SEZER'S LAST NSC TO CONVENE TOMORROW
The National Security Council (NSC) is due to convene tomorrow. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, whose term in office is due to end soon, is expected to participate in the NSC for the last time. The PKK terrorist organization, developments in Iraq, Iran, and the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be on the agenda of the meeting. However, it is not clear whether or not the Council members will discuss May's presidential election. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to brief the participants on Iraq and the Middle East. Sezer is due to make a speech at the War Academy Commandership on Friday and expected to emphasize secularism and comment on such issues as terrorism, education, and health. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN OPENS BORCKA DAM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a group of Cabinet ministers, yesterday opened the Borcka Dam on the Coruh River in Artvin. Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan underlined the importance of energy in the world. Consumption of energy per capita is an indicator of a country's level of development, said Erdogan. Stressing that Turkey's electricity production was 800 million KW/hr in the 1950s, and now with an increase of 200 fold, reached 173 billion KW/hr, Erdogan said that they would continue to build new dams and power plants to prevent possible energy shortage in the future. The premier also visited the Sarp border gate between Georgia and Turkey and stated that the border gate would be fully restored this summer. Erdogan also paid visits to the provinces in the Black Sea region during his travel along the Black Sea Coastal Highway, and addressed the crowds. /Milliyet/

DSP HOLDS NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY DEMONSTRATION OVER THE WEEKEND
The opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) held a National Sovereignty demonstration over the weekend in Ankara with the participation of about 40,000 people. Addressing the gathering, DSP leader Zeki Sezer criticized the government, and called for compromise for the upcoming presidential election. Referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's previous statement that Turkishness was a sub-identity, Sezer asked, "How can you sit at the Presidential Palace?" /Star/

FOREIGN MINISTRY HARSHLY REACTS AGAINST BARZANI'S REMARKS
A Foreign Ministry official yesterday harshly reacted against Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani's remarks that they wouldn't allow Turkey's interference in Kirkuk issue and that if Turkey intervenes in Kirkuk, then Iraq would intervene in Diyarbakir. The official said that Barzani was firing the dynamite, which he was sitting on. "If this dynamite explores, he can't escape from this," said the official. Continuing with his negative statements yesterday, Barzani said that a Kurdistan state could be established in 10 or 15 years, adding that founding a state was natural rights of the Kurds. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL REITERATES HIS OPPOSITION TO ERDOGAN'S PRESIDENCY
Speaking in Sivas over the weekend, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shouldn't be elected the president, adding that the president should believe in the Constitution. Touching on the terrorist PKK, Baykal warned that the PKK could make new attacks. He further stressed that Turkey would get rid of terror with a right administration. /Cumhuriyet/

MONACO'S PRINCE ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL FOR CIESM MEETING
Albert II, Prince of Monaco yesterday arrived in Istanbul to attend the 38th Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) Congress. The meeting will begin today with an opening ceremony presided over by Prince Albert. During the meetings along this week, over 750 experts will exchange information on marine and coastal research in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. /Turkiye/

PKK KILLS EIGHT SOLDIERS AND ONE VILLAGE GUARD
During clashes in Bitlis, Sirnak and Bingol of the Southeastern Anatolia between soldiers and terrorist PKK militants over the weekend, eight soldiers and one village guard died. The martyrs were buried following funerals held with the attendance of high-level military officials and citizens in different provinces of the country. /Sabah/

BABACAN: "ISTANBUL HAS THE CAPACITY TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER"
Speaking at a summit entitled "Turkey: Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge" yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that Istanbul had the capacity to be an international transportation center, saying that the third airport project would soon start in Istanbul. Stressing that Turkey was a balance power in its region, Babacan added that Turkey achieved many things in the last 4-5 years. "After 5 years, Turkey will be highly different from its current situation," said Babacan. /Aksam/