ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SCHUSSEL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently visiting Austria to attend the European Union-Latin America /Caribbean summit, yesterday met with his Austrian counterpart Wolfgang Schussel. Their talks focused on Turkey's EU relations and international issues, as well as the problems of Turkish people living in this country. In related news, Erdogan and Turkish National Football Team Coach Fatih Terim took part in a charity football match among the leaders attending the gathering in Vienna. /Turkiye/

NEW ANTI-TERRORISM BODY TO BE ESTABLISHED
Parliament's Planning and Budget Commission yesterday approved a bill proposing a new anti-terrorism body at the Prime Ministry. The new Security Affairs Department will be in charge of coordinating the anti-terrorism efforts of the government and the military, and will also study anti-terrorism strategies and make recommendations. Speaking before the commission, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the new Anti-Terrorism Bill set to be considered by Parliament will not sacrifice basic rights and freedoms. Stressing that limiting democratic rights would only serve terrorist groups, Gul stated that for that reason, the government had done serious study while drawing up the bill. He also dismissed allegations that Article 6 of the bill could grant amnesty to the jailed head of the PKK terrorist group Abdullah Ocalan. "Traitors and separatists with blood on their hands cannot be pardoned," said Turkey's top diplomat. /Turkiye/

DYP LEADER AGAR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FRANCE'S ARMENIAN BILL
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday spoke about against the French bill to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide, saying, "We want to believe that a group of French parliamentarians' unfortunate efforts to cast a shadow on Turkish history won't resonate in the Parliament." He added, "The entire world is watching and condemning with us the French parliamentarians behind this move and the situation they put themselves and their country in before the European Union, which they want to be a leader of. Turkey finds it unnecessary to remind those behind this bill of regrettable periods of history such as those in North Africa and Algeria." /Cumhuriyet/

FORMER GERMAN PM SCHROEDER: "TURKEY'S EU BID IS A HISTORIC PROJECT WHICH CAN'T BE ABANDONED"
Former German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder yesterday stated that he had always supported Turkey's European Union bid, saying, "This historic project shouldn't be abandoned. People who fail to support it are being irresponsible." Speaking at a conference at Istanbul's Sabanci Center given by Akbank, Schroeder stressed that the only aim of Turkey's negotiations with the EU was full membership, and said, "Starting the negotiations is a big success." He added, "Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has begun very important reforms. This reform process must continue. The EU should get prepared for Turkey's membership. I always championed Turkey's full membership. This is very important for both Turkey and the EU's security and welfare." /Milliyet/

RECALLED ENVOYS RETURN TO THEIR POSTS
Turkish ambassadors to France and Canada, earlier recalled to Ankara amid tension with the two countries over the so-called Armenian genocide, returned yesterday to their posts. The return of Turkey's Ambassador to France Osman Koruturk after a few days of consultations in Ankara is apparently a sign of Turkish willingness to ease diplomatic tension ahead of next Thursday, when the assembly is to start debate on a highly controversial and politically divisive bill proposing prison terms and fines for people who deny the so-called Armenian genocide. /Turkish Daily News/

BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE ARMENIAN BILL
A bill to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide has been submitted to the Belgian Parliament. The bill, drawn up by Liberal Party Senators Francois Roelands du Vivier and Christine Defraigne, aims to penalize those rejecting the so-called Armenian genocide. The Belgian Parliament's Justice Commission has not yet set a date to debate the bill. /Cumhuriyet/

TOBB HEAD MEETS WITH IMF TURKEY DESK CHIEF TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS OF REAL SECTOR
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu yesterday met with International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Lorenzo Giorgianni and an accompanying delegation. During their meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that social security reforms should continue to be implemented. Speaking afterwards, Hisarciklioglu stated that they had discussed the problems of the Turkish real sector. Saying that the sector wasn't seeking additional resources from the state, Hisarciklioglu added that producers only wanted to be able to compete fairly with their international rivals. "In order to boost the competitiveness of the real sector, the tax system should be made more comprehensible and payable," said Hisarciklioglu, adding that the tax burden on energy also impacted the real sector's competitiveness. "We want the same tax burden and energy prices as our rivals," he added. /Aksam/

TURKISH-FRENCH COMMERCE ASSOCIATION SENDS LETTER TO CHIRAC OPPOSING ARMENIAN BILL
The Turkish-French Commerce Association this week sent a letter to French President Jacques Chirac warning that the bill could have negative effects. Also a Turkish parliamentary delegation, currently in Paris to lobby against the so-called Armenian genocide bill, yesterday met with French Parliament Foreign Commission Deputy Chair Herve de Charette. The delegation includes Mehmet Dulger and Musa Sivacioglu from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as well as Onur Oymen and Gulsun Bilgehan Toker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). /Sabah/