ECEVIT: “WE HAVE NO TIME FOR ALLIANCES”
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that there was a very short time left before November’s elections and that the DSP had no time to seek unity on the left. “For a long time, the DSP has not believed in forming alliances in elections,” stated Ecevit, “We have no intention of doing so this time either.” /Cumhuriyet/

YILMAZ RETURNS FROM DENMARK
Deputy Prime Minister and the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz returned yesterday from his visit to Copenhagen, Denmark. During his trip, Yilmaz held contacts with European Union Term President Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller to seek support for Turkey’s EU membership bid. Yilmaz told reporters the Danish officials said that Turkey had exceeded their expectations in taking very important steps in line with EU reforms. “I told them that in return for those steps, Turkey awaits concrete steps from the EU by setting a date for the beginning of our full membership negotiations,” stated Yilmaz. Concerning ANAP Deputy Yasar Okuyan’s recent resignation, Yilmaz said that all party members were free to choose their own way before elections. “But as for us, we will continue to stay our own course,” Yilmaz added. /Turkiye/

CEM TO MEET WITH SCHROEDER
New Turkey Party (YTP) Leader Ismail Cem is expected to meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today. Before leaving for Germany, Cem told reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport that Germany was the key country for Turkey in its EU full membership bid. “German support is very important for the YTP in terms of its economic policy, which gives top priority to investment and production,” Cem added. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL: “ECEVIT SHOULD END HIS POLITICAL CAREER IN THE CHP”
Speaking on ATV last night, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Leader Deniz Baykal said that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had been one of the top figures in Turkey’s political life for many years and that if he was going to end his career in politics, he should do it where he first began, namely the CHP. “The CHP is the place where Mr. Ecevit first entered politics, so his ending things there would be fitting,” said Baykal. “I say this as chairman of the CHP.” Baykal is expected to meet with former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis today. /Cumhuriyet/

OZKOK: “REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE INCREASED TURKEY’S IMPORTANCE”
Speaking at a military ceremony at the Second Army Commandership in Malatya yesterday, Land Forces Commander and future Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok stated that Turkey was located in one of the most sensitive regions of the world. Conflicts and wars in Turkey’s immediate region have raised the nation’s profile and importance, he added. Gen. Hilmi is due to assume his new post heading up the General Staff at the end of this month. /Turkiye/

OKUYAN RESIGNS FROM ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) Yalova Deputy Yasar Okuyan resigned from his party yesterday. Previously, Okuyan had resigned from his post as labor and social security minister, in protest of ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz’s stance on a job security bill. Following yesterday’s resignation, Okuyan, who had served the party for nearly 20 years in active and important positions, harshly criticized Yilmaz, saying that Turkey’s citizens would hesitate to vote for ANAP under his leadership. Meanwhile, ANAP Isparta Deputy Erkan Mumcu declared that he would resign from the party if Yilmaz didn’t convene an extraordinary congress in the coming days. /Turkiye/

CILLER: “THE DYP’S POLICIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANAP’S”
Speaking to NTV yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that her party wouldn’t seek an alliance with the Motherland Party before elections because the central pillars of the two political parties’ policies were too different. “Unity on the center-right will be established by the ballot box in November’s elections rather than alliances between parties,” she said. “I think Dervis’s efforts to unite leftist parties will have little effect. Half of the votes are on the center-right and 20% are on the center-left, so it’s very important to unite the rightist parties.” /Milliyet/

SHP LEADER KARAYALCIN REBBUFFS BAYKAL
Social Democrat People’s Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin yesterday issued a firm rebuff of Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal’s call for those who left the CHP in recent years “to grow up and mature” and return to the party’s fold. “I have no problem with maturity,” stated Karayalcin. “However, I think politicians should be mature and refrain from such jokes which could lead to misunderstandings.” Karayalcin left the CHP in March 2001, citing alleged “anti-democratic and illegal practices” within the party. /Milliyet/

IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIAL TO VISIT TURKEY
Hoshyar Zebari, a foreign policy aide to Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKPD) leader Massoud Barzani, is due to arrive in Turkey from the US today. Zebari is set to brief Foreign Ministry officials on a recent meeting of Iraqi opposition leaders in Washington. After his visit, Zebari will proceed to northern Iraq to brief Barzani on developments at the Washington meeting. /Milliyet/

HEAVY RAINS CAUSE FLOOD DAMAGE
The heavy rains which have wreaked havoc in recent days across central Europe have had an impact on Turkey as well. Many cities, including Istanbul, have weathered the unprecedented downpours, and three people in the Black Sea city of Samsun died after being struck by lightning. The rains paralyzed daily life in Istanbul and flooded more than 100 houses and places of business. State meteorology officials predicted that the rains would continue through Thursday. /All Papers/

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION