SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE
The Supreme Military Council (YAS) is due to convene tomorrow to discuss a number of issues, including training of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) staff, disciplinary issues, and planned TSK activities. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will chair, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul are among those set to attend. The YAS’ decisions will be announced by the General Staff’s Secretariat-General after being approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. /Aksam/

IN ERZURUM, ERDOGAN URGES QUAKE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the southern Anatolian province of Erzurum over the weekend to attend a series of opening ceremonies. Speaking to a ribbon-cutting for a new mass housing project, the premier urged contractors and firms to construct buildings strong enough to resist earthquakes. Touting the possibilities created by the Incentive Law, Erdogan also called on Erzurum’s businessmen to invest in their province. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: “I BELIEVE THE EU WILL MAKE A POSITIVE DECISION ON TURKEY’S TALKS”
Speaking in this week’s issue of German magazine Focus, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he believed the European Union would make a positive decision at next month’s EU summit on Ankara’s accession talks. “I believe the EU’s leaders are far-sighted and have the political courage to keep their promise concerning our talks,” said Erdogan. Asked what would happen if the Union’s decision is negative, Erdogan stated that Turkey would still pursue its close relations with individual EU member states. /Cumhuriyet/

GUL TRAVELS TO THE HAGUE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will attend a joint meeting of the Turkish-European Union Mixed Consultation Committee at The Hague today. Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk and Turkish Ambassador to The Hague Tacan Ildem are also set to attend the meeting, which will focus on recent developments in Turkish-EU relations. /Turkiye/

EU COMMISSION HEAD: “TURKEY’S EU BID SHOULDN’T BE DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS”
European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday that a decision on Turkey’s European Union membership shouldn’t be made behind closed doors. Speaking to German daily Bild, Barroso said that it was up to the EU member states to decide whether or not to hold a referendum on Turkey joining. Asked how Turkey’s membership would affect the Union, Barroso stressed that first Ankara’s accession talks should begin. “Turkey can be an EU member if it fulfills all the political and economic criteria,” he added. /Cumhuriyet/

TUZMEN: “OUR TRADE VOLUME WITH RUSSIA WILL SURPASS $10 BLN BY YEAR’S END”
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen said yesterday that trade volume between Turkey and Russia would surpass $10 billion by year’s end, jumping 65% over last year, predicting further that within three years annual trade would reach $25 billion. Tuzmen stressed that the investments of Turkish firms in Russia now exceeded $2 billion, adding that he would propose establishing a Turkish Trade and Investment Region on Russia soil. /Aksam/

NSC USHERS IN NEW ERA OF OPENNESS
Close on the heels of getting a civilian secretary-general for Turkey’s European Union harmonization efforts, the 66-year-old National Security Council (NSC) is now set to assume an unprecedented degree of public openness. At a press conference tomorrow on these changes, Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan will be on hand to answer reporters’ questions. /Turkiye/

MARDIN HOSTS EU MEETING
The southeastern Anatolian province of Mardin hosted a meeting on Turkey’s European Union membership bid over the weekend. In addition to businessmen and politicians, a number of European parliamentarians attended the panel organized by the Turkish Young Businessmen’s Confederation. /Turkiye/

JUSTICE MINISTRY SET TO PROPOSE NEW POLITICAL PARTIES LAW
The Justice Ministry is expected early next week to open debate on a new Political Parties’ Law proposing sweeping reforms to the existing law. Culminating a year of work, the bill will be taken up by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and then sent to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to seek its support. Under the bill, there would be a nine-year term limit for political party leaders, and all parties would be required to hold primaries to select their election candidates. /Turkiye/

TRNC’S TALAT REELECTED CTP LEADER
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat was reelected over the weekend to the helm of the TRNC’s Republican Turkish Party (CTP). At the CTP’s 19th regular meeting, Talat said that many efforts had been made to end Turkish Cypriots’ isolation. /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “THE CHP WON’T FALL”
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will not fall, CHP leader Deniz Baykal yesterday told the party’s youth branch. Baykal charged that the media and certain politicians want Turkey to falter, but added that this would not happen unless the CHP falls. /Sabah/

DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST AMERICAN, TURKISH POLICIES IN IRAQ
A demonstration in Istanbul against US and Turkish policies in Iraq was led yesterday by the Felicity Party (SP). About 20,000 people attended the demonstration, which was also supported by a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Speaking at the protest, former SP leader Necmettin Erbakan criticized the government’s policies in the Middle East. /Sabah/