SEZER: “UNIVERSITIES MUST NOT BE POLITICIZED”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday said that universities were establishments which prepare society for the future and pave the way for new developments. Speaking to an academic year opening at Izmir’s Ege University, Sezer said that policies which could politicize institutions of higher education must be avoided. “Work to restructure universities should meet the needs of society and the universities as well as students’ expectations and desires,” said the president. /All Papers/

GUL MEETS WITH POWELL TO DISCUSS TROOP DEPLOYMENT, PKK/KADEK TERRORIST ISSUES
Foreign Minister Abullah Gul, who currently in New York to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings, met on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss the issue of Turkey possibly sending troops to Iraq. During their talks, Powell reiterated that a deployment of Turkish troops would be welcomed by Washington. Gul replied that Ankara was continuing to evaluate the issue, adding that there had been a recent shift in public opinion on the issue. “A peaceful, stable Iraq is in Turkey’s best interests,” said Gul. “If our government decides to send this recommendation to Parliament, which re-convenes next week, I believe Parliament will not refuse.” He added that the final decision on the issue would be made by Parliament and that a United Nations resolution would be helpful. For his part, Powell said that Washington would do its best to meet Ankara’s expectations concerning the terrorist group PKK/KADEK. /Aksam/

FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITS ERDOGAN
Former President Suleyman Demirel yesterday visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Following their one-hour meeting, Demirel told reporters that they had discussed major issues facing Turkey and that he had offered his views on various topics. “I will travel to the US this weekend to deliver speeches at a number of gatherings, and I also briefed him on them,” said the elder Turkish statesman. /Turkiye/

GUL MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou in New York to discuss the Cyprus issue. Speaking afterwards, Gul said that there was a need to make changes to the United Nations Cyprus plan so that it would satisfy both sides. Asked about if Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas would resume negotiations with the Greek Cypriot administration, Gul declined to comment, saying this was Denktas’s decision. In a ceremony, the two top diplomats also signed onto an international treaty banning land mines, saying that this action showed their commitment to peace in their region. Gul is expected to pay an official visit to Athens next month. /Aksam/

US IRAQ ADMINISTRATOR BREMER: “A KURDISH STATE WOULD NOT SERVE THE US’ INTERESTS”
US Iraq administrator Paul Bremer said yesterday that the US was opposed to the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq not due to Ankara’s objections, but rather because such a development would not serve the US’ own interests. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bremer denied Kansas Senator Sam Brownback’s claim that the US was opposed to a Kurdish state only due to Turkey’s own opposition. “I’ve commented on this matter extensively,” said Bremer. “We oppose the establishment of such a state because it wouldn’t serve our own interests, not due to Turkey’s wishes.” /Turkiye/

HUNGARIAN INTERIOR MINISTER: “THE PKK IS A TERRORIST GROUP”
In Ankara yesterday upon the invitation of her Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Aksu, Hungarian Interior Minister Monika Lamperth affirmed that Hungary recognized the PKK’s status as a terrorist group and pledged that her country would work to combat terrorism more effectively. After a meeting, the two ministers said that under a security agreement between the two countries, they had exchanged views on the problems of terrorism and drug trafficking as well as their respective civil defense services. /Turkiye/

BABACAN: “FOREIGNERS ARE WATCHING EVENTS IN TURKEY CLOSELY”
Foreign financial circles, investors, and journalists as well as students are closely following developments in Turkey, said State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport upon returning from joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund meetings in Dubai, Babacan said that through its policy choices, Turkey had attracted the interest of countries not only from its own region, but also from all over the world. Babacan also reiterated that the recent US loan extended to Turkey was not related to the question of its sending troops to Iraq. /Milliyet/

IMF HEAD KOEHLER: “ERDOGAN’S DETERMINATION ON THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined to continue to implement Turkey’s International Monetary Fund-supported economic program, IMF Head Horst Koehler said yesterday, adding that this determination was the most important guarantee of the program’s success. “The program should continue to be implemented in order to meet this year’s inflation and growth targets,” Koehler told a press conference in Dubai during this week’s annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. Koehler added that his meeting with Erdogan in Dubai had been very fruitful. /All papers/

IMF DELEGATION, MUSIAD DISCUSS RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
A delegation from the International Monetary Fund headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam yesterday visited the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) to discuss recent economic developments. Also present at the meeting was IMF Turkey representative Odd Per Brekk. Speaking afterwards, MUSIAD Chairman Ali Bayramoglu said that the two sides had discussed recent overvalued exchange rates. /All papers/

FITCH BOOSTS TURKEY’S CREDIT RATING
International credit rating institution Fitch yesterday announced that it had upgraded Turkey’s credit rating from B- to B and the nation’s outlook from stable to positive. Fitch said the improved ratings recognized increased confidence in Turkey’s ability to meet its financial requirements both this year and next. /Turkiye/