SEZER MEETS WITH RECTORS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received 53 rectors coming from state universities across the country. Sezer reportedly praised the rectors' justified reaction to the recent attack on Council of State judges, calling on them to continue to own the republic and secularism. In addition, financial and staff problems of the universities were taken up during their meeting. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN VISITS ALGERIA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday began an official visit to Algeria. On the first day of his stay, Erdogan met with Parliament Speaker Amar Saydani. During their meeting, inter-parliamentary and economic relations were taken up. In addition, Erdogan asked Saydani to lend support to Turkey's just cause on Cyprus. In related news, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, who accompanied the premier, also held a series of contacts with Algerian officials to develop energy cooperation between the countries. Erdogan will sign a "Friendship and Cooperation Agreement" with his Algerian counterpart, a pact expected to offer new opportunities to Turkish businessmen in Algeria. /Turkiye/
GUL: "PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE WOMEN'S RIGHTS"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that peace and development in societies are possible only when women enjoy equal rights. Speaking at the opening of a two-day intergovernmental conference on empowering women in society organized as part of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD), Gul stated that Islam places importance on women and encourages their strong role in society. The gathering, opened by Gul and State Minister Responsible for Women and Family Nimet Cubukcu, hosted representatives from 21 countries and G-8 members, as well as officials from European Union Term President Austria. /Turkiye/
EUROPEAN PRESS URGES EU TO HELP TURKEY
Two leading British newspapers, The Financial Times and The Guardian, yesterday cited the attack on Turkish senior judges of the Council of State last week in urging the European Union to lend a helping hand to Turkey. Highlighting the growing rift between the government and the secular establishment of the country, the editorial in the Financial Times stated that EU`s distance from Turkey was exacerbating the situation. It added that the EU should avoid giving the impression it will keep raising barriers to Turkish entry, saying, "However long it takes, Europe needs to embrace Turkey." /Sabah/
BELGIAN CHIEF OF STAFF VISITS ANKARA
Belgian Chief of General Staff Gen. August Van Daele yesterday arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit to Turkey. As part of his contacts, Daele met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. The top Belgian commander is expected to leave Turkey on Friday. /Milliyet/
ECEVIT BROUGHT OUT OF MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA
Doctors yesterday began bringing former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit out of a medically induced coma and were planning a neurological exam to determine the extent of damage he suffered from a stroke. Ecevit, 81, was hospitalized after suffering a stroke on Thursday, and doctors were trying to prevent swelling in his brain. Meanwhile, his supporters and Democratic Left Party (DSP) members have surrounded the hospital where he is currently being treated, awaiting any news. /Turkish Daily News/
MGK SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS RUSSIA
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan, who is currently in Moscow, yesterday met with Russian Defense Minister Igor Ivanov. Alpogan's closed-door meeting with Ivanov lasted for five-and-a-half hours. During their talks, relations between the two countries were discussed as well as regional and international issues concerning both countries. /Cumhuriyet/
EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S LEIGH: "TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY"
Michael Leigh, director general in charge of enlargement of the European Commission, yesterday said that positive developments in the economy were expected with Turkey's entering the European Union. Leigh made the remarks in a speech in Istanbul at a conference entitled "Enlargement and Turkish-EU Relations in the Context of Cyprus" co-sponsored by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and Bogazici University's Foreign Policy Forum. Leigh underlined that, compared to three or four years ago, Turkish-EU relations are much better. "The negotiation process has begun and the screening process continues," he said. /Aksam/
ELECTIONS DEAL ANOTHER BLOW TO CYPRUS PEACE PLANS
Greek Cypriot voters threw their weight behind parties in administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos' governing coalition in a parliamentary election on Sunday, a likely endorsement of the leader's rejection of a United Nations peace and reunification plan for the island. The ballot also strengthened the hand of the administration, which has threatened to block Turkey's efforts to join the European Union since Ankara refuses to open its ports and harbors to use by Greek Cypriots unless the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is ended. In related news, Papadopoulos' elections victory made UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's taking steps on Ankara's new action plan difficult. After this process, Ankara is reportedly expected to make a call on Annan to assume the initiative. At this juncture, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly wanted to meet with Annan in the US, but he cannot make this trip for now due to his ear illness. /The New Anatolian-Cumhuriyet/
IMF URGES ANKARA TO EXERCISE FISCAL RESTRAINT
The International Monetary Fund has completed its third and fourth reviews of the Turkish economy in Ankara. In a news conference, IMF Turkey desk chief Lorenzo Giorgianni urged the Turkish government to be cautious on monetary policy and said additional government revenues should be saved in order not to stimulate domestic demand. Also speaking to reporters, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that Turkey's current account deficit would be higher than the official target. He added that the IMF Executive Board would release nearly a $1.9 billion loan tranche to Turkey in July. /Milliyet/