ERDOGAN MEETS WITH US SENATE DELEGATION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with a group of US senators led by Sen. John W. Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, currently in Ankara for an official visit. Addressing the group, Erdogan commented on Iran's nuclear program, saying that Ankara would continue to urge Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the international community. Asked about Iran's nuclear program following the meeting, Warner said that they had exchanged views with Erdogan on the issue. Saying that Iran was continuing its efforts to produce nuclear weapons, Warner stressed that neither Turkey nor other countries in the region would benefit from this. Warner stated that he believed that the problem would be solved through the UN. Commenting on Iraq, Warner said that senators came to Turkey after paying two days of visits to Afghanistan and Iraq, adding that the nations of both countries were trying to establish free and democratic countries. /Turkiye/

OZKOK TELLS INTL TERRORISM SUMMIT THAT COMMON DEFINITION OF TERRORISM IS NECESSARY
An international terrorism symposium entitled "Global Terrorism and International Cooperation" hosted by the General Staff's Center of Excellence-Defense Against Terrorism started yesterday in Ankara. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok were among the attendees. Addressing the gathering, Ozkok said that a common definition of terrorism should be made, adding that there can be no success in the fight against terror when one country's terrorist is another's "freedom fighter." "There is only one type of terrorist," he said. Stressing the need for international cooperation in anti-terror efforts, Ozkok said that no one country could succeed in this fight by itself. Ozkok further stated that not cooperating in this fight would help terrorism spread in the world. Stressing that terrorism is a global threat, Ozkok added that peace and security would be everywhere or nowhere. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also spoke at the gathering, saying that all religions should be respected if cooperation is sought in the fight against terror. After the meeting, asked about the reports that he'll testify as a witness in a court case about the Semdinli bombings, Land Forces Comander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit replied, "It's better to be a witness than a suspect." /Turkiye/

US JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GEN. PACE MEETS WITH PM ERDOGAN, GEN. OZKOK
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, yesterday said that the US would work against the terrorist PKK but first, stability should be ensured in Iraq. Gen. Pace met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of his contacts in Ankara. After meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Gen. Pace stated that he had had the chance to talk with Premier Erdogan about issues of importance for both countries. Gen. Pace also said that he had had a good meeting with Gen. Ozkok. Prime Minister Erdogan reportedly conveyed Turkey's sensitivities about the Kirkuk issue. He also conveyed Turkey's uneasiness, expectations and efforts against the terrorist PKK's activities in Iraq. Erdogan stressed the importance of a joint fight against terrorism. Gen. Pace attended the reception held for the symposium entitled Global Terrorism and International Cooperation, where he took journalists' questions. Gen. Pace said that he had spoken about many issues with Prime Minister Erdogan, including the terrorist PKK issue, and that they will work to counter the terrorist PKK after a government is formed in Iraq. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN TO VISIT SUDAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Sudan on Monday to attend a two-day Arab League summit in the capital of Khartoum. Erdogan is expected to deliver a speech on the "Alliance of Civilizations" project co-sponsored by Turkey and Spain and have talks with Arab leaders during the summit. /Cumhutriyet/

YSK PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE EARLY ELECTIONS
The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) is taking action in order not to be caught unprepared for possible early elections. YSK acting head Ahmet Hamdi Unlu said that some preparations should be done before any elections and added, "Ballot boxes are being made. If we're told there will be elections this September, we can't say, `We don't have the necessary materials.' There's no such possibility, but we have to be ready." /Sabah/

ANNAN: "THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT WITH PAPADOPOULOS IN PARIS"
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan this week sent a letter to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRMC) President Mehmet Ali Talat concerning the Cyprus issue. In the letter, Annan said that he and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos had not reached any agreement at their recent meeting in Paris since both Cypriot leaders' approval is needed for any agreement, adding that Papadopoulos didn't give him any list of proposed changes to the Annan plan. Stressing that there was a gap between the wishes of the two sides, Annan said that he continued to examine Ankara's Cyprus action plan. He stated that he wanted to meet with Talat to learn his views on the issue. /Milliyet/

EU COMMISSIONER REHN: "THE EU NEEDS A STABLE, DEMOCRATIC TURKEY"
European Union member states leaders yesterday convened in Brussels to discuss the Union's fiscal issues. Speaking before the meeting, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn commented on Ankara's EU bid, saying that the Union needed a stable, democratic Turkey. "That's why we gave a membership perspective to Ankara," he said. "I think that Turkey will be ready for EU membership within 10-15 years." Commenting on the recent Muhammed cartoon crisis, Rehn praised Turkey's positive, constructive role in the crisis. /Sabah/

KURDISH BROADCASTS BEGIN
Broadcasts in Kurdish started yesterday for the first time on private television and radio stations. Gun TV, Soz TV and Medya FM transmitting in Sanliurfa started broadcasting in the Kirmanci dialect of Kurdish. Soz TV in Diyarbakir made the first broadcast of the news as checked by Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK). Soz TV explored the influence of Kurdish broadcasting with a program featuring interviews with citizens. Subtitles in Turkish are mandatory on Kurdish-language broadcasts, which last for 45 minutes twice a week. /Sabah/