ARINC HOLDS PRE-RECESS RECEPTION
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday held a reception of fellow deputies marking the imminent, though delayed, start of Parliament’s summer recess. Addressing the gathering, Arinc praised the deputies’ hard work over the legislative term, adding that they passed nearly 250 laws. “We’ve adopted important laws which will ease Turkey’s European Union membership bid, and they were appreciated by many nations,” added Arinc. /Turkiye/

ISRAELI DEPUTY PM OLMERT MEETS WITH GUL, SEZER
Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday held separate meetings with visiting Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations. The Turkish leaders reportedly offered to help broker peace between Israel and Palestine. Olmert said he had had a “friendly, sincere and serious discussion” with Gul. “We are happy about our relationship ... Turkish-Israeli relations are continuous, stable and will continue to grow.” he told CNN Turk. For his part, Gul reportedly said that relations between the two countries had begun centuries ago and that Olmert’s visit would strengthen them further. Olmert denied reports about Israeli involvement in northern Iraq. In his meeting with Olmert, Sezer said that the Turkish government and public alike were very sensitive about northern Iraq and that his statements were therefore appreciated. Later, delivering a speech to the Turkish-Israeli Joint Economic Coummission (KEK), Olmert urged Turkish companies to invest in his nation. Also addressing the gathering, Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu said that the trade volume between the two countries should be boosted, adding that Turkey and Israel could make joint ventures. /Turkiye, Sabah/

GUL: “TURKEY SHOULD PROTECT ITS ART HERITAGE ABROAD”
Turkey should work to protect priceless Turkish works of art outside its borders, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. “In approximately 20 countries, Turkey left behind works of art of which it can be proud,” Gul told a meeting on Turkish cultural heritage abroad organized by the Foreign Ministry. Gul also called for a team to be established to protect these invaluable works. /Hurriyet/

AKSU, GREEK OFFICIAL DISCUSS SECURITY COOPERATION
Greek Public Order Minister Yorgos Vulgarakis yesterday visited Turkey as the official guest of Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu. Saying that the two had discussed such issues as security cooperation for next month’s Olympic Games in Athens, Vulgarakis praised the meeting as positive. The Greek Minister later met with Fener Greek Patriarch Bartolomeos in Istanbul. /Hurriyet/

SENER: “CYPRUS IS TURKEY’S NATIONAL CAUSE”
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday received representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). During their meeting, Sener said that Cyprus was Ankara’s national cause. Sener touted warm relations between Ankara and the TRNC, adding that these close ties get stronger with each passing day. He praised Turkey’s 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation as a “turning point,” saying that it had safeguarded the life and property of the Turkish Cypriots. /Turkiye/

TALAT MEETS WITH DUTCH EU SECRETARY, DISCUSSES TRNC’S ISOLATION
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met in Lefkosa with Atzo Nicolai, the Netherlands’ state secretary for European Union affairs, who was visiting the TRNC to discuss ways to end its international isolation. The Netherlands currently holds the EU’s Term Presidency. Speaking after the meeting, Talat criticized his southern Greek Cypriot neighbors, charging them with stepping up efforts to isolate the TRNC since they joined the EU in May. “The Greek Cypriots are even trying to keep us from breathing,” said Talat. He further stated that the TRNC’s isolation should be brought to an end since his countrymen had accepted the UN’s Cyprus reunification plan in an April referendum. For his part, Nicolai expressed support for ending the TRNC’s isolation, adding that the Netherlands would do its best on the issue. Later, speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Talat called on Greek Cypriots to act with common sense. /Turkiye/