IN ANTALYA , ERDOGAN TOURS HISTORICAL BUILDINGS UNDER RESTORATION
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the last day of his visit to Antalya , toured historical buildings undergoing restoration in Kaleici. Antalya Greater Muncipality Mayor Menderes Turel briefed the premier on the Kaleici project. Erdogan visited Kaleici Church , which is currently undergoing restoration, accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan and Culture and Tourism Minister Atill Koc. Erdogan said that the historical structure of the church should be protected. /Milliyet/
FM GUL: "THE MIDEAST WOULD BENEFIT FROM A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday said that a regional organization covering a comprehensive range of areas would be beneficial for the Middle East . Speaking as a guest at the foreign ministers meeting of Arab League member states in Cairo , Gul said that it was not possible to solve the region's problems on a piecemeal basis. He said that the Palestinian issue lay at the center of the problems and was creating pessimism and the ground for fundamentalism in the region. Gul also underlined the importance of maintaining the territorial integrity of Iraq . After his meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, Gul said, "It would be out of the question for Turkey to attack any of its neighbors." /Star/
EDUCATION MINISTER CELIK: "WITHOUT SKILLED WORKERS, WE CAN'T COMPETE GLOBALLY"
Speaking at a conference entitled "Globalization and Education" over the weekend, Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that there is a direct correlation between education and global growth and the economy, adding that if Turkey fails to produce and educate skilled, qualified workers, then it won't be able to compete globally. He stressed that although Turkey was allocating most of its resources to education, there was still much to do to sharpen Turkey 's competitive edge. Celik further stressed that debating globalization was meaningless, adding that smart people would act in line with globalization. He further said that globalization was like a water current. "You can't stop the flow of water, but you can regulate it," he explained. /Turkiye/
HISARCIKLIOGLU EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR GOVT SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM PLANS
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu yesterday met with the members of the Adana Chamber of Industry (ASO). Addressing the group, Hisarcikliogl expressed support for the government's stated desire to change the social security system. Stressing that the current social security system constitutes the biggest obstacle to employment, Hisarciklioglu stated that the system was going into deficit even while imposing a crushing tax burden. /Turkiye/