MGK TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (MGK) is scheduled to meet today under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at 1:00 p.m. at the Presidential Palace. Recent domestic and foreign developments are reportedly on the MGK’s agenda. /Cumhuriyet/
BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES SHOULD UNITE”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that if parties which have similar political views and policies unite, this would work to Turkey’s benefit. “Both leftist and rightist parties should unite before elections,” he stated. “It would be useful for Turkey if the Motherland Party [ANAP] and True Path Party [DYP] were to unite, since they share similar political views. However, the MHP will participate in elections on its own.” Bahceli added that certain circles were trying to postpone the elections and that if these efforts succeeded, economic and political chaos would ensue. /Milliyet/
CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION LAWS
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem yesterday met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. During their talks, Cem briefed Schroeder on Turkey’s recently passed European Union harmonization laws, stressing the YTP’s determination to see these laws implemented. Speaking after the meeting, Cem said that the number one priority for November’s post-election government should be carrying out these important EU harmonization laws for the sake of Turkey’s future. Speaking on the elections, Cem stated, “I think that the early elections will be a choice between new and old parties.” /Milliyet/
DERVIS PLEDGES TO JOIN CHP
Former State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, who has been engaged in an intense campaign to establish unity among Turkey’s leftist parties, yesterday ended weeks of speculation in declaring that he would join the Republican People’s Party (CHP). After meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and New Turkey Party (YTP) Deputy Chairman Husamettin Ozkan, Dervis then met with CHP leader Deniz Baykal for three-and-a-half hours. Speaking later to reporters, Dervis said that he and the CHP leader shared common views on many topics. Baykal, for his part, expressed his pleasure with Dervis’s decision, saying, “This means more than just joining a party. It is an initiative towards a new unification, a call for a grand new formation.” Stressing that the CHP would induct more new members in the days to come, Baykal said that the CHP’s goal was to be the strongest party in line to rule the country after this November’s elections. Dervis is set to officially join the CHP tomorrow. /All Papers/
BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ INTERVENTION
Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani yesterday threatened the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in a statement published in Brayati, an IKDP-affiliated daily newspaper. Barzani stated that forces from the IKDP would “bury the TSK” in the region were it to enter into northern Iraq. Last week, Barzani attracted criticism from the United States for his failure to attend an Aug. 9 meeting in Washington of Iraqi opposition groups. Furthermore, relations with Turkey deteriorated following the publication of a map by Barzani showing the Iraqi Turkmen city of Kirkuk as being Kurdish. Airing his views on Turkey’s agenda, Barzani stated yesterday that Turkey’s aim was to gain control of Mosul, adding that Turkey had no rights in northern Iraq and that the IKDP would fight the TSK to defend the cities of Kerkuk, Erbil and Musul. All three cities are in northern Iraq’s “no-fly” zone, an area unofficially administered by Kurdish political groups, rather than the Baghdad regime. /Sabah/
SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATS
Remarks by Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani yesterday threatening the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should they enter northern Iraq prompted a swift and sharp reaction from Acting Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu. Sokmenoglu said yesterday that Barzani would soon get an appropriate reply from the Turkish Parliament, adding that Turkey did not have any expansionist tendencies. He continued by declaring that Turkey would consider the establishment of an independent “Kurdistan” in northern Iraq sufficient justification for war, adding that peace in northern Iraq would be prove impossible if the presence and rights of the Turkmens living in the region are not recognized. /Sabah/
TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE ECONOMY”
Speaking to Hurriyet yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker stated that cancelling the elections scheduled for November would not affect the economy. Turker added that he had started to work on the third review of Turkey’s program with the International Monetary Fund. Turker also called on all the political parties taking part in early elections to pledge to carry out the IMF’s program. In related news, international credit rating organization Morgan Stanley has asked for an appointment for its representatives to meet with Turker. Turker is expected to arrange such a meeting for next Tuesday. /Hurriyet/
TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEET
The Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) Executive Council is scheduled to gather today at Turk-Is’s headquarters at 11:00 a.m. The council will reportedly discuss this November’s early elections. /Cumhuriyet/
HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDP
Hasan Celal Guzel, former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), tendered his resignation from the YDP yesterday. In ending his decade-long relationship with the YDP, an action he took along with 14 YDP colleagues, Guzel claimed that the party had been “bought” by Young Party (GP) leader and media magnate Cem Uzan. /All Papers/
ERBAKAN TO DECLARE HIS CANDIDACY
Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the defunct Welfare Party (RP), is expected to hold a press conference today to declare his candidacy for the Nov. 3 elections. /Turkiye/
FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS NEW GOVERNMENT”
Fitch Ratings, a leading international credit rating institution, stated yesterday that it was of the utmost importance for Turkey to establish a stable, reformist government in November’s elections in order to maintain and better its rating. “The local market appears to be factoring in a positive outcome to the November elections, so a disappointing result could prompt severe turbulence,” a Fitch report said. The report added that if political stability could not be achieved through elections and confidence ensured in domestic markets, this might cause a rise in interest rates, a rash of loan defaults and a drop in the value of the Turkish lira. /Aksam/
WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY, WORK ON ISTANBUL APPROACH
A delegation from the World Bank is due to come to Turkey next month in order to conclude work concerning a loan totaling $500 million to be given to Turkey as part of the Istanbul Approach. During its contacts in Turkey, the delegation will prepare documents for the loan as well as determine the amount of credit to be extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the names of mediating banks. As part of the Istanbul Approach, a framework designed to strengthen the banking system, support the real sector and encourage restructuring of business loans, the World Bank is extending a credit line to be allocated to banks in order to ensure additional financing for businesses whose loans are restructured. The loan to be given by the bank to Turkey will not be additional credit, but will instead be considered within the Country Aid Strategy loan portfolio. /Turkiye/
COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDS
The collective bargaining process between the government and trade union officials concerning raises for civil servants was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker cautioned that the government must act in line with its Letter of Intent (LOI) to the International Monetary Fund pledging that such salary increases do not surpass 20%. In order for the government to stay within these bounds, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit then appointed a commission to study the issue and make recommendations. The commission, made up of Turker, Finance Minister Sumer Oral and State Ministers Tayfun Icli and Tunca Toskay, will be chaired by State Minister Mehmet Kececiler. /Turkiye/
AUTHOR WEEMS VISITS ISTANBUL
Samuel A. Weems, a retired US judge and writer of the recently published book Armenia: Secrets of a Christian Terrorist State, yesterday visited the seat of the Istanbul Governorship to pass along information about the Ataturk World Peace Institute, set to be established at the University of Arkansas. Weems, who lives in Arkansas, said yesterday that he had received harsh criticism from Armenian extremists as a result of his book, which lays out a wealth of research supporting Turkey’s complaints against Armenia. /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION