SEZER MEETS WITH ANNAN TO DISCUSS IRAQ AND CYPRUS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is currently attending the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. During the meeting, Sezer and Annan discussed the Iraqi and Cyprus issues. Remarking that a military operation against Iraq would mostly affect Turkey, Sezer called on Iraq to comply with the UN resolutions. For his part, Annan stated that he would meet with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in Paris on Friday to encourage both sides to accelerate the talks. Sezer is also expected to meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell today. /All Papers/
ECEVIT OPENS INFORMATICS FAIR
The CeBIT Eurasia Informatics Fair was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Following an inauguration ceremony of the fair, Ecevit held a press conference. He stated that stands at the fair clearly displayed how developed Turkey was in informatics sector. Regarding Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Ecevit said, “There have been no obstacles in front of Turkey preventing its accession to the EU.” Asserting that Turkey has done and will do what it has to on this issue, Ecevit said that Turkey was then expecting the EU to fully open its doors to Turkey. He reiterated that Turkey would not accept EU’s involvement on the Cyprus island. “The Cyprus issue is a question between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Turkey would not accept any countries’ involvement in the Cyprus issue apart from other guarantor powers, Greece and Britain,” Ecevit said. “It’s an issue between the peoples of Cyprus.” /Turkiye/
BAHCELI: “THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TO HOLD ELECTIONS”
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said yesterday that everybody should avoid engaging the public with useless efforts aiming to slow down the political parties’ work. Following his party’s Provincial Chairmen’s Meeting, Bahceli answered reporters’ questions. He said, “There is no probability of amending the Elections Law, nor of decreasing the 10% election threshold. The only thing to do is to hold the elections on its scheduled date, Nov. 3.” Regarding European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen’s recent statements that it was not possible for the EU to set a date for the beginning of Turkey’s membership negotiations during its this December’s Copenhagen Summit, Bahceli said`, “This is a topic which he repeats for a long time.” /Turkiye/
GUREL TRAVELS TO STRASBOURG
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday met with European Parliament President Pat Cox and leaders from different political circles within the EP in Strasbourg. EP officials expressed their appreciation with Turkey approving European Union harmonization laws. Cox stated that these developments would be evaluated in EU’s Commission report to be published in October. /Hurriyet/
ANAP, YTP LOSE DEPUTIES
Motherland Party (ANAP) Batman Deputy Burhan Isen and New Turkey Party (YTP) Mardin Deputy Mustafa Kemal Tugmaner resigned from their parties yesterday. With these defections, the number of YTP deputies in Parliament fell to 61 while ANAP deputies to 69. Isen will reportedly join the Justice and Development Party (AKP). In related news, Turkish Labor Union (Turk-Is) Chairman Bayram Meral and Turkish Traders and Small Businessmen’s Confederation (TESK) Chairman Dervis Gunday will join the Republican People’s Party (CHP) today with a ceremony. In addition, Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Caglayan, former True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Yalim Erez, former Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy and former State Minister Fikret Qnlu are also expected to join the CHP this week. /Milliyet+
KARAKOYUNLU: “EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BE A TURNING POINT FOR TURKEY”
Speaking at a conference, entitled, “Turkey through e-Europe” and organized by the Informatics Foundation yesterday in Istanbul, State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu sai` that the European Union membership would be an important turning point and a re-birth date for Turkey. Karakoyunlu also stated that Turkey hadn’t reached the desired level in informatics yet. In addition, European Union Secretary-General Volkan Vural, speaking at the same conference, said that he believed Turkey would be a member of the EU in the near future and that it shouldn’t be daunted by obstacles on the road to EU membership. “Recently (Turkey has taken important steps for its EU membership bid,” he said. “I believe that the upcoming period will bring bright days for Turkey’s EU accession process.” /Turkiye/
CEM VISITS TIM
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem attended the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) meeting yesterday where he answered the questions of the assembly members concerning the YTP’s economic policy. Cem said` that the YTP would stay in track with the IMB’s economic program. “However, we will make certain rearrangements within the program where we find them necessary,” he added. Cem also stated that the YTP’s economic policy presupposed lower tax rates and that the YTP would support agricultural production. /Sabah/
TALABANI MEETS WITH ERDOGAN
Iraqi Patriotic Union ob Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani met with Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the AKP headquarters yesterday. Talabani reportedly briefed Erdogan on his recent visit to Washington, and received Erdogan’s views and advice about the northern Iraq issue. /Star/
SP: “WE WILL SEVER RELATIONS WITH THE IMF”
The Felicity Party (SP) yesterday announced a new economic program called “Emergency Economic and Social Repair Project.” The SP suggests a $110 billion worth resource package as an alternative to the current IMF backed program. According to this package, SP said that it would sever relations with the International Monetary Fund and implement its own prescriptions for the economy when it comes to power. /Turkiye/
DENKTAS: “WE WONT GIVE IN ON THE ISSUE OF EQUAL SOVEREIGNTY”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, following his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides as part of the sixth round of the direct talks, stated yesterday that the Turkish Cypriot side should not back down on the issues of citizenship and equal sovereignty. Denktas also remarked that the Turkish side proposed to establish a common state founded by two separate states in an attempt to bring a settlement to the problem on the island. Commenting on the meeting, Denktas added that the two leaders had discussed the meeting that will be held under the auspices of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sept 6. as well as the issue of citizenship on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
ZIYAL TO VISIT ISRAEL
Deputy Foreign Minister Ugur Ziyal will be going to Israel today to meet his Israeli counterpart Avi Gil, to discuss the likely negative effects of a United States military operation against Iraq. Ziyal held talks with US officials in Washington last week to convince the US of the negative repercussions of a military intervention on the region. However it was reported that during these talks the US had reiterated its determination to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. Turkey hopes to dissuade US policy makers, with Israeli support, from launching a military intervention. While Ziyal will be making a visit to Israel, a senior diplomatic official from Iraq, Muhammed Emin Muhammed Ahmed will be arriving in Ankara today to discuss regional issues. /Cumhuriyet/
BRUSSELS TO DECIDE ON ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY
European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Alain Lamassoure, recalling on Turkey’s passage of EU harmonization laws, proposed to allocate 33 million EURO of additional financial assistance to Ankara from EU’s 2003 budget. Budget Commission will decide on the proposal at its meeting set to be held on Sept. 9. /Aksam/
AUGUST INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released month-on-month inflation figures for August which were parallel to the expectations. Inflation in August was 2.1 % on the wholesale price index (WPI) and 2.2 % on the consumer price index (CPI). The figures pushed year-on-year WPI inflation to 43.9 % and CPI inflation to 40.2 %. /All Papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION