COALITION LEADERS TO MEET
The government coalition leaders will gather this afternoon at Residence of the Prime Ministry. At last Thursday's Democratic Left Party (DSP) parliamentary group meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that economic developments and European Union membership bid would be discussed at the leaders' summit. Opposition parties, criticizing Ecevit for not being at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting last Friday despite his attendance at his party's group meeting the day before, charged that the summit was a "show." Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan from the DSP, who was not present at the group meeting, is expected to attend the summit along with Ecevit. /All Papers/
YILMAZ: "RTUK LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED"
Deputy Prime Minister and the Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz stated over the weekend that the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTUK) Law should be amended. "There are certain articles in the RTUK Law which must be amended, such as the Internet regulations," said Yilmaz. "The Parliament should discuss whether or not the RTUK Law conforms with European Union criteria. I believe that the problems concerning the RTUK Law can be addressed after its implementation by observing its shortcomings in practice." /Cumhuriyet/
TURK: "TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO WASTE"
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk stated over the weekend that Turkey had no time to waste in its bid for full European Union membership. Stating that the only country among the members of the EU Council which had not abolished the death penalty was Turkey, Turk remarked that the government should immediately abolish capital punishment in order to join the EU. "The next six months are very important for Turkey's bid for EU membership," he said. "The steps put forward in our National Programme must be taken as soon as possible. The majority of the Turkish people want to join the Union. We shouldn't miss this opportunity." /Cumhuriyet/
CEM TO MEET FISCHER
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is scheduled to travel to Germany tomorrow to meet with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer to discuss the Cyprus issue as well as Turkey's relations with the European Union. Foreign Minister Fischer is considered one of the most important figures in the EU. Cem is expected to tell Fischer of the recent steps taken by the Turkish government on its path towards EU membership. He will also request Germany's support concerning the decisions to be taken at the EU's Copenhagen summit in December. Arguing that the EU should support the ongoing peace talks between the two leaders of Cyprus, Cem will convey the message to Germany that the Greek Cypriots must be persuaded to take more positive steps in order to reach a permanent solution on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY TAKES OVER CONTROL OF KABUL'S MILITARY AIRPORT
The Turkish Air Force yesterday took over the control of Kabul's military airport from Great Britain. Speaking at the command handover ceremony, Staff Col. Kazim Ondul said that Turkey would work to head the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for six months with success. Ondul also said that there were still 90,000 mines in the vicinity of the airport. For his part, British Col. Graham Stacy stated that the British Royal Air Force had worked for five months to secure and renew the airport, and that he was confident Turkey would continue to fulfill this mission. /Hurriyet/
KUTAN: "THE IMF IS ASKING THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE"
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan said yesterday in Edirne that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wanted to harm Turkey's agriculture sector. "People migrate from Edirne, although the dominant sector is farming in the area, and the government doesn't support agriculture and the farmer because of the IMF's wishes," he stated. "This is hurting our agriculture badly." He added that the United States has increased its support to farming. Kutan also remarked that he expected early elections to be held in 2003, before their scheduled date in 2004. /Star/
KOZAKCIOGLU: "ELECTIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO END OUR MISFORTUNE"
True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Chairman Hayri Kozakcioglu said yesterday that Turkey had two important issues on its agenda, economic instability and its European Union membership process. Kozakcioglu remarked that the economy couldn't get back on stable footing before the "government crisis" was over. He added, "Turkey is in the midst of misfortune, and elections are the only way of ending this." /Star/
DERVIS: "EUROPE WILL GET STRONGER WITH TURKEY"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that both sides, Turkey and the European Union, would benefit from Turkey's accession to the Union. At a seminar on "Turkey's Future as a European" as part of the Crans Montana Forum in Switzerland, Dervis underlined that Europe would have a more open and global structure by including Turkey, which is a Muslim and secular country. "Turkey expects full membership rather than cooperation with the EU. Through Turkey's membership, Europe will strengthen its position in the Mideast, eastern Mediterrenean and the Black Sea and Caucasus regions," Dervis said. He stated that it was unacceptable for Turkey to be subject to "special rules or conditions" different from those applied to the other 12 EU candidate countries. Asked about Cyrus, Dervis remarked that Cyprus issue was not related to EU membership or the Copenhagen criteria. /Turkiye/
CHHIBBER: "THE FUTURE OF THE TURKISH ECONOMY DEPENDS ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS"
Speaking to reporters, World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said yesterday that Turkey has a great economic team under Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, but that recent political uncertainty was affecting the economy. Chhibber also said that ending the political uncertainty would keep the economy on track. "The future of the Turkish economy depends on developments in politics," Chhibber added. Chhibber stated that the World Bank was working to strengthen Turkey in terms of education, health, foreign investment, economy, banking, energy and agriculture, but did not want to be involved in its politics. /Hurriyet/
DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER: "WE SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU BID"
Speaking to Hurriyet daily, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said yesterday that Denmark supports Turkey's European Union membership bid. The EU's term presidency passes today from Spain to Denmark. Moller also stated that Turkey' geopolitical position in the international arena is very important and that it is an important ally in the fight against international terrorism. "To be a full member of the EU, a country needs to fulfill both economic and political criteria," Moller added. "Turkey needs to implement the reforms quickly." Moller remarked that during his nation's presidency, Denmark would support Turkey's membership bid, but that Turkey needs to take the first step by implementing the Copenhagen criteria. /Hurriyet/
SABANCI: "IT'S TIME FOR ECEVIT TO RESIGN"
Sabanci Holding Chairman Sakip Sabanci, one of Turkey's leading businessmen, yesterday came out in favor of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stepping down from his post. Speaking to reporters at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Sabancý said that Turkey needed young, energetic leaders, adding that in the past many leaders had resigned due to health problems. /Turkiye/
TRNC HOLDS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
In local municipality elections held yesterday in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), the National Unity Party (UBP) headed by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu won the post of mayor in 16 of the 26 cities and towns at stake. However, the UBP was the loser in such large cities such as Girne, Gazi Magosa, and the capital Lefkosa. /Turkiye/
TOSKAY: "THERE IS PROGRESS IN THE ECONOMY"
State Minister Tunca Toskay yesterday said that the economy had grown at a rate of 3% in the first three months of this year, especially in the industrial sector. He also predicted that the agriculture sector would grow rapidly, adding that the political uncertainty in the country should be ended. /Sabah/
EUROTAI PARTNERSHIP BEARS MORE FRUIT
As of this week 19 Cougar AS-532 helicopters have rolled off the assembly line of the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) under the auspices of the EuroTAI partnership, which began between Turkey and France with the production of the Phenix-II. All told, 21 of the copters have been produced for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in both Turkey and France. The production rum of 30 helicopters total, which began in 1997, will be completed by the end of this year, with 20 going to Turkey's Air Force Command and 10 for the Land Forces Command. /Aksam/
TURKEY AMONG 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
German newspaper Bild am Sonntag yesterday declared in a feature article that Turkey was among the world's 10 most beautiful holiday destinations. In a long article on Turkey in its travel section, the paper wrote that 2.9 million German tourists visited Turkey in 2000 and 3.3 million had visited last year. Quoting Turkey's Tourism Attaché as saying that there was still space available at Aegean and Mediterranean hotels this season, the newspaper added, "Developers who want to construct five-star hotels should hurry up, because the luxurious hotel market is underserved." /Aksam/
TURKISH CHORUS TO COMPETE IN CANADA
The award-winning Orfeon Chamber Chorus is set to represent Turkey at this week's 10th Kathaumixw International Chorus Competition near Vancoveur, Canada. Starting tomorrow, the Orfeon Chamber Chorus will compete in the Chamber Chorus, Folkloric Chorus and Modern Music categories at the competition, which will be participated in by 34 choruses from 13 countries with nearly 1,200 members. The competition lasts through Sunday, and the chorus under conductor Elnara Kerimova, hopes to promote Turkish polyphonic music during its concerts in Canada. /Aksam/
WORLD CULTURE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
At the initiative of Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, the "Culture Ministers' Third Roundtable Meeting" of UNESCO will be held in Istanbul with the participation of 189 member countries on Sept. 16-17 at the Ciragan Palace. During the meeting, topics such as cultural heritage, diversity and promotion are expected to be taken up. /Turkiye/
NATIONAL TEAM CLAIMS NO. 3 SPOT
The Turkish National Soccer Team yesterday returned to Turkey after beating co-host South Korea on Saturday, by a score of 3-2, thus claiming the number three spot at the world's premier football competition. Tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans greeted the team as it returned to Istanbul, celebrating its unprecedented success in both reaching the semifinals and playing for the cup for the first time in nearly 50 years. /All Papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION