NEW PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TODAY
Turkey's new president will be elected today by a vote in Parliament. The candidate who gets 276 votes will be elected president. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, whose election is considered certain, will take over the post from outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer following the vote. Other candidates are Sabahattin Cakmakoglu from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Tayfun Icli from the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Gul is expected to take over the post from Sezer at a ceremony closed to the press. /Turkiye/
SEZER PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO TOPTAN
Outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday paid a farewell visit to new Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. Speaking before meeting with Sezer, Toptan said that the new president would take over the post on the same day he is elected. Toptan further stated that the new government would be founded as soon as possible and the government's program would be read out on this Friday. /Sabah/
TAN: " ISRAEL SHOULD CONVINCE US JEWISH GROUP TO CHANGE COURSE ON ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS"
Turkey's Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan said yesterday that he expects Israel to lead American Jews to reverse the stance of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which recently decided to recognize the Armenian "genocide" allegations. Tan said that Israel , whose stance concerning the incidents hasn't changed, shouldn't let US Jewish groups change their stance like this. Tan said that Turkey expects Israel to make US Jewish groups listen to it and ensure that a resolution in the US Congress characterizing the incidents of World War I as "genocide" is not passed. /Star/
BUYUKANIT: "SECRET PLANS ARE BEING DRAWN UP TO DAMAGE TURKEY 'S SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE"
In a message marking Aug. 30 Victory Day, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit warned that clandestine plans are being prepared to hurt the nation's unity and its secular, democratic structure. Stressing that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) faces attacks both at home and abroad, Buyukanit stated that they know what's behind these assaults. He stated that the nation should know that such attacks won't intimidate the TSK. Buyukanit further stated that the TSK would never forsake its determination to protect the secular and social rule of law in Turkey under Ataturk's worldview system. /Milliyet/
AKP'S FIRAT: "11-PERSON AKP GROUP WILL START WORKING ON NEW CONSTITUTION ON THURSDAY"
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with new Constitutional Commission members yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Rifat said that Turkey would soon have a civilian constitution. Stating that an 11-member AKP group would start working on a new constitution on Thursday, Firat said that this group's work, proceeding article by article, would continue for a week. "After work on the draft constitution is over, we'll seek out the views of academics," said Firat, adding that the draft would be ready sometime next month. /Turkiye/
EDUCATION MINISTER ATTENDS BSEC MEETING IN ISTANBUL
Education Minister Huseyin Celik yesterday attended a meeting of education ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in Istanbul . In his opening speech, Celik said that the government places great importance on international relations. Celik further stated that one can build bridges and roads to travel to other countries, but the better and more lasting way to do this was to build bridges between hearts. He added that the government, aware of the international importance of education, is sending more than 1,000 students abroad with state scholarships. "Moreover, the business world has given $2 million to education over the last three years," added Celik. /Turkiye/
JOURNALIST SUTER PASSES AWAY
Writer Sakir Suter, who wrote columns for Aksam daily, yesterday passed away at the age of 57. Suter had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Speaking to reporters, surviving son Baris Suter said that his late father loved his job very much. Suter will be laid to rest tomorrow. /Milliyet/
SARKOZY SOFTENS OPPOSITION TO TURKEY 'S EU MEMBERSHIP TALKS
French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday softened his opposition to Turkey 's European Union membership talks. During an annual meeting at the Champs Elysees of French ambassadors working in various countries worldwide, Sarkozy laid out his foreign policy priorities. His directives communicated at the meeting are to be a guide for the ambassadors in their work. "If the 27 (EU members) undertake this crucial discussion about the future of our Union," Sarkozy said, "France won't object to opening new chapters in negotiations between the Union and Turkey in the coming months and years, provided these chapters are compatible with both possible visions of the future of relations: either accession or very close association" without membership. /Hurriyet/
MT. ARARAT VICTORY CLIMB SET TO START
Mountaineers set to ascend in the Mt. Ararat 's "Victory Climb" yesterday laid a wreath at the Ataturk Monument in Igdir. Mountaineering Federation head Alaattin Karaca said that they would be climbing Mt. Ararat for the first time starting from Agri. Stating that the climb would end on Saturday, Karaca said that over 150 mountaineers from Macedonia , Romania , Hungary , Iran , Britain and India would participate in the climb. Following the ceremony, the mountaineers went towards the Korhan Plateau, where the ascent is set to start. /Cumhuriyet/
DTP SEEKS HAND IN MAKING CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
The Democratic Society Party (DTP) is preparing for a package of constitutional changes, much like the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). DTP deputy leader Selahattin Demirtas said yesterday a commission had been established within the party to consider constitutional changes and that its work is underway. He added that after the AKP delivers its draft changes to fellow political parties, the DTP would announce its proposals to the public. Stating that the DTP's aim was to help prepare a civilian constitution, Demirtas said that the way to democracy should be opened and that a new arrangements were needed to protect people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. He added that Turkish should remain Turkey 's official language but that different ethnic groups should be allowed to be educated in their own mother tongues. Demirtas also said that people with different religious beliefs should be able to express their views freely. /Cumhuriyet/
KAPIKULE BORDER GATE TO BE RENOVATED
Management of the Kapikule border gate, the world's second-largest customs gate in terms of both vehicle traffic and the number of passing people, yesterday was turned over to Customs and Tourism Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), under a new agreement. Speaking at the handover ceremony, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that four years ago they worked with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry to end long queues, adding that in an atmosphere in which Turkey 's foreign trade is worth $250 billion, it's important to have border gates up to the task. Also speaking at the ceremony, TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that 53% of exports in Turkey and 40% of the foreign trade volume goes through the border gates. Hisarciklioglu added that under its new management, Kapikule would be renovated for YTL 131 million and that long queues at border gates would end. /Aksam/