NATION TO COMMEMORATE ATATURK
Turkey today will commemorate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic, who passed away 68 years ago at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace. Ceremonies around the nation and Turkish missions abroad will remember Ataturk, with a special moment of silence at 9:05 a.m. The first commemorative ceremony will take place at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum in Ankara. A delegation led by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will lay a wreath at Ataturk's tomb. All flags will fly at half-mast until sunset, and sirens will sound at the moment Ataturk died. Top officials, including Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other political party leaders, as well as Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, have all issued messages marking the day. The president stated that the founder of our republic, savior of our country, great commander, revolutionary and statesman Ataturk will never be forgotten, and that the nation is proud to have such a leader. All Papers/

BUYUKANIT WARNS AGAINST PROVOCATIONS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday attended a press reception in Ankara hosted by General Staff Secretary-General Major Gen. Salih Zeki Colak. Speaking to reporters, Buyukanit warned citizens against possible provocative action during former Premier Bulent Ecevit's funeral to be held tomorrow. Commenting on military officials' occasional remarks, the top commander said, "We don't talk about domestic politics. We only talk about concerns of national unity and the regime." Stressing that Turkey faces a number of issues today, Buyukanit added, however, that the nation could overcome all these problems through self-confidence. /Turkiye/

TURKEY CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S ATTACK ON CIVILIANS
Stressing that Israel was using disproportionate force on Palestinians, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday called on the country to stop its operations against innocents. Addressing lawmakers in Parliament, Gul said this week Israel killed some 50 innocent Palestinians and urged the international community not to simply sit and watch these tragic developments, but to take concrete steps to stop the violence in the region. Furthermore, Gul warned that such bloody attacks sow hatred among people and hence threaten Israel's own security. /Turkiye/

TAN: "THE CYPRUS ISSUE SHOULDN'T BE USED AGAINST TURKEY'S EU BID"
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that the Cyprus issue was not Turkey's responsibility, adding that the issue shouldn't be used against Ankara's European Union membership bid. Asked about the additional protocol, Tan stated that there was a confusion in the EU about the protocol as well as Turkey. "Turkey didn't declare that it would implement the protocol by signing it," he said. "It only declared its will. Thus, the responsibility lies on both sides. We've fulfilled our responsibilities up to now, but this has not been appreciated. They shouldn't expect us to take steps." /Cumhuriyet/

EP PRESIDENT: "TURKEY'S PROGRESS REPORT IS FAIR AND OBJECTIVE"
European Parliament President Josep Borrell said yesterday that the EU's progress report on Ankara released on Wednesday was "fair and objective," adding that the report had to be tough. "We have to encourage Turkey in its reform process," he said. Borrell stated that the EU should adopt a serious stance towards Turkey on the issue of human rights. /Aksam/

EUROPEAN MEDIA: "THE PROGRESS REPORT IS AN ULTIMATUM"
The European media yesterday weighed in on the European Union's progress report, saying that it was a challenge and warning to Turkey. British daily The Independent stated that the EU had warned Ankara to give ground on the Cyprus issue, adding that the Union's diplomats were still hopeful about a Cyprus resolution before the EU summit to be held next month in Brussels. The newspaper further claimed that part of Ankara's negotiations on Cyprus could be suspended. The Times of London stressed that the report marked the first time the EU had delivered an ultimatum to a potential EU member. Italian daily La Repubblica also called the report an ultimatum from Brussels. French daily Le Figaro commented that Turkey and the EU were preparing for next month's EU summit to settle up with each other. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL: "THE SECTIONS ON CYPRUS IN THE PROGRESS REPORT ARE UNACCEPTABLE"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday returned from Chile, where he had been attending a meeting of the Socialist International. Commenting on the European Union's progress report on Ankara released on Wednesday, Baykal said that the sections in the report on Cyprus were unacceptable. "The EU is trying to put pressure on Turkey and to get concessions from it," he said. "Making Cyprus resolution a precondition (for membership) is unacceptable." /Cumuriyet/

CB HEAD: "NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS POSE A RISK"
Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz said yesterday that next year's elections posed a political risk, adding that if they affect the nation's inflation targets, then the Central Bank could respond to this by raising interest rates. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took issue with Yilmaz's remarks, saying that there was no such risk and that 2007 budget wasn't prepared with populist concerns. /Milliyet/