GUL HAILS VISIT TO JAPAN AS TURNING POINT FOR TURKEY
President Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Turkey after completing a four-day visit to Japan. Speaking to reporters, Gul said that his talks in Japan had been friendly, reflecting the traditional good relations between the two countries. Stating that both sides had worked on the ways to boost bilateral cooperation, Gul called the visit a turning point for Turkey's policy of reaching out towards the eastern Asia and Pacific region. Saying that Japan and other Far Eastern countries see Turkey as an influential and important country in its region, the president reiterated that Turkey is also an important trade partner for them due to its close relations with the Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans. /Star-Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN: "THE AKP WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ITS COURSE"
Speaking at a meeting of his party's women branch yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly said that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would continue to follow the course it had laid out. Referring to last week's Constitutional Court ruling overturning constitutional changes to lift the headscarf ban at universities, and claims that the ruling had strengthened chances the court would also decide in favor of closing down the AKP, Erdogan said, "Don't let anything discourage you. The AKP will determinedly continue to pursue its goals. No power can deter us from our course. Don't let yourself be demoralized by such developments." /Milliyet/
TOPTAN IN ATHENS FOR BSEC GATHERING
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, accompanied by his wife, yesterday traveled to Athens to attend a meeting today of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Parliamentary Assembly. While there, Toptan is also due to hold bilateral meetings with top Greek officials, among other appointments. /Turkiye/
THIRD TURKISH-ARAB FORUM IN ISTANBUL THIS WEEK
The Third Turkish-Arab Forum, led by Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), will start in Istanbul this week. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will give the opening the speech at the forum, which will also be attended by his Syrian counterpart Naji Otri, his Palestinian counterpart Salam Fayyad, and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. Banking and finance will be discussed at the meeting, which nearly 400 foreign investors and businessmen are expected to attend. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), yesterday said he expects the meeting to do much to promote Turkish-Arab cooperation. /Star/
DSP'S SEZER: "THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SHOULD UNBIASED"
It is improper for the Parliament speaker to criticize top court decisions, said opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer yesterday. Speaking at a meeting of his party in Edremit, Balikesir, Sezer said that no one has the right to increase tension in Turkey. Addressing Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan's remarks criticizing a Constitutional Court ruling upholding the headscarf ban at universities, Sezer accused Toptan of not acting impartially, adding that Toptan had been a consensus candidate for the post. He should defend the judicial branch as much as the legislative, Sezer added. /Hurriyet/
IMF: "TURKEY WILL BECOME THE WORLD'S 16TH-LARGEST ECONOMY"
Five years from now, Turkey will have the world's 16th-largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund. Under IMF projections for 2008-20013, Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity will increase to $942 billion by year's-end, and reach $1.3 trillion by 2013. /Milliyet/
"SONBAHAR" GETS TOP NOD AT ADANA GOLDEN COCOON FILM FESTIVAL
At its concluding awards ceremony yesterday, the Fifth Adana Golden Cocoon Film Festival gave director Ozcan Alper's "Sonbahar" (Autumn) the award for best film. Many actors, directors, reporters and producers attended the gala event. /Hurriyet/