ERDOGAN: "WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT"
Speaking at a ceremony in Ankara, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke about the closure case against his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), saying, "There's no place for pessimism or despair." He added, "Today we are the rulers, but we won't always be. We are entrusted with the government, and we will be happy as long as we embrace this." He added, "I hope this nation will embrace the future of Turkey, democracy, stability and the law. I hope this nation will never again be humiliated." /Aksam/

GOVT SPOKESPERSON CICEK: "WE SHOULD LEAVE THE MAY DAY INCIDENTS BEHIND US"
Government spokesperson and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek held a press conference after yesterday's Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Asked about trade unions saying they would complain to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over violence on May Day, Cicek said, "Some unpleasant events occurred on May Day. I believe that we should leave all this behind us. We can discuss an issue, but when necessary we have to put an end to it. These things shouldn't have happened, but they did. They were looked at. I'm of the opinion that these events shouldn't be carried to other venues." Asked if the police treatment of demonstrating workers that day was in line with EU norms, Cicek said "The government listens to the EU. If we don't carry through the legal arrangements enough, there are some mistakes in the implementation. This comes from education. Vocational retraining is necessary." /Aksam/

TURKEY-EU TROIKA MEETING TO BEGIN TODAY
A key meeting bringing together senior European Union officials and Turkish leaders in Ankara today is expected to focus on Turkey's EU reform process and the Cyprus, Iran and Iraq issues, as well as the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and clashes between police and demonstrators on May 1. The bi-annual meeting is called the Troika because it brings together Turkey's foreign minister with senior officials from the presidency of the bloc (currently Slovenia), the incoming president (France), and the European Commission. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel arrived in Ankara yesterday. France will be represented by its minister for EU affairs, Jean Pierre Jouyet. Olli Rehn, the EU commissioner for enlargement, will also take part. /Milliyet/

LABOR UNIONS CONDEMN POLICE TREATMENT OF MAY 1 DEMONSTRATORS
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government should apologize to workers, Istanbulites and all Turks for the violence on May 1, said Huseyin Celebi, head of the Revolutionary Worker's Unions (DISK), at a joint press conference yesterday in Istanbul with the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Türk-Is). KESK head Ismail Hakki Tombul said that they would file a complaint against the prime minister, justice minister, interior minister, labor minister, and Istanbul's governor and police chief. "We'll bring the issue to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Labor Organization (ILO)," he added. The union leaders also expressed their determination to celebrate Labor Day in Istanbul's Taksim Square next year, contrary to the current ban. "Officials have one year to get prepared and take measures to provide for our safety and our peaceful celebrations at the square," Celebi told reporters. /Milliyet/

DTP DELEGATION TO VISIT TALABANI
A delegation from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) will travel to Iraq today. The delegation led by DTP group leader Chairman and Mardin Deputy Ahmet Turk will meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and northern Iraqi Kurdish officials to seek ways to resolve the Kurdish issue in Turkey and discuss recent Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) ground offensives and air raids into northern Iraq to end the terrorist PKK presence in the region. /Hurriyet/

CHP CRITICIZES LAGENDIJK
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker Kemal Anadol yesterday criticized a Dutch politician who co-chairs a joint commission between the Turkish and European parliaments. "We're ashamed that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lets Joost Lagendijk speak this way," said Anadol. He accused Lagendijk of being a "foreign player on the AKP squad" and of "acting like a colonial governor." Lagendijk over the weekend criticized what he called the CHP's anti-European Union position. "If they continue going around the country and making political attacks on the CHP, they will get a harsh response," said Anadol. He also criticized Lagendijk for being silent about the controversial use of force by police against demonstrators on May 1, asking, "Three days have passed since the incidents. Why didn't he speak up against the thuggery on May 1?" /Turkish Daily News/

UAE OFFICIAL PLEDGES MORE INVESTMENT IN TURKEY
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayid Al Nahyan. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Nahayan said that the UAE is an oil-rich country and will make more investments in this sector in Turkey. Stressing that Turkey has a role to play in the region in supporting and encouraging moderate-leaning countries, Nahayan added, "We expect Turkey will continue to play a key role in important issues in the region." Asked by reporters about Turkish officials' contacts last week with officials from northern Iraq, Babacan said that Turkey's close dialogue with both the central Iraqi government and local northern Iraqi administration will continue in areas such as energy and the fight against terrorism. "The level and frequency of the dialogue will depend in large part on the Iraqi side taking concrete measures against terrorism," he added. "I reiterate that Turkey wants peace and stability in the region." /Star/

ECHR'S NEW TURKISH JUDGE TAKES HER SEAT
Isil Karakas was sworn in yesterday as Turkey's new representative on the panel of judges of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Karakas replaced Riza Turmen, Turkey's representative since 1998, and so became the first woman judge from Turkey to sit on the court. She will serve the court in Strasbourg for six years. /Milliyet/

BARROSO: "ISLAM IS NO BARRIER TO TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP"
The European Union's aim is to find unity in difference and to ensure the peaceful coexistence of all differences, European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday. Speaking at an EU Troika meeting in Austria, Barroso said many Muslims already live in Europe, especially in Germany and France, and that the EU has long lived with Islam. Stressing that Turkey's religious identity doesn't interest the EU, and the important thing is Turkey meeting all the EU criteria and its readiness for full membership, Barroso said, "As a secular, (majority) Islamic country, Turkey is very interesting for the EU." Turkiye

HISARCIKLIOGLU: "TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY"
Speaking at a Turkish business consultation meeting yesterday, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said, "Classical diplomacy and official representative state offices aren't enough to sway the decisions of foreign lawmakers and officials." He stressed the importance of public diplomacy focusing on public relations, and Turkish business leaders' efforts towards that end. Hisarciklioglu also listed three goals for the centenary of the republic, saying, "By 2023, the Turkish business sector intends to lead at least three sectors worldwide, to have $500 billion in exports, and to have at least 10 global brands." /Sabah/