NEW JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS
The new judicial year began yesterday with a ceremony in Ankara at the Supreme Court of Appeals. Speaking at the gathering, attended by President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Osman Arslan called on everyone to be loyal to the basic principles of the republic. Stressing that terrorism is a crime against humanity, Arslan urged countries not to lend support to terrorists, whether direct or indirect. He added that the trustworthiness of the judiciary is a prerequisite for ensuring public peace and order. Later, Arslan hosted top officials at an evening reception at the State Guest House. In related news, Erdogan sent Arslan a message of congratulations stressing the vital importance of the rule of law. /Cumhuriyet/
GUL MAKES FIRST TWO APPOINTMENTS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday made his first appointments in his new position. Gul approved the Cabinet's appointment of Professor Yunus Soylet to a vacant position on the Higher Board of Education (YOK), and appointed Professor Fazil Tekin as the rector of Osmangazi University in Eskisehir. In related news, Gul will host a second reception at the Cankaya Presidential Palace today for representatives from the media, the business and art worlds. /Star/
IN WAKE OF ELECTIONS, ERDOGAN RESUMES VISITS ABROAD
After focusing on the recently concluded general and presidential elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is resuming a series of contacts abroad. Erdogan will first go to the US on Sept. 24 to attend the UN General Assembly meeting, and there he will meet with many leaders, including US President George W. Bush. Next month Erdogan will go to Britain to meet with new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. After those trips, Erdogan will travel to Romania at the end of October and the following month to the Czech Republic. /Star/
PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH GUL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was received yesterday by new President Abdullah Gul for a regular weekly meeting. Following their 70-minute meeting, no statement was released to the press. /Hurriyet/
WASHINGTON URGES RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS
The Bush administration backs efforts towards finding a settlement on Cyprus, US State Department spokesman Tom Casey told a daily press briefing yesterday. Asked about this week's meeting between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulus, Casey said the US always welcomes contacts between the two leaders, adding that it is hoping for a settlement on the island. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT NAMES DEPUTIES ON COMMISSIONS
A few weeks before the beginning of the new legislative year, Parliament has determined which deputies will serve on its 16 commissions. Thirty-five female lawmakers will sit on various commissions, but none have been named to be the Defense Commission. Traditionally, heads of commissions are appointed by ruling party, in this case the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Burhan Kuzu has been named to lead the Constitutional Commission, which will review a proposed new constitution in the near future, and Sait Acba is to head the Planning and Budget Commission, which is set to begin to work on the 2008 budget. /Milliyet/
DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR TO BECOME PRIME MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY
Diyarbakir Governor Efkan Ala will be appointed Prime Ministry undersecretary. Ala, the successor to Omer Dincer and one of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most trusted bureaucrats, will be the new administrator of the Prime Ministry bureaucracy. His appointment is expected to be approved today by President Abdullah Gul. /Milliyet/
ARMENIAN SCHOLARS TO ATTEND CONGRESS IN ANKARA
Turkey next week will host the International Congress for Asia and North Africa Studies (ICANAS 38). Speaking to reporters, Sadik Tural, head of the Ataturk High Board of Culture, Language and History, said that 800 scholars from 67 countries would attend the gathering in Ankara. Stressing that the gathering marks the first time ever that some 20 Armenian scholars from Armenia will participate in a congress in Turkey, Turol added that the meeting will have two panels on the Armenian issue, but that the Armenian scholars are not slated to speak there. /Milliyet/
TUZMEN PUSHES IMPORTS IN CHINA
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that nearly 60 projects in Turkey worth over $15 billion will be promoted starting tomorrow at the four-day 11th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT). Tuzmen yesterday traveled to China with Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) head Oguz Satici and a 150-member delegation. Stating that Turkey's exports to China have been rising nearly 50% each month, Tuzmen added, "By the end of this year, for the first time we will have done $1.2 billion in exports to China." /Star/