CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM PACKAGE SENT TO PARLIAMENT
The government yesterday sent a new 10-article reform package including amendments to the Constitution in line with EU norms. The bill will be debated at Parliament’s Constitutional Commission tomorrow, and if approved, will then be taken up by the full assembly. Besides doing away with State Security Courts (DGMs) and the death penalty, the package proposes the inclusion of equality of the sexes in the Constitution as well as other amendments. /Turkiye/

GUL BRIEFED ON JUNE NATO SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was briefed yesterday on the NATO summit set to be held this June in Istanbul. Ambassador Umur Apaydin, head of the NATO Summit Organization Committee, delivered the briefing on ongoing work for the summit. Later Gul hosted a banquet in the honor of NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is currently visiting Turkey to lay groundwork for the summit. /Turkiye/

ANNAN PRAISES TRNC’S “COURAGEOUS” EFFORTS FOR CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
At a press conference in New York yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Turkish Cypriots for their “courageous vote” in Saturday’s historic referendums, adding that the Turkish side should not be punished for the UN plan’s failure as they had approved it. Stressing that the plan included key planks for both sides on the island, Annan said, “I salute the Turkish Cypriots for their courageous vote in favor of the proposals. We must all do our best to see that they are not penalized for the way the vote went in the other part of the island. I hope that before too long the Greek Cypriots will have an opportunity to consider the plan more calmly, and to judge it on its true merits.” Meanwhile, the UN Security Council yesterday discussed the Cyprus issue. Diplomatic sources said that Russia had certain objections to a draft council declaration and had rejected lifting the embargo from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The council is expected to continue deliberations on the matter today. In related news, US Cyprus Representative Thomas Weston said yesterday that the economic isolation of the TRNC could be ended soon. /Hurriyet/

TRNC’S TALAT, SERDAR DENKTAS TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA TODAY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas are due to arrive in Ankara today to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The quartet is expected to discuss the result of the recent historic Cyprus referendums and subsequent developments. /Aksam/

EC’S DAWSON VISITS SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA
Martin Dawson, undersecretary of the European Commission’s Turkey Representative Office, said yesterday that European Union harmonization laws were being implemented in Turkey’s southeastern region. Speaking to reporters in Tunceli, Dawson said that in that city as well as Elazig and Bingol he had observed good implementation of the reforms. Stressing that violations of human rights in Turkey were falling gradually, Dawson said, “Efforts should be made to resolve problems between sides without applying to the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR]. If no settlement can be reached, then an application can be made.” /Turkiye/

TALAT RETURNS FROM BRUSSELS HOPEFUL
Europeans have appreciated both Ankara and Turkish Cyprus as we kept our promises and implemented the commitments we made, said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday. After completing his contacts in Brussels, Talat held a press conference at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport en route to the TRNC. Stressing that European leaders had been disappointed by the Greek side’s negative stance towards a settlement on Cyprus, Talat said, “Now we have to pursue an active, dynamic policy. We have to work hard without losing time to ensure the embargo on the TRNC is lifted.” Pointing out that the Greek side could not represent Turkish Cyprus, Talat welcomed the EU’s recent decision to open an office in the TRNC. /Turkiye/

KARAMANLIS: “WE RESPECT THE GREEK CYPRIOTS’ DECISION ON THE UN CYPRUS PLAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM”
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday met with visiting Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to discuss the historic weekend Cyprus referendums. Speaking afterwards, Karamanlis said that Athens respected Greek Cypriots’ decision on the UN plan in the referendums and pledge continued support for Greek Cyprus. Over three-fourths of Greek Cypriots rejected the UN Cyprus plan. “Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots should cooperate to reach a just and lasting peace on the island,” said Karamanlis. For his part, Papadopoulos said that the UN plan was still a viable proposal, adding, “Such plans are always on the table. Greek Cypriots will make their decision on it in the future.” Touching on Ankara’s European Union membership bid, Papadopoulos said that Greek Cyprus would benefit from Turkey’s joining the EU after it fulfills the Copenhagen criteria. /Milliyet/

BLAIR: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP TO BRIDGE EUROPE AND THE ISLAMIC WORLD”
In a commentary written for yesterday’s edition of French daily Le Monde, British Prime Minister Tony Blair reiterated that his government supported Ankara’s European Union membership bid, adding that allowing it to join would help to bridge the gap between Europe and the Islamic world. “Both Turkey and Croatia are on the right path [to full EU membership],” wrote Blair. "Britain welcomes these two candidacies. We believe, in particular, that Turkey, as soon as it meets the membership criteria, will add a new dimension to the Union, providing a bridge with the Islamic world." /Cumhuriyet/

BABACAN: “NO NEED FOR WORRY ABOUT CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that if Ankara continues to follow its free exchange rate policy, there should be no need to worry about the current accounts deficit. “The high current accounts deficit could have been a problem if we had a fixed exchange rate,” said Babacan. Asked about the recent depreciation of the lira, Babacan said that the currency’s value would be determined by free market conditions. /Star/

WB HEAD: “I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF ANKARA DECIDES TO CONTINUE ITS WAY WITHOUT THE IMF”
World Bank President James Wolfensohn said yesterday that he would be surprised if Ankara decides to continue its way without the International Monetary Fund, adding that the World Bank would also provide Turkey with $4.5 billion economic aid over the next three years. “This year alone we will provide $1.5 billion,” added Wolfensohn. He stated that Turkey’s reform process was still in a beginning phase, adding that the banking sector needed more reforms. Wolfensohn also praised recent decreases in interest rates, adding that this would help to boost investments. He predicted that the nation at large would feel the positive effects of low inflation within two years. /Aksam/