AKP'S BAGIS: "TURKEY IS PREPARED TO GO INTO N.IRAQ"
Speaking to Britian's Sunday Telegraph, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Deputy Egemen Bagis said that he US must appreciate that Turkey is prepared to go into northern Iraq to protect against terrorists, even if such a move would put it on a collision course with the US, which is keen not to destabilize Iraq's Kurdish region. "We would not hesitate for a second and we would not ask anyone's permission," said Bagis, who also is a foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We are hoping we will not have to do it. We are hoping that our allies will start doing something, but if they don't we don't have many options." He added, "Our allies should help us with the threat, which is clear and present. If an ally is not helping you, you either question their integrity or their ability." /Hurriyet/

DSP'S SEZER: "THE LEFT WILL GROW FROM ITS TWO WINGS"
Opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer yesterday denied press reports that his relations with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal have gone sour in the wake of a number of DSP candidates winning seats in Parliament after running under the CHP name. "We carried through cooperation with the CHP," he said. "We said from the beginning that we would split from the CHP in Parliament (after the elections). This doesn't mean that we're on fighting terms. We're like two separate sister parties with the CHP. We'll cultivate the left from two wings." Touching on the upcoming presidential election, Sezer said, "(Foreign Minister Abdullah) Gul's candidacy put the country under stress. The pledges of compromise (in the election) should be fulfilled." /Aksam/

SARIGUL: "IN WAKE OF ELECTION DEFEAT, CHP'S BAYKAL SHOULD RESIGN"
The outcome of Turkey's recent election was "dreary" and a cause for concern, and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal was the only one pleased with the results, said Mustafa Sarigul, the mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district, yesterday. Sarigul, a longtime critic of Baykal, said that under the CHP leader's boast that he had lifted the party's share of the vote by 1.5 points, the CHP will become the ruling party in 2059, but the nation and social democrats can't wait that long. Stating that those who have failed should do what it is needed, like the German and British prime ministers, Sarigul called on Baykal to resign. /Milliyet/

GREECE'S BAKOYANNIS: "TURKEY SHOULD EXTEND ITS HAND"
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis yesterday reiterated that Greece supports Turkey's European Union membership bid. Speaking to Greek daily To Vima, Bakoyannis said that there was no negative opinion within the EU concerning Turkey's EU membership and that improving Turkish-Greek relations better will supply an additional argument on the side of Turkey's accession. Bakoyannis added that Greece is extending its hand and that they believe it is time for Turkey to do the same. /Turkiye/

EP'S SWOBODA: "THE FIRST CONCERN OF TURKEY'S NEW GOVT SHOULD BE ABOLISHING ARTICLE 301"
Johannes Swoboda, the vice president of the European Parliament's Socialist Group, yesterday argued that there were three priorities before Turkey's imminent new government. Former Turkey Rapporteur Swoboda stated that the outcome of the general elections was constructive both for Europe and Turkey, and that it was important for Ankara to continue political, economic and social reforms. "First, the new government should propose the abolition of Article 301 of the Constitution to guarantee freedom of speech," he said. "They should (also) look for a new candidate for president who can help Turkey prepare its future. And the new government should have an open dialogue with the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities in Iraq to stop the terrorist activities coming out of Iraq." /Star/

EU REPORT STATES MEMBERSHIP TALKS, IMF BROUGHT STABILITY TO TURKEY
Turkey's membership talks with the European Union and the base provided by the International Monetary Fund program brought macroeconomic stability to Turkey, according to a new EU report. The report examining financial declarations submitted by candidate countries, prepared by the European Commission's General Directorate of Economic and Financial Affairs, stated that one of the most important characteristics of public financing in Turkey was the interest burden. The report added that domestic real interest rates had been high since 2001 and that this situation reflected the relatively high amount of economic ambiguity and the limited domestic capital market. The report added that financing costs had fallen more than expected since 2006 and that Turkey had had success in correcting financial imbalances since 2001. /Sabah/