SEZER: “ELECTION POSTPONEMENT INITIATIVES ARE TROUBLING”
Before leaving yesterday for Azerbaijan to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer told reporters that the real aim of those pushing for a reduction of the 10% election threshold could be to postpone early elections, a situation he called “troubling.” Asked about this week’s High Court of Appeals’ ruling against Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan, Sezer said that the judiciary had made its decision and that he had no further comment. In related news, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi answered reporters’ questions concerning calls for Parliament to convene for an extraordinary session to amend the Elections Law, saying he had not received an application to that end. “Such changes have been discussed for years,” he added. “I wish that Parliament had debated them earlier, rather than just over a month before elections.” Meanwhile, New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem is expected to announce today that he is abandoning efforts to lower the 10% election threshold. /All Papers/
GUREL DEPARTS FROM UN MEETING FOR TALKS IN WASHINGTON
Speaking to reporters yesterday before leaving New York for Washington to visit US officials, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel called the atmosphere of the current United Nations General Assembly meeting “positive” and said he had been satisfied with his contacts there. He stated that he had met with nearly all the European Union member state representatives during the session, adding that they were no longer making the mistake of confusing the Cyprus issue with Turkey’s membership bid, a development he called “promising.” He also remarked, however, that possible missteps concerning Cyprus could end up dividing the island and damaging Turkish-EU relations. /Hurriyet/
DERVIS: “DELAYING ELECTIONS WOULD HURT THE ECONOMY”
Former State Economy Minister and prominent Republican People’s Party (CHP) parliamentary candidate Kemal Dervis said yesterday that a delay n this fall’s elections would damage Turkey’s economy. The political uncertainty surrounding this issue must be dispelled, he added. Dervis further remarked that a strong new government established after the Nov. 3 elections could address Turkey’s problems and better deal with the European Union. /Hurriyet/
FOREIGN MINISTRY: “IRAQ’S PLEDGE TO READMIT INSPECTORS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”
In a statement released yesterday, the Foreign Ministry welcomed Iraq’s pledge late Monday to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to the country, calling it “a step in the right direction.” The statement added that Turkey would like to see Iraq cooperate with the UN and comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes. In related news, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan briefed Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on the latest developments in Iraq during their telephone conversation earlier this week. /Cumhuriyet/
BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TODAY
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline project will begin to be constructed today with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Sangacal terminal in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the attendance of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer along with his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts, Haydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze, respectively. The construction of the 1,760-kilometer pipeline will start in earnest in the first half of 2003 and is expected to be completed in approximately two-and-a-half years. The total price tag of the project is about $3 billion. Yesterday in Baku, Sezer held meetings with Aliyev and Shervardnadze to discuss regional and bilateral relations. /Turkiye/
TURKISH UNDER CONSIDERATION AS AN OFFICIAL EU LANGUAGE
European Union officials have sent letters to all 15 EU member states stating that Turkish is under consideration to become an official EU language, reports said yesterday. The letters reportedly requested that the member states begin making preparations to carry this decision out. /Cumhuriyet/
$200 MILLION GRANT FROM THE US TO AID TURKEY’S DEBT PAYMENTS
An agreement was signed yesterday between Turkey and the United States under which the US is to extend a $200 million grant for Turkey to use in its foreign debt payments to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. State Minister Masum Turker, who signed the agreement on Turkey’s behalf, stated that the $200 million grant was to serve as assistance in Turkey’s foreign debt payments, adding that it was proof of US support for the economic program being implemented in Turkey. Turker went on to say that the two countries were close allies in the international war against terrorism and stated that the US had previously given Turkey a grant of $28 million to meet the needs of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, which is currently under Turkish command. /Cumhuriyet/
CILLER: “I HOPE FOR A DYP-ANAP ALLIANCE IN THE ELECTIONS”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that she hoped her party and the Motherland Party (ANAP) could find common ground before this fall’s elections and form an alliance. Touting the DYP’s success so far in making alliances with the Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) and Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), Ciller stated that DYP-ANAP cooperation would help pave the way for unity on the center-right under the DYP’s umbrella in the Nov. 3 elections. /Milliyet/
DYP AND DP COMMEMORATE MENDERES, ZORLU AND POLATKAN
Officials from the True Path Party (DYP) and the Democrat Party (DP) yesterday commemorated, in separate ceremonies, former Prime Minister and DP leader Adnan Menderes along with former State Ministers Hasan Polatkan and Fatih Rustu Zorlu on the 41st anniversaries of their deaths, at their resting places in Istanbul. DYP leader Tansu Ciller, former Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) leader Tugrul Turkes and DYP Deputy Aydin Menderes, the son of the late DP leader, took part in the DYP’S ceremony. /Turkiye/
SUPREME ELECTION BOARD SET TO DECIDE ON ERDOGAN
The Supreme Election Board (YSK) is set to begin deliberations today on the fate of Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s eligibility to run for a seat in Parliament. The YSK’s decision, reviewing an appeals court ruling earlier this week deeming Erdogan ineligible to run in the Nov. 3 elections, is expected in three days. Should the YSK decide against Erdogan, deputy AKP leader Abdullah Gul is the apparent front-runner to succeed him. /Milliyet/
NEW YORK MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO VISIT TURKEY
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is set to arrive in Turkey this Saturday for a two-day visit. Bloomberg will meet with Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna and take a tour of the city. He will also meet with Patriarch Bartholomeos I, a spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, and attend a dinner with business leaders. Bloomberg is scheduled to fly back to New York on Sunday. /Star/
IRAQI OPPOSITION TURKMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW YORK MEETING
Iraqi opposition groups are expected to gather in New York this week under the coordination of US Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman, a former ambassador to Turkey. Iraqi Turkmen, who were conspicuously absent from last month’s opposition meeting in Washington, were invited to the present gathering, and are set to be represented by Orhan Ketene, US coordinator for the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF). /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION