SEZER: “HIGH STANDARDS OF LIVING CAN ONLY BE REALIZED BY SLOWING POPULATION GROWTH”
Increased standards of living and successful education, health, employment and job security programs can only be realized by slowing population growth, said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. “For balanced population growth, citizens must be educated and family planning practiced,” added Sezer in a message issued to mark World Population Day. “Girls and boys should be offered the same educational opportunities.” /Sabah/

SENER: “TURKEY WILL CONTINUE ITS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE TRNC”
State Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday stated that Turkey’s financial support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would continue into next year. Pointing out that relations between Turkey and the TRNC go beyond those of normal bilateral ties, Sener said that relations between the two states will continue as before. /Hurriyet/

ATALAY: “OUR NEW PRESS LAW IS MORE TRANSPARENT”
Appearing on television yesterday, State Minister Besir Atalay answered questions on a number of issues, including last month’s NATO summit in Istanbul, the new Press Law, and unemployment. Touching on inflation, Atalay said that lower inflation had benefited the nation, adding that the lira was now worth more. Also touching on the new Press Law, Atalay said that the old law was over 50 years old and so was insufficient for modern needs. He added that the new law was more transparent than the old one. /Turkiye/

NEW AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT: “TURKEY SHOULDN’T BE LEFT OUTSIDE THE EU”
New Austrian President Heinz Fischer said yesterday that Turkey shouldn’t be left outside the European Union. Appearing on Austrian television, Fischer said, “I believe that Ankara shouldn’t be excluded from the EU. However, we should also make sure that Turkey ensures democracy.” Fischer just succeeded Thomas Klestil, Austria’s president for over 10 years who died last week. In related news, Greece’s leader yesterday lent additional support to Ankara’s EU bid. “I support Ankara getting a date from the European Union to begin its accession talks,” stated Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. He further urged the continuation of Ankara’s reforms. /Cumhuriyet/

EU COMMISSION COMPLETES BASIC TEXT OF TURKEY’S PROGRESS REPORT
The European Union Commission yesterday reportedly completed the basic text of Turkey’s progress report. The report, which will weigh large on the EU’s decision whether or not to begin Ankara’s accession talks, is due to be released in October. The EU is expected to decide whether or not to begin accession talks with Turkey at its December summit. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAN: “WE’RE COOPERATING WITH TURKEY ON SECURITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry yesterday released a statement saying that Tehran was positively and constructively cooperating with Ankara on security, adding that this cooperation would continue. The statement added that security issues would be discussed at a Turkish-Iranian Joint Security Council meeting scheduled to begin tomorrow in Ankara. /Turkiye/

CB DEPUTY HEAD: “THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY SHOULD CONTINUE IN ORDER TO STRIKE ZEROS FROM THE LIRA”
Central Bank Deputy Governor Sukru Binay said yesterday that the nation’s economic recovery should continue in order to go ahead with plans to erase six zeros from the Turkish lira next January. Speaking to a publication of the Bursa Chamber of Trade and Industry, Binay said, “Low inflation should continue in order to go through with striking out the zeros.” He stated that the CB had begun working on the issue since 1998, when getting rid of the zeros would have been riskier. He further urged the government to continue its tight monetary policy, warning that if it failed to do so, then this could lead to hyperinflation. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN’S DAUGHTER GETS MARRIED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s elder daughter Esra Erdogan yesterday exchanged nuptials with Berat Albayrak, the son of Turkish journalist Sadik Albayrak. Thousands of guests attended the ceremony in Istanbul, including Jordan's King Abdullah, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis and Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. /All papers/