"SILK ROAD OF THE 21ST CENTURY" OPENS
The nearly $4 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline officially opened yesterday with a ceremony attended by high-level representatives from over 30 countries, including President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts Ilham Aliyev and Mikhail Saakashvili, in Turkey's Mediterranean town of Ceyhan. The pipeline, which enables the transfer of Caspian oil to Western markets, will change the face of the region, said Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his address to the gathering. Pointing to the project's contribution to stability, development and prosperity in the region, Erdogan said as energy demand is set to rise significantly in the coming years, the BTC's importance would grow. Also addressing the gathering, Sezer underlined that Turkey was at the center of energy corridors and that the pipeline would develop cooperation with neighbors and partners. A message sent to Sezer by US President George W. Bush also hailed the opening of the pipeline, as it will ensure that Caspian oil reaches world markets through a viable route. The BTC, with a length of 1,776 kilometers, at full capacity is expected to pump 1 million barrels of oil every day. /All Papers/

ARINC COMPLETES RUSSIAN VISIT
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday left for Ankara after completing a four-day visit to Russia. Speaking to reporters in Moscow before his flight home, Arinc said that he had had very fruitful talks with Russian officials on strengthening bilateral ties. /Sabah/

FIVE SOLDIERS IN BITLIS KILLED BY MINE
Terrorist PKK militants are continuing bloody attacks on security forces. A military vehicle yesterday hit a mine laid on a road by terrorists in the eastern Anatolian city of Bitlis. The explosion took the lives of five soldiers while leaving four others wounded. The wounded soldiers were receiving treatment at Tatvan Military Hospital. /Turkiye/

ECHR CONVICTS GREECE FOR VIOLATING RELIGIOUS RIGHTS
Ismet Emin Aga, the elected mufti of Xanthi in Greece's Thrace region, has won in two cases he filed against Athens at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court ruled that Greece violated Aga's freedom of thought, religion and conscience. Aga was elected mufti of Xanthi in August 1990 but Athens didn't recognize his election and instead appointed another mufti in his place. A Greek court first convicted Aga to prison time, claiming that he continued his duty despite the Interior Ministry's decision, but later reduced that to a fine. Aga had earlier won two other cases against Greece at the ECHR. /Milliyet/

EU: "THE BTC WILL BE A CENTER OF SECURE ENERGY"
The European Union sent its Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to yesterday's opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline to show its support and the project's value. Turkey, always present in EU strategy papers on the diversity of the energy sources and a common energy policy, has strengthened its position with the BTC. Stressing that the project is being implemented at a time when it is truly needed, EU officials say that Turkey has become indispensable for transferring energy to Europe. The BTC constitutes an alternative for the EU, which wants to reduce its dependence on Russian energy transfers, and this boosts the prestige of the project in Brussels' eyes. /Milliyet/

PAPADOPOULOS PROTESTS OFFICIAL BRYZA-TALAT MEETING
Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday said he would not meet with Matt Bryza, the US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, in protest of his upcoming meeting with the Turkish Cypriot president at his official office in Lefkosa. During his three-day visit to the divided island, set to begin on Sunday, Bryza will be faced by the Greek Cypriot protest of his plan to meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat at the Presidency, a move that the Greek Cypriots consider a step towards recognition of the TRNC, a state recognized by Turkey but not by the rest of the international community. During Byryza's last visit to the island Papadopoulos also refused to meet him, boycotting a similar Talat-Bryza meeting at the TRNC Presidency. /The New Anatolian/

UNAKITAN: "NO CONCESSION WILL BE MADE FROM THE ECONOMIC PROGRAMS"
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, currently visiting London to hold talks with financial institutions in the city on the Turkish economy, said yesterday that Turkey would continue its economic programs without making any concessions. Speaking to reporters, Unakitan hailed the interest of British business in the Turkish economy and ongoing privatization activities. Citing recent economic figures, Unakitan said that positive domestic developments were attracting foreign capital. Stressing that the government was very sensitive to maintaining stability in the country, the minister said that both the presidential and general elections would be held as scheduled next year, adding, "There will be no early elections in Turkey." /Turkiye/