GUL: "UNIVERSITIES SHOULDN'T STAY SILENT"
President Abdullah Gul yesterday took part in a ceremony ushering in the new school year at Ankara's Hacettepe University. Speaking at the ceremony, Gul said, "Universities cannot remain silent in the face of events taking place in society. Universities are institutions which identify the problems facing people and societies and propose ways to solve them. Another role of universities is definitely to enlighten society and help it make its voice heard. While doing so, universities should be representatives of wisdom and scholarship." In related news, Gul received Council of Higher Education (YOK) head Erdogan Tezic at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Afterwards, Tezic told reporters that he had briefed the president about the problems of universities and ways to address them as well as personnel issues, including their rights and staffing shortages, particularly following a rise in the number of universities. Tezic added that Gul had listened to him attentively, saying, "He has an academic background." /Aksam/

ERDOGAN CALLS ON US BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TURKEY
Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan, currently visiting the US to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, yesterday met with Turkish and American businessmen in New York at a dinner in his honor. Erdogan was accompanied by Deputy Premier Nazim Erken, State Minister Mehmet Simsek and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan touted Turkey's stability and called on US businessmen to invest his country. In addition to top executives of leading companies, among distinguished guests at the meeting were former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, and former US Ambassador to Ankara Marc Grossman. /Milliyet/

NGOs SEEK HAND IN WRITING NEW CONSTITUTION
Eight non-governmental organizations, including the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), Turkish Confederation of Employers Associations (TISK), and Turkish Confederation of Labor Association (TURK-IS), said yesterday that they want to play a role in writing a new draft constitution. Speaking to reporters, TOOB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that it was a duty of citizenship for all sectors of society to help write the new constitution. "We call on Parliament, all political parties, universities, occupational institutions, unions, media and NGOs to actively participate in work to form a new constitution," said Hisarciklioglu. He urged the government to tell all sectors of the public about the constitution's preparations. Stressing that Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state under the rule of law, Hisarciklioglu warned against any intent to erase the enduring legacy of Ataturk, saying that he is the founder of the country and no one has power to do that. /Milliyet/

IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani yesterday arrived in Ankara to discuss the details of an agreement between Turkey and Iraq to cooperate against terrorism. Asked about the terrorist PKK, Bolani told reporters, "We won't approve any body or organization [which works] against Turkey. I am here to discuss all these matters." An Iraqi delegation accompanying Bolani, made up of officials from Iraq's Interior and Foreign Ministries, also met with their Turkish counterparts at the Foreign Ministry. At this meeting, the two sides discussed how weapons belonging to Blackwater, a controversial private security company operating in Iraq, had fallen into the hands of the terrorist PKK. /Hurriyet/

CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT VISITS PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday paid a congratulatory visit to Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, who took office last month. During the 45-minute meeting, the recent debate over a new draft constitution was reportedly brought up. After the meeting, Buyukanit declined to take reporters' questions. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

US INVESTIGATES CLAIMS OF ITS WEAPONS IN PKK HANDS
US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said yesterday that the Bush administration takes seriously allegations that US weapons have come into the hands of the terrorist group PKK. Casey said that following an ongoing investigation, if the allegations are confirmed, those responsible would face prosecution "to the full extent of the law." /Sabah/

CHILEAN NAVAL COMMANDER VISITS TURKEY
Chilean Naval Forces Commander Adm. Rodolfo Codina, who is currently in Turkey, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Adm. Metin Atac in Ankara. The two top commanders reportedly discussed ways to develop cooperation between the naval forces of their countries. Codina is expected to leave Turkey on Friday. /Turkish Daily News/

SPANISH QUEEN SOPHIA VISITS KONYA
Spain's Queen Sophia, who is currently on a visit to Turkey, yesterday proceeded to Konya after seeing Istanbul. The queen, accompanied by a delegation, visited the Mevlana Rumi Museum and was told by officials about Rumi's life and philosophy. /Turkiye/