IN ANKARA, AFGHAN AND PAKISTANI LEADERS RESOLVE TO MEND FENCES
Meeting in Ankara yesterday, the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan signaled a move to defuse tensions over anti-terror efforts through issuing a declaration. The declaration said, "The two presidents agreed to deny sanctuary, training and financing to terrorists and to elements involved in subversive and anti-state activities in each other's country and to initiate immediate action on specific intelligence exchanges in this regard." President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also attended the meeting between President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. /Star/
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DUE TO RULE ON CHP'S REQUEST TO ANNUL FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The Constitutional Court is due to issue a decision today on an application by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to annul last week's first round of voting in the presidential election. The CHP argued that the vote was invalid since there were not 367 deputies present. A report on the case is said to have been distributed to the Court's members and also handed to the Court's chief justice, Tulay Tugcu. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: "WHAT WE NEED MOST IS UNITY AND SOLIDARITY"
Addressing the nation on television yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on recent developments, saying that what Turkey needs most now is unity and solidarity. "If we see each other with love, which is our greatest asset, we can overcome many things," said Erdogan. "Turkey is growing and developing with stability. Instead of hurting this atmosphere of stability, let's try to keep the atmosphere of tranquility which we have managed to achieve through our efforts." Stressing that people were benefiting from Turkey's general economic growth, Erdogan added that there was no need to cite the particulars of this positive trend. /Turkiye/
INTERNATIONAL ACTORS WEIGH IN ON RALLY, CONTROVERSY OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS
In the wake of a massive pro-secularist weekend rally and a court challenge to last week's first round of the presidential election, European and American officials yesterday commented on the developing situation. "We trust that Turkey's democratic institutions and constitutional process can solve all issues which may emerge during the presidential election," said Sean McCormack, US assistant secretary of state for public affairs. Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said, "Civil society, which doesn't want to be defeated by Islamism, reacted to defend the heritage of secularism in modern Turkish history." Joost Lagendijk, co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission, called the rally "impressive," adding, "All politicians should understand and hear its message." European Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told a press conference, "Democracy in Turkey should be left to the government, which was elected through democratic means. Secular democracy is of great value for the European Union. The Constitutional Court should take its decision with full independence, without being influenced by external impositions." French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy declined to comment, but Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe, said that the statement released by the Chief of General Staff on Friday seemed a deliberate attempt to influence the presidential election process. /Hurriyet/
BAYKAL: "IF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES AGAINST US, THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONFLICT"
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that if the Constitutional Court decides that no quorum of 367 deputies is needed for the presidential election, this could put Turkey at risk of entering a dangerous conflict. Saying that Turkey faces a significant crisis, Baykal added that the nation would be relieved if the court rules in favor of the quorum. "The process which will begin after this is a new [general] election process," said Baykal. "It's clear now that the current Parliament can't elect the president." /Aksam/
MUMCU: "PARLIAMENT SHOULD KEEP THE INITIATIVE"
Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday said that Friday's statement by the Chief of General Staff gave the impression that there is a shadow of military guardianship hanging over Turkish democracy, adding, "Turkish democracy should dispel this impression. What should be done today is to keep the initiative in Parliament." In related news, opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar reacted harshly to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal's remarks on the Constitutional Court, saying, "The main opposition is trying to benefit from this tension. Today's situation is nothing that anyone with common sense would want. Policy requires compromise and concerted action." Meanwhile, after resigning from the CHP, Hatay Deputy Inal Batu yesterday joined its opposition rival DYP. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: "TURKISH DEMOCRATIZATION HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES"
Appearing on television yesterday, State Minister for the Economy and Turkey's chief European Union negotiator Ali Babacan said that Turkey had made great progress in democratization, adding, however, that the economy could face problems if Turkey deviates from this goal. Stressing that economic indicators can be affected by both foreign and domestic developments, Babacan said that the important thing is that the economy shouldn't be hurt. "The main determinant of our economy in the long term is the healthy operation of democracy," said Babacan. /Milliyet/
SABANCI: "THE ELECTION PROCESS IS CONTINUING UNDER THE CONSTITUTION"
Commenting on the controversy over the current presidential election process, Sabanci Holding Chairwoman Guler Sabanci yesterday downplayed concerns, saying that procedures were continuing as laid out in the Constitution. Saying that the Constitutional Court would soon issue a decision on the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) request that the first round of the election be annulled, she added that this ruling would determine if the next general elections are held months from now or just weeks. Also commenting on a massive pro-secularist rally held in Istanbul over the weekend, Sabanci said that she was proud of the demonstration, adding that she especially welcomed women's participation in it. /Sabah/
HISARCIKLIOGLU: "WE DON'T EXPECT ANY PROBLEMS IN THE MARKETS"
Speaking after a meeting of non-governmental organizations yesterday, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that they didn't expect any problems in the markets due to recent developments. "The situation is sensitive, but we're expecting things to become normal," added Hisarciklioglu. /Sabah/