ERDOGAN INVITES PUTIN TO IZMIR FAIR
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to invite him to attend the 73rd International Izmir Fair during his visit to Turkey next week. Erdogan and Putin also discussed the agenda of their upcoming meeting. /Sabah/
ARINC: “THE PARTY WILL DECIDE ON MY CANDIDACY”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will decide whether I will stand again as for my current post, said Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday. “This will not be my individual decision,” added Arinc. “If the party decides to make me a candidate I will, but if it chooses another member [of Parliament], then I will also support the new candidate.” /Star/
NSC TO DISCUSS EU PROGRESS REPORT, CYPRUS, AND IRAQ
At its meeting today, the National Security Council is expected to discuss a number of issues, including the European Union progress report on Turkey due to be released in October and steps needed in the meantime. The NSC is also due to discuss such issues as Cyprus, the terrorist group PKK/KONGRA-GEL, and Iraq. /Turkiye/
TRNC CITIZENS TOLD TO EXPECT QUICKER US VISAS
The US Embassy in Greek Cyprus yesterday announced that in the future, Turkish Cypriots would be able to obtain visas to visit the United States more quickly. Application procedures have not changed, added the embassy, but the wait should be shorter. /Hurriyet/
GERMAN AMBASSADOR: “TURKEY WILL LIKELY GET A DATE FOR EU ACCESSION TALKS”
This December, Turkey will likely get a date for European Union accession talks, said German Ambassador to Ankara Wolf Ruthart Born yesterday. After his visits to Samsun, Trabzon, Rize and Hopa in the Black Sea region, Born proceeded to Kars and reiterated Germany’s support for Turkey’s EU membership. /Hurriyet/
DIE WELT: “TURKEY WILL POSITIVELY CHANGE THE EU’S FUTURE”
German daily Die Welt said yesterday that Turkey should join the European Union, adding that the EU shouldn’t miss this chance since Turkey would positively change its future. Die Welt further praised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts for the nation’s EU bid. The newspaper added, however, that the cost to the Union of beginning accession talks with Ankara could total 15 billion euros. /Turkiye/
CDU’S MEYER: “TURKEY’S QUICK ADOPTION OF EU HARMONIZATION REFORMS IS IMPRESSIVE”
Laurenz Meyer, secretary-general of German opposition party the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), said yesterday that Turkey’s rapid adoption of European Union harmonization reforms was impressive. Speaking at a press conference, Meyer said that Ankara had managed to achieve a great deal in a short period of time. He added that he believed that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was acting with good will for the nation’s EU bid. /Turkiye/
TOBB, BOARD OF COMPETITION RESOLVE TO IMPROVE INVESTMENT CLIMATE AND HELP TURKEY ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN CAPITAL
Speaking at a press conference alongside Board of Competition head Mustafa Parlak, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said yesterday that the two institutions had decided to work together in order to improve Turkey’s investment climate and help it attract more foreign capital. For his part, Parlak said that a report would be prepared within five months and released to the public. The World Bank is also expected to contribute to this report. /Aksam/
ABEYLEGESSE QUALIFIES FOR OLYMPIC SEMIFINALS IN 1,500 METERS
Ethiopian-born Turkish athlete Elvan Abeylegesse yesterday qualified for the women’s semifinals in the 1,500-meter race at the Athens Olympic Games. Abeylegesse came in fifth, running the race in 4.06.42 seconds. /All papers/
YALCINKAYA QUALIFIES FOR BOXING SEMIFINALS AT ATHENS OLYMPICS
Turkish boxer Atagun Yalcinkaya, competing in the 48-kg category at the Athens Olympics, yesterday defeated his Italian rival Alfonso Pinto, qualifying for the semifinals and putting him on track to win the bronze. He is due to take on Russian boxer Sergey Kazakov on Friday. /All papers/
TWO TURKISH WRESTLERS QUALIFY FOR OLYMPIC SEMIFINALS
Two Turkish Wrestlers yesterday qualified for the semifinals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games. Seref Eroglu, world champion in the 66-kg category, defeated Armen Vardanyan of Ukraine to make the semifinals. Hamza Yerlikaya, world and Olympic champion in the 84 kg, beat Tervi Thomberg of Estonia. /All papers/