Selections From Todays Turkish Press

The issue of national security, opened to discussion by the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, is expected to be on the agenda in tomorrow's National Security Council (MGK) meeting. Despite President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's opposition to open the discussion in the meeting, Yilmaz pointed out this will be the last MGK meeting before the proceeding of the Constitution Amendment package in Parliament. For this reason he plans to talk about the context of this amendment, because it is directly related to the issues in dispute. /Turkish Daily News/

SHARON PLEDGES ECEVIT NOT TO INCREASE TENSION

Reportedly, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon phoned Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at weekend to explain the reason for the closure of the "Eastern House" and pledged not to increase the tension . According to Jerusalem Post newspaper, Sharon said to Ecevit, "The closure of the "Eastern House" was a retaliation to the terrorist activity which caused the death of 15 people. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat might have prevented this attack if he had desired. I am taking precautions to relieve the conditions of living of the Palestinian citizens. As Arafat does not take any measure, I will go on taking precautions to prevent terrorist attacks against Israel." /Turkiye/

TENSION BETWEEN IRAN AND TURKEY

Chief of the General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu's will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on August 23-25. Kivrikoglu will be accompanied by a F-16 fleet consisting of 10 planes. A high-ranking official from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken to the "Tehran Times" daily and said, "We do not view Turkey as a frightening power. However, this adventurous gesture will be given a retaliation. The mutual relations will be seriously affected by this initiative. These planes show Turkey's support for Azerbaijan, which disagrees with Iran concerning the Caspian oil, and this situation causes tension in the region." /Sabah/

MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MITREVA TO VISIT ANKARA

Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday, the Anatolia news agency reported. The visiting minister, to have talks on Tuesday and Wednesday, will take part in bilateral and inter-delegation negotiations with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Mitreva will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit as well. The peace agreement reached between the Albanian and Macedonian political parties in Macedonia, the recent developments in the region and the functioning of the NATO peace force will be evaluated. /Turkish Daily News/

DEMIREL TO TRAVEL KAZAKHSTAN

Former President Suleyman Demirel will travel Kazakhstan for a three-day visit on Aug. 28 to attend the "Kazakhstan's 10th Independence Year" ceremonies at the invitation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. /Turkiye/

NEELE: "WE BELIEVE TURKEY WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS"

Stating that Turkey had a great economic potential, Brazilian Ambassador to Ankara, Brian Micheal F. Neele, said, "Brazil experienced a similar crisis in the past. We believe that Turkey will also overcome the crisis by using her own economic potential." Emphasizing they believed in Turkish economy, F. Neele said, "No matter how far we are. We have common interests. We want to improve our commercial relations and make joint investments." F. Neele said that Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Luiz Felipe de Seixas Correa's visit to Turkey with a delegation of prominent Brazilian businessmen, which is expected to take place today, shows Brazil's confidence in Turkish economy. F. Neele said, "Turkey and Brazil have similar levels of development. We believe that economic relations of the both countries should be improved." He also stated that Brazilian experts conveyed their experiences to Turkish officials after the crisis and added that Brazil was ready for a new cooperation in overcoming the crisis. /Cumhuriyet/

TUZMEN TO OPEN FASHION FAIR IN KIEV

The Undersecretary of the Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen will travel to Kiev today to attend the opening of the Turkish Fashion Fair and hold meetings with Ukrainian authorities to discuss bilateral trade and economic relations. /Turkiye/

SYRIA CHANGES HER ATTITUDE ON GAP

Syria has changed her attitude on the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), which she has been criticizing and opposing for years. Syrian Minister of Irrigation Taha Al-Atrash, will visit Turkey on Tuesday to analyze the GAP and sign certain cooperation agreements. Al-Atrash's visit carries great importance since it is expected to end the tension on the GAP between the two countries. Al-Trash will be briefed by the authorities and will visit GAP region and Ataturk Dam. Certain cooperation agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries on agricultural education, training for technicians and conveying the experience of GAP to Syria during Al-Trash's visit. /Cumhuriyet/

"FAST TRAIN" PROJECT

One of the primary projects of the Transport of Ministry which foresees the modernization of the current Ankara-Istanbul Railway and to ensure fast trains' transport on this line, was speeded up. The modernization of the current 576-km long Ankara-Istanbul railway will be carried out in two stages. Meanwhile, a tender will be put out on Sep. 28 for the purchase of the five trains. /Turkiye/

FT CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN TURKEY

The London-based Financial Times bolstered Turkey by suggesting that investing in the country would be a very appropriate decision because companies have become extremely inexpensive after the lira devaluation last February. In an article written by John Train, it was said that Turkey functions like a bridge between the European continent and the Arab world, and it will become an energy routine connecting Central Asian energy resources to the West's consumption centers. Train said that he saw shares are traded at low prices in the Istanbul Stock Exchanges (IMKB) in his last visit to this country because of Turkish companies' difficulty in finding liquidity. /Turkish News/

TOURISM SECTOR SET TO INCREASE NATION'S INCOME

A meeting between Minister of Tourism Mustafa Tasar and representatives of the tourism sector has resulted in a declaration that the main objective of the sector will be to increase the number of tourists and tourism revenues. The sector and the Ministry of Tourism will work together to achieve this objective, agreed the participants. The declaration said that the number of foreign visitors was the main factor that kept the growth in the Turkish tourism going. For the number of visitors to increase, said the declaration, the quality of tourism services should be diversified and tourist facilities should be available throughout the whole year. It also called for a speeding up of the promotion campaigns abroad. /Turkish News/

ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN TURKEY

Archeological excavations in Anatolia, which has been the cradle of many civilizations for centuries, are being carried out in 210 areas in 51 Turkish cities, Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday. Some of the excavations in Anatolia have been ongoing for 66 years to revive its historic wealth, from the Paleolithic Age to the Ottoman era. These excavations are being carried out by foreign and Turkish teams, including personnel from various museums, all of whom have been authorized to do this work by the Cabinet. Today a total of 210 archeological teams are working in Anatolia, of which 164 are Turkish, with the remaining of being foreign teams. Depending on the size of the excavation area, teams consist of 20 upwards to 250 members. /Turkish News/

NIMROD MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION PROJECT

Akbank and the American Express Company will give financial support to the Nimrod Preservation Project to be carried out by the International Nimrod Foundation. The project aims to protect and exhibit the rock-statues on the Nimrod Mountain in accordance with the international standards. Additionally, it is expected to greatly contribute to the promotion of Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

MUGLA GETTING READY FOR WINTER TOURISM

French International firm Neige demands to establish a ski center on Eren Mountain (Mugla). Mugla Deputy Governor Ali Haydar Kucuk said that if the bureaucratic obstacles might be overcome, Mugla would have one of the most important ski centers in Europe." /Cumhuriyet/

QUAKE HOMES TO BE DELIVERED ON AUGUST 29

The schedule for permanent homes, which are being constructed by the World Bank credit, has now emerged. Kocaeli Governorship has issued a statement saying that 2,358 homes in Gundogdu village will be delivered on Aug. 29. The delivery program has been delayed one week, due to flood damage to the infrastructure, they added. Survivors are advised they will receive their homes in 45 days. /Turkish News/

SUCCESS OF TURKISH PHOTOGRAPHER

Turkish photographer Kamil Pinarci, who lives in Chicago, has received the Special Jury Award in a competition organized by the International Photography Library. Pinarci, renowned for his photographs featuring famous jazz musicians in Chicago, has also previously received awards from the Du Sable Museum and Evanston Art Council. /Turkish News/