IN STRASBOURG, PRESIDENT GUL ADDRESSES PACE
In a historic first, President Abdullah Gul yesterday delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Afterwards, speaking with the parliamentarians, he said that fighting discrimination and hatred of all kinds requires strong political will and proactive action, and he denied any links between religion and terrorism. "The principle that the Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law is irrevocable," he said. "This principle will be protected in the new constitution. In Turkey religion and the state work separately, and will remain separate in the new constitution." He also responded to deputies' questions about freedom, human rights and Turkey's southeast. /Star/

ERDOGAN RECEIVES GERMAN GREENS' CLAUDIA ROTH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Claudia Roth, co-chair of the German Alliance 90/Green Party and chair of the German-Turkish Interparliamentary Friendship Group. During their meeting, Erdogan said that there are certain groups which act as advocates for the terrorist group PKK, calling this situation "intolerable." He stressed that the government would not deal with any parties which fail to recognize the PKK as a terrorist group. For her part, Roth said that the Greens are opposed to all forms of violence and condemned last weekend's terrorist attack in Sirnak. Afterwards, Roth told reporters that Erdogan had vowed to lift the Turkish Penal Code's (TCK) controversial Article 301 and that she welcomed the decision. /Sabah/

BAYKAL WARNS GOVT OF POST-REFERENDUM PRESIDENTIAL CRISIS
Speaking to reporters before his party's meeting, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday issued a warning. "Turkey is headed towards a presidential crisis," he said. "This must be dealt with before Oct. 21," the date of a public referendum on constitutional changes, including popular election of the president. Some observers have said the changes would trigger a second, popular election of the 11th president, even though Abdullah Gul was elected to the post by Parliament in August. Baykal said that an adjustment to the constitution is necessary to avoid this. "Should the government fail to introduce a change, the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) will have no choice but to set a date for new presidential elections and announce its decision on the matter," he added. "It is not in the YSK's power to ignore the result of a referendum. The people will have opted to elect the 11th president themselves, and it will be impossible to ignore their will." /Milliyet/

BASBUG VISITS MUS
Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday traveled to the eastern Anatolian province of Mus. Basbug, accompanied by a group of high-level military commanders, visited Mus Governor Ibrahim Ozcimen to discuss regional issues. /Turkiye/

EP APPROVES RESOLUTION ON TURKEY
The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday approved a resolution on Turkey prepared by Ria Oomen-Ruijten, a Dutch MEP. Most of the 236 proposed amendments were either withdrawn or redrafted as a result of compromises by political groups in the EP. The so-called Armenian genocide allegations are not directly mentioned in the document, but a clause saying a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus would facilitate a solution on the island was added in a compromise. It also praises Turkey's fair and democratic election process. /Milliyet/

FRENCH FM DUE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is set to arrive in Ankara tomorrow to pay an official visit. An official from the French Embassy in Ankara told reporters that both Turkey and France were eager for the meeting, adding that the visit would be brief but would help to strengthen ties between the two countries. /Hurriyet/

US' WILSON: "WE'RE NOT DOING ALL WE CAN TO FIGHT THE TERRORIST PKK"
Speaking at a traditional fast-breaking Iftar dinner of the Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Confederation, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson stated that he mourned those who lost their lives in recent terrorist attacks in Sirnak and Izmir. "I condemn all terrorist attacks throughout the world," he said. "The truth is that even Turkey's friend the US isn't doing all it can to fight the terrorist PKK. But I am confident that President (George W.) Bush also attaches importance to ending Al-Queda and other terrorist organizations." He added, "We're on the same page on the terrorist PKK issue. We have a great role both in capturing the terrorist PKK leader and cutting off financial aid to terrorism. But we know that that's not enough." /Cumhuriyet/

US HOUSE COMMITTEE SET TO VOTE ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
A resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide reportedly faces a vote next Wednesday in the US House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee. In related news, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that they were in close contact with Congress about the resolution. /Cumhuriyet/

HIGHER PLANNING BOARD CONVENES TO DISCUSS 2008 BUDGET
The Higher Board of Planning (YPK), chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, convened yesterday to discuss preliminary figures for next year's budget. Speaking to reporters, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that the government was not planning any new taxes. /Turkiye/