PARLIAMENT APPROVES ESTABLISHMENT OF HEAVY SANCTION COURTS
Parliament yesterday approved a bill establishing Heavy Sanction Courts as a replacement for the former State Security Courts (DGMs). Through a recent reform package in line with Turkey’s European Union harmonization, the two-decade old DGMs were abolished. The new courts will take over DGMs’ current caseload, and the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors will decide how many new courts to establish and where. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN VISITS THE NETHERLANDS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by a delegation yesterday left for the Netherlands to pay an official visit. Erdogan was first received by Queen Beatrix and then met with his Dutch counterpart Jan Peter Balkenende. At a joint press conference, Erdogan underlined that the Netherlands would be the European Union’s term president for six months starting this July. That period notably includes the December summit where the EU is to decide whether or not to begin Ankara’s accession talks. Stressing that most Turkish citizens wanted their country to join the EU, Erdogan said Ankara had implemented the Copenhagen criteria in order to boost the living conditions of its own people. “We already have some 4 million Turks living in EU member countries,” added Erdogan. “About 350,000 of them in the Netherlands, and they are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their arrival.” Asked about Turkey’s EU bid, Erdogan stated that he was certainly not expecting to face a negative stance at the December summit. For his part, Balkenende praised Turkey’s efforts on its road to EU membership, adding that the implementation of reforms was also key. The Dutch premier pledged that the EU would take a straightforward and fair stance towards Ankara while deciding about its membership. Erdogan later met Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm and attended a gathering with Turkish and Dutch businessmen in Rotterdam. /Turkiye/

GUL: “THE OIC HAS FULFILLED ITS RESPONSIBILITY BY APPROVING THE CYPRUS BILL”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) had fulfilled its responsibility at its just-concluded Istanbul meeting by unanimously approving a Cyprus bill characterizing the Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the “Turkish Cypriot State.” The bill calls on the OIC member states to establish direct communication, trade, tourism, investment, and sports ties with the TRNC. Gul added that the OIC had also issued a general call to end the TRNC’s international isolation. /Cumhuriyet/

OIC RELEASES DECLARATION URGING STRENGTHENED SOLIDARITY WITH TURKISH CYPRIOTS
The three-day foreign ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) yesterday released its final declaration stressing that a new situation had emerged on Cyprus after the April referendums on unifying the island. According to the declaration, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which currently attends OIC activities as an observer, would be invited to future gatherings of the organization as the “Turkish Cypriot State,” as set out in UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s recent Cyprus report. The declaration further urges OIC members to strengthen solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots by establishing close partnerships with them and extending cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, communications, culture and sports, in order to bring their international isolation to an end. TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas hailed the declaration, saying, “This is a very important step for us. We’ll be leaving this meeting as a state.” /All papers/

EU SUMMER SUMMIT TO BEGIN IN BRUSSELS TODAY
The European Union’s two-day summer summit attended by the EU heads of state and government is due to begin today in Brussels. During the meeting, the leaders are expected to evaluate last weekend’s European Parliament elections and to stress continued unity among Union members. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing Turkey as an EU candidate, is also due to attend the summit. The gathering is important for Ankara’s European Union membership bid, since it will be the last one before the EU releases its fall progress report on Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

CHP TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS NEXT MONTH
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is due to hold an extraordinary congress on July 3. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said on Tuesday that there would be two main issues to be addressed at the congress, namely “intransigent” dissidents against Baykal’s leadership and a vote of confidence on the same. The congress is expected to be closed to both the public and the press. /Aksam/

PIRISTINA TO BE LAID TO REST TODAY
Izmir is mourning the death of their beloved Greater Municipality Mayor Ahmet Piristina, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday. Piristina will be buried this afternoon in a state funeral. Deniz Baykal, the leader of Piristina’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), as well as numerous high-ranking government officials are expected to attend the funeral. /Star/