UN MILLENNIUM MEETING BEGINS

The UN Millennium Meeting begins today in New York. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended the opening ceremony of the meeting yesterday. Mr. Sezer met Afghanistan's exiled head of state Burhaneddin Rabbani and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday. The President told Mr. Rabbani that Turkey will try to help Afghanistan in solving its domestic problems. Meanwhile, Mr. Sezer and Sheikh Hasina agreed to create a political cooperation mechanism between Bangladesh and Turkey. Mr. Sezer is scheduled to meet the United States President Bill Clinton tomorrow. It was reported that the issues such as Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, Armenian bill and the Turco-Greek relations will be on the agenda. Mr. Sezer will convey Turkey's views and sensitivity over the so-called Armenian genocide bill to be discussed in the US Congress. The purpose of the bill is to provide education for US diplomats and public officials about the so-called genocide. Mr. Sezer will ask his US counterpart to do what he can in Congress to prevent the bill from being passed." /Cumhuriyet/

BAHCELI ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION

The second "Regional Development Meeting" was held in Diyarbakir yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Ministers Enis Oksuz, Osman Durmus, Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Koray Aydin, Undersecretary of State Planning Organization (DPT) Akyn Izmirlioglu and governors from 12 cities in the region attended the meeting. Before the meeting Mr. Bahceli addressed the members of the press. Stating that Turkey should eliminate the economic and social imbalances between the regions for its future as soon as possible, Bahceli said, "An investment mobilization is necessary to improve the development in the Southeastern Anatolia Region." and he called on the businessmen to invest in the region. Mr. Bahceli said, "Projects towards the regional development should be developed and accelerated as well as macro-economic regulations for Turkey to enable it to take the place it deserves among the developed countries." /Cumhuriyet/

TURK: "CLAIMS SHOULD DEPEND ON EVIDENCE"

Nine new members of the Council of State, elected by the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors received their letters of appointment from the Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk yesterday. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Mr. Turk replied to the claims that there were a substantial number of supporters of reactionary movements in the Judiciary Emphasizing that nobody had the right to play with the honour of Judiciary, Minister Turk said that claims on the members of the Judiciary should be based on concrete evidences, otherwise, they not only harm the Judiciary, but also the State. Mr. Turk added: "It is a fact that there were reactionary forces in the country which do not want Turkey to proceed on the path of civilization. On the other hand, reactionary movements have been reduced. They are less effective today than in the past. We must ensure democracy and respect for human rights in line with the basic principles of the republic, without ever questioning the integrity of the nation and the state. In this respect a great duty falls on judges and prosecutors as well." /Turkiye/

JUDICIAL YEAR BEGINS

The judicial year will begin today after a ceremony which will be held at the Conference Hall of the High Court of Appeals. During the ceremony, Chairman of the High Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk and Chairman of the Union of Bars of Turkey, Eralp Ozgen are expected to deliver speeches. Ankara Courts and State Security Court (DGM) will have an heavy agenda during the new judicial year. A number of important cases, including Operation Hope and Hizbullah, are awaiting to be implemented. /Turkiye/

TANIK: FIRST CANDIDATE FOR TGNA SPEAKER

Motherland Party (ANAP) Izmir deputy Suha Tanik announced his candidacy for the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker. TGNA will be opened in October. Stating that he has been active in politics for 10 years and also represented Turkey in European Union Parliament, Tanik said, "I believe that I have enough experience and knowledge to undertake the position of TGNA Speaker." /Milliyet/

MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU VISITS CHINA

Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu addressed the press before his departure for China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart yesterday. Mr. Cakmakoglu said that he would hold talks with his Chinese counterpart about cooperation in the defense industry sector between Turkey and China and discuss bilateral relations. Stating that they will discuss regional and international issues, Mr. Cakmakoglu said, "We will also discuss a possible cooperation on a medium-range missile system between the two countries." /Cumhuriyet/

MGK: "IT IS TURN OF ECONOMY"

The National Security Council (MGK) has carried out a survey among the people and the civil servants living in the Eastern and South Eastern regions and also among the convicted-PKK terrorists. The report which summarizes the results of the survey, revealed that following the improvement in security conditions, economic problems had the priority in the region. Replying to the question on why they had joined the terrorist organization, the convicts mostly pointed out to "bad economic conditions" as the reason. The report also suggests that Turkish and foreign investors should be encouraged to invest in the region. /Turkiye/

INFORMATION 2000 A CeBIT EVENT STARTS

Information 2000 A CeBIT Event Fair was opened in Istanbul yesterday. France, Holland, Germany, Israel, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Singapore, the United States, Hungary, Greece and Slovenia participate in the fair. Director General of the HIFAS, the organizer of the fair, Erdem Ozel said, "Eurasia, with its developing economy and dynamic manpower, is very important for the future of the world. It will be one of the most important technology production centers in the future." /Hurriyet/

EP'S STIPULATION ON MEDA AID

The European Parliament (EP) put forth certain conditions for Turkey's usage of the financial sources of the European Union (EU). Turkey was planning to receive 700 million Euro from the EU's Mediterranean Fund known as MEDA Aid. However European Parliament laid the solution of the so-called Kurdish problem in Turkey as a condition for Turkey and approved the report which was prepared on this issue. The 11th paragraph of the French Green Party member Yves Pietrasanta's report concerning the MEDA Aids is about Turkey. It was stated in the paragraph that Turkish government should end the political, cultural and social discrimination against the Kurdish people living in Turkey and should accelerate the economic initiatives in the regions where Kurdish population constitute the majority. Meanwhile, officials from Ankara stated that EP's decisions are not binding for Turkey and that they hoped the European Union Commission will not approve these decisions. /Hurriyet/

YILMAZ VISITS THE ASSOCIATION OF TURKISH INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz met the members of Executive Board of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD). Mr. Yilmaz said after the meeting that he received comprehensive information about the efforts of the TUSIAD regarding the EU. Upon a question from journalists whether the inflation is higher than expected because of private sector price increases as Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has noted, Mr. Yilmaz said " From time to time public or private sector price increases may be the reason, but this does not change the fact that there should be a united effort to decrease the inflation. Later Mr. Yilmaz attended a meeting on Turkey's full EU membership with some journalists, academicians and businessmen. /Sabah/

CONVENTION OF THE UNION OF THE BLACK SEA CAPITALS BEGINS

The Convention of the Union of the Black Sea Capitals, jointly organized by Ankara Governorate Ankara Greater Municipality and Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parlamentarians' Assembly, began in Ankara. Officilas from Athens, Baku, Bucharest, Erevan, Kiev, Kishinev, Moscow, Sofia, Tbilisi and Tirana are participating in the meeting. /Turkiye/

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING FESTIVAL IN CYPRUS

Turkish and Greek Cypriots will come together in "Mutual Understanding Festival" on Sept. 10 in the Ledra Palace. Slovenian Ambassador to Greek-Cypriot side Dusan Rozbora who initiated the festival said, "This festival is organized for the first time by the attempts of the political parties from both sides." /Milliyet/

MORE TOURISTS TO TURKEY

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that the number of tourists visiting Turkey this July has increased by 63.7 percent and the total number of tourists by 36.8 percent compared to last year's figures. /Milliyet/

2003 EUROPEAN WOMEN'S VOLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD IN TURKEY

The Chairman of the Voleyball Confederation Ahmet Gulum yesterday held a press conference and told that the 2003 European Women's Voleyball Championship would be held in Istanbul. Stressing that the European Championship was an important organization both for Turkish voleyball and also for Istanbul, Mr. Gulum said: "Although it was difficult, we succeeded in holding this organization in Istanbul leaving behind the five other candidates. Our slogan is: 'Let's bring together the hearts beating for voleyball in Istanbul'." /Star/

LEYLA GENCER SINGING CONTEST

The finals of the 3rd International Yapi Kredi Leyla Gencer Song contest, organized in honour of the famous soprano Leyla Gencer, took place yesterday with the participation of Culture Minister Istemihan Talay at the Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall. Elena Salo from Belarus became the first in the song contest. /Milliyet/

PRESIDENTIAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PLAY IN ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

The Presidential Symphony Orchestra conducted by Cem Mansur will play in the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sep. 12-13. At the concert, the orchestra will perform Turkish composer Ulvi Cemal Erkin's "Kocekce" and Violin Concerto, also the compositions of Rimsky-Korsakov, Manuel de Falla and Wagner. Canadian Violinist Chantal Julliet will accompany the orchestra. /Hurriyet/

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

MESSAGE TO ATHENS BY SEDAT SERTOGLU ('SABAH)

Columnist Sedat Sertoglu comments on the relations between Turkey and Greece. A summary of his column is as follows: "Greece is following an interesting policy towards Turkey. While it continues to buy weaponry at an unprecented scale, it is talking about the benefits of being 'friendly to and allies with' Turkey. On the one hand it is forming strange bedfellowships with Armenia, Syria and Iran and improving its military cooperation with them, and turning around sends Turkey messages calling for the improvement of relations. When the neighbours of Greece are considered, it is seen that there is nothing which calls for such an increase in armament, especially for offensive weaponry. We must be friends with Greece. No one disputes the necessity of it. However, if the purchase of armament Athens is engaged in reaches an extent where it would upset the balances in the Aegean, Turkey has to buy new weapons to maintain the balance. This is simple logic. In Turkey, certain people and personalities, including some members of the press are working for peace in the Aegean for years. However, when we see this craze of armament in Greece some questions come to our mind such as; 1) Are not the messages sent from Turkey reaching their places of destination? 2) Are not these messages understood correctly by those governing Greece? 3) Is not there a consensus among those governing Greece regarding relations with Turkey? 4) Is there a kind of contest between the centres of powers in Athens on the policy followed towards Turkey? These are a few of the questions which come to our minds ...In fact, Turks who are working for peace in the Aegean should mention these points to their Greek friends. Businessmen such as Sarik Tara, Rahmi Koc, musicians such as Zulfu Livaneli, and journalists like Oktay Eksi should voice these facts in every platform. We have to stress that such decisions would serve nothing but to change the warm climate seen among the two nations to a cold one. We believe that they will deliver these messages to their officials and be instrumental in the following of a sounder diplomacy by their Government. It is a positive development to see that the artists, fashion designers, journalists and the Foreign ministers to get together but these are not enough to solve the problems between us. It has become clear by the latest Greek armament package. Due to this stance taken by Athens, the old suspicions concerning Greece reappeared. In fact we should be free of all suspicions and the people living on the two coasts of the Aegean should be friends. There are so many things Turkey and Greece can achieve on the world platform if they acted together. There is no need to rediscover the world. We have to ask the Greek officials against whom they intend to use the weapons they are buying. We have to use the money spent for armament for the welfare of our peoples. Our friends in Athens, do not change the warm climate seen in Athens for nothing. Support those who think like us and let us win the struggle for peace both in Greece and Turkey."

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