ERDOGAN VISITS ANTALYA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen, and Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu visited Antalya and Alanya over the weekend to attend a number of opening ceremonies. Speaking to citizens in Alanya, Erdogan said that he and his fellow Cabinet ministers were traveling throughout the continent to tell Europeans about Turkey. Touching to the government’s recent decision to transfer responsibility for Social Security Authority (SSK) hospitals to the Health Ministry, Erdogan called it a key reform which would help the people greatly, adding that certain circles opposed the decision for reasons having to do with their own private interests. /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN: “ATHENS SHOULD ALSO MAKE EFFORTS FOR A CYPRUS SETTLEMENT”
Athens and the Greek Cypriots should also make efforts towards a solution on the Cyprus issue, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday in an interview with Greek daily To Vima. Emphasizing the Aegean issue, Erdogan said that a “just resolution” within the context of international law is reachable. Issues concerning the Aegean however, added Erdogan, are closely intertwined and thus setting a deadline for a solution would be counterproductive. /Hurriyet/

CHP MERGES WITH SMALLER LEFTIST RIVAL
During an extraordinary convention yesterday, delegates of the New Turkey Party (YTP) decided to merge with their larger rival, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). YTP leader Ismail Cem, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in the US, addressed the gathering via telephone. The YTP, established in 2002 by ex-Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies as a new hope for the left, thus officially closed after two years in politics. The YTP never won any Parliament seats, unlike the CHP, the main opposition party. /Turkiye/

PRINCE CHARLES VISITS TURKEY
British Prince Charles early yesterday evening arrived in Istanbul to pay a two-day visit. Charles is expected to attend the official reopening of the city’s British Consulate, which was damaged during a terrorist attack last year. Then he is scheduled to proceed to Ankara to hold a series of contacts with Turkish officials. /Turkiye/

EP REPORT TO PROPOSE MULTI-CONDITIONAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANKARA
A European Parliament report on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, which is due to be voted at December’s EU summit, reportedly proposes a multi-conditional negotiations process with Ankara. The report prepared by EP Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurling is said to state that even if Ankara’s accession talks begin, Turkey would be kept under political scrutiny and could not join the EU before 2014. The report further stresses that Turkey has yet to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria and that the negotiation process should be open-ended. It endorses, however, the European Union Commission report on Turkey proposing beginning accession talks next year. The report reportedly further calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and to recognize Greek Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/

GREEK CYPRIOT FM: “ONE CAN’T PREDICT OUR STANCE ON TURKEY’S EU BID”
Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Yakovu said yesterday that he could not say in advance how his government would stand on Turkey’s European Union membership bid at the EU December summit. Appearing on Greek Cypriot television, Yakovu said that the government could veto Turkey beginning its accession talks. He added that he would propose that Turkey begin its accession talks after it withdraws its troops from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In related news, a new Greek opinion poll showed that 42.6% of mainland Greeks support Turkey’s EU bid, with 54.3% against. /Milliyet/

EUROPEAN PEOPLES’ PARTIES UNION ADMITS AKP AS OBSERVER
German magazine Der Spiegel reports in its current issue that the European Peoples’ Parties Union (EVP) has decided to admit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a member. Hans-Gert Poettering, group chief of the Christian Democrats, said that the AKP would be an observer without a vote, which he characterized as an advantage. /Hurriyet/

NEW TURKISH LIRA TO BE UNVEILED TODAY
The new Turkish lira, set to begin officially circulating next year, will be publicly unveiled by Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti at a press conference today. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, and Treasury Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci are also expected to be present. The new Turkish lira, which drops six zeros, is due to circulate together next year alongside the old lira. /Aksam/