NEW JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS
The new judicial year begins today with a ceremony at the Supreme Court of Appeals. The deputy chief justice of the high court, Mater Kaban, is expected to deliver the traditional opening speech instead of Chief Justice Eraslan Ozkaya. Ozkaya has taken leave due to health reasons. Recently, allegations have surfaced that Ozkaya has connections to gang leader Alaattin Cakici. Meanwhile, judicial circles state that reform in justice system is needed to ensure efficiency in judicial affairs. /Star/
VERHEUGEN VISITS TURKEY
The European Union’s top official for enlargement arrived yesterday in Ankara to pay a four-day visit. Guenter Verheugen is scheduled to hold talks in Ankara with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. He is also expected to meet with local officials and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Diyarbakir, Istanbul and Izmir. Verheugen’s key visit aimed at discovering Turkey’s readiness to begin accession talks ahead of EU Commission’s critical report next month that will recommend whether the long-delayed talks should begin as early as in the first half of 2005. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONIES IN BURSA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a number of opening ceremonies in Bursa. Speaking at the joint opening of the State Water Works’ (DSI) irrigation project including 18 facilities, Erdogan pointed to recent improvements in economy and remarked that inflation had been decreased after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to the power. /Star/
TURKEY’S AMBASSADOR TO GREECE: “AN AGREEMENT ON THE AEGEAN DISPUTE CAN BE REACHED NEXT YEAR”
Speaking to Greek daily To Vima yesterday, Turkey’s Ambassador to Greece and newly appointed National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan said that next year Turkey and Greece could reach an agreement on the long-lasting Aegean dispute, adding that current negotiations should continue since the issue includes sensitive and technical matters. “I believe that negotiations will continue after December,” he said. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Alpogan said that the EU should make a decision as soon as possible, adding that Turkey had done its best to join the EU. Commenting on the Cyprus issue, Alpogan added that the main problem on the island was the international embargo on the Turkish Republic of the Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Milliyet/
BAYKAL: “CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT IS TOO HIGH AND THE ONLY SECTOR TO REDUCE THIS IS TOURISM”
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday visited Marmaris Mayor Ali Acar. Speaking afterwards, Baykal said that Turkey’s current accounts deficit was too high, adding that it posed a threat for the economy. Baykal further stated that the only sector which will help reduce this deficit was the tourism sector. /Cumhuriyet/
TUZMEN: “TURKEY’S SHARE IN THE WORLD TRADE IS INCREASING”
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen said yesterday that recently Turkey’s share in the world trade was increasing, predicting that the nation’s foreign trade volume will reach $150 billion by this year’s-end. He also stated that the trade volume between Turkey and Germany was expected to reach $20 billion. Tuzmen added that Turkey needed to attract more foreign direct investment. /Aksam/
TURKISH, GREEK JOURNALISTS TO MEET IN ATHENS
The Turkish Press Council stated that “the Third Turkish Greek Journalists Conference” is set to take place in Athens in October. Panos Koliapanos, the owner of the Greek magazine Krama, will organize the meeting. Turkish media’s role on Turkey’s European Union membership is among the topics to be discussed. /Hurriyet/