PRESIDENT GUL HOSTS THINK-TANK HEADS AT CANKAYA PALACE
President Abdullah Gul yesterday hosted a luncheon at the Cankaya Presidential Palace for the heads of three think-tanks, the latest in a series of invitations to prominent civilian figures since he took office last year. Former Ambassador Faruk Logoglu of the Eurasia Strategic Studies Centre (ASAM), Guven Sak of the Turkey Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), and Ibrahim Kalin of the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) attended the event. Touching on this fall`s US presidential election, Gul said that it is essential for Turkey to reach out to advisors to the two presidential nominees, and to make clear Turkey`s views on such issues as terrorism and the Armenian allegations. "We have to strengthen ties with the US presidential nominees," he urged. Stating that Turkey has to follow global dynamics closely, he said that universities have a great role to play in this process. Commenting on the Turkish National Football Team`s historic win over Croatia last week, Gul said that he will go to Basel to watch Wednesday`s Turkey-Germany semifinal match. /Turkiye-Star/
PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to pay a one-day visit to Iraq late this month or in early July. The two countries` strategic relationship mechanism will be the primary topic of the meeting. Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Al-Maliki are expected to publicly announce their agreement on such issues as security, energy, the economy, and cultural and social cooperation. A large delegation including several Cabinet members, including Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, is expected to accompany Erdogan. The premier`s visit will mark his first trip to Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein`s government and the US-led invasion of 2003. /Cumhuriyet/
BAYKAL: "WHEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES ON THE AKP CLOSURE CASE, IT SHOULD ANNOUNCE ITS REASONING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"
Commenting yesterday on the case seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said, "Whatever verdict the Constitutional Court gives on the case, the legal justification should be made public along with the verdict." Asked about claims that a decision to close down the party won`t take effect without being published in the Official Gazette, the official state newspaper of record, Baykal said, "There is a special situation regarding this closure case. The case has been filed against the ruling party. There is a working political order. It isn`t a question of halting enforcement of the ruling. That`s why the legal justification should be made public immediately after the announcement of the court`s decision on the case." Baykal also said that to avoid uncertainty, the court could quickly release a summary of the reasoning behind its decision as a precursor to releasing the full justification. Asked if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could run as an independent candidate if the AKP is shut down and general elections follow, he said, "It depends on the court decision. The decision should solve the problem without any need to resort to the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK)." /Milliyet/
IN STRASBOURG, PACE`S PUIG EXPRESS EU`S CONCERNS OVER AKP CLOSURE CASE
If the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is closed by court order, there will be serious consequences, said Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Lluis Maria de Puig yesterday. Speaking at the opening of PACE`s summer session in Strasbourg, Puig said the EU expects the Turkish judiciary to do its duty in line with the Union`s democratic values, and that on Thursday PACE will hold a debate about recent developments in the functioning of Turkey`s democratic institutions. "In any democracy, it`s normal for people to have different ideas and views," he added. "The main thing is that disputes are settled through democratic means, in line with Council of Europe values. I hope that Turkish institutions will fulfill their responsibilities in this area. But we, too, have a responsibility, namely to provide Turkey with a clear, unequivocal European perspective." /Turkiye/
AKP OFFICIAL`S REMARKS CLAIMING "TRAUMA" OVER ATATURK`S REVOLUTIONS DRAW FIRE
Dengir Mir Firat, deputy leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has come under fire for telling a reporter that Turkey was "traumatized" by the revolutions of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. In remarks quoted in Sunday`s New York Times, Firat said that Turkish society had been "traumatized" by the revolutions of Ataturk early in the 20th century, adding, "Overnight they (the Turkish people) were told to change their dress, their language. Their religious ways were dismantled." Firat confirmed his remarks yesterday, saying that they came out of a wide-ranging conversation. He said that every revolution sows social trauma and that his remarks cast neither a positive nor negative light on Ataturk`s revolutions. Onur Oymen of the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) said yesterday that Firat`s words exposed what kind of mentality now rules Turkey. He called it unjust and wrong to describe Ataturk revolutions, which freed the Turkish nation, as a period of oppression. In addition, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said, "It`s the revolutions of Ataturk that brought us to the present day." Masum Turker, general secretary of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), also said Firat`s remarks revealed the real aims of the AKP. "His remarks aim to open up a debate over Ataturk and shake the basic principles of the republic," he added. /Hurriyet-Turkish Daily News/
TUNISIAN ENVOY ARRIVES IN ANKARA
Fouad Mebazaa, the head of Tunisia`s Chamber of Deputies, arrived in Turkey yesterday for an official visit upon the invitation of Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. Mebazaa and his delegation will meet today with Toptan and the head of Parliament`s Turkey-Tunisia friendship group, Eyup Ayar. Mebazaa will leave Turkey on Thursday. /Turkish Daily News/
Pvt. Oktay Kara lost his life and another 14 soldiers were injured due to an explosion in a military vehicle at barracks in Islahiye, Gaziantep. The vehicle was on patrol during a changing of the guard when the explosion occurred. /Aksam/