New ship for the UN Ro-Ro Maritime Service between France and Turkey: the new vessel "Cemil Bayülgen" will start sailing on Sept. 12, providing improved services between Pendik, Ambarli and Marseille.

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoganreceived Saturday Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Adm. Michael Mullen.The 45-minute meeting was closed to the news media.(AY)

ANKARA (A.A) - Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Adm. MichaelMullen said on Saturday that he did not come to Turkey to ask the country to domore in Afghanistan."I did not come here to press Turkey to do more in Afghanistan,"AdmiralMullen told a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Building in Ankara.Mullen said his last visit to Turkey was in September 2008, noting that manychanges had taken place since then.He said the end of the withdrawal of U.S. combat mission in Iraq and thesurge in the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan were particularly importantdevelopments. He underlined that assistance of Turkey in and for both missionswere extremely vital. Admiral Mullen said his visit to Turkey was important forthat respect.Admiral Mullen said he had spent most of his time during his visit withTurkey's new Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner.Wishing success to Gen. Kosaner for his new post, Admiral Mullen said hewanted to underline the commitment of the U.S. armed forces to continue andfurther strengthen"our already close working relationship."Admiral Mullen said he wanted to thank to Gen. Kosaner for leadership of theTurkish Armed Forces in restoring stability and security in all NATO missionsextending from Afghanistan to Kosovo and to Bosnia-Herzegovina.Stating he came to Turkey directly from Kabul, Admiral Mullen said Turkey'scontributions were noticeable and appreciated by them.Admiral Mullen said Turkey commanded allied forces in Kabul, trained AfghanNational Security Forces and police units, administered to two construction teamsin Afghanistan and assisted Afghan people to make progress in improving theirlives.Mullen said a Force Generation Conference would take place at the end ofthis month, adding that they would be pleased if the Turkish governmentconsidered the additional assistance as appropriate.Mullen said he definitely did not come to question or rebut Turkey'sdecision not to support the sanctions that were put to vote by the United Nationsagainst Iran.(AY)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish and Egyptian trade chambers unionshave signed an agreement to set up a joint trade chamber to boost businessbetween the two countries.The agreement was signed on Saturday by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman ofthe Union of Turkish Chambers&Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Ahmed al-Wakil,head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, in Istanbul on Saturdayin a ceremony also participated by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry RachidMohammed Rachid.Speaking at the ceremony, Hisarciklioglu said the cooperation between Turkeyand Egypt would make important contributions to the stability and economicdevelopment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.Hisarciklioglu said trade volume between the two countries had reached overthree billion U.S. dollars from 320 million USD in 2004 after a free tradeagreement was signed."We will continue to work to boost that figure even further. Our goal is toachieve 10 billion USD,"Hisarciklioglu said.Hisarciklioglu said he expected Egypt to join in a free trade zone plannedto be established between Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan."The joining of Egypt in this project would make the Eastern Mediterranean awide free trade zone,"he said.Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohammed Rachid said on his partthat the trade volume between the two countries had increased 10 times over thelast five years, adding that the establishment of joint trade chamber would makea significant contribution to economic cooperation.Ahmed al-Wakil, head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce,said over 200 Turkish companies had made investments in Egypt, which offered jobsto some 40 thousand people.(İMB-AY)

BAGHDAD (A.A) - Iraq's Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdihas said efforts in the country to form a new government had proved unsuccessfulto make"significant progress,"adding that he welcomed efforts exerted by Turkeyand some other countries to facilitate a new Iraqi government."There is no significant progress in efforts to form a new government. Sidesare still exchanging views. We are holding on to our old positions and there isno remarkable change in the nature of our positions,"Abdul Mahdi, told theAnadolu Agency in an interview.Abdul Mahdi said Turkey, Iran, Syria and the United States were involved inthe formation of a government in Iraq."Everyone is expressing view on government formation efforts, which wetotally understand. Everyone wants to see how Iraq's future political map will beshaped. We understand those concerns and we consider advices and consultationsnot as intervention into our internal affairs. We consider Turkey's efforts androle very constructive,"Abdul Mahdi said.Abdul Mahdi said Iraq's relations with Turkey"very good,"adding thatTurkey was"a big country in every aspect"in the region.(İMB-AY)

ANKARA (A.A) - Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Adm. MichaelMullen said on Saturday that he did not come to Turkey to discuss shipping ofheavy equipment or weapons through Turkish soil while withdrawing from Iraq.Admiral Mullen told a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Building in Ankarathat they never passed weapons through Turkey, noting they did not have anyintention to do this.Commenting on his visit to Turkey, Admiral Mullen said the United Statesuses Turkey's infrastructure for the entrance and exit of the teams in areas ofoperation and relies on Turkey.Admiral Mullen said other news reports apart from this were baseless andwrong. He said the U.S. was grateful to Turkey for the support of the Turkishgovernment for flights and base and land access.Admiral Mullen said Turkey and the United States were not only allies but atthe same time very good friends, and noted that most of the interests and theproblems they faced were similar.(more)(AY)