ERDOGAN: “NOBODY SHOULD EQUATE THE GOVERNMENT WITH AN OUTLAW GROUP”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) head Tuncay Bakirhan’s recent statement saying that DEHAP is at an “equal remove” from both the government and the terrorist PKK. “Noone should equate the government with an illegal organization,” said Erdogan. The premier also stated said that the government had taken steps to restore social peace and harmony despite many differences, adding, “Nobody has the right to cast shadow over peace.” Erdogan further stated that the government had taken many steps within the scope of the Copenhagen criteria. /Hurriyet/

ERDOGAN TRAVELS TO THE NETHERLANDS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday flew to the Netherlands to pay an official visit. Speaking to reporters before his departure, Erdogan underlined how the Netherlands will be the European Union’s term president this December when it decides whether or not to begin Turkey’s accession talks. He stated that he would meet with his Dutch counterpart Jan Peter Balkenende and be received by Queen Beatrix. During his contacts, Erdogan is expected to discuss Turkish-EU relations with Dutch officials. In addition, the premier is scheduled to meet with both Dutch and Turkish businessmen and representatives of financial organizations as well as Turkish citizens living in this country. After completing his contacts in the Netherlands, Erdogan is to proceed to Brussels to attend an inter-governmental EU summit. During his contacts there, he is expected to tout Ankara’s efforts on its road to EU membership. /Turkiye/

IZMIR’S MAYOR PIRISTINA DIES
Izmir Greater Municipality Mayor Ahmet Piristina died of a heart attack yesterday at the age of 52. Piristina’s untimely death caused great sorrow among Izmirians, members of his Republican People’s Party (CHP), and citizens nationwide. Yesterday, following CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s expression of condolences, the CHP parliamentary group meeting was cancelled in a show of respect. The law stipulates that an assembly chaired by the Izmir provincial governor will convene in 10 days to choose Piristina’s successor. /All Papers/

GUL’S LETTER TO VERHEUGEN SAYS CUSTOMS UNION TO BE EXTENDED TO GREEK CYPRUS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sent a letter late last week to European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen outlining a series of steps to be taken by Ankara to extend its Customs Union agreement with the EU so as to include new member Greek Cyprus. To date Turkey has extended the trade pact deal to nine of the May-inducted new EU members, excluding only Greek Cyprus, which it does not recognize. Greek Cypriot representatives in the EU have criticized Ankara for this omission and called on the Union to take measures against it. Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that work was under way to take extend the agreement to Greek Cyprus but emphasized that such a step would be purely commercial and would not reflect any political position. In related news, Gul is to travel to Brussels to attend the EU summit there beginning tomorrow. /Star/

TURKISH CANDIDATE IHSANOGLU ELECTED NEW OIC HEAD
Turkey’s candidate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was elected yesterday the new secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in the first round of voting. This was the first election for the post in the history of the OIC, as previous secretaries-general were selected by consensus. Ihsanoglu received 32 votes, while the candidates from Bangladesh and Malaysia received 12 votes each. In related news, a bill on Cyprus characterizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the “Turkish Cypriot State” is expected to be voted on today. The bill calls on the OIC member states to establish direct communication, trade, tourism, investment, and sports ties with the TRNC. /Aksam/

COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S SCHWIMMER: “WE SHOULD END THE TRNC’S ISOLATION”
Walter Schwimmer, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, said yesterday that the international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be brought to an end. Addressing the 31st foreign ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul, Schwimmer said, “We are currently working to end the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation.” He stressed that Ankara had made considerable strides in fulfilling the European Union’s political reforms, adding that Islam was part of the EU. /Aksam/

SPANISH PM THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND TURKEY BEGINNING ITS EU ACCESSION TALKS
Spanish Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero said yesterday that Madrid supported Ankara beginning accession talks with the European Union. Addressing the Spanish Parliament yesterday, Zapatero stated that in order for these talks to begin, the European Commission must first release its fall progress report on Turkey. /Milliyet/

IMF’S MOGHADAM MEETS WITH TURK-IS HEAD, DISCUSSES ECONOMIC PROGRAM
Riza Moghadam, the International Monetary Fund Turkey desk chief, yesterday visited Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TURK-IS) head Salih Kilic to discuss recent economic developments, including the completion of the eight review of Turkey’s economic program. During their talks, Moghadam said that the program had certain shortcomings in the social realm, adding that there was still much to do to address these. /Cumhuriyet/

FORMER MINISTERS OZKAN, ONAL TO BE TRIED AT SUPREME COURT
Parliament yesterday approved a report prepared by Parliament’s Investigation Commission recommending that two former government ministers face charges at the Supreme Court. In a secret ballot, the deputies voted for former State Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Recep Onal to be tried by the Supreme Court on charges of misconduct in office concerning state-owned Halkbank. The trial process is to begin when the Office of the Parliament Speaker sends the ministers’ files to the Constitutional Court in seven days. /Turkiye/