GUL TO TOUR SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA
President Abdullah Gul will pay his first local visit to southeastern Anatolia. During his four-day tour, Gul is set to travel to Van, Hakkari, Sirnak, and Diyarbakir. He will also visit the military units in the region. Meanwhile, the president will receive visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem and his accompanying delegation today. In addition, before leaving for Van tomorrow, Gul is expected to pay a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today. /Milliyet-Aksam/
SYRIAN FM HOLDS TALKS IN ANKARA
As tension has escalated in the Middle East once again after a snap attack by Israel to Syria, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem arrived in Ankara late last night for a sudden visit to discuss the incident with Turkish officials. Moallem is scheduled to meet with his counterpart Ali Babacan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul. Reportedly, Moallem will present the evidence that Israeli air forces violated Syrian airspace early Thursday morning. Turkey was involved in the issue when fuel tanks found near its border that were allegedly dropped by Israeli aircrafts. Turkish Foreign Ministry officially requested information from Israel on Saturday but no response was received yet. /Turkish Daily News/
ERTUGRUL GAZI COMMEMORATED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, Great Union Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu and other top level officials yesterday attended a ceremony to commemorate Ertugrul Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, in Sogut in the western province of Bilecik. President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal sent congratulatory messages to the ceremony. Addressing the crowd, Erdogan called on citizens to protect common values. "Nation's unity will be stronger only when people come together with common values," said the premier. /Milliyet-Sabah/
GEN. BUYUKANIT TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT GUL
Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit will meet with President Abdullah Gul today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace for a congratulatory visit. Gen. Buyukanit will meet with Gul for the first time following his election as President. /Hurriyet/
CHP CELEBRATES 84TH ANNIVERSARY AMID PROTESTS
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) yesterday celebrated its 84th anniversary. CHP leader Deniz Baykal went to Anitkabir, Ataturk's Mausoleum, to celebrate the party's establishment. Large number of party members gathered in Ankara's Tandogan Square and marched the Anitkabir. Meanwhile, an intra-party opposition led by Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul and his followers gathered in front of CHP headquarters in Ankara where they called on Baykal and senior management to resign. /All papers/
BABACAN VISITS PORTUGAL
Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister and chief European Union negotiator, made his first visit to EU Term President Portugal over the weekend. During his talks with his Swedish, Macedonian, Austrian and Estonian counterparts, as well as EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, Babacan discussed the commission's Progress Report on Turkey to be released in November. Rehn reportedly expressed the EU's expectation from Turkey to revive the reform progress. /Sabah/
EU WARNS TURKEY ABOUT THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The European Union Commission made a warning over the weekend that all political views and all segments of the Turkish society should be included into new studies on the Constitution. The Commission requires that reforms on democratization, freedom of expression, and cultural rights and Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should be implemented. The EU Commission expects Ankara to take steps on the reforms before issuing its progress report on Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/