NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET TODAY
The National Security Council (MGK) chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will meet today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. During the meeting, domestic and foreign developments will be discussed. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE TOMORROW
Following the end of its summer recess, the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) is scheduled to convene tomorrow. With various efforts to postpone elections continuing, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi’s stance on this matter carries great importance. If these efforts prove unsuccessful, Parliament will once again go on recess to then reconvene after the Nov. 3 elections. If the recess motion is rejected, it will hold another session beginning this Wednesday, Oct. 2. /Turkiye/
JONES, AZIZ TO VISIT ANKARA
Elizabeth Jones, US assistant secretary of state for Eurasian Affairs, arrived in Ankara yesterday. Jones is set to meet with Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and Turkish diplomats today. During the meetings, a possible operation in Iraq will reportedly be the main topic of discussion. Meanwhile, Tariq Aziz, Iraqi’s deputy prime minister, will arrive in Ankara this week to pay a four-day official visit. He is expected to convey a message from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to Turkish officials. /All Papers/
ECEVIT: “ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN NOVEMBER AS SCHEDULED”
Speaking in Adana yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that the nation’s elections would be held on Nov. 3 as scheduled. Ecevit predicted that those parties now trying to postpone elections would probably be disappointed in November and would seek yet another round of elections. “Turkey has begun its elections process, and there is no turning back,” he added. /Milliyet/
BAHCELI: “EFFORTS TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS ARE IN VAIN”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli held a press conference in Ankara yesterday to promote his party’s election manifesto. Stressing that certain parties which had lost the people’s support were trying to postpone elections, Bahceli said, “Such efforts, however, will not be successful.” When the MHP comes to power alone, Bahceli asserted, after a period of four years the nation’s inflation rate would be stabilized at around 5%. Stating that an Economy Ministry would be established to ensure more effective administration of the economy, Bahceli also vowed to establish a new tax system. He added that the period of mandatory education would be extended to 12 years from the current eight. /Turkiye/
CILLER: “THE NATION WANTS ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AS SCHEDULED”
Speaking in Istanbul’s Buyukcekmece district yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that the nation wanted general elections to be held on Nov. 3 as scheduled. She stated that when Parliament reconvenes this week, her party would work to act in unison to block efforts aimed at postponing the polls. /Milliyet/
KUTAN: “ELECTIONS LAW MUST BE AMENDED TO ENSURE LEGITIMACY”
At a press conference in the southeastern Anatolia city of Mardin yesterday, Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan stated that if the Elections law wasn’t amended, there was a possibility that as many as 50% of Turkey’s voters might go unrepresented in Parliament. Commenting on his party’s stance, Kutan said that during this week’s parliamentary session the SP would provide full support to efforts to amend the Elections Law. Asked whether voting by Turkish citizens living abroad, set to begin on Wednesday, would signal a de facto start to elections, Kutan replied that since a possibility of postponement had long existed, the Supreme Election Board (YSK) should be ready to deal with any foreseeable contingency. /Sabah/
ERDOGAN: “MY BEING A DEPUTY IS UNIMPORTANT”
Speaking in the southeastern Anatolia town of Cizre yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that whether or not he ran for deputy in the Nov. 3 elections was of little consequence. Erdogan’s candidacy was disqualified earlier this month by the Supreme Election Board (YSK). “The AKP will use its principles to come to power,” said Erdogan. “Whatever obstacles it faces, our party will overcome them to serve the nation.” He added that he hoped that Turkey would soon be a model country which enjoys full democracy. After visiting Cizre, Erdogan then proceeded to Mardin. /Milliyet/
STATE MINISTER DOGRU MAKES SWEEP THROUGH BALKANS
In his first-ever official visit to the Balkans region, State Minister Resat Dogru last week stopped off in three countries and held contacts with officials in each. During his first stopover, in Greece, Dogru spoke with Friendship, Equality and Peace Party leader Ahmet Haciosmanoglu as well as Aris Papadopulos, the governer of Greece’s eastern Macedonia and western Thrace region. Dogru also visited the birthplace of Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Salonika. Arriving next in the capital of Macedonia, Skopje, Dogru met with Kenan Hasip, leader of that country’s Turkish Democratic Party. In his final stop, Bulgaria, Dogru met with the country’s vice president, Kostadin Paskalev. /Turkiye/
BAYKAL: “TURKEY NEEDS A POWERFUL SINGLE-PARTY GOVERNMENT”
Appearing on television yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal pledged his party’s opposition to post-election coalition scenarios, saying that the CHP would take no part in such bargaining. “Turkey needs a powerful single-party government to overcome nagging problems such as high inflation and interest rates,” Baykal stated. “Only a strong single-party government taking the reins will enable Turkey to settle its issues with the EU and rearrange its relations with the IMF.” /Aksam/
CEM DENIES PARTY RIFTS IN YTP
Speaking at a meeting of his party in Istanbul yesterday, New Turkey Party Chairman Ismail Cem denied the presence of rifts in the YTP, saying that he and his party colleagues were still working together for a better Turkish future. He specifically denied that he had any disputes with Husamettin Ozkan and Istemihan Talay, two prominent YTP members reportedly at odds with Cem over proposals to delay the Nov. 3 elections. /Aksam/
TURKISH-US CONSTRUCTION IN AFGHANISTAN SLATED FOR LARGE US EXIMBANK CREDIT
The United States Export-Import (Exim) Bank will grant expanded credits to Turkish companies ready to undertake joint projects with US concerns in the rebuilding of Afghanistan, bank officials announced yesterday. Eximbank Vice President Eduardo Aguirre said that Turkey was among the top five countries in line for credit, adding that the bank had set no limit on allocations for joint Turkish-US projects. /Star/
BLUE STREAM TO BEGIN TRANSPORTING GAS IN DECEMBER
The Blue Stream natural gas pipeline project, intended to transport Russian natural gas to Turkey via a pipeline beneath the Black Sea, is set to be completed in December, say project officials. The flow of Russian gas is expected to begin the same month. /Sabah/
ATO CHAIR ASKS DEPUTIES NOT TO DELAY POLLS
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun sent a letter this week to Parliament’s deputies asking them to oppose efforts to delay polls set for Nov. 3, Aygun announced yesterday. In a written statement, Aygun said postponing elections could cause political disarray and end up costing Turkey over $19 billion. Furthermore, he added, postponement would make Turkey’s debt even more burdensome and damage its relations with the European Union. /Cumhuriyet/
BELGIAN TRADE MINISTER VISITS TURKEY
Didier Gosuin, Belgium’s trade minister, arrived in Istanbul yesterday accompanied by a delegation of businessmen. Speaking to reporters, Gosuin said that a future Europe without Turkey was unthinkable. Our aim is to stand alongside Turkey in the European Union, he added. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION