TURKEY TO CO-SPONSOR NEW DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE DIALOGUE
Together with Italy and Yemen, Turkey is set to co-sponsor a new program called the “Democracy Assistance Dialogue” formed within the framework of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (commonly known as the Greater Middle East Initiative) during the just-concluded G-8 summit in the US. The project aims at supporting democratic organizations and processes, increasing literacy, training some 100,000 teachers and taking steps to develop free trade in Islamic countries. According to the White House, Turkey will also co-host the dialogue’s first meeting later this year. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN SEEKS BUSH’S SUPPORT FOR CYPRUS RESOLUTION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with US President George W. Bush during the G-8 summit on Sea Island, Georgia to discuss a number of issues, including Cyprus. During their meeting, Erdogan said that Ankara wanted US support for reaching a Cyprus resolution. The premier stated that Ankara had done its best for a resolution in recent months, adding that now he hoped for US contributions. Erdogan and Bush are expected to discuss the issue in detail at the NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29. Erdogan is also due today to attend the state funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan. Later, the premier is to fly to Chicago to attend a symposium on the Middle East. /Turkiye/

ANNAN BRIEFS ERDOGAN ON UN CYPRUS REPORT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York to discuss the Cyprus issue. Speaking afterwards, Erdogan said that they had also exchanged views on Iraq and that Annan had briefed him on the Cyprus report he recently presented to the UN Security Council. “I thanked him for his positive remarks in the report about Ankara’s efforts for a resolution,” he said. “I said that Ankara wanted Annan to continue his efforts to bring the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] to an end.” /Hurriyet/

GUL SIGNALS SHIFT IN TURKEY'S POLICY ON IRAQ
Speaking yesterday to Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Ankara was changing its policy on Iraq, mentioning in particular its relations with the two major Kurdish groups in the north. "In the past, Turkey has helped these groups," said Gul, referring to the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK). "We have helped better their situation, and they know this and have many times expressed their gratitude to us." A representative from Ankara recently met with IKDP head Massoud Barzani, said Gul, and IPUK head Jalal Talbani has been invited to Ankara. Gul added that Turkey would not allow any change in the demographic makeup of Kirkuk, a major city in northern Iraq. Addressing the issue of terrorism, Gul said that several thousand PKK terrorists remained in northern Iraq and that talks were continuing with US officials on how to deal with this. "Sending troops to Iraq at this stage is out of the question," said Gul. "The US has certain proposals regarding Incirlik Airbase [near Adana, Turkey]. We'll consider these in line with our current agreements [with the US]." /Milliyet/

PARLIAMENT COMMISSION APPROVES HEAVY SANCTION COURTS
Parliament’s Justice Commission yesterday approved a bill to establish heavy sanction courts to replace the recently abolished State Security Courts (DGMs). Speaking to the commission, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the bill had been prepared by taking into consideration rulings of international human rights tribunals, practices in Europe and Turkey’s own situation. The DGMs were abolished through a reform package passed by Parliament last month. /Turkiye/

CHIRAC: “AS A MAJOR POWER IN ITS REGION, TURKEY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GME”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday on Sea Island, Georgia, at the conclusion of the G-8 summit there, French President Jacques Chirac said that as a major power in its region, Turkey could contribute to the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative (GME). “Turkey is an important country,” added Chirac. “It has recently made considerable progress in modernization and liberalizing its economy.” /Turkiye/

ISTANBUL STRAITS TO BE CLOSED DURING NATO SUMMIT
The Istanbul Straits will be closed under security measures for the NATO summit on June 28-29 in Istanbul. Concerning the decision, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said that approval had been obtained from all country signatories of the 1936 Montreux Convention, which governs traffic in the straits. /Milliyet-Turkiye/

CoE’S SCHWIMMER: “THERE’S NO LONGER ANY NEED TO CLOSELY MONITOR TURKEY’S HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION”
Following a number of recent strides and reforms, there is no longer any need for close monitoring of Turkey's human rights situation, said the head of Europe's leading human rights watchdog yesterday. Council of Europe (CoE) head Walter Schwimmer was in Ankara for a one-day visit to meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and discuss a joint Justice Ministry-CoE project for penal reform and judicial modernization. Speaking to reporters, Schwimmer also hailed the recent release of four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies and the beginning of broadcasts in mother tongue languages, saying the moves had brought Turkey closer to European Union membership. The CoE is expected to make a decision on lifting monitoring of Turkey on June 21. /Milliyet/

IMF’S DEPPLER PRAISES ANKARA’S IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC PROGRAM
International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam and Europe Desk Chief Michael yesterday met with State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, and Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun. Speaking afterwards, Deppler praised Turkey’s determined implementation of the nation’s IMF-supported economic program, adding that it was bearing fruit due to this successful implementation. “There is no reason for Turkey not to succeed,” he said. He also praised the government’s banking and taxation reforms. Deppler praised recent falls in interest rates, adding however that they were still high. He also warned about high public debt and said that the nation’s production needed to be brought up further. /Hurriyet/