PARLIAMENT PASSES SEVENTH EU REFORM PACKAGE
The 37-article seventh European Union harmonization package was passed by Parliament yesterday. The package mainly proposes changes to the structure of the country’s National Security Council (NSC). Under the law, appointment of the secretary-general of the NSC will henceforth be done through the president approving a candidate proposed by the prime minister. In addition, the council will gather every two months, instead of monthly. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer must approve the package before it becomes law. In related news, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana yesterday hailed the new package as “very positive,” adding, “This goes exactly in the direction of fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership.'' /All Papers/

PARLIAMENT BEGINS SUMMER RECESS
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday hosted a reception to mark the close of Parliament’s legislative term for its summer recess. He also held a press conference evaluating Parliament’s work this legislative year. Regarding possible deployment of Turkish troops to an Iraq stabilization force, Arinc stated that if a motion to this effect were sent to Parliament, the matter would be evaluated in line with the nation’s interests. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN CRITICIZES EU’S TURKEY POLICY AT IKV MEETING
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the Economic Development Foundation’s (IKV) General Assembly meeting in Istanbul. Speaking to the group, Erdogan charged that the European Union’s policy towards Turkey showed a double standard, as in his view, most candidate countries slated to join the Union’s ranks in 2004 have yet to fulfill the necessary EU criteria. He also stressed that the Cyprus issue should be regarded separately from Turkish-EU relations. “It is incorrect to link Turkey’s EU membership bid with the Cyprus issue,” said Erdogan. “These are two distinct issues. Despite the arguments of certain EU circles, Turkey never completely rejected UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan for the island. We’ve always worked for a permanent solution.” Meanwhile, businessmen at the meeting expressed support for the government’s recent reform packages. Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Chairman Tanil Kucuk stated that all the harmonization packages approved by the government made great strides towards democratization. For his part, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu warned that if the EU delayed the beginning of Turkey’s membership negotiations, Ankara would have to revise its relations with the Union. In addition, Erdogan also attended the opening ceremony of Bayrampasa Park yesterday in Istanbul, during which he had a horse-riding accident. Doctors announced that the accident left the premier uninjured. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/

GUL DENIES CLAIMS OF TALKS OVER PKK/KADEK MILITANTS’ EXILE TO NORWAY
Ankara reacted harshly yesterday to recent claims that the United States is in negotiations with Norway to send approximately 100 terrorist PKK/KADEK militants into exile there. After Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denied the reports, a top-level diplomatic official added that such false claims were a matter of concern for the government. In addition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz seconded Gul’s denial at yesterday’s regular press briefing, calling the claims “unacceptable,” and adding “All [such] terrorists will be treated equally.” /Hurriyet/

TURKEY, SYRIA TO DISCUSS CROSS-BORDER WATER ISSUES
In the wake of Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro’s historic visit to Turkey this week, Ankara and Damascus are planning to hold negotiations to resolve cross-border water issues. Diplomatic sources stated that the talks between Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the relevant Syrian institution would aim at developing a common policy to resolve certain disagreements between the two countries concerning water. /Cumhuriyet/

WASHINGTON HAILS PASSAGE OF REPENTANCE LAW
A US State Department official said yesterday that Washington was pleased with the passage Tuesday by Turkey’s Parliament of the repentance law for militants of terrorist groups, including PKK/KADEK. Stressing that the law would encourage militants to lay down their weapons and surrender to Turkish authorities, he underlined that Turkey and the US would continue to cooperate against the terrorist group. The official added that US forces would not allow any terrorist organization, including PKK/KADEK, to take refuge in Iraq. Meanwhile, following the historic law’s passage, 337 militants of PKK/KADEK and Hizbullah currently wanted by authorities applied through their families and lawyers to benefit from the law, and in addition 104 already incarcerated prisoners filed petitions. In related news, officials printed brochures and posters calling on militants to surrender under the terms of the new law. /All Papers/

IRAQI TURKMEN EXCLUDED FROM ROTATING HELM OF GOVERNING COUNCIL
Iraq’s 25-member Governing Council yesterday settled on a rotating presidency system for the body, but Iraq’s native Turkmen were excluded from the members slated to successively take the helm. The nine select members, who are set to assume the presidency for one month apiece, consist of five Shiites, two Sunnis and two Kurds. Iraqi Patriotic Union Party (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leaders Massoud Barzani are the Kurdish representatives within the group of nine. /Turkiye/

BRITISH ENVOY TO IRAQ VISITS ANKARA
John Sawers, Britain’s special envoy to Iraq, yesterday arrived in Turkey to discuss the latest developments in the country with Turkish officials. Sawers is expected to be received by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul today. He is also to meet with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Sawers is one of the key figures tasked with reshaping Iraq’s political structure. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS SAY KIRKUK COULD BE FUTURE CAPITAL OF “KURDISTAN”
Two officials from the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) stated yesterday that they hoped to see Kirkuk as the future capital of “Kurdistan.” It was unclear what they meant by “Kurdistan,” whether a federal Iraqi province or an independent state, something long opposed by Ankara. Stating that Kirkuk was a Kurdish city, IKDP representative in Sulaimaniyah Gadir Aziz Cabbari yesterday stated that he hoped to see the northern Iraqi city as the future capital. Meanwhile, Sulaimaniyah Mayor and IPUK representative Aiso Shak Norey echoed this sentiment, adding that Arbil (Erbil) might be an alternate choice. Both officials alleged that Turkey regarded the chaotic atmosphere in the region as an advantage to “get back” Kirkuk. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY-IRAQ RAIL SERVICE TO RESUME
Officials from Turkey and Iraq yesterday signed an agreement in Baghdad to resume railway service between the two countries. Under this agreement, food and reconstruction supplies can be transported to Iraq via the existing railway running between Istanbul, Baghdad and the southern city of Basra. Turkey is expected to send four trains a week to its southern neighbor. /Turkiye/

DEPUTY CEMAL KAYA RESIGNS FROM CHP
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Agri Deputy Cemal Kaya yesterday resigned from his party. With Kaya’s action, the number of main opposition CHP deputies in Parliament fell to 176, while that of independents rose to four. /Aksam/