PRESIDENT SEZER RECEIVES ECUADORAN, GUATEMALAN AMBASSADORS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received Emilio Rafael Izquierdo, Ecuador’s ambassador to Italy who is also accredited to Turkey. Izquierdo presented his letter of credentials to Sezer at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Later, Floridalma Franco Paiz, Guatemala’s ambassador to Egypt who is also accredited to Turkey, presented his letter of credentials to Sezer. /All papers/

ERDOGAN: “THE EU’S STANCE TOWARDS TURKEY IS NOT FAIR”
The European Union’s stance towards Turkey’s EU membership bid is not a fair one, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged yesterday. Speaking at a meeting in Berlin, Erdogan pointed to Turkey’s steadfast efforts and clear willingness to become an EU member. “Even some former Eastern bloc countries which are hardly in a better state than Turkey have been admitted into the EU,” said the premier. “The EU’s stance against Turkey is incomprehensible.” As part of his contacts with German officials, Erdogan met with opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Angela Merkel. Following their meeting, Erdogan stated that he believed German political parties would support Turkey’s EU membership bid. For her part, Merkel said that Turkey had yet to be admitted into the Union due to EU economic problems, not because the majority of Turkey’s citizens are Muslims. Erdogan left Germany to return to Ankara yesterday afternoon. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN MINISTER GUL RETURNS FROM VIENNA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Ankara from Vienna. Before his departure, Gul met separately with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) head Carlos Magarinos and Antonio Maria Costa, director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Later, in a statement on his contacts in Austria, Gul said that he had attended a conference of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) signatory countries on ways to accelerate enforcement of the arms control pact. “In my speech to the meeting, I stressed the importance Turkey places on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons as well as the ratification and enforcement by all countries of the CTBT, one the key means for achieving this goal,” said Gul. He also stated that he had met with the Finnish and Japanese foreign ministers as well as the Italian deputy foreign minister during the conference. Gul added that during his talks with UNODC head Costa, he had pledged Turkey’s continued support for UN efforts to combat corruption, the drug trade, organized crime, terrorism and human smuggling. /All papers/

NATO COMMANDER JAMES JONES MEETS WITH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OZKOK
Gen. James Jones, the visiting commander of NATO forces in Europe, yesterday met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok in Ankara. During their meeting, the two commanders reportedly discussed recent developments in Iraq and efforts to establish an international stabilization force there as well as the presence of PKK/KADEK terrorists in northern Iraq. “I think any help that could be given [by Turkey] to the very important efforts ongoing in Iraq would be welcome by the United States,” said Jones. In addition, topics on the agenda of next week’s NATO Military Committee meeting in Britain and France were discussed. The Allied Action 2003 Exercises to be held on Nov. 13-18 in Turkey were also reviewed. Then Jones visited Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. In an effort to clarify certain details regarding Turkey’s possible troop deployment in Iraq, Turkish and US military delegations are set to begin talks today. /All Papers/

GULER TO VISIT ISRAEL TO DISCUSS SALE OF MANAVGAT WATER
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler is to travel to Israel on Sep. 18-19 to sign a protocol on the sale of Turkish water from Manavgat, near Antalya, to this country. During their meetings, Guler and Israeli officials will discuss how the water is to be marketed as well as transported, via tanker ships or an underwater pipeline. Turkey will be responsible for the sale of the water only, while Israel will decide on the method of transportation. Once an agreement is reached, the State Waterworks Authority (DSI) is set to finalize tender conditions before calling for bids. /Turkiye/

D’ESTAING GLOOMY ON TURKEY’S EU PROSPECTS
The European Union’s attempts to admit Turkey into its ranks are unlikely to yield a positive outcome, claimed European Convention Chairman Valery Giscard d’Estaing at a Strasbourg press conference yesterday. “If we want full-scale integration within our European countries, we have to build a homogenous structure and preserve it,” claimed d’Estaing, a former French president, adding, “I don’t see that possible with Turkey in the Union.” D’Estaing furthermore proposed that instead of accession to the Union, Turkey could improve its ties with the EU by following the example of the relationship between the US and Mexico. Late last year, d’Estaing publicly alleged that Turkey’s accession to the EU would bring about “the end” of the Union, causing a firestorm of controversy both in Turkey and the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

GERMAN OPPOSITION LEADER: “THE EU ISN’T READY FOR TURKEY’S ACCESSION”
Speaking at a press conference following her meeting with visiting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, German opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel claimed that the European Union was not yet ready to admit Turkey, citing as reason the EU’s current economic woes. “This has nothing to do with Turkey’s being a Muslim country or the nation’s cultural differences,” added Merkel. “The latest enlargement wave has placed additional burdens on the Union’s economy, which, for the present time, does not allow the EU to take Turkey in as a member.” /Sabah/

WORLD BANK REPORT TOUTS TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS
In a new report released yesterday, the World Bank praises the recent pace of economic progress in Turkey. The WB’s “Global Economic Prospects 2004” notes how the economy successfully overcame the 2001 crisis to achieve 7.8% growth last year. It added, however, that this year’s growth target was 5%. The report further stated that Turkey’s exports were on the rise despite appreciation of the lira, adding that the government should continue fully to implement its International Monetary Fund-supported economic program. /Milliyet/

AUGUST WHOLESALE INFLATION LOWEST IN 20 YEARS
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released month-on-month inflation figures for August. Inflation lat month was 0.2% on the consumer price index (CPI) and a negative 0.2% on the wholesale price index (WPI), the latter the lowest such rate in 20 years. Overall the figures pushed year-to-year WPI inflation to 22.7% and CPI to 24.9%. /All papers/