Erdogan meets with Lebanese PM Siniora

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora yesterday arrived in Ankara at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two discussed recent developments in the Middle East. Afterwards, Erdogan told a joint press conference that he and Siniora are in frequent contact and that ties between the two countries have made remarkable strides in recent years. Asked about provocations during his recent visit to the southeastern Anatolia region, he charged that the PKK had manipulated children. Criticizing the Democratic Society Party (DTP), he added, "This isn't democracy, human rights or freedom-fighting, these are efforts to win votes through different means." He also said, "While we were attending the opening ceremonies of two hospitals and several schools in Hakkari, DTP members were holding rallies in Yuksekova." For his part, Siniora stated that Turkey plays an important role in the Middle East. Erdogan later hosted a dinner for Siniora.