National security council recommends continuation of efforts under democratic expansion intitative

Chaired by President Abdullah Gul, the National Security Council (MGK) convened at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara yesterday with high-level government and military officials, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Ilker Basbug, in attendance, focusing on latest regional and international developments that concern Turkey's national interests. The government's recent democratic expansion initiative, which aims to solve the long-standing southeastern Anatolia issue by expanding democratic and cultural rights of citizens with Kurdish origin, was also on the agenda, and Interior Minister Besir Atalay, who is also government coordinator for the initiative in question, briefed the MGK members on his ongoing talks with political parties, non-governmental organizations and different segments of the society to reach a comprehensive consensus on the initiative before its details are announced by Premier Erdogan by the end of this year. A written statement which was released after yesterday's MGK meeting said, "The council members were briefed on the ongoing efforts carried out under the coordination of the Interior Ministry in order to consolidate Turkey's territorial integrity with its land and nation, and ensure the well-being, peace and happiness of individuals and the people," adding that the council had recommended the continuation of those efforts. The statement also said the situation in Iraq was discussed in the light of recent developments and added that developments regarding the trilateral mechanism formed by Turkey, the US and Iraq were reviewed. The statement pointed out the importance of talks with Iraqi groups and said the council was informed on the Turkey-Iraq High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting. The statement also stressed the importance of increasingly maintaining research and development activities that create added value. The council members also thanked Naval Forces Commander Gen. Metin Atac and Air Forces Commander Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu, who attended the MGK gathering for the last time as they would retire as of August 30, the statement added. In related news, President Gul's first iftar (fast-breaking dinner) guests during the holy month of Ramadan this year will be relatives of security forces martyred during the fight against terrorism, who will visit the president at the presidential palace on August 25.