SEZER GOES TO MALAYSIA FOR OIC MEETING

President Ahment Necdet Sezer flew yesterday to Malaysia to attend the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) heads of state and government summit scheduled to begin today. A draft resolution on Iraq, already approved at this week’s OIC foreign minister’s meeting, urges the United Nations to play a central role in postwar Iraq, adding that sovereignty should be returned to the Iraqi people as soon as possible. The resolution is also expected to condemn this week’s suicide bombing outside the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. Meanwhile, at a press conference on the sidelines of the OIC meetings, members of Iraq’s Governing Council expressed opposition to the deployment of more foreign troops in their country. The council itself has yet to take an official stance on Turkey’s proposed troop deployment. /Hurriyet/

ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO BRUSSELS

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday flew to Brussels to attend a European Union gathering. During his visit, Erdogan is also set to hold bilateral meetings with his European counterparts to discuss Turkey’s EU membership bid. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL DISCUSSES IRAQ WITH ARAB LEAGUE HEAD

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Malaysia to attend a Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting, yesterday met with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa to discuss a number of issues, including recent developments in Iraq. During their talks, Gul said that the Arab world should take an active role on Iraq. “It’s a part of the Arab world, so merely sitting and watching developments there isn’t right,” said the foreign minister. Gul added that no one would sway Turkey’s determination to contribute to Iraq’s stability. /Aksam/

TUZMEN: “THE BAGHDAD BOMBING INCIDENT WON’T HURT TURKEY’S EXPORTS”

State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday branded the bombing this week near the entrance to the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad a “provocation,” adding that it would not dent Turkey’s exports to that country. /Cumhuriyet/

RICE: “TURKISH TROOP DEPLOYMENT IS A SENSITIVE MATTER”

Speaking to reporters yesterday, US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said that Turkish troop deployment in Iraq was a “sensitive matter,” adding, “We appreciate Turkey’s efforts on this and we are continuing our contacts with them.” Stressing that in addition to Turks, US officials were also holding meetings with Iraqis, Rice said, “We’ll see what the result will be. For the time being, we are continuing our contacts with all sides.” In related news, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said yesterday that US administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer and other officials were holding direct meetings with Iraqi Governing Council members on the matter, adding that detailed talks with Turkish officials were continuing as well. /Sabah/

KURDISH OFFICIAL WARNS OF CLASHES WITH TURKISH TROOPS

Hamid Efendi, a minister in the regional Kurdish assembly in northern Iraq, yesterday said that if Turks travel to Iraq via northern Iraq, clashes between Turkish troops and Kurdish forces might occur. At a press conference earlier this week, Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug stated that if Ankara sends troops to Iraq, they will pass through northern Iraq, adding that any attack on the troops by Kurds would be met by a “necessary response.” /Turkiye/

RECTORS VISIT ERDOGAN OVER EDUCATION BILL

A delegation of university rectors led by Ayhan Alkis yesterday visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Group Deputy Chairman Faruk Celik, and Parliament’s Education Commission head Tayyar Altikulac. During their meetings, a controversial bill involving regulations for professional education high schools – including religious schools – at university entrance examinations as well as a new Board of Higher Education (YOK) bill were taken up. The rectors urged the government to postpone the bill on professional schools, while the government officials called on rectors to speed up work on the new YOK bill. /Hurriyet/

SIXTH IMF REVIEW COMPLETED, MOGHADAM PRAISES PROGRAM’S POSITIVE RESULTS
The sixth review of Turkey’s International Monetary Fund-supported economic program was officially completed yesterday. Speaking to a press conference, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan called this year’s 5% growth target easily achievable, adding that inflation would even fall below 20%. Babacan said that Turkey and the IMF had agreed on the 2004 budget and that the drafting of a new letter of intent (LOI) would also begin soon. Also touching on a recent $8.5 billion US loan deal, Babacan said that negotiations on details of the loan were continuing. For his part, IMF Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam hailed the positive results of the economic program and seconded Babacan’s prediction of inflation below 20%. Moghadam stated that the economy’s sensitivity to foreign developments had been cushioned by a rise in foreign exchange reserves. “If the program’s determined implementation continues, then Ankara’s high debt stock and interest rates, sensitivity to shocks, and inflation will be reduced even further,” he added. /Milliyet/

TWO TURKISH TEAMS BEAT RIVALS IN UEFA CUP ACTION

Two of the four Turkish teams vying for football’s UEFA Cup yesterday advanced to the second round of competition. Gaziantep defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Gencler Birligi was victorious against Australian side Blackburn. /All papers/