ERDOGAN SET TO ATTEND TRNC’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) tomorrow in order to attend celebrations marking the island nation’s 20th anniversary. Also set to attend are opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal as well as many deputies and bureaucrats. Erdogan is expected to meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas as well as opposition party leaders to discuss the Cyprus issue, ahead of the TRNC general elections just one month away. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL, DENKTAS REACT TO CoE LOIZIDOU COMPENSATION ORDER
Speaking about the Council of Europe’s (CoE) recent decision ordering Turkey to pay some $900,000 in damages to Greek Cypriot citizen Titina Loizidou for allegedly “depriving her of access to her property” following the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Ankara would continue its “conciliatory” attitude and still expects that talks on the issue would continue. Additionally, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday branded the verdict as “yet another political decision” by Europe against Turkish Cypriots. CoE officials said Turkey could face sanctions if it fails to meet next Wednesday’s Nov. 19 deadline for compensation. /All Papers/

GUL TO VISIT SWEDEN NEXT WEEK
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to travel to Sweden next Tuesday for an official visit. During his visit he is expected to meet with his Swedish counterpart Laila Freidvals to discuss bilateral relations, Turkey’s European Union membership bid, and Iraq, among other issues. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH BREAKTHROUGHS REPORTED ON CYPRUS ISSUE
Following last week’s release of the annual European Commission Progress Report on Turkey, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly briefed EU leaders on basic points of Turkey’s new strategy for Cyprus during this week’s EU troika meeting in Rome. Under the new strategy, in return for a more balanced approach in UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Cyprus plan, Turkey is set to both open Northern Cyprus’ Maras area to settlement under UN supervision and gradually reduce its military presence in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyrus (TRNC). Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros reported yesterday that Turkey was planning to withdraw some 5,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday told reporters that the TRNC and Turkish officials were working jointly on a new plan to resolve the Cyprus issue. Pointing to TRNC general elections one month from now, Denktas stated that the plan was being prepared with possible new developments in mind. /Turkiye/

2004 BUDGET APPROVED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION
Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission yesterday approved the 150 quadrillion Turkish lira budget for fiscal year 2004. Speaking after the vote, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that this would be the last single-year budget, as starting with the 2005-07 period budgeting would be done for three years at once. “Another difference is that by the 2005 budget, we will have eliminated six zeros from the lira,” added Babacan. /Aksam/

AKP SUBMITS INQUIRY MOTIONS ON FOUR FORMER MINISTERS
Deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) yesterday submitted two separate inquiry motions to the Parliament Speaker’s Office on former ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Recep Onal concerning the Halkbank case as well as on Cumhur Ersumer and Zeki Cakan on allegations of corruption in energy bids during their terms in office. Speaking at a press conference, AKP Deputy Group Chairman Haluk Ipek said that Parliament’s Special Anti-Corruption Commission had conducted very serious investigations into corruption, adding that the inquiry motions were submitted in line with the commission’s conclusions. Ipek added that the AKP government was determined to look into all allegations of corruption. /Turkiye/

WASHINGTON PRESSES FOR SOLUTION ON CYPRUS
With general elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) just one month away, the United States is putting on renewed pressure for a solution on Cyprus. Next week US Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston is due to pay visits to Turkey, Greece and the island. His visits are aimed at facilitating a solution for Cyprus based on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan before next May, when Greek Cyprus is set to join the European Union. Weston will reportedly express US concerns that there be no election fraud. US officials also promised a more intense effort would begin after the Dec. 14 polls. /Hurriyet/

CHP SEEKS TO REVERSE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT MOTION
Though the government to date has decided against using the authority granted by Parliament to send Turkish troops to Iraq, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is now seeking that this authorization be reversed or given back to Parliament. CHP deputies Ali Topuz and Kemal Anadol requested yesterday that a reversal of the motion should be debated. The ruling AKP passed the original motion single-handedly, without CHP support. /Star/

TURKISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD APPROVES ARIA-AYCELL MERGER
The Turkish Telecommunications Board yesterday approved the merger of GSM operators Aria and Aycell, Aycell General Director Cahit Paksoy announced yesterday. Aria is a joint venture of Turkey and Italy. /Milliyet/