NATO SUMMIT TO BEGIN TOMORROW IN RIGA
Heads of states and governments of the 26 NATO member states will meet tomorrow in Riga , Latvia . The two-day gathering is expected to focus on the Afghanistan issue. Turkey will be represented by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. During his contacts as part of the meetings, Erdogan is expected to discuss the Cyprus issue with European leaders. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN URGES ARAB COUNTRIES TO COOPERATE
On the second day of his visit to Jordan , Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the Young Arab Leaders' Forum. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan underlined the importance of cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region. Stressing that some $1 trillion is spend annually for defense, Erdogan said that if that money had been used for education and to promote people's prosperity, there would be no threat of global terrorism in the world. Pointing out that some 150 Turks had been killed in Iraq since 2003, Erdogan said that although Turkey was not a part of the coalition forces in Iraq , it had also suffered. Furthermore, he urged support for the Palestinian people. Erdogan, accompanied by his wife and a delegation, visited the Akabe Private Commercial Region and had a tour of the Red Sea . After completing his contacts, Erdogan last evening returned to Ankara from Jordan . Speaking to reporters at the airport, the premier said that he had held very fruitful meetings in the neighboring country, adding that Turkey would take steps to prevent Lebanon suffering like Iraq . Erdogan also noted that he planned to visit Iran and Syria next month to discuss the Lebanese issue. /Sabah/

ARINC VISITS OMAN
On the second day of his visit to Oman , Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc met with the country's top leaders, including Sultan al-Said. During his contacts, Arinc underlined that cooperation between the two countries in foreign policy initiatives was needed in order to ensure stability in the region. /Milliyet/

FM GUL: " TURKEY IS READY FOR A QUADRIPARTITE SUMMIT OVER CYPRUS "
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday went to Finland to attend the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Euromed) foreign ministers' meeting set to begin today. Before his departure, Gul told a press conference that reports of his meeting with Greek Cyprus administration Foreign Minister Georges Lillikas were untrue. "Our government's Cyprus policy is clear and transparent," said Gul. "If a multilateral meeting is held concerning Cyprus -- a meeting including the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as Turkey and Greece, which are guarantors and motherlands of these two sides -- we would attend this meeting. But a meeting beyond this is out of the question." Gul stated that he would meet with his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioa and that they would discuss Turkey 's European Union bid and Finland 's view of the Cyprus issue. Also touching on Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey starting tomorrow, he said the visit was important for shattering many prejudices against Turkey and that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would probably meet with the pope before leaving for the NATO summit. /Turkiye-Aksam/

BAYKAL: "A CHP GOVT WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSMEN AND WORKERS"
Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday predicted that his party would come to power in the next general elections. Speaking at a meeting of small businessmen in Ankara , Baykal said that his government would strive to help the workers and "honest people." In addition, also addressing the gathering, Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans' Confederation (TESK) Chairman Dervis Gunday charged that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had failed to pay attention to the problems of small businessmen, while praising the CHP for its pro-labor policies. /Sabah/

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FM: "THE UN'S ROLE ON CYPRUS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED"
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko yesterday stated that Iraq 's territorial unity should be protected and added, "We share our Turkish colleagues' concerns about the Kurdish issue." Grushko also stressed that steps should be taken to strengthen the role of the UN on the Cyprus issue and that the Ankara and Moscow are following almost overlapping policies on Iraq, Iran's nuclear program and the Arab-Israeli conflict. "We're ready to help reinvigorate the goodwill mission of the UN secretary-general," added Grushko. /Cumhuriyet/

VATICAN: "WE'RE NOT AGAINST TURKEY 'S EU MEMBERSHIP"
Speaking to Rai Due TV, Vatican Secretary of State of Tarcisio Bertone said yesterday, "I hope Turkey can fulfill the conditions put before it to join the European Union." In related news, Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi said that they weren't against Turkey 's EU membership. In addition, on the eve of his visit to Turkey , Pope Benedict XVI sent 7,000 euros in aid to the victims of the recent floods in Iskenderun . /Star-Cumhuriyet/