ISTANBUL (A.A) - A joint declaration of the Organizationof Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Wednesday that all insurgent groups must endclashes in Somalia.OIC Executive Committee released a joint declaration at the end of themeeting in Istanbul.The declaration said that upon invitation by Turkish government, a meetingtook place in Istanbul under the roof of OIC to discuss the situation in Somaliaand measures aiming to ease pain of Somali people.Somali people, who have been facing starvation, needed urgent help, it said."OIC countries, finance organizations and aid organizations were asked tocontribute to the Fund for Somalia established by OIC Council of ForeignMinisters,"the declaration said.OIC decided to establish a mission force by Kazakhstan, Turkey, SaudiArabia, Senegal and Organization of the Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) SecretariatGeneral to monitor developments in Horn of Africa especially in Somalia, it said.The declaration said that all insurgent groups must end clashes in Somaliaand allow humanitarian aids to be taken to Somali people.It added that OIC countries and the international community must exertefforts for a solution to civil war in Somalia.(EÖ)

ATHENS (A.A) - Greek Olympiakos team defeated Galatasaraysoccer team of Turkey 1-0 in a friendly game in Athens on Wednesday.Stadium: G. KaraiskakisReferees: Periklis Giolias, Antonios Karatzikas, Nikolaos Georgarakos(Greece)Olympiakos: Costanzo, Maniatis, Modesto, Feisa (min. 57 Ortado, min. 84Potouridis), Riera (min. 71 Papazoglou), Fuster (57 Yeste), Holebas,Papadopoulos, Marcano, Mirallas (min. 67 Grbic), Pantelic (min. 46 Javito)Galatasaray: Muslera, Ujfalusi (min. 73 Caglar), Gokhan (min. 66 Yekta),Servet (min. 79 Ceyhun), Hakan, Sabri, Selcuk (min. 57 Ayhan), Felipe Melo, KazimKazim, Stancu (min. 58 Aydin), Baros (min. 58 Elmander)Scorer: min. 1 Mirallas (Olympiakos)(GC-EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - The secretary general of the Organizationof Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Wednesday that bloodshed was everywhereduring holy month of Ramadan.OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu spoke at a press conference heldafter the meeting of OIC Executive Committee in Istanbul.Ihsanoglu offered his condolences to relatives of soldiers who were killedin a terrorist attack in southeast Turkey."We are in holy month of Ramadan, but there is bloodshed everywhere. We, asOIC, said at the beginning of Ramadan that there must be truce, and clashes mustbe stopped, but it was not listened,"he said.Regarding the meeting on Somalia, Ihsanoglu said that it was a veryimportant meeting and all Islamic countries should make more donations.Only a state or a single organization could not cope with the problem inSomalia on its own and there was need for a great cooperation to deal with it, hesaid.Ihsanoglu said that donations for Somalia reached 350 million TL including150 TL by Turkey, stating that they aimed to increase donations to 500 million TLsoon.Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov, who is term president ofOIC Executive Board, offered his condolences to Turkish people and government dueto terrorist attack.Kazykhanov said that they condemned terrorism and they were ready to extendfull support to Turkish government and people regarding the matter.Replying to a question, Kazykhanov said that OIC secretariat general wouldopen bank accounts in OIC member countries, and financial aid would be sent toSomalia through these accounts.Ihsanoglu said that"Somalia Assistance Fund"was set up and all countriescould donate to this fund.(EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogluheld bilateral talks on Wednesday with several foreign leaders who are currentlyin Istanbul to attend a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation(OIC).In his meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul, Davutogludiscussed the preparations of Afghanistan Regional Conference which would be heldin Istanbul in November.Rassoul said that the conference would be an important one ahead of BonnConference, while Davutoglu repeated Turkey's support to Afghanistan.They also exchanged views about recent developments in the Middle Eastincluding Syria.In the meeting with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov, thesituation in Somalia as well as political and economic relations between Turkeyand Kazakhstan were discussed.Davutoglu and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman took up cooperation ininternational organizations and how to increase the assistance to Somalia.Recent developments in Syria was top on the agenda of Davutoglu's meetingwith UAE's Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan.(GC-EÖ)

WASHINGTON (A.A) - U.S. State Department expressed sorrowover the terrorist attack which killed eight Turkish soldiers in the southeasternprovince of Hakkari on Wednesday.Department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland, in a press conference, offeredcondolences to the relatives of the victims.Earlier today, 7 Turkish soldiers and a village guard were killed and 14others were wounded in an attack of PKK terrorist organization in Hakkari.Nuland defined PKK as a terrorist organization which caused death of tens ofthousands of Turks, and said that her country was supporting Turkey in its fightagainst PKK.She said that they would continue to cooperate with Turkish government infight against all types of terrorism.(GC-EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglusaid on Wednesday that Turkey would re-open its embassy in Somalia.Davutoglu replied to questions at a press conference held after the meetingof the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee in Istanbulon Somalia famine.Davutoglu said that Turkey's embassy had served in Mogadishu (capital ofSomalia) till 1991, but later the embassy was closed due to security reasons."Wewill re-open our embassy in Somalia. Turkey will have a permanent representativeoffice there,"he said.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Somalia was not onlysymbolic, but his visit aimed to give the message that"we are here.""Prime Minister Erdogan will be the first premier to visit Somalia in 20years. This visit will show that Turkey is always beside African people,"hesaid.Replying to a question on'Somalia Mission Force,'Davutoglu said that itwas formed under the OIC to monitor developments in Horn of Africa and Somalia aswell as to discuss steps and measures.(EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogluhosted a fast-breaking dinner in honor of the participants of a meeting of theOrganization of the Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Executive Committee on Somalia inIstanbul on Wednesday.Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, OIC Secretary GeneralEkmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul and Somali ForeignMinister Mahmoud Ibrahim were among the guests.OIC convened in Istanbul today to discuss the recent situation in Somalia,the reasons of hunger crisis and what can be done for Somali people.(GC-EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglusaid Turkish state was determined to protect the rights of its people, whilecommenting on the statements that Israel would not apologize to Turkey for itsraid on Mavi Marmara aid ship.Turkish state was determined and had the power to protect its citizens'rights, said Davutoglu in a press conference after a meeting of the Organizationof the Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Wednesday.Noting that Turkey's demands were clear, Davutoglu said that on the otherhand, Israel had to make a choice; it would either launch initiative to normalizerelations with Turkey or it would create a big gap not only on state level butalso between peoples of the two countries.We are waiting for Israel to make a decision, and then Turkey would actaccordingly, he said.Davutoglu said that Israel's killing civilians in international waters wasan international crime.Israeli navy attacked on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31, 2010, killingeight Turks and a Turkish American.(GC-EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglusaid on Wednesday that a'Somalia Mission Force'has been established byKazakhstan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Organization of the IslamicCooperation's (OIC) Secretariat General to assist famine-struck Somalia.Davutoglu spoke at a press conference held after the meeting of OICExecutive Committee in Istanbul on Somalia famine."There has been a human tragedy in Horn of Africa especially in Somalia hitby famine and drought. More than 3 million people face starvation there. Turkeycannot remain indifferent to this situation,"he said.Recalling that Turkey contacted OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanogluand Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov, he said they assumed theinitiative to host an emergency meeting of OIC's Executive Committee."We aimed to reach three goals with this meeting. The first is to assuresensitivity of Islam world regarding the matter. There was a great participationin the meeting. Islam world put forth its awareness and sensitivity in thismeeting. The second is that we tried to develop mechanisms. There are no directflights to Somalia. Transportation facilities are limited. We have made importantdecisions under these mechanisms. All countries decided to contribute SomaliaAssistance Fund established by the 38th Session of OIC Council of ForeignMinisters. The third one is continuation of this mechanism,"he said."A'Somalia Mission Force'was established. It will coordinate allactivities,"he said.Davutoglu said that they hoped that the donations for Somalia would reach200 million U.S. dollars by the end of holy month of Ramadan."We, along with Mr. Prime Minister, will leave for Somalia on Thursdaynight,"he said.In regard to a terrorist attack in southeast Turkey, Davutoglu said,"fightagainst terrorism is a matter of humanity. It is not only an issue of Turkey. Thefight will continue till terrorism ends."(EÖ)

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Somali Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ibrahimpraised Turkey's support to Somalia in its difficult days.Speaking at a press conference held after a meeting of the Organization ofthe Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Executive Committee in Istanbul on Somalia onWednesday, Ibrahim said that Turkey showed a great leadership and launched aninitiative to support Somali people in their hard times.Ibrahim thanked Turkey and OIC to carry Somalia on the top of the agenda,noting that media clearly showed the dimension of the difficulties in Somalia.Noting that OIC member states promised very important assistances forSomalia during the meeting, Ibrahim said that this was a real example ofbrotherhood and friendship.Ibrahim said that visits of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and their families in Somalia were meaningful.(GC-EÖ)