ISTANBUL HOSTS MEETING OF LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday delivered the opening speech at a ministerial conference in Istanbul of representatives of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Addressing top officials and representatives from 48 countries, Gul urged developed countries to back the least-developed countries both politically and economically to make a fairer and more livable world. Gul also asked the participants' support for Turkey's bid for a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Also addressing the gathering, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) head Kemal Dervis said that poor countries had gotten many promises of help, but rich countries had failed to follow through. "Developed countries should double their efforts to back the poor," said Dervis, who is a former Turkish economy minister. He added that when it gets a seat on the UNSC Turkey will be voice of the least-developed countries. /Turkiye-Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN SIGNALS COMPROMISE IN CHOOSING NEXT PRESIDENT
Appearing on television yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that before commenting on this year's presidential election he first needed to see the outcome of the July 22 general elections, adding that he had no bias on the issue. Under current rules, Parliament elects the president. "Necessary discussions will be held with other political parties and all the deputies in (the new) Parliament," said Erdogan. "Later, appropriate steps to facilitate compromise will be taken. This is what we want." Stressing that no impositions would be accepted, Erdogan added that a constitutional referendum could change the method of presidential election to a popular vote. "The people could elect the president in the second round of voting if not the first," added Erdogan. Later, commenting on Erdogan's remarks, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that compromise shouldn't mean a minority prevailing over the majority, adding that letting this happen wouldn't be democratic. Gul ran for president as the ruling party's candidate earlier this year, before the election was aborted due to an opposition boycott. /Cumhuriyet/
CABINET HOLDS LAST MEETING BEFORE GENERAL ELECTIONS
The last Cabinet meeting before the July 22 general elections was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Escalating terrorist attacks of the terrorist PKK topped the meeting's agenda, but no decision about a Parliament motion on a possible cross-border operation was made. Speaking afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that if the process continues normally, the first thing the post-election Parliament would do is to elect a new president. /Sabah/
ARINC: "A MONTH AFTER TAKING OFFICE, THE NEW PARLIAMENT COULD ELECT A PRESIDENT"
Appearing on news channel NTV yesterday, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that a new presidential election could be held within a month after the new Parliament is formed following the July 22 general elections. /Cumhuriyet/
ON CAMPAIGN TRIAL, BAYKAL, AGAR CRITICIZE GOVT
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday continued campaigning ahead of the July 22 general elections. Speaking in Kirikkale, Baykal criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for not ending parliamentary immunity as he had pledged in the fall 2002 campaign before taking power. Agar, speaking in Izmir, criticized the government's privatization policy. /Milliyet/
IRAQ'S ZEBARI: "MORE THAN 140,000 TURKISH TROOPS ARE AT OUR BORDER"
There is a great mobilization on Iraq's northern border that domestic security services and intelligence agencies estimate at more than 140,000 well-equipped military personnel, Hosyhar Zebari, Iraq's foreign minister, told a news conference in Baghdad yesterday. He reiterated that his government was against any interference in Iraqi sovereignty from neighboring states, adding that they understand Turkey's legitimate fears of terrorist attacks. Pointing to the tripartite mechanism among Iraq, Turkey and the US, Zebari said that they were ready to welcome the mechanism to Baghdad to solve all the issues and problems between the two countries. In related news, US State Department spokesman Sean MacCormack said that Turkish troops' broad-based crackdown against PKK militants in southeastern Anatolia was normal. /Aksam-Hurriyet/
EU TO OPEN ANOTHER CHAPTER FOR NEGOTIATIONS
European Union Term President Portugal has reportedly reached an agreement with fellow member states to open Turkey's chapter on consumer and health protection for negations. The topic is expected to be taken up at an EU intergovernmental conference in September. /Hurriyet/
LIMAK-LED CONSORTIUM WINS ISTANBUL AIRPORT BID
Limak Construction-GMR Infrastructure-Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad Consortium yesterday won a build-operate-transfer (BOT) bid for the international terminal and related facilities at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The consortium led by Limak offered $3.1 billion for the construction and operation of the terminal for 20 years. Auction Commission head Mete Aslan said that proceeds from the bid would be used to meet Turkey's defense needs. /Milliyet/