GUL CONTINUES HIS TOUR TO SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA
President Abdullah Gul completed the first leg of his visit when he arrived in eastern province of Van on Tuesday and yesterday visited Van's Baskale and Hakkari's Yuksekova towns. Addressing the residents of Yuksekova, Gul stressed the necessity for "fraternity" and "unity" among people of the country to have a better future. Gul said that he wanted closer relationships among people and between people and the state. "The state stands at your service with all its capabilities," said the president. "You are aware of that. We just need to love each other and maintain the state. Then you will see years of neglect disappear in a short time. Public services will be delivered at your feet, just as you deserve them." Gul further stressed that he was happy to make his first domestic visit to the region. The President`s four-day tour will continue in Hakkari, Siirt, Sirnak and Diyarbakir and he is expected to return to Ankara on Friday. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL TO MAKE HIS FIRST VISIT TO ABROAD TO TRNC
It was declared that President Abdullah Gul would make his first visit to abroad to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). He will visit the TRNC on Sept. 18-19 and later travel to Strasbourg, France to attend a meeting of the European Council Assembly. Gul is expected to deliver a speech at the gathering. /Cumhuriyet/

ICT HEAD PRAISES ATMOSPHERE FOR REFORMS
Independent Commission on Turkey (ICT) members, on a visit to Turkey yesterday held a press conference in Istanbul. ICT head former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari said that the necessary atmosphere was created following the elections for the government to pursue reforms, adding that good will was important, but implementation was more important than that. ICT member former Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek said that the European Parliament accepted Turkey as a candidate since it was a secular country with a majority Muslim population. Saying that the world considered this an advantage, Geremek added that he hoped Turkey would remain secular forever and its democracy would be more stable. /Milliyet/

PAPADOPOULOS SEES TURKISH ARMY AS ONLY ENEMY
Opening his presidential campaign, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos declared the only enemy on Cyprus is the "Turkish occupation army." Appearing on Greek Cypriot TV at Tuesday night, Papadopoulos expressed his regret to accept United Nations' referee in 2004 to find a settlement on the divided island. Blaming Turkish Cypriot side for the failure in his last week's meeting with Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat, the Greek Cypriot leader said that the worst has been avoided when an UN-proposed solution plan (the Annan plan) was rejected. On the other hand, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Bilman said yesterday that declaring the TSK on the island as enemy didn't serve peace. In a weekly press briefing, Dilman said, "Mr. Papadopoulos seems to have forgotten that Turkey along with Greece and Britain is a guarantor state and that the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is based on international agreements." He added that it was unacceptable to name the TSK as an enemy. Furthermore, TRNC Premier Ferdi Soyer said yesterday that the one, who accepts Turkish soldier as an enemy, also accepts Turkish Cypriots as enemy. He also urged the Greek Cypriot leader to display a will for a settlement on the island soon. /Sabah/

ANTI-TERROR SUMMIT HELD
Turkey's Supreme Council on Anti-Terrorism chaired by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek convened yesterday to discuss the foiled bomb plot in Ankara and other issues. A statement released following the three-hour meeting which brought together the top officials related to the topic, underlined the need for being in constant alert as the terrorist attacks may happen at any time and in any place. /Aksam/

EP FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TURKEY TODAY
The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs is set to discuss a draft resolution on Turkey. The draft, prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Parliamentarian RiaOomen-Ruijten reportedly welcoming outcome of general elections in Turkey, as it enabled a wide-range of public representation in Parliament, called on new lawmakers make efforts to ensure stable democracy in the country. /Turkiye/

TUSIAD SEEKS SUPPORT FOR BRITISH DEPUTY FOREIGN SECRETARY MURPHY
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag and an accompanying delegation yesterday met with British Deputy Foreign Secretary Responsible for Foreign Affairs Jim Murphy. Speaking afterwards, Yalcindag said that Murphy backed Turkey's European Union membership bid, adding that TUSIAD would continue its efforts to seek support towards this end. /Sabah/

IMF DELEGATION MEETS WITH ECONOMY'S NEW TOP OFFICIALS
The International Monetary Fund delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Lorenzo Giorgianni and Hossein Samiei, newly appointed senior resident representative in Turkey yesterday visited State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, and Nazim Ekren, state minister responsible for the coordination of economy. During the delegation's meeting, the budget figures were discussed. The IMF delegation expressed that it welcomed the government's savings package of 2.5 billion YTL. The delegation further expressed that there was no need to put back social security reform. /Milliyet/

TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE FAIR
Turkey for the first time participated in the Defense Systems and Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) on Sept. 11-14 in London. In addition to the Defense Industry Undersecretariat, Turkey is being represented by 18 Turkish firms in the fair. /Turkiye/