ERDOGAN ATTENDS TUBITAK’S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD MEETING

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the 10th meeting of the Science and Technology Board of The Scientific and Technical ResearchCouncil of Turkey (TUBITAK). Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that the meeting would create new scientific strategies, adding that it was a golden opportunity for the nation’s future. Erdogan stated that a new era was beginning and that information could be easily conveyed throughout the world. “Now we need to bring together the information and life,” he said. “But we need to improve ourselves in order to do this.” The premier praised Turkey’s recent progress in producing information, adding that this resulted from competition. “We have been carrying out r&d work for a long time, but we need to increase this,” he said. Touching on terrorism, Erdogan said that international cooperation was needed to fight terrorism. /Turkiye/

GUL WARNS TALABANI,BARZANI NOT TO SUPPORT PKK/KONGRA-GEL

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul held meetings with Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (IKDP) senior official Nechirvan Barzani and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani visiting Ankara. During their talks with Barzani on Tuesday and with Talabani yesterday, recent developments in Iraq were taken up. In addition, terrorist organization the PKK/Kongra-Gel’s taking shelter in northern Iraq and attacks to Turkish businessmen and drivers in the country were also discussed. Reiterating that Ankara favored Iraq’s territorial integrity, Gul wanted all groups in the region to be represented in the new administration. Furthermore, underlining Turkey’s sensitivity over Kirkuk issue, the foreign minister called on Kurdish officials not to support the terrorist group the PKK/Kongra-Gel. /Turkiye/

GUL TO VISIT BALTIC COUNTRIES

19 KILLED IN MINE FIRE IN KASTAMONU

A fire that raged through a copper mine in Kastamonu yesterday killed 19 workers and injured 17 others. The fire broke out inside the mine in the town of Kure in Kastamonu province. In related news, Kure Subgovernor Alper Tanrisever said, “We can reach the trapped workersby phone. However, we can not reach them physically.” /All papers/

VERHEUGEN VISITS IZMIR

On his third day of Turkey visit, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen yesterday visited Aegean province of Izmir. After holding meetings with Governor Yusuf Ziya Goksu and other officials as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, Verheugen said that his visit to Turkey had been very fruitful. “Although certain shortcomings still exist, Turkey have fulfilled political reforms and began to implement them,” added Verheugen. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters yesterday, asked if the EU Commission will postpone its report on Turkey for one week due to technical matters, Verheugen stated that the report would be issued on October 6, as scheduled before. /Aksam/

ISLAMIC MILITANTS DEMAND TURKEY AND JORDAN TO CLOSE THEIR EMBASSIES IN IRAQ

GERMAN FM: “TURKEY HAS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE FOR THE EU”

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said yesterday that Turkey had a strategic importance for the European Union, adding that it would contribute to the Union’s security. In related news, European Commission Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Chris Patten said that he hoped Ankara would soon begin accession talks with the EU. /Milliyet/

TRNC CABINET BANS FOREIGNERS’ OWNERSHIP OF REAL ESTATE

CONDOR ADVISERS PREDICTS A NEW ECONOMIC CRISIS FOR TURKEY

Economic imbalances that led to earlier crises in Turkey have reappeared, says Jeph Gundzik, the President of Condor Advisers, an investment risk analysis company based in the United States. According to Condor Advisers’ analysis, economic growth has become unsustainably strong in Turkey. “If the government does not slow the economy immediately, Turkey may find itself in the throes of a lira devaluation and severe economic crisis next year,” Gundzik says. Condor Advisers provides risk analysis to investors world-wide. /Star/

TUSIAD REPORT PREDICTS $15 BILLION CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICIT BY YEAR’S-END

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) delegation which met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan on Tuesday presented a report to them. The report warned that domestic demand could continue to increase next year, making risks more important. It predicted that current accounts deficit could reach $14-15 billion by the end of this year. The report further stressed that the nation could face an energy shortage if the economy continued to grow. “We should cooperate more with Russia in the energy sector,” added the report. /Milliyet/

WORLD BANK PRAISES GOVERNMENT FOR ITS STRUGGLE TO REDUCE RED TAPE

TURKEY, GREECE DRAWS 0-0

Last night, during a World Cup qualifying match in the second group in Athens, Turkish and Greek soccer teams drew 0-0. Turkish national team is set to play against Kazakhstan on Oct. 9. /All Papers/

TURKISH BASKETBALL TEAM DEFEATS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

During European Championship qualifying match, in-group E, Turkish national basketball team yesterday defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina’s team with a score of 75-65. Turkish team will play against Estonia on Saturday in Istanbul. /All Papers/
 

FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS … FROM THE COLUMNS

IS THIS THE CORRECT TIME?
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

“In recent months it has quietly become accepted that Ankara will finally get the green light to start EU membership talks in December, said yesterday’s The Guardian. Similarly, Le Figaro also stated that the European Union Commission has no political choice other than starting Turkey’s membership negotiations in December. The European dailies have recently expressed optimism over our country’s membership bid. In addition, EU Commissioner Verheugen’s positive statements during his recent visit to Turkey and the report recently issued by the Independent European Commission which praises our government’s efforts on democratization have both greatly contributed to the creation of a positive atmosphere on Turkey in the international community.

There are many reasons for us to be hopeful now. However, we cannot say that the membership is in the bag. Let’s not forget that there are still strong anti-Turkey circles in the EU and anti-EU circles in our country as well. As the critical dates - Sept. 6 when the progress report is to be issued and Sept. 17 when the EU summit is to be held - are approaching, these circles will inevitably elevate their voices. It is the decision makers’ responsibility to prevent any accidents on this path.

The EU circles are dissatisfied with the recent adultery discussion in Turkey, which has been erupted as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) defended plans for a law that seeks to make adultery illegal. In fact, the timing of these discussions is very wrong. In such a critical period, our government is giving incorrect messages to the EU and the entire world.

Such arguments as the EU does not have the right to intervene our domestic politics are untimely. Let’s remember that the AKP government has recently been successful in doing what the EU requests and made many reforms in line with the Copenhagen criteria. Now, what is the point and purpose of discussing such a relatively unimportant issue in such a critical time?”
 

WE HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR VERHEUGEN
BY MEHMET BARLAS (SABAH)

Columnist Mehmet Barlas comments on Turkey’ EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

“European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen’s visit to Diyarbakir and his meetings with people having Kurdish origin may naturally cause some reactions from other people. We are used to this. The ‘phobia of being split’ has always been popular in our society, but our society is not the only one with such a phobia. This understanding sees other countries as willing to invade the country. If this nationalism becomes a state ideology, then one could be a suspicious and aggressive country in its international relations.

For example some people in Turkey are stuck in the question that ‘which country would be mostly willing to divide and destroy Turkey?’ instead in the question ‘how could we improve relations with the West and our neighbors?’ As founders of a new civilization in Anatolia, we actually should have a distinct perspective. I’d like to write about a book from Irfan Bingol ‘Societies and States formed in Turkey’ His book is writing about the many civilizations formed here in Turkey.

It would be both irrational and dangerous to provoke hatred among different people and ethnicities, in a country where so many civilizations once existed. We shouldn’t forget that this is a country, which aims to become European, but is a Middle Eastern country at the same time. The destiny of this country would change if we would enter the EU. Therefore Verheugen’s visit should be seen as a door opening the way for a better future. We should be thankful for Verheugen, who came to visit Turkey, despite many other problems in the EU’s agenda.”