FISCHER VISITS KAYSERI
Austrian President Heinz Fischer, currently in Turkey, yesterday met with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Baykal said he discussed with Fischer the closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Turkey's EU membership bid. After completing his talks in Ankara, Fischer and his wife yesterday proceeded to Kayseri, hometown of President Abdullah Gul. Fischer, accompanied by Gul, toured the Kultepe Kanis/Karum excavation site, which was used as a rest stop by Assyrian merchants some 4,000 years ago, and Hunat Mosque. Afterwards, Gul and Fischer presided over a business council meeting in Kayseri that brought together Austrian and Turkish businessmen. In related news, Gul is set to host prominent artist from music world at the Cankaya Palace, the latest in a series of invitations to distinguished figures since he took office. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/

ISRAEL AND SYRIA REVEAL PEACE TALKS IN TURKEY
Syria and Israel have started meetings after Turkey acted as a mediator between them. Historical meetings started in Istanbul on Monday through mediation of Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu, a deputy counselor from foreign ministry. Advisors to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar Assad discussed the problems in indirect talks. Both countries thanked Prime Minister Erdogan for their efforts. In coordinated statements, Israel and Syria said they had begun an open dialogue with the aim of a comprehensive peace. Washington also eulogized Turkey's efforts. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said yesterday that meetings between Syria and Israel is a positive development. Stating that they are waiting for utmost efforts from both sides to reach a lasting solution, he added, "Both sides should continue negotiations at the next term." In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to pay a surprise visit to Iraq in June. /Sabah-Star/

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS HARSHLY REACTS TO EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE JUDICIARY
President's Committee of the Supreme Court of Appeals issued a written statement yesterday and lashed out at critics to the judiciary made from inside and outside. The latest developments are enough to prove that the government tries to create a pro-executive judiciary, said the statement adding that the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was a corporate case and supported chief prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya who filed the lawsuit. "The defendants and their supporters ignored the fact that the indictment was institutional, and they attempted to make the Chief Public Prosecutor subject to reactions and enmity of the people through illogical, unlawful remarks and articles and acts most of which constitute crimes in themselves," it said. " Stressing that since a year and especially recently, systematic attacks on the judiciary undermine the Republic's founding values, the statement added that methods and intentions were more frequently tried recently to influence the court to take a result in favor in the case and by complaining about judges, targeting them, even getting help from foreign individuals and institutions. /Hurriyet/

GOV'T LASHES OUT AT A DECLARATION BY SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday harshly criticized a declaration by Supreme Court of Appeals, in which the court's Board of Chairmen accused the government of putting pressure on the judiciary and trying to create a pro-government judiciary. Cicek held a press conference with two high-level party executives from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Parliament, and said, "This is a political declaration and it cannot be accepted. The court has no right, duty or authorization to make a declaration like this." Stressing that the declaration has no judicial or democratic legitimacy and that the court cannot act like a opposition party and cannot become a party to political debates, Cicek also said, "With this declaration, the court became a party to the ongoing closure case seeking the closure of AKP," and added, "This declaration also aims to influence the Constitutional Court's decision on the changes lifting the headscarf ban at universities on the eve of decision." Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin also criticized the declaration as totally unnecessary and political, and said, "The government has worked so far in accordance with the principle of separation of powers and will continue to do so. It's not designed to control the judiciary for political goals." /Milliyet/

EP ADOPTS TURKEY REPORT
The European Parliament (EP) yesterday debated and voted a report on Turkey. The report, prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat parliamentarian Ria Oomen-Ruijten, was adopted by lawmakers 467-62. Urging Ankara to accelerate the reforms with respect to democracy and secularism, the report said that use of exaggerated force during May 1 celebrations was worrying, and that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) closure case should be concluded in respect to European values. It also called on the Turkish government to respect pluralism, secularism and democracy while carrying out reforms and to reach a compromise with political parties and urged the political parties to distance themselves from violence and terrorist organizations. Addressing the gathering, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that the EU executive body was concerned about the slow pace of reforms in Turkey. The report is a non-binding and recommendatory one. /Turkiye/

WORLD'S SECOND BIGGEST HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
The 14th Household Textiles Fair began yesterday in Istanbul. Delivering a speech at the opening of the fair, Sate Minister for foreign trade Kursad Tuzmen said that Turkey's exports gain in the five months of this year reached $50 billion and that the fair indicated that Turkish textile industry would have a brilliant future. Stressing that over 700 firms from the world's textile industry attended the fair, Tuzmen also said that the textile industry would highly contribute to Turkey's export gains in the years to come. /Aksam/