SEZER TRAVELS TO POLAND TO PROMOTE TURKEY’S EU BID
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday travelled to Warsaw at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski. Speaking before his departure, Sezer said that he believed that strengthened cooperation between Turkey and Poland would boost Ankara’s chances of getting a date this December to begin its European Union accession talks. “I hope that Poland will support Ankara getting a date,” Sezer added. /Cumhuriyet/

ERDOGAN TO ANNOUNCE GOVT PLANS ON YOK BILL
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan would make a final announcement on the future of the Board of Higher Education (YOK) bill today during his party’s parliamentary group meeting. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the controversial measure last Friday. Speaking to reporters after a five-hour Cabinet meeting, Cicek said that with its Constitution, government bodies and rules Turkey was a democratic country, adding that there was no need for public tension. Stressing that he did not share the president’s view of the bill, Cicek said, “Turkey has problems having to do with education, and we can’t solve them by sweeping them under the carpet.” He stated that new Organized Crime Major Sanction Courts would be established to replace the recently abolished State Security Courts (DGMs), adding that a bill on the matter would be sent to Parliament to be considered. “We’ll try to pass the bill in Parliament next week,” said Cicek. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN SEEKS EUROPEAN MEDIA SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION TALKS
Speaking at the 57th World Association of Newspapers (WAN) Congress yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the world media, and especially the European media, to support Turkey getting a date this December to begin its European Union accession talks. “Turkish-EU relations are in the midst of a critical process,” said Erdogan, adding that completing Ankara’s EU harmonization reforms would take time. Also present at the congress were Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, and other officials. The congress is expected to end tomorrow. /Milliyet/

ERDOGAN PLANS TO VISIT TEHRAN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to pay an official visit to Iran late this month. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and State Minister Kursad Tuzmen have both previously visited Iran, but despite a heavy diplomatic schedule this month, including two summits, Erdogan is to visit Iran probably on June 21-22. His visit is expected to focus on the issues of the terrorist PKK, trade relations and the Iraq issue. Erdogan is to also seek Tehran’s support to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Turkiye/

“DON’T MAKE TURKEY A MODEL FOR GME,” ANKARA OFFICIALS URGE WASHINGTON
Ankara has conveyed to Washington its view on the United States’ Greater Middle East Initiative, diplomatic sources said yesterday. Turkey has often been cited as a “model nation” by US politicians, but while stating that it can contribute to the project, Ankara officials are urging that it not be held up as such a model. Turkish officials said that countries should contribute to the project under their own conditions, adding that the adoption of the project by countries in the region was very important. Ankara also said that it could lend support in economic areas. The initiative reportedly aims at bringing democracy, modernization, transparency and open economies to the Mideast region. /Turkiye/

GUL SEEKS SAUDI SUPPORT TO END TRNC’S ISOLATION
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. Speaking afterwards, Gul said that they had discussed the Cyprus issue in detail and that Faisal had expressed his support to end the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “I told him that the TRNC deserves this support,” added Gul. The foreign minister is also expected to visit Eygpt and other regional countries in the coming days to seek their support to bring TRNC into the international community. /Milliyet/

SENER: “A FINAL DECISION ON THE YOK BILL WILL BE MADE BY THE AKP BOARD AND THE CABINET”
Speaking in Istanbul yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that a final decision on the Board of Higher Education (YOK) bill would be made by the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK) and the Cabinet, adding that he didn’t believe that the government would draft a new bill. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the bill in question last Friday. /Aksam/

BAYKAL: “THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT INSIST ON THE YOK BILL”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's recent veto of the Board of Higher Education (YOK) bill presented an opportunity for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to discontinue efforts for its passage, said opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Baykal said that the CHP had already voiced its objections that the bill was both misguided and unconstitutional. “I hope that the government will act with common sense and avoid another tense period for Turkey,” said the CHP leader. /Turkiye/

IPUK’S SALIH VISITS ANKARA, DUE TO MEET WITH ZIYAL
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) official Barham Saleh yesterday arrived in Ankara to discuss a number of issues with Turkish officials. Speaking before his arrival, Saleh said that Iraqi Kurds wanted to develop relations with Ankara. He is expected to meet today with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and other Turkish officials. Saleh is considered a candidate to become foreign minister in Iraq’s new interim government expected to be announced in June. IPUK leader Jalal Talabani is also expected to visit Ankara soon. /Cumhuriyet/

IMF DELEGATION TO ARRIVE ON THURSDAY
An International Monetary Fund delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam is set to arrive in Turkey on Thursday for work on the eight review of Ankara’s economic program. After completing its contacts in Istanbul with business and finance world representatives, the delegation will proceed to the capital to hold meetings with the officials from the Treasury Undersecretariat, Finance Ministry, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), Central Bank and State Planning Organization (DPT). /Hurriyet/