UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT BEGINS TODAY
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, a 10-day United Nations gathering, is due to kick off today in Johannesburg, South Africa. Approximately 60,000 people from some 200 countries are expected to attend the summit. While Istanbul Greater Municipality Major Ali Mufit Gurtuna arrived in Johannesburg two days ago, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to join the summit’s participants on next Sunday, Sept. 1. In addition to heads of state and government, there will be active participation by representatives from business and industrial concerns, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), children and youth, farmers, local authorities, scientific and technological communities, women, and workers and trade unions. The Johannesburg Summit presents a significant opportunity for today’s world leaders to discuss ways and strategies of reaching sustainable development in a world with ever-increasing demands for food, water, energy, shelter, sanitation, health services and economic security. /Cumhuriyet/
BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL COME TO POWER AFTER ELECTIONS”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli predicted yesterday that this November’s elections would buck the predictions of some recent public opinion polls and bring big surprises. “The MHP is not carrying out surveys,” said Bahceli. “But we are sure that our party will emerge as the most powerful in the elections and will come to the power by itself on the morning of Nov. 4.” Appearing on television yesterday, Bahceli gave his views on various topics. Stressing that there was no good reason to hold off on elections, Bahceli said that the government’s final and most meaningful duty would be to conduct the elections in peaceful, orderly way. Pointing out that Turkey’s European Union membership bid had a 40-year old history, he asserted that the Cyprus issue would be the make-or-break point for this bid. “First [the EU should] give us a timetable for membership, then we’ll move on to discuss other topics,” stated Bahceli. Turkey’s primary problem is a fractured political scene, Bahceli said, and every day someone with an axe to grind founds a new party. “Politicians should gather together to come to agreement on major topics. This divisiveness is harming Turkey,” he added. Criticizing the recent rapprochement between the People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) and the Felicity Party (SP), Bahceli remarked that any party which helped bring HADEP into Parliament would have to face the responsibility for this. /Turkiye/
CILLER: “WE WON’T FORGET THE HANDICAPPED”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller vowed yesterday that when her party takes the reins of power, it would look after the education and health care problems of Turkey’s handicapped citizens. In a ceremony in Istanbul marking blind singer Metin Senturk’s joining her party’s ranks, Ciller said, “The DYP is resolved to change the destiny of Turkey’s handicapped, whose needs have been neglected up to now. We’ll ensure a good future for all of them.” /Turkiye/
CEM: “THE YTP IS SET TO LEAD A NATIONWIDE RENEWAL”
Some 30 prominent figures from various walks of life, including former culture ministers Ercan Karakas and Timurcin Savas, joined the New Turkey Party (YTP) over the weekend. Speaking to journalists at the new members’ introduction ceremony, YTP Chairman Ismail Cem stated that his party’s main target was to renew the whole country. “Both our messages and statements represent new policies and strategies for Turkish politics,” said Cem. “Our main goal is to modernize our country in line with the necessities of the information age, while at the same time maintaining Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s principles and reforms.” /Cumhuriyet/
AKP HOLDS CANDIDATES’ PRIMARIES
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) yesterday held nationwide primaries within its party to determine its deputy candidates for this November’s elections. The party members’ votes in the primaries will help the party’s executive board to determine the final list of candidate to be presented to voters in the elections. /Turkiye/
BAYAR: “WE HAVE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE YTP, NOT THE DYP”
Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar said yesterday that his party had close relations with the New Turkey Party (YTP) on the basis of shared principles. Speaking on the DTP’s relations with the True Path Party (DYP), Bayar added, “The DTP’s exchanging views with the DYP is quite natural, because the two parties come from common roots. However, the DYP has so far proven unable to carry out its mission as the main opposition party, and as a consequence it’s anxious about the upcoming elections. It would be very embarrassing if it’s not represented in Parliament after November.” He stated that he had no plans to meet with DYP leader Tansu Ciller. /Milliyet/
SAADETTIN TANTAN ELECTED NEW LEADER OF HOMELAND PARTY
Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan was elected the new leader of the Homeland Party (YP) yesterday during an extraordinary congress of the party. Speaking at a post-congress press conference, Tantan charged that Turkey wasn’t being governed properly and that the nation needed radical change. “We are starting a war of independence in politics,” he said, evoking the war Ataturk led to establish a modern, republican Turkey. The number of YP deputies in Parliament recently reached three when two independent deputies joined the party, Arif Sezer from Adana and Ersoy Ozcan from Bolu. The party is set to receive $1.8 billion in Treasury aid for this November’s elections. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: “SMEAR CAMPAIGNS WON’T DAMAGE THE AKP”
Appearing on TGRT television yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on recent reports focusing on his two children and their study in the United States courtesy of scholarships extended by an acquaintance of Erdogan. “In the past,” he said, “a lot of ink has been spilled on writing about my children. Now on the eve of elections we see the same old thing happening. They are trying to smear me, but these efforts will come to nothing.” Stating that the Turkish nation appreciated the AKP’s honesty and the trust it inspires, which led certain “frustrated circles” to try and play “dirty tricks,” Erdogan said that his party was determined to serve the country.” Nobody has been able to stop me with allegations,” added the former Istanbul mayor, whose latest court hearing on corruption charges he has vehemently denied is on Oct. 23. “I trust Turkey’s citizens to make the best choice. If my children had the opportunity to study abroad after finishing their schooling in Turkey, this shouldn’t bother anyone.” Asked about moves by some quarters to postpone this fall’s elections, Erdogan said, “Turkey should hold its elections on Nov. 3 [as scheduled]. If people get mixed up in speculation, this would amount to provocation and promoting even more economic crises. There is uncertainty in Turkey, and it will only get worse if we don’t hold elections as scheduled in November.” /Turkiye/
DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETINGS TO RESUME
The sixth round of peace talks between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides is set to begin tomorrow. United Nations Special Envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will meet with the two leaders separately today prior to the meetings, with the aim of both contributing to the creation of a positive atmosphere charged with new hopes and bolstering the morale of the two sides. The United States and the United Kingdom are also trying to help the two sides to reach a permanent settlement. While British Special Representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay is expected to visit Cyprus on Friday, US State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston will travel to the island next week, on Sept. 3. /Cumhuriyet/
FIRST BLACK SEA CAPITALS’ FESTIVAL BEGINS IN ANKARA
The First Black Sea Capitals’ Festival hosted by the Ankara Greater Municipality and attended by representatives from seven Black Sea countries began in Ankara this weekend. Some 250 groups from Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Albania and Romania performed dance and musical performances at the opening ceremony held in Altinpark’s Lake Theatre. The ceremony was attended by Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek and governors and mayors from the capitals of attending countries. /Aksam/
TURKISH BOTTLE FACTORY TO OPEN FACILITY IN RUSSIA
A beer bottle production factory built by the Turkish Bottle and Glass Factories Company in Russia’s Vladimir region, some 200 kilometers northeast of Moscow, is scheduled to be officially opened for operation on Sept. 6. The factory’s opening ceremony will be attended by a delegation to be chaired by Turkish State Minister Tunca Toskay. Ekrem Barlas, deputy marketing director for the Turkish Bottle and Glass Factories, said that Turkish contractors has built the facility on an area of 17 hectares and that it represented an investment of $26 million. /Sabah/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION