ERDOGAN VISITS SAUDI ARABIA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia over the weekend to attend the Eighth Jeddah Economic Forum. Addressing the meeting yesterday, Erdogan called on Islamic countries to embrace love, dialogue and tolerance to promote peace in the region. Stressing that without an expansion of prosperity and justice, permanent peace in the region could not be obtained, the premier said that Turkey would continue to support efforts towards that aim. Also urging Islamic states to fight poverty and ignorance, Erdogan warned that those trends sowed the seeds of terrorism. Touting Turkey 's recent reforms, the premier said that his government was determined to take further steps for democracy and freedom. In addition, Erdogan also attended a Turkish-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Commission (KEK) meeting with Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarciklioglu and State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan. Speaking at the gathering, Erdogan called on Saudi businessmen to invest in Turkey , adding that the two countries aimed at boosting their bilateral trade volume to $7 billion. After completing his contacts in Saudi Arabia , Erdogan returned to Turkey last night. /Turkiye/

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said over the weekend that the oil exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea by the Greek Cypriot administration is no laughing matter. Speaking to reporters en route to Islamabad for a Middle Eastern foreign ministers meeting, Gul said, "I hope that European states, NATO and the countries on the Mediterranean have seen that oil exploration in the Mediterranean Sea by the Greek Cypriots is a provocation. I also hope that they have understood how dangerous it is to deal with these issues before a comprehensive, permanent solution to the Cyprus problem is reached." Before the meeting, Gul met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit and discussed Egypt `s oil exploration agreement with the Greek Cypriots. The two foreign ministers reportedly agreed to hold mutual committee visits between Turkey and Egypt on the oil exploration issue. /Cumhuriyet/

STATE MINISTER ATALAY: "MIGRATION AND SLUM HOUSING ERODE URBAN IDENTITY"
State Minister Besir Atalay said over the weekend that the effects of globalization, including migration and slum housing, have resulted in a diminishing sense of urban identity. Speaking at the Second City Planning Symposium held in Ankara , Atalay said that local leaders are making efforts to ensure healthy cities. "After reaching a near-chronic state, the problems of our cities are being solved," he said. /Star/

PARLIAMENT TO TACKLE CENSURE MOTION AGAINST PM, INTERIOR MINISTER
A censure motion against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu will be the top issue before Parliament this week. The ruling party-dominated Parliament will vote on Tuesday by secret ballot on launching a probe into the premier and interior minister. On Wednesday, Parliament is expected to evaluate a number of international agreements and a bill seeking changes to television and radio broadcasts. Parliament's Justice Commission on Wednesday will discuss a bill on Internet crimes as well as another bill seeking change to the Supreme Court of Appeals. /The New Anatolian/

TALABANI: "WE TRIED TO CONVINCE THE PKK TO REACH A SETTLEMENT"
After meeting with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said yesterday that relations with Turkey were developing further. Asked whether the Kurdish parties in northern Iraq lend support to the terrorist PKK, Talabani said that they had had talks with PKK leaders, but had never supported the group against Turkey , but on the contrary tried to convince it to come to terms with Ankara . /Sabah/

IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY THIS WEEK
An International Monetary Fund delegation is expected to arrive in Turkey on Thursday. The delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Lorenzo Giorgianni is set to hold talks with Turkish officials as part of the sixth review of the country's recent economic developments under a $10 billion loan program. IMF officials will proceed to Ankara after holding meetings with finance circles in Istanbul . The talks are expected to focus on the privatization of power distribution, and Halkbank, as well as social security reform. /Aksam/