GUL: “IF WE DON’T GET A DATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS NEXT DECEMBER, TURKEY MAY QUIT WORKING FOR EU MEMBERSHIP”
Appearing on television yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned that Turkey might quit working for its European Union membership if the EU doesn’t give it a date next December to begin its accession talks. Evaluating Gul’s remarks, Foreign Ministry sources said he meant that Turkey didn’t want any favors, only its just due, adding that an EU failure to give a date for talks would lead to a backlash from Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/

GERMAN PRESIDENT RAU: “WHEN TURKEY IMPLEMENTS ACCESSION REFORMS, THE EU SHOULD BEGIN ITS MEMBERSHIP TALKS”
Speaking to German daily Bild am Sonntag yesterday, German President Johannes Rau said that the European Union should begin membership negotiations with Turkey after Ankara implements a host of accession reforms passed in recent months. Asked if Germany was tolerant of Islam, Rau replied that yes it was, but not of radical Islam. “Neither radical Islam nor radical Christianity is tolerated in Europe,” added Rau. /Cumhuriyet/

GROSSMAN DUE IN ANKARA TO DISCUSS CYPRUS
US Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman is set to arrive in Ankara tomorrow to discuss the Cyprus issue and upcoming general elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Grossman, a former US ambassador to Turkey, will reportedly reiterate the US administration’s desire for a Cyprus resolution within the framework of the United Nations’ plan. /Cumhuriyet/

SENER VISITS TRNC IN RUNUP TO ELECTIONS
State Minister Abdullatif Sener left yesterday for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to meet officials there to discuss economic cooperation. Speaking to reporters, Sener said that Turkey would extend a $160 million loan to the TRNC. Regarding next Sunday’s elections in the country, Sener stated that Turkey would never interfere in the polls of another nation. /Aksam/

BAHCELI CRITICIZES AKP GOVERNMENT
Speaking to a gathering of his party’s provincial and town chairmen in Ankara yesterday, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli lashed out at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. Criticizing the government’s policies on a number of fronts, Bahceli charged that citizens were being saddled with additional taxes, privatization was off track, and unemployment and government debt were both on the rise. /Turkiye/

ANAP DELEGATES ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR NAS TO TAKE HELM
In the runup to the Motherland Party’s (ANAP) Eighth Ordinary Congress next week, 57 provincial chairmen have declared their support for Nesrin Nas, a candidate to take over the party’s leadership. Yesterday after a meeting in Ankara, ANAP delegates thanked outgoing leader Ali Tayyip Ozdemir for his service to the party and stated that they had decided to support Nas’ candidacy. Ozdemir announced last week that he would not run for reelection at the upcoming congress. /Turkiye/

GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: “AS LONG AS CYPRUS AND AEGEAN ISSUES REMAIN UNSOLVED, WE WILL STILL FEEL THREATENED”
It is too early to speak of ending Greece’s Cyprus defense doctrine even if an agreement is reached there, said Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou in an interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet yesterday. Asked why Greece was shifting its troops to the Aegean islands and Thrace, Papantoniou said that Athens still perceived a threat, adding, “We feel threatened as long as the Cyprus and Aegean issues remain unresolved.” Asked whether making Turkey a European Union member would solve these problems, Papantoniou said actually they should be addressed before Turkey joins the EU ranks. Commenting on Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok’s remarks that the Turkish Army’s goodwill gestures had not been reciprocated by Greece, Papantoniou said, “Our two armies have a relationship, and we want to improve this.” /Hurriyet/

CICEK: “INTERPOL HAS LOCATED UZAN FUGITIVES IN AMERICA”
Fugitives from justice Kemal and Yavuz Uzan, who have been on the run from Turkish authorities for several months, have both been found in the United States by Interpol, said Justice Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday. Their extradition process has already begun, stated Cicek, adding that US Attorney General John Ashcroft assured him personally last week that US authorities would cooperate fully on the matter. /Sabah/

FINANCE MINISTER: “WE’RE IN NO HURRY ON PRIVATIZATION”
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said yesterday that the government was not in any hurry concerning its privatization slate, adding that the privatization process of state landline operator Turk Telekom was still continuing. “We are determined to sell Telekom at an appropriate price,” he said. /Milliyet/

MEVLANA RUMI WEEK TO BEGIN
Legendary Sufi mystic Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi is set to be honored on the 730th anniversary of his death with a series of activities in Turkey starting Wednesday and lasting through Dec. 17. /Turkiye/