN. ABIZAID TO VISIT ANKARA
Gen. John Abizaid, commander of US forces in Iraq, is set to arrive in Ankara today to hold a series of contacts with Turkish officials, including Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The meetings will focus on the recent situation in Iraq, the fight against the terrorist group PKK, and elections in the country scheduled for the end of this month. Turkish officials are expected to warn the US commander that any ethnic change in Kirkuk might ignite a powder keg in the region. /Turkiye/
TALABANI REITERATES CLAIMS ON KIRKUK
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani is sticking to his claims that the key northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk is Kurdish. After meeting with Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab representatives in Kirkuk yesterday, Talabani said, “Geographically, Kirkuk is situated in the Kurdish region. It doesn’t matter if there are other ethnic groups in the city, the Kurdish population is the largest.” /Turkiye/
US THINK TANK URGES MEASURES AGAINST PKK
A report issued yesterday by US think tank the Washington Institute said that in order to rebuild confidence in Turkish-American relations in the post-Iraq war era, the first necessary step was beginning efforts to fight the terrorist organization PKK in northern Iraq. The institute warned that the PKK’s ongoing activities in the region pose a threat to Turkish-US relations, adding that that situation had the potential to damage US interests and should be dealt with soon. /Turkiye/
ANKARA HOSTS IRAQ SUMMIT
Turkish, Iraqi and US officials are scheduled to meet today in Ankara to discuss the Iraq issue. This second round of the tripartite meeting is expected to focus on the fight against the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq. Details of efforts to cut off the financial sources of the organization and measures needed to stop the passage of militants and weapons across Iraq’s border into Turkey will also be taken up. In addition, the upcoming elections in Iraq and Turkish citizens’ security in the country are set to be discussed during the gathering. The Turkish delegation will be headed by Ambassador Osman Koruturk. /Turkiye/
CICEK: “TURKEY’S LEGAL EDUCATION FALLS SHORT”
The nation’s law schools fall short of what is needed, said Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday. Cicek emphasized that this situation could hurt the public’s confidence in the judiciary. Cicek is doe to meet with Higher Board of Education (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic today. /Sabah/
SEMRA SEZER LEADS EDUCATION SEMINAR
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s wife Semra Sezer yesterday led a seminar on education held at Isparta’s Suleyman Demirel University. Sezer emphasized that mothers must also be well educated. Sezer also visited other faculties of the university. /Hurriyet/