GUL HOSTS FIRST RECEPTION AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
President Abdullah Gul yesterday hosted his first reception at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Among those attending the event were Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cabinet members, the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) deputy leaders, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and Democratic Society Party (DTP) members. Gen. Erdal Ceylanoglu represented the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) at the reception, along with three lieutenant generals and 14 brigadier generals. No members of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) attended, but the Democratic Left Party (DSP) was represented by Emrehan Halici. Several ambassadors were also present at the event. /Sabah/
60TH GOVERNMENT WINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
As expected, the 60th government, formed under Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, won its vote of confidence in Parliament yesterday. Of 535 deputies taking part in the vote, 337 deputies voted in favor of the confidence motion and 197 voted against. One deputy abstained. After the vote, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech thanking the assembled deputies. Stating that one of his government's main goals is to raise the prosperity of the Turkish people, Erdogan said that another objective is to ensure that justice is done throughout the country. Following the vote of confidence, Parliament went on recess until Oct. 1. Afterwards, Erdogan and his Cabinet members visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum.
BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY MEETS WITH BABACAN
Britain firmly condemns the terrorist PKK's activities and appreciates Turkey's efforts to combat it through cooperation with the Iraqi government, said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband yesterday. "Within this context, we'll support both governments," he added. Miliband also said that Britain supports Turkey on the Cyprus and the European Union issues. In talks with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, Miliband discussed such issues as the EU, Iraq, the terrorist PKK, Cyprus and regional policies. The foreign secretary was also received by President Abdullah Gul. /Cumhuriyet/
NEW JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS TODAY
Marking the beginning of the new judicial year, a ceremony will be held today at the Supreme Court of Appeals. The court's chief justice, Osman Arslan, is expected to deliver an opening speech to the ceremony. Turkish Bar Association head Ozdemir Ozok is also scheduled to speak. In related news, Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin issued a message marking the day, stating that it was the Turkish judiciary's responsibility to provide that laws have a firm legal basis and that Turkey's legal system serves universal justice and human rights. /Turkiye/
PROPOSAL BY TRNC'S TALAT REJECTED BY GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos to discuss forming technical committees towards finding solutions on the island. The two leaders met at the residence of Michael Moller, the UN secretary-general's special representative on Cyprus. Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Talat said that he had proposed that full negotiations start following a preparatory process of two or two-and-a-half months with an eye to producing a solution by the end of 2008, but Papadopoulos had rejected this. Talat stressed that Papadopoulos believes that several committees should be formed and these committees should try to solve the Cyprus issue, adding that the time for this wasn't certain. "None of the committees planned to be formed were actually formed," added Talat. /Milliyet/