ISTANBUL BOMBING KILLS FOUR, ANKARA BOMBING WOUNDS THREE
A bomb exploded yesterday on a crowded public bus in Istanbul, killing four people and wounding 18 others. In addition, a percussion bomb wounded two policemen and a bystander in an explosion near Ankara’s Hilton Hotel, where US President George W. Bush is scheduled to stay this weekend during his visit to Ankara. /All papers/

NSC DISCUSSES REACTIONARY MOVEMENTS, CYPRUS, IRAQ, AND ISTANBUL/ANKARA BOMBINGS
The National Security Council (NSC) yesterday discussed a number of issues, including reactionary movements, Cyprus, Iraq, and yesterday’s bombings in Istanbul and Ankara. During the meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly expressed the government’s determination to block reactionary movements. /All papers/

GUL: “TURKEY IS A POWERFUL COUNTRY”
Commenting on yesterday’s bomb blast near Ankara’s Hilton Hotel where US President George W. Bush is set to stay during his weekend visit to the city, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey was a strong and powerful country. “Such events take place everywhere in the world, in London, Washington, etc.,” he added. “We have taken comprehensive security measures [for Bush’s visit and next week’s NATO summit in Istanbul].” Asked whether Bush’s visit might be postponed, Gul said this would be out of the question. He also certainly denied rumors that during his visit to Ankara, Bush would ask Turkish leaders for bases and some 18,000 US soldiers to be deployed in Turkey. /Turkiye/

INTERIOR MINISTER: “MARGINAL, RADICAL TERRORIST GROUPS COMMIT SUCH ACTS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD”
Speaking to reporters about yesterday’s bombings in Istanbul and Ankara, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that radical, marginal terrorist groups committed such acts in order to make their voices heard. “The bombings were not serious,” said Aksu. In related news, speaking at a press conference yesterday, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that a bus damaged by one of the bombs yesterday wasn’t the actual target, adding that the bomb was being transported from one place to another. “We’re looking at all the facts,” he added. “As you know, international terrorism targets such events [as the NATO summit]. We’ve taken serious measures.” Guler also said that state offices closing during the summit was out of the question. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN ADDRESSES NATION
Addressing the nation yesterday to evaluate developments both domestic and foreign, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has become an altogether different country through his government’s policies, adding that there were no crises, woes, or difficulties facing the nation. He stressed that the government was working determinedly to overcome problems which had suffered from neglect and could do so only with the people’s support. Touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Erdogan said that he believed the EU would give a date to Ankara this December to begin its accession talks. /Sabah/

SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL MEETING TO BEGIN IN ISTANBUL
A meeting of the Socialist International Peace Democracy and Human Rights Committee is due to begin today in Istanbul. The meeting, to be hosted by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is expected to focus on Iraq and the Middle East. Later, the participants will discuss the role of international organizations, including the United Nations and NATO. CHP leader Deniz Baykal is set to deliver the meeting’s opening address. /Turkiye/

ISRAEL’S EL AL CANCELS ISTANBUL FLIGHT, SUSPENDS OTHER FLIGHTS TO AND FROM ISTANBUL
Israeli national airline El Al yesterday cancelled an Istanbul flight and suspended all other flights both into and out of Istanbul for the time being. Company officials stressed that the cancellation flight wasn’t connected to the recent bomb attacks in Istanbul and Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/

NO CHANGE IN BUSH’S TURKISH ITINERARY
Following yesterday’s bomb blasts in Ankara and Istanbul, officials stated that there would be no change in the Turkish itinerary of US President George W. Bush. In related news, US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice told reporters that Bush was looking forward to the opportunity during his visit to Turkey to strengthen relations with a strategic partner and important country in Muslim world with its secular and democratic structure. Rice stated that on Sunday, Bush would meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pay a visit to Ataturk’s mausoleum (Anitkabir) and meet with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer during a working lunch. She added that the US president would deliver a speech at Istanbul’s Galatasaray University on Tuesday and then fly back for Washington. /Turkiye/

IPUK LEADER TALABANI CALLS ON ANKARA TO GRANT AMNESTY
Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani, who is currently paying a visit to Turkey, yesterday said that this group’s relations with the Turkish state were very good and there was wide agreement on many issues. Stressing that militants of the terrorist group PKK in the mountains want to return to their homes, Talabani urged Ankara to review its policies on the PKK and grant an amnesty. Saying that the PKK has been split internally, with most members favoring a peaceful settlement, Talabani said that he didn’t expect the US to conduct a military crackdown against the PKK in northern Iraq, adding that Iraqi interim government would need to approve any such operation. /Hurriyet/

AGAR MEETS WITH TURKMEN LEADER
True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday met with Iraqi Turkmen Front leader Faruk Abdullah Abdurrahman accompanied by a delegation. Stressing that Iraq’s Turkmen have lived under pressure and oppression since the 1950s, Agar said that they should be properly represented in the nation’s new administration. /Turkiye/

CETIN’S MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN TO BE EXTENDED
NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin’s mission, due to expire in July, will reportedly be extended for another six months. Cetin and Afghan President Hamid Kharzai will also attend next week’s NATO summit in Istanbul. Cetin stated that success in Afghanistan carried great importance for international organizations, adding: “Terrorism is the gravest threat to the world, and global cooperation is essential in the fight against terrorism.” Cetin underlined the need for reforms in five areas in Afghanistan, including the demobilization and discharge of more than 100,000 militia as well as their integration into civil society. He asked for support to form a 70,000-strong national army. ''Towards this end 8,000 soldiers have already been trained, and a police force should be established,'' he said. Cetin also spoke on the need for reforms to the judiciary and stepped-up efforts to fight narcotics. He noted that the 75% of the world’s opium is produced in Afghanistan. /Star/