NSC TO DISCUSS IRAQ DEPLOYMENT ISSUE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) is set to convene today to discuss a number of issues, including a possible deployment of Turkish troops to Iraq. The issue will also be taken up at next Monday’s Cabinet meeting. In line with recent decisions of the High Military Council (YAS), departing Turkish Naval and Air Force commanders Bulent Alpkaya and Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, respectively, and NSC Secretary-General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc will be attending their final NSC meeting before stepping down. /Star/
ERDOGAN, CB HEAD SERDENGECTI DISCUSS RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti to assess the overall state of the economy and discuss recent developments. Erdogan also received Banking Regulatory and Supervision Agency (BDDK) Chairman Engin Akcakoca as well as Zeki Sayin, head of the Public Banks Joint Administration Council. /All papers/
STATE MINISTER ATALAY PROMISES GALA CELEBRATIONS FOR REPUBLIC’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Yearlong celebrations of modern Turkey’s 80th anniversary will honor the Republic as the basis for our state and our steadfast drive towards modernity, said State Minister Besir Atalay yesterday. At a press conference outlining upcoming celebrations of Turkey’s 80th anniversary, set to begin on Oct. 29 Republic Day, Atalay said that there was great enthusiasm from all sectors of society for these events. The chief purposes of the festivities, he added, will be to strengthen national solidarity and stress the Republic’s modern, democratic, and secular nature both at home and abroad. /All papers/
GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SERVICE WAGE TALKS STALL
Talks between government and civil service union representatives yesterday broke off without an agreement, stalling over the issue of next year’s wage hikes. Proposals brought to the table by unions Kamu-Sen and KESK were reportedly non-starters to the government. After the negotiations, KESK Chairman Sami Evren vowed to quit the talks, charging that state officials were not taking seriously the civil servants’ demands and grievances. Kamu-Sen head Bircan Akyildiz was more optimistic, saying that an agreement would eventually be reached. /All papers/
US SENATE DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY
Following their current visit to Iraq, an eight-member US senatorial delegation led by Senator John McCain is set to visit Ankara. During the two-day visit, McCain is expected to convey a message from President George W. Bush to Turkish officials in a bid to convince them to contribute to an Iraq stabilization force. The delegation is presently making observations and holding meetings with Iraqi officials to clarify the details regarding foreign troop deployment. /Turkiye/
IRAQI TRIBAL HEADS, KURDISH OFFICIALS WELCOME POSSIBLE TURKISH DEPLOYMENT
Before making a decision on sending troops to Iraq, Turkish officials will receive representatives of nine Iraqi tribes, including current Governing Council President Ibrahim Al-Jaafari along with Abdurrahman Munsit El Afi, the leader of the Ubeydi, the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk’s sole Arab tribe. Turkish officials will ask the tribal leaders for their stance on a possible Turkish troop deployment in Iraq. In related news, El Afi, whose Ubeydi numbers some 750,000, yesterday said that Iraqis would not oppose Turkish troops in Iraq. In addition, Kirkuk’s Kurdish mayor and vice-mayor both stressed that the Iraqi people needed Turkish troops, as they are more familiar with local traditions as well as more tolerant than the US and British soldiers. /Turkiye/
IRAQ’S SUNNI LEADERS MEET WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS
Ahead of a decision of sending Turkish troops to Iraq, Foreign Ministry officials on Wednesday met with a group of Iraq’s Sunni religious leaders in Ankara in a bid to explain Turkey’s reasons for possibly deploying its troops in the country. The group was told that securing the nation’s stability as soon as possible would be to the benefit of the Iraqi people. These religious leaders are said to be influential in the area known as the Sunni triangle, a territory west and north of Baghdad where reports say Turkish troops are likely to be deployed. /Cumhuriyet/
IRAQI BUSINESSMEN MEET WITH THEIR TURKISH COUNTERPARTS
Turkish and Iraqi businessmen yesterday gathered in Istanbul as part of Turkish-Iraqi Business Council meetings to discuss bilateral trade ties. Iraqi Businessmen’s Association head Thamir Al Shikhly expressed his group’s desire to work with Turkish firms during his country’s reconstruction period. He also called on the Turkish banking sector to open branches in Iraq. /Turkiye/
TURKCELL TO BID ON RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQI CELLPHONE NETWORK
Turkcell, Turkey’s largest GSM operator, has moved to enter a bidding process for the reconstruction of Iraq’s cellphone network, said Turkcell CEO Muzaffer Akpinar yesterday. Akpinar added that his company would play a leading role in a Turkish consortium set up especially for the bidding. It is estimated that Iraq has a telecommunications market worth some $500 million. /Sabah/
TURKEY, CHINA SET TO SIGN TRADE AGREEMENT
Turkey and China are set to sign a trade agreement on next Tuesday, Ankara officials said yesterday. A delegation of 62 Chinese businessmen headed by People’s Republic of China Trade Minister Lu Fuyuan is currently in Turkey meeting with their Turkish counterparts to boost bilateral trade relations. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY BEATS LATVIA 86-70 IN EFES BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The Efes Pilsen World Cup II summer basketball tournament continued yesterday at Istanbul’s Abdi Ipekci Arena. In the first of two matches, Serbia-Montenegro defeated New Zealand by 86-64, and in the second, Turkey beat Latvia by 86-70. In today’s action, Latvia is to face Russia. /All papers/