ERDOGAN VISITS FRANCE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday traveled to France to pay a three-day official visit. Before his departure from Istanbul’s Esenboga Airport, Erdogan remarked that that the visit would be his first as prime minister. Stressing that some 400,000 ethnic Turks were living in France, Erdogan said that they served as a bridge between the two nations. He added that his contacts with French officials would focus on Turkish-EU relations and that he would seek their support for Ankara’s European Union membership bid. Speaking to reporters en route, the premier stated that he was opposed to a “conditional yes” being given to Turkey’s membership during the December EU summit. He said that neither any of the current EU members nor any present candidates had ever faced such a hurdle. In Paris, Erdogan firstly met with his French counterpart Jean-Pierre Raffarin. After their meeting, Raffarin told reporters that France would read the read the EU Commission’s fall report on Turkey and then decide on the matter. In addition, Erdogan met with representatives of the Turkish community living in the country. Today he is expected to be received by President Jacques Chirac. /Sabah/

COHN-BENDIT: “TURKEY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT CLASHES BETWEEN CIVILIZATIONS”
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of the European Parliament’s Green group and a member of the Turkish-EU parliamentary friendship group, said yesterday that Turkey was an opportunity for the European Union to prevent clashes between civilizations. In an interview in French daily Liberation, Bendit expressed full support for Turkey’s EU membership. He said that Turkey had been undergoing sweeping changes for its EU bid. Stressing that Europe had the capacity to unify all common values, Bendit called terrorism a grave international threat that aimed at causing conflicts between civilizations. “We must oppose such a development, and Turkey’s EU membership would give us an opportunity for that,” said Bendit. /Turkiye/

GUL TRAVELS TO TRNC TO MARK 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday travelled to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend today’s celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Speaking before his departure, Gul said that the TRNC had entered a new era, adding that now Turkish Cypriots had expanded opportunities. “The Turkish Cypriots’ expectations will sooner or later turn true,” predicted Gul. “No one can prevent this any longer.” He also called on businessmen from both Turkey and other countries to invest in the TRNC. Later, Gul met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas in Nicosia. Speaking afterwards, Gul said that the international embargo on the TRNC should be brought to an end and added that Ankara was following developments on the issue closely. /Cumhuriyet/

ON CYPRUS OPERATION’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY, ARINC, OZKOK REITERATE TURKEY’S SUPPORT FOR TRNC
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday released a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, saying that Parliament’s support for the Turkish Cypriots would be unwavering. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok also released a statement marking the occasion, saying that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) would always support the Turkish Cypriots, who had proven their will for peace by accepting the UN Cyprus plan in referendums earlier this year. /Turkiye/

TALAT: “NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS”
In a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that nothing was more important than reaching a resolution on the island, adding that ending the TRNC’s isolation would further this goal. Talat reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots had proven that they would soon join the world at large. /Turkiye/

NSC SECRETARY-GENERAL: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE PROVEN THEIR WILL FOR A RESOLUTION, AND THE GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT”
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Gen. Sukru Sariisik yesterday travelled to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Speaking before his departure, Sariisik said that the Turkish Cypriots had proven their good will for a resolution on the island by accepting the UN Cyprus plan in April referendums, adding that now it was the Greek Cypriots’ turn to prove their will for a resolution. He added that the international embargo on the TRNC should be brought to an end. Later, Sarisik met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas. Speaking afterwards, Denktas said that this year would be his last marking the operation as president, adding that next year a new president chosen by the nation would attend the celebrations. Denktas reiterated that there were two nations on the island, not one. “We proved this fact by accepting the UN Cyprus plan,” he added. /Milliyet/

POWELL INVITES FEMALE DEPUTIES TO US VISIT
US Secretary of State Colin Powel yesterday issued an invitation to female Parliament deputies from both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to visit the United States. The three-week visit is reportedly being organized as part of the US’ Greater Middle East Project in the belief that women will play a leading role in the development of Mideast countries. /Turkiye/

AUSTRIA COULD EXTRADITE CAKICI IN TWO WEEKS
Fugitive from justice Alaattin Cakici, who has been held in an Austrian jail since his capture last week, is expected to be extradited to Turkey shortly. Officials from Vienna’s Higher Court said yesterday that after completion of the necessary procedures. Cakici would be sent back Turkey in two weeks at the latest. If Cakici is extradited to Turkey, reportedly he might testify at the Supreme Court trials of former Premier Mesut Yilmaz and former State Minister Gunes Taner, as Cakici was believed to have had a key role in the incident behind their charges. /Turkiye/