YOK HEAD, MEMBERS, AND UNIVERSITY RECTORS TO MEET WITH SEZER
Board of Higher Education (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic, YOK members, and rectors of a number of universities are due to meet today with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to present a report proposing solutions to problems facing higher education in Turkey. The report to be presented to Sezer was prepared by the Strategy Development Commission. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN VISITS ERZURUM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) second provincial congress in Erzurum. Addressing the congress, Erdogan said that the nation wanted results rather than talk. He stated that after completing the provincial congresses, the AKP would begin preparations for its next general congress. Touting his government's accomplishments during its three-and-a-half years in power, Erdogan said that they would continue to make efforts to further develop the country. He also attended a number of openings in the city. /Turkiye/
GUL TO TRAVEL TO US FOR TALKS ON IRAN ISSUE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, accompanied by a group of diplomats, will fly to the US today to have talks with US officials, especially on the Iran issue. The foreign minister is expected to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Stephen Hadley, the president's national security advisor. During his three-day stay, Gul will also exchange views on the recent developments in the Middle East, the Cyprus issue and the fight against the terrorist PKK. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: "NOW IT'S THE EU AND GREEK CYPRIOTS' TURN"
In a weekend interview with cable channel Euronews, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had done its duty on the Cyprus issue, adding that now it was the Greek Cypriots' and European Union's turn. He stressed that unless the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is ended, Ankara would not consider signing the additional protocol, under which Turkey is to open its airports and harbors to Greek Cypriots. Regarding the EU's warning that it could suspend Turkey's talks if the protocol is not implemented, Erdogan said, "It doesn't matter," adding that Ankara would always back Turkish Cyprus. He also called on Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration to sit at the table for talks under the auspices of the United Nations to find a settlement to the Cyprus issue. /Sabah-Turkiye/
BAYKAL: "SOMEONE WHO FAILED TO ADDRESS CORRUPTION CLAIMS AGAINST HIM CANNOT BE PRESIDENT"
Appearing on television over the weekend, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan possibly running for president, saying that someone who hadn't addressed corruption claims against himself could not be president. Baykal said that if Erdogan wanted documents proving corruption, he should look at the reports of the State Supervision Agency (DDY). Commenting on plans to form alliances between parties, Baykal called such alliances just before general elections "insincere." The presidential election is set for May 2007, and the next general elections for that November. /Sabah/
UN'S GAMBARI TO URGE SIDES FOR CYPRUS RESOLUTION
United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, during his visit to the island this week, is due to urge Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to seek a resolution on the island. He is also expected to urge both sides to resume talks between themselves and that if they don't accept this, the UN will not help with a Cyprus resolution for two years. /Milliyet/
TRNC'S TALAT TO MEET WITH GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos will meet today for the first time in two years. The meeting will be at the residence of Michael Moller, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and is to focus on the missing persons issue. The Talat-Papadopoulos meeting will be the first one since Greek Cypriots rejected a UN-sponsored plan to establish a new partnership state. Christophe Girod, the newly-appointed third member of the Missing Persons Committee, will also take part in the gathering. /Hurriyet/
IRAQI FM ZEBARI VISITS TURKEY
Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari yesterday came to Ankara. Zebari will meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and will also be received by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After these meetings, Zebari will proceed to Istanbul to take part in the opening ceremony of Iraq's new consulate general there. /Cumhuriyet/
EU TERM PRESIDENT FINLAND'S FM: "WE SHOULD HELP TURKEY"
In an interview with Greek Daily Elefterotipia, the European Union's new Term President Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomiojan said that it was early to speak about Turkey's EU membership. "Negotiations have just started," said Tuomiojan. "This is the beginning of a long period which will connect Turkey with the EU. The issue of whether Turkey is prepared or not shouldn't occupy us. Instead, we should focus on helping Turkey to realize reforms. Turkey is a European country and when it fulfills the membership criteria, it will be adopted with pleasure among us." /Cumhuriyet/
IAEA'S ELBARADEI TO VISIT TURKEY
As part of his efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the Iran issue, International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei is set to pay a visit to Turkey at the invitation of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler. ElBaradei will attend a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Turkey's Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK). During his talks with Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Iran's nuclear program issue, as well as Turkey's plans to build nuclear power plants, will be taken up. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: "CB AND GOVT WILL TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES FROM NOW ON"
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan commented on criticisms of the government concerning recent fluctuations on the markets, saying that both the Central Bank and the government would take necessary measures from now on. Conceding that there has been a lack of communication up to now, Babacan added that communication between institutions could have been better. The minister stressed that markets had calmed down, adding that it could go on like this or certain risks could come. Commenting on relations with the European Union, Babacan said that relations with the EU would be revisited in October. "We have the Cyprus problem ahead of us," he said. "Everyone wants this problem to be solved as soon as possible. We're all on the same train and if we face a train crash, this will hurt all of us." Also commenting on relations with the International Monetary Fund, Babacan said that Turkey was in full agreement with a visiting IMF delegation, adding that letter of intent (LOI) could soon be signed. /Star/