SEZER TO RECEIVE BAHCELI, BAYKAL IN WAKE OF DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is due today to separately receive main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli in the wake of the Supreme Board of Elections' (YSK) declaration of the official election results. A Presidential Press Center statement said that Sezer has already congratulated Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his party's victory in the July 22 general elections. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH GUL, ARINC TO DISCUSS MAKEUP OF NEW GOVT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. During the meeting, they reportedly discussed the upcoming presidential election and recent political developments. They also talked about figures who might be named to the upcoming new government, set to be established soon. /Sabah/
REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES SET FOR OCT. 21
The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) yesterday declared that a referendum on a package of constitutional changes, including popular election of the president, would be held on Oct. 21. Earlier this year President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the package, which would also shorten the president's term in office from seven years to five but allow reelection to the post, and decided to bring the controversial issue to the people. /Milliyet/
ONE-MONTH JUDICIAL RECESS BEGINS TODAY
The Turkish judiciary's annual summer recess begins today. During the recess, only courts which handle urgent cases at all hours will be on duty. After the month-long break, the new judicial year will begin on Sept. 6. /Cumhuriyet/
CHP ASSEMBLY COULD CALL FOR CHANGE AT THE TOP
The assembly of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will be held today. Party assembly members, nearly half of whom weren't named as candidates in the July 22 elections, and those who were nominated but weren't elected, are expected to express dissatisfaction over the party's performance. Reportedly, top officials of the party will be called on to step down. /Turkiye/
BAHCELI URGES MHP DEPUTIES TO BE ON BEST BEHAVIOR WITH DTP, AKP IN PARLIAMENT
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday called on his party's deputies to use good sense and discipline in Parliament, even if "provoked" by Kurdish Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) or ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies. When the Parliament or its commissions are in session, or when a DTP member is speaking, MHP members were asked not to say anything unless they are given the floor. The nationalist MHP is known to be opposed to the goals of the DPT, which it sees as separatist. /Hurriyet/
US' BRYZA DISCUSSES TURKEY WITH KOCHARIAN
Matt Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, yesterday met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. During their meeting, Bryza and Kocharian discussed a number of issues, including Turkey. Speaking afterwards, Bryza said that he hoped for the normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan, but declined to give further details about the meeting. /Milliyet/
HAMAS LEADER SEES TURKISH ROLE AS MEDIATOR WITH FATAH
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said yesterday that they would be pleased if Turkey acts as a mediator to bridge the rift between his party and Fatah. In a recent telephone call to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Haniyeh congratulated him on his victory in the July 22 elections. Stating that Turkey is a great country, Haniyeh said that they have historical ties with Turkey and would be pleased if it acts as a mediator between Hamas and Fatah. He added that Turkey is respected and accepted by all Palestinian groups. /Aksam/
IRANIAN OIL MINISTER: "EUROPEANS ARE TALKING TO TURKEY TO GET ACCESS TO OUR GAS"
Iranian Oil Minister Kazim Veziri Hamane said yesterday that European countries seeking to purchase Iranian natural gas had started to meet with Turkey. Speaking to Iranian daily Keyhan, Hamane said that following the recent preliminary agreement between Turkey and Iran, European countries had started to talk with Turkey in order to purchase Iranian natural gas. Stating that Europe needs a lot of natural gas, Hamane said that all the problems concerning the Nabucco pipeline, which will bring natural gas to Europe, should be solved between Turkey and European countries. Hamane added that they considered no competing gas project to be a threat and that the Russian Gazprom and Italian Eni agreements wouldn't be an alternative to the agreement between Turkey and Iran. /Star/