PM ERDOGAN: "THEY ARE STEALING OUR TIME"
Speaking at his party group meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday evaluated recent domestic and foreign developments. "We have no plans for early elections. Those comparing us with previous governments are making a mistake," he said. Erdogan accused his political opponents of lagging behind the times and not adapting themselves to current conditions. "That's why they're in no hurry," he said. "They have plenty of time to play in the sand. Didn't Turkey lose years to this mistaken understanding of time? Now who could give us back those lost years?" Also rebuffing speculations on the devaluation of the new Turkish lira, Erdogan said that such ups and downs are normal in a floating exchange rate model, adding that such speculations come from ignorance of the economy. Erdogan yesterday also did the re-dedication of the revamped Ankamall Shopping Center in Ankara. /Aksam-Star/

TURKEY MAKES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE IRANIAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE
Turkish officials are continuing their efforts for a peaceful solution to the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Towards that aim, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul held a series of phone conversations last week. He spoke separately with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Russian and German Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Frank Walter Steinmeier to exchange views on the issue. Gul conveyed to them the outcome of his recent talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, as well as Turkey's views. Ankara is seeking resolution through peaceful means to prevent any crisis in the region. In addition, Turkish officials are trying to convince their Iranian counterparts to conduct the nation's nuclear program more openly. /Turkiye/

CHP LEADER BAYKAL: "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE TURKEY'S BREAKING POINT"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday hinted that CHP deputies could resign en masse and "seek the nation's verdict" ("sine-i millet") by forcing early general elections. Baykal said that presidential elections were the most critical point of the coming months and that those who don't believe in the current Constitution cannot be elected president. "When we reach a critical point, we would do what's necessary to prevent this. We are all here for this state, nation, republic and democracy," he said. Early general elections would mean a new Parliament, not the current one, would elect the next president. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY WARNS FRANCE NOT TO PASS ARMENIAN BILL
The French Parliament is set to vote a bill tomorrow which would criminalizes questioning the so-called Armenian genocide. In the runup to the vote, Turkey has sent messages to that country saying that if the bill passes, bilateral relations will be hurt. Ankara underlined that the French government would be responsible for any crises in the aftermath of the bill passing, adding that economic relations between the two countries, including French firms' vying for defense and nuclear power plant projects, would be reviewed. In related news, speaking at his parliamentary group meeting, opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal sharply criticized the bill, stressing that Turkey would defend its rights and honor to the end. /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT REVISES SOCIAL SECURITY BILL
Parliament yesterday re-passed a bill on the Social Security Authority gathering all social security institutions under one roof, after it was sent back for re-debate following amendments in line with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's veto rationale. Under the new bill, executive members of the authority will be appointed through a joint decree -- the president, prime minister, and related minister -- rather than the Cabinet. On the other hand, the government is expected to make clear its stance towards Sezer's veto to 15 articles of the reforms in the coming days. /Milliyet/

GREEK FM TO VISIT TURKEY
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is expected to attend the Fourth Turkish-Greek Media Conference to be held in Istanbul on June 10. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is also expected to deliver a speech at the conference. During the opening of the gathering, Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay and Greek State Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos will deliver speeches. /Hurriyet/

VANHANEN BECOMES FIRST FINNISH PM TO VISIT TURKEY
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco arrived in Turkey late Tuesday, both on official visits. The Finish premier, whose country takes over the rotating European Union term presidency in July, will discuss Turkey's accession process in the 25-nation bloc. It's the first official visit by a Finnish premier to Turkey. Vanhanen will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan today in Ankara, and key EU affairs, including Finland's upcoming EU presidency and Turkey's membership negotiations, as well as bilateral, commercial and economic relations between Finland and Turkey, will dominate the talks. They are also expected to discuss the Cyprus problem and possible ways to solve it as well as other key international and regional developments. /The New Anatolian/

FORMER TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS BALKS AT TALK OF ANNAN PLAN
Former Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday received a delegation from the Federation of Turkish Journalists, led by its head Nazmi Bilgin, currently on the island for the 21st Presidential Council meeting. During the meeting, Denktas grew upset at mention of the Annan plan and said, "This is an incomprehensible situation. Has the Turkish government sacrificed us?" Denktas said that if Turkey didn't take a determined stance, it would lose the TRNC. /Cumhuriyet/

BABACAN MEETS WITH BANKING SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES
State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan yesterday met with representatives of the Turkish Banks Association (TBB). Concerning recent developments in the Turkish markets, Babacan said that fluctuations in foreign exchange were possible but didn't necessarily indicate any problem. Dismissing devaluation allegations, Babacan pointed out that Turkey was pursuing a floating foreign exchange policy which allows rises and falls in the rate. In addition, TBB head Ersin Ozince told reporters that the current balance in the economy was one the best ever, adding that Turkey would be the star of its region. "If an investor leaves Turkey, we can make up the difference," said Ozince. /Sabah-Milliyet/