HURRIYET
-- FIRST OFFICIAL "KURDISTAN"
President Abdullah Gul, who is the first Turkish president to visit Iraq after 33 years, used the expression of "Kurdistan regional administration" for the first time. Speaking to reporters on his way to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Gul referred to it as the "Kurdistan regional administration" instead of "administration in the north of Iraq". "What should I say? We do not stop using the word 'Macedonia' just because Greece does not use such an expression. This is what is written in the Iraqi constitution," Gul said.
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-- DERVIS: "DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE CRISIS"
In an article he wrote for the Financial Times, Kemal Dervis, former head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), gave the formula that would lead countries out of the global economic crisis. Dervis underscored in his article that the crisis "should not be underestimated" and made various suggestions.
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MILLIYET
-- HISTORIC STEP AGAINST TERRORISM
On his way to Baghdad, President Abdullah Gul told reporters aboard the plane that efforts were underway behind the closed doors, "I am hopeful," he said. Iraq's President Jalal Talabani said, "The PKK will either lay down arms, or leave this country." Gul also pointed to the importance of cooperation with the regional administration in the north of Iraq in the fight against the PKK.
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-- ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN NOTORIOUS RUNWAY
A passenger plane belonging to Ukrainian airlines Dneprovia skidded off runway 06-24 at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and became stuck mud after a failed landing. No casualties were reported after the accident.
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SABAH
-- THIS THING MUST BE OVER
President Abdullah Gul has been the first Turkish president to visit Iraq in the past 33 years. Gul said that a new era should start to stop the bloodshed and boost brotherhood. Speaking to reporters on board the plane, Gul used the word "Kurdistan" for the first time while urging the regional administration in the north of Iraq. "As long as you are the Kurdistan regional government, you should not shelter the terrorist organization," Gul said. Gul said that terrorism should come to an end. He said, "This thing must be over. Arms will be laid down, terrorism and bloodshed will stop." Gul also spoke about the Kurdish conference. "Kurds in the north of Iraq finally understood that the terrorist organization is the one thing that poisons our relations. Now they are taking action for the first time (to stop the bloodshed). We will see. Either they will lay down arms, or..." he said.
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-- COLONEL DETAINED "UNDER DEATH WELLS"
Gendarmerie regiment commander in the central province of Kayseri, colonel Cemal Temizoz, is being questioned in connection with "death wells" in the Cizre town of the southeastern province of Sirnak. Temizoz was detained in connection with an investigation into excavations where bone fragments were found. He was sent to another southeastern province of Diyarbakir for his deposition. Temizoz served as the gendarmerie commander in Cizre between 1992 and 1994.
VATAN
-- "PKK SHOULD EITHER LAY DOWN ARMS OR LEAVE IRAQ," TALABANI
President Abdullah Gul and Iraq's President Jalal Talabani met at the Al Salam Palace near the Tigris river in Baghdad. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Talabani said that the terrorist organization PKK should either lay down arms or leave Iraq. Gul said that Turkey would continue to cooperate with the regional administration in Iraq in its fight against the PKK.
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-- TURKISH DESK CRISIS IN SWISS BANK
While it is alleged that Turkish investors have nearly $100 billion in foreign countries, important developments are taking place in Swiss UBS, the most popular banks preferred by Turkish investors. Six people working at the bank's Singapore HQ, who were responsible for managing the $300 million-worth assets of Turkish investors, have been fired recently. Questions have since been raised regarding incidents of fraud in bank transactions involving Turkish investors funds.
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CUMHURIYET
-- TALABANI HARSH ON PKK
President Abdullah Gul met Iraq's President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad. The two presidents decided on putting an end to security problems, Gul said. Gul also described the Kurdish conference in Irbil as "an important step". Talabani urged the terrorist organization to lay down arms or leave Iraq. "Either stop armed fight or leave our country," Talabani said.
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-- "YES, CRISIS WILL NOT TOUCH US"
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) rally in Bolu. Erdogan said the global economic crisis would not touch Turkey. "Yes, it will not touch us. We will weather it with minimum damage. Some people say lots of textiles factories were shut down. There is no such thing," Erdogan said.
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RADIKAL
-- AND GUL NAMES IT!
Abdullah Gul, the first Turkish president visiting Iraq in last 33 years, said presence of PKK prevented further cooperation between Turkey and Iraq. Gul said, "responsibility of the terrorist acts belongs to Kurdistan regional administration". Asked why he called it Kurdistan, Gul said, "it is written like this in Iraq's Constitution. Greece does not say Macedonia, but we say. They should figure out well what it means to lose Turkey."
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-- FOUR REMEDIES FROM DERVIS
Kemal Dervis, former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in an article he wrote for the Financial Times, said economic the crisis has deepened. He said, "The public authority should restructure balance sheets in the finance sector. Public expenses should be focused on public expenses instead of regressing private demand, and the solutions should be implemented with international cooperation."
YENI SAFAK
-- BLOODSHED WILL STOP
President Abdullah Gul traveled to Iraq at the invitation of President Jalal Talabani. He spoke to reporters on the plane on his way to Baghdad. Gul said, "PKK terrorism will finish, brotherhood will be stronger."
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-- MUD AVERTS DISASTER
A Ukrainian passenger plane skidded off the runway during landing at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. The Dneprovia Airlines plane, with 45 passengers and four crew members on board, skidded into the mud after failing to stop at the end of the runway. Airport officials said the mud averted a possible disaster.
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