ERDOGAN: “TURKEY BELONGS IN EUROPE”
Speaking to Germany's mass-circulation tabloid Bild, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his views on international terrorism and Turkey’s status in the international community. Erdogan stated that terrorism was a global problem as it had no religion, culture and nation. He also added that Turkey should not be seen as a Muslim state but as a democratic country whose population is dominantly Muslim. “Turkey culturally and geographically belongs in Europe,” he said. “Turkey’s EU membership would be beneficial to both sides. I hope that the European Commission will make a positive decision on our country because we’ve successfully completed all the necessary criteria to begin our membership talks.” /Hurriyet/

SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY
The Supreme Military Council (YAS) is set to convene today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The council is expected to discuss promotions and dismissals in the military. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul is due to give a banquet on Wednesday after the decisions on a number of promotions and dismissals are made. /All papers/

BABACAN: “THE SPEED OF OUR REFORMS HAS ASTONISHED THE EU”
State Minister Ali Babacan over the weekend stated that Turkey would have started its European Union membership negotiations next year with more determined steps on its path towards the Union. Recalling that the same government was administering Turkey during the last 20 months, Babacan added that said, “Our government has made great democratization reforms in such a short period of time. The speed of our reforms has astonished the European Union.” /Hurriyet/

EU AND OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL IN OCTOBER
The foreign ministers of the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) are due to meet for the second time in Istanbul on October 4 and 5. The meeting is expected to focus on accordance between the civilizations and is aimed at strengthening the dialogue between Europe and the Islam world. The first meeting was held in Istanbul in 2002. /Cumhuriyet/

IMF’S MOGHADAM: “WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ANKARA”
Speaking at a press conference in Washington yesterday, International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam said that Turkey was one of the founding members of the IMF, adding that Ankara and the Fund would continue to work together. In related news, Moghadam is expected to arrive in Ankara next week accompanied by a delegation to meet with State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan to discuss the details of a new economic program for 2005 and 2007. /Turkiye/

TURKEY’S EXPORTS BREAKS RECORD IN JULY, RISING BY 33.9%
Turkey’s exports broke record in July, rising by 33.9% compared with last year. According to the Turkish Exporters’ Union (TIM) data, Turkey’s July exports broke record and reached $5 billion. Total exports in the January-July period this year increased to $35 billion. In the same period last year, total exports had been $25 billion. /Aksam/

TUZMEN: “OUR TRADE DEFICIT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER $20 BILLION IF THE TL HADN’T BEEN APPRECIATED SO MUCH”
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday predicted that Turkey’s foreign trade deficit would be between $25 and $30 billion by the end of this year. “Our trade deficit would have been less than $20 billion if the Turkish lira hadn’t been appreciated so much,” added Tuzmen. /Milliyet/

BELGIAN WRITER CATHERINE: “TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP IS INEVITABLE”
Belgian writer Lucas Catherine stated that Turkey should join the ranks of the European Union as it had historical ties with the old continent. In his book entitled “Pilaf, Tulip and Jihad” which received great interest in Belgium and the Netherlands, Catherine added that Turkey’s EU membership was inevitable since even Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia and Estonia which had almost no historic relations with Europe joined the Union. In related news, former French president and architect of the EU constitution Valery Giscard d'Estaing argued that Turkey’s EU membership should not be approved, as the country did not belong to Europe either culturally or historically. /Sabah/