ERDOGAN MEETS WITH INTELLIGENCE HEAD TO DISCUSS ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES
Before leaving for Syria yesterday for an official visit focused on joint efforts against the terrorist PKK, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had an unscheduled meeting with National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Hakan Fidan at National Police headquarters in Ankara. During the meeting, recent developments in the fight against the terrorist PKK were reportedly discussed. National Police Department head Oguz Kagan Koksal also told Fidan of his and Interior Minister Besir Atalay`s contacts in the southeastern Anatolia provinces of Hakkari, Van, and Sirnak. Turkey recently intensified its efforts to end the terrorist PKK`s armed activities in the region, and to put an end to its presence in northern Iraq, from where the group launches armed attacks against Turkey. Top Turkish security officials have also lately engaged in hectic diplomatic activity to win the support of neighboring countries and the northern Iraqi regional administration against the PKK. While Fidan had talks with his US counterpart towards this end, Atalay visited northern Iraq and met with Massoud Barzani, the head of the regional administration. Meeting in Damascus yesterday, Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged to boost joint efforts against the terrorist group, some of whose members are Syrian. /Hurriyet/
PM: "IF ASKED, TURKEY IS READY TO HELP FORM A NEW IRAQI GOVT"
Turkey is willing to help Iraq form a new government following months of political deadlock, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. "Turkey is in close cooperation with groups in Iraq and their leaders, as we are a country which shares Iraq`s joys and sorrows. We will try to help if they ask us to," Erdogan told reporters. Iraqi parliamentarians` failure to establish a new government, coupled with the continuation of uncertainties, not only troubles Iraq, but also surrounding countries, he said. Ankara has been holding a series of talks with the representatives of various Iraqi political groups to facilitate the creation of a government in the wake of March elections there. Two Sunni politicians, Tareq al-Hashemi, Iraq`s deputy president, and Rafi al-Issawi, its deputy prime minister, visited Turkey last week. Following their visits, Sayeed Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution (SCIRI), a group close to Iran, held talks with Erdogan as well as Turkey`s president and foreign minister in Ankara. "Turkey has been playing a constructive role for the last seven months," al-Hakim told reporters, adding that the country has treated Iraq`s various groups impartially. Al-Hakim also said that he sees Turkey and Iraq as strategic economic and political partners and that Turkey values Iraq`s stability and territorial integrity. /Hurriyet Daily News/
ERDOGAN TO VISIT FLOOD-STRICKEN PAKISTAN TODAY
In the wake of over TL 196 million being raised for flood-stricken Pakistan through private and public Turkish aid campaigns, Prime Minister Erdogan is set to leave for Pakistan today for an official visit. During his stay, Erdogan is scheduled to meet with Pakistani President Asef Ali Zardari, his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousef Raza Gilani, and other high-level officials. Erdogan will hear firsthand information about the devastating flood disaster and see its impact for himself. The disaster caused large parts of Pakistan to be submerged by floodwaters, displacing millions. Erdogan is also expected to see the relief efforts of the Turkish Red Crescent there. Additional measures to help Pakistan, as well as bilateral ties and regional and international matters, are expected to dominate Erdogan`s talks with Pakistani officials. /Hurriyet/
TURKEY, SYRIA CEMENT SECURITY COOPERATION, SOLIDARITY FOR IRAQ`S STABILITY
On a one-day visit to Damascus, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday held talks focused on the two neighbors` ongoing cooperation against the terrorist PKK. The two leaders also discussed the government formation crisis in Iraq. Erdogan and Assad were joined by their foreign ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Walid al-Moallem, as well as Turkish Ambassador to Syria Omer Onhon. Assad has already shown his determination on the PKK issue, Erdogan told reporters before leaving Ankara, adding, "I believe that Mr. Assad will continue this determination during the months and years to come." Asked about the lack of a government in Iraq for the last seven months, Erdogan stressed that forming one is a task for the Iraqis alone. Ruling out any interference in the process by Ankara, Erdogan added that Turkey would assist ongoing efforts only if the Iraqi side seeks such help. "The continued ambiguity there is troubling for neighboring countries, just as it is troubling for the Iraqi people," he said. "Since we share a very long border and have strong historical and cultural ties, we regret the continued trouble there." Saying that Turkey feels Iraqis` joy and sadness as its own, Erdogan stressed that Ankara would like to see a national reconciliation government in Bagdad. Turning to the issue of regional cooperation between Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, Erdogan said, "There are positive developments in this process. But besides all of these efforts, the strengthening of political, economic, commercial and cultural ties between Turkey and Syria achieved during our government is a process that benefits the administrations and peoples of both countries." Pledging to further boost relations with Syria, he added, "Turkey and Syria are two key countries for promoting peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East." /Today`s Zaman/
FRENCH FM SUGGESTS LOW-SPEED EU TALKS FOR TURKEY
The foreign minister of Turkey-skeptic France yesterday suggested keeping Turkey`s full European Union accession negotiations going at a snail`s pace, expressing his country`s concerns regarding the opening of some of the negotiation chapters. "This matter (the negotiations) has to be left to its own natural course. It should not be handled in a speedy manner," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said after arriving in Ankara for a two-day visit starting with a dinner with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Kouchner is also set to inaugurate the new Charles De Gaulle School in Ankara. According to Kouchner, Turkey`s negotiation chapters should be opened one by one. "But that doesn`t mean that these (Turkish-EU) relations contain any doubts or any hostility. As long as Turkey completes the reforms, there will be forward movement," he said. Declining to preview what he would say to Davutoglu, Kouchner did say France wants Turkey to be more active in the Union for the Mediterranean, a bloc spearheaded by France to create closer links between coastal countries. Stressing that his views on Turkey`s EU bid differ from those of his French colleagues, Kouchner also expressed his personal admiration for Turkey. "It has yet to complete its development, but Turkey is the only country that is simultaneously Muslim, modern, democratic and secular," he said. He added, "I have a great admiration for Turkish diplomacy`s power, liveliness, and ways of getting results. I mean this sincerely. Turkish diplomacy truly is filled with universality, liveliness and success." Kouchner also praised his Turkish counterpart, Davutoglu, calling him "determined, active and wise." /Hurriyet Daily News/
IRAQI SHIITE LEADER LAUDS ANKARA`S CONSTRUCTIVE STANCE ON IRAQI GOVT FORMATION
Turkey`s impartial treatment of all of Iraq`s political groups is worthy of commendation, Ammar al-Hakim, the influential clerical leader of Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, said yesterday. Speaking to reporters after completing his talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, al-Hakim said Turkey has played a constructive role in the seven-month-long political impasse in Iraq over government formation, taking a balanced and encouraging stance towards all political groups in the country. Following his meeting with al-Hakim, Erdogan said the extended ambiguity over Iraq`s new government has reached a disturbing level, urging the immediate establishment of a national consensus government there. /Sabah/
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO SOON DECIDE ON TRADE WITH TRNC
European parliamentarians are expected to decide on direct trade with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the coming months, said European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek yesterday. It is "necessary to wait a few weeks or a few months for a final result," Buzek told reporters on an official visit to Greek Cyprus, ahead of proceeding to the TRNC, to urge both sides to work hard on peace negotiations to reunify the divided island. Buzek said after talks with Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias that he believes a deal is possible, adding that the sooner a "mutually satisfactory" agreement can be reached the better, but added that both vision and pragmatism are needed. Before he proceeds to the TRNC today to meet with Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu, Buzek`s office said his visit would bring a message of encouragement, support and trust in both leaders to reach a comprehensive solution. "We see the future of Cyprus as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as defined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, making up a federal government with a single international personality for the benefit of all citizens on the island," Buzek said. /Today`s Zaman/
BABACAN: "WHILE OUR GROWTH TARGET IS A CAUTIOUS 6.8 PCT, THE MARKETS ARE EYEING 8 PCT"
Turkey`s 6.8 percent target growth rate in its medium-term economic program is a cautious one, and market expectations are more optimistic, at around 8 percent, said Economy Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. He told reporters that Turkey is one of the few countries in the world with both high growth and quickly falling unemployment. State Ministers Zafer Caglayan and Cevdet Yylmaz, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun, and Labor and Social Security Minister Omer Dincer also attended the press conference where Babacan spoke. Babacan said the program sets targets to move forward by supporting consistent growth, boosting employment, improving public balances, keeping prices stable, and implementing structural reforms. "Last year I also announced the growth rate with caution," he added. "Just like in 2009, I`d like to avoid any negative surprises. It could turn out to be a positive surprise." On the global economy, Babacan said this year will end up being one of recovery. Turkey`s program anticipates unemployment of 12.2 percent by year`s-end, he said, and "modest drops starting next year." Turkey`s success in creating jobs and lowering unemployment will set it apart from other countries, he said. "Of course, active employment policies are especially significant in this context," he explained. "Unfortunately, rigidities in the labor market are our biggest problem. Obviously we have to take some structural measures on labor market flexibility and this, of course, requires working on the largest common ground possible through negotiations with the parties involved," he said. Babacan said global energy price fluctuations will definitely affect these numbers. He also said the deficit will not exceed what Turkey can endure. /Today`s Zaman/
S.KOREAN OFFICIAL TOUTS TURKEY`S NUCLEAR ENERGY PROSPECTS
The Turkish government should set up an agency to allay citizens` fears about nuclear energy and tell them it is the "cleanest and safest" option available, Rhee Jae-hwan, the head of South Korea`s Nuclear Energy Promotion Agency, said yesterday. "There is a need to engage in efforts to resolve this tension by encouraging society to make rational judgments and to increase the level of public acceptance of nuclear energy. In other words, there is a need for nuclear communication," he explained. "Even oil-rich countries are taking the nuclear energy option. The United Arab Emirates, the world`s fifth-largest oil producer, has decided to build four nuclear power stations." Turkey should follow the example set by South Korea, whose citizens immediately opposed plans to build the country`s first nuclear power plant in 1971, Rhee said, adding that Seoul established an agency in 1992 to address public concerns about nuclear energy. "We need to ask why the world is defending nuclear energy amid plans to build 436 more plants by 2030," Rhee said, adding that advances in nuclear technology have made accidents extremely unlikely. "The world is turning to clean, safe nuclear energy due to dwindling oil resources," he said. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKISH AIRLINES BECOMES ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF IATP
Turkish Airlines (THY) will benefit greatly from becoming an associate member of the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP), said the airline`s CEO Temel Kotil yesterday. Representatives of 108 airways and 150 countries are attending the 102nd IATP Conference at the Polat Renaissance Hotel in Istanbul this week. Kotil said under the agreement airlines will assist each other technically as well as in training, maintenance and spare parts. Kotil said THY has been boosting its service quality. "We aim to reach 31 million passengers by the end of the year," he said. The IATP is a convention of over 100 member airlines. In the spirit of cooperation, members of the aviation industry gather twice yearly to discuss the sharing of resources and ways to cut costs while improving operating efficiency. /Hurriyet Daily News/