Turkey's EU reform laws passed by parliament
ISTANBUL, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The following list summarizes a package of reform laws approved by Turkey's parliament on Saturday in an important step towards meeting the criteria for joining the European Union.More

Turkey abolishes death penalty
ANKARA, Turkey, August 2 - Turkish parliament voted Friday to include the abolition of the death penalty in a reform package meant to enhance the country's chances of joining the European Union The proposed measure would replace the death penalty with life imprisonment, although capital punishment would remain on the books for use in war or during the threat of war. Parliament is expected to vote on the full reform package Saturday. More

Turkey Military Taps Chief of Staff
Suzan Fraser, The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - The ground forces commander in NATO-member Turkey was named chief of military staff Saturday, August 3, taking over what is arguably the most powerful job in a country that has seen three military coups since 1960. More

Charismatic and religious ex-mayor is the front-runner
Pelin Turgut, Independent, UK - 01 August 2002 - Clad in a bright blue bikini, Merve may look as if she's just appeared in an MTV Grind exercise video. But even at the beach, this vivacious international law student is earnest when debating Turkey's political future. Piercings and all, she is on a mission. More

Turkey and Regime Change in Iraq
By Ambassador Mark Parris - (The following is an edited version of Ambassador Parris's testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearings on Iraq, July 31, 2002.) Turkey's attitude will be critical in the event the United States seeks to remove Saddam Husayn through use of force. Simple geography demands that any military option include Turkey.More

Turkish, Greek soccer clubs sign Olympic peace truce
The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP), July 31 - The Turkish soccer club Galatasaray and the Greek club Olympiakos signed an Olympic Truce on Wednesday promoting peace during the 2004 Summer Games. The clubs were believed to be the first soccer teams to sign the truce, which aims to end hostilities around the world during the 16 days of the games. More

Majority of Turks support democratic reforms
But reserved about broadcasts and education in Kurdish
TESEV Survey, Turkish Daily News, June 29, 2002 - A majority of Turks support the democratic reforms that will open the way for European Union membership, but have serious objections to allowing broadcasts and education in Kurdish, a public opinion poll commissioned by think-tank TESEV revealed. More