ERDOGAN CALLS ON ISLAMIC WORLD TO TAKE CONCRETE STEPS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the 10th International Business Forum Conference organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) in Istanbul. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said that the Arab world had abandoned Lebanon and Palestine. Stressing that Turkey was making significant contributions to global peace and prosperity, the premier urged the Arab League to take concrete steps to find settlement to problems. "The Islamic world should not only talk, but begin to act on these issues," said Erdogan. In addition, the premier said that he would probably visit Lebanon next month, adding that he planned to meet with his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora and also visit Turkish peacekeeping troops deployed in the southern part of the country. Erdogan also stated that Turkey was one of the markets where global capital has begun to flow, characterizing Turkey as a country of opportunities and possibilities. He added that his government was determined to maintain its policy of encouraging international investments. /Sabah/

BAYKAL: "WE AIM TO COME TO POWER SINGLE-HANDEDLY, SO TALK OF A CHP-MHP COALITION HAS NO PLACE"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that his party aimed to come to power single-handedly in next year's general elections, adding that comments speculating that the CHP and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) could form a coalition had no place. Baykal stated that although the two parties shared similar views on such issues as national sensitivities and criticisms of the government, they also had differences on many issues. "The two parties have their own programs and policies," said Baykal, adding that comments that the CHP and MHP could form a coalition were ill-timed and baseless. /Milliyet/

TOP BULGARIAN COMMANDER VISITS ANKARA
Bulgarian Chief of General Staff Gen. Zlatan Stoykov, on a visit to Turkey, yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. During their talks, the two top commanders reportedly discussed bilateral military relations and regional issues. After completing his contacts, Stoykov is expected to leave Turkey tomorrow. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN MINISTRY: "THE PKK CAN'T TAKE SHELTER IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan yesterday said that they were expecting concrete steps to counter the terrorist PKK's presence in northern Iraq, adding, "The terrorist PKK can't take shelter in northern Iraq. You will all see this soon." During his weekly press conference, Tan said that work has been going on for some time to apprehend and extradite 150 PKK militants in northern Iraq. Tan also said that claims about Turkey and Iran establishing a joint commission against the terrorist PKK were untrue. /Cumhuriyet/

16 TURKS RUN FOR SEATS IN DUTCH PARLIAMENT
Parliamentary elections were held yesterday in the Netherlands. More then 10,000 Turks with Dutch citizenship also voted in the elections, in which 16 Turks -- half of them women -- ran for seats. Turkish candidates Nebahat Albayrak (Labor Party), Coskun Coruz (Christian Democrat) and Sadet Karabulut (Socialist Party) are all expected to win seats in Parliament. /Hurriyet/

EU PUTS PRESSURE ON GREEK CYPRIOTS TO LIFT EMBARGO FROM TRNC
European Union countries including Britain, Finland, Italy, Sweden and Spain, supporting Ankara's stance that its ports and harbors can't be opened to Greek Cypriot vessels before the embargo on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is lifted, have now begun to put pressure on Greek Cyprus, as they are uncomfortable about its veto threat. These countries have reportedly told the Greek Cypriots it they want Turkey to open its ports and harbors, they should lift the embargo from the Turkish Cypriots. A high-level diplomat from the Foreign Ministry said, "Turkey and the TRNC evaluated Finland's proposals and conveyed their sine qua nons to Helsinki. But the Greek Cypriot administration put the issue completely aside. So now Italy, Spain, Sweden and Britain, in addition to Finland, are trying to spur the Greek Cypriots." Meanwhile, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said, "Turkey is a difficult issue," adding, "Some think that Turkey is moving backwards. But I don't agree. For me, Turkey is on the right path. But the pace of reforms has slowed down." /Star/

SCHROEDER: "I BELIEVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE CAN BE SOLVED WITH A JUST APPROACH"
Speaking at the 15th Quality Congress in Istanbul yesterday, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder commented on the Cyprus issue, saying that he believed the issue could be solved with a just approach. Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots had proven their positive stance by voting for the Annan plan in a referendum in 2004, Schroeder added, however, that the Greek Cypriots got into the European Union despite turning down the same plan. "The Turkish Cypriots were punished for their positive stance," added Schroeder. /Milliyet/

MASKED GREEK CYPRIOTS ATTACK TURKISH CYPRIOT STUDENTS IN BRITISH SCHOOL IN NICOSIA
A group of masked Greek Cypriots this week raided a British school in part of Nicosia within the borders of Greek Cyprus, attacking students from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that he had urged the Greek Cypriot administration to find the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice. "If it doesn't do so, then it will prove that it not only encourages racism but also protects it," added Soyer. "The European Union doesn't tolerate racism." /Aksam/