PRESIDENT SEZER TRAVELS TO NEW YORK

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will travel to New York today to attend the UN Millennium Meeting. Turkey will be represented at the meeting by President Sezer and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Mr. Sezer is expected to meet presidents of 22 countries during the Meeting in New York. Mr. Sezer will address the Turkish community living in the United States at the Alice Tully concert hall on Wednesday. /Cumhuriyet/

NEW PERIOD FOR TURKEY

After the Helsinki Meeting, a new period will begin for Turkey which is on the path towards full European Union (EU) membership. The accession partnership document, which concerns the economic, political and social requirements for Turkey to become a full member of the EU, is considered as the most important document for this new period. It is reported that a delegation chaired by the EU commissioner responsible for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen started the preparations for the document. The delegation is expected to finish the draft document in October. The Foreign Ministry will hold its first meeting on Spt. 10-12 to avoid the steps, which would be contrary to Turkey's demands, that the EU delegation would take while preparing the document. A delegation chaired by the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk Logoglu will hold meetings in Brussels on Sept. 10-12 and convey Turkey's views on the document. In addition, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will also travel to Brussels to meet the leaders of the political parties which are members of the European Parliament. After the EU delegation publishes the draft document, Turkey will prepare its own national program and start implementing it. Turkey has already sent letters to 15 EU members expressing Turkey's demands regarding the accession partnership document. In the letter, it was stated that Cyprus and Aegean problems should not be included in the document. /Cumhuriyet/

SIMITIS ON TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis delivered a speech expressing his positive views on Turkey at the press conference he held on the opening of Thessaloniki Fair. Mr. Simitis said, "Since we are in favour of peace and cooperation between Greece and Turkey, we supported Turkey's attempt to become a full member of the European Union. In this period, Turkey has to implement certain requirements of the international law. This is what the Helsinki Agreement demands." Stating that the only problem between Turkey and Greece is the continental shelf issue, Mr. Simitis said, "Our only weapon is dialogue. Turkey has a long path towards the full EU membership. She has to be patient." /Cumhuriyet/

TURCO-GREEK RAPPROCHEMENT

The confidence building measures between Turkey and Greece will be taken up during the United Nations' meetings in New York. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that at the bilateral meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in New York, they would discuss the confidence building measures between Ankara and Athens. Stressing that they attached great importance to those measures, Mr. Papandreou said that last year significant steps had been taken on the matter, particularly on tourism. Regarding Turkey's full EU membership, the Greek Foreign Minister said: "Proclamation of Turkey's EU candidacy in Helsinki was an important decision. However, Turkey should undertake certain responsibilities as the other candidate countries." Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns, said that after the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece, there was no need for a mediator between the two countries any more. In a statement to the Greek "Kathimerini" newspaper, Mr. Burns said that a direct dialogue between the two countries, which previously very limited dialogue, was hope-inspiring for the future of the Turco-Greek relations. He added, "Both sides now can understand each other better." /Turkiye/

AKBULUT: NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS SHOULD TAKE ON INTERNATIONAL ROLES

Speaking at the Parliament Speakers' Summit which was held in New York and organized by UN and the Interparliamentary Union, Turkish Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut said on Friday, " We believe that national parliaments have to shoulder more responsibility in international relations. We should renew our declerations of international cooperation. The Turkish Parliament is ready to do whatever it has to do in this regard." Upon the address made by Greek Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, Mr. Akbulut said that Turkey as a guarantor state in Cyprus has ensured that no blood has been shed during the past 26 years on the island and that the Turkish presence on the island cannot be considered as an occupying force. Mr. Akbulut said that Cyprus problem could only be resolved if both states on the island were given equal recognition. /Turkish Daily News/

1ST ANNIVERSARY OF SIVAS CONGRESS

The 81st anniversary of Sivas Congress is being celebrated today with various activities organized by Sivas Governorship, Sivas Municipality, Chamber of Commerce and the union of Chamber of Tradesmen and Artists. Sivas Mayor Lutfullah Bilgin said, "September 4th is the day in which the people living in Sivas show their devotion to their republic and honour." /Cumhuriyet/

TALAY INVITES POPE TO TURKEY

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay and a delegation of 70 from the Turkish Catholic community participated in a religious ceremony held in St. Piere Square. Minister Talay invited Pope John Paul II to Turkey in 2001. /Aksam/

NAVAL HEADQUARTERS TO MOVE TO AEGEAN REGION

The General Staff has decided to move the headquarters of the Turkish Navy to the Aegean Region. Following last August's devastating earthquake in the Marmara Region, the headquarters of the Turkish Navy will be moved from Golcuk to Izmir, and its main base will also be located in Aksaz, Marmaris. /All papers/

DEMIREL TO PROMOTE ISTANBUL FOR OLYMPIC GAMES

State Minister Responsible for Sports Fikret Unlu stated that a commission had been established for promoting Istanbul as the venue for the 2008 Olympic Games and that the commission would be headed by former president Suleyman Demirel. /All papers/

SORBET ROYAL 2000 EXERCISES START TODAY

Submarine Escape and Rescue Exercises "Sorbet Royal 2000" organized by NATO in every three years is being hosted by Turkish Naval Forces Command this year. The exercises will start in Mersin Gulf today. The exercises will be carried out in cooperation with the rescue experts from Italian and American Marine Forces. /Milliyet/

DIE ANNOUNCES AUGUST INFLATION RATE

State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that monthly inflation was 0.9 percent on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and 2.2 percent on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August. Yearly inflation was 48.9 percent on the on the WPI and 53.2 percent on the CPI. /Milliyet/

INTERNATIONAL AWARD TO PROF. DR. HABERAL

Baskent University Rector Professor Mehmet Haberal was given the "Millenium Award" at the World Transplant Foundation's 28th scientific congress held in Rome on Friday. According to the statement by the Foundation's Board, the award was given to Mr. Haberal due to his leadership in transplant operations in Turkey and his academical contributions to transplant operations. /All papers/

TURKISH SEA PENTATHLON NATIONAL TEAM'S SUCCESS

Turkish Sea Pentathlon National Team had a great success at the 39th Sea Pentathlon championship organized by the International Military Sports Council in Berga, Sweden on Aug. 18-28. Turkish team became the world champion in the agility category. The championship will be organized in Turkey in 2001. /Turkiye/

TURKISH OLYMPIC TEAM IN SYDNEY

Turkish olympic team arrived in Austrialia to participate in the 27th Summer Olympics, 13 days before the beginning of the games. In the meantime, the Youth Sport Director of General Kemal Mutlu said that the sportmen will be rewarded by 750, 600 and 450 Republican golds who win gold, bronze and silver medals respectively. /Hurriyet/

WORLD OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP

The sixth leg of the Class 1 World Offshore Championship, organized by Istanbul Offshore Club, was held in Bosphorus yesterday. 12 boats participated in the competition. Victory 1 came first, Victory 2 and Jolly Motor came second and third, respectively. The seventh leg of the competition will be held in Marmaris on Sep. 10. /Hurriyet/

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

DEVELOPING TOWN BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

Columnist Oktay Eksi writes how Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's village-city project will be implemented. A summary of his column is as follows: "Can a poor town in the Black Sea region become the most speedily developed town and modern settlement in 15-20 years? The village-city project the Prime Minister has launched in Mesudiye claims to make this possible. Conventions have been held in Mesudiye for 10 years and they reflected the determination of the people to overcome poverty. The spirit of the conventions have strengthened the resolve of the townsfolk in Mesudiye and they began to compete with each other to solve their problems, and thus they developed a spirit of cooperation which should be a role model for all. The 'village-city' project is beginning to be implemented in Cavdar village, Mesudiye and the nine villages in its environs. However, if it becomes successful the present implementation will cover the other 48 villages in Mesudiye. According to the results attained, it will be implemented all over Turkey in stages. The present project has some differences from the one implemented in 1979 in Ozalp and Taskesti. Those projects were based on the State's bringing infrastructural facilities to a centre and the developing of the region by using them. At the time the participation of the people in the project was remained at a level of cooperatives. However, at present the active participation by people is necessary. Therefore, the social structure and democratic discipline in the region gains great significance. In fact, Mesudiye Town Convention will discuss what can be done, what cannot be done and why they could not be done until now, how they can be completed and the degree of support to be given to them by nine villages. The people will take decisions and follow their implementation. With this participation and democratic process, the cost of the project will fall down to a minimum. It should be mentioned that nature has not been generous to Mesudiye. However, among the townspeople there are many who have received higher education and many of them are supporting their town. The people of Mesudiye look to the future with confidence." SEZER'S VISIT TO USA BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET) Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to USA on the occasion of the 'UN Millenium Summit'. A summary of his column is as follows: "President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is going to US to attend the 'UN Millenium Summit'. If his visits to Syria, TRNC and Azerbaijan can be accepted as visits to neighbours, he is going on his first international trip. The importance of a head of state is judged by the significance of his country, no matter what his personal charisma may be. Therefore, President Sezer's visit is no different than any of his predecessors. However, during the first three months of his Presidency Mr. Sezer did not have much time to concentrate on foreign affairs due to the heaviness of inner problems. As he cannot delegate his powers to someone else during his meeting with the US President Clinton, he has to be interested in foreign affairs, and to appoint an inner cabinet for this purpose. During his visit President Sezer will meet heads of state from 22 countries. French President Jacques Chirac, Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin , German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in addition to the US President Bill Clinton. There are 16 regions where NATO believes that a serious crisis may erupt at any time. 13 of them are around Turkey. The first impression Sezer will leave on his counterparts, his viewpoints will give an insight for future meetings. The US President Clinton is expected to meet five or six heads of state and one of them is President Sezer. Their programme is full. Turco-Greek relations, Aegean and Cyprus; Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline; the restructuring process in the Balkans; the effect of Iraqi embargo on Turkey, the new formations in Northern Iraq; the increasing lobbying activities by Armenians against Turkey in the US; giving license permission to the company which has gained the tender for attack helicopters. As President Clinton will leave office at the end of this year, his promises may not be binding, however as continuity is essential in administration the content of the meeting bears great importance. Central Asian countries are also attending the Summit. President Sezer will meet all of them except one, Uzbekistan. The state of our relations with the most populated state of Central Asia has deteriorated. However, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is expected to go to Uzbekistan at the end of this month. We hope that the relations between our states will improve during the UN Millenium Summit. The UN Millenium Summit will discuss four main issues; the role of the UN in the 21st century; poverty and the state of the poor countries; peace, security, disarmament and human rights.

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