ERDOGAN ADDRESSES COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think-tank, Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan yesterday weighed in on issues such as headscarves, the terrorist PKK and US soldiers' possible withdrawal from Iraq through Turkey. Touching on recent debates over the new draft constitution, Erdogan said, "There's a description of secularism in articles of the 1982 Constitution, and we took these in our party's program. We don't have any concerns about secularism. We'll put almost the same description of secularism as in 1982 Constitution." Erdogan said that Turkey is a victim of terrorism and that the resources of terrorism must be cut off, and that no country can do this alone. He said that the terrorist PKK's presence in northern Iraq and its attacks from there have a huge negative impact on Turkey. "Our expectations are clear," he explained. "Iraqi officials and the United States should quickly take concrete steps instead of making statements about the fight against the PKK. But unfortunately, we have yet to see any concrete steps. The blood shed in the attacks of this terrorist group is exacerbating the mass trauma in our society and trying the patience of the Turkish people as well as narrowing our political options each day." Regarding the possible withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Erdogan said that he thinks a sudden withdrawal would not be right, saying that the coalition forces could instead leave Iraq using a timetable. Erdogan also met with Richard Holbrooke, a former top US State Department official. /Aksam-Cumhuriyet/

TOPTAN: "UNIVERSITIES LEAD THE PUBLIC"
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday attended a ceremony at Rize University to usher in the 2007-2008 school year. Addressing the gathering, Toptan said that universities were the country's most important safeguard on the path to the civilization. Pointing to how some 20 million students, including university students, were being educated, Toptan said the country has a great potential so long as these students are trained well. He said universities are institutions which lead to the development of science, technology and the enrichment of the cultural life of the public, adding that they find solutions to the problems facing the country. /Milliyet/

CICEK: "THERE'S NO HEADSCARF PROBLEM, WE'LL DISCUSS THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION"
Appearing on Sky Turk yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek responded to criticisms of the new draft constitution. "Since 1990s non-governmental organizations and political parties with groups in Parliament have been working to change the Constitution," said Cicek. "Some say, `They [the ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP] started work to change the constitution after they got 47% of the vote in July's general elections. This isn't true, we started this work before the elections. When going to elections, we said we wanted a new constitution. We're putting together a constitution not for the AKP but for Turkey. We can also make use of the initiatives of NGOs regarding this matter." On the headscarf issue, Cicek said, "There is no such problem. Some people take up certain issues from time to time and turn them into a problem." He added, "There are articles in the Constitution saying that the right to education is a fundamental right. We will discuss these arrangements. But we don't think it makes any sense to get stuck on only one article. Some people are trying to hamper this project by stirring up extreme discussions. I personally think that some of these discussions lack good will." /Star-Hurriyet/

FM BABACAN CONTINUES CONTACTS IN NEW YORK
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, currently visiting the US, yesterday continued his contacts in New York. During a meeting between Babacan and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Iraq and terrorism issue, the Armenian resolution before the US Congress and the Cyprus and Mideast issues were discussed. Underlining Ankara's concerns about Iraq's territorial integrity, Babacan urged the top US diplomat to take concrete steps to stop PKK terrorists from taking shelter in northern Iraq. In addition, Babacan also met with Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht, and they reportedly talked about the trial in absentia of fugitive terrorist Fehriye Erdal. Furthermore, the foreign minister held talks with his Russian, Dutch and Dominican counterparts. /Turkiye/

TURKEY, IRAQ EXPECTED TO SIGN ANTI-TERROR PACT TODAY, WITH SOME ISSUES LEFT OUT
Three days of negotiations between Turkey and Iraq on a pact on cooperation against the terrorist PKK stalled yesterday when the sides failed to reach agreement on the terms of "conditional hot pursuit" operations by the Turkish military into northern Iraq. Following the talks, the sides will reportedly sign the seven-article text, but leave behind controversial issues for discussion at a later date by a commission. /Sabah/

HALUK KOC TO SEEK CHP HELM
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Samsun Deputy Haluk Koc said yesterday that he would run for the party leadership at the upcoming party congress. Koc, who served the CHP as deputy group leader in the previous Parliament, will run against CHP leader Deniz Baykal. Stressing that he had considered what leading the party would mean, Koc said he would soon hold a press conference. "The understanding of our party's administration should be changed," said Koc. /Milliyet/

COREPER TO INVITE TURKEY TO OPEN TALKS ON TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKS
Diplomatic sources yesterday said that the European Union's Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) had agreed to invite Turkey to open its membership negotiations on the chapter on trans-European networks. A letter of invitation will be sent to Turkey soon, requesting that Ankara submit its position paper on the chapter. /Star/

SPANISH QUEEN VISITS CAPPADOCIA
Spanish Queen Sophia, currently visiting Turkey, yesterday traveled to Nevsehir to see the historical and cultural landmarks of Cappadocia. The queen spent the night in Urgup and also met with regional government officials. /Turkish Daily News/