FUNERAL HELD FOR SOLDIERS KILLED IN COPTER CRASH
A military funeral ceremony was held yesterday in Ankara for four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Kocaeli. In addition to senior military commanders, Cabinet ministers were present at the ceremony. The four soldiers - Ulas Turk, Serkan Karanlik, Fatih Kaban and Turgut Cicek - died when their helicopter crashed into a roof of a factory on Monday in Kocaeli. /Turkiye/

GOVT UNVEILS SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM PACKAGE
In a speech yesterday at his Justice and Development Party (AKP) group gathering in Parliament, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled a social security reform package demanded by the International Monetary Fund under a $10 billion loan deal. He stated that work on the reform package had been finalized and Parliament is expected to begin debate on the package in the coming days. Under the new system, the Social Security Authority (SSK), Pensioners' Fund and Social Insurance for the Self-Employed (Bag-Kur) will function under a single social security authority, which means equal health services and retirement benefits for members of all three. Stressing that the move was the one of the most radical reforms in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the premier said that no previous government could dare do it. He also dismissed allegations that the package was an "investment" for upcoming parliamentary elections. /Hurriyet/

PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH AKP DEPUTIES FROM EAST, SOUTHEAST
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with more than 70 deputies from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) from eastern and southeastern provinces to discuss the recent terrorist incidents. During the meeting, Bingol Deputy Mahfuz Guler and Bitlis Deputy, who suggested issuing a general pardon, were scolded by Erdogan. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and Parliament's Interior Affairs Commission head Koksal Toptan also participated in the meeting, which took place in the Parliament. /Cumuriyet/

ERDOGAN MEETS WITH IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DOWLATABADI
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week had a "secret" meeting with Firooz Dowlatabadi, Iran's ambassador to Ankara. During the meeting, which took place amid mounting tension between Washington and Tehran, Erdogan told the ambassador about the international community's expectations on Iran's nuclear program, and said that Iran should cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Government formation talks in Iraq and the terrorist PKK's infiltrating Turkey from across the border were also discussed. No statements were released about the meeting, which wasn't on the premier's official schedule. /Cumhuriyet/

ISLAMOPHOBIA TOPS AGENDA AT OIC MEETING
Debates over Islamophobia will constitute the most important part of the fourth meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Parliaments Union meeting scheduled for today in Istanbul, said Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday. Before the opening of the gathering, Arinc told reporters that Islamic countries would give important messages to the entire world during the conference and draw attention to the so-called clash of civilizations. He also expressed his pleasure about the meeting being held in Istanbul, which he said was the capital of civilizations as it unites two continents and two cultures. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to attend the meeting today. /Turkish Daily News/

CHP LEADER BAYKAL CRITICIZES GOVT STANCE ON TERRORISM
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday spoke about domestic and foreign developments, with recent terrorist incidents as Topic A. The CHP leader said that the prime minister wasn't doing what's necessary to stop terrorism. Claiming that Turkey is being dragged into a quagmire of terrorism, Baykal asserted the government is confused about the issue, adding, "The Turkish nation will give the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) whatever they want for the struggle against terrorism." /Star/

PACE CALLS ON PKK TO END TERRORISM
The Parliamentarians Assembly of the Council of the Europe (PACE) yesterday supported a declaration calling on the PKK to unconditionally end its terrorist attacks. A total of 153 PACE members signed the declaration prepared by Turkish parliamentarians. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Murat Mercan stated that the European parliamentarians had lent powerful support to the call for the PKK to stop its bloody attacks. /Turkiye/

PKK PLANS TO MAKE IRAN SECOND HOME
The terrorist PKK/Kongra-Gel is taking action to make Iran its second base of operations after Iraq. The terrorist organization is getting prepared to establish two new parties in Iran named the "Independent Party of Kurdistan" and "Kavva." The terrorist PKK has killed 83 Iranian soldiers in conflicts in the border villages over the last five years. The terror group's diffusion strategy and its efforts to gain political power have multiplied tension in Iran. After giving covert support to the PKK for years, Iran has started to conduct determined operations to get rid of PKK terrorists from its territory. Iran recently arrested seven terrorists and has surrendered 50 PKK militants to Turkey over the last three years. /Star/

TUSIAD OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EU PROCESS
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Executive Board Chairman Omer Sabanci yesterday said that Turkey's European Union membership process was an important part of the nation's restructuring, and added, "Turkey's speedy progress during the negotiation process will depend on continuing and deepening its economic reform process. We're realistic and optimistic about this process." Speaking at a seminar entitled, "The Negotiating Process with the EU: Medium-Term Perspective" Sabanci said, "On the other hand, it's beneficial at this point to stress the role of political and economic stability in our country," adding that Turkey's EU membership was a process which would be achieved in eight or 10 years under normal conditions and that the majority of the nation supported successful completion of the process. In related news, Turkey's Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan stated that steps would be taken to strengthen political reforms, and added, "Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will perhaps today or tomorrow announce a new political reform package. Fresh acceleration will be gained with a new wave of reform." /Aksam/