SEZER TO VISIT POLAND
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to travel to Warsaw today to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski. During their meetings, bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues will be taken up. /Hurrriyet/

AKP EXECUTIVE BOARD TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS ON VETOED YOK LAW
The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) is due to discuss today the Board of Higher Education (YOK) Law which was vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer late on Friday. The law is expected to be brought to Parliament’s Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Commission after the board’s decision and will also be discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek reportedly believe that there is no need to press further on the law. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to announce the MYK’s decision at the AKP’s group meeting scheduled for tomorrow. /Aksam/

ERDOGAN ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONY OF ISTANBUL CITY FOREST
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting of the City Forest in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the new green area would let Istanbulites breathe more fresh air. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Erdogan stated that whether or not Turkey would join the EU or not was no longer an issue, rather the only question was how its negotiations would proceed. Also present at the ceremony were Forest Minister Osman Pepe, Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu and other officials. /Turkiye/

GUL TO TRAVEL TO SAUDI ARABIA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is set today to travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to pay a one-day official visit. Gul is expected to meet with his Saudi counterpart Saud al-Faisal as well as Crown Prince Abdullah. Their meetings will focus on next month’s Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Istanbul, where it will select a new secretary-general, as well as the Cyprus, Middle East and Iraq issues. /Turkiye/

SERDAR DENKTAS SEEKS ISLAMIC COUNTRIES’ SUPPORT
As part of his tour of Islamic countries seeking support for an end to the international isolation of his country, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas yesterday proceeded to Dhaka, Bangladesh after completing his contacts in Pakistan. Denktas met with his Bangladeshi counterpart M. Mursid Han. In related news, the Pakistani government pledged to Denktas continued support for the Turkish Cypriots’ just cause. /Turkiye/

TURKEY SENDS MORE HELP TO AFGHAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE
Additional forces and equipment sent by Turkey to help Afghanistan’s International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) arrived in Kabul yesterday. Three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters accompanied by 60 military personnel were welcomed by NATO Higher Representative for Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin and other officials at Kabul International Airport. Speaking at the reception ceremony, Cetin said that Turkey had done its utmost to support to the ISAF in Afghanistan and called on other NATO member countries to do the same. /Turkiye/

CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU WELCOMES MEDIA CONVENTION TO ISTANBUL
Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu yesterday hosted a welcoming reception in Istanbul for delegates attending the 57th World Association of Newspapers Congress (WAN) and the 11th World Editors Forum (WEF). Speaking to the delegates, Mumcu stressed the importance of holding the congress in Istanbul at a critical period for Turkey’s EU bid, mere months ahead of a decision on beginning Ankara’s membership negotiations. “We are facing challenges due to globalization,” said Mumcu. “I believe that the media will play an important role in tackling these challenges.” More than 1,400 CEOs and other newspaper officials from 88 countries are participating in the congress. A total of 72 national newspaper unions, individual newspapers directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and 10 regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN. The congress is expected to end on Wednesday. /Milliyet/