SEZER: "TURKISH UNIVERSITIES CAN COMPETE WITH OTHERS WORLDWIDE"
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that Turkish universities were at a level where they are able to compete with others in the world. Delivering a speech at a gathering at Ankara's Middle East Technical University (METU) ushering in the new school year, Sezer said that universities play a leading role in societies. Stressing that universities should be encouraged to carry out scientific research, the president called for removing obstacles to this. Furthermore, Sezer asked students to act with responsibility in line with the nation's interests, and to work hard. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN URGES IRAQ TO TAKE STRICTER MEASURES AGAINST PKK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week sent a letter to his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki listing Ankara's expectations for measures against the terrorist group PKK, beyond Iraq's recent steps. Welcoming Iraq's sensitivity on the issue, Erdogan called on Iraqi officials to take more concrete measures, including an official declaration of the PKK as a terrorist group, closing all political parties favoring the group, ending all armed and political activities of the PKK and related organizations, and stopping terrorists from crossing Turkey's border to launch attacks. Erdogan underlined that those steps would help to boost bilateral relations. /Turkiye/

TURKIC CONVENTION SETS AMBITIOUS TARGETS
The 10th Turkic States and Communities Convention wrapped up yesterday with a joint declaration which set ambitions targets to strengthen cooperation in the Turkic world. The joint declaration listed the common stance of the participating Turkic states and communities in 35 areas and also envisaged a new action plan to create common ground for closer cooperation. The last session of the convention started yesterday with speeches by State Minister Besir Atalay and Turkish Brotherhood and Cooperation Association (TUDEV) head Abdulhaluk Cay. Professor Umay Turkey also gave a speech thanking Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government for realizing the 10th convention. After the commissions' reports and the joint declaration were read out, former President Suleyman Demirel delivered a speech. /The New Anatolian/

ERDOGAN: "THE AKP GOVT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ENTHUSIASM"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a series of openings in Bursa. Addressing crowds during ceremonies, Erdogan said the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government was working hard with enthusiasm to develop the country further. Stressing that Turkey had recently undergone a great change, the premier said that they were trying to serve all the nation's regions and provinces equally. Erdogan is set to travel to the US on Sept. 30 to pay a three-day visit. During his stay, the premier is expected to meet with representatives of the Turkish community in the country and top US officials, including President George W. Bush on Oct. 2 in the White House in Washington. /Turkiye/

GUL WARNS IRAQI OFFICIALS ABOUT KIRKUK
Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan yesterday briefed reporters about Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's ongoing contacts at the UN in New York. Stressing that Gul had held a series of talks with various countries' top officials including his counterparts from Italy Mexico, and Singapore, Tan said Gul also met with Eshref Gazi, the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy for Iraq. The spokesman stated that the two had exchanged views on the Kirkuk issue, and Gul urged Gazi to make efforts towards a settlement between sides before a referendum set to be held at the end of 2007. /Star/

EURLINGS: "STATEMENTS ON GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS SHOULD BE STRICKEN FROM THE EP REPORT"
Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings, the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs rapporteur who recently prepared a report on Turkey, yesterday said, "Recognizing the [so-called] Armenian genocide can't be a precondition. These statements should be stricken from the text." Speaking about next week's vote on the report, Eurlings said that he didn't like the current state of the report and he was working to change it. "If the report is issued as is, it will be a problem for Turkey's accession," said Eurlings. In related news, Eurlings' report, which contains exaggerations, is now encountering opposition from EP groups. Recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide as a precondition for membership is at the focal point of the debates. Socialists and Greens are planning to vote against the report if it's not changed. /Milliyet/

IMF, WORLD BANK LOOK FORWARD TO 2009 ISTANBUL MEETING
A memorandum of understanding for holding the 2009 International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings in Istanbul was signed yesterday in Singapore. The memorandum was signed by State Economy Minister Ali Babacan, IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. Rato said that the period until 2009 where when the meetings will be held will be a tough time for Turkey as preparations will need to be made, but expressed his conviction that Turkey will be very successful in organizing the event. Babacan thanked the IMF and the World Bank heads in his speech at the signing ceremony. He added that Turkey has had an intensive and successful cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank and that the same cooperation would continue for the organization of the 2009 meetings. /Hurriyet/

TUZMEN PLEDGES "WIN-WIN" ECONOMIC STRATEGY WITH CHINA
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday arrived in China with 150 businessmen in a bid to balance trade between the two countries. "My visit to China with a large delegation of Turkish entrepreneurs and bureaucrats is intended to foster joint interests," said Tuzmen, and underlined that they were pursuing a win-win strategy with China. Stating that China was the world's richest country 500 years ago, Tuzmen said, "China will again be the richest country of the world. But we were the richest 350 years ago. We can't wait another 150 years. Thus, we should cooperate. Let's see this while we're alive." Tuzmen also met with Shangai Mayor Han Zheng. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY'S GDP RANKS NO. SIX AMONG EU STATES
A report comparing the Turkish economy with those of European Union countries prepared by the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) was released yesterday. The report stated that as of last year, Turkey had the sixth-largest economy among EU states with its $569 billion gross domestic product (GDP) according to purchasing power parity. Turkey left behind 15 EU member countries, including Luxembourg, Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Sweden, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition, in 2005 Turkey individually created more added value than all of the 10 countries ranked lowest on the list combined. /Star/