ERDOGAN ATTENDS ERTUGRUL GAZI COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony to commemorate Ertugrul Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, in Sogut in the western province of Bilecik. Addressing the crowd, the premier answered criticisms regarding Parliament's recent decision to send troops to Lebanon. Speaking in the face of protests by supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) mostly, he said that Turkey couldn't brush off important regional and global developments. Stressing that the Turkish nation would not be manipulated by those who try to exploit its moral values, Erdogan lashed out at the MHP for using the meeting as a platform to stage an anti-government protest. "This is a place for unity and togetherness, not for political parties to put on shows," added Erdogan. /Turkiye/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO FRANCE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due tomorrow to travel to France for an official visit. During his stay in the country, Gul is expected to meet with French officials and talk to them about the so-called Armenian genocide and the activities of Armenians in the country this year, which has been proclaimed the "Year of Armenia" in France. Gul will meet with his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy and Europe Minister Catherine Colonna to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. Gul will also meet with representatives of Turkish associations in France and tell them to stay calm during the "Year of Armenia." /Aksam/

CETIN: "NEITHER NATO NOR ANOTHER FORCE CAN SEND TURKISH TROOPS TO THE AREA OF CLASHES"
Appearing on television yesterday, former NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin said that neither NATO nor another force could send Turkish soldiers to the south of the country, the area of clashes. Cetin said that Turkey had enough soldiers in Afghanistan and that the number of Turkish soldiers has more than doubled from 300 to 700 over the last month. "Ankara can increase the number of soldiers in the upcoming period for the security of Kabul, but it won't send soldiers to clashes," he explained. /Milliyet/

GREECE'S KARAMANLIS REITERATES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU BID
Speaking at a fair in Thessalonica yesterday, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis commented on relations between Turkey and the European Union and the stance of Athens on the issue. In his speech, Karamanlis reiterated Athens' support for Turkey's European Union membership bid, saying that all countries would benefit from Turkey, which is on its way to the EU. "However, Turkey needs to fulfill its obligations for its EU bid since it made an agreement with the Union," he added. /Star/

GREEK CYPRUS' LILLIKAS WARNS TURKEY
Greek Cypriot administration Foreign Minister George Lillikas over the weekend said, "If Turkey doesn't fulfill its commitments, opening new chapters during its European Union process will be out of the question." Stating that Turkey was playing "a dangerous game" on its EU process, Lillikas said that their support for Turkey's accession process isn't unconditional. "If it doesn't fulfill its commitments, Turkey can't continue its accession process as if nothing had happened," said Lillikas. /Cumhuriyet/

BABACAN TO MEET WITH IMF'S WOLFOWITZ, RATO
Turkey will be represented by a high-level delegation headed by State Minister for Economy Ali Babacan in an eight-day joint annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank set to start on Friday in Singapore. Babacan will participate in important committee sessions on global finance, fiscal policy, and economic development. He will also meet with IMF Managing Director Rodrigo De Rato, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Timothy D. Adams, Iraqi Finance Minister Jabr Al-Zubaidy, and Council of Europe Development Bank Governor Raphael Alomar. /Sabah/

TUZMEN TO TRAVEL TO THE US
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen yesterday traveled to the US to seek ways to boost trade ties with the country. Before his departure, Tuzmen, accompanied by a large group of businessmen, told reporters that within three years, Turkey was planning to increase its export to the US by 50 percent, and to push the current $10 billion total trade volume to $15 billion. Furthermore, Tuzmen over the weekend attended an opening ceremony of Ruscam-Ufa facility of Anadolu Cam in Baskordistan. /Turkiye/