AKP TO DECIDE ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TODAY
Turkey's likely next president is expected to be emerge from meetings today of the Cabinet and the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK). The AKP's presidential candidate will be announced tomorrow or Wednesday. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is seen the frontrunner, while Besir Atalay, Murat Basesgioglu and Vecdi Gonul are other possibilities. Gul's candidacy this spring was rejected by the opposition parties, leading to early general elections and a stronger mandate for the ruling AKP. The first round of the presidential election will be held next Monday. In addition, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was appointed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to form a new government, will continue working this week to draw up a list of new Cabinet ministers. /Turkiye/
ERCIYES HOSTS MHP'S 18TH VICTORY CONVENTION
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) held its 18th Victory Convention in Mt. Erciyes in Kayseri over the weekend with the attendance of thousands supporters. Speaking at the gathering, MHP leaders said that Turkish nationalists would continue to serve the country under the party's roof. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli was unable to attend the convention due to scheduling conflicts. /Milliyet/
PORTUGAL: " TURKEY 'S EU TALKS WILL CONTINUE"
In the wake of taking over the European Union term presidency from Germany last month, Portuguese officials said yesterday that Turkey 's EU accession talks would continue with good will. Stating that Turkey has great importance for the future of the bloc, they underlined the country's strategic position as well as its role in improving relations with the Islamic world. /Turkiye/
PKK MINE IN SIIRT INJURES 13
Terrorist PKK militants yesterday detonated a roadside mine in Eruh, Siirt as a minibus carrying army personnel was passing by, injuring 13. The injured were sent to Siirt Military Hospital for treatment. Following the incident, security forces began a crackdown in the region. The terrorists have killed some 80 soldiers since the beginning of this year, most in roadside bomb attacks on military vehicles. /Cumhuriyet/
ITO HEAD: "FOR THE SAKE OF ECONOMIC STABILITY, LET'S AVOID CONTROVERSY OVER NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION"
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) head Murat Yalcintas said over the weekend that last month's general elections had been triggered by problems with the presidential election in May, and added, "The people have shown their will here. Now what we have to do is to respect this. Anyone from inside Parliament or elsewhere has the right to run for president." In a statement, Yalcintas said that the people had chosen stability and that they didn't want this hard-won stability to be lost, adding that the Turkish business world didn't want anything to endanger economic progress, stall reforms or hurt the nation's atmosphere. /Sabah/
JOURNALIST TO SEEK HELM OF NEW DEMOCRAT PARTY
Journalist Nevval Sevindi is the first to announce her candidacy to run the recently formed Democrat Party (DP). Sevindi said over the weekend that in her candidacy she would emphasize new policies, new faces, and new aims./Star/
TUZMEN ANNOUNCES CUT IN CUSTOMS DUTIES AMONG TURKEY, IRAN AND PAKISTAN
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said over the weekend that under the new Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (ECOTA) just ratified by the Iranian Parliament, customs duties among Turkey , Iran and Pakistan are set to be cut. Stating that preferential trade among the three countries will go into effect early next year, he added, "I'm expecting a boom in Turkey 's trade with Iran and Pakistan ." /Aksam/