AUG. 30 VICTORY DAY TO BE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT TURKEY AND THE TRNC
Aug. 30 Victory and Turkish Armed Forces Day is set to be celebrated tomorrow throughout Turkey and also in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The day’s first ceremony will take place at Anitkabir, the Ankara mausoleum of Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and the commanders of Turkey’s air, naval and gendarmerie forces will attend the ceremony. Later, Ozkok along with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will witness ceremonies to be held at Ankara's Ataturk Culture Center. The commemorative events will end with a reception hosted by Ozkok. /All papers/

ERDOGAN RECEIVES FENER GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BARTOLOMEOS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received Istanbul Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartolomeos. Speaking after their meeting, Bartholomeos said that he had the opportunity to brief Erdogan on problems facing the patriarchate. “Our problems are both political and legal,” he said. He stated that Erdogan had told him that their problems would be considered with good will, adding that he was sure that Turkey would soon find a solution to their differences. /All papers/

VICE ADM. ALPKAYA HANDS OVER NAVY HELM TO OZDEN ORNEK
Vice Adm. Bulent Alpkaya, the retiring Turkish Naval Forces commander, yesterday handed over the navy’s helm to Adm. Ozden Ornek in a ceremony attended by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, among others. Speaking at the ceremony, Alpkaya said that Ataturk's principles and reforms and the secular and democratic framework of the Turkish Republic had been his guide throughout his assignment, adding that his steadfast aim has always been protecting the secular, democratic Turkish Republic. Alpkaya said that over the past two years the Turkish Naval Forces had participated in 66 military exercises and has also expanded its assistance to other countries’ navies in addition to activities carried out under the aegis of NATO and regional alliances. The need for shipments of oil and natural gas from the Middle East and the Caucasus has increased the importance of harbors, said the admiral, and such responsibilities will require an even more skillful navy. /All papers/

US AMBASSADOR EDELMAN: “LOAN IS UNRELATED TO TROOP DEPLOYMENT ISSUE”
There is no relation between the extension of an $8.5 billion US loan to Turkey and Ankara possibly sending troops to Iraq, US Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman said yesterday. At a reception in honor of a visiting US delegation, Edelman commented on recent press comments by Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor interpreted by some to mean Ankara can only receive the loan if it sends troops to Iraq. “I haven’t seen the full text of the interview,” said Edelmen. “However, I don’t think that’s what he meant. The only possible condition for the loan would be continued cooperation between our countries. These two matters shouldn’t be linked.” The ambassador also stated that in his view, Ankara’s sending troops to Iraq would serve Turkey’s own national interests. “But of course the final decision rests with you government,” he added. /Turkiye

DENKTAS MEETS WITH ISTANBUL DISTRICT MAYOR SARIGUL
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday met Mustafa Sarigul, the mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district. During their talks, Sarigul praised Denktas’s continuing defense of the TRNC and his sacrifices for that cause. Later, asked his views on possible Turkish troop deployment to Iraq, Denktas said commenting on the issue would be inappropriate, as he was not part of Ankara’s decision-making establishment. “Turkey will make the best decision,” he added confidently. “I hope the United Nations Security Council also passes a resolution on the issue.” He said international legitimacy would smooth the way for deployment. /Anatolia News Agency/

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING MEETINGS TO CONTINUE
Representatives of the government and civil servants’ unions are scheduled to gather today for the fourth time under collective bargaining meetings which began on Aug. 15. During the meetings headed by State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, salary increases for next year will be discussed. If today’s meetings prove inconclusive, the sides will continue their meetings tomorrow. If an agreement still remains out of reach, new meetings will be held under a Reconciliation Council with four scholars and the head of the Higher Judge’s Council. /Turkiye/

GOVT REPORTEDLY SEEKING TO CURB PRESIDENTIAL POWERS IN BID TO BYPASS REFERENDUM ON FORMER FORESTLAND MEASURE
The Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is reportedly exploring ways to limit presidential powers before re-passing a constitutional amendment on the sale of former forestland. The amendment was vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer earlier this month and sent back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Constitution grants the president the right to call for a national referendum if Parliament passes the amendment without making any changes. With this in mind, the government is reportedly working a formula which would deny the president the referendum option on a previously vetoed amendment provided the amendment is reapproved by Parliament with more than 367 votes, a two-thirds majority which the AKP holds. /Sabah/

RTUK SUBMITS THREE CANDIDATES FOR TRT HELM
The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) yesterday nominated three contenders from an initial field of 114 as final candidates for the directorship of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT). The three figures nominated were Senol Demiroz, Mustafa Ruhi Sirin and Sacettin Gurbuz. The Cabinet will choose one of the three candidates, and then submit that name to the president for his approval. /All Papers/

TURKEY TO SELL ELECTRICITY TO IRAQ
Turkey will sign an electricity sale deal with Iraq next month, said a statement issued yesterday by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry. The statement added that Turkey’s electricity sales to Iraq are expected to begin with an initial 50 megawatts per year and eventually grow to 200 megawatts. /Cumhuriyet/

CELIK: “THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESUBMIT BILL ON PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION FOR THE POOR”
Education Minister Huseyin Celik said yesterday that the government would resubmit to Parliament a bill to make private school education available to poor children. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the bill earlier this month, arguing that it would pave the way for students to be educated with a mentality contradicting the basic principles of the secular, democratic Republic in schools founded by certain circles. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TAKES GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Turkey’s team yesterday took the crown of world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Junior Wrestling Championship held in Istanbul. Both Seref Tufenk, competing in the men's 66 kg category, and Yavuz Guvendi, competing in men's 120 kg category, won gold medals. /Anatolia News Agency/