GUL TO RECEIVE SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD
President Abdullah Gul today will receive Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss Syria's stance on a possible Turkish cross-border operation into northern Iraq. Gul and Assad will also discuss issues such as the Middle East problem and the terrorist PKK taking shelter in Iraq. During their meeting, Gul will also ask Assad to take a common stance with Turkey at the meeting of countries neighboring Iraq set for Istanbul later this month. Assad will also meet with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun and visit former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at his residence in Ankara's Golbasi district. /Milliyet/

TOPTAN MEETS WITH GERMAN SOCIALIST SCHULZ
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday received Martin Schulz, head of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, and his delegation in Ankara. Saying that Turkey sometimes complains of not being understood by the EU, Toptan added that Schulz's visit could help to redress this situation. The delegation was also received by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /The New Anatolian/

ERDOGAN: "IF TURKEY IS HURT, THOSE BEHIND THIS WILL SUFFER TEN TIMES MORE"
Addressing the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Erdogan made warnings apparently related to a resolution now in the US Congress concerning the Armenian allegations. "If Turkey is hurt, those behind this will suffer 10 times more. Those hostile to us will fare no better," he said. "Common sense is being displaced by petty plans." He also said that those who make decisions believing that Turks complain for a short time before forgetting their grievance are making a grave mistake. /Sabah/

PM ERDOGAN MEETS WITH TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO US
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy, who was recalled for consultations last week after a key US House Committee passed a resolution on Armenian allegations about the incidents of 1915. During the meeting, Erdogan warned that should the resolution came to a full US House vote, this would push Turkish-US relations to the brink. Afterwards, Sensoy told reporters that the majority in the House seems to be against Turkey. He stated that during his contacts in the US he stressed that passing the resolution would damage bilateral relations. Sensoy is set to return to Washington after his consultations in Ankara. /Sabah-Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE MOTION ON CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
After being sent to Parliament on Monday, a government motion seeking authorization for a period of one year for a cross-border operation into northern Iraq will face a vote in the full Parliament today. The motion will be debated and voted in an open session. In the past, similar motions were taken up in closed sessions. /Turkiye/

IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEY
Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who is currently visiting Ankara, said yesterday that he had come to solve the terrorist PKK issue though common understanding. "There's still a chance to solve the problem through political means," he added. Hashimi read out a declaration which he said gave the stance of the Iraqi government. "The Turkish government should believe that the Iraqi government can stop the terrorist PKK's activities," it said, "The problem is the presence of the PKK. The Iraqi government admits that the PKK is a terrorist organization. There's still an opportunity for a political solution. We should give diplomacy and policy a chance. Rather than a one-sided operation, common understanding should be stressed." Hashimi was received by President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. /Star/

PARLIAMENT APPROVES CHANGES TO SUNDAY CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
Parliament yesterday approved changes to a constitutional amendment package set to go to referendum this weekend, on Oct. 21. The changes passed 386-94. Under the changes, sections of the referendum under which Turkey's current president might face a second, popular election, after being elected by Parliament this August, were taken out. The changes were approved by President Abdullah Gul yesterday. /Star/

CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT VISITS ITALIAN COUNTERPART
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday flew to Rome with an accompanying delegation. After landing at Ciampino Military Airport, Buyukanit attended a dinner in his honor given by his Italian counterpart. Buyukanit will proceed to Naples tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet/

LAND FORCES COMMANDER TRAVELS TO SOUTHEAST
Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, accompanied by some of his top lieutenants, yesterday arrived in the southeastern city of Sirnak. Basbug and the commanders held a meeting with Governor Selahattin Apari which was closed to the press. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL: "IRAQ AND THE US MUST MAKE THEIR CHOICE, EITHER TURKEY OR THE PKK"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday urged the US and Iraq to make their choice clear: either Turkey or the PKK. "The knife has reached the bone," said Baykal, adding that nobody has the right to ask anything more of Turkey. The CHP leader said his party would back a motion seeking authorization for a cross-border operation set to be debated in Parliament today. Stressing that terrorism is an issue transcending both political parties and governments, Baykal called for a new approach to the problem, adding that his party was ready to help towards this end. /Turkiye/

DTP'S TURK URGES ACTION TO AVOID NEED FOR CROSS-BORDER OP
Turkey should take action so that no cross-border operation into northern Iraq is needed, said Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Turk yesterday. "Gangs are encouraged to oppose us. Birds of prey will attack pigeons," Turk said. "The DTP has consistently made its attitude clear: A military operation is not a solution. We do not want Turkey to get caught in the Middle East quagmire. Let's take action so that no cross-border operation is necessary. We are ready for this." /Sabah/