ERDOGAN: “BEGINNING ACCESSION TALKS WITH THE EU WILL BE A TURNING POINT FOR OUR NATION”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that beginning accession talks with the European Union next year would be a turning point for the nation. Touching on the economy, Erdogan stated that both production and investment needed to be boosted further, adding that the government would work very hard towards this end. “It will be our priority,” he added. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO GERMANY, FRANCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Germany this Saturday, Oct. 2, to pay a two-day official visit. He is expected to meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schoeder on Sunday and then to receive the “Quadriga” Award in a ceremony at Berlin Concert Hall. Erdogan’s award, which recognizes his contributions to democratic reforms, will be presented by Schroeder. In addition, the Turkish premier will travel to Paris on Oct. 20 to seek French support for Turkey’s EU bid. During his visit, Erdogan is scheduled to headline a conference at the France International Affairs Institute and on the same day, to meet with representatives of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In related news, a Turkish-French Joint Parliamentary Commission delegation headed by Aydin Dumanoglu will also travel to Paris early next month and on Oct. 19, Parliament Harmonization Commission members led by Yasar Yakis are set to arrive in Paris to meet their French counterparts. /Turkiye/

GUL: “TURKEY CANNOT ABANDON IRAQ”
After completing his contacts in the US, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday returned to Turkey. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul said that as a neighbor to Iraq, there was no way Turkey would abandon the troubled nation, despite recent violence against Turkish drivers and workers there. Stressing that Turkey would continue its activities in Iraq, Gul said, “Our government is taking necessary measures to prevent attacks on Turks.” He also called on Turkish citizens in Iraq to comply strictly with the rules. Gul stated that preparations were continuing for a European Union-Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) joint meeting in Istanbul set for next Monday and Tuesday. Commenting on French officials’ recent call for a referendum on Turkey’s EU membership, Gul said Ankara had fulfilled the necessary criteria to join the Union. “Everybody can have their say, and that won’t bother us,” he added. / Turkiye/

IMF REPORT PRAISES TURKEY’S LOW INFLATION, BUT WARNS OF HIGH CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT
The International Monetary Fund yesterday released an economic report on Turkey, in general praising economic developments this year and projecting positive trends for 2005. The report raised this year’s growth target from 5% to 7%. The report also praised the nation’s recent low inflation, pointing out that it was the lowest in the 30 years. The IMF report also warned, however, about the high current accounts deficit, adding that high growth and domestic demand were feeding this deficit. /Milliyet/

TRNC REJECTS “TURKISH CYPRIOT STATE” LABEL FOR EU-OIC MEETING
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar Dentas yesterday rejected a request by the European Union that his country participate in an upcoming meeting under the label “The Turkish Cypriot State.” Denktas, who is currently in New York for a meeting of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers, said that he would soon leave for Istanbul to attend an EU-OIC joint forum on Monday and Tuesday. “The EU demanded that the TRNC attend this meeting under the name ‘the Turkish Cypriot State,’ said Denktas. “Our prime minister has called [this demand] unacceptable.” Denktas stressed that acceding to the EU would mean a loss of prestige and authority for the OIC. /Star/

UNAKITAN: “WE’RE CONTINUING WORK ON CUTTING TAXES”
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said yesterday that a tax cut might be in the works, adding that the government was continuing to work on the issue. Touching on privatization, Unakitan stated that the government would pass legislation to privatize the National Lottery Administration. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan reiterated that the high current accounts deficit didn’t pose any threat to the economy. He added that work on a possible new standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund was continuing. “We’re preparing a program with the Fund in the interests of both the nation at large and our economy,” said Babacan. /Milliyet/

TUZMEN, TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN IRAN TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL FAIR
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen accompanied by some 500 Turkish businessmen yesterday traveled to Iran. Tuzmen is set to attend the opening of the International Tehran Industry Fair, where 220 Turkish firms will display their wares. The state minister said that the fair would help to boost bilateral trade relations with Iran. /Turkiye/

DEIK CHAIRMAN: “I BELIEVE WE’LL GET A DATE FROM THE EU THIS DECEMBER TO BEGIN ACCESSION TALKS”
Foreign Economic Affairs Council (DEIK) Chairman Rona Yircali said yesterday that he believed Ankara would get a date from the European Union this December to begin its accession talks. “We should be ready to begin these talks,” he said. Yircali also praised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts for the nation’s EU bid, and further urged that a government ministry devoted to the EU be founded as soon as possible. /Aksam/

TORTURE VICTIMS ADVOCATE PRAISES TURKEY’S HUMAN RIGHTS ADVANCES
Turkey has made great strides forward in respecting human rights, said Douglas Johnson, head of the Center for Victims of Torture, yesterday. In Ankara to participate in a five-day symposium on “New Strategies in Human Rights,” Johnson added, “Turkey has made critical advances in preventing human rights violations, but some problems still remain.” /Hurriyet/