VERHEUGEN. “PENAL CODE REFORM IS A MUST FOR TALKS”
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said yesterday that reforms to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) must be completed in order for Ankara’s EU accession talks to begin. Interviewed by Germany’s Bild am Sonntag, Verheugen said that EU Commission would not greenlight the start of Turkey’s membership talks unless Ankara reverses a delay in reforming the TCK before the release of a key commission report on Oct. 6. “Only with these reforms can we certify that Turkey is a just state in which human rights are taken into account,” said the top EU official. “The commission will make it clear that the membership negotiations cannot come so long as this central element is not fulfilled.” /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO STRASBOURG, BRUSSELS THIS WEEK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Strasbourg and Brussels this week in a bid to ensure European Union support for the start of Ankara’s accession talks in the wake of a delay in passing a new penal code and plans to criminalize adultery. Erdogan is due to meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen and address the European Parliament on Thursday. EU officials have warned that a ban of adultery and the delay of parliamentary approval of the new penal code could harm Turkey’s EU bid. /Turkish Daily News/

IN MALATYA, ERDOGAN HELPS INAUGURATE NEW FACTORIES
In Malatya’s Second Organized Industry Region over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the opening ceremonies of 19 factories and ground-breakings of 38 more. Addressing one such ceremony, Erdogan said, “The completion of these factories will create new jobs.” The premier also urged businessmen to invest more in the city. Later, speaking after his visit to the Malatya municipality, Erdogan said that there were no problems in relations between Ankara and the European Union. /Aksam/

GUL ATTENDS TURKISH FESTIVAL IN CHICAGO
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who is currently paying a visit to the US, yesterday attended the annual Turkish Festival held in Chicago. During a meeting with local Turkish residents, Gul said that Parliament would make the final and best decision on the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Stressing that his government had carried out sweeping reforms, Gul stated that he believed Ankara would soon begin EU accession talks. Gul is expected to proceed to New York today to participate in UN general Assembly meetings. During the gathering, the foreign minister is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and to hold separate talks with a number of his counterparts, including those from the Netherlands, Belgium, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “THE CHP MADE NO PROMISE TO SUPPORT THE GOVT ON THE ADULTERY BAN”
Appearing on television yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized the government’s seeming determination to criminalize adultery in the new penal code, adding that the CHP had not made any promise to support it on the issue. “We did our best to head off a dispute,” said Baykal. /Aksam/

GREEK CYPRIOT FM: “TURKEY CAN’T JOIN THE EU BEFORE A CYPRUS RESOLUTION IS REACHED”
Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Yakovu said yesterday that Turkey couldn’t join the European Union before a resolution is reached on Cyprus, adding that his country could veto Ankara’s membership bid and erect new criteria. Yakovu further predicted that the EU would give a “conditional” date this December to begin Ankara’s accession talks. /Milliyet/

12 TURKS KIDNAPPED OR KILLED IN IRAQ
Arab news channel Al-Jazeera reported over the weekend that an Iraqi insurgent group, the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Brigades, claimed to have seized 10 Turkish employees from a joint US-Turkish company operating in Iraq. Hours after the report, the Iraqi police stated that at least 12 Turkish truck drivers may have been kidnapped or killed near Baghdad. The Turkish Embassy in Baghdad and the Foreign Ministry are continuing efforts for the release of these hostages. /Sabah/

IMF TO MEET WITH BABACAN TO DISCUSS THREE-YEAR STANDBY AND UNEMPLOYMENT
A visiting delegation from the International Monetary Fund is due to begin its contacts in Ankara today. The group headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam is expected to meet with State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan to discuss a number of issues, including a new three-year standby agreement, high unemployment, and growth. The delegation is due to leave Turkey next Wednesday. /Cumhuriyet/

ELVAN WINS WOMEN’S 5,000-METER RACE
Turkey’s world record holder Elvan Abeylegesse yesterday won the women’s 5,000-meter race at the World Athletics Final in Monaco. Abeylegesse retained her title for Turkey with a winning time of 14:59.19. /Star/