SEZER RETURNS TO TURKEY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned from Johannesburg yesterday where he attended the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Sezer said that there were still certain unsolved problems in terms of sustainable development and that an agreement was reached on a ten-year improvement plan to overcome these problems. Sezer also stated that he reiterated Turkey’s sensitivities on Iraq’s territorial and political integrity during his contact with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. “Mr. Powell assured the US would continue to discuss the Iraq issue with Turkey and to pay attention to its advice and Turkey would not be faced with any surprise regarding this issue,” Sezer said. /Star/
BAHCELI: “MHP WILL NOT FORM ALLIANCES WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY”
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday said that the MHP would not form alliances with any political party for November’s early elections, stating that his party was against alliances. /Hurriyet/
GUREL MEETS WITH VERHEUGEN
Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday met with Gunter Verheugen, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, as part of his tour in Europe to explain Turkey’s efforts to fulfill Copenhagen Criteria. At the meeting, Gurel said that the EU shouldn’t doubt that Turkey would carry out the EU harmonization laws. He also stated that adopting reforms was enough for the beginning of the negotiations. However Verheugen said that reforms weren’t enough to start negotiations and the EU needed to see their implementation. “Turkey would try to carry out as many reforms as it can before the publication of the Progress Report on Oct. 16,“ Gurel added. /Milliyet/
TURKER: “THERE WILL BE NO NEW COMMITMENTS TO IMF”
State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker yesterday said that he had met with the IMF and World Bank officials few days ago and that new commitments were out of question. During his visit to Izmir, Turker told reporters that the economic program would be completed with the current commitments and there was no need for new ones. Stressing that new governments would continue to carry out the ongoing economic program, Turker said, “Whoever comes to power before or after elections, he cannot exceed the budget figures.” /Turkiye/
ALLIANCE UNDERWAY IN THE LEFT
People’s Democracy Party (HADEP), the Labor Party (EMEP) and Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) yesterday agreed to enter November’s elections in alliance under the umbrella of Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP). Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) and the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) are expected to join to this alliance. /Star/
CESTARI: “THE UN IS READY TO SUPPORT TURKEY”
UN’s Turkey Coordinator Alfredo Witschi Cestari said yesterday that Turkey had a very limited share in UN’s purchase market and that the UN was ready to support Turkish exporters and businessmen in every aspect to enlarge Turkey’s share. /Star/
UNLU AND HACIOGLU JOIN CHP
Former Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy and former State Minister Fikret Unlu and Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Chairman Memduh Hacioglu yesterday joined the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with a ceremony held at the party’s headquarters in Ankara. Speaking at the ceremony, CHP leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey went through a difficult period and social democrat politicians were scattered. “The address of unity is CHP,” Baykal added. After Unlu joined the CHP ranks, CHP’s seats in Parliament rose to 2. /Hurriyet/
CIVIL SERVANTS SLOW DOWN WORK
Due to a disagreement at the collective bargaining between civil servants’ unions and the government, Confederation of Civil Servants’ Unions (KESK) members slow downed their work throughout the country yesterday. In various demonstrations, protesting the government, civil servant representatives pointed to inequilibrium in salaries and said that salaries were melting day by day. They stated that only way to get rid of this situation was having a collective bargaining. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN: “ WE COULD CONSIDER A COALITION WITH CHP”
Appearing on NTV yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the AKP would be willing to consider forming a coalition with Republican People’s Party (CHP) after elections on Nov.3, on the sole condition that former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis isn’t put in charge of the economy. Remarking on the International Monetary Fund agreements, Erdogan declared that if the AKP came to power, the new government would stick to the IMF-backed economic program. Erdogan also commented on the ‘religious headscarf’ issue. When asked what he was planning to do if he comes to power, he replied, “I believe that this problem should be resolved through a social understanding. I also believe that a woman is as free to wear a headscarf as a mini skirt.” /Sabah/
ORAL: ” WE’VE OVERCOME THE WORST OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS”
Finance Minister Sumer Oral yesterday attended a ceremony to mark the opening of the Alasehir Tax Office, where he delivered a speech on the current economic situation in Turkey. Oral said that Turkey had put behind it the worst part of the economic crisis. “However,” he added, “a new tax and public expenditure system is necessary to optimize resources, which would provide a structural change that is needed for the average citizens to lead a comfortable life.” /Turkiye/
ARSEVEN: “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HAS A STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR TURKEY”
State Minister Nejat Arseven yesterday spoke at a conference which was organized by Turkish Informatics Association (TBD). Arseven said that information technology had a strategic importance for Turkey. “We need to use the information technology and follow the developments in a global world,” he said. “Otherwise it will be impossible for us to reach Western civilization.” /Turkiye/
AGROTEC AGRICULTURE FAIR OPENS
The Sixth International AGROTEC Agriculture Fair was opened yesterday in Ankara. The fair, where agricultural tools and equipments are displayed, will be open on Sept. 5-8. /Turkiye/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION