AS MAJOR REFORM PACKAGE GARNERS BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT, ERDOGAN CALLS FOR COMPROMISE-BASED NEW CONSTITUTION
Following the triumph of his party's constitutional amendment package in Sunday's referendum, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent warm messages to citizens who voted against the package in a speech he gave. Erdogan highlighted in his remarks that there were no losers among the electorate when it came to the referendum - asserting that the establishing of democracy and the expansion of the realm of freedoms was to everyone's benefit. He thanked all those who participated in the vote. The prime minister's speech came after the referendum results were released. During his speech, Erdogan issued a call to party leaders, saying: "Come, let's make a new constitution all together." The referendum results will be a milestone in the effort toward producing a new constitution for Turkey, Erdogan said, explaining that his party would set to work on the project immediately and that throughout this process they would seek the widest spectrum of compromise possible. The prime minister said through the power of the people an important obstacle had been overcome in the struggle to further democracy and the supremacy of law, and continued: "How happy it is for us that we have risen up the ranks of democracy, law and justice through cooperation. To crown our republic with full democracy, we went to the ballot boxes. We grasped the torch of freedom and justice together. We are saying with our heads held high that in the public vote was manifested the people's will. The winner on Sept. 12 was our democracy. The strength of democracy, politics and the national will are today much multiplied." Erdogan also said the position that regarded tutelage as a value to be upheld had been lost with the referendum results, saying: "The loser today is the coup-supporting point of view. This position -- which opposes change and whatever change will bring -- has lost." The referendum marks a turning point in Turkish democracy, he said, asserting that the zeal of those who supported the coup mentality had been stunted. "From now on in Turkey, the nation's will shall outshine any dirty games. The `yes' decision that emerged today is a result of the longing of our people for democracy," he said. /Today's Zaman/

FOREIGN PRESS: VOTE RESULT BOOST FOR ERDOGAN, AK PARTY
Sunday's referendum in which government-sponsored constitutional reforms were voted on was covered extensively by the foreign press, which interpreted the public support for reforms as boost for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for the general elections in 2011. The voting results slightly exceeded previous polls and the even the AK Party's expectations, giving Erdogan a boost ahead of general elections next year, said the Los Angeles Times. An article by Israeli newspaper Haaretz's Alon Liel said the referendum's results were a triumph for Erdogan. "It's hard to imagine the heads of Turkey's army plotting another coup, given that the reforms now allow them to be tried in civilian court, or the country's high court banning certain political parties as it has in the past," Liel wrote. He also said that it was very likely that Erdogan would prevail in the June 2011 election following the referendum results and that this could make him "the longest-serving, and most influential, Turkish leader since Ataturk." The Economist magazine interpreted the referendum results as a signal of continued support for the AK Party in the run up to nationwide parliamentary elections to be held next June. The Wall Street Journal said the package of 26 constitutional amendments has been touted as a key battle in the struggle to determine Turkey's future by both sides: the country's secular establishment and a rising conservative elite that Erdogan represents. "On Sunday, Mr. Erdogan appeared to win convincingly," the US daily said. Financial Times reported that the referendum results, a much stronger endorsement than expected with 58 percent voting, has certainly cheered investors. The BBC said the changes are aimed at bringing Turkey more in line with the EU, which the government wants to join. The Guardian said the referendum delivered clear support for Erdogan's plans to curtail judiciary and make armed forces subservient to civilian rule./Today's Zaman/

TURKEY, IRAQ SET TO RENEW AGREEMENT ON KEY OIL PIPELINE
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz yesterday said Turkey and Iraq are set to renew an agreement on Kirkuk-Yumurtalik crude oil pipeline, which transports Iraqi oil to the world markets via Turkey. Reportedly the agreement couldn't be signed due to the busy agenda of related officials from the two countries although preparations had been completed last month. "Kirkuk-Yumurtalik is an important pipeline that has served both countries for a long time," Yildiz said, adding that the pipeline would also help Iraq's normalization. /Cumhuriyet/

EIGHT TURKISH MILITARY OFFICERS PARTICIPATE IN NATO DRILL IN ARMENIA
Eight military officers from Turkey have participated in "humanitarian aid in disaster relief" drill held by NATO in Lori Mar region of Armenia. The drill has begun on Saturday and will end on September 17, Friday. Turkish officials will be in the region of Lori Mar, Armenia at the headquarters from September 11 to 17. Supply and evacuation operation in the Lori region in the north is envisaged via Georgia. Turkish officers also passed to Armenia via Georgia. The military exercise has been planned by the Euro-Atlantic Disasters Response Coordination Center, or EADRCC, under the NATO umbrella, where all decisions are based on the unanimity of votes. EADRCC organizes humanitarian assistance practices in member countries of the European Atlantic Partnership Council, or EAPC, aiming at cooperation between neighbouring non-member countries. The Council has prepared a scenario of a devastating earthquake in Armenia for the drill, titled "Armenia-2010." According to the scenario, the infrastructure of the country ruins completely in the aftermath of a large earthquake, and 20,000 people die. Hazardous industrial waste spills, in the scenario. The drill includes rescue, evacuation and the fight with hazardous waste. The goal is to see how NATO and council members coordinate with each other. 600 officials and 40 observers from 15 countries, including Turkey participates in the practice./Hurriyet/

REFERENDUM VICTORY PUSHES BOURSE TO NEW RECORDS
After a recess of four and half days due to the Ramadan Holiday, the Turkish markets resumed with the excitement of a clear victory for "yes" votes in the latest referendum on a set of amendments meant to democratically redesign the Constitution. The benchmark index of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB-100) started the daily trade by jumping directly to a record level of 61,905.08 points, rising 1,297 points, or 2.14 percent, over the close of the last trading day. At the end of morning session, the index stood at 61,831.04 points, rising 2.02 percent. Within the session, the index value hit as high as 62,164.02 points, a level that has never been reached in the history of the Istanbul bourse. The money market also enjoyed its share of the euphoria as the dollar was being traded for TL 1.48, down from TL 1.515 last Wednesday. Meanwhile, the compounded interest rate of the benchmark Treasury bill dropped to 8.01 percent from 8.08 percent. The results of the referendum will be perceived by the markets as a vote of confidence for the government and an indication of the continuation of current economic policies, analysts argue. There will be less political ambiguity in the upcoming days and, thus, the chances are higher that the market will keep with the upward trend. /Today's Zaman/