IN FIRST TRIP ABROAD AS PRESIDENT, GUL SET TO VISIT TRNC TOMORROW
In his first visit abroad in his current office, President Abdullah Gul is set tomorrow to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). During his stay, Gul will meet with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and receive various Cabinet members. Later, Gul will attend a dinner hosted by Talat. Gul is also expected to meet with former TRNC President Rauf Denktas. After addressing the Turkish Cypriot Parliament, Gul will leave the country on Wednesday. /Sabah/
GUL TO ADDRESS COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSEMBLY
President Abdullah Gul will address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during PACE's fall session in Strasbourg early next month. His participation in the session, set to be held on Oct. 1-5, will be the president's first international public appearance since being elected last month. According to the draft program, Gul will deliver his speech on Oct. 3. /Today's Zaman/
ERDOGAN TO FACE BUSY SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT MONTH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to face a busy schedule after returning to Ankara from Denizli, where he took a short vacation. Erdogan is expected today to open the 2007-2008 school year, and later will assemble the new Cabinet. On Thursday, Erdogan will travel to New York to pay a one-week official visit for the UN General Assembly. The premier is also expected to visit Britain on Oct. 10-12. /Star/
AKP COMMISSION COMPLETES WORK ON NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION
A commission of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies yesterday completed its work on a new draft Constitution. The head of the 18-member commission, AKP deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, told reporters that they had put together a new civilian draft constitution which focuses on the individual and will meet all the requirements of society. The draft will be taken up on Wednesday at an AKP Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where it will be finalized. Then it will be presented for public discussion and debate for three months before being presented to Parliament. /Milliyet/
2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
After the three-month summer holiday, the 2007-2008 school year will start in elementary and high schools today. Throughout Turkey nearly 15 million students and 600,000 teachers will begin the new year, which will end next June. Meanwhile, approximately 122 million textbooks for elementary schools and 35 million for high schools will be distributed free. /Aksam/
TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING TO BE HELD IN PORTUGAL
A meeting between Turkey and the European Union Troika is set to be held tomorrow in Portugal , which is now serving as the EU term president. During the meeting, a Turkish delegation is expected to brief the Troika on its work on Turkey 's new civilian draft Constitution. The EU side is expected to express its expectations for revisions to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). On the same day, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat will meet with EU ambassadors and tell them in detail about the draft Constitution. /Star/
TOBB DELEGATION LEAVES FOR THE US
A delegation led by Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu left for the United States yesterday to hold meetings in Chicago and Washington. The delegation will meet with business leaders and then proceed to Washington to have talks with World Bank President Robert Zoellick, IMF Vice President John Lipsky and US Assistant Secretary of State Dan Sullivan. Hisarciklioglu will also deliver a speech on the Turkish economy to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think-tank. After meeting with US congressmen, the TOBB delegation will return to Turkey next Thursday. /The New Anatolian/