SEZER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer left for Johannesburg yesterday to attend the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. Before his departure, Sezer spoke to reporters at Esenboga Airport. Sezer said that this UN summit would be a good opportunity to evaluate the implementation of the international agreements signed in Rio, the United Nations Environment and Development Summit ten years ago in 1992, regarding sustainable development. Concerning a question whether or not the result of the Nov. 3 elections could harm the regime, the president said that he trusted common sense of Turkish citizens. About the discussions of the postponement of elections, Sezer stated, “We expect that the respectability of the Parliament would be upheld by the parliamentarians themselves.” As part of the summit to be held on 2-4 Sept., Sezer is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the heads of states of certain countries in Johannesburg. /All Papers/

ECEVIT: “VERHEUGEN’S STATEMENTS ARE UNFAIR”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday said that if Verheugen’s statement was true, it would be unfair to Turkey. Before leaving for Tekirdag for an election campaign visit, Ecevit told reporters, regarding the European Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen’s recent statements that Turkey had enacted EU harmonization laws and EU reforms, despite many problems. “It is difficult for the EU to find an excuse not to give Turkey a date for EU accession talks,” Ecevit said. “I hope that Mr. Verheugen’s statements were not true.” Verheugen was quoted on Sunday by the Turkish press that it seemed difficult to set a date for Turkey’s membership negotiations at the Copenhagen summit. On the other hand, Reuters reported on August 30 that Verheugen said, “We cannot hide the fact that we need to see proper implementation of the reforms,” adding, “I don’t believe we will have a track record by the end of year that is sufficient to make a final judgment on opening negotiations.” Meanwhile, answering a question on the disagreement between the government and civil servants’ collective bargaining, the prime minister vowed that the government would do its best to improve the civil servants living standards, despite the current economic difficulties. /Turkiye/

THE EU AND US INCREASE PRESSURE ON DENKTAS
The European Union and the United States have increased pressure on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas prior to his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Sept.6. The meeting is set to be held in Paris under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Denktas held an official meeting with Britain’s Special Envoy to Cyprus Lord David Hannay yesterday in the Turkish Cypriot city of Girne. After the meeting Denktas confirmed that the pressure was particularly being put on the Turkish Cypriot side for a solution on the island. Denktas also remarked, however, that a settlement wouldn’t be possible unless the Greek Cypriots accepted the equal sovereignty of both sides. Hannay and Denktas are to meet again today, this time officially, and Hannay is expected to express clearly British expectations from the meeting on Sept. 6. The US Special Cyprus Coordinator, Thomas Weston will also be visiting the island this week. He is scheduled to meet with Clerides on Wednesday and Denktas later on this week. /Cumhuriyet/

GUREL: “TURKEY EXPECTS A NEGOTIATION DATE FROM THE EU”
Speaking to Hurriyet daily yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that Turkey expected a negotiation date to be set at European Union’s December Copenhagen summit. “Turkey won’t accept any other formula,” added Gurel. He also said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would integrate with Turkey if the EU accepted Greek Cypriot administration’s membership without reaching a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem. Gurel today will travel to Strasbourg and then proceed to Brussels. /Hurriyet/

YILMAZ: “IT’S NOW EU’S TURN”
Commenting on European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen’s recent statement that Turkey should not expect a date to be set for the beginning of its accession negotiation process, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey had adopted a broad package of EU harmonization laws and that it was EU’s turn to give Turkey a date to start negotiations for its membership bid. /Sabah/

GUREL: “TURKEY IS IN FAVOR OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE IRAQI ISSUE”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said yesterday during his official visit to Iran that Turkey favored a peaceful solution to the Iraqi problem. Gurel, after his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi yesterday, stated that they had discussed issues concerning Turkish-Iranian bilateral relations as well as matters that are of importance to the region. Commenting on a possible US operation to Iraq, Gurel remarked that Turkey was in favor of peaceful solutions to international problems. The territorial integrity of Iraq was very important for Turkey, added Gurel. A statement was also made by Harrazi following Gurel’s meeting with Iranian President Muhammed Hatami. Harazzi expressed Iranian opposition to a US operation in Iraq and pointed out that Iran carefully assessed new developments in the region before taking any steps. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL: “TURKISH STATE AND ECONOMY NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED”
Speaking on CNN Turk yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkish state and economy needed to be restructured. “The parties which are anxious about surpassing the 10% election threshold in November are trying to postpone the upcoming elections but the postponement of them would lead to a new economic crisis, like those in Argentina,” he said. “The CHP doesn’t want a change on 10% election threshold. Turkey had to be more careful if it didn’t want ethnic and cultural issues to affect the political life.” He also stated that Turkey could overcome its problems only with a powerful government. “A government which is at peace with the people and supports Turkey’s European Union membership bid should come to power after elections,” he added. /Milliyet/

ANAP PREPARES RESTRUCTURING PROJECT
Motherland Party (ANAP) has prepared a restructuring project which will provide more opportunities to young people in the party. The project which aims to restructure the ANAP completely has been prepared several months ago. This project aims to recall both the party’s history to public and explain the changes in its regulation. The most important change in the party’s regulation is that people over 30 years old can’t be candidate for mayor. /Turkiye/

FORMER TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU JOINS AKP
Former Tourism Minister and coalition partner of Motherland Party (ANAP)’s former deputy Erkan Mumcu joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the weekend. In addition to Mumcu, ANAP dissidents Malatya Deputy Mirac Akdogan and Mugla Deputy Hasan Ozyar also joined the party on the same day. /Turkish Daily News /

TURKER: “IMF IS SATISFIED WITH TURKEY’S EFFORTS”
State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker said that he had a phone conversation yesterday with Chairman of the European desk of the IMF, Michael Deppler. Turker stated that Deppler appreciated Turkey’s attempt to put forward an earlier date for the accomplishment of necessary steps which Turkey promised to take within the general outlines of the deal made with the IMF. He added that a Turkish delegation is going to participate in the IMF and World Bank’s half-annual meetings scheduled to be held by the end of this month in Washington. /Milliyet/

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