NSC DISCUSSES SENDING SOLDIERS TO LEBANON AND TERRORIST PKK
The National Security Council (NSC), convening under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, yesterday discussed sending soldiers to Lebanon as well as the terrorist PKK. Outgoing Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Gendarmerie General Commander Fevzi Turkeri attended the NSC meeting for the last time. During the gathering, security in the country was discussed and Turkey's determination in the fight against terrorism was underlined. It was also stressed that Ankara welcomed the recent UN resolution to halt the Lebanon conflict, and the importance of boosting diplomatic efforts for permanent peace and stability was emphasized. During the meeting, it was also decided that Turkey would continue to provide humanitarian aid for Palestine and Lebanon. /Turkiye/

GUL: "IF WE DEPLOY TROOPS IN LEBANON, THEY WON'T BE INVOLVED IN CLASHES"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday clarified Turkey's stance on the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon and also he responded to opposition parties' criticisms on the issue. Speaking after yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council (MGK), Gul said, "If we decide to contribute, the mission to be assumed by our troops absolutely won't involve clashes between domestic components, and they won't assume a role in disarming the armed groups." Stating that all the leaders in the region he has spoken with made clear requests for Turkey to send troops, Gul said that Turkey was also aware of its historical responsibility on the issue. Meanwhile, Gul will go to Syria today and convey important messages. He is expected to urge Syrian President Bashar Assad to take action to positively influence Hezbollah, and will also meet with his Syrian counterpart Waleed Al Muallem. /Sabah/

OZKOK PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO GUL
Outgoing Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday paid a farewell visit to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul before the midday meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). Speaking afterwards, Gul said that he had had the opportunity to work with Ozkok during his tenure in office. Gul stated that the Foreign Ministry and General Staff were working closely with each other, adding that they hadn't discussed the issue of sending soldiers to the peacekeeping force to be deployed in Lebanon. /Milliyet/

FORMER GREEK FM ROLANDIS: "WE ALWAYS REJECTED SOLUTIONS"
Former Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Rolandis on Monday confessed that the Greek Cypriots have passed up possible resolutions of the Cyprus problem seven times since 1974. Speaking to Greek Cypriot daily Alithia, Rolandis said, "Greek Cypriots have wasted time, and the current government has done nothing for three-and-a-half years and has missed opportunities for a Cyprus solution." He criticized the Greek Cypriots' rejection in 2004 of the latest peace and reunification plan put forward by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and added, "Trains don't always pull into the station, but when the train arrived we let it go." /Hurriyet/

MERKEL: "TURKEY HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS"
German Prime Minister Angela Merkel yesterday held a press conference in Berlin and spoke about Turkey's role in attaining peace in the Middle East. "Turkey can play an important role in the Middle East peace process," said Merkel, adding, "So the European Union is in contact with the Turkish government." Merkel also said that Turkish-German relations will be discussed during her visit to Turkey set for October. /Star/

FOREST FIRES RAVAGE AEGEAN, MEDITERRANEAN REGIONS
Fires raging through almost 1,000 hectares of forest, principally along the country's southern and western coasts, are threatening nature and causing panic, with authorities reporting yesterday that there were over 90 fires nationwide over the weekend. Firefighting teams worked hard to extinguish fires in 20 areas in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, and late yesterday another fire broke out in Bodrum, one of Turkey's major holiday resorts, and teams were working to put it out. The fires were around Antalya and the Selcuk district, and Izmir, an area also known for faith tourism. /The New Anatolian/

THIRD ROUND OF GOVT, CIVIL SERVANTS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO BEGIN
The third round of collective bargaining between government officials and civil servants' labor confederations is due to begin today. Memur Sen Chairman Ahmet Aksu said that he predicted government officials would propose a 25% pay hike and added, "This could be a good raise." He added that the civil servants' labor confederations wanted their pay to keep pace with inflation. In the first and second rounds of collective bargaining, it was discussed how the losses this year would be compensated for, but participants decided to discuss the issue in subsequent meetings. /Aksam/

S&P ANALYST: "IF TURKEY CONTINUES ITS STRUCTURAL REFORMS, THIS WILL POSITIVELY AFFECT ITS CREDIT"
International Credit Rating Agency S&P Turkey analyst Farouk Soussa said yesterday that if Turkey continues its structural economic reforms, this would positively affect its credit note. Saying that rating agencies placed importance on permanent measures and structural reforms, Soussa added that S&P wanted Turkey to pursue these reforms. Soussa stressed that Turkey was among the countries most affected by recent fluctuations in the international markets, adding that the situation of the Turkish economy was better since the fluctuations waned and capital inflow increased. "However, external imbalances in the economy, which make Turkey more fragile in the long term, are continuing," he cautioned. /Aksam/