SEZER, IZGI ISSUE MESSAGES TO COMMEMORATE ERTUGRUL GAZI
In a message issued to mark the 721st Ertugrul Gazi Commemoration and Sogut Festivals, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer lauded Ertugrul, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, as an honest, courageous and effective statesman. This far-sighted leader believed in the importance of the Turks founding a powerful state which exercises its sovereignty with peace and tolerance, Sezer added. In his message issued for the occasion, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi declared that Ertugrul Gazi had proven that people from different cultures can live together peacefully. /Turkiye/

BAHCELI PARTICIPATES IN ERTUGRUL GAZI COMMEMORATIONS
Speaking at 721st Ertugrul Gazi Commemoration and Sogut FestivalS over the weekend, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that the Turkish nation should be self-reliant. “Other nations won’t trust us if we don’t demonstrate our self-reliance,” he stated. “Our national identity is our power.” He added that even as it prepares for its role in the future globalized world order, the Turkish nation should never forget its history. Also present at the festivals were Great Union Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu, Culture Minister Suat Caglayan, State Minister Tayyibe Gulek, and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman Murat Mercan. /Turkiye/

ECEVIT: “CERTAIN CIRCLES ARE TRYING TO BRING DOWN THE DSP”
Speaking at a campaign rally in Van yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit charged that certain circles were conspiring to bring down both himself and the senior coalition leader DSP. I will fight till the end to improve Turkey’s lot, he added. Ecevit also attended the opening of a village-city project in nearby Dorutay. /Aksam/

DYP AND ATP DECIDE TO FORM ALLIANCE
The True Path Party (DYP) and the Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) yesterday decided to form an alliance for the forthcoming early elections. At a meeting held to announce the decision, DYP leader Tansu Ciller said that an important step had been taken for the alliance on the center- right and that Turkey was looking for power, unification and stability. Calling on all nationalists to stand in alliance during November’s polls, Ciller said, “We are so happy to see the late Alparslan Turkes’s son and ATP leader Tugrul Turkes cooperating with us.” For his part, Turkes said that Turkish citizens wanted a unified politics rather than a divided one. /Turkiye/

CILLER VOWS TO PUSH HEALTH CARE REFORMS
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday attended a meeting in Ankara organized by members of the DYP’s Women’s Committee Representative. Claiming that the DYP was the only party which boasts a staff capable of solving Turkey’s current problems, Ciller pledged to the citizens to push reform in the health care sector when her party comes to power. She said that all citizens would be issued a “blue card,” and that if they cannot afford healthcare, they would be treated free of charge at any hospital. “Certain parties are scared of what November will bring, and so they are trying to postpone the elections,” she added. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS: “WE WON’T BACK DOWN ON THE ISSUES OF EQUALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday flew back to Cyprus from a meeting in Paris with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Speaking to reporters upon his return, Denktas declared that the Turkish Cypriot side would not back down on the issues of equality and sovereignty. Denktas added that he had asked Annan to work to redefine the Cyprus issue. /Hurriyet/

IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT: “TURKEY SHOULDN’T HELP THE US TO CARRY OUT AN OPERATION”
In an address to Turkish journalists at a Turkish-Iraqi Friendship Association meeting in Baghdad over the weekend, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramazan predicted that Turkey would be adversely affected by any United States military intervention in Iraq. “Turkey shouldn’t help the US to organize such an operation,” said Ramazan. “Turkey and Iraq are two close neighbors which share a common history and religion. That’s why Turkey should be cautious about the US’ policies towards Iraq.” /Star/

TALABANI AND BARZANI MEND FENCES
After meeting for the first time in almost two years, northern Iraqi political leaders Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jelal Talabani recently concluded an agreement to end the longstanding rivalry between their two groups. According to a statement issued by the IKDP, Talabani briefed Barzani on the meetings he had with Turkish and US officials last week. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD BANK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MEETINGS TO CONCLUDE THIS FALL
The World Bank’s ongoing Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) meetings, a series of gatherings meant to draw up a CAS document determining the total amount of financial assistance to be extended to Turkey for the period 2003-05, are expected to be completed this fall. The CAS documents describe the WB’s strategy based on an assessment of priorities in a country, and indicates the level and composition of assistance to be provided based on the strategy and the country's portfolio performance. The Turkish government expects the bank to extend approximately $4.5 billion for the projects it has planned for 2003-05. These projects will primarily focus on certain prior issues such as reducing poverty and narrowing the economic gap between various social classes. The gatherings are being held with the participation of all related institutions such as the State Planning Organization (DPT) and the Treasury. /Cumhuriyet/

TOURISM JUMPS IN AUGUST
The number of tourists visiting Turkey in August reached 1.91 million, representing a 19.3% jump over the same period last year, according to official statistics released over the weekend. Germany was the country to send the most visitors to Turkey last month, at approximately 445,000, the figures added. /Star/

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