CAKMAKOGLU: “I MADE THE PROPER RESPONSE TO DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ”
Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu yesterday vigorously rejected charges from some quarters that due to the current heated campaign atmosphere, Turkey’s response to recent events in northern Iraq had been insufficient. “On behalf of myself, I believe that my response was the proper one,” Cakmakoglu stated. The defense minister added that US Gens. Tommy Franks and Joseph Ralston, likely leaders of any US attack on Iraq, hadn’t made any specific requests of Turkey during their visit to Ankara earlier this week. “The meetings were not political in nature, rather the US commanders discussed military and technical issues with our officials,” he added. /Turkiye/

CILLER: “WE WILL TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT, TURKEY’S MOST PRESSING PROBLEM”
Addressing a campaign rally in the western Anatolian province of Aydin yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller vowed to tackle Turkey’s unemployment once her party comes to power, calling it “the nation’s most pressing problem.” She further charged that Turkey’s political and economic state had worsened over the last three years, adding that only the DYP had what it takes to rectify the situation. /Milliyet/

MGK: “TO AVERT A WAR, WE EXPECT IRAQ TO OBEY THE UN RESOLUTIONS”
The National Security Board (MGK), chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, convened yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Following the approximately four-hour meeting, an official statement said that the participants had discussed domestic and foreign developments relating to Turkey’s peace and security. Regarding the Iraq issue, the statement affirmed that Turkey expected Iraq to obey the relevant United Nations resolutions so as to head off any operation against this country. “The MGK has evaluated the European Union’s Progress Report on Turkey, released at the beginning of this month, and we reiterate Turkey’s expectation to receive a date to begin membership talks at the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December,” said the statement. “In addition, we discussed economic and administrative measures to be taken following the abolition of State of Emergency rule [OHAL] in the southeastern Anatolian provinces of Diyarbakir and Sirnak, which will be lifted at the end of next month.” /Turkiye/

BAYKAL: “WE WILL END PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY”
Appearing on television yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal reiterated his party’s pledge once it comes to power on Nov. 3 to end the practice of parliamentary deputies’ immunity to criminal prosecution. “A constitutional amendment will be needed to do this,” added Baykal. Asked about a possible United States operation against Iraq, Baykal said that such an operation would hurt Turkey’s economy and that he hoped a peaceful solution could be found for the issue. /Milliyet/

DERVIS: “WE NEED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATE MINISTER POSTS”
Former Economy Minister and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy candidate Kemal Dervis yesterday advocated Turkey reducing the number of its state minister posts, calling the current roster of 36 “excessive.” Asked when Turkey would steer its own economy without International Monetary Fund financial aid, Dervis said that with the help of a capable government the nation would be able to stand on its own two feet within a few years, by 2005. /Milliyet/

VERHEUGEN: “THE EU SHOULD CONTINUE ENCOURAGING TURKEY TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday following a European Union General Affairs Council meeting, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that the EU should continue encouraging Turkey in its quest to become a member state. “The strategy for Turkish-EU relations we set out at Helsinki has been very successful so far,” Verheugen added. “We got much better results than we had expected.” In related news, the EU General Affairs Council has approved a section on Turkey in its agenda for an extraordinary summit in Brussels starting tomorrow, a section giving encouraging remarks on Turkey’s chances for membership. /Sabah/

ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM EU SUMMIT AGENDA
In a statement released before a key two-day European Union summit beginning tomorrow, the EU General Affairs Council has given the first apparent green light for Turkey’s accession negotiations to begin. The council’s summit agenda praises Turkey’s “significant steps” to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, suggesting that this progress might lead the EU to set a date for the nation’s accession talks. Turkey has its sights set on getting such a date at the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December. The agenda further singles Turkey out for its successful reforms. Germany had reportedly urged the council to alter the wording of this agenda, arguing it would give Turkey “false hope.” In related news, Foreign Minister Sukru Sinas Gurel is due to travel to Germany today to promote Turkey’s EU membership bid and ensure the new German government’s support. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN TO VISIT BRUSSELS TO MEET WITH EU AMBASSADORS
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to travel to Brussels today to meet with the ambassadors from European Union member states. Erdogan, whose party is the apparent front-runner in many pre-election polls, will brief the ambassadors on the AKP’s EU program and his views on Turkish-EU relations. He will respond to questions from the ambassadors concerning his plans if the AKP wins the general elections and on the party’s government program. Meanwhile, AKP Deputy Chairman Abdullah Gul will also travel to Brussels today to attend a Center for European Policy Studies conference and deliver a speech on Turkish-EU relations. /Hurriyet/

NECIRVAN BARZANI TO VISIT ANKARA
Necirvan Barzani, the nephew of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani as well as prime minister of the so-called regional Kurdistan government, is due to visit Ankara in the coming days. The Turkish government is preparing to convey through Barzani a message to his uncle -- who recently voiced his wish to establish an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq -- that Turkey would never allow such a development, which it considers a “casus belli.” Recent tension between Turkey and the IKDP will be discussed with Necirvan Barzani during his visit to Ankara, during which he is expected to meet with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Turkish officials will reportedly tell Barzani that Massoud Barzani should cease making such provocative remarks, which run counter to Turkey’s national interests. In related news, a separate delegation from the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), the IKDP’s one-time rival and now partner in northern Iraq’s regional Parliament, is also expected to visit Turkey in the near future. /Cumhuriyet/

TOURISM MINISTRY LAUNCHES NEW PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
The Tourism Ministry has recently launched a new promotional ad campaign to attract more foreign tourists to Turkey’s shores. The commercials produced by the ministry present the nation’s rich culture as a unique synthesis of Western and Eastern values, as well as its cultural attractions and natural beauty. These commercials highlighting Turkey’s “mystical” and exotic elements will be shown on TV channels in over 55 countries. /Aksam/

TOBB: “TURKEY WANTS ITS FUTURE”
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOBB) yesterday kicked off a nationwide campaign proclaiming that “Turkey Wants Its Future.” A declaration read out simultaneously in 81 cities called on all politicians to compromise on the large issues for the greater good of Turkey. At a press conference held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu stated that the Turkish people deserved better than the country’s current situation. “Turkey needs to evaluate all the opportunities that come its way. If we fail to do so, we will lose our future,” he warned. Remarking that Turkey’s issues were not intractable ones, Hisarciklioglu called on politicians to publicly pledge to carry out reforms vital for the nation. /Turkiye/

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