CENTER-RIGHT MERGER FALTERS
The merger of two parties from Turkey's fractured secular center-right opposition showed signs of cracking over the weekend after one party leader accused the other of not abiding by the terms of their merger agreement, when rather than dissolving, the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) instead elected a new executive board. The leaders of the True Path Party (DYP) and ANAVATAN last month said they were joining forces to form the new Democrat Party (DP). ANAVATAN Party leader Erkan Mumcu said that an historic opportunity had been missed. "DYP leader Mehmet Agar and I both need to apologize to the nation," he added. /Sabah/
AHEAD OF ELECTIONS, PARLIAMENT TAKES EARLY SUMMER RECESS
Parliament yesterday decided to begin its summer recess due to the general elections scheduled for July 22. Since the last general elections four-and-a-half years ago, in November 2002, Parliament has passed landmark legislation and key reforms. Of the 61 laws vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, 49 were later passed by Parliament, while 12 are in parliamentary commissions. /Turkiye/
US DEFENSE SECRETARY: "I HOPE THERE WON'T BE UNILATERAL MILITARY ACTION ACROSS THE IRAQI BORDER"
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday that he understood Turkey's concerns over the Iraqi issue, but hoped it would not take unilateral military action across the border in Iraq. Gates said that he sympathized with the Turks' concern about cross-border raids by PKK terrorists. "The Turks have a genuine concern with Kurdish terrorism that takes place on Turkish soil," said Gates. "So one can understand their frustration and unhappiness over this. Several hundred Turks lost their lives each year, and we have been working with the Turks to try to help them get control of this problem on Turkish soil." /Turkiye/
BUYUKANIT TO MEET WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART ON WEDNESDAY
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit is due to receive his Russian counterpart Yury Baluyevski on Wednesday. During the meeting, the military leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues, including the security of the Black sea. /Aksam/
NAZIM HIKMET COMMEMORATED IN MOSCOW
Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet Ran was commemorated at his tomb in Moscow, Russia yesterday, on the 44th anniversary of his death. To mark the occasion, an open air concert was also organized by Anadolu University's Symphony Orchestra in Dogancayir, Eskisehir. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Journalists' Union head Ercan Ipekci, Russian-Turkish Businessmen Union (RTIB) Chairman Ali Ihsan Akiskalioglu, Turkish-Russian Research Center (RUTAM) head Hakan Aksay and many other Turkish and Russian citizens. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA, MOSCOW SIGN COOPERATIVE PACT AGAINST ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING
The customs services of Turkey and the Russian Federation have vowed to work together to fight illegal trafficking. Deputy Customs Undersecretary Bulent Ertem said yesterday that a common protocol has been signed between the Customs Undersecretariat and the Russian Customs Administration as the result of meetings held last week. Ertem added that they had resolved to especially fight drug smuggling and that there would be a wide range of cooperation with Russia, including information sharing and joint operations. /Hurriyet/
TEMPLETON GROUP: "TURKEY IS A PROFITABLE COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENTS"
Mark Mobius, the chairmen of global investment fund Templeton's Emerging Markets Group, yesterday said that Turkey continues to be a profitable country for investments. Speaking to Global Investor magazine, Mobius stated that Turkey was an attractive market for foreign capital investment. He added that Turkey has a secular system and the outcome of July's general elections was not so important for maintaining foreign capital's interest in the country. /Star/