ARINC THANKS GERMAN AMBASSADOR FOR EU BID SUPPORT
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday hosted a luncheon in honor of German Ambassador to Ankara Wolf Ruthart Born in gratitude for Berlin’s support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Germany is a close friend of Ankara and always supports us on international platforms, said Arinc. For his part, Born praised Ankara’s recent reforms on its path towards EU membership. /Hurriyet/

ERDOGAN MEETS BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
On the second day of his visit to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov. The two reportedly discussed bilateral relations as well as the respective EU membership bids of their two countries. Erdogan brought up Turkey’s support for Bulgaria’s NATO successful membership bid, asking in return that Sofia fully support Turkey’s bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. /Sabah/

ERDOGAN, GUL WELCOME EU COMMISSION REPORT ON TRNC
Speaking to reporters yesterday at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport upon returning from Bulgaria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he expected the EU Commission’s new report on the TRNC to be ultimately approved. He added that that the development proved that his government’s policy on the matter was the right one. In addition, also commenting on the package, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul hailed it as an “important step,” but added that much work remained to be done. /Turkiye/

EU COMMISSION APPROVES TRNC AID PACKAGE
The European Union Commission yesterday approved a long-awaited package for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) including measures to provide aid and trade benefits to the nation. The package is a step towards ending the TRNC’s international isolation as a reward for the Turkish Cypriots’ support for reunifying the island during referendums this April. It proposes 259 million euros in aid over three years, plus trade benefits to boost the TRNC’s economy. In addition, it would allow direct trade between the TRNC and the other countries of the EU, including the reopening of Turkish Cypriot ports that have been closed for 30 years. On the other hand, the package says nothing about the issue of direct flights to and from the TRNC. Speaking at a press conference, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen said that the Turkish Cypriots both needed and deserved this support, adding, however that the package did not entail recognizing the TRNC. The commission’s plan needs to be approved by the EU Council in order for it to go into effect. /Turkiye/

TALAT URGES BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN TRNC
Commenting on the EU Commission’s approval of a report proposing ending the trade embargo and granting economic aid to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that the matter was not yet definite and urged caution, pointing out that the plan still needed to be approved by the EU Council. During a meeting in Istanbul with Turkish Businessmen’s and Industrialists’ Association (TUSIAD) head Omer Sabanci and other business leaders, Talat called on businessmen from mainland Turkey to invest in the TRNC when the EU plan is put into action. Stressing that prominent Turkish firms investing in the TRNC would help to attract capital from other countries, Talat stated that his country needed investment to create jobs and prevent population flight. /Star/

ANKARA UNDERLINES ITS SENSITIVITIES OVER KIRKUK
At a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said yesterday that there should be no attempts to change the demographic structure of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Stressing that both Iraq’s immediate neighbors and the international community at large were concerned over the Kirkuk issue, Tan said that Ankara wanted Kirkuk’s various ethnic groups to live in peace and safety. Meanwhile, Ankara invited Iraqi interim government Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to visit Turkey to hold meetings. In addition, in mid-July, Ankara will host Syrian Premier Mohammad Naci Otri as well as Ehud Olmert, Israel’s industry, trade, labor and communications minister. /Turkiye/

TURKISH-IRANIAN JOINT SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET IN ANKARA NEXT WEEK
Prior to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s planned visit to Tehran, Turkey and Iran are expected to discuss security issues during next week’s Turkish-Iranian Joint Security Council meeting in Ankara. The Turkish government is to ask Tehran what measures it has recently taken to fight PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorists. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAN CONFIRMS RECENT CLASHES WITH PKK/KONGRA-GEL TERRORISTS
Tehran yesterday confirmed that its troops had been involved in clashes with PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorists for some time, with Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Ali Asghar Ahmadi stating that at least two Iranian soldiers and eight terrorists had died in the fighting. Ahmedi added that the most recent clash between Iranian security forces and terrorists had erupted about 10 days ago. In related news, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan yesterday told a news conference that Iranian officials were expected to brief their Turkish counterparts on the recent anti-terrorist operations at a bilateral security meeting scheduled for next week in Ankara. “We have yet to receive any official information about the reported clashes,” added Tan. /Cumhuriyet/

‘OPERATION ANKARA’ IN US’ LONG ISLAND ARRESTS TURKISH NATIONALS
US federal, state and local law enforcement agents raided dozens of businesses within the northeastern state of Long Island on Tuesday and arrested dozens of people on money laundering and immigration charges, reported US daily Newsday yesterday. While seven suspects were charged with laundering, four others were cited for immigration violations. According to Newsday, some 57 suspected undocumented aliens were taken into custody during the raids, part of a crackdown called ‘Operation Ankara,’ so named because most of the suspects are believed to be Turkish nationals. /All Papers/