HIGH-SPEED TRAIN DERAILS EN ROUTE FROM ISTANBUL TO ANKARA
A high-speed train en route from Istanbul to Ankara derailed last night near Pamukova, a town in the northwestern province of Sakarya. The five-car train was carrying 243 passengers and 12 personnel. The Transportation Ministry announced that 37 people had been killed and 43 injured in the crash. While a ministry statement said that the cause of the derailment was as yet unknown, a technical team has been dispatched to the crash site to investigate. Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim went to the site immediately after the derailment. In related news, Erdogan cancelled his scheduled trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina to attend today’s reopening of the historical Mostar Bridge due to the tragic incident. /All Papers/
ERDOGAN URGES BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST MORE FOR JOB CREATION
Speaking at a meeting of the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on businessmen and leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to invest more in order to create new jobs and boost employment. Erdogan stressed that interest rates were still too high and that the government hoped to bring them down from 15% to 10%. The premier vowed that the government would never pursue populist policies. Erdogan also called on the citizens not to avoid paying their taxes, warning that doing so would damage the economy. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Erdogan said that if Ankara gets a date from the EU to begin its accession talks, it could attract more foreign capital. “I believe that Turkey will get a date this December to begin its accession talks,” he added. In related news, Erdogan is due to travel to Iran next Tuesday to pay a two-day official visit. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: “MY VISIT TO FRANCE WAS POSITIVE”
Speaking to reporters after completing a three-day visit to France yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his trip had been very positive, adding that European Union member states were not opposed to Turkey’s EU membership bid. “I believe that their negative views have turned positive,” said Erdogan, adding that he believed Ankara would get a date from the EU this December to begin its accession talks. /Star/
GUL: “I BELIEVE THAT THE EU REPORT WILL BE OBJECTIVE AND REALISTIC”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that he was sure that the EU Commission’s October progress report on Turkey would be realistic and objective. Speaking to reporters after meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy in Ankara, Gul said that during their meeting, technical issues faced by Turkey in the Customs Union had been taken up. For his part, Lamy stated that Ankara had taken very important steps on its road to EU membership which should be taken into consideration during the report’s preparation. /Turkiye/
MUMCU TO ATTEND REOPENING OF MOSTAR BRIDGE
Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu is due to travel today to Bosnia-Herzegovina to attend the opening ceremony of the rebuilt historical Mostar Bridge. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was scheduled to attend the ceremony, has postponed his visit due to last night’s train accident in Sakarya. /Turkiye/
50 TURKS TO SERVE IN MACEDONIA PEACEKEEPING FORCE
Ankara is preparing to contribute 50 personnel to a peacekeeping force currently serving in Macedonia. Under a protocol between Turkey and the European Union, this September the personnel will join the operation, which began last December. The cost of this contribution will reportedly be met by Turkey itself. /Turkiye/
BAHRAINI BUSINESS LEADER VISITS ITO
Bahrain Chamber of Trade and Industry head Khalid Kanoo yesterday visited the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) to discuss Turkish-Bahraini trade relations. During the meeting, Kanoo said that trade tries between the two countries should be strengthened and also proposed joint ventures. /Star/
ANTI-TERRORISM ACADEMY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ANKARA
An anti-terrorism academy is to be established in Ankara to train Turkish security forces on methods of fighting terrorism. The US’ Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) will provide the project with $3 million. The academy, which will be run by Turkish security experts, will be the fifth anti-terrorism academy established outside the US with FBI assistance. /Turkiye/