GUL TELLS ANNAN OF ANKARA’S CONCERNS OVER KIRKUK
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to attend United Nations General Assembly sessions, yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. During their meeting, Gul drew Annan’s attention to ethnic tensions in northern Iraq’s oil-rich city of Kirkuk, warning that the explosive situation in the city threatens the country’s stability. Reiterating that Turkey has no hidden agenda concerning Kirkuk, Gul said, “The security situation in Iraq is getting worse every day. We, as people of the region, feel the negative impact of all negative developments.” When Annan told Gul that the UN’s hands were tied in Iraq due to security problems, the foreign minister replied that Turkey was ready to do its best to improve conditions. In addition, during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, Gul advised Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to avoid charges of improprieties. Concerning Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s recently postponed visit to Turkey, Kharrazi said that it would soon be rescheduled. /Turkiye/

TURKEY’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EU: “WE’LL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN FULL MEMBERSHIP”
Oguz Demiralp, Turkey’s permanent representative to the European Union, said yesterday that Turkey would accept no offer from the EU short of full membership, adding that Ankara’s membership would not be a significant financial burden. Demiralp pointed out that there were already several agreements between the EU and Ankara in fields such as defense, security policy and the environment, stressing further that a possible “special partnership” with the EU would fall short of what the nation deserves. /Aksam/

EU COMMISSION WELCOMES PARLIAMENT’S PASSAGE OF NEW TCK
Christophe Filori, spokesman for the European Union Commission, said yesterday that the commission welcomed the recent passage of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) by Parliament. Filori added that EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen would make a recommendation on Ankara’s EU membership under assurances given by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The new TCK has been cited by the EU as a requirement for Turkey’s bid to advance to accession talks. /Cumhuriyet/

EP PRESIDENT: “TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP CAN’T BE REJECTED ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS”
Nobody should oppose Turkey’s European Union membership on the grounds of religious differences, said European Parliament President Josep Borrell yesterday. “We must above all avoid posing the problem in religious terms,” Borrell argued. “Europe must not see itself as a Christian club.” He added, however, that he had serious reservations about Turkey’s candidacy such as its large population, unsecured borders and a very high potential of creating refugees. /Star/

US ASKS GREECE TO GET BACK WEAPONS FROM GREEK CYPRUS
Citing a lack of approval in violation of US law, Washington has called on Athens to re-assume ownership of weapons that it bought from the US and then illegally transferred to Greek Cyprus. US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli, speaking at a press conference yesterday in Washington, said that the US secretary of state last week informed the US Congress about the matter as required under the law. The procedure would be the same for any country that violated a weapon purchase agreement which it signed with the US, he stated. “That was the case with Greece,” said Ereli, adding, “Greece is using arms contrary to a license [with the US].” /Turkiye/

ANOTHER TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER KILLED IN IRAQ
A Turkish truck driver has been killed near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The body of Nizamettin Bilir, 46, was brought to Turkey yesterday, reports said. The attack on Bilir was the latest in a series of killings and kidnappings targeting Turkish workers doing business with US forces in Iraq. /Hurriyet/

BOMBS EXPLODE NEAR HSBC BANKS IN FOUR CITIES, NO INJURIES
Four small bombs exploded last night in front of local branches of British-based bank HSBC in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Adana. Reports said the explosions caused some damage to the buildings but no injuries. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks. Four al-Queda-linked suicide bombers exploded trucks outside the headquarters of HSBC in Istanbul last November, killing more than 60. /Sabah/

BABACAN TO ATTEND IMF-WORLD BANK MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON
State Minister Ali Babacan is set to travel to Washington tomorrow to attend this weekend’s annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Babacan is expected to meet with IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato, World Bank President James Wolfwensohn and US Treasury Secretary John Snow as well as well as representatives of foreign investment groups. He will discuss the details of Turkey’s new standby program with the IMF and World Bank representatives. /Star/

IMF DELEGATION TO LEAVE TURKEY
An International Monetary Fund delegation which has been in Ankara for nearly two weeks to discuss recent economic developments is expected to depart from Turkey today. During its visit, Turkish officials and the delegation, headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam, discussed a number of issues, including a possible new standby agreement for 2005-07. The talks between the Fund and Ankara are due to continue next month following the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. /Aksam/

SERDENGECTI URGES FURTHER EFFORTS TO REDUCE INFLATION
Speaking at a conference yesterday organized by the Turkish Banks Union (TBB) and Deutsche Bank, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti said that banks needed to cooperate further with the real sector in an atmosphere of reduced inflation. Serdengecti stressed, however, that inflation needed to be brought down more. “We haven’t yet reached our final inflation goal,” he said. “Turkey is one of a handful of countries in the world which has double-digit inflation.” Serdengecti added that exchange rates weren’t affecting inflation as was the case in the past. /Milliyet/

WORLD TURKISH BUSINESSMEN CONVENE IN ANKARA
The World Turkish Businessmen’s Fifth Convention is to be held in Ankara today. During the three-day meeting, around 1,000 Turkish businessmen from 40 countries are expected to discuss the nation’s economy in the runup to the European Union Commission progress report on Turkey due out next Wednesday. The gathering aims to strengthen solidarity between Turkish businessmen working worldwide. /Turkiye/