GUL VISITS VAN
After his recent election as Turkey's 11th President, Abdullah Gul paid his first domestic visit to the eastern city of Van yesterday where he was welcomed by many enthusiastic residents. Gul, who was accompanied by Education Minister Huseyin Celik, met with Van Governor Ozdemir Cakacak and afterwards with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Gul also visited military officials and Yuzuncu Yil University. /Star-Aksam/
ERDOGAN RECEIVES MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT COMMISSION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received members of the Independent Commission on Turkey in Ankara. The commission, headed by former Finnish President Matti Ahtisaari, was established by the Open Society Institute in 2004 to support Turkey's European Union membership bid. The delegation was also received by President Abdullah Gül. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TOPTAN MEETS WITH TRNC'S TOP OFFICIALS
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, on his first official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday held a series of meetings with top officials. After meeting with President Mehmet Ali Talat, Toptan held talks with former President Rauf Denktas, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosia Turkekul Kurttekin and Lt. Gen. Hayri Kivrikoglu, commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus. /Turkiye/
EMINE ERDOGAN MEETS WITH AKP DEPUTIES' WIVES
Emine Erdogan, wife of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yesterday held a meeting with Justice and Development Party's (AKP) women deputies and deputies' wives at the party's headquarters in Ankara. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan called on women to back their husbands during their political efforts. In addition, the women decided to establish groups to aid and pay visits to families in Ankara's poor districts during Ramadan. /Star/
US EMBASSY: "THE US DOESN'T LEND SUPPORT TO THE PKK"
The US Embassy in Ankara denied an assertion that US officials were frequently holding meetings with PKK terrorists on the Mt. Kandil. A written statement released yesterday underlined that the US accepts the PKK as a terrorist group, and that the country never lends support to terrorists. It added that those kind of allegations aimed at harming friendship between the US and Turkey. /Hurriyet/
POLICE FORCES PREVENT BOMB ATTACK IN ANKARA
Police forces prevented a bomb attack in Ankara yesterday, finding a minivan packed with explosives near a multi-storey car park. 300 kilos of explosives were rendered inactive after three-hours of efforts by security teams. Police evacuated houses, cordoned off the area near the multi-storey car park, the natural gas supply of the area was cut off and ambulances and fire trucks stood by in case of an explosion. Shops and offices in the area were also quickly emptied. "A possible disaster has been prevented," said Ankara Governor Kemal Onal adding that there was a general police alert as Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 are sensitive days. Ankara Governor's Office stated that explosives were same with the ones found in operations in Mersin and Sirnak, Uludere against the terrorist PKK. /All papers/
ANTI-TERROR SUPREME BOARD TO CONVENE TODAY
The Anti-Terror Supreme Board is set to convene this afternoon. The meeting will be chaired by State Minister Cemil Cicek in Ankara. /Turkiye/
SERBIAN TOP COMMANDER VISITS ANKARA
Serbian Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos, on a visit to Ankara, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. It was the first encounter between the two armed forces since the dissolution of Yugoslavia and foundation of Serbia. The two top commanders exchanged views on regional military issues and Ponos reportedly asked for Ankara's backing in his country's NATO membership bid. /Turkiye/
VOTING ON REFERENDUM BEGINS
A referendum on a package of Constitutional changes, including popular election of the president, got its first votes yesterday at Turkey's border gates. The main referendum will be held on Oct. 21. /Milliyet/
TUSIAD DELEGATION MEETS WITH EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) delegation chaired by Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, yesterday met with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. During the visit, Rehn said that Turkey was losing friends because of its slow pace to reform the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). "You are losing the political and economic support of those member countries," said Rehn, adding that Turkey was shooting itself in the foot on not amending the Article 301 immediately. TUSIAD delegation also met with European Parliament (EP) President Hans Gert Poettering. Poettering said that Turkey would be able to move toward membership as long as it pursued reforms. /Cumhuriyet/
BABACAN TO VISIT BULGARIA
Foreign Minister and Chief European Negotiator Ali Babacan will travel to Bulgaria to attend the informal meeting of foreign ministers of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP). Releasing a statement yesterday, Foreign Ministry announced that the meeting would be held during a train journey from Sofia to Plovdiv on Sept. 14. /The New Anatolian/