ERDOGAN MEETS WITH FRENCH PARTY LEADERS TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in France for an official visit, yesterday met with French Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande to discuss bilateral relations and Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Speaking afterwards, Hollande expressed support for Turkey’s EU bid, adding that Ankara should first fulfill the Union’s economic and political criteria in order to join it. He added that Turkey’s majority-Muslim population constituted no problem for its membership. Later, Erdogan met with Union for French Democracy leader Francois Bayrou. During their meeting, Bayrou stressed his party’s support for Turkey’s EU bid and touted friendly bilateral relations. After completing his contacts in France, Erdogan yesterday returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/

THY SIGNS AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE 36 AIRBUS PLANES
Turkish Airlines (THY) officials yesterday signed an agreement to purchase 36 Airbus passenger planes in a ceremony in Paris attended by French President Jacques Chirac and visiting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also present at the ceremony were Turkish Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, and State Minister Mehmet Aydin. The cost of the Airbus planes is reportedly about $1.5 billion. /Sabah/

GUL, REGIONAL FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN BID TO HELP IRAQ
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday attended a meeting of Iraq’s neighboring countries’ foreign ministers in Cairo, Eygpt. Speaking afterwards, Gul said that the meeting was aimed at helping the Iraqi government overcome the serious problems it currently faces. He said that during the meeting, all the participants had aired their views on the issues. “The country sees violence and acts of terrorism on an almost daily basis,” Gul lamented, adding that the Kirkuk issue should be solved as soon as possible before it spirals out of control. “We must help both Iraq’s people and its government,” he said. He added that he had underlined Ankara’s determination to ensure Iraq’s territorial integrity and unity. /Turkiye/

SCHROEDER DENIES “CONDITIONAL YES” REPORTS
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder yesterday denied recent statements attributed to him raising the possibility that Turkey could be given a “conditional yes” to initiate European Union membership talks. Stressing that Germany supports Turkey's unconditional EU membership, Schroeder said that reporters had distorted his actual statements. “A conditional yes for Turkey isn’t even on the EU’s agenda,” added the chancellor. Schroeder yesterday held a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, where the two leaders stated that although a ‘conditional yes’ was out of the question, setting a date in December for Turkey's EU membership talks would not mean that membership was guaranteed. The Netherlands holds the EU’s Term Presidency through the end of December. /All Papers/

TUSIAD CHAIRMAN: “TURKEY AND ALL ITS INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE READY TO BEGIN EU ACCESSION TALKS”
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci said yesterday that Turkey and all its institutions should stand ready to begin accession talks with the European Union. Speaking after his meeting with European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, Sabanci praised the trade volume between Turkey and the EU, adding that this should be boosted further. /Turkiye/

TURKEY DISCUSSION STIRS UP EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
In an address to the European Parliament yesterday, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Balkenende called on fellow member countries not to give in to “fears of Islam” when they decide on Turkey's membership bid. “Islam is not the problem,” said Balkenende. “Muslims, Christians and people of other beliefs can live together perfectly. The problem is not religion but the misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance and to repress women.” Balkenende, whose country is currently the Union’s president, and will preside over the key December summit for Turkey’s bid, added that the Union must show “fair play” towards Ankara. “We have agreed the rules of the game and these have to be respected,” he said. “We cannot move the goal posts.” Balkenende's words caused mixed reactions from the various EP groups. For example, the Christian Democrat faction urged him to consider other alternatives, such as a “privileged partnership” for Turkey. In addition, Greens Group Co-chair Monica Frassoni stated that fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria would be sufficient to start Turkey’s membership talks, calling on the EU to keep its promises. /Cumhuriyet/

EUROPEAN INDUSTRIALISTS TOUT TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
The European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT), a forum of around 45 European industrial leaders aimed at promoting the competitiveness and growth of Europe's economy, recently issued a report on Turkey to promote the country’s European Union membership bid. The ERT’s Enlargement Working Group report entitled “Turkey – A New Business Opportunity for Europe” is to be sent to the EU member governments and parliaments. Enlargement Group Chairman Antony Burgmans said that the ERT was calling on the EU to initiate Turkey’s membership negotiations as soon as the country fulfills the Copenhagen criteria. If Turkey joins the Union, both sides will reap benefits in terms of commerce and investment, predicted Burgmans. The ERT members are expected to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Nov. 22. /Sabah/

TUZMEN: “A EURO-MEDITERRANEAN FREE TRADE ZONE WOULD SERVE STABILITY AND SECURITY”
The Fourth Conference of Euro-Mediterranean (EUROMED) Trade Ministers was held yesterday in Istanbul with the participation of those ministers plus high-level representatives of 25 EU members and 10 Mediterranean countries. Addressing the conference, Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that a Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone would serve regional stability and security. Tuzmen added that Turkey was resolved to establish a free trade zone between the EU and the Mediterranean countries, which he said would inevitably serve to boost investments in the region as well as facilitate the sharing of information and experience. /Hurriyet/