ERDOGAN: "TURKEY WILL DEVELOP FURTHER WITH HONOR"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended his Justice and Development Party (AKP) Kayseri Provincial Congress. Addressing the party members, Erdogan said that the AKP would complete its provincial congresses by mid-July, and that this fall, the general party congress would be held. Stressing that the AKP would prepare itself for the general elections set for next year, Erdogan said that during its rule, the AKP government had greatly benefited the nation. Concerning Turkish-International Monetary Fund relations, the premier said that Turkey would never be a servant, adding that the government was making efforts to further develop the country with honor. Pointing to recent improvements in economic figures, Erdogan vowed that the government would not make concessions from fiscal discipline. In addition, Erdogan, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, opened the Kayseri Park Mall and Living Center, one of the largest malls in Turkey. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN TO VISIT CROATIA AND MACEDONIA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today starts a three-day visit to Croatia and Macedonia. During the visit, Erdogan will first go to Zagreb, Croatia where he will meet with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and participate in a Croatian-Turkish Business Council meeting. Erdogan and his accompanying delegation then will proceed to Skopje, Macedonia. There the premier will meet with his Macedonian counterpart Vlado Buckovski and will also address a Macedonian-Turkish Business Council meeting. /Cumhuriyet/

ARINC VISITS ALBANIA TO STRENGTHEN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY TIES
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc began his visit to Albania on Sunday as the official guest of his Albanian counterpart Jozefina Topalli. Speaking to reporters before his departure, Arinc stressed that besides an exchange of views on ways to further develop and strengthen relations, he will discuss the two parliaments' possible contributions to the development of energy, transportation and infrastructure projects. Arinc also expressed Turkish support for Albania's integration with European-Atlantic organizations as an element of confidence and stability in the region. The Parliament speaker will meet with his Albanian counterpart Topalli as well as Interior Minister Sokol Olldashi and will be received by President Alfred Moisiu on Monday and is also scheduled to visit Tirana University. Following his meeting with Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Tuesday, Arinc is scheduled to leave the country. /The New Anatolian/

2 SOLDIERS KILLED, 3 WOUNDED IN TUNCELI
2 soldiers were killed, while three were wounded in Tunceli by gunfire opened by PKK terrorists at a military vehicle. The wounded soldiers were sent to Elazig State Hospital after initial treatment at Tunceli State Hospital. /Sabah/

OFFICIAL EU NEGOTIATIONS ON SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CHAPTER TO BEGIN TODAY, IF GREEK CYPRIOT OBJECTIONS OVERCOME
The European Union member states' foreign ministers are expected today to discuss the Negotiation Position Document in Brussels in order to decide whether to begin Turkey's official negotiations on the science and research chapter or not. Ankara will be waiting with baited breath for news from this meeting in Luxembourg, where 24 members of the bloc will try to counter Greek Cypriot obstruction of Turkey concluding the first and easiest of 35 detailed policy chapters with the EU -- with Greek Cyprus keeping its threat to create crises for Turkey and the EU at the beginning and end of each chapter. The Greek Cypriot administration insists that the issue of Turkey opening its airports and harbors to it constitutes "closure criteria." The other EU member states will try to persuade Greek Cyprus to give up this insistence. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to travel to Luxembourg if the EU foreign ministers persuade the Greek Cypriot administration on the issue. /Aksam/

GREEK CYPRIOT FM THREATENS TO USE VETO CARD
Outgoing Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou stated late Saturday that his administration hasn't ruled out exercising its right of veto at today's European Union foreign ministers' meeting on Turkey's accession talks on the science and research chapter. Commenting on the 25-nation bloc's failure to reach a common position on the matter at Friday's EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) meeting, Iacovou said that there would be consultations in Luxembourg with Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, and that the position of the Greek Cypriot administration and its European partners on the issue would be drafted on Monday. "We'll discuss the issue with EU member states' foreign ministers on Monday," he said. Stressing that Greek Cyprus had certain reservations about the issue, Iacovou added that opening and closing the science and research chapter with Turkey in one day could mean that a chapter could be closed without Turkey fulfilling its obligations. "This would be the wrong message to Turkey," he added. /The New Anatolian-Aksam/

REHN: "THE SLOWDOWN IN TURKEY'S REFORMS IS HURTING RELATIONS BETWEEN ANKARA AND THE EU"
European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said yesterday that Turkey's alleged slowdown in reforms was damaging relations between Ankara and the European Union. Stressing that implementation of EU reforms under the political criteria was a must, Rehn added that pace of the reforms would also determine the pace of negotiations. "We need to make considerable progress," he added. /Milliyet/

TURKISH, GREEK MEDIA RAISE VOICES TO DISPEL PREJUDICE
Participants in the Fourth Turkish-Greek Media Conference, hosted by the Turkish Press Council in Istanbul, ended the conference yesterday with a decision to hold the conferences regularly on an annual basis. The conference is a brainchild of the Contact Group, made up three journalists from each country who joined forces in 1999 to better inform the public. The group aims to boost cooperation between both countries' media to strengthen peace and rapprochement and avoid provocations. /Turkish Daily News/

GREEKS FAVOR DIALOGUE FOR ANKARA-ATHENS DISPUTES
According to a new public opinion survey, most Greek citizens favors finding solutions to disputes between Turkey and Greece through bilateral dialogue instead of going to The Hague. The public opinion survey conducted by Greek daily To Vima last week said that while 51.5% of the Greeks favor resolving disputes through dialogue, 43.7% backed bringing the issues to The Hague. /Star/

FINNISH FM: "TURKEY SHOULD IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL"
Erkki Tuomioja, the foreign minister of Finland, which will take over the European Union term presidency from Austria next month, said that Turkey's negotiation process may halt if it doesn't implement the additional protocol. Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Tuomioja said, "Turkey knows its obligations to approve the additional protocol in Parliament and implement it, and recognize all European Union members including Greek Cyprus." Stating that he doesn't want the Cyprus issue to be a barrier to Turkey's negotiation process, Tuomioja added, "I'm afraid Turkey not filling its obligations would bring the situation to a breaking point." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH RED CRESCENT CELEBRATES 138TH ANNIVERSARY
The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) yesterday celebrated its 138th anniversary. Tekin Kucukali, head of the association, said that Kizilay has been serving people who need help all around the world. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc also issued messages praising Kizilay's efforts to aid people both in the country and abroad. /Turkiye/