ERDOGAN: "THE E-STATE PROJECT WILL OFFER PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES FAST, QUALITY SERVICE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a ceremony to inaugurate the E-State project, an Internet portal meant to allow people to carry out official procedures online. Also attending the ceremony were Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim and State Ministers Nazim Ekren, Mehmet Aydin and Mehmet Simsek. Speaking at the occasion, Erdogan said that the primary aim of the project, which paves the way for an information society, is minimizing bureaucracy and ensuring that the state offers fast, quality service to people and businesses. "From our first day in power, it's been a priority for this government to transform the bureaucratic structure into one that serves citizens better," he added. Saying that the project will make waiting in line at state agencies a thing of the past, he invited everyone to visit www.turkiye.gov.tr. /Turkiye/

BABACAN TO VISIT KOSOVO AHEAD OF HIS SERBIAN COUNTERPART'S VISIT TO ANKARA
Ankara's contacts with the Balkan nations of Kosovo and Serbia will gain new momentum with an upcoming visit to Kosovo by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, to be followed by a visit to Ankara by Babacan's Serbian counterpart. Babacan is planning to pay an official visit to Kosovo in the second half of January, when he is to hold talks with President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as well as his counterpart, Skender Hyseni. /Today's Zaman/

ISRAEL'S OLMERT DUE IN ANKARA ON MONDAY
In a recent telephone call from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert, the two leaders agreed to meet at a working luncheon in Ankara next Monday. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAQI VP HASHEMI DUE IN TURKEY TOMORROW
In the wake of President Abdullah Gul postponing a trip to Iraq for health reasons, Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi is set to visit Turkey tomorrow. The tripartite counter-terrorism mechanism between Turkey, the US and Iraq is expected to be assessed during the gathering. Issues at the meeting will include the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement between Iraq and the US, strengthening border controls between the two countries, and upcoming elections in Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is also expected to visit to Turkey soon. /Star/

MHP'S BAHCELI: "I'M ASHAMED OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE APOLOGY INITIATIVE"
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday he was ashamed of the scholars who started an initiative to apologize for the 1915 killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans. Speaking with reporters, Bahceli said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that he wouldn't let Turkey be divided shows that even after his 2005 visit to Diyarbakir, Erdogan sees the plots threatening Turkey. He said the premier's statement also shows his agreement with the MHP's ideas, calling this an "important step." These issues should be solved in Parliament, not on the streets, he added. Bahceli also criticized an initiative by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to welcome members who wear chadors, saying that Baykal should clarify his stance on the issue. /Milliyet/

TURKEY TO LAUNCH MAJOR TOURISM PROMOTION CAMPAIGN WORLDWIDE
A massive new tourism promotion campaign in 80 countries starting in January will work to attract more visitors and strengthen Turkey as a global brand, said Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Gunay said the ministry is spending some 100 million YTL on the campaign. Stating that this year has been a good one for Turkey's tourism, Gunay said that 23.9 million tourists visited Turkey over the last 10 months, a 13.5 percent year-on-year increase. This growth was also above world averages, he said. Gunay said tourism revenues reached $14.3 billion in the last eight months, a 20.8 percent year-on-year increase, and that total year revenues will exceed $20 billion. Touching on the global economic crisis, Gunay said work is underway for a support package to help the tourism industry weather the crisis with minimal damage. /Sabah/

TUSIAD HOLDS RECEPTION IN ANKARA
Ahead of this year's last meeting of its High Advisory Council (YIK), the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) held a reception in Ankara yesterday hosted by Mustafa Koc, the chairman of Koc Holding. Attending the reception were Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen, Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan, and Energy and Natural Resources and Minister Hilmi Guler. Many at the reception praised the Central Bank's recent 1.25 percent interest cut, calling it an important step to revive the domestic markets and facilitate real sector liquidity. Asked about a government stimulus package, Caglayan said that the package would be announced by year's-end. At the event, Babacan presented TUSIAD's Bosphorus Prize for European Understanding to Italian Senate Vice President Emma Bonino for his contributions to Turkish-EU relations. Babacan praised Bonino's support for Turkey's EU accession bid, underlining the friendship she has shown to Turkey during the negotiation process. For her part, Bonino said Turkey joining the Union will be a dream come true for her. President Abdullah Gül will attend today's YIK meeting as guest of honor. In related news, International Monetary Fund External Relations Director Carloline Atkinson yesterday said talks with Turkey on a possible standby agreement are going well. She said that an IMF delegation would visit Turkey next month to continue talks. /Sabah-Turkiye/