ANKARA TO HOST SUMMIT BETWEEN AFGHAN, PAKISTANI LEADERS
Hamid Karzai and Pervez Musharraf, the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan, arrived in Ankara yesterday for bilateral talks to cool tensions arising from the fight against the Taliban insurgency. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer last night hosted a dinner in honor of the two leaders at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, along with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Today the Afghan and Pakistani leaders will again meet with Sezer and Erdogan to improve dialogue between the two countries. Karzai is expected to visit the central Anatolian city of Konya and tour its Mevlana Rumi Museum. The Afghan government and Western military officials have repeatedly said that Taliban fighters are hiding in Pakistan and stage attacks against Karzai's US-backed government from there. Pakistan denies the charge. /Turkiye/
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS RALLY IN ISTANBUL
Around one million demonstrators filled the streets of Istanbul yesterday carrying Turkish flags and banners opposing the presidential bid of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Abdullah Gul. Organized in the wake of a similar mass rally in Ankara two weeks ago, the Caglayan Demonstration for the Republic brought together people from all over the country calling for the secular system in Turkey to continue. A statement issued by the General Staff on Friday night decrying what it called "serious and escalating threats" to the fundamental values of the republic was also cited by the demonstrators, although they said they did not want a military coup. Foreign media outlets also covered the demonstration, calling it a "giant rally for Turkish secularism." /Cumhuriyet/
GUL PLEDGES TO CONTINUE PRESIDENTIAL BID
Notwithstanding a strong warning from the army, the Turkish government yesterday signaled its resolve to continue to pursue the presidency, as the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, said that he would not withdraw. After sharp criticism from by the chief of staff, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the government fired back on Saturday, emphasizing that Buyukanit is officially serving under the prime ministry and that issuing statements against the government is undemocratic. Gul, a founding member of the AKP, told reporters that the presidential election process had begun and would continue, adding that his bowing out of the race was out of the question. He also expressed his confidence that the Constitutional Court would make the best decision on the matter. /Turkish Daily News-Aksam/
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SET TO RULE TOMORROW OR WEDNESDAY ON CHALLENGE TO PRESIDENTIAL RACE
The focus is now on the Constitutional Court, as a military-government standoff over the presidential election continued and the ruling Justice and Development Party ignored calls for early general elections. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Tulay Tugcu said that the court would decide on the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) legal challenge to Friday's first round of voting in Parliament, as the session took place with less than 367 deputies, less than a quorum in the CHP's eyes. Stressing that the court would discuss the case today and a final decision could be announced tomorrow or early Wednesday, Tugcu underlined that the court's ruling would be in line with the law and the Constitution. If the top court annuls the first round of voting, Parliament will be forced to hold early general elections, but if it upholds the process, this will clear the way for the AKP to elect Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul president in a third round of voting, which needs only a simple majority vote. /Turkish Daily News, Milliyet/
SENER CALLS RALLIES IN ANKARA, ISTANBUL "DEMOCRATIC STANCE" OF THE NATION
Commenting on Friday's General Staff statement expressing grave concern about a number of trends in Turkey, which some interpreted as an ultimatum to the government to rein in officials who promote Islamic initiatives, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener Sener yesterday said that there would be no general elections before the presidential elections are completed, adding that early elections could be held in August. Also commenting on hundreds of thousands of people rallying in Ankara and Istanbul in recent weeks, Sener called these a demonstration of "democratic stance," adding that their message should be considered. /Sabah/
BAYKAL: "THE WEEKEND RALLY WAS GOOD NEWS FOR TURKEY"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday praised a weekend rally in Istanbul favoring secularism and protesting Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's presidential bid, saying that the demonstration signaled good news for Turkey. Baykal said that although he didn't attend the rally, he was there in spirit. "It was a magnificent demonstration," said Baykal. "Not only state institutions, but also the nation is protecting the secular, democratic republic. Everyone, especially the government, should heed this message." /Sabah/
TUSIAD CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) yesterday issued a written statement calling for early elections. The statement stressed that early elections were a must in order to prevent damage to democracy from the current situation. It also warned that tension over the current presidential election process reached a peak with the General Staff's declaration late Friday, adding that the crisis over this should be solved with common sense. /Hurriyet/
BAYULKEN LAID TO REST
Former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister Umit Haluk Bayulken yesterday was laid to rest following a state funeral in Ankara's Kocatepe Mosque with the attendance of leading politicians, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and former President Suleyman Demirel. /Turkiye/