PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM TODAY
Parliament today will begin debate of the program of the Justice and Development Party government, as unveiled by Premier Recep Tayip Erdogan on Friday. On behalf of the ruling party, AKP group deputy leaders Nurettin Canikli and Nihat Ergun are expected to address the deputies. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) group deputy leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli will express their parties' views and criticisms of the program. Democratic Society Party (DTP) group leader Ahmet Turk is expected to speak during the debates, while Tunceli independent Deputy Kamer Genc will also take the Parliament floor to express his views. Erdogan is expected to respond to the criticisms of opposition lawmakers. The session will end when the debates are concluded. Then, on Wednesday, the government will face a vote of confidence. /Sabah/
AKP NAMES NEW FIGURES FOR PARTY ADMINISTRATION
The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK), headed by Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, convened yesterday. During the nearly five-hour meeting, Egemen Bagis and Haluk Ipek were appointed the party's new deputy chairmen, succeeding Hayati Yazici and Nazim Ekren, who have taken places in the new Cabinet. In addition, candidates for parliamentary commissions were discussed at the gathering. /Milliyet/
RULING PARTY TO FINISH WORK ON NEW CONSTITUTION
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is set today to complete its work on a new draft Constitution. The commission, after examining a 139-article draft prepared by a group of Bilkent University scholars led by Ergun Ozbudun, will hold its final meeting at party headquarters in Ankara this morning. The draft is expected to be opened to public discussion in October and November. The AKP is planning to present the draft Constitution to Parliament for approval early next year. /Turkiye/
VOTING ON REFERENDUM TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK AT BORDER GATES
A referendum on a package of Constitutional changes, including popular election of the president, will get its first votes on next Tuesday at Turkey's border gates. The main referendum will be held on Oct. 21. /Aksam/
CHP PLANS MEETING AT ANITKABIR TO MARK PARTY'S 84TH ANNIVERSARY
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Secretary General Onder Sav yesterday called on CHP members to meet at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, on Sept. 9 to mark the party's 84th anniversary. "This year we'll celebrate the CHP's anniversary with all parliamentarians and former and current deputies and members," said a statement released by the party. In related news, Mustafa Sarigul, the mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district and a dissident CHP member, yesterday charged that the party had moved away from its social democratic roots and offended the people of southeastern Turkey through stressing vulgar nationalism. Speaking in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Sarigul said that CHP leader Deniz Baykal was harming both the party and Turkey, and called on him to resign. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
GREEK PM: "ERDOGAN IS DETERMINED ON TURKEY'S EU BID"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined to push Turkey's European Union admission, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said over the weekend. Asked by Greek daily Kathimerini about Erdogan's EU aspirations, Karamanlis said, "Actions are more important than promises and intensions. Despite our different views, there's a determined politician facing us. There hasn't been such a thing in years." Stating that the atmosphere of Turkish-Greek relations was good, Karamanlis added that there had been no recent developments regarding problems between the countries. /Hurriyet/
TRNC'S TALAT: "THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WANT TO RULE CYPRUS"
The Greek Cypriot administration's idea of "solving" the Cyprus issue is to absorb the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) into itself, said TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday. "What is required in Cyprus is an infrastructure where peace can take shape," he told a conference in Bergama, Izmir. "The Greek Cypriots want to rule Cyprus. We have to find an administrative system which will solve our problems through (reaching) an agreement. Those who will do this are politicians. If there was an agreement, then we could bring people together. When Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos spoke at the UN General Assembly about solving the Cyprus problem, he stated that Cyprus should unite through osmosis. This means the weaker side joining the strong mass. The Greek Cypriots' solution is to assimilate Northern Cyprus to southern Cyprus." /Cumhuriyet/
BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY TO VISIT ANKARA NEXT WEEK
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is set to visit Ankara next week. During his three-day visit, Miliband is expected to meet with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to discuss bilateral relations, Turkey's European Union membership process, and the Cyrus and Iraq issues, as well as other regional and international developments. /Turkiye/
CIVIL SERVANTS' PAY RAISE TO BE TAKEN UP BY ARBITRATION BOARD
Following disagreement between representatives of the government and civil servants' unions during collective bargaining over next year's salaries, the issue will be taken up by an Arbitration Board. The board, formed by four scholars chaired by the president of the Higher Arbitration Board, will prepare a report on the matter in five days. If the sides come to an agreement on the board's decision, they will sign a memorandum of understanding. Otherwise, the final decision will be made by the Cabinet. /Turkiye/