SEZER: “IGNORING THE TRNC WILL NEVER LEAD TO PEACE”
So long as the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is ignored, peace can never be achieved on Cyprus, declared President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. In a statement marking the 29th anniversary of Turkey’s Cyprus Peace Operation, Sezer called the TRNC a beacon of peace on the island. Echoing Sezer’s comments in his own commemorative statement, TRNC President Rauf Denktas said that recognizing his nation would pave the way for a lasting resolution. /Milliyet/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set to begin a four-day official visit to the United States tomorrow. Turkey’s top diplomat is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with high-level US officials, including his counterpart Colin Powell. He is also expected to discuss details of the US’ recent request for Turkish troops to serve in Iraq as well as Ankara’s contributions to Iraq’s reconstruction. In addition, Gul is set to convey Turkey’s concerns over the appointment of Kurdish representative Mahmoud Osman, a known supporter of the terrorist PKK/KADEK, to Iraq’s interim Governing Council. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: “THE US HAS ASKED TURKISH TROOPS TO SERVE IN IRAQ”
Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the Turkish-US strategic partnership was going in a positive direction. Addressing the AKP’s provincial congress in the southeastern Anatolian town of Batman, Erdogan said that Turkey had boosted its profile in the region through implementing effective policies. Stressing that US military leaders visiting Ankara last week had asked Turkey to send troops to Iraq, Erdogan stated that his government had protected the nation’s interests during the Iraq war. Remarking on regional differences between western and eastern Anatolia, the prime minister stressed that the government would support businessmen who want to invest in the nation’s underdeveloped regions. /All Papers/

BAYKAL: “TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO TURKEY”
After attending last week’s Socialist International meeting in Rome focusing on Iraq’s reconstruction process, People’s Republican Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday returned to Turkey. Speaking to reporters, Baykal said that some 5,000-6,000 PKK/KADEK terrorists remaining in US-controlled northern Iraq should be handed over to Turkish authorities as soon as possible. “If Turkey were harboring al Qaeda militants, how would the US react?” asked the CHP leader. /Star/

BABACAN: “THE FIFTH REVIEW IS DUE TO END BEFORE THE IMF’S SUMMER RECESS”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan said that the current fifth review of the nation’s International Monetary Fund-supported economic program is due to end just before the IMF’s summer recess, which is set to start next week. “We will present our letter of intent [LOI] to the Fund after completing the review,” said Babacan. Also present at the press conference were International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam, Turkey’s Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, and Treasury Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci. Moghadam said that the Fund’s Executive Board would gather sometime in the next few weeks when Ankara has completed its reforms. “Now we’re much closer to finalizing the fifth review,” said Moghadam. “Implementation of reforms will pave the way for the IMF Executive Board to consider the fifth review.” /Aksam/

KOC HOLDING-TURK TELEKOM CONSORTIUM TO PURCHASE BULGARIAN TELECOM FIRM
A consortium formed by private group Koc Holding and state landline monopoly Turk Telekom yesterday signed an agreement with the Bulgarian Privatization Agency to purchase 65% of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, one of the largest state enterprises on Sofia’s privatization slate. Bulgarian Transportation Minister Nikolay Vassilev said over the weekend that the Koc-Turk Telekom consortium had successfully completed meetings with the Bulgarian Privatization Agency and related state ministries. /All papers/

IZMIR HOSTING FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ANCIENT SMYRNA
The First International Smyrna Symposium sponsored by the Greater Izmir Municipality is to begin in the coastal city today. The municipality says that over 100 Turkish and foreign archeologists will take part in the symposium held at Sabanci Culture Hall. During the event, participants will discuss and evaluate excavations in Smyrna, as Izmir was known in the ancient world. The symposium will end on Wednesday with a session on “History, Archaeology and Religion.” /Anatolian News Agency/

ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST MINISTER PEPE RETURNS TO TURKEY
Environment and Forest Minister Osman Pepe yesterday returned to Turkey from a meeting of European Union environment and energy ministers in Italy. Speaking to reporters, Pepe said that clean energy usage, climate change and various environmental problems had been discussed at the meeting. /Anatolia News Agency/