SEZER VETOES BILL ON SECURITY FORCE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday vetoed a bill proposing amendments to the Security Force Organization Law, including the hiring of 10,000 personnel. Sezer stated that waging effective anti-crime efforts was not possible using hastily trained policemen with low educational levels. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, commenting on the issue, told reporters that his government would discuss the bill and then decide how to proceed. /Star/

ERDOGAN TO ATTEND FUNERAL FOR POPE JOHN PAUL II
Representing Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II to be held on Friday at the Vatican. More than 200 world leaders and religious leaders are expected to attend the funeral for the pontiff, who passed away last Saturday evening. /Hurriyet/

GUL MEETS WITH UAE OFFICIALS
As part of his visit to the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with head of state Sheik Caliph Bin Zeyd El Nahayan and Abu Dabi Crown Prince Sheik Mohammad Bin Zeyd El Nahayan. Afterwards, speaking to reporters, Gul said Turkey should boost its ties with Persian Gulf countries. Pointing to the UAE’s importance in world financial circles, Gul said that he hoped Turkish firms could get positive results from tenders in this country. The foreign minister stated that his talks with top UAE officials had also focused on the Cyprus issue, adding that he had asked for their support to end the Turkish Cypriots’ international isolation. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: “OUR GOVT’S SUCCESS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE”
Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that certain circles still could not stomach the success of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. Pointing to the recent positive economic figures, the premier stressed that good developments in the economy were a result of the government’s great efforts and stability in political policies. Yesterday, Erdogan also received 41 new officials for provincial districts, recent graduates of a training course. Erdogan called on the new officials to believe in democracy in their hearts and accept the problems of the nation as if they are their own. /Turkiye/

ALBANIAN PRESIDENT, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISIT TURKEY
Albanian Chief of General Staff Gen. Pellumb Qazimi who is currently paying an official visit, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. The two top officials reportedly discussed bilateral military ties. In related news, Albanian President Alfred Moisiu also arrived in Ankara yesterday after participating in a meeting of the Turkish Atlantic Council in Antalya earlier in the week. /Turkiye/

SYRIAN PRESIDENT: “SINCE SEZER RESPECTS HIS NATION, HE’LL VISIT SYRIA DESPITE THE US’ OBJECTIONS”
Appearing on CNN Turk yesterday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer would pay an official visit to his country this month despite US objections, adding that Sezer couldn’t visit Syria if he didn’t respect the Turkish nation. “The visit is important since it will take place despite US objections,” he said. “Turkey, as an independent, sovereign country, didn’t allow the US to interfere in Sezer’s decision.” Al-Assad said that the nations of both countries became friends following his historic visit to Ankara last year. Touching on Iraq, al-Assad said that Damascus wasn’t uncomfortable about a Turkish presence in the country. /Milliyet/

LAGENDIJK CALLS FOR ANKARA TO SIGN EU ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL BEFORE OCT. 3 TO PROVE IT’S NOT “OBSTINATE”
Speaking at a conference in Istanbul yesterday, Turkey-European Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk called for Ankara to sign the additional protocol of the Ankara Agreement before Oct. 3, when it is expected to begin its European Union accession talks. “Prove to the EU and Greek Cyprus that you’re not obstinate, and surprise them,” he said. He stressed that signing the additional protocol would mean greenlighting the recognition of Greek Cyprus. “If you begin to formally address a country, this means that you’re beginning to recognize it.” Touching on the so-called Armenian genocide, Lagendijk stated that Turkey should take the initiative on the issue, adding that it would benefit from the resulting clarification. /Milliyet/

GONUL: “NEITHER THE DEFENSE MINISTRY NOR THE GENERAL STAFF HAVE PLANS TO ALLOW SHORTENED MILITARY SERVICE FOR PAYMENT”
Speaking to reporters before his party’s group meeting yesterday, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that in line with the modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), someday shortening the period of compulsory military service in exchange for payment could be considered. “But the time being, there are no such plans at our ministry or the General Staff,” he added. “However this is a technical issue and we’ll do whatever modernization requires. If there is a need to shorten the military service, then we’ll do this.” In related news, the General Staff yesterday declared that it was not working on shortening the military service in exchange for payment, adding that the issue wasn’t being explored. /Aksam/

PARLIAMENT DEBATES ARMENIAN PROBLEM
Parliament yesterday debated the so-called Armenian genocide allegations. Journalists and authors of Armenian origin as well as retired ambassadors attended a special joint session of the European Union Harmonization and Foreign Affairs Commissions. The meeting was closed to the press. “Some problems start being resolved as soon as they are discussed,” Ali Riza Alaboyun, the EU Harmonization Commission’s acting chairman, told reporters, expressing his belief in the benefits of such discussions before the meeting began. /Star/

BAYKAL: “A DECISION ON INCIRLIK AIRBASE EXCLUDING PARLIAMENT WOULDN’T BENEFIT THE NATION”
Addressing his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the government should brief his party and Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission on the US requests concerning Incirlik Airbase. “A decision excluding the Parliament won’t benefit the nation,” he said. While the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is reportedly planning to conclude the issue with a decree, the CHP believes that any decision needs to be approved by Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/

DUTCH MEP BOZKURT: “THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT SHOULD HAVE A QUOTA FOR WOMEN”
Emine Bozkurt, a Turkish-origin social democrat European parliamentarian, recently drafted a report on the role of women in Turkey’s social, economic and political life. In her report, Bozkurt demanded that women’s rights be given top priority in the European Union’s membership negotiations with Ankara, and argued that the issue has long been neglected by Turkey. Bozkurt also urged the government to implement a quota for women in the Turkish Parliament to boost their numbers. The European Parliament is due to discuss her report next month.