SEZER'S VETO DERAILS PLANS FOR JULY REFERENDUM
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday vetoed a law cutting the waiting period for holding a referendum from the current 120 days to 45, a move that blocks the government's intention to hold a referendum simultaneous with next month's general elections. In a statement accompanying his veto, Sezer said that 12 months must pass between the approval of changes to the election system and their enactment, adding that the public needs time to fully digest and discuss such sweeping changes to the system. Sezer also underlined that it is still unclear whether the constitutional amendment package will be approved. /Milliyet/

CABINET CONVENES
The Cabinet ministers chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened yesterday. Following the three-hour gathering, State Minister Abdullatif Sener commented on the president's vetoing a measure to cut the waiting time for referenda, telling reporters that the move was normal under the principles of the rule of law. /Turkiye/

ANKARA HOSTS OICC SUMMIT
The 11th General Assembly Meeting of the Organization for the Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) was held in Ankara yesterday. Speaking at the gathering, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the violence and wars seen in the world today threaten humanity's very future. Decrying the growing gulf between the rich and the poor, Erdogan said that the existence of civilization should be determined by the presence of human values and virtues, not high-rise buildings. The Turkish premier also called on Islamic leaders to cooperate in all areas. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also addressed mayors from 54 Islamic countries at the meeting. /Turkiye/

TURKISH OFFICIALS CRITICIZE HUDSON MEETING
Imagined scenarios for Turkey recently discussed by a right-wing US think tank were "foolish," said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. "Don't bother with these absolutely foolish things," said Erdogan. Washington-based conservative think tank the Hudson Institute held a workshop last week to discuss recent developments in Turkey and speculate on what would happen if Tulay Tugcu, former head of the Constitutional Court, were assassinated and the Turkish military launched a cross-border operation into northern Iraq. Press reports claimed that two Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) officers were present at the meeting. In a press conference yesterday, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc urged the General Staff to make a statement about the meeting and what was discussed there. In addition, Tugcu, saying that she had devoted her life to the law, called on any Turks who took part in the meeting to explain themselves. /Hurriyet/

IRAQI PM: "WE'LL BAN ALL PKK ACTIVITIES"
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday met with Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad Derya Kanbay to discuss the continued presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq. Kanbay delivered an invitation from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Maliki to visit Turkey. During the meeting, Maliki said that he had taken into consideration Ankara's concerns on the issue, adding that he would ban all activities of the PKK. /Aksam/

RICE MEETS WITH ZEBARI, DISCUSSES PKK
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. During their meeting, Rice said that the work of the tripartite mechanism between the US, Turkey, and Iraq to fight the terrorist PKK should be stepped up. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Rice said that they had discussed the PKK during their meeting, adding that they had especially discussed the importance of not allowing Iraqi soil to be used to launch terrorist attacks against neighboring countries, especially Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL: "NORTHERN IRAQ POSES A THREAT TO TURKEY WHICH WE NEED TO HALT"
Appearing on television yesterday, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that northern Iraq poses a threat to the nation which Turkey needs to halt. "This is our right and we need to do this," he said. "Turkey needs to show its power. If we can show our determination on this, we can prevent northern Iraq from continuing its illegal stance." Touching on the recently aborted presidential election, Baykal said the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) mismanagement of the process had prevented the election of a new president. He stressed that if his party comes to power in next month's general elections, he would consult all parties about the new presidential poll. /Cumhuriyet/

TOBB HEAD: "THE MEETING OF INTL CHAMBERS WILL BRING TOGETHER BUSINESSMEN DIRECTING THE WORLD ECONOMY"
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said yesterday that the fifth World Chambers Congress set to be held on July 4-6 would bring together businessmen who direct both Turkey's and the world economy. Stressing that this congress was the only international forum which brings together the world's businessmen, Hisarciklioglu added that leading Turkish businessmen would attend the gathering. /Sabah/

DP PROMOTES ITS PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES
The Democrat Party (DP) yesterday held a meeting to promote its candidates for next month's general elections. Addressing the gathering at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall, DP leader Mehmet Agar said that other party leaders had vowed to fight Turkey's terror problem but had produced no solutions. "We can't solve the terror problem through such vows alone," added Agar. /Star/