AFTER ATTACKS IN BAGHDAD, CABINET SAYS DEPLOYMENT DECISION COULD BE REVISITED
The worldwide shock from yesterday’s devastating suicide bombings in Baghdad was also felt during Ankara’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Calling the incidents “disappointing,” Erdogan signalled that Ankara’s decision in favor of sending troops to Iraq could be revisited. “Our decision depends on security issues and our nation’s best interest,” he added, reiterating that Ankara felt no pressing desire to send troops to Iraq. /Hurriyet/

IRAQI FM: “TURKISH TROOP DEPLOYMENT IS LOOKING LESS AND LESS LIKELY”
Due to opposition from Iraq’s Governing Council, prospects are dimming for Turkish troop deployment in Iraq, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari over the weekend. “This subject is still under study, but all the indicators show it may not happen,” said Zebari, who also serves in the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP). “I think this is positive.” Claiming that the Governing Council had expressed unanimous opposition to any such deployment, Zebari said the body feared neighboring countries might have their own agendas. /Sabah/

BREMER: “ANKARA COULD MEET WITH IRAQ’S GOVERNING COUNCIL”

US administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer said yesterday that the issue of Turkey’s sending troops to Iraq would be handled better if discussed directly between Ankara and Iraq’s Governing Council. Appearing on television, Bremer stated that the matter was a sensitive one for the Iraqis. Citing what he called the “imperialistic” history of Ottoman Turks ruling Iraq for four centuries, Bremer said, “The Iraqis’ sensitivity on this is understandable.” Stressing that the US administration believes Turkish troops should be deployed, Bremer said, “However, the views of the Iraqis must be given great weight. It would be better if the issue were discussed between these sides themselves.” Bremer added that the Governing Council had invited a Turkish delegation to discuss the issue in detail. Responding later to Bremer’s remarks, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Ankara had only addressed the US regarding the topic. /Turkiye/

BABACAN: “THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE IMF ON THE SIXTH REVIEW”
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, who is currently in Mexico to attend meetings of the G-20, said yesterday that Ankara and the International Monetary Fund had no problems on the sixth review of Turkey’s economic program. Babacan said that a draft of the new letter of intent (LOI) was ready, but needed more work before being sent to IMF, adding that the Fund’s Executive Board would convene next month. /Cumhuriyet/

VERHEUGEN: “THE EU MIGHT NOT GIVE TURKEY AN UNCONDITIONAL DECISION NEXT YEAR”
At its December 2004 summit, the European Union might not give Ankara an unconditional yes or no decision on whether or not its accession talks will begin, said EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen yesterday. "It is open what recommendation we will make next year," Verheugen told German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine. "But I don’t accept that the only options are an unconditional yes or no. We will not shrink from an uncomfortable recommendation if necessary." Added Verheugen, "We have a government [in Turkey] that is grasping for reform as a goal in itself, independent of a rapprochement with Europe." Verheugen also praised Turkey’s recent reforms, but added that human rights violations still persisted. “We will underline some deficiencies in our progress report next month,” he said. Also touching on the Cyprus issue, Verheugen added that beginning membership negotiations would be difficult before a esolution is reached on the Cyprus issue. /Milliyet/

UNAKITAN PLEDGES WAR AGAINST THE UNREGISTERED ECONOMY
Next year Ankara will begin a war against the nation’s unregistered economy, vowed Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan yesterday. “It will be a difficult year for those who avoid paying their taxes,” Unakitan told a press conference. Also touching on this year’s economic goals, Unakitan said that the primary surplus target of 6.5% was achievable and that the government would continue to strive to reduce Turkey’s high debt burden. “We hope to shrink inflation to the single digits,” added Unakitan. He said that even the midst of this year’s global economic stagnation, Turkey’s economy had continued to grow. /Aksam/

ETHNIC TURK WINS MAYORAL RACE IN BULGARIA
Hasan Aziz, an ethnic Turk, won the mayoral race yesterday in Kircali, a Bulgarian town which many other Turks call home. Aziz won 56% of the vote in the first round of voting. The mayor elect pledged to make the town a truly European one. /Turkiye/