BABACAN: "THE NORTHERN IRAQI ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE A CLEAR STANCE AGAINST THE TERRORIST PKK"
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said yesterday that the northern Iraqi administration must take a clearer stance and concrete steps against the terrorist PKK. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with his visiting Laotian counterpart Thongloune Sisoulith, Babacan said that prospects for dialogue between the northern Iraqi administration and Turkey depend on the administration's stance on the PKK. Babacan added that Ankara's European Union harmonization reforms would continue decisively. /Turkiye/
IN CHINA, TOPTAN MEETS WITH HEAD OF PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, currently in China to hold official talks, yesterday met in Beijing with Wu Banggua, president of the National People's Congress. Afterwards, he said, "Turkey and China share the same views on Cyprus, the fight against terrorism, and our bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council." /Cumhuriyet/
CICEK: "FUTURE PROSECUTION UNDER ARTICLE 301 WILL REQUIRE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL"
The Cabinet met for nearly four hours yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Afterwards, Justice Minister and government spokesperson Cemil Cicek said the government wants to change controversial Article 301 so that any future prosecutions under it would require presidential approval. Cicek also criticized a recent incident of political violence at Antalya's Akdeniz University, saying that deans and staff should pay more attention to their university duties. /All papers/
AKP'S FIRAT: "CONSENSUS WILL BE SOUGHT ON CHANGES TO MAKE PARTY CLOSURES HARDER"
A top official of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said yesterday pledged to seek a political consensus on proposed constitutional changes to make closing political parties more difficult. Speaking to reporters after a six-hour meeting of top AKP members chaired by Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, AKP Deputy Chair Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said that working groups would be set up to deal with the court case seeking to close the party. Saying that the AKP would prepare its defense in line with procedures and the law, Firat added that in the end, Turkey's legislative system, democracy, political and economic stability, and people would all benefit. /Hurriyet/
European Union Commission head Jose Manuel Barosso and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn are due to arrive in Turkey on Thursday for a visit at a time of rising political tension due to the case seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The closure case and democratic reform efforts, especially proposals to change controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), are expected to dominate Barosso and Rehn's talks with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, and representatives of other parties and non-governmental organizations. In related news, Barosso yesterday said Turkey must convince the EU of its willingness and readiness to join the bloc and that Turkey will be able to join if it meets all the required membership criteria. /Star/
EU'S DUFF: "THE AKP CLOSURE CASE THREATENS TO HARM TURKEY'S IMAGE"
European Parliament Liberal Group member and Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Deputy Co-Chair Andrew Duff yesterday said that supporters of pluralist democracy and secularism could suffer due to the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In an interview with ABHaber, Duff said, "This closure case will harm Turkey's image in the European Union." He added that having the spotlight on these issues, rather than reforms, would cause Turkey to lose EU support. /Aksam/
OPPOSITION PARTIES REBUFF TUSIAD LEADER OVER CLAIM TURKEY LACKS AN OPPOSITION
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) yesterday rebuffed a claim by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association's (TUSIAD) leader Arzuhan Yalcindag that Turkey lacks a serious political opposition. "There's no lack of opposition," said CHP deputy leader Mustafa Ozyurek. "Instead, there's government partisanship." Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy group leader Oktay Vural also took exception to the TUSIAD leader's claim, adding that the AKP and TUSIAD were coalition partners. /Aksam/