ECEVIT: “TURKEY WILL BE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ”
Speaking on television yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey would continue to keep a close watch on developments in Iraq. Stressing that Turkey was fully capable of preventing the formation of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq, Ecevit stated that a military operation was one of the options on the table, ready to be used if need be. In addition, the premier took part in a rally in Bursa as part of the DSP’s election campaign. Remarking that his love lay for Turkey itself rather than any position, Ecevit said, “I will serve in my party as long as I am able.” /Turkiye/

DENKTAS TO UNDERGO HEART SURGERY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, currently in New York for talks concerning the island, is scheduled to undergo heart surgery today. He is to be treated by Turkish cardiac surgeon Mehmet Oz at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Following the operation, Denktas is expected to recuperate at the hospital for four days and then to rest at his hotel for another week. /All Papers/

TOP CIRCLES DEBATING TURKEY’S STANCE ON IRAQ
Top political circles in Ankara are heatedly discussing the Iraq issue after US officials reportedly made it clear last month what it expects from Turkey in the event of a military operation against its longtime foe. The Bush administration’s demands on the Iraq issue were reportedly discussed at the recent National Security Council (MGK) meeting as well as the leaders’ summit at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Weighing all the possible consequences of regime change in Iraq, Turkish politicians firmly believe that efforts at peaceful solution must be given a real chance. However, should military intervention seem inevitable, the Turkish government wants to ensure itself a place in discussions concerning the post-Saddam period. Ankara also believes that the US should not strike Iraq without first marshalling the support of the international community. /Cumhuriyet/

YILMAZ SIGNALS FLEXIBILITY ON IRAQI FEDERATION UNDER CENTRAL BAGHDAD REGIME
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz yesterday apparently signalled that Turkey was open to the possibility of a semi-autonomous Iraqi federation under a central Baghdad regime, saying Turkey would not be opposed to such a federation. Yilmaz added that Iraq’s ethnic Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens or religious Shiites could form such federations, either together or separately, under Baghdad. In recent weeks, as talk of a US operation in Iraq has increased, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and other officials have made clear Turkey’s firm opposition to a separate state emerging from the current de facto northern Iraqi autonomous region. /Hurriyet/

CEM CRITICIZES BAYKAL
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem told reporters yesterday that contrary to Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal’s call last week for people to show their anger, now was actually the time for people to demonstrate their love. Cem added that ever since the day it was established his party had stood up to injustice and that they didn’t owe anything to anybody. Cem also denied claims that he would be defecting his party to join the CHP. /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL: “IN NOVEMBER, WE WILL FACE A FATEFUL CROSSROADS”
Addressing a campaign rally in Corlu yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the Nov. 3 elections would be a fateful crossroads for Turkey. “First we must bring down interest rates in order to end the nation’s current uncertainty,” stated Baykal. “With the help of your votes, we can make a good beginning after the elections.” Baykal said he wanted the nation to bring a single party to power at November’s elections, namely the party that would be the right one for Turkey. “The party that comes to power shouldn’t create new problems in Turkey’s relations with other countries,” remarked Baykal. “And it should also be reliable and be able to account for itself and its actions.” Baykal added that no party had these qualifications besides the CHP. He stated that when it came to power, his party would lift the immunity of parliamentary deputies to prosecution. Former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, a deputy candidate from the CHP, told the rally that the CHP was offering the nation solutions to its problems in the upcoming elections. /Milliyet/

CILLER: “BAYKAL ISN’T UP ON HIS ECONOMICS”
Speaking in Eskisehir yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller charged that Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal was avoiding discussing economic issues with her on television since he lacked knowledge of economic issues. Ciller also said that her party had united Turkey’s rightist parties under the DYP and that now the nation should unite at the Nov. 3 elections. She stated that the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the frontrunner in most pre-election opinion polls, didn’t even have a candidate for prime minister since its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was declared ineligible to run as deputy. /Milliyet/

KUTAN: “THE SP WOULD DROP THE IMF ECONOMIC PROGRAM”
Addressing a campaign rally in the Black Sea province of Amasya yesterday, Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan said that if the SP comes to power in next month’s elections it would abandon Turkey’s economic program developed in association with the International Monetary Fund. “We won’t implement the IMF program,” he stated. “All the IMF policies would be annulled, and we would instead apply our own program.” /Aksam/

CAKAN TO MEET WITH IRANIAN OIL MINISTER
Energy Minister Zeki Cakan will be travelling to Iran today in a bid to persuade Iranian officials to reduce the price of its natural gas exports to Turkey. Cakan will be meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Namidar Zengeni to tell him of the 6% price cut Russian officials recently extended on their natural gas exports to Turkey, and to request that Iran agree to a similar discount. /Sabah/

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