GUL TO VISIT WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK
President Abdullah Gul will visit the US next Tuesday at the invitation of his US counterpart George W. Bush. In a meeting at the White House, the two leaders are expected to discuss recent Turkish cross-border operations in northern Iraq. Bush is expected to stress the importance of cooperation with the Iraqi government and also to discuss the Middle East problem with Gul, who last year brought together Israel's Shimon Peres and Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara in a historic first. /Aksam/
TRNC'S TALAT DUE IN ANKARA TOMORROW
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President (TRNC) Mehmet Ali Talat will arrive in Ankara tomorrow for a two-day official visit. Talat is set to meet with President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. /Aksam/
TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ MEETS WITH VP HASHIMI
Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq Derya Kanbay yesterday met with Iraqi Vice President Tariq Hashimi. During the meeting, they discussed Turkey's recent cross-border operations into northern Iraq, and Hashimi asked Ankara to cooperate with the Iraqi government before conducting further operations. /Cumhuriyet/
EP'S RUIJTEN: "TURKEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON REFORMS"
Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Turkey rapporteur of the European Parliament, said yesterday that there have been no recent dramatic developments in Turkish-European Union relations. Ruijten said that Turkey is an important country for the EU strategically, adding that it should concentrate on reforms. "The negotiation process is continuing despite French President Nicolas Sarkozy's opposition," he stated. Saying that EU is expecting concrete steps from Turkey on Article 301, gender equality and the Foundations Law, Ruijten added that many EU countries support Turkey's negotiation process. /Turkiye/